WHAT was I Thinking???

This picture was taken one year ago, today.
April 8, 2008.

I loved those Angora goats.

But they were too much work for this already-spread-to-thin Shepherdess. Thank you Michelle, Becky and Melanie for pointing out the obvious to me.

I don't need any more animals! I can't afford any more animals. Just the thought of trimming those toes (or teeth!!) or tying them down to shear, or giving monthly shots to is enough to give me nightmares. So, I'll not be getting any Alpacas. I think I'll buy Triomphe's fleece though....(he's the white one, from Colorado).

Thank you for the reality check.

ALICE & DREAM
(photo taken 1 year ago)
say...

"Yes, THANK YOU ladies! For reminding Mom how much she loves the life she has right now ~ with US!!"

"Boy! We dodged a bullet THAT time!"

New Friends...

Donna picked up her three lambs yesterday.

Here she is, getting acquainted with Debutante.

I LIKE this lady's attitude. You see, Donna has had double knee replacement surgery. But she still knows what's important in life...

Debutante seemed rather taken with Donna as well...

Bounty Hunter was not quite so thrilled to make Donna's acquaintance!

Here, he pauses to say good-bye to his sire (Kimberwood Hunter) and American Idol. I think Bounty Hunter is going to look a lot like his sire! And that's a GOOD thing!

This is the only picture I have of Spring.
Unfortunately, my camera batteries died before I brought her over to meet Donna. I did point out to Donna that she was taking two of my FRIENDLIEST ewe lambs. Of course now, that means I'll have more time to work with Zodiak's beautiful but VERY reserved triplets.....

Especially, since my three, beautiful, Angora goats also left for their new home yesterday! This could have been a very sad day for me but not only are my precious lambs going to a wonderful home but these three goats are going to a family that has goats (so knows how to care for them!) and will be participating in 4 H! The kids were so excited about their new "pets" and the parents were very impressed with how beautiful Meredith, McDreamy and McSteamy are.

All-in-All, a good day in the Bluff Country...

NOW, to fencing!

Meet My Ewe & Lamb Gaurdian....

* As always, click on any image to enlarge it *
If you were a predator, would YOU want to mess with this giant, Angora Goat????

It's amazing what a little perspective can do! As you may know, I live in a beautiful valley, with lots of rolling hills. If I just get a little down hill of the subject that I'm photographing, I can make them appear huge...

Or on the same level as the roof of my new barn! That's "Bluff Country Prima Dona".

Here she is running to greet me.

Of course, I can never just pet ONE...

Chance comes running for some lovin' too!

Some of my poor babies are sporting new "jewelry"...

"Bluff Country Sandman" is maturing VERY nicely!

I hate it when the tags make their ears droop! Hopefully, they'll straighten back out soon. This little beauty is "Bluff Country Casino Royale" (Cassy). She's available FOR SALE, as are many other beautiful babies and even some ADULTS. Visit my BREEDING STOCK FOR SALE BLOG to learn more about who's for sale...Not listed on the Breeding Stock Blog, but available to a loving home are: Meredith, McDreamy & McSteamy! Yup, I've decided that I just don't have the room to keep more than one species and I REALLY want to keep my focus on HST Shetlands so my beloved fiber goats are looking for a new home...I will make a very special 'package deal' to anyone interested in keeping the three of them together.

Poor Meredith...

When I went out to sit with the sheep and take pictures this morning, I took a dish of goat minerals to feed Meredith because I don't leave any goat minerals out for her since she's in with the ewes. While Meredith was nibbling her minerals, I noticed her left ear was all swollen and hard!

Upon closer inspection, Meredith had some how managed to get a piece of wire twisted around her ear ~ so tightly that it had cut off the circulation! I quickly grabbed a wire cutter, halter & sheep first aide kit... After cutting off the wire and spraying the ear with Fural anti-septic (a very YELLOW spray) and then treating it with Screw Worm Spray (bright blue!) to keep flies and maggots from bothering her , I decided that I may as well trim her feet while I had her on a halter. After a badly needed pedicure (Gee Whiz, goats hooves grow fast!) and an application of insecticide down her back and deworming (who ever invented plastic bolus guns was an IDIOT!), my poor, beautiful little Meredith was happy to return to the pasture with the ewes and lambs! I think I discovered the ear in time and doubt there will be any permanent damage.

So much for having time to post pictures today!
OK ~ A few quick shots of Alice's handsome twin ram lambs: Bluff Country Outlaw(left) and Bluff Country Renegade (right)...


Both of these boys are show quality and I hope to find them good homes where they will sire beautiful lambs for another lucky shepherd.

I love all the wool on their polls and cheeks. Their fleece is incredibly SOFT and luxurious and their conformation is superb.



Off to work I go!

Ewes and Goats together....

I'm shuffling animals a bit to get ready for lambing. I want to keep several paddocks clean and fresh for the new moms and their babies. And it was also time to get the goats OUT of the back yard... ;-)

The move seems to be going quite well. The goats stick together and for the most part the sheep don't bother them. McDreamy, McSteamy and Meredith have chosen to claim the calf hut as their home, rather than sleep in the big barn (or outside, in the pasture) with the sheep. This works well, but I'm thinking of putting the calf-hut into a paddock for the RAMS so that the girls can use both barns during lambing and while the lambs are growing. It's going to be crowded out there!!

The ewes seem to be more curious about the goats than anything. I haven't seen any fighting over food. I do put out numerous piles of hay so that each animal has several to chose from and nobody has to share.

Alice's beautiful "Destiny" is quite curious about the goats and seems interested in befriending them.

Destiny and McSteamy actually "played" together!

McDreamy wasn't that impressed by the friendly yearling!

DREAM says...

..."Oh YIPPEE! Goats in my pasture...."

No News....

Nothin' much happening in the Bluff Country. Which is just fine with me!

I like the quiet time before sharing and then again before lambing. I treasure every minute of peace and tranquility.

It's snowing again so most of the animals are staying in their barns. I put the goats in with the rams for a while yesterday but am not ready to leave them together when I'm not home.

I put in a schedule change request at work. I've decided to go back onto the every-other-weekend rotation. I've been working every weekend and having Monday and Fridays off. The theory was that I would never work more than three days in a row. The reality is: I don't like never having more than one day in a row off! So, it's back to every other weekend, with Fridays off and I can't WAIT until my first three day weekend!!!

MC DREAMY says...

..."Mom says I'm gonna need a HAIRCUT soon!"

Staying Warm...and READERS CHOICE...

*As always, click on any image to enlarge for detail*

What do I do on these Bitter cold, February days?

I spend time with my ANIMALS, of course! I must admit, the boys didn't venture out of their barn until Bella and Sadie and I went out to feed everyone.

The girls, naturally, pushed and shoved to get in close for petting (and cookies!)

Sadie thinks we should maybe hurry up and get inside ~ her feet are cold!!

The chickens are not about to venture outside into the bitter cold...

Madona is even sitting on an EGG for me!

Unfortunately, even her fluffy body can't keep the egg from freezing.

And then there are my goats. No way these beautiful creatures are setting foot out of their barn! I did manage to get some gorgeous, door-way photos though. ;-)

That brings to mind my idea for a READER's CHOICE day. YOU can decide which Bluff Country Creature will be the star of my next post. I got some beautiful, new photos of the sheep, the goats and the chickens. What would you like my next post to feature? Cast your vote in the comments and I'll feature which ever animals get the most votes.

DREAM says...

..."Of course, we all know that I am the favorite ~ but I don't mind sharing the spotlight, once in a while!"

Second Shift...

I'm enjoying working second shift. Actually, I'm still in training. I'm working from 4 pm to 10:30 pm. I LOVE it!

I love being home with my animals during the day!. I get so much more work done around the house and actually have time to spend with my critters, before dark.

Yes, it took a bit of adjustment, getting used to sleeping past 5 am. And I was MIGHTY tired the first few nights. But from day one, I loved being home during the day.

Next week my regular schedule will begin and I'll be working from 2 pm 'till 10 pm. I wish I could go in later, but customer service is only open until 10, so that's the best I can get. I think it will work OK. I'm going to work every weekend and have Monday and Fridays off. I get paid extra for weekends and need every penny I can make now that I'm trying to keep this place going on my own...

DREAM says...


..."Mom's gotta go ~ she's running LATE!"

;-)