Summer Daze....

We have a new 'family member' in the Bluff Country...
My Beautiful Baby Girl brought her beautiful, white Dove "Ruby" to live with us while Katie prepares to go off and serve her Country, in the Navy. (we won't talk about that now, this is a happy post...) Ruby has a big cage, in the back yard, for the summer and a nice, white one in the house, for the winter. She'll live with me while Katie's traveling the world.I think she's rather symbolic of the peace and serenity that I find in the Bluff Country...

We got rain today! Things dry out mighty quickly during the hot days of August, so the rain is much appreciated. I put the ewe lambs in with Hunter and Serendipity, so that Sera can make some friends before I put her in with the mature ewes. Daisy the kitten (cat?) has decided that she really likes the lambs and she lets them chase her and roll her around.The lambs run up to her, as soon as she comes into their paddock and she just rolls around as they nuzzle her and rubs up against them.
Dilemma finally let me pet her today. Sera is still very shy but comes close to me now. She still won't let me touch her but I think it will happen quickly now that the other ewe lambs are in with her. If only I didn't have to work and could stay home and spend more time with my animals!!!

DREAM says.... ..."Mom never even came on MY side of the fence today! I'm feeling a bit neglected!"
I'm sorry Dreamer, I'll try to get out and pet you tomorrow, after work...

What a Great Day...

Rosie was a busy girl (finally!) while I was at work today. I came home to find her in the barn with this handsome fellow all cleaned up and nursing. Gotta love these first-time Shetland moms!


Within hours, Rosie brought her son outside for some sunshine and fresh air. Meet "Bluff Country American Idol"

When I moved the 'older' ewes & lambs over to the side pasture, Calypso and Bella (Zest's black twins) stayed behind. It took me a while to round up Calypso and get him back in with the moms and older babies. What a nice ram lamb he's growing up to be!


Daisy is very relieved that lambing is over in the Bluff Country!

Lily uses her own personal door to the barn as she heads in for a cat nap.

DREAM says...
..."Maybe now things can get back to normal around here. I've MISSED you guys!!"

KITTENS!

Daisy and Lily are very spoiled kittens. They have their very own sheep skin rug that they love to lounge on in the master bedroom. They snuggle and cuddle and wrestle. I love having two kittens!

Dream says....

..."OK, they're cute. I don't think they need a WHOLE blog post for just them!! How about more SHEEP pictures, Mom???"

LOTS OF PICTURES!

Daisy supervises as I download photos onto the computer











While my Lovely Lily basks in the sun on "her" lambskin rug.







It's a beautiful, sunny day so I go outside to get some new pictures of my flock. The girls are waiting for me by the gate. It's been a while since I've actually sat out with my sheep. Fortunately, they don't seem to have forgotten me.






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Of course, Dream and Rosie and Zest crowded in so close that it was hard for Alice to get close enough to get petted!






Phoebe and Flash are happy to be back together after being separated during breeding season.

Click on this photo to see how beautiful Zaria's (Shaela/iset) fleece is.

I'm never going to get the text to line up with the pictures in this post, or get rid of that blue text ~ so I think I'll just go KNIT for a while.... Happy New Year!!

Dream says.....

..."I missed you guys TOO!!!"

HEALTHY Kittens...

It's about time!


I finally took the kittens to the vet. Lily was coming around, pretty well, from her cold but Daisy was really miserable and was starting to lose her appetite. So $108.00 later, they've both been treated and are on medication and are SO MUCH FUN! They run and play and purr....I'd forgotten what it was like to have HEALTHY kittens in the house. That was, definitely, one hundred dollars well spent!


Both girls were treated for an 'upper respiratory infection' and are now on twice daily amoxicillin. I'm getting pretty handy with that little pipette...


I feel guilty for having taken so long to take them to the vet. I thought they'd shake the bug on their own. But when Daisy didn't seem to be getting better and started losing her appetite, it was time to go.



Both girls also had EAR MITES. A disgusting bunch of critters that look like tiny wood ticks, crawling around in their ears ~ the vet was kind enough to let me view them, under a microscope. No wonder Daisy lost her appetite!!! Both girls were treated for the mites (and wormed) and I brought home treatment for Mimi as well...
So much for "free cats"!!! (and they STILL need vaccinations and spaying!) Don't worry ~ they're worth every cent.

Dream says.....

..."Take Time to Smell the Leaves (isn't that supposed to be 'the Roses??) Don't forget about ME, Mom! I'm waiting for you!"

As I finished writing this post, my doorbell rang. It was a sheriff's deputy, here to serve me divorce papers. I guess Don's in a hurry.

I'm going to go out and sit with my sheep for a little while. Then I want to get the barn cleaned and make room for more hay. I'll take a shower and try to meet with an attorney this afternoon.

Chicken Soup...

I find petting a kitten very much like Chicken Soup for the soul. It soothes and calms me. And when she purrs, my heart smiles...


But my poor little "Lily" is not feeling well. She's got a bad cold. I called the vet ~ was going to take her in for shots and worming ~ but they said they won't treat her while she's sick. She has to tough it out. So I made her chicken soup. Real chicken soup ~ with real chicken and carrots and celery and wide, egg noodles. I figure, she's sneezing and all stuffed up. Even her poor little eyes are mattery. Chicken soup helps me when I have a cold. So, I made her chicken soup. She loves it! I give it to her (and Daisy) twice a day. It really does seem to make her feel better! She doesn't sneeze for several hours after she eats it and will play with Daisy and me.

Look who's finally decided to join the fun...

Don't worry, Mimi is current on her shots, so should be safe from the kittens' cold. Now if only the humans could learn to get along as well as the animals...

Actually, Don and I are talking. Amazingly enough, we're having calm, rational discussions regarding our options. We haven't made any firm decisions but will continue to discuss things, over the weekend, and have some sort of a plan (for what ever we decide) in the next few days. I'm feeling OK.

Dream says...

..."That's all just fine and dandy but Rosie and I are feeling a little NEGLECTED. I don't believe you even came out to see me today! sniff, sniff."

I'm sorry, Dreamer ~ I get off work, early, tomorrow and will be picking up hay for you and all your friends. I promise you lots of hugs tomorrow...

Counting my blessings...

One day at a time. That's how I deal with difficult situations. Some may accuse me of not facing things. I prefer to think of it as counting my blessings. I am so grateful for all of the support and love that so many have offered as I face this difficult time. Through the comments, private e-mails and phone calls, you have made me feel loved. Thank you, dear friends and friends I haven't even met! I have the most wonderful children in the entire world and am so grateful to God for the blessings that they are. Of course, you all know, I take MUCH pleasure in my animals. Daisy and Lily are constantly bringing a smile to my face with their antics.

They both purred today. I swear ~ I did too. These little ladies (?) were adopted from Kim's barn and are a bit on the wild side. They are adjusting to their new home, with it's menagerie of much larger animals. Mimi is NOT impressed and the dogs are either very curious or very hungry...

I took a 'sick day' off work today. I needed to catch up on my sleep and spend some time with my critters. I know I have a lot of things that I have to take care of but my physical health required a day of peace. As always, my animals give me a sense of peace and serenity.

It's almost as if God knew I was going to need something to make me smile and that's why I spontaneously went to Kim's to bring home the kittens. It wasn't planned. I just did it.
It's awful hard to be feeling sad when looking at something like this!

I spent some time with my sheep today too. Did some moving around of temporary electric fences in preparation for breeding season. Yes, as of now, I'm still planning on going ahead with breeding. If I am forced to sell any or all of my flock, I doubt that the fact that they are bred or have lambs by their sides will reduce the chance of selling them. But I don't want to think about that now...

Dream says...

...."Don't worry Mom ~ Rosie and I will take care of you!"