Back to Winter...

Cold weather has returned to the Bluff Country!

"BLUFF COUNTRY KAHLUA"

 

"BLUFF COUNTRY TIA MARIA"

The ewe lambs (coming yearlings) don't mind one bit.  In fact, I can't even lure them into their barn with food!  They prefer to eat (and sleep) outside!   I've never been one to shut my sheep in so trust their judgement as far as shelter goes as they have free access to a barn and to a large, round calf-hut.

I do believe that their luxuriously thick, soft wool does a fine job of keeping them comfortable!

I know that I sure enjoyed burying my hands in it when I sat out with the girls for a while the other day.

I am ashamed to say that I'd almost forgotten how incredibly good for my soul sitting with sheep is!  It was exactly what I needed after all the stress and worry of the past few years weeks days!

HERO (aka Jake) UPDATE:

Hero continues to heal.  He is feeling better and it's getting more difficult to keep him from playing with the other dogs.  Fortunately, he minds VERY well...

Again, I wish to give a heart-felt THANK YOU to those of you who have pitched in with donations to help me keep Bluff Country Canine Rescue going.  When I decided to get involved in saving homeless dogs from a life of living in a cage in a shelter (if they were LUCKY!), I don't think that I realized how much time and money it would take.  Not that that would have stopped me!  I keep thinking that I'm not going to be able to keep helping these homeless dogs because of finances (I've been unemployed for over two years and am now getting by on  Disability), yet somehow, God provides.  Through caring people like YOU!

The dogs and I thank you.

Long time no Blog!

Sorry about that.  Having six (oh yeah, you guys might not even KNOW about the sixth dog ~ I'll get to him in a minute) dogs in my house and running to veterinary appointments, interviewing Foster Family applicants and potential adopters, and trying to keep up the Bluff Country Canine Rescue Facebook page have kept me running as fast as I can and I never quite get to everything that I want or have to do!  I am proud to say, however, I have managed to keep my house clean!  ;-)

Oh yes, before I say anything more about dogs;  I haven't forgotten that I promised a sheep photo on this blog post.  Here ya go:

Tia and Kahlua are quite content being the only two sheep left in the Bluff Country.  Tia especially seems to enjoy 'playing' with the dogs. through the fence.  The girls are getting super fluffy ~ I can't wait to get my hands on their wool.

As I mentioned above, I am now up to SIX dogs in my house.   Last weekend, a HUGE, beautiful stray was brought to my home, after he had spent several weeks hanging around some kind people's house.  The couple had even placed an ad in the local newspaper but no one claimed this handsome boy:

Meet "Jake"

OMG, I am SO in love!

I think that Jake is a Malamute cross (possibly crossed with Rotweiller) and I fell in love with him the very second that I saw him.  He reminds me SO VERY much of my 'heart dog' , "Rocky" .  Rocky was a Husky/Rotweiller cross and he looked almost like Jake, except that he was black and tan where Jake is black and cream.  I just can't explain the feeling that comes over me when I pet and hold Jake.

More dog news.

This time not so good.

Although Jill has finally recovered from her pneumonia, she has lost her vision.  In only a matter of days, she went from perfectly normal vision to none.  I'm afraid the vet confirmed it on Thursday, Jill is completely blind.  Needless to say, this absolutely breaks my heart.  She is such a sweet, playful, young dog who has had enough bad breaks in her short life!

The one thing that keeps this from being devastating for me is Jill herself.  She is not fearful and trembling.  Sure, she walks more slowly now and bumps into lots of things.  But she's already got the lay of my house down pretty well and as you can see in this video, she has not lost her spunk

 one.  little.  bit!

Have a great weekend Everyone and don't forget to follow the fun on the Saturday Pet Blogger!

(Sheep!) Wordless Wednesday

And then there were TWO...

Tia Maria (left) and Kahlua ('panda face'/yuglet) are the only two sheep remaining in the Bluff Country. 

TIA

KAHLUA

I feel very fortunate to have them here!

Bacardi, Firecracker and Kiss left for their new home yesterday.

We do still have one guest:

'My' beautiful Zaria is still here until I take her back to Jean's later this week.  I sure hope she was bred during her brief visit!

This is my favorite photo of Tia.

She reminds me of a peanut butter cookie!!!

Good news from the vet today.

Jazz (my lab cross rescue) tested negative for heartworm and is already spayed.  That saved me a lot of money!  Now she's up to date on her shots and dewormed and ready to really enjoy her new life...

Jazz is SUCH a sweet dog!


THANK YOU to those of you who have contributed to our "VET FUND"! 
Every penny donated will go to the care of dogs that I rescue.

I got my Mojo muse back!

Actually, it's my camera. 

Apparently I am incapable of blogging without photographs.

Recently taken photos, to be specific.

My camera has been at my Dear Friend, Jean's, since she hosted a Fiber Farm Tour almost a month ago.  Hence, no pictures.  Hence no blog posts.

Sheesh!  Who'd a thunk that's all it would take to shut me up?

Now for the REALLY good news:

There are still sheep in the Bluff Country!

You may remember that my sister, Penny, bought "Kahlua"

(here she is, almost all grown up!)

and "Tia Maria"

(I'm such a sucker for moorit ewe lambs!)

Not only do I have these two beauties to satisfy my longing for snuggling with sheep, but there are MORE:

"Bacardi"

This handsome boy is such a sweetheart that he steals the heart of everyone that meets him!  He loves nothing more than to be petted and scratched.  For that very reason, it was decided that the best life for Bacardi would be that of a beloved fiber pet.  He was recently wethered and is going to live with

"Kiss"

Beautiful Kiss and Bacardi are sure to be pals living their lives out in a small, rural community about fifteen miles from me!  Their new owner, Angie, will keep them as fiber pets but she does want her children to experience the miracle  of lambing ~ just once.

To make that miracle  happen, Angie has also purchased

"Firecracker"

Our Fourth of July ram lamb has eagerly accepted the job of making sure that Kiss has lambs next Spring.    At first, Kiss resisted his charms (note the blood on Kiss's poll  from the scur that broke when she & Firecracker butted heads) but the two of them are "getting along famously"  now and I am sure that Angie will have her babies next April.  After which, Angie will probably wether Firecracker as well so that she can keep him as a 'forever pet' too.

Before Bacardi, Kiss & Firecracker leave the Bluff Country for their new home, Firecracker may just be paying a visit to my friend, Jean's house.  We're thinking that "Zaria" really should have some more lambs...one for Jean and one for ME!

What the heck?  My house may NEVER sell...

;-)

The Dance...

It was a rainy, drizzly day yesterday.

Wouldn't you know that on that kind of day I decided to go out and sit with the sheep for the first time since I started selling them in the early summer?

I know that I was avoiding being close to the sheep to try and minimize the pain when they left.  Now that I'm finally home again, I've decided that rather than avoid the pain, I'm going to enjoy "The Dance" while I still have them!

The ram lambs have gotten so big that I almost didn't recognize them!

I'm completely in love with "Bacardi" ~ the big white, Polar Bear son.

If someone doesn't jump on buying him soon, I may just wether him and KEEP him.  At least for as long as I'm still living here...

My sister Penny now owns Tia Maria and Kahlua.

Kiss is the only adult ewe still residing in the Bluff Country.

That little Tia Maria is adorable!

And Kahlua is a COOKIE MONSTER!!!

It is SO good to be back home.

DREAM says...

KEEP  DANCING!

My Baby Sister and her Lamb...

*  as always, click on any image to enlarge  *

Although I don't feel strong enough to attend the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival (and MSSBA Shetland Sheep Show) this year, my sister Penny will be attending and showing with her daughter, Alicia, and the two ewe lambs they bought from me.

The show is next weekend (9/10) and Penny & Alicia have been working hard trying to get their lambs halter trained.  Alicia is doing pretty well with "Kahlua" but Penny's a bit behind with "Tia Maria"...

Even though Penny tries to bribe Tia with cookies (animal crackers),  Tia Maria is a stubburn little soul:

I don't think I've laughed so hard since my BC diagnosis!

Penny has tried talking with Tia...

But there still seems to be a bit of an 'attitude problem'!

Luckily for Tia Maria,

Penny still  loves her very much!

If you're going to the WSWF please watch for Penny & Tia Maria in the ewe lamb class and cheer them on for me!