Weathering the Storm

We have had three good storms hit us this last week. Well, maybe good is not the right word to describe them. Winds blew pretty fierce and rain came down in dump truck loads. We lost our electricity once for about 2 1/2 hours. The boys always think this is fun as long as we are still able to cook. Isn't it funny how their stomachs take priority? After family and home my concerns are of the sheep. I know they are able to get inside the barn for protection from the storms but I do worry that a gate might blow shut and their next instinct would be to huddle close together under the trees. The trees that stand out in the pastures are big old trees and even though they have weathered some pretty bad storms for many years I do worry that they may come down with the very wet ground and high winds. 

Old Shepherds say if sheep gather together and all face the same
direction you can tell which direction the storms are coming from. 

After the storm I went to check on the sheep and everyone had done what they where suppose to and went to the barn. All our trees were standing but we did have some very large limbs break and come down just missing our round pen. 

This big tree lost a big limb, falling just short of the cement wall between us and the church next door. 

                                The sheep are happy to see a little sunshine as am I.

Fading Summer

I snapped a few photos of our fading Summer before the Fall storms hit this last week. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back on here.

Now that school is in and routines are falling into place I will try harder to post on a more regulated time schedule. 

Every time I pull the camera out they seem to feel the need to come see what I have. All of them. 

                                                           "Sheepish" aside here.

OK, that is just to close!

Enough with the camera hog-sheep shoving and pushing for their share of lens time. Here come those storm and here goes Summer. 

Where I was on 911, Remembering

Originally I was suppose to be on a flight to New Mexico, going back to renew my EMT certification. But plans had changed, instead I was at a nursing home in Astoria, Oregon working on my practicals to get into the local nursing program. I had been in EMS for a lot of years and had seen a lot of bad things. I was looking forward in getting into nursing cutting back on hours and trauma a bit. 

This is a borrowed photo from the web.
I Thank those who provided it.
I relive the scene I saw that day over and over.
Because of that I will not show any graphic scenes here.

I had an early AM shift and was standing in the room of a retired New York Firefighter who had, had a stroke and was unable to speak or walk. I had just finished getting him ready for breakfast, since we were a little early I had turned on the TV so he could watch some news. 
As the images appeared on the screen and the anchorman spoke of what was taking place, a hand gripped around my heart and started to squeeze all the emotions from me. I watched that day a scene I have never seen played on TV again since. As the reporter spoke in haste a fire truck rolled behind him towards the towers. Loaded to bear with fire fighters, so many they were hanging on to the sides of the truck. At that very moment the second tower was hit. The camera shook, the reporter screamed out , "Oh my God, oh my God, the second tower has been hit." 
The reporter and cameraman was ducking behind a car, dust rolled, derby fly by. As they stood up you could see the image of the firetruck and hear the backup alarm as it was backing out of the dust. Derby cover the truck, the windshield shattered, ..... and firefighters hurt, some slumped in the seats. Others hanging from the side of the truck lifeless. 
The news station went right away to another scene. I looked down at my patient, with all his strength he could mustard, his arm shaking, raised in the air pointing at the TV screen, tears rolling down his check and unspoken pain in his eyes. A hole was ripped through my heart and the hearts of America that day. Heroes were born, our Nation was attacked and changed for ever. Our bonds and respect for our fellow Americans grew to great heights. I, we, America, the world will never forget. 
God Bless America! We Will Never Forget September 11th

Where Have You Been?

I feel like I have not been here forever ... maybe you are feeling the same way about me?

Our beginning of the year clear up to this last week has been crazy. Between lambs being delivered, sheep sick or hurt, things breaking down, and my boys school and sports right up to having to move again for the second time in less then 7 months (not the Sheep Camp just our household).

To top things off this computer is trying it's hardest to die on me. It is old and wants to retire but we keep pushing it along. I have a hard time letting go of things that have been around for a long time.

Take for example, one of my sons has an old ewe my the name of Jasmine. She has been a great mamma giving us big healthy triplets every time she lambed. But she is up there in sheep years and is having a hard time keeping any weight on. We really need to cull her out of the flock and my son understands this and is willing but I keep putting it off. Pushing Jasmine along.

Sometimes you just need to let go, out with the old in with the new!

Speaking of new ... well sort of new ... they are about 4 weeks old now that's still new to me. Here are some pictures of our latest lambs right after they were born. These are the lambs fathered by one of our rams, the North Country Cheviot and one of our polled Dorset ewes ( #4).

Aren't they cute?

I am loving this cross breed!

This is the ewe lamb. 

                          We got twins, one ewe lamb one ram lamb.

Move over sis, where's the milk?



We'll keep the ewe lamb as a replacement ewe in our flock and sell the male as a market lamb when he is old enough. 

Don't you just want to Hug them and Squeeze them and Pet them and call them Poopsy? 

 

A peek in at the Camp

Our Horned Babies are so cute!!

This is Yum-Yum our bottle lamb, who is no longer on a bottle.
Boy, has he grown.

One gets a drink they all get a drink.

Mamas getting a much needed rest now that the lambs have all been weaned.

This ewe ( # 4 ) still has to lamb. 

She is running behind everyone else

because she was breed by our rams the North Country Cheviot. 

We are so excited to see about this can't wait to see the lambs from this cross breeding. 

This old gnarly tree at the camp makes for a great scratching post.

Wait a minute! That's not a sheep.
I have to herd more then sheep at times.
This is one of Tanner's fair pigs just keeping an eye on things.

OH, You want a KISS?
I think I"ll stick with the lambs.

Protect Those That Can Not Protect Them Selves!

Neighbors of the "Sheep Camp" have been reporting coyote activity. 

this photo was found on Google image
using key words free photos of coyotes

Coyotes have been running in packs, they attacked a cow, the cow was able to kill one. The coyotes killed another neighbor's chickens. So far the sheep are OK. We lock the ewes and lambs up in the barn at night but the rams are loose in the small pasture. I checked on them this morning they were OK. 




There were no signs of Coyote activity in their area. The rams would fight back but if these coyotes are running in a pack and willing to go after a cow it has me worried. A coyote running in a pack is unusual sounds more like domestic dogs but either way we will shoot them if they go after the sheep. 

We have all legal rights to do so, whether it is coyotes or dogs!

A TEAT for You to say I am Sorry!

Well It has been a while since I was on here and I have a blog in progress explaining why but haven't finished it yet. Since I have been gone for so long I thought I'd make it up to you by posting a couple treats for you. The first is a web site I found and liked it. 


http://www.myamericanfarm.org/

At this site there are free games about Agriculture and information for both kids, adults, and teachers. The more people are informed about farming and the farm life style the better chance to, 

        "Keep America Growing and Producing!"  
                                                        Check it out.

The second is a recipe I found that was easily tweaked to be used with lamb. It is one of those kind that if fixed right the kids will never realize what they are eating.

                            PIZZA BALLS 

There are two ways presented here to fix these both are great but the lamb is healthier and of course my preferred way. The Shepherdess

3 cans Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits (10 per can), 
56 pepperoni slices, ( This can be substituted with browned, well drained ground lamb, 1 to 2 pounds)  
Block of Colby cheese, 
1 beaten egg, 
Parmesan, Italian seasoning, Garlic powder, 
1 jar pizza sauce

Cut the block of cheese into 28 squares. 
Flatten a biscuit out. 
Stack pepperoni or ( brown ground lamb in frying pan add lightly:  Italian spices, salt, pepper, powder or fresh garlic, chopped or powdered onions. After meat is drained and cooled add 2 teaspoons to biscuits in place of pepperoni) 
Place cheese on top, 
Gather up the edges of the biscuit. 
Line up the rolls in a greased 9x13 in pan. 
Brush with beaten egg. 
Sprinkle with Parmesan, 
Italian seasoning and garlic powder. 
Bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes. 

Use the pizza sauce for dipping