Mending Fences

I always wondered, when watching western movies, why the cowboys spent so much time mending fences. C'mon, you put the fence up and your good forever, aren't you? Oh, no, you never are finished. I hate fixing fences. It took me forever to figure out how to install this fence in the first place. While I use cattle panels at home for the goats, I couldn't afford to fence in 4 acres with panels. I bought a fence charger and a bunch of electric fencing stuff, and went to it. I made a few mistakes along the way- including finding out how strong the charge is when I, without thinking, touched the bolt coming out of the charger while the charger was on (prior to attaching the fence). I guess that is one way to find out the charger does work!

I found out that, yes, they do mean it when they tell you you need more than one ground pole, the ground pole needs to be long, and the ground pole needs to be somewhere where it is wet. I found out that you do need to trim the brush around the fence, branches will fall on the fence during a storm and you actually have to walk to fence line right after the storm, or your animals may go for a long walk and the neighbors will not be happy for the visitors.

I found out that sheep cannot feel the shock through their wool, horses don't like to be shocked and once is enough to keep them far from the fence and anything that resembles an electric fence for the next 30 years. Goats will be somewhat respectful of electric fence ( as I now know to introduce each new animal to the shock of the fence before setting them free). Teenage boys LIKE to touch the fence or dare eachother to touch the fence, all to see what will happen and show how "tough" they are.

I learned to turn off the charger before fixing the fence. I learned that llamas may go through an electric fence to get out of the pasture, but are not so quick to go through that same fence to get back in, no matter how loudly you shake the grain bucket. Sheep go both ways- out or in, if there is food involved, who cares about a little zap.

But, most of all, I found out that the cowboys were always mending fences because fences always need mending. I spent a lovely time out in the snow (with my leg in its imobilizer brace) hobbling around mending first the electric fence (which the llamas went out of but didn't care to walk across to get back in) as well as repairing the back up fence (cattle wire, going around the outskirts of the property) that keeps any fence skippers from visiting the rest of the neighborhood.

*I found that picture on http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mending-fence-cynara-shelton.html

Beware of Sheep!

Tuesday was not one of my better days, LOL. Oh, yes, I can laugh about it now...not so the other day. My mother is always giving me a hard time about going up to the barn alone at night. It is about 7 miles from my house, down in a gully, and not so close to any houses. There is no electricity there either. I don't listen though.

So, Tuesday night, Addie (my dog) and I head up there to feed the animals and unload some hay. All is going well, we get grain to all the animals, throw some bales of hay out there for them. Addie did a marvelous job moving the sheep to where I wanted them. I have a couple of horses, llamas, alpacas and sheep in the pasture. We are just about to switch to unloading hay, when I realize that a couple of the sheep have left the group and are trying to get into the horse's grain. So- I send Addie around the barn ahead of me to "get the sheep". Apparently one of the large ewes (the romney) got spooked (most of the sheep aren't overly intimidated by the dog, but this one is) and comes flying around the barn at full speed. At that very moment, I'm walking innocently around the barn to make sure everyone is back to their right spot.

It was dark, and the ewe being black...I didn't see her until the instant before she hit me. I had no time to react, though, and she slams head first (you know- those rock hard heads that sheep have-argh) into my left knee. I hear a pop, and feel my lower leg go in the wrong direction, and I go flying through the air. Sheep keeps running...without care that she just tried to kill her foodsource. (Okay- now, I know sheep aren't the brightest animals on a farm, but this one is especially dumb, and if she wasn't my sister's sheep she wouldn't even have been there.)

I could not believe the pain I was in- I thought for sure I broke my leg (which I didn't- but I did seriously sprain my medial collateral ligament in my knee- apparently an injury that football players get a lot- great). I layed there yelling for help for a good hour before someone heard me (like I said- there is not really anyone around there). A jogger heard me and with the help of a flashlight, found me and called an ambulance. I'm so thankful for the jogger. We were expecting an ice storm to start in another hour or so, which would have been horrible.

I did have my english shepherd dog (farm collie) with me. She was so good. Not as good as Lassie (wasn't my dog supposed to go to a neighbors house and bark in morse code to dial 911?) but, she did stay right with me, with intermittent runs to the middle of the pasture to bark for help, and then right by my side. She wasn't so sure she wanted to let the ambulance people near me, and went into protective mode, but once she saw they were there to help, she let them work on me, going back and forth licking them. But- I'm thinking next time I go up there late at night...I'll bring a human buddy as well!

Moral of the store...watch out for psycho sheep!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas this year was the most wonderful one ever. For the first time all of our family was together for Christmas morning. I have to say, I have the best kids ever. Our two oldest, both just turned 16, are going for their drivers permits this week. Gosh- that's a scary thought. I don't know how they got that grown up! It is going to be really weird to be sitting in the passenger seat while my sons' are driving! My one daughter is getting into wearing make up, another sign that the kids are growing up. This is just amazing- especially since there is no way I am old enough to have teenagers, LOL. Wish that wasn't so, but alas, I apparently am.

Then we went home, got the little one's to bed and hung out waiting for Santa.

Christmas eve ended at 3am when I went to bed. At 4am there was a sweet 12 year old telling us it was morning. How confused she must have been-LOL- it couldn't possibly be morning yet. We sent her back to bed with instructions not to return before 6am. Luckily the kids gave us until 7am and then they were all up and anxious to see what Santa had brought. The boys were thrilled to get a new xbox360 and can't wait to get live with it later this weekend. The boys also got model rocket stuff, so I"m sure NASA will be jealous of the happenings of our backyard in a few weeks! The girls got dolls, dolls and more dolls, doll houses, doll beds, etc. etc. Camille, of course got make up. Both the older girls got their own sheep and goat grooming supplies (yeah- I won't have to hunt through the backyard looking for my supplies anymore!) Little Markie got all sorts of trucks, cars and trains- so he is in his glory vrooming around the house!

We then went to Grammie and Fafa's house (in our jammies) to see what Santa left there. After a wonderful breakfast, we came home to relax, play with our new toys, and take care of the farm chores. Later in the day we went to Auntie Melissa and Uncle Jon's house for dinner (yum) of ham and turkey and all sorts of stuff. By the time we got back home, I was exhausted and fell sound asleep-

What a wonderful holiday it was all around!

Snow Day!

We got about a foot of snow and the kids and Addie are having a blast! The goats, on the other hand are not at all happy. They can be found peeking their heads out from their shelters waiting for it to end. The ducks and geese don't seem to mind much. The alpacas don't seem to mind snow- they were running around outside in it yesterday and we waiting by the fence for their breakfast. I love snow days... a good excuse to stay home with the kids, make crafts, bake, watch movies, and snuggle together. The little ones (ages 2 and 3) made the cutest little frames for their grandparents out of bowtie pasta dyed with food color glued onto popsicle sticks. They were so pleased with their creations. The girls are busy crocheting scarves for their family members.

The girls (10 and 12) spent hours outside in the snow playing, sledding, etc. Then after dinner (which was delicious and easy to make- chicken breasts baked in mushroom soup and chardonney) so tasty. Add to that green bean casserole and roasted potatoes with italian seasoning. the kids finished off the 6 dozen cookies I had made for the cookie swap at church which was cancelled due to the snow.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to think about all the blessings in your life and to thank God for those blessings. When times are tough, with layoffs and the problems with the stock market and high prices on necessities and so forth, it can seem overwhelming and you wonder if your life is blessed or not. But, if you look closely at what is truly important, you will see that your blessings far outnumber your troubles.

What am I thankful for? First of all, my relationship with God. Without my faith I never would have made it through those tough times in life, nor would I really be able to appreciate the wonderful blessings I have had. I am thankful for my incredible children. I am thankful for my loving parents,  siblings, aunts and uncles. I am thankful for my home and my farm. The precious animals that have been intrusted into my care. I am thankful for my health, and the health of my children and family. I am thankful that I live in a country where I can be a farmer, or a teacher, or anything I would like to be. I am thankful that I have food on the table, insurance to see a doctor when I'm sick, a warm bed to sleep in, and a car to drive. There is so much to be thankful for. My life is far from perfect, but it is a truly blessed life.

As for the rest of Thanksgiving- The turkey was great! Gobbles (our pet turkey) was glad he wasn't on the menu, LOL. The animals all had their special Thanksgiving meal (their grain mixed with chopped carrots, mashed pumpkin, molasses and oats).

In Memory of Duke

Duke, a black lab mix

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Needle Felting Classes, New Animals, 4H

Beginning next month I will be able to offer classes in needle felting at Cupola Hollow Farm in West Suffield. Our first class offering will be a beginner level class and we will be creating holiday pins/ornaments. If all goes well, we will continue to offer various classes there, including other beginner needle felting classes, intermediate classes, "painting" with felt classes, wet felting classes and more. Our November Newsletter (you can sign up on the http://www.tranquilmorningfarm.com/ website) will include dates and information about available classes.

We've added some new fiber animals to our wonderful farm. We have two new llamas who will be arriving soon, Nicole and Peek a boo. Both females, who we plan on breeding to Dominoe of Henson's Menagerie. We now have 3 female alpacas (one of whom was born on our farm recently) and four male alpacas. We have settled on breeding shetland sheep, shetland/icelandic crosses and cormo/cotswold crosses. The crosses have been carefully thought out to achieve a particular type of fiber. We are presently breeding our colored angora goats, nigerian dwarf goats, and nubian dairy goats for early spring kids.

Our 4H club is off to a running start this year. We have already had a couple of community service projects and have a couple of big ones planned for this year, including bringing 4H activities and our animals to a housing complex in the city. Our club, at last count, has 19 members doing alpacas and llamas, dairy, meat and fiber goats, sheep, rabbits and poultry. Sounds like a fun year!!