I didn't know what a nor'easter was, except for a big snowstorm, so I googled it. I mean, everyone was talking about the nor'easter since last Thursday, and it's Monday, and the nor'easter is here. About 2 inches of it, so far.
A nor'easter is a storm caused when the jet stream gets so wound up backwards, that it creates a storm hundreds of miles wide that turns counter-clockwise, opposite of a hurricane, and on land. Because of jet stream dynamics, it "gets stuck," so moves real slow, and can last up to a week. The swirling storm causes the wind to come from the northeast, which in Ohio, is the wrong direction. Winds are supposed to come from the northWEST (cold winds - warm winds come from the SOUTHwest). The only time winds come from the east in Ohio, is when something is seriously wrong.
Fortunately, this nor'easter is only supposed to dump 6 inches on this part of Ohio. The 2 feet or so is supposed to happen further east, when it "gets stuck." That's if the weather channel people are right, which they often are not.
Unfortunately, my 15-yr-old son's private school is having "intensives" this week, and most of them are travelling. One group is even supposed to be backpacking. My son is going religion-hopping, going westward to Columbus, then south to Wilmington. I hope they are in Wilmington.
There was a 2-hr delay in most of the local schools today in anticipation of the snow. The problem was, it was raining, not snowing. After all the kids got into school, then it started to snow. The roads weren't too bad, still, when they let out, but I thought it was all rather silly. The superintendant who used to drive down the backroads before making a choice - he retired a few years ago, and I guess the person who replaced him doesn't do that.
Today I was in Bellaire trying to sign that son up for the academic program he wants to be in at the High School (going to college his Junior&Senior years and getting HS and college credit). Bellaire is in the deep river valley. About an inch had accumulated up on the ridges where we live, but in the river valley, the grass was green. People don't know there are parts of Ohio that act like the mountains. And all in the same school district.
Anyway, it looks like my son will be able to do the post-secondary option, but like taxes and financial aid forms, it is going to be more work...and here I sit, just writing about it...
Monday, February 28, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Bragging Rights
My oldest son recently created a website for his high school robotics club. He also received a scholarship for DeVry in Phoenix for next year. I'm very proud of him! DeVry gave his school a very large grant for the international robotics competition. You can read all about it at
http://robocolt.jt.org/
http://robocolt.jt.org/
Tomato plants
I have transplanted over 180 seedlings in the past few days - mostly tomatoes (Rutger, red and yellow cherry, 4th-of-July) but also green and hot peppers, brussel sprouts, basil and cosmos. I had to...the kitty litter pans I used to plant the seedlings in looked too much like the real thing, I guess. Midnight and Zoe don't seem to bother the peat pots, once they're transplanted. I still have around 50 yellow cherry tomatos to go.
The Rutger tomatoes have already outgrown their peat pots, so I went out to the barn looking for bigger plastic pots today, unsuccessfully. I was standing outside of the barn, viewing the two holes from boards that have fallen off, contemplating how to get a ladder up there to replace them, when Ali Baa Baa (the ram) came and stood directly under my feet, staring up at me, and after a while began nibbling on my sleeve, to tell me he was hungry. So I fed everyone.
Bruce showed up around then, and helped finish feeding. Then I decided to finally dig a ditch around the old chicken house that has two walls fallen out and a creek running through it. Bruce decided to help me with that too. The pasture around the chicken house is a swamp. Or, was a swamp. We worked until it got dark and chilly.
This morning I woke up with a headache that turned into a migraine later, and I was out of Ibuprofen. We all ran some errands (including getting ibuprofen), then went out for a very late breakfast (around noon) at Denny's. It was packed full. As I paid the bill, the manager told me the electric at Bob Evans was out. My daughter wanted to go to the mall, and I wished that I had ignored her, as the electric at the mall was out also, and everyone was leaving. On Saturday afternoon. It took us a long time to get through the traffic and back home!
However, I feel good now. It was a very productive day. I mailed a letter with pictures of baby animals to my sister in New York. I got a lot accomplished, including a job that was so past due that the creek bed had changed its course through an outbuilding. (I think hurricane Ivan was partially responsible for that though). The plan is to get so much done that we'll have the gumption to build a greenhouse. Then my tomatoes won't take up so much of the living room in front of the picture window.
The Rutger tomatoes have already outgrown their peat pots, so I went out to the barn looking for bigger plastic pots today, unsuccessfully. I was standing outside of the barn, viewing the two holes from boards that have fallen off, contemplating how to get a ladder up there to replace them, when Ali Baa Baa (the ram) came and stood directly under my feet, staring up at me, and after a while began nibbling on my sleeve, to tell me he was hungry. So I fed everyone.
Bruce showed up around then, and helped finish feeding. Then I decided to finally dig a ditch around the old chicken house that has two walls fallen out and a creek running through it. Bruce decided to help me with that too. The pasture around the chicken house is a swamp. Or, was a swamp. We worked until it got dark and chilly.
This morning I woke up with a headache that turned into a migraine later, and I was out of Ibuprofen. We all ran some errands (including getting ibuprofen), then went out for a very late breakfast (around noon) at Denny's. It was packed full. As I paid the bill, the manager told me the electric at Bob Evans was out. My daughter wanted to go to the mall, and I wished that I had ignored her, as the electric at the mall was out also, and everyone was leaving. On Saturday afternoon. It took us a long time to get through the traffic and back home!
However, I feel good now. It was a very productive day. I mailed a letter with pictures of baby animals to my sister in New York. I got a lot accomplished, including a job that was so past due that the creek bed had changed its course through an outbuilding. (I think hurricane Ivan was partially responsible for that though). The plan is to get so much done that we'll have the gumption to build a greenhouse. Then my tomatoes won't take up so much of the living room in front of the picture window.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Wet Bear
Sometime last week, my husband commented on the way back from the barn, "Whoever is holding Ursula Major is getting wet."
Then I had a dream about a wet grizzly bear rocking my car. It didn't occur to me the two might be related until I went back and read what I wrote. I was traveling south in my dream, and Ursula Major is north. Okay, I'm still confused about what my dream meant.
Then I had a dream about a wet grizzly bear rocking my car. It didn't occur to me the two might be related until I went back and read what I wrote. I was traveling south in my dream, and Ursula Major is north. Okay, I'm still confused about what my dream meant.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Drugs, Zoe and Midnight
A relative of a relative disappeared, and it had something to do with drugs, and two kitties needed a home. So a few days ago, we took in Zoe and Midnight. There was a 13-year-old girl in the house the same as mine - she went to live with her grandma, who can't have kitties. The kitties must have bonded very strongly to her, because Midnight just wailed when my daughter left for school yesterday. Midnight is a HUGE (as in fat), black 9-yr-old fixed male. He looks and acts like a black Garfield. Someone has loved him very, very much because he is just the nicest cat.
Zoe is a 5-month-old short haired tabby-calico who has adopted the top of my computer screen as a hang-out spot. She's a bit more lively. I think she has burmese in her because she has the biggest, curiousest eyes. She is very playful.
I bought Midnight this cool black&white tiger collar to match his shiny black coat. Zoe got an all black one, and both have bells. They are dingalinging around the house right now, at 2:45 am, like kitties do. The relatives talked like it was permanent placement. They were going to leave these indoor kitties outdoors on a beef farm of another relative. I was missing my 10-yr-old kitty that disappeared in December, so I took them and saved them from the wildish beef farm kitties. I have a hunch that this little girl may want her kitties back if and when she ever gets to a place she can keep them. Meanwhile, they can hang out here.
Zoe is a 5-month-old short haired tabby-calico who has adopted the top of my computer screen as a hang-out spot. She's a bit more lively. I think she has burmese in her because she has the biggest, curiousest eyes. She is very playful.
I bought Midnight this cool black&white tiger collar to match his shiny black coat. Zoe got an all black one, and both have bells. They are dingalinging around the house right now, at 2:45 am, like kitties do. The relatives talked like it was permanent placement. They were going to leave these indoor kitties outdoors on a beef farm of another relative. I was missing my 10-yr-old kitty that disappeared in December, so I took them and saved them from the wildish beef farm kitties. I have a hunch that this little girl may want her kitties back if and when she ever gets to a place she can keep them. Meanwhile, they can hang out here.
Wearing me out
I have been sick with an intestinal something or other for about 3 days now. Why do I always get sick on my days off??? We managed to get the last sheep ready to lamb into a pen in the barn.
Today was busy. My 15-year-old son wants to take "secondary option" his junior year in high school, which means he goes to a local college for classes, and gets both college and high school credit for the classes. It requires a 3.5 GPA. He has a 3.67 GPA. The deadline to sign up is Friday this week, plus he has to enroll in the local public school. I had to run and get his transcript from his private school today, and I have a meeting the day between two night shifts, Thursday, just before the deadline. Joy, joy. The sacrifices we make for our children. I figure he earned it though. I'll suffer through it, and hope I don't get sicker.
My 13-year-old daughter is secretary of her 4-H club. They had a meeting last night and chose projects for the next year. She chose 3 - Writing and Reporting for Teens, a geneology project, and Market Lambs. I tried talking her into market goats, but she likes the lambs better. I know they require a LOT more work. I guess she will find out the hard way. I have a friend whose daughter won grand champion market lamb a few years ago in another county. I'll have to have her daughter come over and give mine some pointers. We are spankin' new at it, and clueless.
The pick-up's breaks are shot. I had it towed yesterday to the dealers, and they quoted me $1500-2000 "at least" for the job. Today I paid to have it towed to one of my brother's friend's who does mechanical work - he's been talking about doing it since December. I figure, it'll be at least summer before I can come up with $1500, so why not have this guy do it anyhow? Okay, so I'm already over $100 out, just in towing. It sucks. But if you have farm animals, you need a good truck.
Anyone who thinks there's money in farming ought to think again! Tax breaks, maybe - but not as much as you already spent! I went grocery shopping after paying the tow truck. I'm tired. My stomach is rumbling. I burnt the pizza.
Today was busy. My 15-year-old son wants to take "secondary option" his junior year in high school, which means he goes to a local college for classes, and gets both college and high school credit for the classes. It requires a 3.5 GPA. He has a 3.67 GPA. The deadline to sign up is Friday this week, plus he has to enroll in the local public school. I had to run and get his transcript from his private school today, and I have a meeting the day between two night shifts, Thursday, just before the deadline. Joy, joy. The sacrifices we make for our children. I figure he earned it though. I'll suffer through it, and hope I don't get sicker.
My 13-year-old daughter is secretary of her 4-H club. They had a meeting last night and chose projects for the next year. She chose 3 - Writing and Reporting for Teens, a geneology project, and Market Lambs. I tried talking her into market goats, but she likes the lambs better. I know they require a LOT more work. I guess she will find out the hard way. I have a friend whose daughter won grand champion market lamb a few years ago in another county. I'll have to have her daughter come over and give mine some pointers. We are spankin' new at it, and clueless.
The pick-up's breaks are shot. I had it towed yesterday to the dealers, and they quoted me $1500-2000 "at least" for the job. Today I paid to have it towed to one of my brother's friend's who does mechanical work - he's been talking about doing it since December. I figure, it'll be at least summer before I can come up with $1500, so why not have this guy do it anyhow? Okay, so I'm already over $100 out, just in towing. It sucks. But if you have farm animals, you need a good truck.
Anyone who thinks there's money in farming ought to think again! Tax breaks, maybe - but not as much as you already spent! I went grocery shopping after paying the tow truck. I'm tired. My stomach is rumbling. I burnt the pizza.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Dreams
I've been having strange dreams the past two nights. The one two nights ago was most profound. I was traveling with my daughter and our dog - a black cocker spaniel mix. We were going south across a state like WV. We went down this really long, steep hill (more like a mountain) into a town. There was a stop sign at the bottom, and I wasn't sure I could stop, but I did. Then we were looking for a particular road. We went through the stop, and bore right. We went across some RR tracks, and were following a valley. None of the road signs were correct, so I looked for a place to turn around.
There was an old, stone or block church to the left on a creek bottom, across a small bridge. We turned in there to turn around. The church was very familiar, like I had been to it in another dream. Above it was a hill, and I knew there was a trailer park on the hill, so I looked for the trailers, and they were up there.
The parking lot of the church was eroding away into the winding, shallow creek bed. Going up the hill behind the church was a waterfall-like creek. There was a big grizzly bear climbing up the creek bed. The bear was soaking wet. As I backed up and began to pull out, my car went forward into part of the eroded lot, way too fast, and splashed into the creek bed. I was afraid we'd drown, but it wasn't deep enough. My daughter and my dog were scared. The dog didn't bark. The bear came over to the car, and started to rock it to get us out of it, and we hurried up and closed the windows.
Then I woke up.
There was an old, stone or block church to the left on a creek bottom, across a small bridge. We turned in there to turn around. The church was very familiar, like I had been to it in another dream. Above it was a hill, and I knew there was a trailer park on the hill, so I looked for the trailers, and they were up there.
The parking lot of the church was eroding away into the winding, shallow creek bed. Going up the hill behind the church was a waterfall-like creek. There was a big grizzly bear climbing up the creek bed. The bear was soaking wet. As I backed up and began to pull out, my car went forward into part of the eroded lot, way too fast, and splashed into the creek bed. I was afraid we'd drown, but it wasn't deep enough. My daughter and my dog were scared. The dog didn't bark. The bear came over to the car, and started to rock it to get us out of it, and we hurried up and closed the windows.
Then I woke up.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Sick of Work
I am SO sick of that hospital floor. I just finished the 5th night of night shifts. I was scheduled for 4, but the full-time night shift nurse has migraines that act like strokes, and had one, and I went in for her. Her face and hand on half of her body get numb, and she can't use them. She has been hospitalized for them. That's what full time nights at a hospital does to a human being.
Several staff people on the unit have gotten shingles and had to take time off for them. We've had a few patients with shingles too. It seems like the year for it. I have an itchy, puffy area on my left upper outer eyelid, but I don't like going to the doctor for minor problems. They usually turn out to be nothing. But I don't want shingles on my eye either. I'd rather get put on Zovirax and have it not be than not get put on it and have it be. But I'm too tired to go to the doctor today. It's morning, and I just got home.
People at work tell me stuff about other people. I feel put in the middle of everything, and it makes me wonder what they say about me when I'm not there. Someone told me tonight that my being a Quaker was a news issue. Joy, joy. I have to watch that I don't say the wrong thing to the wrong person. On my way out the door this morning, an orderly from escort said, "Bye, nurse." He looked like my old manager from Domino's pizza 20 years ago, only skinnier. Nah. A guy in maintenance told me, "goodnight." On my way out the door, I remembered that someone in maintenance hunts on my farm, and he looked kind of familiar. Funny how day shift staff tell you "goodnight" in the morning when you leave - even people you don't know. I opened the door for a dressed up lady who looked like an administrative person's wife.
It started snowing on the way home, and sleeting. Then it turned back into rain. My husband is cooking me breakfast. I have a very good life.
Several staff people on the unit have gotten shingles and had to take time off for them. We've had a few patients with shingles too. It seems like the year for it. I have an itchy, puffy area on my left upper outer eyelid, but I don't like going to the doctor for minor problems. They usually turn out to be nothing. But I don't want shingles on my eye either. I'd rather get put on Zovirax and have it not be than not get put on it and have it be. But I'm too tired to go to the doctor today. It's morning, and I just got home.
People at work tell me stuff about other people. I feel put in the middle of everything, and it makes me wonder what they say about me when I'm not there. Someone told me tonight that my being a Quaker was a news issue. Joy, joy. I have to watch that I don't say the wrong thing to the wrong person. On my way out the door this morning, an orderly from escort said, "Bye, nurse." He looked like my old manager from Domino's pizza 20 years ago, only skinnier. Nah. A guy in maintenance told me, "goodnight." On my way out the door, I remembered that someone in maintenance hunts on my farm, and he looked kind of familiar. Funny how day shift staff tell you "goodnight" in the morning when you leave - even people you don't know. I opened the door for a dressed up lady who looked like an administrative person's wife.
It started snowing on the way home, and sleeting. Then it turned back into rain. My husband is cooking me breakfast. I have a very good life.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Sweetie
A little white lamb we hadn't seen before came into the barn during feeding tonight. It's umbilical chord was dried up, and it was friendly. Snowie, one of our sheep, claimed her. Snowie just happens to be the daughter of the sheep that died yesterday. Snowie also happens to have been the first lamb born on our farm since I've lived here. She was born in that deep February snow two winters ago.
We figure that this little lamb has to have been born the day its grandmother died, on Valentines Day. So we named her "Sweetie." What a sweet suprise.
We figure that this little lamb has to have been born the day its grandmother died, on Valentines Day. So we named her "Sweetie." What a sweet suprise.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Sad Valentine
It is a rainy, sad Valentines Day. One of the sheep developed a bad case of pregnancy toxemia over the weekend. We had the vet out Sat. morning, and we were giving her the propylene glycol and penicillin shots. She died this morning. It was too late to get her to the vet and get the twins out. She was my favorite sheep - beautiful brown/black fleece and a matriarchal, friendly disposition. For Valentines Day, my husband buried my sheepie, in the rain. I couldn't help after a 3 night shift stretch with the 4th to go tonight. My daughter also came home from school, sick today.
We shared cards and candy this morning. I bought my husband a rose on the way home from work, and a small oreo cookie cake. It made him very happy. He put the rose in a vase and put it on the table, and he shared two little bites of his cookie cake with me before putting it away for later.
We shared cards and candy this morning. I bought my husband a rose on the way home from work, and a small oreo cookie cake. It made him very happy. He put the rose in a vase and put it on the table, and he shared two little bites of his cookie cake with me before putting it away for later.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Chip
I was scrolling down my blog and noticed a reply that I hadn't seen, and it was barbali already suggesting a name for my lambie. Well, we already named him Cadbury, but I'm sure there may be a Chip coming up soon! I just posted a picture of the tiny goat, Pippin.
Crescent Moons and Indian Spirits
I had been thinking about my oldest son, living with his dad in Phoenix, wondering about how his high school graduation will go; feeling apprehensive about flying out and being on a plane again.
The lane from our farm in Ohio goes straight uphill to the northwest. As I left last night at 9:45 pm for midnight shift, I drove uphill and a huge, waxing crescent moon emerged from the top of the hill in the west, turning the black sky gray. The moon was on the horizon, and so appeared enormous. It was surrounded with a haze. It was absolutely breathtaking. It was like a promise that things in the west were okay.
Cadbury, the black lamb, is faring delightfully. We have a total of 5 healthy kids from 3 goats. The goats are done now, but we have 3 sheep yet to lamb. The latest drama is that my matriarch ewe is down with pregnancy toxemia. The vet says she might pull through, but it is yet more work in a very busy winter. More shots, excercising animals, checking, checking, checking.
I've been thinking, if I have more black or gray sheepies, what to name them. I've been thinking of names like "Rolo," "Scor," "Russell Stover," "Hershey," and "Mars." If someone thinks of something interesting, feel free to post it!
Last week I made an extra few hundred $ on my paycheck for covering during the respiratory infection that went around. So I splurged, and bought a long-desired digital camera. It was cheap, as digital cameras go, but it is NICE. It's a Canon Powershot A75. I've already downloaded pics on my computer.
Driving home from work this morning, a redtail hawk flew overhead, coming up I470 from the Ohio River. It is a sunny day, but there was a fog in the valley, as there often is. It clears out up in the ridges, and the valleys look full of marshmallow fluff. That is most noticeable in the autumn, but sometimes it happens in odd weather. The farm is nestled in the ridges, up in the sun. It must have seemed like old Scotland to my ancestors.
The I470 Wheeling bypass follows a creek up from the Ohio River into Ohio. The creek is called Whiskey Run, and you can see parts of it going up the hill. I've hiked down in there, and there is a family of beaver who dam off Whiskey Run perpetually. You can't see the dam from the interstate. The reason I can hike there is because I married into the property owner's family. Once I saw a beaver by the interstate while driving. The creek was named that because it used to be the path for bootleggers to take barrels of whiskey to the river. What is most interesting to me is that all of the surrounding property owners were Presbyterians whose descendents claim their ancestors did not DRINK.
Whiskey Run is also in the vicinity of an obscure spiritual ancient Indian site. I think their spirits are still there.
The lane from our farm in Ohio goes straight uphill to the northwest. As I left last night at 9:45 pm for midnight shift, I drove uphill and a huge, waxing crescent moon emerged from the top of the hill in the west, turning the black sky gray. The moon was on the horizon, and so appeared enormous. It was surrounded with a haze. It was absolutely breathtaking. It was like a promise that things in the west were okay.
Cadbury, the black lamb, is faring delightfully. We have a total of 5 healthy kids from 3 goats. The goats are done now, but we have 3 sheep yet to lamb. The latest drama is that my matriarch ewe is down with pregnancy toxemia. The vet says she might pull through, but it is yet more work in a very busy winter. More shots, excercising animals, checking, checking, checking.
I've been thinking, if I have more black or gray sheepies, what to name them. I've been thinking of names like "Rolo," "Scor," "Russell Stover," "Hershey," and "Mars." If someone thinks of something interesting, feel free to post it!
Last week I made an extra few hundred $ on my paycheck for covering during the respiratory infection that went around. So I splurged, and bought a long-desired digital camera. It was cheap, as digital cameras go, but it is NICE. It's a Canon Powershot A75. I've already downloaded pics on my computer.
Driving home from work this morning, a redtail hawk flew overhead, coming up I470 from the Ohio River. It is a sunny day, but there was a fog in the valley, as there often is. It clears out up in the ridges, and the valleys look full of marshmallow fluff. That is most noticeable in the autumn, but sometimes it happens in odd weather. The farm is nestled in the ridges, up in the sun. It must have seemed like old Scotland to my ancestors.
The I470 Wheeling bypass follows a creek up from the Ohio River into Ohio. The creek is called Whiskey Run, and you can see parts of it going up the hill. I've hiked down in there, and there is a family of beaver who dam off Whiskey Run perpetually. You can't see the dam from the interstate. The reason I can hike there is because I married into the property owner's family. Once I saw a beaver by the interstate while driving. The creek was named that because it used to be the path for bootleggers to take barrels of whiskey to the river. What is most interesting to me is that all of the surrounding property owners were Presbyterians whose descendents claim their ancestors did not DRINK.
Whiskey Run is also in the vicinity of an obscure spiritual ancient Indian site. I think their spirits are still there.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Starry Night
On the way back from the barn last night, my husband and I were looking at the beautiful winter sky. As we turned from a plane flying over in the south, we looked north, and he says, "Whoever is holding Ursula Major is getting wet."
Follow the drinking gourd.
Follow the drinking gourd.
Friday, February 04, 2005
Pippin
The last 24 hours have been overshadowed by a tiny male angora/dairy cross day-old goat kid I've named Pippin. We have been trying to keep him alive, and have so far succeeded. He asked to spend the night tonight in the barn with his mommy, so we let him. He has been in a box on the kitchen floor all day with a heating pad on under him, and a towel over him. He watched some TV laying on my tummy. That's when he told me he'd rather lay by his mommy. He looked at me and smacked his lips. They're under a heat lamp in the barn.
I put his mommy, Rasberry in the milking stanchion when I got home from work this morning, and milked out 4 oz of colostrum; strained it and warmed it up in the house, and he ate it hungrily. After that and a shot of vitamins, he was strong enough to be taken out to nurse all by himself. (My husband did that while I slept). But we still have to lay Rasberry down and hold her udder up for him, like the way a puppy eats. He started to find it on his own tonight, finally. He can stand up by himself now too. He's still pretty wobbly, and poodle-sized.
Meanwhile, my hold-out ewe finally lambed. She had twins, both black. One was stillborn, and its head was unnaturally large - probably got lodged in the birth canal too long. That was a girl. The other one is a boy, and he is alive and healthy. They are both very large lambs for being twins - even if they were single they would be oversized. The boy's pretty spunky - will be a beautiful black ram someday. His daddy, Ali Baa Baa is black, and his mom, Hickory is gray. We will have to figure out what to name him.
We laid the dead lamb in the room by the ewe's pen to bury her later. Our male llama is recovering from meningeal worm, and has free reign of the inside of the barn right now, cause with the lambing and kidding, it is the only secure place to keep him that isn't outside. When we went back out later, the dead lamb was covered with hay that had been scattered on the floor near the pen during feeding. It was like someone had scraped the concrete floor clean and put it all on the lamb. It was either the llama, the cocker spaniel or the spayed tom cat. The prints in the dirt look llama-like. I've heard of male llamas killing other llamas and sheep, but ours is a sucker for babies. He is curious and protective. I never would have thought he'd do something like that. We thought it was the dog for sure until we saw the scrape marks.
I have a terrible migraine that won't go away, and the computer light is driving me nuts. I should get some sleep...have to work again tomorrow and superbowl Sunday. I'd trade farming for the super bowl any day (in favor of farming of course!) Work's okay. Sick people, sick animals...what's the difference?
I put his mommy, Rasberry in the milking stanchion when I got home from work this morning, and milked out 4 oz of colostrum; strained it and warmed it up in the house, and he ate it hungrily. After that and a shot of vitamins, he was strong enough to be taken out to nurse all by himself. (My husband did that while I slept). But we still have to lay Rasberry down and hold her udder up for him, like the way a puppy eats. He started to find it on his own tonight, finally. He can stand up by himself now too. He's still pretty wobbly, and poodle-sized.
Meanwhile, my hold-out ewe finally lambed. She had twins, both black. One was stillborn, and its head was unnaturally large - probably got lodged in the birth canal too long. That was a girl. The other one is a boy, and he is alive and healthy. They are both very large lambs for being twins - even if they were single they would be oversized. The boy's pretty spunky - will be a beautiful black ram someday. His daddy, Ali Baa Baa is black, and his mom, Hickory is gray. We will have to figure out what to name him.
We laid the dead lamb in the room by the ewe's pen to bury her later. Our male llama is recovering from meningeal worm, and has free reign of the inside of the barn right now, cause with the lambing and kidding, it is the only secure place to keep him that isn't outside. When we went back out later, the dead lamb was covered with hay that had been scattered on the floor near the pen during feeding. It was like someone had scraped the concrete floor clean and put it all on the lamb. It was either the llama, the cocker spaniel or the spayed tom cat. The prints in the dirt look llama-like. I've heard of male llamas killing other llamas and sheep, but ours is a sucker for babies. He is curious and protective. I never would have thought he'd do something like that. We thought it was the dog for sure until we saw the scrape marks.
I have a terrible migraine that won't go away, and the computer light is driving me nuts. I should get some sleep...have to work again tomorrow and superbowl Sunday. I'd trade farming for the super bowl any day (in favor of farming of course!) Work's okay. Sick people, sick animals...what's the difference?
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Angora goat baby
Our one Angora doe just kidded. It's a boy too. He is not up on his feet yet, but he has a voice! We milked the doe's thick colostrum and fed him a little; put him up to her teets and made him nurse a little, and dipped him in a warm bucket of water and dried him off. He didn't want to nurse. He's trying harder, but we will see. I don't know if he's going to make it, to be honest. He is very tiny, and almost looks premature - smaller than both dairy goat twins. I think his father was the dairy goat again, but it's hard to tell until he dries off and grows a little hair.
I'm working night shift tonight, and I don't want to leave. I want to bring the little guy in the house and watch him all night.
I'm working night shift tonight, and I don't want to leave. I want to bring the little guy in the house and watch him all night.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
goat names
Last night I went to bed around 2:30 am, still excited about the babies. I was laying next to my husband in a dark bedroom, making up names aloud from the breeds the babies are part of (Saanen, Angora, Alpine and Toggenburg). I ended on Saangora and Alpanburg. My husband took a deep, sleepy breath (I was waking him up), and said, "How about just Sonny and Al." He didn't remember saying that in the morning.
In the morning, we mulled over other names with our coffee...Stewart and McGregor; Earl and Charlie (my two great uncles who farmed this farm before I was born); someone in chat room suggested marsiedoes and dosiedoes; someone else suggested roast and chops....
We figured the ghosts of Earl and Charlie might not be pleased, and we didn't want to offend them. The Stewart and McGregor clans might not be enthralled, although Scots do have a sense of humor. Sonny and Al stuck. So it is.
Ahhhh, finally, I finished my last day of work on a 6-day stretch. My daughter ate all the microwave popcorn, so I popped some from a bag in my freezer on the stove. Like the 70's. We used to pop corn on Saturday night, and watch Hee Haw or Lawrence Welk, and then Emergency. On rare occaisions, we'd pop a whole brown paper bag full, and go to a drive-in movie.
Kids these days don't know about stove-top popcorn. I am a popcorn pig.
In the morning, we mulled over other names with our coffee...Stewart and McGregor; Earl and Charlie (my two great uncles who farmed this farm before I was born); someone in chat room suggested marsiedoes and dosiedoes; someone else suggested roast and chops....
We figured the ghosts of Earl and Charlie might not be pleased, and we didn't want to offend them. The Stewart and McGregor clans might not be enthralled, although Scots do have a sense of humor. Sonny and Al stuck. So it is.
Ahhhh, finally, I finished my last day of work on a 6-day stretch. My daughter ate all the microwave popcorn, so I popped some from a bag in my freezer on the stove. Like the 70's. We used to pop corn on Saturday night, and watch Hee Haw or Lawrence Welk, and then Emergency. On rare occaisions, we'd pop a whole brown paper bag full, and go to a drive-in movie.
Kids these days don't know about stove-top popcorn. I am a popcorn pig.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Unexpected Suprise
Here I was, waiting for a sheep to lamb, and the martriarch goat, Florence Nightingale kidded! We have our first two babies of the year - twins - two white boys with ears that stick straight up in the air. What is really cool is that all the animals in the barn, including the billy goats and the ram, consider them part of the herd and are protective of them.
Wow, are they cute! Now, what to name them...
Wow, are they cute! Now, what to name them...
the life of two farms
It's a little after 11 am. A credit card salesperson woke me up, and I hung up on her. Then my husband called from his house to say good morning. There was a wasp buzzing in the window taking turns with a fly. I got up, checked the two flats of seedlings in the picture window to see if any more had popped up, and had a ham sandwitch and a glass of OJ. I looked out the window, and the sheep and llama are laying in the hay outside the barn, in the sun. I turned the baby monitor on, and the only noise this morning is birds. I put some coffee and water in the percolator and turned it on.
My husband is perfect for me. We have a unique relationship. I got divorced in 1993 from the father of my 3 children (now 13, 15 & 17). I was happily divorced for 11 years. I'd wanted Angora goats when I was married, and my ex used that desire to make numerous goat jokes - just a small portion of the mental abuse I suffered. I dated around off and on. I lived with a really nice guy, but that didn't work out. I went a year seeing nobody. I took out loans and went to nursing school so I could support myself and not have to rely on child support. Then I wound up on my parents' family farm in an effort to keep it in the family. I bought dairy goats, Angora goats, sheep and llamas over the course of 2 years. My kids thought I was nuts. My ex couldn't do a thing about it.
I found myself single with 3 children on this farm in this big old house, working my butt off. Then my husband, who was living on his family's farm, in their big old farm house by himself, just over the hill from here,...he and I started to notice each other. We already knew each other. His sister has been my friend for years. He was 49; I was 38. (He wants to know now if this is a ballog). (Oh, not a ballog, but a bullog). We got married last May. He has beef cows on his family's farm, and his brother and parents help him. But they live in a different house. He has to take care of his house (the homestead) and his cows, and he goes over to have a nice farm breakfast every morning. I work, so that suits me okay. I go over sometimes too. Then he comes back and has coffee with me if I'm not working, and sees me off to work if I am. He just came back, and is trying to figure out this entity attracting my attention. (He is more a curious guy than a jealous one). This week, his mommy is in Florida visiting another sister, though, so he has to fix his own breakfast, plus look after their house and his brother's cows too.
We are expecting a lamb at my house. It's like waiting for a watched pot to boil.
Last night it occurred to me that J.R.R. Tolkein may have been writing about Christianity vs. Islam. If so, he was very bigoted. I may read the books a 4th time. I read them aloud to my children, and that way, they were more enthralling than reading to myself. Each time I read something I missed the last time. If the Fellowship were Christianity, and Mordor was Islam, and Muslims were orcs, the Shire would be the British Isles; where is Mirkwood? (The Black Forest?); and Mt. Doom? What are the rings? Is Gandalf Jesus? Was the balrog Satan?
Bush made a big mistake getting us into a holy war. Even if it comes out that democracy overtakes the middle east, at what cost? What will happen to the Muslim community? 1700 Muslims (Bosnians) were tortured to death in Serbia [BBC Website]. Will we be watching Islam versions of the Haulocaust on TV in a few years? Ever? What about the Congo? Our media is so twisted by oil money. I used to be so faithful to the born again Christian movement, but it has been bought off. I used to think highly of Jews, but Serbia and the current prime minister fractured that illusion. Extremism and violence are what they are, no matter who perpertrates them; and greed is greed. It is "nice" in a very bitter sort of way that some people in Iraq got to vote. It will be good to make all the losses "worth it." But it will be a tough call for my government to buy me back. None of it should have happened to begin with.
There must be a bird sitting in front of the baby monitor, talking to someone. Geesh!
My husband is perfect for me. We have a unique relationship. I got divorced in 1993 from the father of my 3 children (now 13, 15 & 17). I was happily divorced for 11 years. I'd wanted Angora goats when I was married, and my ex used that desire to make numerous goat jokes - just a small portion of the mental abuse I suffered. I dated around off and on. I lived with a really nice guy, but that didn't work out. I went a year seeing nobody. I took out loans and went to nursing school so I could support myself and not have to rely on child support. Then I wound up on my parents' family farm in an effort to keep it in the family. I bought dairy goats, Angora goats, sheep and llamas over the course of 2 years. My kids thought I was nuts. My ex couldn't do a thing about it.
I found myself single with 3 children on this farm in this big old house, working my butt off. Then my husband, who was living on his family's farm, in their big old farm house by himself, just over the hill from here,...he and I started to notice each other. We already knew each other. His sister has been my friend for years. He was 49; I was 38. (He wants to know now if this is a ballog). (Oh, not a ballog, but a bullog). We got married last May. He has beef cows on his family's farm, and his brother and parents help him. But they live in a different house. He has to take care of his house (the homestead) and his cows, and he goes over to have a nice farm breakfast every morning. I work, so that suits me okay. I go over sometimes too. Then he comes back and has coffee with me if I'm not working, and sees me off to work if I am. He just came back, and is trying to figure out this entity attracting my attention. (He is more a curious guy than a jealous one). This week, his mommy is in Florida visiting another sister, though, so he has to fix his own breakfast, plus look after their house and his brother's cows too.
We are expecting a lamb at my house. It's like waiting for a watched pot to boil.
Last night it occurred to me that J.R.R. Tolkein may have been writing about Christianity vs. Islam. If so, he was very bigoted. I may read the books a 4th time. I read them aloud to my children, and that way, they were more enthralling than reading to myself. Each time I read something I missed the last time. If the Fellowship were Christianity, and Mordor was Islam, and Muslims were orcs, the Shire would be the British Isles; where is Mirkwood? (The Black Forest?); and Mt. Doom? What are the rings? Is Gandalf Jesus? Was the balrog Satan?
Bush made a big mistake getting us into a holy war. Even if it comes out that democracy overtakes the middle east, at what cost? What will happen to the Muslim community? 1700 Muslims (Bosnians) were tortured to death in Serbia [BBC Website]. Will we be watching Islam versions of the Haulocaust on TV in a few years? Ever? What about the Congo? Our media is so twisted by oil money. I used to be so faithful to the born again Christian movement, but it has been bought off. I used to think highly of Jews, but Serbia and the current prime minister fractured that illusion. Extremism and violence are what they are, no matter who perpertrates them; and greed is greed. It is "nice" in a very bitter sort of way that some people in Iraq got to vote. It will be good to make all the losses "worth it." But it will be a tough call for my government to buy me back. None of it should have happened to begin with.
There must be a bird sitting in front of the baby monitor, talking to someone. Geesh!
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