It's Been a Little Chilly

Last couple days we have had to get our jackets back out. Wind to go along with it. Guess it was sent our way to remind us how nice and warm we have had it for this time of year...
Em and I went to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival last weekend. I do love that show. It was a long trip out. We drove straight out, stayed a day and half and headed back. Split the trip up made it easier. It was toasty in MD. I mean like 95* both days. We walked around w/ lemonade in our hands. Inside the buildings got a little stuffy with all the people...I bought a Finn ewe lamb. She is a cutie and was a very good traveler...
We stayed in Comfort in there at Baltimore. We met this older gentleman who had come from IL with daughter and her family to pick up the kids sheep they had won from American Livestock Breeders Conservancy. I told him my daughter had done the same thing 5 yrs ago. We stayed in the Comfort Inn at Cambridge OH and the next morning got up and there they were again...It can be a small world.
I have been busy in the barn and house both. I am about ready to make a clean swoop out of the big room and take it to the barn. I need to get a shop ready out there and then get busy finishing up the apartment. Orange County is going to put out a Artisan Trail Brochure and we are going to be in it...It is in conjunction with the PGA Gold Tournament coming to French Lick....Yes, I know I don't live in OR County but they are very good to us. We participate in the ORANGE COUNTY Homegrown Farmer's Market also. Which brings me to the next subject. Farmer's Market starts in 2 weeks...Then a couple weeks after that is Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival then onto the Lotus Dickey Festival. Em and I went to Bedford the other day and noticed there is a bill board advertising the festival. Looks good. Is kinda high up in the air. Em saw it. I was watching the road...
we have been lambing and kidding both. Banner year for boys...I am not joking. We have ONE DOE. The only female born on the place...I am so proud of her ....She is from my favorite TEXAS doe...I have 2 more finn ewes to lamb. We will see...I am out there talking to them nicely ....
David trimmed some low limbs off the tree line trees. I can get along the fence mowed now. Got lots done. Sure looks nice. I am going to finish in the morning. It is suppose to rain Tuesday. Wednesday we will start over again probably. I hope the summer bonus is nice. I told David I sure would like one of those weed eaters on wheels...
Tomorrow is my birthday. I got my present from David early. He gave me a GPS unit to go to Maryland with. I had always thought I would not use one. Boy was I wrong. Em and I were laughing that we let a blk box lead us around. That is the handiest thing I know of...I have been wanting to go to Louisville wandering around. May just have to now. No, I haven't done much in Louisville. Have always gone to Bloomington...
I better get this day wound up. My little bottle baby is fed. Em made him walk all the way to the house to get his bottle. He did well. I put him up. Let me tell you...I didn't carry him... Well, except for the last 20 ft. He just stopped and sat down...He has a clean dog coat on and all warm now. I told him hopefully this was the last night for that...

MY DOGWOOD TREES...

I was out mowing the tree line this afternoon. I was so excited to see my dogwood trees blooming. We have been here in IN 8 yrs now. When we first bought this property the trees were so small we did not even know they were here til after the signing when the guy we bought from came out and told us. The dogwoods were slow growing. The last couple years they blooming here and there but the trees have really grown this winter and they are really looking nice.

THE FIRST FIBER EVENT OF THE SEASON

WE JUST CAME BACK FROM THE FIRST FIBER SHOW OF THE YEAR. It was a beautiful weekend in GreenCastle IN...We met lots of new people and visited with lots of friends...It was good to hear what everyone has going on.

We got home and bailed out to go check on everybody. Jarrod was here to open gates in the morning & close at night. I had everybody well watered before we left and we gave plenty of hay so everyone was fine. We had some new chicks that hatched before we left so was glad all them were doing well and Chase, my white cat was fine. He was glad to see me...

We are counting the days til Hoosier Hills Fiber Show. Franklin IN ...

I have the washer going, got the dishes done and have chicken breast and beef ribs in the oven cooking. David has gone to Tractor Supply. We have a new one near us and had a good coupon so he went to get more gates. We are doing up a couple pens in the barn for the Finn sheep and want to get them done this week. Flaker's is bagging up nicely.

I am heading out to go fill up water tubes...Going to do some accounting studying. Have a test tomorrow night. I think I have about 4 more classes left in this semester. I was thinking I had time for this. I am getting it done but having to squeeze in the study part. I know for sure I couldn't do it in the fall....At least I can relate well now to what the kids have going on...

I have a couple spinning wheels coming in I intend to stain in colors....I can't wait. Maybe they will get here this week while there is so much sun shining....

ANOTHER RAINY SUNDAY

KINDA YUCKY AROUND HERE TODAY BUT I GOT LOTS DONE INSIDE. Finished my accounting test, got it packed and ready to go tomorrow. We got my old freezer taken out to the barn. It still works, just needed another. We emptied out a cabinet I am going to move to the kitchen til I get new cabinets done. THEN, what I have been waiting for. David got my first book shelf put together to put in the front room. I have been in the need of these for a long time...I have to move that cabinet out and sweep and mop, clean the wall then put another shelf together and start filling them up. The shelves will go all the way to the ceiling...

Chase, my white male cat took a trip to the vet this week. He needed to get fixed before he fixed my house up...I kinda worried at first. He wasn't as perky as the other cat that went with him but the next day he started coming around...Today he has been quite funny. I think he knew he had our undivided attention...

It will be about a month and we will start lambing and kidding...Everybody is starting to get really fluffy...This next week it will be mid 70's here which is pretty warm. We will have to get on the shearing. Bad part is it will rain til then...

I was watching Bob a Louis the Donkey trying to get Corey the male Llama to play with him...The donkey had a stick and was carrying it around. Corey just wouldn't quite take it on...So funny. Bob a loouie has kinda gotten moved around. He was being a little rough with my goats...He is in with the Rams. Everyone stays on their own territory and lots of time the Donky goes and lays at the fence with the bucks. He had my young brown buck by the other day and he was yelling....I didn't wait to see how it was going to play out. We moved him...

BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY...

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AROUND HERE AND BOY HAVE WE BEEN BUSY....FIRST, SINCE I HAVE POSTED LAST, A WEDDING DATE HAS BEEN SET AROUND HERE. Jarrod and Hannah will be married in July. They will be living here. The large room at the back of our house will be an apartment. They will get married life started here. That way they won't have to get into any mortgage or lease til they figure out for sure where they will want to live or a job will take them. We are excited but I think Hannah is pretty excited also. The wedding will be at after Farmers Market then onto a reception. More details will be posted....So things have been a little busy around here....

I did get the garden good and started this week. We did get a good freeze like Thursday and Friday night...We don't really plant to much til after Mothers Day...

The geese have been flying over this week. They are just beautiful. Cranes were coming through a week ago. We do live in a bird flight path. Of course the fighter helicopters flew through today also...Doing practice stuff. They are big....

In early February we were vendors at a Quilt Workshop in French Lick at the Hotel...We had a very good time ....Met lots of nice people....I am busy now getting ready to go to Greencastle IN in a couple weeks for "The Fiber Event." Onto the Lotus Dickey the first of June and Hoosier Hills Fiber Event the very next weekend. I better have everything all ready before it gets here...

Boy the wind Thursday night was a bit rough. We lost a little of a ridge cap off the top of the barn. I have to threaten David he can not put it up there. He will be trying before I know it...In case you don't know our barns are a bit tall for him to be up there...

We started shearing. We get 2 or 3 done every couple days. Weather is just not on our side.

I was just weighing out felting fibers this week. It was the first I had been into the load of felting fiber I had gotten processed. It is nice and perfect for the job...I should be getting in a load of fiber to spin with and also a new yarn weight....

Most important...SOCKS...They will be perfect for the winter hiker or hunter. I can't wait...They will be done with kid and lamb cut wool...

2010 is an exciting year for us....Stay tuned....

WE SAW THE SUN....

Boy, the sun was beautiful yesterday....I am hoping everybody got their bones warmed before the next snow storm. I have to get out this morning and fill water tubs...of course they should have plenty of snow to eat from the way it sounds by tomorrow...I am about ready to move to San Antonio, TX....67*

My goal for tomorrow is to get my box of wool finished and ready to ship ....The box will weigh 50lbs. This load will be for worsted weight yarn and roving...

The big pellet stove is groaning. I probably should turn it off about 3 this afternoon for when David gets home....it would be cool enough for him to clean...

Chickens are still laying a good 2 to 3 dz eggs a day. I do believe the warm water is the combination.

I need to go get chicken food on my way to school. I think we are in pretty good shape otherwise if it snows.

I HEARD IT IS LIKE 42 DAYS TIL SPRING....

OH....Me, Will we ever dry out around here. I was just being able to go to the barn and not sink in the mudd & here we are again....Em decided she didn't want to go to work today. She called & told she would help keep payroll in control & just stay at home. She got lots of homework done...Of course Jarrod gave her a rough time...

I have had the hankering to get stuff listed on ebay again. I had come across several pieces of glass ware I had bought to list. I do love it. I have had to do a little homework and get my mind back to learning glassware patterns...

My friend Kate in Columbus emailed tonight to say she had lost her 101 1/2 yr old Grandma this week. They buried her today. Kate has had some good stories to tell me about her through time....

David is sick with a pretty bad cold. I am very worried & see how easy it would be to turn into pneumonia. You know he is bad when he lets me put Vicks rub on him. Thank goodness for the creme stuff....I just remind him how it would be to go to Emergency room as Friday night rolled around....A guy at work that he shares the office with blessed him with this....

Bob a louie, The donkey is doing fine...I keep checking on him to see if he needs his coat back on.

I sat down last night and transferred my seed order to the order blank. I am excited. I should have some interesting beans...I am going back through the catalog and write out a description....Some need to be picked at snapping time others let dry all the way...I am determined this year to get the pumpkin in the ground at the right time...

I have about 8 new apple trees coming soon. They are of the heritage type. I had apple trees but ended up putting a goat pen there & the trees didn't last long. I had really trimmed and worked on getting them going again. Had a bumper crop and put that pen there...

As soon as this weather straightens back out I will have to get on cleaning barns and pens...I usually keep them raked down but not lately...Sheep pen we actually had to go shovel out last week. I made sure it all got taken to my garden and not out to their hay field...That should be a prime area in the garden.