Merry Christmas

LN gave me the sweetest lamp.

R, S2, Z, R2 and Miss A all spoiled me also.

A new Kindle Fire and a rolling cooler for sheep shows along with some new duds

were gifted to me.

Enchiladas and stuffed jalapeño poppers were consumed last night before

our giftmageddon commenced.

Miss A was happy to open all the gifts for everyone.

No pictures were taken because we were enjoying the moment.

Ole aging brittle skin ???

   Monday I slipped on 150 yr old steps at my sons.

There is a picture but I will spare you.

Split my arm to the bone at my elbow exposing my plate already holding my bone together.

The tetanus shot and alcohol cleansing hurt worse than the resulting stitches.

My head cracked the wall and the resulting headache makes continuous sleep illusive.

A few days before this R2 gave me this tea tumbler with a sweet note.

Made me feel better and after all it was my clumsiness that felled me like a sequoia.

I was read too and nursed by the best 3 yr old.

She even cleaned up the blood I spilled.

She said, "My Mommy doesn't like messes Grandma".

Opps, my bad.

This changed my plans to have all sheep sheared by Thanksgiving.

They will get done after I yank the stitches next week. 

Thanksgiving was fattening and gluttonous by all accounts .

Too much prepping, cooking and cleaning up for how long it lasts.

I was at my oldest R's home and went outside to cool off.

They had it so hot with the wood stove and all the heat in the kitchen.

Some wind and 40* helped me cool off.

I came back and found this...

I should know better than to leave my phone unsupervised.

Hot messes both of them.

10 years apart in age but ya would never guess.

It is time

All this fluffiness is going bye-bye.

These 2 ewes started out the year much darker but have sun faded.

Time to prepare for lambing so off it goes.

Still the friendliest ewe I have currently.

Over the next week or so granddaughter sitting permitting I'll be shearing.

Almost rhymed it all.

Proud Mama Bear

This past weekend was the Homecoming/Parents weekend at LN's college.

She had her science poster that culminated all her summer internship work.

Let's just say I am a proud Mama Bear.

She knows her stuff and is confident in talking to professors and the crowd explaining her results.

The person she was partnered with rode her coattails through the whole project.

Not my assessment but the other dozen people working in the same lab on other projects.

Now she has a dilemma.

The professor would like her to continue however if she does the other person will also.

He knows she will carry him again.

She does not want that again.

This research has the ability to have her published by next year.

So..... what to do???

She can't say anything to the professor or she seems petty and not a "team" player.

But if she bows out she loses so much in recognition she is due.

The professor she worked with in Arizona immediately figured it out but he doesn't control it.

Too many real world decisions for a girl trying to expand her mind.

Last show

LN and I went to her last sheep show of the show season for 2019.

It was only 20 mi from home at our DE State Fairgrounds.

I hauled sheep down Friday morning and helped friend fit them.

LN came down after classes Friday night.

It was a pretty successful show for LN to end on.

She won Overall Sheep Showman on a whim.

Her ewe was stellar in the individual class but was a jacka*s in the overall class.

She pulled it off in the end by the skin of her teeth.

She did well in her AOB White Wool classes winning Champion Ewe and Champion Ram.

Her Natural Lincolns did well also.

 Some girls showing other breeds also helped her out showing her second lamb and group classes.

The late spring ewe LN is holding gave her a workout also.

She is going to be a strong mature ewe.

She is worth the aggravation since she is a showy ewe naturally.

The ending charm was winning the Delaware Bred and Owned Ram.

I do not have a picture of that one as I was busy getting her ewe ready for her next class.

The bred and owned ram lamb has only been showed once before as he had problems.

He is our youngest Border Leicester born in April of this year.

He decided to army crawl under an old truck frame we use to hold feed.

The opening was 8 in off the ground and 12 in wide.

I worked forever getting him free.

We had to shear him down as he had grease and aluminum imbedded everywhere about 8 weeks ago.

We pulled him from shows because of it.

For him to regrow a nice enough fleece to win was the cherry on the sundae.

All and all a nice fun filled weekend.

LN worked on her arm long length of homework for her college classes

between prepping and showing.

Down and Dirty trip home for her.

Till later...

Selfie time....

While I was helping a friend look for new fall clothes this happened....

Miss A was looking at photos on my phone to occupy herself but....

3 yr olds know how to take selfies I guess.

I found this when I was at home that night.

This chick cracks me up.

Watching her grow is one of my favorite things.

Preschool has began 2 days a week.

She is so excited and looks so angelic.

I see so much of her Daddy in her.

I always felt if my kids looked or acted like their dad it was a good thing.

No one could deny that they were my kids.

I gave birth to them at home so no swapping them out.

But dads do not get that instant connection.

Some visual tie in or attitude or habit tie in is necessary to connect them.

This chick though has the best and the worse of her papa.

God bless her soul and God bless him!

He is going to need it.

He says smugly, "I have already done it all so she won't get anything past me".

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I told his school officials one of the many times I attended a "meeting" with them

"He either did it, thought of it, instigated it or planned it".

I can not wait for payback.

I will be sitting back with a jumbo size bowl of popcorn just observing.

That being said I wouldn't swap him or her for anything else.

I believe if I am honest my Dad felt the same way about me.

Karma....

Weekend of sheep showing fun with my kid ...

I wondered off Thursday to the Maryland State Fair with 10 sheep.

Wondered being a relative term when driving 695 near Baltimore is concerned for this chick.

OMG those people are nutso.

I am a country road girl forever!

However there are things you do for your younguns and this qualified.

LN came down Friday from college (only an hour or so away) and stayed till Sunday morning.

Sunday she went back to get homework done for Monday classes as they didn't have holiday.

She felt bad but fitted and showed with a sinus headache and congestion.

Thankfully our good friend and fitter helped us out as always.

Miss B is the best!

Steady as a rock and a great rapport with LN which is fun to watch.

Good weekend for our homegrown Lincoln Longwool ewe lamb.

She garnered a Champion Lincoln Ewe ribbon and a handpainted trinket box.

Sorry for poor quality picture and lamb not being set up but barn is hard to get good pics.

LN and her friend helping were begin to walk away when I yelled at them to pose.

Otherwise she had a few 1st and some 2nd and below.

She stayed in top 5 most of the show between her Lincolns and Border Leicesters.

Not a bad weekend overall.

I showed our sheep in 2 classes which was horrendous as I have anxiety about it.

Sweating and jittery but I did it.

Later I helped some others show by setting feet.

I survived but just barely.

The weather was fall like with some breeze and sun but not too hot maybe low 80's.

Last year was over 100* so this year was a blessing.

As we were released Monday the thunderstorms ahead of hurricane Dorian arrived.

I stayed put till most of it was through.

Home about 1-2 hours later than normal but less stressful on driving.

 I was driving against the flow of holiday weekend goers returning to their homes.

Always a good time spent with my kiddo and friends on the show circuit.

Now is the time...

for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

Remember that?

People of a certain age should.

It is the phrase that supposedly taught hand/letter placement on a typewriter.

Isn't that a blast from a previous era...?

It is also the time to preserve food for the year.

The waste corn trailer was delivered yesterday by a friend.

Much sorting and picking through the waste occurred in the heat but under a shade tree.

4 milk crates were stuffed.

A few hours were spent watching/listening to mindless dribble on the idiot box.

Corn was thereby shucked.

I covered the corn with wet towels and aluminum foil and refrigerated overnight.

This morning I cut the corn off the cob with my high tech board with a nail in it.

Much corn juice and mess flew everywhere.

The empty cobs were artfully arranged in the tub while I counted my success.

132 ears of goodness were utilized.

This will help me decide if I want to rinse and repeat this process.

They were dumped along with the shucked husk and silks back onto the waste wagon.

Blanching commenced.

2 cups of corn were bagged, air removed , bag sealed and flattened for easy freezing.

38 bags were frozen with extra kept out for supper usage.

LN will take some to college when next she visits for some "real" food to cook in her apartment.

She will also take some of the peas I froze this spring.

The all important dish washing was completed along with wiping down counters and cabinets.

The stove was divested of all the corn smush and mess.

Last but not least and with no picture to prove it the floor was washed of the ensuing stickiness.

Job complete for the moment.

Time to decide if I want to do this again next week.

With only 2 of us home now I need to cook less quantity but it's a hard thing to institute.

This may be it.

Except green beans which will be on the waste truck soon.

I lub , lub, lub me some beans.

That time again is it?

Hmmm... it does not seem possible in this heat.

It is time to start the breeding process.

I threw the rams and ewes together in the beginning of August.

So far there is marking harness color on 2 ewes in the pen of 4 Lincoln Longwools.

Nothing in the Border Leicester pen yet.

The 1st Lincoln marked would been Jan 4th lambs if successful.

Cheerio the ewe is still being showed through the fall but will stay with her "baby Daddy" between shows to double check the success.

It is her 1st time being with Mike so let's hope.

This was Cheerio and LN last month at our fair.

She's antsy to show so hopefully motherhood will calm her a bit.

Some do calm down , others ram up their ants in the pants attitudes.

The heat is supposed to moderate in a few days with only 80's vs. 90"s during days.

Nights will be in high 60's which is better than high 70's also.

Breeding needs cooler weather to progress.

The fall shows begin shortly as well.

MD State Fair

Big E

KILE

DE EXPO

Here we go.

A load of waste corn just showed up in the heat.

Guess it's time to sweat my behind of and pick out ears to process.

Oh joy!

Still dog days but not much longer ...

I am excited for fall weather.

Menopause and heat are a horrible combo.

I feel as if I am cooking from the inside out and sweat with any movement.

Such is life for women of a certain age though.

OBX, NC was relaxing and enjoyable.

A whole lot of sleeping, reading, eating and sunbaking went on.

One day we ferried to Orcacoke island to look around.

Ate lunch at Jason's , had fresh tuna salad sandwiches that were awesome.

Stopped for coffee for Miss B and LN and at a bookstore.

I never say no when my offspring wants a book.

I may have bought one as well ;-}

Sunset off the sound was prettier than this picture shows.

Calm and peaceful...

The ocean never fails to relax me even with wind constantly blowing.

The tide was high each afternoon so had to plan accordingly.

Such were the problems in my life that week.

I did miss my flock and took awhile to straighten out the chaos of being gone.

No matter how much I prepare someone looses their minds.

A bad case of the runs is being treated and a few not interested in grain.

Nothing a few scratches didn't help.

Back to real world now.

Haircuts/color, dentist, truck servicing, college last min prep.

LN will depart Sunday for another year.

She's excited.

Me not so much.

I am excited to watch her grow and mature as the big, bad world grabs her.

A college beau is a draw for her as well.

Glad to have her with me and see her enjoy our girls week trip.

Hope she is never too old for a dino tire swing.

Fair 2019

Is that even a sentence?

I do not have any motivation though to post.

Lots has been happening but ugh to sitting down and recording it.

Delaware State Fair has came and went.

Some good, some great, some not so good happenings.

Miss A loves her Auntie LN .

Miss A soaked up as much as she could get of LN since her junior year of college is fast approaching.

She came home July 15th and will return possibly Aug 11 or Aug 25th.

Short summer but she may be hired as a Mentor in her dorm requiring her to return early.

S2 showed his hog and placed respectably for a camper hog.

He will taste good as well.

R also showed her hog and had a tough class but again he will taste good.

They have a regular buyer for one hog and they use the other one.

I admit I teared up when Z came out of his self imposed show retirement to help LN show.

They made a great team on Randy her Border Leicester Ram.

Z acts tough but I know better.

R and some close friends helped also with our flock.

Show families are the best.

LN helped them as well in their classes.

At the end of fair they held a Parade of Champions.

LN had Reserve White Wool Ram with her Border Leicester.

She also won Grand Champion Fitter as well as ...

Grand Champion Natural Fleece with our homegrown Lincoln ewe lamb.

This tickled me as the lambs' Mother won the same award two years ago.

It was a long, tiring fair with my camper AC blowing up during the heat wave as well as a pipe bursting in the camper early on.

Thank goodness for helpful friends repairing the leak and for R noticing immediately before damage was too severe.

Another friend found a new-old fan motor to repair the AC after a tense 24 hours.

He is a mechanical wonder and wouldn't take money for it either.

Lots of food was prepped and grilled, more meals in the crockpot fed the ravenous crew also.

S2 helped out and brought his propane griddle and cooked quite a lot.

I bought a water filter for the camper so I am proud to say LN and I broke the plastic water bottle habit and used tap water to hydrate.

We put cut up lemons in the fridge pitcher and it was delicious.

Small steps but we are getting there.

The weather had moderated at night so we threw the windows open and hooked up a fan to sleep.

It has taken a full week to clean camper and store it, clean up the house, wash clothes and bedding, find the yard, find the garden (lost cause), work the store and catch up on sleep

with a 3 year old here as well the first couple of days to help.

We survived and next year will repeat I am sure.

Now to pack for a week in OBX on a girls trip.

Much sleeping, sunbathing and doing nothing is planned.

Perception?

Life is about how you view things and how others allow you to view them.

This is the melon and squash patch.

Covering up the whole area and starting to flower and produce.

This is the pathetic bean row.

Poor germination from old seed and not bush type which I was going for ;/

Still plants are there being chewed off at the tips daily by ??? rabbit? IDK

Cucumbers loving life on their trellises.

Producing quickly and prolifically which in itself is an issue.

I am the only raw consumer of cucumbers besides R who has her own plant at her house.

Maybe some dill pickles? 

Anyone have a good recipe that they can share?

Now the view gets real.

Inside the cattle panels are tomato plants.

Not growing much, stagnant, annoying plants!

To the right is a successful patch of WEEDS gone wild.

Yep it has gotten ahead of me and probably wont catch up till fall to be honest.

This is at the bottom of the garden.

I had intentions of covering this area with weed block or giant plastic I have.

Yea but no I didn't .

With fair prep in full swing and moving down there over the next week and staying there by next weekend for 10 days,

my regular feed store business and animals needing daily work it probably will only get worse.

It just depends on the direction of your view in life.

So profound don't cha thunk?

If you don't have anything to say positive...

say nothing at all.

So I haven't posted.

I follow alot of blogs and I see negative posts too frequently.

They have made me rethink some posts I have thought about.

They have made me think about being more positive in general.

This is harder for me than I thought it would be.

I do see the dark side more frequently than most I believe.

However I don't consider myself a negative, unhappy person.

Practical, forthright, blunt I all am.

I do try to not hurt peoples feelings but I also answer honestly when directly asked a ???.

It is crazy how blog land makes ya think isn't it?

That all being said...

It's hot as hell everywhere.

Humidity stinks bigtime.

Just 2 more months I keep repeating.

Fair animal work is never ending at this time of the year.

LN will be home end of next week.

There is so much to do.

We leave the week after for fair for 10 days.

Come home for a week then leave on a girls week down at the Outer Banks.

We are going far enough down that the chain businesses do not follow.

Only small family businesses such as grocery stores and places with fresh off the boat seafood. 

We plan to do NOTHING at all.

Get up when we want, eat when we want, beach for few hours, back to eat and nap and watch movies or read and knit then maybe walk beach as the evening arrives.

I am pumped for that.

Recharge the batteries of a particularly draining year.

After returning she has about a week or so before returning for her junior year of college.

Time slow down please !!!!!!!

Broiled Flowers and summer food...

The pictures seem wonky but it is what it is.

They are my iphone pictures.

The flowers are yellow in the middle of this bed but I see orange here.

Strange...

My flowers are filling in despite the 90+ temps.

I'll take what joy I can get.

The cherry tomato was an experiment but seems to be doing well as long as I fill the 

2 liter bottle with water each day.

There are tomatoes almost turning ripe.

This is the best these containers have looked EVER.

                                      

I took out a zebra striped grass that took over this bed.

Again I am experimenting here.

This is the east side of my house so shaded after 11 am.

Will the blanket flowers and wave petunias survive and thrive?

Stay tuned...

Shrimp and pasta in a butter, parmesan cheese and a splash of heavy cream sauce

and sweet corn from the "not good enough for the public"

waste trailer.

Two commercial farms here dump all not perfect by size and shape ears.

Anyone can come and fill up a trailer or truck with the "waste" to feed livestock.

It saves the farmer having to dispose of it.

We have harvested it for our table and freezer before the cows get what is left.

I will be freezing it all summer.

They also have cabbages and green beans waste.

Such a shame that consumers don't know or care how food is grown.

Why does the ears of corn need to be perfect in size to buy?

If the media would stop lying about farmers using unnecessary pesticides and fertilizers and or the public would use common sense I wouldn't be blessed with so much free food.

Thank you John Q public for your ignorance!

My neighbors refuse our offer of corn because I can't prove it is 

NON GMO, organic, free range, gluten free, etc etc etc.

Do you even know what those terms mean?

If all that is so necessary why are people that insist on all that not perfectly healthy 365?

It seems they get sick from their "healthy" lifestyle way more than my family ever does.

{I was told by my pediatrician they were going to drop my kids from their practice because we only did sports physicals once a year instead of sick calls multiple times like "other" families.}

I asked the neighbors if a corn field is organic and a bird flys over it after being in a non organic field and craps on it....

Do you really think the field is still organic?

Do you really think farmers spray poison for no reason?

Do you think they have money to burn on unnecessary chemicals?

Educate yourself by talking to farmers and companies they utilize to help them be more productive.

Do not believe the media.

Use common sense .

Rant over for today.