More Babies...

At 3:30 am check I caught the aftermath of Valentine's (she was born on Feb 14th 4 years ago) delivery of 2 lambs. They were mostly dried off and ready to nurse. Ram was 14# and Ewe was 12#. After weighing them I stood them up and both found a spicket and filled up their bellies. A little more dry straw in the jug and everyone got comfortable. This morning I opened up 2nd jug to give them bigger area for today. Tonight or tomorrow they can go to pen with 2 other ewes and lambs.

On the way in I caught a boer nanny with triplets letting 2 nurse and 3rd one heading in to see if he can shove 1 of his sis' outa the way for a drink

This is her 3rd years with kids and 1st year I'm happy with the results. I think this billy and her clicked. Kids, all 3 does are stout chested and length is good too. Loins are thick, so fingers crossed for market choice there.

Cake...

Well what's a girl to do when she has 3 hours till birthday girl comes by after work ?

Why bake a cake of course...

Her favorite- Chocolate Mayonaise Cake with Peanut Butter Filling and Chocolate Frosting

3 c. flour (I use wheat )

3/4 c cocoa

2 c sugar (I use unrefined raw sugar so I use 1 cup)

3 t baking soda

Sift together and add:

1 1/2 c mayonaise

1 1/2 c boiling water

1 1/2 t vanilla

Mix well with mixer (I've done it by hand alot)

Bake at 350* for ??? I did 35 minutes and it was done today

Cool completely then cover with Peanut Butter as little or thick as you like

I've used chunky but normally use smooth

Make sure cake is cool or you'll tear it as you try to spread

Mix Nestle Choco Bake Unsweetened Premelted Baking Chocolate 2 envelopes

with 3c Confectioners Sugar

1/2 c milk

1/2 stick butter softened 

2 t vanilla

1/4 t salt

Mix well and spread on cake!

We had some frosting left from another baking day so LN decided to decorate cake!

She has issues with spacing and words but thought that counts!

Can't wait for a cold glass of raw milk and a piece of cake!

My Girl !

Today my girl R turned 23 yrs young.

She was and is a levelheaded, even keeled girl with my banging temper when pushed too far! I could not have asked for a calmer, sweeter baby as a 1st child. She was patient with me

 as I learned and put up with everything for just a hug and snuggle.

I hate when people say "I love all my kids the same".

I say Bullsh*t, I love all my kids but I love them all differently.

R is soothing to my soul and a definent Mini Me. That's hard to take sometimes 

especially when I'd love to save her from mistakes exactly like mine but I know I can't. 

Z is chaos on a rope and I love him for it & I see me there too. 

LN is energy times 10 and she is exhausting but keeps me going and I love her for that.

Each requires different things from me and we interact differently.

With R I don't have to worry because she will do the right thing every single time

because she should and won't expect any pat on the back.

I am very proud of her for putting herself through college , only asking 1 time for help to the tune of  $1000.00 which didn't amount to a drop in her education bucket. She wanted it this way and did it herself.

I'm proud of her choices to work since she was 12 at any job she could get to pay for her car, ins, gas, etc.

I'm proud she planned a sensible wedding she wanted and didn't bow down to pressure to high end it.

She was so beautiful that day and all days.

I'm just PROUD!

Happy Birthday Babe!

Award, So Excited

   

 I've been dubbed with the blog award .... from  krazoacres.blogspot.com

She was awarded both so combined and passed them to me and 4 others...



and/or

                                                    

   This means I need to pass this on to 5 Lucky Ducks

who blog

Eeany Meany Miney Mow

Maggie's Farm at                http://bundaflicka.blogspot.com/ 

http://crazyasaloom.blogspot.com/ 

http://frontporchindiana.blogspot.com/

http://livingitupcountry.blogspot.com/

http://themobilehomewoman.com/

I enjoy reading about other people whether our views are radically different or somewhat similar!

Takes all kinds they say.

I say "You just might learn something".

Hopefully I will meet some that can teach me something

and some that I can impart a  lesson to

about ....

well that remains to be seen!

Grudgingly...

Ace was not impressed that R & I set a trap, tied his Mama up and caught him.

But he was tied and held to learn the halter and us will NOT kill him!

He balked and tried to run but he has to learn

DON"T MESS WITH THIS MAMA!

Actually he acted like every other one we've haltered and taught to walk.

Ace just had a full 6 weeks of freedom that had he been born here he would not have had.

Bad picture and I'm sorry but better than

Johnny the steer that stuck his head in an old truck body we use to store feed in.

He was wedged in the tire well above the tire for quite awhile before I saw him. Several wrenches on the fender and yanks on his head by 3 of us cleared him. Hope he learned his lesson.

Today was "Day of the Animal Chaos" here.

Same Old Same!

Hen-acide ?

I had 23 eggs in the bucket and was reaching for 2 more when

an "angry bird"

jumped/flew up and knocked bucket on ground.

so...

I got this mess

smeared with raw egg and shells

and I got...

and I ended up with 10 good saleable eggs

and 1 for us to use

after washing all the crud off .

Dang lil bratty Hen !

I'm working store today alone, S went to PA to pick up 5 ton of feed that wouldn't fit on 22 ton trailer coming tonight. Guess that means we're doing business.

LN has last wrestling match she manages today after school and 4-H monthly meeting where she is the reporter tonight so leftovers I think.

Good thing I had little bit of lasagna left from Suoer Bowl party at neighbors. Way too much food , we tried to make a dent but sadly no....

What to Do?

So what's a girl and her offspring to do while waiting on game party you ask?

Red Solo Cup I Fill you Up!!! & decorate you too
(well with ice tea or soda probably, not much of drinker)
 

and this...

I tried to work on my quilt the prove is in above picture with LN

The blue/yellow strips I sewed to start quilt but...

the STUPID rotary cutter and I don't get along very well I find it hard to believe

 that the blade is dull but maybe ...

so now have to make trip to town on Tuesday to buy blades.

Anyone have advice? Seems to take 2 or 3 passes to cut thru cotton fabric? Fiskers is nice brand 

I thought. Only cut material for 3 baby size quilts with it. Is this normal?

Otherwise here's some Ornaments I made years ago. 

They are almost no sew just pressing pieces and using fabric glue sparingly.

The binding is only hand sewing involved. 

I'm hoping to have a class teaching this to 4-H sewing club.

Super Sunday!

Put the turkey in oven , should only take 4 1/2 hrs.

Have everything ready for lasagna assembly on counter.

Washed eggs from last few days.

Fed everyone and turned out.

Checked ewe again, she's asking to go outside. Thank-you God!

                                    Now.... May I please work on my "Quilts for Kids" ????

And Then.... Make some sense outa all this.....LN picked this out for her quilt, she doesn't have a pattern just wants all this together???? Really? Well I'm sure it'll be one of a kind!

Off to check ewes again and see if rained on loads of laundry on the line are dry

 before I go to my  dungeon  sewing/craft/den in the basement!

I'm crossing my fingers and toes I get there.

Smart Cookie !!!!

  I'm stoked she let me catch her! My SIL S2 delivered a cow calf pair to me last monday. I tie up our 2 bred ones in their pasture/roping arena so Festus my donkey can eat. He chews ea morsel 90,000 times and they run him off because I only give them few handfuls of grain.  
   They have plenty of hay and I don't want them toooo fat to deliver easy. Especially the 1st year heifer but I digress...it happens I know.
    Anyhow Duece (the dropped off cow) hasnt been caught daily since last year during fair prep. Then S2 had to rope  her before they got her halter on. Here me and R had to build a trap and tease with grain so she gets with the program. It's only been since last Sunday and yesterday R caught her by the round bale feeder at the far end of the arena. Today she came up with the other 2 and bobbed and weaved a few times but then just gave in. I slipped halter right on! Yeah she's figured out I get caught and tied up then the ladies feed me. Smart cookie!
   Nope on knitting or quilting or sewing today. I worked till noon at feed store. Went to lunch with R and friend then shopped for plain shirts for LN to wear with printed skirts. She very particular about clothes in that she never wants to be made fun of.  Doesn't care about brands just wants to slide under radar  on people noticing flaws. I hope when she returns tomorrow from 4-H weekend she likes them. She reminds me she needs them at 9:00pm when I'm half asleep. I came home to catch new cow and feed rest of clan.
      I had to change feed pan and give better hay, horse quality soft hay to ewe. She finally started nibbeling then. I guess something smelled funny in that feed pan. Strange how animals can sense what we don't. S will give her penn shot when he comes home from auction at midnight. Hope this all works.
      Off to neighbors to help set up for annual superbowl party they host. Tomorrow have turkey and crockpot lasagna to make. Reminds me I'm hungry!

Whipped!

    I'm beyond tired. Kid and me cleaned steer pen which had not been done it awhile so it was half frozen. Yuck! But with cleaning sheep pens this morning and adding more straw to goat pens I'm done.
    The ewe seems to be doing well. She has laid down alot but is in different positions so I know she s been up and lambs belly is full too. I tried a higher protein feed to help her milk but she balked so went back to barley and sheep pellets. Maybe later she ll perk up to sweet feed.
    Now when LN leaves tomorrow morning for her 4-H Junior Leader Weekend and our feed store closes at noon maybe I can get back to sewing and quilting. S will leave for auction house he auctioneers at on Sat till midnight or so. It's a large junk type weekly sale.
     I have a small Quilts for Kids to work on and I'm trying to follow Craftsy Learn it Make it. This months blocks are posted. I haven't done Januarys' but I watch instructional video and printed out instructions so won't take long to catch up I hope.
    Of course it will all depend on the Ewes' plans too. If alls quiet tomorrow afternoon I may go to the movies with a friend whose husband is a civilian in Afghanistan.
    Time to go check everyone again!