Back from OZ

This morning as the sun rose and I pulled the ear plugs out of my ears I looked out the second story bedroom window and saw all the one and two year old goat boys running around the back yard and standing in the pine trees eating all the needles they could reach. So much for a slow greeting to the morning....

I ran downstairs, jumped into my boots and grabbed the Shepard's hook. Out the door I went and I sure gave them a fright... I think they knew they screwed up BIG TIME!!! I looked quickly to see how in the world they got out. It seems that during the night with the horrible winds a large feed bunker managed to leave the ground and smashed into one of the gates and broke it.. Well, smart goats that they are took advantage and out they went. So with the lack of sleep and not being a happy camper, I found myself scream "BACK, NOW" and they took off running for the downed gate. All but one went without an problem... The one left is too smart for his own good and I was not in the mood to run around the farm trying to get him so I asked for my friend, partner and heart - Kasha... Yep, my sweet old gal (12 year old Great Pry)listened to my every word and in a blink of an eye she went round the left side and drove him back into their barn... My Very Great Kasha!!!

So into the house I went to make scrambled eggs and toast for my hard working Kasha.... After breakfast it was a morning of fixing the gate, picking up all the broken things that had been tossed around, moving the huge dog house back under the tree for Sophia and then spending some time hugging my hardworking old gal Kasha... I am so thankful she has spent her life with me. I had to giggle because she would give those goats a big bark every time she saw them. I can't imagine what she was calling them but they sure deserved it.

So we are back from OZ and not finding any flying monkeys only naughty goats boys.

Landing in OZ

The wind started before breakfast and has not stopped at all today. I was surprised to see Sherlock moving in on Sophia and her house under the big pine tree. I think he realized that she never really uses the house and so he was wondering if she might share... I had to giggle because the trick will be in how to get those huge horns inside there. After trying a couple of times he decided to just come back under the front deck outside the shop door. He has been on a walk about for the past three days - he was not feeling well so I let him do what makes him feel best which means sitting in front of the shop door and getting hugs, snugs and kisses everytime I come in and out. However, this wind has even curbed his activities.

I hate to even say the word wind because it just does not do it justice. Wind means blowing or quick moving where what the farm is experiencing is anything but that. At present count I have the door ripped of the tool shed, two wooden bunny hutched smashed, the compost fence broken, all the metal feed tubs somewhere that will require a search. The animals and I are more then worn down and I hope that it slows down through the night or this gal will be without sleep again and pushed beyond my limits.

I did had two "Duck and Cover Events" in the basement today. The wind sounded like a freight train and so running into the basement I went and sat their praying for it to stop. I did try to take a nap today with the headphones on and a movie blasting to drown it all out but I only manage about an hour so that might have to be what I call "sleep" for this Sunday. I know my whining is wasteful time especially when others are facing much worse weather. I do have to say in my defense that Mother Nature has been on a nasty streak here for more time then I wish to count - last year it cost me a barn, the house roof, two doors and three windows and my nerves.

Does any one know of a place where the wind is something like a light breeze or maybe a gentle whisper ?? Oh and did I mention with all this wind has pushed us into High Fire Warnings!! Yep, there has already been three fires around my area... You would think with all the snow we would be safe but not with this wind. So on goes the head phones, I moved the tea pot and yes the pee pot down in the basement just in case I spend the night down there. Checked all the walk ways through the house in case we loss power and have my head lamps and flash lights in all the important places. Candles and matches also at the ready with snacks and spinning awaiting me. Hope you are having a quieter night..

Fragrance of Spring

Wonderful Spring is in the air!!

No, it is not from the lovely flowers blooming or the clean fresh scent of the pine trees swaying in the gentle breeze... ON NO - it is Stink Bugs and Skunks!!!

This week I have had the pleasure of stepping on several stink bugs before I realized they were there - NASTY!!! Luckily it has been warm enough that I opened windows and doors in the house to tried and get this nasty smell out of my nose and what seemed to be everything I touched.

Last night as I almost had that done and was thankful that my stomach could settle down it bit..

I was typing away at the computer with the window open and I just about gagged.. A skunk was under the window and had placed itself on the Welcome mat at the doors of the shop. Just then the dogs started barking and away the smell was sprayed... I ran closing doors and window all the while saying "Your not going to throw up, Grace".. Like a mad women I was shutting things up but it was too late. It was in the house big time. I grab the flood light and went around the house windows seeing if I could see where he ran to. I was so worried that he might head towards where the bottle kids had been lounging outside enjoying the night without everyone else. I calculated my changes of running into the skunk and saving my sweet ones. Well, you know me out the door I went running and gathering the little ones up and placed them in their barn. I then ran to the dogs trying to see if they could tell me where it was - what I got was a real surprise - three big ones running in the direction of the chicken coop. Crap!!!

Well, after shining the flood light on them and make noise at a distance they ran towards the forest. After calming everyone down and me holding my breathe to cross the shop doors I got in the house and took off my clothes for fresher smelling ones and tossed them on the back deck. Then in my silly way I started to burn scented candles (See Boys I do burn them) and hoped for the best. WRONG! I wont even tell you what that smelled like but think of old outhouse with Pine Sol.. Needless to say Grace did not get to bed until past midnight - it is hard to sleep with Peppy La Pew smell heavy in the air.

Just goes to remind us - snow drifts = no skunks!!

What is your favorite good smell of Spring?? A few of mine are the pine trees, the mint that grows all over this farm and the corn chip smell of a llama and the earthy smell while snuggling my bottle goats. O.K. now it is your turn...

Round Two

Round Two of Cream!! Dottie is getting as excited as my Grandson Reese about the cream.. They both love it.

Mira is not going to even look at what is going on - she stick close to her Mother which is O.K. too!.. Before everyone gets the wrong idea - I do not follow after my animals worrying and keeping them from being who they are meant to be. Even with my own human son's I did not follow after them. I always told them unless a bone was sticking out or the bleeding would not stop "Your O.K.". Both of them are fearless in so many ways - while understanding in order to live life you will end up with bumps, bruises and yes even cuts... There was a time with my youngest I worried that the ER doc's would think someone was abusing him because he was always doing things. Like the time he wanted to be He Man and got under the shelving of his metal bunk bed and lifted it off the ground. WOW, Strong Kid I don't think he was even three - that was until the screws stripped and it came crashing down and smashed his nose. What a lot of blood, crying, screaming and broken nose. The doctor stated we where so lucky because the broken bone could have been driven into his brain. Then there was the phase were he swallowed everything he could get his hands on - money, keys, marbles and lego's - almost chocked to death.. Turn blue, stopped breathing and his throat received a small tear when I finally got is dislodged as the Paramedic just arrived. The list could go on but he is not the only one in this family but we wont even go down the story road with my oldest son or worse yet my husband. So I guess over the years with all the drama's and injuries I have learned to be a tad bit hyper aware. Besides do you have any idea how hard it is to set an animals leg by yourself??? Don't want to be doing that again anytime soon.

I must admit the moment her cream was on that sweet soft nose and she received her kisses, off she ran at full speed to join Mari and the birds playing on this sunny day...

Accidents Happen

The Llama babies had been enjoying the sunshine while running as fast as those lovely long legs would allow but like with all good things - too much a of it can lead to issues...

It is just like me to be working away and this "Mother Sense" tells me to look up. Just as I did I saw sweet Dottie running faster then her legs would handle - it is a rookie mistake. I yelled out "SLOW DOWN" and just then she went end over end. I dropped my tools and went running in her direction. Now I can never match their speed but that "Mother Panic" kicks in and our abilities are like a Super Hero without the mask on...

As I was making my way through the gates she came running towards me in a panic. Happy, her four legged mother was watching closely but did not call to her. As we came closer to each other I could hear her little cries that was asking for comfort. I checked out every inch of her and hugged and kissed her while making the soft sounds that Happy would make. Once she was calm I went into the house for my magical cream and camera.

I returned to find Dottie sitting on the highest hill in the pasture and gathering herself. The moment she saw I was coming in the gate so headed towards me - hard to take a picture of something coming quickly towards you. As you can see by the last picture she scraped up her nose. Once I placed some of the cream on the cuts she was calm and thankful. It is the same cream I gave to my two legged grandson Reese to heal his raw nose. It is the same cream that I use for the hundreds of cuts, scraps, jabs and such that I manage to place on this body. It is a miracle cream... I think also the tons of kisses will aid in the healing of this sweet girls nose.

Do you have a special "HEAL ALL" in your bag of tricks???

Signs of Spring??

While working outside on the Winter Clean Up that is always required after the storms that can hit this farm I took a bit of time to notice the signs of Spring coming. Buds on the Lilac Brushes which never fail to get hit with an ice storm at least once but usually twice before they bloom. The Mint that will withstand all that Mother Nature can throw at it and come back ten fold each year.

Then there are all the tiny pine cones that are growing on the Pinon Pine that stands outside my front deck. Sitting next to the Pinon Pine is a sweet wash tub that houses my clumps of Garlic Chives which each returns despite the hens pecking and digging in the tub...

Then I saw the first Robin hopping around the ground looking for tasty tidbits and enjoying the sunshine. As I was finishing up the clean up for today I reached the shop door and there was my sweet little mink - peeking out from the rock that makes up the ground level of this log house. He ran around the front garden bed and past my feet. Then back again and up on the wall. It was tricky trying to catch a picture of him that was not a blurry - he is really fast but so friendly. I have missed him following me around while doing my chores.

The work outside today was long and tons of bending, hauling and collecting things that Jack Frost had carried ever where but this is what makes this gal happiest.. However, I have lived here all my life and know that Colorado never just gives us these warm sunny days without have a couple big storms up her skirt. So, for at least today the Funny Farm soaked up every minute..

What was you Wednesday weather like?

Yearly Routine

Early in the morning mist I spied this amazing fellow working on the nest that is built every year in the birdhouse that hangs outside my kitchen window on the electrical pole. It is something small that marks the routine that we all follow. I wonder if the birds awake to the thought "I am bored" or "No One Appreciates Me", or even "I think I want to do something different but I have no idea what".. I watch my goats get up every morning to the same routine with slight variations but driven by instinct.. Many of the girls are still not happy they did not give birth this year and tell me about it everyday while others are enjoying the lack of responsibility to a young one.

I am wondering if anyone out there is thinking of new horizons, spreading their wings for new lands, or are you finding that your driven by past routines??