Verse of the Week

I tried to get a few pictures of the growing lambs but this is all I got...sheep with their heads down. It is pretty slim pickins in the pasture but there are spots of green appearing here and there.

Above are my merino girls..Laverne and Shirley. I love their personalities. They are so calm and easy going. Just looking at those wrinkles makes me dread shearing time!

Verse of the Week...hope you enjoy

Luke 6:32-36

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Fun Pics - 1

I'm only going to post 1 ugly picture and then I am done with the negative stuff. This is what the pasture looks like after the water dropped. I am still waiting to see if it comes back. I have 50 bales of hay in the loft to use until I figure out what I'm going to do with all these sheep. They have a small area to graze (inside the black fence) for now. If you look beyond that you'll see what use to be corn and wheat. We were able to get out yesterday using our normal route to town and then they closed it today because the road is unstable so we are back to a 45 minute trip to town..but anyway...that is not much of an inconvenience compared to so many others here so I am aggravated with myself when I get aggravated....

It has been interesting talking to people about their experiences during the flood and one lady I spoke with said something that kind of surprised me. I asked her how close the water came to her house and she said...well...it didn't get my landscaping..She was obviously grateful it didn't get into her house but just the fact that she was thinking about her flowers kind of made me laugh. We wait all winter for those first greens of spring and anxiously await those first blooms so yeah..I get it...it didn't get her flowers...how great! So I thought I would share a few blooms of my own..

The kittens are taking a nap here and they now live in the sunroom...because....our new puppy seems to think they are chew toys. Yes...just what I need in the middle of all this flooding and cleanup and 40 mile trips to town...a new puppy. Don't even ask..... His name is Reggie and my son says he is a Labrador Receiver and he is named after his favorite receiver...Reggie Wayne of the Colts. At least he was free...ya right..

The Flood of '08

I'm not sure where to begin. I live 5 miles from 2 rivers. One to my east, one to my west. A levy broke on both within 12 hours of each other. My family is fine, my animals are fine and my home is fine. Many homes in my area are completely gone. I can look out my front door at what use to be a lake with about 20 homes around it. There are only a handful of them left. The picture above is of my pasture. That is as close as it got to my house.

My kids and I got on a boat and left our home last week because all the roads had at least 4 feet of water over them. I rode on a boat through corn fields and under irrigation systems watching propane tanks float by. My husband stayed behind to watch the animals and take care of basically everything. The farmers have lost all their crops.

I was able to come home yesterday when we found a route that is accessible with a 4 wheel drive. Unfortunately, it takes 45 minutes to get to town now instead of 10. I am grateful to be home and I am grateful that I had a home to come home to. I can't stop thinking of all the people who have lost everything.

Unfortunately, I will not have anything for my sheep to eat this summer. The pasture will be gone. I am going to have to get rid of almost all of my sheep. I can keep about 5 in the black fenced area that was not affected. What am I going to do with the other 20 sheep? If you know of anyone who would like to add to their flock...and do it cheaply, please let me know.

This is our normal route to town. The road is gone beneath all that water. It will be some time before we take that route again. We will only be able to go to town once a day so I will be waiting in town for my daughter while she works. I am looking forward to helping with the Red Cross this week to prepare meals for emergency workers at our church.

I've seen the news of all the other areas that are flooded even more than we are. It is just unbelievable how many areas of the country are hurting right now. One thing is for certain; people really come together in a community to help one another when they face a crisis together. Americans are strong and I know each of these communities will overcome whatever they have to in order to get their lives back. These are the times you really understand that the best things in life are not things.

Verse of the week...hope you enjoy

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I'm such a sucker!

So, when my daughter called me from work and said a girl there was trying desperately to get rid of her kittens before her father..um..disposed of them...what could I say? Yes, of course!! Seriously, how do you say no to such cuteness? Kids think it's a big deal that the kittens are free...right! There is no such thing as a free kitten or a free puppy!! One of them will have to be fixed, then there are shots, wormer, flee and tick meds...on and on and on...oh ya and a new screen door!

TA DA...introducing my new Merino ewe lambs! I am very excited to have found these beautiful girls only 2 1/2 hrs from where I live. I plan on crossing them with one of my Shetland rams next Spring for Fall babies. It will be hard to wait that long but the Merinos develop a bit slow and wont be ready to be bred until then. The picture is not great I know but they are still in a stall and there is not very good light in the barn. When I get them out I will get a picture of that unbelievable wool of theirs to show you.

This girl is already begging for animal crackers! They are not as friendly as my Shetlands but not as flighty as I feared either.

I inherited the worry gene from my father and his family. It drove me CRAZY as a kid and now, of course, I am just like him. My kids, you guessed it...hate it. And although I can read this verse over and over and over...well, I still worry. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this weeks verse..

Verse of the week:

Luke 12: 22-

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"

Let the sun shine

We have a break from the rain and cloudy skies today so I thought I would get out and take some pictures to share. The lambs are all growing so fast. The little girl above will actually be a nice dark gray. Patsy (below) is one of my friendliest lambs.

Amos is finally getting his horns. His fleece is very nice so I hope those horns turn out ok.

Simmons is one of my nicest lambs. His fleece is gorgeous and his horns look great so far.

Lucy...what can I say about Lucy. That is a bit of a long story. She is now living with the rams. When my last ewe had lambed, I went out to find one of her twins in the middle aisle of the barn even though I had the mom and both babies still in a stall. His back was broken and he was in alot of pain. I had to put him down. I could not figure out how in the world he had gotten out of the stall. The gate was a hog panel so I assumed he probably stuck his head out and was pulled the rest of the way. The only way that could have happened was Lucy. I still didn't want to believe it but about a week later, after the mom and her other baby were out with the rest of the sheep; I looked out in the pasture and Lucy had the other baby by the back leg swinging it like a toy. I was able to get to him in time and he was ok. I have Lucy with the rams until I can figure this out. Then one night I went out to put the sheep up for the night and I couldn't find that little ram lamb. His mom was calling for him but no response. He has simply vanished. I can't find traces of blood anywhere. Nothing. I can't imagine a coyote getting in and only taking one sheep. I guess it will remain a mystery. I've talked to several people and read about livestock guardian dogs and I think it is a matter of aggressive play. She is not a mean dog.

On a brighter note, I have been busy keeping up with the yard and painting furniture. I found these old metal chairs in the trash at my grandma's house. I brought them home and had them sandblasted. I've always liked old stuff better than anything I could buy new. I have also started a new rug. This is the rug before it is washed and sewn. The colors are a nice slate blue, brown and tan. I'm sewing it now and that is by far the most time consuming for me. I'm anxious to get it done before school is out next week. I need something to catch all that dirt the kids bring in. Bring on Summer!!!

More Lamb Pictures

Time to catch up on lamb pictures. My Internet provider has been unreliable as usual so I have been spending all my time outside. I've been mulching all my flower beds. I had several plants die last year and when I pulled them out, I noticed they had moldy looking mulch around them so I raked the old stuff out and put all new down. I have so much area to cover that I can't afford to buy it in bags so I used my trailer and bought it by the scoop full. Unfortunately, that means I have to shovel it all out into a wheel barrow and then dump it that way. It is a lot more work but also a lot less costly. It is good to have it all done. Now if I can just keep up with the mowing maybe I can get my house clean!

The lambs are growing so fast! I have loved looking at everyone's lamb pictures so I thought I would show a few of my new babies and a few of the older ones. This is a little ewe lamb I named Patsy. My grandpa who died before I was born raised sheep. My mom has several old black and white photos of her as a little girl with her dad and the sheep. So, I decided to name some of my sheep after some of my family. My moms name is Patsy...I'm not sure if she would be flattered or not! I think this little girl is a doll.

This is a ram lamb, Amos, was named after my grandfather. He is solid moorit and he is gorgeous! He is very correct and has nice crimpy fleece. I think he may be a keeper.

This was one of the first lambs born. His fleece looks great and he has nice straight legs and a tiny tail. His name is Wishbone and he will be for sale as I have a surplus of black lambs this year.

This is the latest set of twins born. One boy, one girl but no names yet..I'm running out of ideas! I still have 2 sheep who haven't had their babies yet. They look enormous and by my calculations, they have to have them by May 3rd. Lambing has been great fun this year. The babies have been so spread out that it really hasn't been stressful at all.

It may be raining but at least Spring is here

It is raining..again...but there are beautiful signs of Spring everywhere. The ewes from 2 of the breeding groups have all lambed and now I'm waiting on the third group of girls. I can't wait to see the lambs from the ram I leased but they seem to be in no hurry to show me. Hope your lambing is going smoothly and I am enjoying all the lamb pictures I see on the blogs.

Here is the verse of the week..hope you enjoy.

The following is taken from The Purpose Driven Life..

What makes God smile?

God smiles when we love him supremely. "I don't want your sacrifices - I want your love; I don't want your offerings - I want you to know me." Hosea 6:6 (LB)

God smiles when we trust him completely. "He takes pleasure in those that honor Him; in those who trust in His constant love." Psalm 147: 11 (TEV)

God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly. "Obey him gladly." Psalm 100:2 (LB)

God smiles when we praise and thank him continually. "The righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy." Psalm 68:3 (TEV)

God smiles when we use our abilities. "He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do." Psalm 33:15 (Msg)

Lamb pictures

I just went out to the barn and couldn't resist sharing these lamb pictures I took. This guy is now 1 day old and you can tell more about his markings now that he is all dried off and bouncing around. I have no idea what to name this guy. His markings are so striking. He looks like Gene Simmons! Maybe I'll name him KISS!

I think I'm gonna be a rebel!

I think my markings are much more dignified!

Well, I'm cute and saucy!

Wool, babies and verse of the week

I have been experimenting with dyeing wool again. Michelle suggested I try over dyeing some of my black wool and I decided to give it a try. I don't have any idea if I did it right but the result was pretty cool. This is a black iset fleece and as you can see the dye was very uneven but I like the result. I think the roving will be beautiful.

We had one more baby born last night. He is a katmoget with black legs and belly and then his head is a combination of brown, black and white. I got out to the barn about 2 minutes before he came into the world. The ewe seemed to be in more pain than the others I have observed. When he came out she just sat there and made no attempt to start cleaning him off. I waited as long as I could and then I took off my sweatshirt (note to self: take some old towels out to the barn!) and cleaned off his head and used a syringe on his mouth and nose. She finally decided to take over but it scared me to death! 3 ewes down and 7 to go!

Verse of the week...hope you enjoy!

Psalm 104: 24, 31-33

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures....May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works - he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

More babies

As you can see, this ewe has not had babies yet but wow does she look like she is ready to pop!! I just can't believe she hasn't gone yet..any day. Zanex however did have her babies!

These little twin girls were born Wednesday night of last week. They were both up, dry and nursing when I went out to check on everyone one last time before going to bed. The 4 that have been born so far are all out of the same ram..Rex. As cute as they are, I have too many black sheep. These 4 will have to find new homes so I'm trying not to get too chummy...no names yet. They are so cute to watch! I feel bad that they have not been introduced to the outside world yet. It is just too wet here. I am having a heck of a time trying to keep everyone a dry, clean place to sleep!

BABIES ARE HERE!!

The first lambs arrived on Monday night about 11:30 p.m. I had been watching this ewe very closely all day and she didn't let me down. I was able to watch the whole thing..how exciting!! Actually we all go to see it except my daughter who had been home the previous week on Spring Break..sorry Kels. She was very disappointed she didn't get to see any babies while she was home.

Of course, both lambs are rams..oh well, they are too cute to care right now!!

Verse of the Week

I have neglected the verse of the week for so long I had to go back and look at where I am in the book I have been quoting from - The Purpose Driven Life. Looks like we're up to week 5. It is one of my favorite chapters in the book. I hope you enjoy it too.

It is titled "Seeing Life from God's View"

"The way you see your life shapes your life. How you define life determines your destiny. Your perspective will influence how you invest your time, spend your money, use your talents, and value your relationships. "

"The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God's view of life: Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment.

Life is a test - God continually tests people's character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. Words like trials, temptations, refining, and testing occur more than 200 times in the Bible....Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test.

Life is a trust - Our time on earth and our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are all gifts from God that he has entrusted to our care and management. We are stewards of whatever God gives us....The more God gives you, the more responsible he expects you to be.

Verse to remember: Luke 16:10a (NLT)

Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones."