Finally! The snow has arrived! There wasn't much of it but we still got some moisture! I hope there is more to come for our farmers :)
As I was saying before, yesterday I left the newly frosted farm en route to my new destination...the IX Ranch.
Because I am a procrastinator, I waited until Sunday morning to "officially" pack everything. And I do mean everything. This was a different kind of packing though. I didn't pack my straightener or my curling iron, or hardly any make-up (I still gotta wear mascara =). The only shoes I packed were boots. And I think I packed every article of warm clothing I could find. Dad was kind enough to help me pack the Hummer:
Before I embarked on my adventure yesterday, I decided that everyone should meet some of the "folks" at home and show some of the things I will be missing while I am away.
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Meet: The dogs of the farm!
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| This is Jake! He is a very overly excited border collie who gets excited if you just look at him. The "cute-sier" you talk to him, the harder he wags his tail. (By cute-sier I mean the way you would goo-goo gaa-gaa talk to a baby) |
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| Meet Angel: The shy, timid "alpha-female" of the group. She hates playing with Penny but is a really good working dog when we move the cows. She is mostly Mom's dog. |
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| And last but not least, this is Penny, my pup who will be a year old in March. I used to think she was deaf but now I just think she has selective hearing. Her favorite games are keep away and "lets chew holes in Mom's socks". Oh, and how could I forget! She might have puppies, the Heinz 57 version. Mom is really happy about this (not!) because I just left and now she has to deal with it. We should know in a couple weeks if she will be having little pups around the end of March. The dog that may have bred her is a border collie/sheep guard dog cross. You know, those big white sheep dogs. Poor puppies, they will be so confused. They won't know whether to guard the sheep or chase them! |
We also have another dog. Her name is Maggie and she is supposed to be a guard dog. She made a pretty good run at it for a year but then retired herself and spends her days slaying pigme goats, laying in the feed bunk, or stealing chickens. She's really earning her keep around the place (not).
While I am gone, Mom will be lambing! We had a few lamb out while I was there for market lambs but the majority of the flock will lamb while I am gone.
Right now Mom is bottle feeding her "special" lamb. His name is Vanny, short for Van Gogh. The reason for the name? He only has one ear. He was born that way. Why is he "special"? He is a little slow, kinda cocks his head side ways, and his jaw is a little crooked. He still can't figure out how to get the Momma's milk. He's a pitiful looking little bugger but at least he's alive!
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| This is the chicken that thinks she is a sheep. Well, I don't know if she really thinks that, but she lives in the sheep barn. |
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| Another cute little baby picture! |
Look who was waiting outside the sheep barn for me like a good little sheepdog!
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| She looks so innocent right now.... |
As I was making my way around the farm, I checked in on the "heavies", the cows that are waiting to calve. And this is what I found....
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| Maggie thinks she wants to guard the cows now..... |
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| This is the newest of my four (bull) calves. Not one heifer yet! Hopefully I get some replacements soon! |
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| Happy Cows make Happy Calves! |
Anyways, that concludes my short photo tour of the farm. I am going to miss the farm, my family, and my friends so much! I am hoping this final adventure offers me many new lessons too learn as well as new ideas that I can bring back to our operation to help Mom and Dad.
Speaking of this new adventure... I arrived last night around 5:30 and got settled into my new home. I feel like I am living in the dorms again! More pictures of my humble abode will come later.
I have survived my first day, enjoyed many laughs, and created new friendships today. Sounds like a successful day to me!
Thanks for reading and I'll keep everyone posted!
Happy Trails!
Oh Jesse- Thanks for making me laugh.. I can't believe Penny. What a little... well you know what i would say.. lol but i still love her! Can't wait to hear about all the adventures on the new ranch!
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