The Picture Says It All

Our new to us cab tractor...no more dust in the face! A/C and heat will make it pretty nice too plus a radio. Those were the things that I liked. Len went for the power, good tires and dual wheels (one set not attached in this picture). We all have priorities.

Merry Christmas to All!

And so it is Christmas......

I usually try to tie red ribbons and bows to dogs, sheep or whatever will hold still. I thought taking still pictures would be easier.

We have made a few changes this year to the farm when we downsized the animals. We sold all are breeding ewes and rams to Painted Ewe Farm in Saskatchewan and kept 21 Katahdin sheep to train the Border Collies with. We also have 8 North Country Cheviot replacement ewes that are staying the winter. 

Four Border Collies still run our lives, Mirk who is 12 now and watches a lot of HBO. The other three are working and trialing. Kip who is almost 7, Hank who is 2 1/2 and Bet who is 2 1/2.

Of course Clarice and Sonny the Livestock Protection Dogs, are ever vigilant watching their sheep.

Len is driving for Reimer Brothers and I am retired from Argo so staying home in a snow storm is quite relaxing.

Here are some pictures of the farm taken this week ...sure looks Christmas-y!
Mirk was in the house watching TV and missed the photo shoot.

Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year to all...



Hank




Bet




Kip





Sonny - Did you bring food?





Clarice - Such a great protector to her sheep



Yam Shepherd's Pie from Mennonite Girls Can Cook

Thought this was toogood not to share:



Mennonite Girls Can Cook: Yam Shepherd's Pie:   Shepherd's Pie . . . what can I say about it? You love it or hate it. I think it's a great family meal if you introduce the kids to it ...

Soon....

The start of the bathroom renos.....

Mysterious "Deer" Sightings

I am going to show you a series of pictures. Then you can guess what they add up to….and no it wasn’t a deer. Answer at bottom of page. 

This is a bottle of pickled beets. One morning when I got to the garden I noticed all the beet tops were eaten and I had to do something with the beets lying on top of the ground!

 This is the "pruned" apple tree over a couple days. I have babied it to this size and was angry at the "deer"!

Lilac bush, just slightly pruned....

Of all the flowers in the long bed, this is what the "deer" ate.

These are the feeders, note the top has caved in ??

 Look at this sweet little face....of the "deer". I caught her the other morning and when I opened all the gates to put her back in, she just hopped over the feeder. Baaaaaaaaaaaaad sheep!

Today I moved the feeders and put a nice big steel gate across the opening. So lucky the rest didn't follow her.

Crap, It's Been A Month Since I Blogged

It seems like yesterday that Jenny Glen, Louanne Twa and I were sitting at the Hilltop Trial having a conversation about what to put on a blog when we just don't have the time, etc. Darned if I can remember what the heck it was?
So the news in Reader's Digest Form is:
We are not selling the farm, decided to pull it off the market and stay put!
All the lambs are shipped so we have 21 dog sheep of our own and 8 North Country ewe lambs "visiting" for the winter.
The Armstrong IPE is this weekend with.......Stock Dog Demos!
That's it for August so here are a picture of the NC gals with one of my Katahdin ewe lambs in the front of the picture.  Their ears are green because they got their tattoos before they came out.

New Girl in Town

We have a new addition to the Paxton Valley Gang. Her name is Bet and she is a 2 year old that we got from Chris Jobe. She is out of Stephen Bonk's Jill (Montgomery's) and MacRae's Nap.  She has a very sweet temperament and loves to work as I found out this morning. We are really enjoying her.

Big Bus to Saskatchewan

Our farm life changed today. The 102 breeding ewes and 3 rams left for their new digs in Saskatchewan. Jennifer L'Arrivee from McBride came down on Tuesday with some yearlings she had of mine and stayed to help load. The Canart Cattle Company from Kamloops pulled in Wednesday morning and the driver was awesome. Travis helped us load.  Now mind you, he is the same Travis that as a young 4-H person worked in the all the take pens at all mine and Lee Lumb's sheep dog trials till he grew up and moved on with bigger and better things. This worked out well.
Had a few glitches when the LGDs took off with the sheep when I turned my back to shut the gate and off they went up the hill by the end of the driveway. Brought them back and started again. According to this incident and the fact that I was using some "industrial strength" language with Sonny and Clarice to make them go back to the barnyard, Travis and Jennifer had a good laugh...but were sensible enough not to tell me till later! To those not familiar with Livestock Guardian Dogs, they are very independent and like to do things in their own time. Makes for great Protection for the sheep but when you scold them verbally, they walk at a snail's pace and look like the wrath of the world is upon them.
The rams were great heading up the ramp....after we got them into the penning area. Good dog Kip was our saving grace there! It was very much a team effort though with Jen and Travis as well. I don't work my rams very much so they only knew eat in one area and in the fall go visit the ewes!
The saddest part was finding Clarice the LGD around the corner of the barn after the truck pulled out crying for her sheep..yep broke my heart. She bounced back after she realized the dog sheep and lambs were still there to look after.
They arrived safe and sound near Melfort and hit the grass running....Bye girls! It is pretty quiet here but the new owners said I can have visitation rights.

Here comes the Bus...

You want us to what?

I thought we going business class

Oh boy, window seats!

Travis and his sidekick ready to go.

Friday Flowers

A Round About Trip to Drayton Valley

Drayton Valley Arena Trial

It started out soggy but a good trial and good friends made it all worthwhile. On Wednesday I loaded lambs to take to Lisa in Athabasca. (note to self: when loading in a downpour of rain with your husband, it is best to check and re-check numbers..oh yeah and sex of lambs..that's a story in itself) So off I went with the dogs and everything else in the back seat of the pickup and lambies in the back with lots of bedding. First stop at Jennifer & David L'Arrivee's in McBride. (still raining) Had an excellent visit, her Mom and Dad were there visiting so we all had some good laughs and a nice visit. The lambs enjoyed the break and hung out in the pasture overnight. Jennifer's house renos are awesome!! It looks great.

 Loaded lambs back up and next stop Athabasca. Got spoiled at Lisa's with dinner and wine, worked dogs and next morning we both loaded up for Drayton Valley and stayed with Louanne in the Princess Castle.

Here are some pictures of the trial...we had a great time and  the trial was very well run. Great gift bags for each dog entered, handlers draw for great prizes. Congratulations Jill on winning the Blu-Ray and sound system. They had a farm fair happening there too, so lots of things to see. If you ever go for dinner in Drayton, make sure it's the Three Knights Restaurant. Mmmmm

Congratulations to Carol Nelson for winning Open. Gord Lazaratto for Ranch and Jennifer L'Arrivee for Nursery.

The Northern Contingent think it's as cold here as in Northern B.C.

Corey did a great job of putting this trial on

Jerry and Jeb

Terri after her run. Stormy had parking out of the rain for his ride!

The Thinkers..or What the hell are they doing out there?

Coffee & Baked goods in the corner all day for handlers and everyone was happy

Billie and Dan

Lisa and Kate headed to the handler's circle

 

Where the sheep were picked up

Is That What They Really Think?

My new designer wine glass for dog trialling! A gift from my neighbor, we had a good chuckle over it. I think it's quite handy with the screw on top so one can walk and not spill. So, wonder what the neighbors really think of me.......................

Spring?

It is May and the grass is not growing. Last night on the 9th of May it snowed and was -4 C. What is with that? I finally finished washing the siding on the house, froze my hands and put the hose away before it froze. Forecast is for nicer weather next week.
Days are filled with feeding sheep, working Hank and Kip and watching TV with Mirk. The best thing you can do to cure a cold is the latter.
So if it's cold and you're bored, here is a great recipe:
Hot Pepper Jelly with Tequila
If it doesn't turn out, just drink the rest of the tequila!

Lamb Race 2012

Time for a Change

Well this is it, we have decided to downsize. After we are done lambing and they are weaned, the main breeding flock of ewes are going to Bert and Betty Lukens in Melfort, SK. I will keep a small group for training dogs. We have listed our farm and hope to move down to a 5 to 10 acre place nearer to Armstrong, B.C.


http://www.realtor.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx?PropertyID=11724936&PidKey=-786835752

Lambie Lambie Lambie

I'm incognito

New lambs

Just cute

Holding Pen

and cute again

the waiting ladies

Could I borrow the bike?

Are you next?

The really lovely triplets!

Fun With Sheep

Today is a month before lambing so all the pregnant ewes had to be vaccinated and de-wormed. We use an Ivomec drench to deworm them and a few of them said it tastes like crap. Len's Mom was out and gave us a well appreciated hand. Nice to get it done. Here are some pictures of the day...

Tiny, the first one to the barn in case it's something good to eat

The crew. Len's Mom Millie. I think Len is closing his eyes to wish this would all disappear.

Don't these old work jackets add about 100 pounds :)

Getting ready

Clarice is worried about her flock

Coyote strolling down the road, a long way from the barn

Sonny going after said coyote

Tripper peeking in from the back field to see what's happening

Serious gal

"I told you girls not to listen to the dog! Now look where we are!"

Pretty face, does she look familiar Jen?

Behind bars

The best part of the day, 4 left to go!