tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81418437538165755412024-02-19T07:59:59.945-08:00Paca D'Lites Alpaca Ranch"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress,
and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. . ." Psalm 18:2Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-59938430972391791662015-02-11T14:51:00.000-08:002015-02-11T14:51:14.415-08:00Chix Packin' StixWhere in the world did January go? And half of February? We just celebrated Christmas, didn't we? Well, this post is about a really fun, craft retreat!<br />
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This is my friend, Cindy. She is such a hoot! Her face shows exactly how I felt at this year's Chix Packin' Stix craft retreat. Wow! This was the 3rd retreat for my buddy, Joyce, and I to coordinate and hold. We went from 16 ladies at our 1st retreat, to 27 at our 2nd retreat, and 37 at this retreat! Word is getting out! We max out at 40, so we are almost there!<br />
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Well, as you can see, there is a little bit of knitting and crocheting going on! We teach a beginner class for each on Friday evening. Terri is an amazing knitter, artist, and overall crafter extraordinaire!<br />
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We made some cards using rubber stamps, chalk, bedazzles, and colored paper! So much fun! Each of us made 4 cards with different themes. They turned out super cute!<br />
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We made some beautiful inspiration flags! Joyce loves motorcycles, so she's having fun with the "Hog" fabric! I think Joyce is on No-Doze here since she and I were up 'til 4 am the night (er...morning of) before. Hey, girls just wanna have fun!<br />
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I love this one! Too cute! There were an incredible variety of flags being made. I still need to finish mine. Of course, mine has chickens on it. Just sayin'...<br />
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Linda Mehler, from Wildflower Studio in McKinney, Texas, taught us how to needle felt these cute Easter eggs. That was amazing! I've never had the band width to even try this before, but found it amazingly simple and relaxing. For those of us who don't have much creativity, Linda provided rubber stamps to stamp patterns on our eggs. We then felted fiber over the designs. Very unique!<br />
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We had spinners spinning fleece into yarn! This is Mitchie. This woman has more talent in her little toe than I have in my entire body! She does EVERYTHING! Just an incredible lady... Super sweet, too! I wish I had a shot of all of the other ladies that were spinning. I think we had 5 ladies doing this. Spinning is VERY relaxing!<br />
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This is a "Getting to know you" activity with yarn, to be later made into a scarf! Yep, it looks just about as crazy as it was! And noisy, too! 37 ladies cackling at the same time can get pretty loud!<br />
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Some of us made scarves and rugs out of a peg loom! This is an incredibly easy craft, too. For those of you with a lack of patience, this is a great tool! You can make a scarf in little to no time. Really... it's that incredible!<br />
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Others made shawls using a tri-loom! Remember those placemats you made in Kindergarten when you were learning about the pilgrims and the Indians? The ones where you would weave the construction paper in and out, in and out, alternating the colors, to make a woven placemat? That's what this is like. You weave the yarn in and out, up and down the triangle board, but instead of using your fingers to weave, you use a long sort of crochet hook. This is another really unique craft!<br />
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We always work on a charity project at each of our retreats. For this retreat, we crocheted edging around fleece blankets. We'll be donating these blankets to Medical City of Dallas and Parkland Hospital's NICU. Some of the blankets will also be used as lap blankets for older kids going through chemotherapy at the hospitals. <br />
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Of course, we always make time for eating lots of great food, too! We have a baked potato and soup bar Friday night. We have continental breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The rest of the time we head on over to the chow hall for some grub. I really sound like I'm getting into the character, don't I? I didn't say I WAS a character. I said I was getting INTO character. Just clarifying...<br />
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The sleeping accommodations are fantastic, with many rustic hotel rooms holding anywhere from 4 - 6 people in a room. There are also two cabins that hold up to 10 ladies. Very rustic, as well. Aren't these cute? Keepin' with the ranch theme here!<br />
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The views at the Lone Oak Ranch are so beautiful! It's quiet and peaceful. We had amazing weather for January, early February! We still managed to sneak in a fire in the fireplace, though. 'Cause we wanted to. Enough said...<br />
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We even had some cardinals show up outside of our general purpose room trying to figure out what all of the ladies were doing. They were probably trying to figure out why so many ladies were peaking through the window staring at them, as if they had never seen a bird before! Seriously... there were about 6 of these beautiful birds hanging out just outside the window. Bonus!<br />
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We
intentionally schedule twice a year to get together, relax, craft, and
enjoy some girl friend time! Who doesn't want three days to get away from the hectic business of every day life? Retreating away into the country in a little western theme town with somewhere around 40 other ladies, all trying to spend a little time relaxing and having fun. We spend time filling up our energy tanks so we can, in turn, head back to our lives ready to fill other people's tanks. It's kind of hard to do that when you yourself are running on empty. <br />
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But really, the entire weekend is about friendships. Catching up with some long time friends and making new ones. Yep, I've read over and over again the value of having friendships. After all, isn't life too short to just rush through it? I hope you'll consider joining us sometime! If you want more information, join our little group on Facebook. Search for Chix Packin' Stix. Live vicariously through us or join in on the fun! The choice is yours!<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-41628696846108427822015-02-11T13:27:00.003-08:002015-02-11T13:27:52.401-08:00Butchering chickens is not for the faint of heartEvery year about this time, we butcher chickens. For the past three years, our daughter and youngest son have raised meat chickens for their FFA projects. After the county show, the chickens are to be butchered. It fills our deep freezer with delicious meat that we know was raised free of antibiotics, steroids, and were raised humanely. Plus, another added bonus is that the chicken is absolutely DELICIOUS!<br />
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This year, however, we decided to do things a little different. We purchased a large, deep sink from the Habitat for Humanity Store and built a large stand to place it on. Our friend and partner in crime for this years butchering, Sergio, helped out with building the stand. This thing was great! We added a down spot for the drain that attached to a hose that we drug over to the pasture. That way, we wouldn't have water pooling up around where we were working. We also added a spout to the top that a host attached to, giving us fresh water to work with when cleaning the chickens.<br />
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Another item added to the list was a chicken plucker. In previous years, we have skinned the chickens. It is very tedious and also takes away the skin which is useful in keeping the meat moist while cooking. This is the frame for the plucker.<br />
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I put all of the rubber "fingers" into the blade of the plucker. This thing rotates around and literally removes all of the feathers from the dead chicken.<br />
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Here are a couple of our helpers bringing the chickens into our butchering area, from the barn. We had 44 chickens to butcher this day.<br />
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Here is a picture of the inside of the chicken plucker. The large plate, shown earlier, sits on the bottom of the plucker and more "fingers" are stationed on the sides of the barrel.<br /><br />
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Here is a picture of Sergio using the plucker. We shoot water, from the hose, into the plucker while it is operating, to help wash the feathers out.<br />
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And here is a shot of my brother, Lynn, using our new sink! Love, love, LOVE it! (I love him, too!)<br />
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Our resident comedian on staff was my sister-in-law, Jennifer. She was cracking us up throughout the process! I love her!<br />
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Finally, after all of the birds were processed, we used a different process to bag the meat. These bags shrink when heat is applied. So, the meat becomes vacuum sealed in these bags to provide better protection in the freezer. They were fantastic! We'll definitely be using these again.<br />
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Here is the finished product! 22 whole chickens ready to go! What a deal!<br />
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I hope you enjoyed the post! Have a super day!<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-43307464308544697102015-02-11T12:10:00.002-08:002015-02-11T12:10:47.324-08:00Chickens and MORE!You know, you can just never have too many chickens! LOL! I love chickens. I love the way they look, how they behave, and how they sound. There is something therapeutic about chickens. On nice days, I love to sit out under a large oak tree in my backyard and watch the chickens while I work. <br />
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A recent purchase I made was for a new chicken waterer. I love it! Gone are the large tanks that need to be filled and cleaned all of the time! <br />
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The new waterer consists of a pvc pipe with small, metal nipples inserted on the bottom. A float valve automatically fills the pvc pipe with water. The chickens and ducks simply walk up to the waterer and hit it with their beaks, dispensing droplets of water into their mouths. They really seem to like it!<br />
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The chickens and ducks took quickly to the new setup. I love that the water is always clean and available. </div>
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Here is a little video showing our ducks in action with the new watering system. Again, I can't speak highly enough of this new system. It's the little things in life that make me happy! Ha ha! I get so excited when I find a new toy for the barn. Hey, this toy makes my barn chores a little easier, too, and THAT makes me happy!<br />
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And as if we don't already have enough chickens, look what else arrived! I ordered another 40. It's an addiction! No, really, we have so many egg customers that are interested in free range, non-GMO, non-Soy eggs, that we can't keep up with the demand. So, we're adding to our numbers. Aren't they cute?!? <br />
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It's just a little bit more of my slice of heaven! Living the life...<br />
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Hugs,<br />
Cyndi<br />
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Hailey, again, showed both her poultry and 2 heifer projects. Here she is with Alex Wilson, the owner of the two heifers Hailey is showing this year. This is a picture of London. She has been quite a handful to halter train this year, but she has turned out to be quite a beautiful Brangus!<br />
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Here Hailey is with her 2nd year project, Malibu. Malibu, also a Brangus, is due in April sometime with her first calf. She will be shown for a final time at the San Antonio Rodeo and Stock Show. After that, she returns to the pasture to be a breeding mama.<br />
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Here was a surprise! Hailey was on the front page of the Murphy Monitor on January 15th! Congratulations to her for getting Reserve Breed Champion with Malibu! I love this picture of her. I need to see if I can get the Murphy Monitor to give me a copy of this picture. Hailey's poultry didn't fair so well at the show. More on that in another post.<br />
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Here Harrison is with his rabbit pen. He did great and made 7th place overall, getting him a place in the Premium Auction on Saturday. Here is a little plug for the Plano East FFA group (notice his jacket?). This has been such an awesome experience for my kids. Hailey was so shy before starting in her FFA career. She hadn't found a place where she "fit in". Karen Buechman, her FFA advisor at Plano East, commented on how shy Hailey was. We've watched her blossom and grow in confidence and leadership, through the years. Hailey has served as an officer at Plano East (she is president this year) and at the district level (Vice President) for FFA. This year, she even made the top 4 in her small animal management proficiency at the National FFA Convention! FFA has taught her so much! FFA has been quite an encouragement for Harrison, too. I can't wait to see where it takes him on his journey of learning!<br />
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Overall, Plano ISD had 29 students make the Premium Auction from the Collin County Junior Livestock Show. That's amazing! Congratulations to all of the students on a job well done!<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-32980668899353923582014-12-05T10:38:00.001-08:002014-12-05T15:14:57.933-08:00December already? Oh my!Why is is that everyone I talk to says they are too busy? Why do we do this to ourselves? I say that, because most of the things I do are because of personal choices that I make. I volunteer to help out in organizations my children are involved in. I serve at church because I want to give back some of what I have openly received myself. I am involved in outreach because I want to share the love of Christ with others. And, I organize retreats with a friend of mine, because I want to have fun and... Heck! We couldn't get anyone else to do it! Sure, there are other craft retreats out there, but they cost too much for my wimpy budget. So, a friend and I got together and started planning retreats for our friends that wouldn't break the budget. If you are interested, check out "Chix Packin' Stix" on Facebook or simply give me a call. I can give you the low down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0fSigkGPg54UctSLRg9CrMocdI66gyblt3lmYgNhEZ8eIZR8xfWmkLbhGOpTzKByZWWazfXCzhgRSHm2axDzkI68mQJTg5uEw3z9Ku_n9gH9SbxRASK09dYzNVzjAtPLi7Dtmin9g79S/s1600/20141031_142036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0fSigkGPg54UctSLRg9CrMocdI66gyblt3lmYgNhEZ8eIZR8xfWmkLbhGOpTzKByZWWazfXCzhgRSHm2axDzkI68mQJTg5uEw3z9Ku_n9gH9SbxRASK09dYzNVzjAtPLi7Dtmin9g79S/s1600/20141031_142036.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a><br />
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Here's a little re-cap of what has been going on at our farm over the last few months. My daughter had applied for a competition in FFA for "Small Animal Management Proficiency". This was regarding her work here on our ranch with the alpacas. She won our area competition, went on to the district level, and then state. She won at state! Pretty big deal, to our family! Then, we received word that she was in the top four at the national level and would need to make a trip to Louisville, KY to interview for the final selection process.<br />
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Hailey did very well. Here is a picture of her receiving her plaque for her outstanding work on her proficiency, along with the current FFA President. She didn't win, but we were so very, very proud of her!!! To make it into the top four at the National level is incredible. Her FFA Advisor, Karen Buechman was a HUGE help in getting all of the photos together, reading the proficiency probably 50 times, and helping with the editing. Thank you, Mrs. Buechman!!! Thanks to our friends who watched the event unfold on television or through the internet. We received a lot of encouragement and support from you!<br />
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On a sad note, two of our kitties are gone. Meow-salini was hit by a
car out in front of our neighbors house. We were devastated. And, just
a few short days later, Fidel-catsro disappeared, never to return.
Usually, that means a coyote got them. Pretty heart breaking for us.
It is part of living out on property and owning "barn" cats. It's also
part of raising chickens and owning any kind of animal. Death comes and
it is painful. But better to have loved and have lost, then never to
have loved at all. Still, it really, really hurts.<br />
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Then, we received our chicks for our annual FFA competition at the Collin County Show in January. FIFTY little buggers are in our barn eating and pooping up a storm! It's hard to believe that in eight short weeks these chicks will weigh on average 10 pounds each! We are raising them on a Texas natural feed that is Non-GMO and Non-Soy. Wish us luck!<br />
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Last, but not least, we STILL have many alpacas living here with our own alpacas because their owner passed away. The wife hasn't been out to see them since her husband passed. We really need to find homes for them. Another gentleman has called me trying to find homes for his four alpacas, too. If you know of anyone interested in owning one of these wonderful creatures (their fleece is incredible to have turned into yarn!), please contact me. <br />
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<img alt="https://4310b1a9-a-f85e1db5-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/planoffa.org/home/chance-raffle/front%20page.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7cpSklNhRU06SFg5Lx3pksigs8n7kly6AiEW_3Ho0v_cELAffZ5Dlt2WO6X0TfiREYzTbcdq0INKPEVga_aToOuZr7N3mTQc_OqrK0m6GuhaOJFMX0Fffs_CD5rkpNbpxphYGrD2xlDhJuECyeLJQPb-aNlAqNqgrXB3gEzh1gFmjy5wXBSv2pI-Z8VHLfLY5o2TCjWBJPEj0UKmsMxES-x9GXHDTT2MeeNqhZCDZerFgdyW_-Q%3D&attredirects=0" class="decoded" src="https://4310b1a9-a-f85e1db5-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/planoffa.org/home/chance-raffle/front%20page.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7cpSklNhRU06SFg5Lx3pksigs8n7kly6AiEW_3Ho0v_cELAffZ5Dlt2WO6X0TfiREYzTbcdq0INKPEVga_aToOuZr7N3mTQc_OqrK0m6GuhaOJFMX0Fffs_CD5rkpNbpxphYGrD2xlDhJuECyeLJQPb-aNlAqNqgrXB3gEzh1gFmjy5wXBSv2pI-Z8VHLfLY5o2TCjWBJPEj0UKmsMxES-x9GXHDTT2MeeNqhZCDZerFgdyW_-Q%3D&attredirects=0" />BTW, WE ARE SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS to support ALL of the Plano FFA kids who have projects competing at the Collin County Junior Livestock Show in January! Please help us support our Plano ISD FFA students! <a href="http://www.zzzinfo.com/ffa/">Check out this link</a> for more information and give us a call. We'd LOVE to sell you a ticket!<br />
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That's it! I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather! I know I am! In fact, I need to make a trip back out to the barn to work some more on the chick coop. Have a great day!<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-70059856437121048592014-09-03T09:29:00.001-07:002014-09-03T09:29:17.090-07:00Likes and Dislikes of the ranch<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Likes and Dislikes of living on a ranch</h2>
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I love living on a small ranch. However, like any other kind of job, there are likes and dislikes about it. Here's a list of my likes and dislikes.<br />
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First of all, I love my daughter's heifer. I love watching her eat, drink, and play. She greets me every morning when I head out to feed the chickens and let's me know she is not really happy that my daughter feeds way after I do. LOL! This is a LIKE.</div>
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I hate refilling the fly catchers! YUK! They stink, are filled with fly guts, and are just all around gross. You would be amazed at how many flies these things catch. They work like a charm, but I can't stand emptying and refilling these things. Definite DISLIKE!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb9jw8N4q1BZ5z4b1Yi_oxGvz9cUjQ-dRQ03-40dF8PqrB9b28RESb8eTwEs-Fdv_5iDPUuaefGP0UmUncYb4ybszbj9C84V1KWaRFIB1KRy3fPFR5HKEwzfd_P8TtTppdd_VWkWs0NGp/s1600/alpacas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb9jw8N4q1BZ5z4b1Yi_oxGvz9cUjQ-dRQ03-40dF8PqrB9b28RESb8eTwEs-Fdv_5iDPUuaefGP0UmUncYb4ybszbj9C84V1KWaRFIB1KRy3fPFR5HKEwzfd_P8TtTppdd_VWkWs0NGp/s1600/alpacas.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love my alpacas! I love watching them pronk around the pasture, graze peacefully, and just hang out by the fence. I have a few of them that will give me kisses! They are some of the sweetest animals on the planet and I feel so very blessed to have so many! Definite LIKE!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5-_i0WG-oH0DocsSbwUrRHY25gmj7ZHN-sCi93UHadqshu7TrGi57w-xyytG6G3L0XuGTEqqtmEeCLOuMkJgh0qaeGuJQ90_CnurE2sMGsBSDhMdBVrRWBPiY9peh2W89ai1R8sLbE1J/s1600/poop+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5-_i0WG-oH0DocsSbwUrRHY25gmj7ZHN-sCi93UHadqshu7TrGi57w-xyytG6G3L0XuGTEqqtmEeCLOuMkJgh0qaeGuJQ90_CnurE2sMGsBSDhMdBVrRWBPiY9peh2W89ai1R8sLbE1J/s1600/poop+pile.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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Manure piles... yep, we've got them. With so many animals, there is plenty of manure to go around! I really hate cleaning up the manure piles. At least the alpacas go in a communal pile, so there are a few large piles, rather than a ton of little ones. However, the horse and heifer don't seem to get that concept. Definite DISLIKE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDONclH_Nk3wyGf_LJejtPZM1matM-wxVq40sv5Ld4R_LCdF9ei3eMk5st26Q06AC2qsoNd9evcbsjMHWiH1w09vRxcdMvq-okzkbmGunbs7WsjlUCrBIdM8YwGt8DO2W4YpdLbTxjEgm/s1600/Ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDONclH_Nk3wyGf_LJejtPZM1matM-wxVq40sv5Ld4R_LCdF9ei3eMk5st26Q06AC2qsoNd9evcbsjMHWiH1w09vRxcdMvq-okzkbmGunbs7WsjlUCrBIdM8YwGt8DO2W4YpdLbTxjEgm/s1600/Ducks.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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My kids convinced me to get a couple of ducks at Tractor Supply this past spring. I absolutely LOVE our ducks! They are so funny when they waddle around and are constantly quacking about everything. DEFINITE LIKE!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJGc_JyJUHQUeWobMvzskQDzp4qhL_qdVXtaO2oI8xYNF7jLLUH6agiw19wZZmR-DjvfUyhlADpmIcpnoEWVgFaQHLRS7bGA_5BdIntrSG6G_FwRhbygps4_27qUml5AiifqeTWHbvj48/s1600/pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJGc_JyJUHQUeWobMvzskQDzp4qhL_qdVXtaO2oI8xYNF7jLLUH6agiw19wZZmR-DjvfUyhlADpmIcpnoEWVgFaQHLRS7bGA_5BdIntrSG6G_FwRhbygps4_27qUml5AiifqeTWHbvj48/s1600/pool.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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Along with those LIKE ducks, comes the DISLIKE of cleaning out their pool. They love to play and splash around in the pool, but immediately upon entry into this pool, they relieve themselves. Yuk! I have to clean the thing out every other day. DISLIKE!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9uMGMyIHym7Htvvb-XyWLNH7OH2HoJlg-BAZuq7OHUwgVtOWIA8_0RzBgDZGDr0vVNLLt342RpjCiUjOgWbBqjy6mRtNWoP2XLNCYgLLAUe5tEEA4_sn-nfzpIiuZK2Un6TpKFFjgpgO/s1600/chick.jpg" height="360" width="640" /><br />
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Every now and then, a stray hen gets away and lays her eggs somewhere that you can't find them. Then, she disappears for awhile while she hatches the eggs. Sometimes, you wind up with a lot of chicks and sometimes you wind up with only one. This was the case this past week. So, I caught the hen and her newborn chick and placed them in this cute little hen house that a friend gave to me. There is a little ramp that goes from the top layer, where the water and nesting box are, to the lower level, where they can get some grass. I sprinkle a little hen scratch down every morning and watch them go at it. They are so adorable! I love watching new chicks. Definite LIKE!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjqKI3hASK92EE-KPD6lA-LUjFws4vLxEXbfVRqhDml6e021YNchkOAgbRu0m34TcokP9JWYGzYVcoXF0DHvg7VhLgWVMMCsIT7K75sJFqlEJQFxl8IXpuBzMEgW3cESj4lkMCCxeYPPy/s1600/tub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjqKI3hASK92EE-KPD6lA-LUjFws4vLxEXbfVRqhDml6e021YNchkOAgbRu0m34TcokP9JWYGzYVcoXF0DHvg7VhLgWVMMCsIT7K75sJFqlEJQFxl8IXpuBzMEgW3cESj4lkMCCxeYPPy/s1600/tub.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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This is our alpaca and horse watering trough. Yes, it is an old bathtub and it works great! However, one of our boarder's alpacas has decided to climb up in the water trough to cool herself down, thus discarding all of the dirt from her body into the water trough. Remember the duck pool? Most of the alpacas use the pool to cool themselves off in. This rebel refuses and instead, continues to make my life more difficult by using the water trough. DISLIKE.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5QC8Fkl12GfVI0aT06AJryMGbf9HO5anACw57EwTCs1RdghKQpeCtMVTRFHiJw5CypB7zX_nX4w6oHXEY19QQBgOlZHUMhLc7FDcfKBoQIGJjZyXpt6p3HckBWcg20LI_5e3Tm9WmbcN/s1600/feeding_chickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5QC8Fkl12GfVI0aT06AJryMGbf9HO5anACw57EwTCs1RdghKQpeCtMVTRFHiJw5CypB7zX_nX4w6oHXEY19QQBgOlZHUMhLc7FDcfKBoQIGJjZyXpt6p3HckBWcg20LI_5e3Tm9WmbcN/s1600/feeding_chickens.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a><br />
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I love feeding the chickens and collecting their eggs. I don't really know why, but I love it. The egg collecting is kind of like Easter every day! Chickens are eye candy. Just ask anyone who owns them. LIKE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NaMWIJW6hA8EzR5YyXkPKoROQWZJoK9ci8YQgvyNyYzmlHOjgVGN1ksr68So6aoGsHv5P-Hq0e9jV0mdGNg3kgok3zgg4HWPC8IzYbnlTYXRGfxhJqqcrgGm_OHFMmhZXJfzdikeEaKv/s1600/garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NaMWIJW6hA8EzR5YyXkPKoROQWZJoK9ci8YQgvyNyYzmlHOjgVGN1ksr68So6aoGsHv5P-Hq0e9jV0mdGNg3kgok3zgg4HWPC8IzYbnlTYXRGfxhJqqcrgGm_OHFMmhZXJfzdikeEaKv/s1600/garden.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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Here are some added bonus' to my life. I love to garden. I'm not very good at it, but I sure do enjoy it! This is a muskamelon plant that is going crazy in my backyard. I'm going to have enough melons for the whole neighborhood! LIKE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2Ag1HUnin2cn9qc9rF3Ou6tiDgaiSGRbt1O1AI9AVH5el2bV0hIHZBtu8oNhVMauB9PBnGjTVZ7QGdjUk6VCbaTu3QIdeos6rB31vrkf2YM6FjrQzy-xsiZm2VpI-QJemEYDBWttb8_i/s1600/kitties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2Ag1HUnin2cn9qc9rF3Ou6tiDgaiSGRbt1O1AI9AVH5el2bV0hIHZBtu8oNhVMauB9PBnGjTVZ7QGdjUk6VCbaTu3QIdeos6rB31vrkf2YM6FjrQzy-xsiZm2VpI-QJemEYDBWttb8_i/s1600/kitties.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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And how could I forget my two, sweet, playful kitties? I love them so much! They provide TONS of entertainment. Here they are on the back porch cleaning one another. I love watching that. They have quite a love for one another. So sweet! LIKE!</div>
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I just finished mowing today. I like doing that, too. I like when the grass is all cut and it looks so nice and neat. I dug up some nasty thorn bushes today from the pasture. I don't like doing that. Overall, there are so many more likes than dislikes. I'll take living on property with animals any day over living in the city with more humans. The animals are so much nicer! Ha ha!</div>
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Anyway, I'll bet there are things you like and dislike about your place, too. What are they?</div>
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Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-73142645950389941602014-03-30T07:29:00.002-07:002014-03-30T07:29:32.690-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBVGFzetx4MMtewMDv0P9izqckTGbjTwFifeazqy-ZgJm5ofOWh9-VWzCiu-Bynhw1se0rAS1d6t6olotsa465Y39ob8HuPDTA5e8EhKxxte8t-BTzNcC00xUojT1EADw05L50IllpyQ8/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBVGFzetx4MMtewMDv0P9izqckTGbjTwFifeazqy-ZgJm5ofOWh9-VWzCiu-Bynhw1se0rAS1d6t6olotsa465Y39ob8HuPDTA5e8EhKxxte8t-BTzNcC00xUojT1EADw05L50IllpyQ8/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Okay! Get ready! Next Saturday, April 5th, is our 2014 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">shearing day at </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=296805137079565&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/PacaDLites" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Paca D'Lites Alpaca Ranch</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">! What does that </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">mean? It means prepping (cleaning) the alpacas, shearing, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">skirting, and bagging all of that beautiful fleece! It also </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">means the alpacas will get some relief from wearing their </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">winter coats around in this 80+ degree weather! A few </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">dogs may get a good clipping too...</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKtSoBeVzM-otF4OQ7sDSiheZh4uxmCRvZBsVZ3o1u7n3NKrzCW42lb-FGgbefvyeX0w1RC9MiW4ZGxinpCbh034LCONgeaKHr1kVh-bEwMoj_bOIihj4Dsho8_t2rMDDD8G1UPRqe1fk/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKtSoBeVzM-otF4OQ7sDSiheZh4uxmCRvZBsVZ3o1u7n3NKrzCW42lb-FGgbefvyeX0w1RC9MiW4ZGxinpCbh034LCONgeaKHr1kVh-bEwMoj_bOIihj4Dsho8_t2rMDDD8G1UPRqe1fk/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-18049267987539102612013-08-14T18:13:00.002-07:002013-08-14T18:15:42.136-07:00So long, farewell, until we meet again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6SaXSdcqkEZoAoUQwyyGHIw0U2xbLAZkUTvHhi93OWsoHQJgoR7TqBx4I7YdZVE-4Mr1A2G_HprxlMAaGIo6HT1S-aVH8B8X0DXyb8xvgsmKZ7s4g3-nXhNWa6f6wxc2_ht5POar9c5M/s1600/IMG_20130807_174206_343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6SaXSdcqkEZoAoUQwyyGHIw0U2xbLAZkUTvHhi93OWsoHQJgoR7TqBx4I7YdZVE-4Mr1A2G_HprxlMAaGIo6HT1S-aVH8B8X0DXyb8xvgsmKZ7s4g3-nXhNWa6f6wxc2_ht5POar9c5M/s640/IMG_20130807_174206_343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today I said goodbye to two of my beautiful alpacas. Sue Ellen doesn't look too beautiful here with all of the dust on her back, but trust me! She is beautiful! Sue Ellen (nicknamed "baby") was a favorite for her fleece, but even more so for her personality. Sue Ellen loves kisses! She likes to hum along every time you come out to greet her, too. I believe she thinks she is a dog... man's best friend. Oh how I will miss her!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVz0EVz84AOz84CH5LyKC4IqegmgbLGH4iO2NrKMmuzR65htRBX9evbXj7dvg334LKg1SYPI2jjIrcA5yRQV9mx-7q0aGV8s1ZGo1rDvqdIHJK6u13V8sUvPMLz-Uz_O_Ou9EZV4pTXh0/s1600/IMG_20130807_174350_650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVz0EVz84AOz84CH5LyKC4IqegmgbLGH4iO2NrKMmuzR65htRBX9evbXj7dvg334LKg1SYPI2jjIrcA5yRQV9mx-7q0aGV8s1ZGo1rDvqdIHJK6u13V8sUvPMLz-Uz_O_Ou9EZV4pTXh0/s640/IMG_20130807_174350_650.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Okay, right about now you are probably thinking that my alpacas died. Nope. They didn't. A wonderful couple purchased them to join their herd of animals. They have all kinds of animals and had only a few alpacas. So, via a friend of a friend, they heard I was selling some of my animals. They are a wonderful couple and have promised me I couldn't find a better home for my beloved animals. Here is Nisha, standing alongside Sue Ellen. Nisha is sweet from heat to toe! She's often seen "smiling" in pictures. And her fleece, well get a load of that color! I'm going to miss knitting with that color! I'm going to miss her pretty face, too. Farewell my friends! Thank you for the fleece you've provided me over the years and for your sweet personalities! I'll miss you, but am so happy you've found a new place to gain friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jQrFf8Eb1ABRCMMHePI6a_xQbIoXETTYFD2HjnKLvGOlCpzp42TRWU9d2GJs8FGZ9csmkPVMqI_yAjOLPWLuEdh_WT4EZvzzUOVAfHiMWAwiwF7968wZ6jV0y2dobJdXSsah8nufSTyR/s1600/IMG_20130813_193251_462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jQrFf8Eb1ABRCMMHePI6a_xQbIoXETTYFD2HjnKLvGOlCpzp42TRWU9d2GJs8FGZ9csmkPVMqI_yAjOLPWLuEdh_WT4EZvzzUOVAfHiMWAwiwF7968wZ6jV0y2dobJdXSsah8nufSTyR/s640/IMG_20130813_193251_462.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, so before I start to cry again, I'll move on to the next topic of interest for us here at the ranch. We've hooked up with All Season Greens to get a "trial run" of their hydroponic greens. These greens take six to seven days to grow in this trailer before they are a lush, green carpet of "grass". This trailer is climate controlled, has variable lighting, and a mister system that periodically keeps the seeds moist for the near-perfect, growing situation. Every night, I take three scoops of barley seed and soak them in a bucket overnight. In the morning, after scrubbing down a tray, I spread those seeds into a plastic tray that is then set on a shelf in the trailer. </div>
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On the back side of the trailer, in about six or seven days, I will be able to pull out 50 lbs of food for my animals. When the system is at full capacity, it can produce almost 100 lbs of food. Mind you, this seed can be organic, non GMO seed, and no artificial junk or pesticides added to it. I'm super excited! This will replace our current feed that we purchase at the feed store. It also should cut our hay bill in half! Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about! We feed approximately 50 lbs of feed per day, so I've already talked to a couple of people about the possibility of purchasing the remaining 50lbs per day, if we choose to purchase this system and do this ongoing. It is an expensive start up, but we have laid out the numbers and figured with the cost savings and selling the 50 lbs per day, we can have this baby paid off in 4-5 years. Plus, it gives us the option of feeding our animals absolutely fresh, organic, non GMO feed! That makes me feel good!</div>
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Here is the tray after a couple of days. I'll have to post later in the week when we've reached the final stage and are ready to feed it to our animals. All Season Greens has been dropping off little "pallets" of grass for a few months now and my horse and alpacas LOVE IT! The chickens will eat anything, so that wasn't too much of a surprise, but the alpacas!?! Awesome! We are still trying to coax our cow into eating the stuff. She likes the top of the grass, but it's the sprouted seed that is the most beneficial part. It holds the majority of the nutrients. If we decide to do this ongoing, we'll need to do a histogram on our animals fleece to see if there is a difference. Also, we've heard you can actually TASTE the difference in the chicken's eggs after they've been eating this. Time will tell. I'm excited! I've been wanting to do this for some time now. I've been watching other farms do this in climate controlled rooms on their barns. We figured that would be just too expensive to build onto our existing barn. So, this is a nice alternative. I'll keep you posted on the results!<br />
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Happy Hump (Wednes) Day!<br />
<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-51865423552153194032013-08-14T17:30:00.000-07:002013-08-14T17:30:05.141-07:00A little summer retreat with friends!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What could be better than getting away with some of your best friends for the weekend? Getting away for a weekend with your best friends and another 30 or so women of which you also enjoy the company of!</div>
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I had the pleasure of attending a weekend retreat with nine of my friends. We went to the Wildflower Knitting Camp, located this year in Larue, Texas. I'll bet most of you don't even know where that is! It is situated about an hour east of Canton, Texas. Now, I'll bet you know where that is, don't you? Third Monday Trade Days! While we didn't get to partake in the Trade Days, we did get to have all kinds of fun at camp! Here is a picture of Anna, enjoying her beautifully knit scarf, along with a hand dyed, silk scarf that she made. </div>
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Elaine made the same scarf in a gorgeous, teal color and then dyed her scarf with various greens and browns, with a hint of the teal blue. Elaine also finished weaving a tri-loom weaving project that she's been working on AND managed to shop for some great new patterns to ooh and ahh over for the next few months. Which one will she begin? Only time will tell!</div>
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Marie worked on a 7 foot tri-loom project all weekend. She made some serious headway! Marie brought her granddaughter to knitting camp again this year. What an exciting way to share time with your grandkids!</div>
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Cindy Lee (as we so affectionately call her) was crocheting like a crazy woman! She's been working on shrugs for her three granddaughters and her daughter. She's using a beautiful variegated yarn that really has been turning out nice. She designed this pattern on the fly and we love it! I think this may be a future project for the group. Just sayin'....</div>
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Oops! I didn't check my camera when I took this picture of Roxana. She's gonna love me for posting this picture of her with her eyes closed! I think she had only had about four drinks at this point, too! Just kidding! See the scarf that Roxana is wearing? Josephine, shown here on the right (fun fact: Josephine is from Scotland... ask her to speak for you. Her accent is really cool), showed us a way to make this ruffle scarf that is WAY EASIER than we way we've previously been making them. Seriously, a five year old could make them! If you can pull a loop over another loop, you can make this scarf! Who would have known? Josephine did! She's got her "model" pose going here for us. Thanks, Josephine!</div>
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And here's a picture of Zigzag rider, aka Joyce. She got an unexpected hug from Barney today after he had been helping her with her tri-loom project. Joyce had her hand in just about every project. She knitted, beaded, made amulets (did I spell that right?), did some weaving... that girl was everywhere! I didn't even get to say goodbye to her because she zoomed out the door so fast, I didn't even know she was leaving! You've gotta be on your toes with this girl! Plus, she's a lot of fun to be around at the "evening party". But that is for another story on another day.... :o)<br />
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Here is a picture of all of our beautiful models. You see, there are a lot of young ladies who are working on their crochet, weave, and knit skills, too at this camp. Before we leave, they give us a fashion show of all the projects that were made. Yeah, there are some bragging rights going on here!</div>
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Check out this bag! Isn't it darling? I want one!</div>
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Remember in a previous post I told you how I like white yarn? Well, get a load of this! Man! Isn't that beautiful!?! I believe this set was made by one of the retreat staff members. Gorgeous!<br />
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Again, here is another example of some serious creativity. This is the Wildflower Retreat mascot that was also made by one of the ladies putting on the retreat (I can't remember which one). This bear was made from an old wool sweater. Talk about recycling! Isn't this adorable!?! Heck, I'd love to sleep with one of these!</div>
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Again with the creativity! This is a backpack that looks like a cat. The handle is made out of the tail. Too cute!</div>
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Stop the bus right here! Get a load of this bag!!! Okay, I took this picture at the spring retreat, but it showed up again at this retreat. I flipped over this bag! Dorie actually needle felted this by hand! Can you believe that!?! Talent just oozes out of every pore of her body! Disgusting! (Just kidding...jealous... stop that!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNs6Rt3qkT8Wuk6yruWLn2pFbsKP-zDXMML_dp9E3QwGVwAnizkLijHO7tcMOyXWf1wKv-XnP3wJcQPB_v7wvtHkSulv2ka0W9UjH7cLupBycfJ_CHuGzCfkxXOt6EdQRRQOWqbNwKkOb/s1600/IMG_20130317_103520_183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNs6Rt3qkT8Wuk6yruWLn2pFbsKP-zDXMML_dp9E3QwGVwAnizkLijHO7tcMOyXWf1wKv-XnP3wJcQPB_v7wvtHkSulv2ka0W9UjH7cLupBycfJ_CHuGzCfkxXOt6EdQRRQOWqbNwKkOb/s320/IMG_20130317_103520_183.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWNyaWQAry-L3ccvli9TenzGhc4xxr7tD9N551qFCHpxEUXrrvaIdjq_LzINjMHrs5eNHZmefA3KAHVZGhvRONqC_JklHlQ3dPPr33Vma6tP92wKNPqR7esJibHa92o3EnxaZ7OnCGIkc/s1600/IMG_20130317_103801_683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWNyaWQAry-L3ccvli9TenzGhc4xxr7tD9N551qFCHpxEUXrrvaIdjq_LzINjMHrs5eNHZmefA3KAHVZGhvRONqC_JklHlQ3dPPr33Vma6tP92wKNPqR7esJibHa92o3EnxaZ7OnCGIkc/s320/IMG_20130317_103801_683.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
Well, that was our weekend. We had a ton of fun! I laughed so hard I cried. Elaine said it had been a long time since she saw someone enjoy themselves so much they cried. Hang around us a little more, Elaine. It's become common place for us! <br />
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When was the last time you laughed so hard that you cried? Well, that's been too long!</div>
Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-89216404320324336522013-08-14T16:41:00.001-07:002013-08-14T16:41:22.861-07:00Early Christmas with alpaca yarn!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism85xRjG_XAaaHhHSiGp5ECJnh4knRgf4iU8OgXsc6eYgu892oYmRr_Zyj2pPrCzeecRFJubgxTWzAGTXCVfs6e8Wojw9hL13f9OzU8Hagat6G5qKmFY03fwqgrysYmjajA5lO6B-u9NW/s1600/IMG_20130702_223349_345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism85xRjG_XAaaHhHSiGp5ECJnh4knRgf4iU8OgXsc6eYgu892oYmRr_Zyj2pPrCzeecRFJubgxTWzAGTXCVfs6e8Wojw9hL13f9OzU8Hagat6G5qKmFY03fwqgrysYmjajA5lO6B-u9NW/s640/IMG_20130702_223349_345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh happy day! Spinderella returned my alpaca's fleece that was sent late last year. They are super, SUPER busy, so I was thrilled to get this back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrPjGEj3ZgAKA4H-vzvt-4IypfGCWG9MP8TtyB6-MqfdG_NDK2x7M4zGJ4U3iPyk1T-oUd7ApWQxoDVWe9zZmB4rmHPfVCGg-W5oFDUeH8BaTOZrkyzoJli8_48fR_HGUkUGa_qGy5fHb/s1600/IMG_20130702_223507_958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrPjGEj3ZgAKA4H-vzvt-4IypfGCWG9MP8TtyB6-MqfdG_NDK2x7M4zGJ4U3iPyk1T-oUd7ApWQxoDVWe9zZmB4rmHPfVCGg-W5oFDUeH8BaTOZrkyzoJli8_48fR_HGUkUGa_qGy5fHb/s640/IMG_20130702_223507_958.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Isn't this beautiful? This alpaca yarn is wrapped around a 4 ply cotton core which makes it extra sturdy! Sells for $1 per yard. I've gotta get weaving this baby up into a rug! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYgNsH4zKqEMmElBTZJKbxm0Ul2TYxxFSlNsxFeN_j1K4yxj4bhUXHiukKYmBSBlYihpwF_xVSradaXqbk9cBA1Fho5HS3zK0wkyOdGwactKG3zbC11fCc3TwrF3xzfXuqntK2ITQGdNR/s1600/IMG_20130702_223514_977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYgNsH4zKqEMmElBTZJKbxm0Ul2TYxxFSlNsxFeN_j1K4yxj4bhUXHiukKYmBSBlYihpwF_xVSradaXqbk9cBA1Fho5HS3zK0wkyOdGwactKG3zbC11fCc3TwrF3xzfXuqntK2ITQGdNR/s640/IMG_20130702_223514_977.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another yummy rug yarn with some blue "twist". Yep! I'm gonna love working with these new rug yarns!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn_ASiv77Eq6KdF0_dUzhipqviP4sqlzV8rctLELWB07I3klhNBAQMqP5trTe7FOF_KJrH8gat6p2-3YrVbPwAkx3F3_nlaGeekfj1dOEgkiFQMEJ11n-xmA-UFc00aw0uz_PItFTP9Sw/s1600/IMG_20130702_223519_984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn_ASiv77Eq6KdF0_dUzhipqviP4sqlzV8rctLELWB07I3klhNBAQMqP5trTe7FOF_KJrH8gat6p2-3YrVbPwAkx3F3_nlaGeekfj1dOEgkiFQMEJ11n-xmA-UFc00aw0uz_PItFTP9Sw/s640/IMG_20130702_223519_984.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The possibilities are endless!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VTnDovow-qBW0R9HpjtogULN9m56tCt5xAy-wBgFVLCYyRwWMvt_LMMekEHGHzqtobFRbOBFJ7sznS27ty3D8XsyVek678xr9WUpchOpl6unOeqvIfyJ6avIjnf-w6ZFipNaWVLlJQEK/s1600/IMG_20130702_223640_739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VTnDovow-qBW0R9HpjtogULN9m56tCt5xAy-wBgFVLCYyRwWMvt_LMMekEHGHzqtobFRbOBFJ7sznS27ty3D8XsyVek678xr9WUpchOpl6unOeqvIfyJ6avIjnf-w6ZFipNaWVLlJQEK/s640/IMG_20130702_223640_739.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And get a load of this beautiful and soft grey alpaca yarn. Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking 'bout!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQUTkrnsdsYy0DkiYCFguyn2CHv7KZGWifuo5HGMPwC8Ew5kjJ_JmHQD1iRqb9eKgOSPcOtSd3uEL1usWOdhDmtlYWlozccYwAye6YYetVxWytotNFLMFP4UnnUy6Rbby0Dor-V5xx_ou/s1600/IMG_20130702_223714_038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQUTkrnsdsYy0DkiYCFguyn2CHv7KZGWifuo5HGMPwC8Ew5kjJ_JmHQD1iRqb9eKgOSPcOtSd3uEL1usWOdhDmtlYWlozccYwAye6YYetVxWytotNFLMFP4UnnUy6Rbby0Dor-V5xx_ou/s640/IMG_20130702_223714_038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It seriously is just like Christmas when you get a box full of this stuff! This fawn might even get a little dip in a dye bath. What about a forest green or a dark, midnight blue? Oh yeah! Of course, I'll leave some in the original, natural fawn, too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cIslY_MGK54kus0xFnUmGIZNHnei8Dw19CQa1JuOwQ4vTWkj3RI7SWMZRj47MF_l1Enx5WjxDWsdTyTXLzIwZs9RZ4Mwu1uQjH9c_nVdoYPxhPsEZ5p7-aCQBBu5bBues7QG_SlNtz9j/s1600/IMG_20130702_223736_409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cIslY_MGK54kus0xFnUmGIZNHnei8Dw19CQa1JuOwQ4vTWkj3RI7SWMZRj47MF_l1Enx5WjxDWsdTyTXLzIwZs9RZ4Mwu1uQjH9c_nVdoYPxhPsEZ5p7-aCQBBu5bBues7QG_SlNtz9j/s640/IMG_20130702_223736_409.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh! I must admit! I am really partial to the white yarn, too. I love the clean, crisp look of a white hat, scarf or shawl and mittens. It looks so rich and beautiful. </div>
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What would you make with each of these? I'm heading to the pattern book right now to figure out what each one wants to be made into! Excitement is building!!!!</div>
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Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-26268794556902210342013-08-14T14:16:00.002-07:002013-08-14T14:16:37.972-07:00April? It's August already!Wow! I cannot believe the last time I posted was in April! Wowza! Isn't it amazing how busy we can become? I thought the summers were for catching up on things, didn't you? Well, where do I begin? How about that garden box that we built in the last blog, back in April? Well, here it is!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6Vs07wOR6Bc7nI1k4pZFsSQNnS1-S5vqT0Eug011G83xE0-iBoyVgqbb62hPW3NXnAnETkc67QYQI3DcTcR7lLQkqr8fPZPEeUitWB9TK_JFv5H28H7TVavVnmngkOOFXn3jCvryB-Gz/s1600/IMG_20130701_195802_371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6Vs07wOR6Bc7nI1k4pZFsSQNnS1-S5vqT0Eug011G83xE0-iBoyVgqbb62hPW3NXnAnETkc67QYQI3DcTcR7lLQkqr8fPZPEeUitWB9TK_JFv5H28H7TVavVnmngkOOFXn3jCvryB-Gz/s640/IMG_20130701_195802_371.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you can see, we have been receiving a bountiful amount of produce. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyHuSvdAwBckkg2ztoEX1SELQTAhVWaqA-B3VKqSXpecrCv7V0mcZpYT5u1aUdFUUwdrgbnsGEnuj0U8QDGJd3x_d9EZLcU4JeOZiy6ItzhC8YYbYf8KlKxqO0YT3Ah094YAz_GxcgNmJ/s1600/IMG_20130701_195853_721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyHuSvdAwBckkg2ztoEX1SELQTAhVWaqA-B3VKqSXpecrCv7V0mcZpYT5u1aUdFUUwdrgbnsGEnuj0U8QDGJd3x_d9EZLcU4JeOZiy6ItzhC8YYbYf8KlKxqO0YT3Ah094YAz_GxcgNmJ/s640/IMG_20130701_195853_721.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The corn has been fantastic! I read an article that states corn is best when eaten less than 12 hours after being picked. We tasted the difference! Incredible! Corn is one of the easiest things to grow, too. My sugar snap peas didn't fair so well, though. I'll try something different with them next year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkTdLGJBULBqhGkXqfbYlLMBDCSJzNbDqGavV9xUFUBR9ncyDDJzJsUFq25qzrwcletU4hYXOiItja1CR-LEkqRiwj4rz4k_BJMInl1ZVXsWAJv5XqLCoXyPIDUzZlRCFlNtB6WE14y9w/s1600/IMG_20130701_195903_308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkTdLGJBULBqhGkXqfbYlLMBDCSJzNbDqGavV9xUFUBR9ncyDDJzJsUFq25qzrwcletU4hYXOiItja1CR-LEkqRiwj4rz4k_BJMInl1ZVXsWAJv5XqLCoXyPIDUzZlRCFlNtB6WE14y9w/s640/IMG_20130701_195903_308.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In this picture, you can see the cucumber and tomato plants in the back. We've had lots and lots of cucumbers this year. The bell pepper and jalapeno pepper plants are being crowded out and haven't produced much. I'll need to space them out better next year... like in a different raised bed! The asparagus plants are doing quite well in the front.<br />
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We had terrible issues with the grasshoppers this year, too. I went to Wells Bros and picked up some organic powder to put on the leaves. It worked like a charm! Love it! Now if I could keep the field mice away. Argh!<br />
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How well did your garden do this year? What would you do differently?<br />
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Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-84922382224843689712013-04-24T10:11:00.001-07:002013-04-24T10:22:36.211-07:00Have you started your garden yet? Here's my new raised bed garden!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been "poking around" on Pinterest, looking for ideas on gardening, when I ran across a picture of this raised bed garden. I fell in love and really wanted one. So, I put the pencil to the paper to see how much one of these little babies would cost me. Each of the raised beds came to about $78. Pretty pricey, but I've just about had it with my cast iron tubs out in the backyard. After our drought a couple of years back, I had determined I would find something with an open bottom. </div>
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Well, here it is!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-oCdaKrrvVsM_i4hR_EnaEDUCImm2S9tOSKuQ0LRVYZ3sT5-xLa4WtBucM4dHzlEcNEuk0egdlXIoTD3NK2d797px2tX3Z43iR4SofAH9-e4Ro4S0MSfnnJTNwzI8rtCqA0URdQqERhk/s1600/IMG_20130406_111725_371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-oCdaKrrvVsM_i4hR_EnaEDUCImm2S9tOSKuQ0LRVYZ3sT5-xLa4WtBucM4dHzlEcNEuk0egdlXIoTD3NK2d797px2tX3Z43iR4SofAH9-e4Ro4S0MSfnnJTNwzI8rtCqA0URdQqERhk/s640/IMG_20130406_111725_371.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
We began with a trip to the local Lowe's store. We opted to go with cedar on the wood, rather than treated. After all, who wants to grow their own vegetables in a pressure treated wood garden? Ew! I don't want that leaching out on my veggies!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGuKKmGdgszJ8_RcbdZNfQIUHy60SBxblvEd-3R7jCrDqfH9AjwuOhgp1Jhtvlp4qzuMivChwbuS9izyXOS_1e-MtVvlHul8X5im3v2wV0QXVQEP8aIhdLRuxwMTmgKKec4mU_DyNnrBG/s1600/IMG_20130406_112806_029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGuKKmGdgszJ8_RcbdZNfQIUHy60SBxblvEd-3R7jCrDqfH9AjwuOhgp1Jhtvlp4qzuMivChwbuS9izyXOS_1e-MtVvlHul8X5im3v2wV0QXVQEP8aIhdLRuxwMTmgKKec4mU_DyNnrBG/s640/IMG_20130406_112806_029.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
We took one 2x2x8 post and cut it into four equal posts and notched the tops, for aesthetic purposes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlym-l_A80QDJce9_pNY6JFYkh5FqI_huBLmzi3ZLyNq-H_FW2lKsLKNvBXJOWAzRuVovcS0QveRgNQP49RIGFIGbC7a_zz9JM5MiEjRDiB9hLOF8MOPQaLnPDaeCIs2zNsom5dmhcimw/s1600/IMG_20130406_114217_578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlym-l_A80QDJce9_pNY6JFYkh5FqI_huBLmzi3ZLyNq-H_FW2lKsLKNvBXJOWAzRuVovcS0QveRgNQP49RIGFIGbC7a_zz9JM5MiEjRDiB9hLOF8MOPQaLnPDaeCIs2zNsom5dmhcimw/s640/IMG_20130406_114217_578.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Here is Tim cutting the posts into four separate pieces. He also used this to cut the tops off of each of the posts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWmpwVpKPP_7Bn6OHVwGgDxHcuNJr4qX9ysnTaruJW9-YfeMDho2f2aO_uYiMrNqea-P6kT4yQorCX0xVNYwh1DpteO-iE2E05ESWjWgZYU7utkv5MFGQcn9VtDmD6fiTpcG2WkavB2lF/s1600/IMG_20130406_120931_062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWmpwVpKPP_7Bn6OHVwGgDxHcuNJr4qX9ysnTaruJW9-YfeMDho2f2aO_uYiMrNqea-P6kT4yQorCX0xVNYwh1DpteO-iE2E05ESWjWgZYU7utkv5MFGQcn9VtDmD6fiTpcG2WkavB2lF/s640/IMG_20130406_120931_062.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Here is a picture of the completed top on one of the posts. You get the idea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GtMt1PREubLKceb2YNTqPywphQpSm2AKvuk1BeDPxuzkdp3eqVfaOXBUywGGj4QR3MKXy3DKbdlTT4p-qQ7j0YY8ka6ft1YzmfFhr1_49Fh8eZyrE1AzlwYS-sjBV3JkIR_Q9I4BMQgd/s1600/IMG_20130406_123141_477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GtMt1PREubLKceb2YNTqPywphQpSm2AKvuk1BeDPxuzkdp3eqVfaOXBUywGGj4QR3MKXy3DKbdlTT4p-qQ7j0YY8ka6ft1YzmfFhr1_49Fh8eZyrE1AzlwYS-sjBV3JkIR_Q9I4BMQgd/s640/IMG_20130406_123141_477.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next, Tim cut the corners of the cedar planks so they would fit with 90 degree angles.</div>
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There are four boards for the top of the box and another four boards for the bottom of the box.</div>
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Okay, I will tell you we tried this two ways. The first time, Tim simply put the base together with the posts. Then, he added the panels. Finally, he had to add the top boards. This was quite difficult trying to get everything square. The panels keep wanting to shift and move. Not fun. So, on the second box, we did it differently.</div>
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This time, Tim decided it would be much easier to build the box and then simply cut out the corners on the panels before adding it to the box. Yep! That was much easier!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire1TsWFg1IZNNFAq81uDQRo92dua6GyFY8_Vq2cX3tH1wrmWNyQ4vSAsM7t-7XzNAzUpSqV8OQC0dudOQm7HeGt2B-TkSeCbgaeWbPFAVE3t6Z-zJK-PKfSHKYUECjjdjckU_eu_Cx-bd/s1600/IMG_20130406_130220_959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire1TsWFg1IZNNFAq81uDQRo92dua6GyFY8_Vq2cX3tH1wrmWNyQ4vSAsM7t-7XzNAzUpSqV8OQC0dudOQm7HeGt2B-TkSeCbgaeWbPFAVE3t6Z-zJK-PKfSHKYUECjjdjckU_eu_Cx-bd/s640/IMG_20130406_130220_959.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Tim measured out the four panels first and cut them to size (the two sides and two end pieces).</div>
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Next, he simply cut out the pieces and the corners, to fit around the posts.</div>
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Here, you can see how the panels are simply cut around the posts. </div>
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Next, enlist the assistance of your children! Here, Harrison staples the panels to the end posts. He is a pretty good stapler!</div>
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Make sure and staple both the ends and all of the inside sections to make sure the panels stay in place.</div>
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Hailey came along and hammered in the staples that didn't go in all the way. As you can see here, we added some trim to the end corners, too. </div>
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Now for the trim on the sides. Tim placed a piece underneath and then added a trim piece on top. Here is a picture of the underneath piece.</div>
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Here, Tim is adding the outside trim piece. This gives added stability for when the box is filled with all of the fresh compost!</div>
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There you go! Our completed, raised bed, garden box!</div>
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Here it is after we carried it to it's final destination in the backyard! Isn't that nice looking? </div>
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After getting the box in place, we needed to make two compost tubes, per box. This is easily done with chicken wire, hog wire, or "whatever" wire. </div>
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Here is a finished compost tube. </div>
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We placed two tubes in the center, on each end of each garden box and initially, filled with newspaper, to aid in keeping the compost from going in the tubes.</div>
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Yes, we are lucky! We have a tractor with a front end loader AND we have fresh compost, since we have alpacas, chickens, cows, and horses. A menagerie of poo! This compost has been sitting for a year, so it is ready to go into the boxes.</div>
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Here is an idea I got off of Pinterest. We had some tubes out in our barn from a prior project. We took the tubes and drilled holes on one side all the way down the length of the tube for slow drainage.<br />
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These tubes are then placed in a "U" shape inside the box, with the ends sticking up for filling with water. The holes are facing down. We placed these approximately 6 inches below the top fill of compost.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQq9abV4iKdYseGqx4tFmWWD9q5SlDgJdphR11kEKEUK7t45ubAUn4cjuIvnBF7SRG5gdxjUYd-pGBL97fF5lMGcrOPzYf2UFwQtxtO-ZG_2TxurANlDhOEeOLV-sdxFtL6RNWwtmadAq/s1600/IMG_20130424_120228_044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQq9abV4iKdYseGqx4tFmWWD9q5SlDgJdphR11kEKEUK7t45ubAUn4cjuIvnBF7SRG5gdxjUYd-pGBL97fF5lMGcrOPzYf2UFwQtxtO-ZG_2TxurANlDhOEeOLV-sdxFtL6RNWwtmadAq/s640/IMG_20130424_120228_044.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here are some completed pictures of the completed garden box. You can see the tubes on the left side, sitting up out of the box. I fill these up with water and walk away. The tubes slowly release the water via the small holes in the bottom into the soil sitting 6" underneath the surface.</div>
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Here is a picture of the second box. Again, the compost tubes are in the center. I add vegetable and fruit scraps to it, as well as fresh cut grass after we mow, and whatever else I can find to compost. This releases the nutrients into the bottom of the soil. The black tubes are, again, for watering. I'm trying this out this year. If it works, awesome! If not, they are only 6" underneath the surface and can be easily dug up for next year.</div>
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That's it! I hope you get some good ideas from this! Have fun!</div>
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-57042044936711770732013-04-17T17:28:00.001-07:002013-04-17T17:28:22.783-07:00Shearing Day 2013<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well, this year we had twelve of our own animals, six animals being boarded on our property, and another four coming over from a neighboring farm to be shorn. Whew! That's a lot of alpacas! However, the term "many hands make light the work" was ever true this day. We are so very, VERY blessed to have so many wonderful friends coming to assist us every year with shearing. This year was no different.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl9lSrx-3aSzGN0_UvlwVXHZ1MwiCUZH65HusiVntKpYbMX-uac-6alKPhQzu30mXbb2cX-nqFFCsFnorK8hq4Y7WVfA-1RMrIEjF1do-WTx5f-Dt4kgtOamSwRACZn_pAtyz2BtF47_b/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl9lSrx-3aSzGN0_UvlwVXHZ1MwiCUZH65HusiVntKpYbMX-uac-6alKPhQzu30mXbb2cX-nqFFCsFnorK8hq4Y7WVfA-1RMrIEjF1do-WTx5f-Dt4kgtOamSwRACZn_pAtyz2BtF47_b/s640/IMG_0040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We began the day by haltering and leading each animal over to the cleaning station. We begin with a leaf blower. By blowing on the alpaca's fleece, we are able to get a ton of the dust and debris out before shearing. This is helpful for two reasons. #1 It makes the blades on the shears last longer before dulling and having to be changed. #2 It makes cleaning the fleece much easier after it comes off of the animal if most of the hay and dirt has already been removed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm_L5yexMeuL-uwDI20QOkBnac7tPn-RUcqnMmvv6FkuWkHd3XYULG-odVib10j6Mgq3dizVFk_hos4sWdIZKlbBjgQ3DsHPadGkqLSrOooSQWsP_Ly3r5eURcA1MTUdmVcGFOFs7s9A7/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm_L5yexMeuL-uwDI20QOkBnac7tPn-RUcqnMmvv6FkuWkHd3XYULG-odVib10j6Mgq3dizVFk_hos4sWdIZKlbBjgQ3DsHPadGkqLSrOooSQWsP_Ly3r5eURcA1MTUdmVcGFOFs7s9A7/s640/IMG_0036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some of the alpacas LOVE this part. It wasn't a really hot day, but the most of the alpacas liked the "air flow" on their back side. There are always a few who think you are an alien preparing them for the mother ship. :o)</div>
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The next task at hand is to place each of the alpaca's four feet in ropes, stretch them out and lay them on the mat on the floor. Our lovely Peggy, who was a vet tech in a former life, goes ahead and clips the toenails while the animals are on the floor. Erica patiently awaits for the fleece bounty to come her way onto the sheet. BTW, this was Erica and Chris' first year to help out with shearing and they were AWESOME!!! Thanks, you two!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvb4Qo_LRKgSfg1xVHKKFMxF6lpC0xhJiwUnZUU0RwLb_KSXrzSAeYyEv_UXD4I_wICJvyZQstWXmW2rxv5A_3tqhYXanQPDqMJJB2sYtLTGirDG1WlS1pWEKFxrryHuWINJcO20p6HtX/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvb4Qo_LRKgSfg1xVHKKFMxF6lpC0xhJiwUnZUU0RwLb_KSXrzSAeYyEv_UXD4I_wICJvyZQstWXmW2rxv5A_3tqhYXanQPDqMJJB2sYtLTGirDG1WlS1pWEKFxrryHuWINJcO20p6HtX/s640/IMG_0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Brian was our "head man", holding the alpaca down and keeping it calm while Tim shears. This is one of the cria about to be shorn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnts6Mcvw6YQhPhfEESBYxzIIbfG1I5jThVR6RBfLB1eUoUmZfrubKoAIaAdPCWouVMR9jCeiBctBhiGucpZbyDhyIRfgn2zj-ZEiyD4ntKEQrCmpr4ijrbxeo7IjiTXIlOl1rwmMnDQI-/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnts6Mcvw6YQhPhfEESBYxzIIbfG1I5jThVR6RBfLB1eUoUmZfrubKoAIaAdPCWouVMR9jCeiBctBhiGucpZbyDhyIRfgn2zj-ZEiyD4ntKEQrCmpr4ijrbxeo7IjiTXIlOl1rwmMnDQI-/s640/IMG_0003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The shearer starts with the belly fleece. He gets this out of the way since this fiber is relatively coarse. We want this out of the way before we begin collecting the prime fleece... the good stuff!<br />
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Here's a better picture of the belly fleece coming off. The dark spots on this animal are all dirt. She's a beautiful white under all of that!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1YlkA5eyaUnoxgYUSxDnfumXEx87cBeGaRHwHfrQbC-Api8bOaq_XmccHCPGX35snX4nKHAc5cvBES2cmcO1SuhN2hyphenhyphenAQ7hUHrH-DQ-tX1kB4kA1SrogKZOGCN3PGKlu45VXM_JBEow_/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1YlkA5eyaUnoxgYUSxDnfumXEx87cBeGaRHwHfrQbC-Api8bOaq_XmccHCPGX35snX4nKHAc5cvBES2cmcO1SuhN2hyphenhyphenAQ7hUHrH-DQ-tX1kB4kA1SrogKZOGCN3PGKlu45VXM_JBEow_/s640/IMG_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Next, the prime stuff! The shearer begins on one side of the animal and quickly works his way up to the back. As the fleece comes off of the animal, Erica is placing it on the sheet, maintaining it's original shape. This just makes it easier later on to skirt the fleece (pull out the area just behind the neck and above the tail, if it's too dirty to mess with, as well as other coarse or inconsistent areas).<br />
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Then, the animal is slowly rolled over to the other side while the shearer continues to shear, until the entire blanket has been shorn.</div>
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The legs and butt area are shorn on the side facing up. Then, the shearer proceeds to the neck. The neck fibers are considered seconds (not prime) and can be just as soft as the blanket. Usually, there is more guard hair in this area that needs to be removed.</div>
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Here's another picture of the neck being shorn on the animal.</div>
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We release the ropes for a short period of time to get the armpits and upper chest area shorn, too.</div>
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A little off of the top, please!</div>
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All done and ready to be walked back out to the pasture!</div>
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Every now and then, we find an animal that has teeth that need trimming. I hate this part! Tim uses a dremel tool to file down the teeth. Yuk! Ted holds the animals mouth open while Tim gets down to the business of trimming the teeth.<br />
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There's a joke in here somewhere... "How many guys..." </div>
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Mark has helped out a number of years shearing alpacas. Every year he seems to get more and more attached to these animals. He and Charlene have a mutual admiration thing going. :o)</div>
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Kathleen came by to watch some of the shearing, too! She really enjoyed petting the alpacas and seeing how soft they are. This was her first trip out to our place and she was excited to meet all of the animals, especially our horse, Belle. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of that one! Thanks for coming by, Kathleen! Another new friend of ours, Masayo and her husband, were able to make it by, too, for a little while. Masayo, what did you think?</div>
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Finally, after all of the animals are shorn, bags of fleece are stored, and the pasture once again filled with happy critters, the workers take a chance to relax, have a beer or a glass of wine, and chill out under the shade of a tree. We're missing Hailey, Maddie Bata, Erica and her husband, Chris in this picture. Our farrier, Joe Spearman happened to be out trimming Belle's hooves, so he joined us for some relaxation, too. Now that's what I call a productive day with some really great friends! Thanks everyone, for making this another successful year of shearing!</div>
<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-16050932235412518972013-04-15T12:31:00.000-07:002013-04-15T12:33:06.507-07:00New faces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, we received five phone calls in just two weeks asking for help to find new homes for some Great Pyranees. We had been talking about getting another dog to keep our dog, Tysin, company, so we decided to begin with these rescues. The first one didn't work out. She wanted to eat the chickens. Been there and done that! However, the second one seemed to be a perfect match! Phoebe has won her way into our hearts and has become a good friend to Tysin. She's also turned out to be a great guardian watch dog for the alpacas!<br />
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Shortly after that, one of my daughter's friends, let us know her cat had kittens that were ready to be weaned and wanted to know whether we needed any barn cats. Sure! So, we added three kittens to our mix!<br />
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Okay, I'm almost embarrassed to even show this terrible picture. You simply can't take good pictures with red heat lamps on! Anyway, you get the idea! We added over 30 chicks to our flock, too! More eggs on the way!<br />
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I simply had to post updated pictures of the baby alpacas (cria) here on the ranch, too. Do you remember the baby that came to us last November, along with three mama alpacas, from Rockwall? Here is an updated picture of this little cutie!<br />
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And do you remember the cria that was born in the trailer on the way here from Rockwall? We call him "Baby", but his chosen name by his owners became "Lord Valor". He has won his way into our hearts. He was the bottle fed baby and is simply the sweetest little guy, ever!</div>
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Last but not least, here is the little cria born on Thanksgiving, when we were on our family vacation. My friend, Cindy, was taking care of our animals that week. She was super surprised to find this little one in the pasture on a very, VERY cold morning! She's growing up fast!<br />
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Well, that's it. I just wanted to keep everyone updated on the latest animals on the ranch. Enjoy!Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-52054909923456499602013-04-06T09:13:00.001-07:002013-04-06T09:13:33.222-07:00<br />
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HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO 2013</div>
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This was my first year heading to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with cattle. In years past, we've gone to show our alpacas. This was Hailey's first year with a heifer. I found this sign posted at the show and thought it might be nice to show how the cattle are judged. </div>
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Chula and Auria rode down with the Plano East FFA group, which I might add is a much nicer ride than our trailer. :o) The heifers had to be down at the show on Thursday. <br />
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Hailey had plenty of time to hang out, since she didn't show until Sunday. She's my animal whisperer. She loves the animals and quite frankly, they love her too!</div>
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Auria enjoyed chillin' while she waited for her time in the spotlight. An interesting point is that the calf is not allowed to nurse off of the mom the day they are showing. The judges want to see the mama's bags full of milk. Poor baby! She had to wait until after they got out of the show ring.<br />
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Isaac, another PESH FFA student, volunteered to help with Auria in the show ring, while Hailey walked Chula. We were pretty nervous, because since Chula had given birth to Auria, she had been quite a handful to manage. She is a very protective mom! However, Hailey had taken the two of them to a show in Greenville the weekend before and it proved to be successful. Chula was on her best behavior for this show!<br />
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The handler must get the animals to "set up" for the judge to see them. It is much like showing horses and alpacas, too. You want their neck to be held high and their back nice and flat. Their feet need to be in a stance with one back foot slightly set back from the other. The handler's get their animals to "automatically park" their feet in this stance when they are stopped. Isaac is trying to get Auria to get in position before the judge comes over.<br />
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One of the other things the handler does is to stroke the cow's belly while they stand. This keeps both the handler and the animal calm, cool, and collected while they wait for the judge to come by and check them out. Come to think of it, I kind of like my back scratched, too! Not my belly so much...<br />
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Looking good as the judge walks by checking out the competition. Notice the stance of all of the animals (except for the last one...they were struggling a bit that day).<br />
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We anxiously awaited the judges decision on what place everyone would get!<br />
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It's finally official! Hailey, Chula and Auria got third place! Whoo hoo!!! Congrats to all of the girls!</div>
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Auria is happy to finally get to nurse off of her mama again! Yay! The end of a successful day!</div>
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Of course, it wouldn't be right to go to the rodeo and not get to take in some rides. Harrison got to head over to the amusement park side and get in some rides before it was all said and done. This was one of his favorite rides. His smile looked like it was a mile wide!</div>
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Harrison also thinks we need one of these on the property. Uh...NOT! Maybe when he collects that check for his prize winning poultry.... :o)<br />
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Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-55218528579807498482012-12-08T08:40:00.000-08:002012-12-08T08:40:09.349-08:00Coming home...After a nice vacation, we returned home to our animals and our place. While out for a morning walk, I took some pictures of my incredible neighborhood. <br /><br />
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This is the view from the back of my pasture, facing my neighbor's property. They have horses and their property sits along the creek. The colors are just beautiful on this day.<br />
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Not as lush, here our back pasture. We have a little over 4 acres.<br />
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Down on the cul-de-sac, again the colors are so pretty. This is a wonderful, little neighborhood. We each have acreage, but still have a community atmosphere.<br />
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We know all of our neighbors by name. We've each lived here for quite a long time. I can't believe it, but we have lived in our house now for 20 years!<br />
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We've seen some families come and go, but most of us have been here for over 20 years. Neighbors still work in their pasture and yards, take walks through the neighborhood, and stop to catch up on each other's lives. It's as if we live in another country. I hear about other friend's neighborhoods, where they don't even know their neighbors and sometimes never even see them. I feel so very, very blessed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr83i0iAzp_OuN0oOO0PYV6fdLqPjdRTKZFLbhHdQ00ReFFCvY4M3mCj4vNyDPFeb8RkNQDMVYFRmj_HwA7WHgxsIiH9CwcznaZx0heOe_XxewNW9sYDdRYyNEGV5l8ttQ1NrsbGH-EWYV/s1600/2012-11-27_19-38-14_98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr83i0iAzp_OuN0oOO0PYV6fdLqPjdRTKZFLbhHdQ00ReFFCvY4M3mCj4vNyDPFeb8RkNQDMVYFRmj_HwA7WHgxsIiH9CwcznaZx0heOe_XxewNW9sYDdRYyNEGV5l8ttQ1NrsbGH-EWYV/s640/2012-11-27_19-38-14_98.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
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Here is a random picture of my daughter feeding a little cria (baby alpaca) whose momma won't feed him. We get to bottle feed every three hours. This little guy has stolen my heart. He gets so excited when he sees me coming with his meal! :o) Yep, count YOUR blessings today. I bet you have a story to share, too.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-10545778179446579552012-12-08T08:10:00.002-08:002012-12-08T08:28:55.924-08:00Where to start?Wow~ We had a blast on our Carnival Cruise line vacation!<br />
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My family took a 7 day cruise to Mahogany Bay, Belize, and Cozumel. We had a fantastic time! This was the first time we have ever taken a trip over the Thanksgiving holiday. While we were gone, a few things happened.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtm1hgyDhKNDmUwnnacRE-0XvrUpWzm1N7EO4-5X2ne2c1ms1W-0cn0i5UvdNc_bBhCUMJCuNkr8g_fjefGoU1hoyeSDEBJ1F6W0eSQcE74NckkW0vquUXA4Q0F5nZ9CLkffi2sdMN-7z/s1600/Magic+Cruise+Misc+Pics+2012_030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtm1hgyDhKNDmUwnnacRE-0XvrUpWzm1N7EO4-5X2ne2c1ms1W-0cn0i5UvdNc_bBhCUMJCuNkr8g_fjefGoU1hoyeSDEBJ1F6W0eSQcE74NckkW0vquUXA4Q0F5nZ9CLkffi2sdMN-7z/s640/Magic+Cruise+Misc+Pics+2012_030.JPG" width="640" /></a>The kind neighbor that was taking care of our animals for us found out his mother was very, very ill. He needed to go and see her quickly. He didn't know who to find to help out with the animals, so his wife stayed behind and did the job. However, she is afraid of horses and cows. That makes for quite a story!<br />
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While it was 34 degrees overnight here in Parker, one of the alpacas we decided to watch for another lady, gave birth. There was a little bit of panic going on our property! Mind you, we had no telephone or internet access while we were gone.<br />
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Hailey and Harrison's poultry projects arrived on our property only days before the entire PISD Ag barn burned to the ground. Needless to say, my children's poultry projects will be representing all of PISD. There is so much more that I won't even go into, but you get the idea. It was CRAZY here!<br />
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So, while it was freakishly crazy here while we were gone, our animals are all fine and our house is still in place. <br />
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We had an amazing time and enjoyed the time away. I am blessed beyond measure with an amazing family! Praising God for His goodness.<br />
<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-38638065615814948062012-11-05T07:37:00.001-08:002012-11-05T07:42:27.912-08:00Herd health days...Today was a busy, busy day! Today the alpacas got their "spa" treatments, complete with toenail trimming and fecal collections. Doesn't that sound exciting!?!<br />
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We began after church, around 1pm, with the alpacas located at our ranch. We currently own 12 alpacas. We are also caring for an additional 5 alpacas, which we picked up yesterday. Tim and I knocked those out pretty quickly. We then moved over to another neighboring farm and completed another approximately 15 animals, with the help of our friends, Ted and Cindy. Many hands make light the work! Isn't that true?<br />
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In between ranches, the owners of the alpacas being boarded here, came by to see their alpacas. This is the first time in almost four years they have seen their animals! Bless their hearts, the ranch who boarded them prior to us never allowed them to see their animals. So, they were super excited to have a reunion with their babies!<br />
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Here is Monica holding the newest addition to her herd, born on Thursday. It was a very sweet reunion. Smiles abound everywhere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvIPyp6_VoP5mKRxBZm3E8XmXL1aVdd1nvDPfGrWRCdq9yNLDICJT5V-OlRL0bbcszEEH-C-MIg4nnhjhthv2NnZKQmVeORb_dBonU5LiCI_ax8g6UTCHcq_2Hyh_wn2ZZf248TStzAqj/s1600/2012-11-04_14-08-38_70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvIPyp6_VoP5mKRxBZm3E8XmXL1aVdd1nvDPfGrWRCdq9yNLDICJT5V-OlRL0bbcszEEH-C-MIg4nnhjhthv2NnZKQmVeORb_dBonU5LiCI_ax8g6UTCHcq_2Hyh_wn2ZZf248TStzAqj/s640/2012-11-04_14-08-38_70.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
Mike enjoyed a moment getting to bottle feed the cria (baby) while one of his daughters (who to this point had never seen any of their animals), got to hold and snuggle with the little guy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovAt39v9Cuzaz9pEcHWCTv90hveJmMR43najwXV8CFee7MBdPbq_UpCx8KseZFS5k-n52_B8CGGjYFI2f3uNgQPb9bwt6NufW3RK7sbgiZErAwZhEXZNUH8E3j3FfV30m_7t81c0smBh_/s1600/2012-11-04_14-08-10_176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovAt39v9Cuzaz9pEcHWCTv90hveJmMR43najwXV8CFee7MBdPbq_UpCx8KseZFS5k-n52_B8CGGjYFI2f3uNgQPb9bwt6NufW3RK7sbgiZErAwZhEXZNUH8E3j3FfV30m_7t81c0smBh_/s640/2012-11-04_14-08-10_176.jpg" width="640" /></a>These are the sites that make this "job" so awesome... This is what it is supposed to be like. Alpacas are the most calming, sweet animals on this planet! Their humming sounds, while communicating, will make even the most challenging of days melt away.<br />
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Are you experiencing struggles or stress in your life from health, work, or anything else? Consider alpacas! These quiet little creatures will win you over with their sweet faces and calming personalities. While you're at it, sit down and enjoy the sunshine while being surrounded by chickens and alpacas quietly grazing in the pasture. Enjoy the sounds of the roosters crowing and guineas honking. Do you feel it? Do you hear it? The country life awaits you.<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-61597494151291085452012-11-02T10:13:00.006-07:002012-11-02T10:13:57.442-07:00On the road again...What a day! A dear friend of mine, Cindy Telisak, had let me know about a situation involving a friend of hers who needed some alpacas picked up and relocated. So, I called my other dear friend, Cindy Schildknecht, and the three Cindys (Cyndi) were off!<br />
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It was quite a rodeo trying to get eight alpacas, none of which had been
halter trained or apparently "touched" for quite some time, into the
trailer. You get the idea... but the three farm girls prevailed! All
were loaded up successfully, without any harm.<br />
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We knew that two of the females were pregnant, but were still 6 weeks away from their due dates. We've trailered animals that are pregnant before for shearing, so this isn't new. However, when we opened the trailer door to unload the alpacas at their "new" home, we had nine alpacas, rather than eight! Apparently, one had been delivered only moments after being loaded. The cria (baby) was already sitting up and humming. Mom was already in the process of delivering the placenta. <br />
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The alpacas were unloaded and "assessed". We found there were three males in the group of alpacas. Yes, the boarding location actually had males pastured in with the females.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XZbOu2CCGjqjoHOvvLzxhcrDObdei2G8QoseNCJxE_yKXZXV8cWghTqcpBCgXE1h7AcneApTZm7Uj7Uxc01xhG8el2i_NXDilLam-ryLy0DJFWXncCLSNzuLotqJ4rKeRreW_cEeAJXf/s1600/IMG_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XZbOu2CCGjqjoHOvvLzxhcrDObdei2G8QoseNCJxE_yKXZXV8cWghTqcpBCgXE1h7AcneApTZm7Uj7Uxc01xhG8el2i_NXDilLam-ryLy0DJFWXncCLSNzuLotqJ4rKeRreW_cEeAJXf/s640/IMG_0048.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />
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The male alpacas were taken to Jacob's Reward Farm, just down the road, while the females stayed with us here at Paca D'Lites Ranch. This was just a matter of convenience for us. <br />
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Here is a picture of the one cria we picked up. Isn't she a cutie putootie? She appears to be approximately three weeks old. She is out of the fawn female and we believe the dark, brown male. Blood tests will tell. :o)<br />
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In between unloading the alpacas at my place, I found out my truck was ready to be picked up, so off we went to run that errand, too, as well as picking up two of my three kids from school! My truck is fixed (it needed a new transmission pump) and I am thrilled! Thank you, Chip, at <a href="http://www.hellerautomotive.com/">Heller Automotive</a>! Ok, I just love my truck, so I had to put that in there! Shameless, I know...<br />
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After picking up the truck, we were off to take the boys to their new home. Here they are meeting their new herd mates, across the fence. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoH0RCNZCwYZvnhfH-HRsjt-U_YWWqYiXJnvI4MBI36D9wetzAEas4J6JFHPj9CjIGjUe1v2DofCIbCwPn25-ffYCxjT43l7TzYc6NxF_PGBs9K8drQQgdeXPi784v57osnIz-FhW0qWr/s1600/new_baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoH0RCNZCwYZvnhfH-HRsjt-U_YWWqYiXJnvI4MBI36D9wetzAEas4J6JFHPj9CjIGjUe1v2DofCIbCwPn25-ffYCxjT43l7TzYc6NxF_PGBs9K8drQQgdeXPi784v57osnIz-FhW0qWr/s640/new_baby.jpg" width="488" /></a>Here is another cute picture of our "trailer baby". Isn't he adorable? Here he is only about an hour old.<br />
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Oh! But the saga continues!<br />
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Mom wouldn't have anything to do with this little guy. We don't know whether she is a new mom or not, but she went berserk when we tried to hold her and let him nurse. She kept spitting at him and going nutso.<br />
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We placed them in a stall together, just the two of them, and watched. She never tried to hurt him, but didn't want him even in the same corner of the stall with her. We tried pulling milk off of mom, to no avail. So, we gave him a bottle around 11:00pm. He drank 3 oz! Way to go, little guy!<br />
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This morning, mom was actually laying down by her little cria. Progress! However, she still won't let him nurse. We've added warm compresses to her teats and all, but she doesn't even appear to be bagging up. So, we're "on the road again" to the vet today to get some meds to help that. Meanwhile, we continue to bottle feed, in the hopes mama will allow her little one to nurse before the 24 hours is up. <br />
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Isn't life exciting? No? Well then, you must not live on a farm!!!! :o)<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-40751033797096260022012-09-07T11:50:00.001-07:002012-09-07T11:55:47.420-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3G_Y4AQs34e1jp7DkQ6TpMsmwpfcd9Kl-6wDjJy6MT_Z8tiLbfHnylJLdijW4MPHJ_vIrh674m-KzfTQfcnyK9DkJtqPP3GocM422inswPxcKQXIySyActwYKvCJerbl7FkdWNQcQAIz/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3G_Y4AQs34e1jp7DkQ6TpMsmwpfcd9Kl-6wDjJy6MT_Z8tiLbfHnylJLdijW4MPHJ_vIrh674m-KzfTQfcnyK9DkJtqPP3GocM422inswPxcKQXIySyActwYKvCJerbl7FkdWNQcQAIz/s640/IMG_0069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Whew! I'm on a roll! I have 10 batches of alpaca thirds (fleece) that has needed to be washed before being sent off to the mill to have rug yarn made.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz_qh1NRPCNcj7IP4VIaV9_pUaqH39zH2k4TVPMDS4Xnpx-gvmeydgnKDA7DPxOW9lFCoTPz_VtmtAagdSc7xjc2c3mjnuC24y4TmvJkcvb7McGPBJxqd1WVpbfTsm8NqIt_92MBzrvIq/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz_qh1NRPCNcj7IP4VIaV9_pUaqH39zH2k4TVPMDS4Xnpx-gvmeydgnKDA7DPxOW9lFCoTPz_VtmtAagdSc7xjc2c3mjnuC24y4TmvJkcvb7McGPBJxqd1WVpbfTsm8NqIt_92MBzrvIq/s640/IMG_0067.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
At three loads (average) per batch, that's approximately 30 loads of laundry to do! My fleece washing machine is in my breezeway, which can be an issue when trying to get hot water brought out. In the past, I've loaded and loaded and loaded bucket after bucket of hot water from the sink in the kitchen and hand carried it outside, splashing water all over the floor along the way. Not this time! (Music please....)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON0Tg8J_23zNIBvmO1jocKAlTUEMGmnYuJ3zChHMuM6cQjPO2bjwZpnr9S2PrdB2H_USWP7_yRKNdooCHHIIKNncah-GEN_VnAgewF72vP9wHhif2_N1gUKyQt4Z2zSzWRWqym3zJOrDt/s1600/IMG_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON0Tg8J_23zNIBvmO1jocKAlTUEMGmnYuJ3zChHMuM6cQjPO2bjwZpnr9S2PrdB2H_USWP7_yRKNdooCHHIIKNncah-GEN_VnAgewF72vP9wHhif2_N1gUKyQt4Z2zSzWRWqym3zJOrDt/s640/IMG_0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I disconnected the hose from the "inside" washing machine and attached a good, old fashioned, garden hose. You know where I'm going with this, don't you?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjanOCvHvPHk_NL6JjR44clfRNPhT4vRG6k0hikUIseiLjNllO5vcWrUK5dXHVke5LvR7o9YIJqh4kvian7S85l0_KXygl5ijjUrNZdtnNXoRNk5LZTxv9TNtG1Fk2BGRZjsHxXF8lYRuY/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjanOCvHvPHk_NL6JjR44clfRNPhT4vRG6k0hikUIseiLjNllO5vcWrUK5dXHVke5LvR7o9YIJqh4kvian7S85l0_KXygl5ijjUrNZdtnNXoRNk5LZTxv9TNtG1Fk2BGRZjsHxXF8lYRuY/s640/IMG_0073.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Yep, here is a look at my laundry room, with the attached hose coming out from behind the "inside" washing machine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1tTOVILaTIAUlkOxN_fKvZs4Mt1T3YmRLdW9ZazuhU4F_MEeg_UlI8dvRvco5DYSBv14i-qYuTl386fVehkL0rB0FiFrDlYUlcjjnBfB8D_I34FZWXAjzeXeVnlmY5gFxr-_XCJblgIX/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1tTOVILaTIAUlkOxN_fKvZs4Mt1T3YmRLdW9ZazuhU4F_MEeg_UlI8dvRvco5DYSBv14i-qYuTl386fVehkL0rB0FiFrDlYUlcjjnBfB8D_I34FZWXAjzeXeVnlmY5gFxr-_XCJblgIX/s640/IMG_0075.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
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I then had to run the line out my kitchen door and through the screen door to the breezeway, "outdoor" washing machine. I had to cut off the water at the "inside" washing machine and take the hose back into the washroom after every load. It isn't the greatest of ideas, but HEY! It beats carrying all of those buckets of hot water out of the kitchen! I am hoping that the increased mosquito activity in the house last night will convince my husband to run me a hot water line to the breezeway. :oP<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvHDg3pZahJ5JQRol0DyRv2uz42L62-kM2qhXgUEj_efAcu23brwxnFvTYjvHMWi1NihyphenhyphenuNl38JvmznLat4kshBG6Z188g4HkX9_sy79svPcYZedolviDv0HZGNQiwZ4yBDVG-2QaM83T/s1600/IMG_0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvHDg3pZahJ5JQRol0DyRv2uz42L62-kM2qhXgUEj_efAcu23brwxnFvTYjvHMWi1NihyphenhyphenuNl38JvmznLat4kshBG6Z188g4HkX9_sy79svPcYZedolviDv0HZGNQiwZ4yBDVG-2QaM83T/s640/IMG_0070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I even utilized my tumbler in the breezeway, as a holding place for fleece. I'm telling you what! I can utilize even the smallest of areas to hold my "stuff".<br />
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Ok, here is confession time. This is what I have LEFT to complete. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMA7ZMpM0axOvMeScbrD3N43V4_rPBBK952SZoYA3_XNarkM-ccl4hKuO97TNeXfSwHUNMzx1nGSzZwBOQUnl2Hx10oLxMy6zS2Y-D_kXBxzyeTmmaC_66lS1eTKf-yXpBH8bHDsTjYUL/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMA7ZMpM0axOvMeScbrD3N43V4_rPBBK952SZoYA3_XNarkM-ccl4hKuO97TNeXfSwHUNMzx1nGSzZwBOQUnl2Hx10oLxMy6zS2Y-D_kXBxzyeTmmaC_66lS1eTKf-yXpBH8bHDsTjYUL/s640/IMG_0077.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
These are all of the fleeces that are first and second cuts. I still need to skirt about half of them and tumble, then wash the remaining.<br />
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May I just say, "I can't wait for cooler temps!". These last couple of days, working in a stagnant breezeway, shooting boiling hot water with steam coming up in my face, has not been the most pleasant of experiences. It's my own fault, though, for waiting so long to get this done (my alpacas have been shorn since the beginning of April). So, here is to accountability and for drop dead dates! The Lone STAR Fiber Expo (coming up in early November) has gotten me back to business! Anyone want to join me?<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-88806552706439944622012-05-07T13:52:00.000-07:002012-05-07T14:06:54.330-07:00New Chicken Nesting Boxes...FINALLY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been time for some new nesting boxes for awhile. Here is a picture of our old, kitchen cabinets that served as nesting boxes for the past ten years. As you can see, they have seen better days. Twice a year, in the fall and spring, we remove the nesting boxes to give them a good bleaching. Over the years, the wood has begun to rot and fall apart. So, I got on the internet to see what I could find in the form of durable nesting boxes.<img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuyLmiB42e8X1lpTgDc-wHBm1Sol-gGlSqgrof7yXKI3COgkywCEtQrMwNGQP67D6vVNnOMbMRhQAbeqNKvpZNIAbR0dGCKe3Ct3iTJZDFnU7v8aDo7lR4tSwYRgoe9swogTXBQDTTsnJ/s640/IMG_0013.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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Using 5 gallon buckets left over from all kinds of products we purchase on a regular basis, I began by drilling holes all over the top portion of the buckets for ventilation. Then, I purchased some lids from www.fowlstuff.com. These lids are pretty nifty. I purchased four of them to get me started.<br />
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<img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuykAqs5a1SDG_rjtTFOwFiN_ifXxtJWyYu9Ve0lqbKyqOtI26FIq6XtPCEo84x0yiavJ-e4NceMzjJHQpPqP3BVrgnQ3LkjN9byhyhwnfjLFldP08S2OGo12vS3jeWQHJg_COM3HHdL4m/s640/IMG_0003.JPG" width="640" /> </div>
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However, with over 80 chickens that live here on our property, four nesting boxes are just not going to cut it. So, I began checking out how I could make some of these for myself. Obviously, they aren't going to be as "pretty", but should serve the purpose. I'm in the process of collecting my horse's CW Wormer buckets around the barn. I've found three. I think these are going to work even better since they are rectangle. More pictures will be forthcoming on those. My friend from church, Larry Mills, heard about my little project and informed me that he knows a lady who works at a Smoothie Factory and throws these types of buckets away regularly. Bonus! Ten more buckets are heading my way! The buckets are attached to 2" x 4" boards and placed on the wall with brackets. The buckets simply slide off of the wall for cleaning. Brilliant! Again, thank you FowlStuff for the idea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kxIHXdnwHyCBBkvMwDs95tR_VHX6VV0-bCP0QDPRI5rAqBe8zovd4ILAn1HvB6Qskv-x2BOhmoILbr4WjAGa30mTedUzStCxHAXMZ1BdTTdrIobQOtilnh7Bercm6-uVLl77kEEynvNa/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kxIHXdnwHyCBBkvMwDs95tR_VHX6VV0-bCP0QDPRI5rAqBe8zovd4ILAn1HvB6Qskv-x2BOhmoILbr4WjAGa30mTedUzStCxHAXMZ1BdTTdrIobQOtilnh7Bercm6-uVLl77kEEynvNa/s640/IMG_0014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Here, the two of the hens are checking out the new buckets. They are trying to figure out what happened to the old cabinets they used to lay their eggs in. Hey! They must have forgotten it is bulk trash pickup this week. Perfect!<br />
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In addition to our new nesting boxes, we have a new addition of Guinea keets. My daughter's friend, Shelby, called to let us know her grandfather had hatched out a bunch for the fun of it and didn't want to keep all of the chicks. So, we were more than happy to take them off of his hands. We now have nine Guineas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61LAlnw7dh6GLKNTK3EDfWCc3ymUfxvLFFmbvk7dSjCCl1_yyMTZgbyz1-P8xRzMTFOO4m_BV5x33zLdDT1HNHF-zNvL8YQlk7mGr5poAxvD42oVZAnwqjTN334v77ts0xVQpsnoluZP7/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61LAlnw7dh6GLKNTK3EDfWCc3ymUfxvLFFmbvk7dSjCCl1_yyMTZgbyz1-P8xRzMTFOO4m_BV5x33zLdDT1HNHF-zNvL8YQlk7mGr5poAxvD42oVZAnwqjTN334v77ts0xVQpsnoluZP7/s640/IMG_0010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I also purchased five chicks from a local feed store (that's a long story...don't even begin to go there). After a 30 minute time period in the back yard (chicks were left alone) while I went to pick up my youngest at school, four of the five chicks were found dead in the pen. I'm pretty sure one of our mama hens was the culprit on that one. So, the remaining one chick is in the chick coup with the Guineas. They are getting along great!<br />
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Whew! I'm tired, but excited! We have a lot more eggs in the incubator (thanks to Logan West for encouraging me to give it another try this year) that are due out in a couple of weeks AND are on cria watch (baby alpaca) for Dolly, who is due at the end of the month. Ah! This is the life for me!!<br />
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<br />Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-40082479179690069792012-02-01T09:21:00.000-08:002012-02-01T09:21:40.474-08:00Wilbur is now 268 lbs! He has worked his way into our hearts. On October 11, 2011, Wilbur came to us all the way from California, weighing in at a mere 40 lbs. He was sunburned, wrinkly, and very, very frightened. <br />
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Hailey, with some advice from our awesome farrier, Joe Spearman, began winning Wilbur over by offering him apples...and then Nilla Wafers. It was instant love!<br />
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Through the months, Hailey has fed Wilbur every day, bathed and conditioned him every other day, and taken him on walks in our pasture and, yes, even our neighborhood every single day.<br />
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How can you not become attached to an animal after spending that much time with it? Wilbur loves to have his chin and belly scratched. In fact, if Hailey even comes near Wilbur's belly, he falls over for her to get a "good angle" to scratch all over. <br />
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Now for the hard part... From the very beginning, we knew that Wilbur is an FFA project. That means that all barrow pigs (male) have a terminal show. Wilbur's terminal show is this Thursday at the Fort Worth Stock Show. The teachers warned us. They've seen it over and over again. Kids crying while having to say goodbye to their "pets". Let's call it what it is. Yes, they become "pets". <br />
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However, unless you are a complete vegan and are against eating meat all together, you must realize that the meat you purchase at that grocery store in the clear plastic wrap actually comes from an animal on a farm somewhere. <br />
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Animals have been used for meat for ages. Not so long ago, animals were treated with respect. Now, you can watch films that show chickens stacked on top of each other in barns where they never even get to taste fresh grass or feel the sunshine on their backs. Cows spend their entire lives in a barn at a feeding trough, being fattened up for slaughter... again, never getting to graze free range. There is simply too much of a demand for meat and too many people who do not understand what is happening to these animals. The more demand for food (fast and pre-processed), the more the industry seems to make poor decisions on the care of these creatures. We've got to grow them faster in the shortest amount of time... after all, it's a money thing, right?<br />
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Why am I bringing this up? I am hoping you will consider a couple of things. I am hoping you will consider buying locally, from a farm that raises their animals with respect and consideration. Do a simple internet search to find a farmer's market or a farm near you that raises their animals on pasture. Purchase your eggs from ranches that have "true" free range chickens (more than just a 12" space to roam in front of their cage). Consider preparing more meals at home and eating dinner as a family, rather than running through a drive thru. And last, but not least, consider eating a couple of nights a week "meat free".<br />
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It is really hard sending Wilbur off. However, we know that during the time he has been with us, he has lived a very good life. He has had constant attention, proper feeding, exercise, and play time. <br />
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As we say goodbye, we realize that as we close one chapter in our lives, another one opens up. With death, there is always new birth. This has been an eye opening experience for us. We appreciate more where our food comes from and we are more intentional about our choices. We hope that by reading this, you will be, too.Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-36935449753684618912011-10-10T19:50:00.000-07:002011-10-10T19:50:24.807-07:00It's here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, after a long trip from California (can you believe that???), this little guy was tired and worn out. He was "chosen" at the Waco fair by Hailey's Ag teacher for her to use for her FFA project. We picked him up at the Plano Ag barn this afternoon after school. He's sunburned and scratched up. It must have been a rough weekend!
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This little guy wasn't so sure he wanted out of the truck. He squeeled and squeeled and squeeled! Man, are they LOUD!
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Hailey made sure everything was set in his new home...a horse stall. See the shavings? Believe it or not, that is like his kitty litter box! Tee hee! It's supposed to cut down on the amount of shavings we'll go through.
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Hailey uses some gentle persuasion to get her new little guy into his stall. He wants to make a run for it!
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Ok, honestly, we were expecting this adorable little "Wilbur" pig. This guy... well, he's so ugly he's cute.
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You can see the scratches on his side from the other pigs. Hmmm... kind of like a cat fight? Kitty litter box? I'm sensing a theme here...
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Our new little "Wilbur" settled in pretty quickly and even ate some feed out of Hailey's hand. He's got a nice 10 x10 stall, with shavings, food on demand, and water. He sure likes snorting at Tysin, our LGD (livestock guardian dog), too. They really checked each other out through the hog wire.
So, now you know what the surprise was. Betcha didn't think of that one, did ya? Ha ha!
And the adventure begins...
Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-38619681000151567122011-10-09T17:13:00.000-07:002011-10-09T17:13:27.444-07:00Rain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a long, long time since we've seen some of this! I am praising God we have finally gotten some rain. Seriously folks. The cracks in our pasture look like they go down about 4 or 5 feet into the ground. This can cause some serious damage to an animal who's foot gets caught.
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Ah! Looking out onto the pool, you can see the rain coming down. It is such a beautiful sight!
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The alpacas stayed under cover while they waited for the rain to end. However, it rained for a good portion of the afternoon. So...they were under the eaves for quite a while. Not that I am complaining!
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The chickens are a different story. Usually, when it rains, they stay inside too. However, this time, most of the chickens stayed outside during the rain. I don't know if they are expecting worms to work their way up or what! They were running like crazy from one section of the pasture to the next. Maybe the grasshoppers were more prevalent in the rain? I don't know. They sure looked funny running around in the rain, though!
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Ok, here is a hint for tomorrow. It's coming home in this... ooh! The excitement is building!
Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141843753816575541.post-4432226240335981602011-10-07T11:13:00.000-07:002011-10-07T11:24:30.369-07:00New animals abound...I am sooooooo enjoying this fall weather! I head out anywhere between 6am and 8am to do my chores...when it's still just a tad bit chilly. I love it!
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The alpacas have finally come out of their stalls to enjoy the new, cooler weather. They've been spending the majority of their days inside the stalls under misters and fans.
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The chickens have finally come outside, too. They are enjoying their "dirt baths" in the pastures and have been sunning their feathers. See, even the chickens enjoy the sunshine!
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Our cria from early summer is growing by leaps and bounds. She's begun eating grain and has even been known to push the larger "moms" away from their feed bowls. Soon, she will need to be weaned off of her mama's milk.
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Our cria aren't the only ones growing up around here! I had to put a shameless mama picture in here of my youngest son. He's seven years old now. I can't believe how fast time goes.
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Our oldest son is in Senior High going to homecoming, our daughter is in High School getting ready for her first fall dance, and our youngest is getting THIS BIG!
I don't want to even begin to talk about my age. I still feel so young, though! How in the world is it possible for me to have children this old??? Pinch me before it's all over and I've missed it all. Take loads and loads of time to spend with your kiddos. Before you know it, you'll be an empty nester. I <b>know<i></i></b> I can hear an AMEN to that!
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Upon heading through the pasture, we stumbled upon this particular weed. It's just an ordinary weed of MANY in our pasture. You can tell all of the grass is gone. The drought this summer has left us with nothing except for some sturdy weeds that seem to grow without any nourishment whatsoever. Amazing, huh? Anyway, there was something peculiar about this weed. Upon further investigation, we determined why. Do you notice anything? Look closely...
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There is an entire nest of baby bunnies here. We found five baby bunnies nestled closely under the weed bush. What a great place for the mama to hide her young! Last year, you may remember, a mama rabbit laid her young inside one of our hay feeders. NOT a good idea. I believe only three made it out of ten in that one. All five of these bunnies have survived and have finally left the nest. We see them hopping through the pasture some evenings when we go out to do our chores. They are soooooooo cute!
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I also want to mention we have had TWO baby opossums in our pasture lately, too. What are the odds? Everything is coming up for food and water! Don't worry! No animals (opossums) were harmed in the catching of these animals. All animals have participated in a relocation program... relocated out of our pasture! :o)
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I haven't been the best at posting things lately, but will need to post again this coming Monday. We have a surprise coming? Wanna know what it is? Check back in on Monday to find out how the saga continues... (hint: Hailey is taking on something new)
Don't you hate cliffhangers????? Smile....
Cyndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409301583398083273noreply@blogger.com0