A Tragedy

When we first moved into our cabin on the bay I named a few of the trees in the yard. Yes, I know it's strange but who cares. One tree was across the bay on the edge of the bank. Her shape looked like a girl with her skirts and hair blowing back while she looked out to sea. I called her "The Sister". One day I looked out and she was gone. My favorite was a fir tree that hung over the bay like a huge arm. It became known as "The Strong Arm of God". I loved that tree. It was massive and had a wonderful elbow that eagles perched on. It was really only a matter of time before it fell into the bay but I hoped it wasn't in my lifetime.
Early this morning a crash was heard but it wasn't until the sun came up and I looked out the window that I realized the the view had opened up considerably and something was missing. My tree was gone. Snapped off from the snow and ice, it fell into the bay.
Luckily I took a picture of it yesterday from my window.



This is my view now.




RIP Strong Arm of God...you will be missed.

Milk Test Training

The annual milk test class was held Saturday at our local library. I have taken the class every year for about 4 years and while I learn something new each time I still look at the paperwork like it is the first time I've seen it.
And there is a test at the end. Yes it's open book but a test nonetheless. The multiple choice is a breeze but when we get to the part where we fill in the fictitious information on 4 goats on the herd and barn sheets I panic. Even my reading glasses can't zero in on the itty bitty words that go along with the itty bitty boxes.

I did my best and had my scale calibrated so I'd be ready for this year's milk testing. Thank goodness my milk tester can read the itty bity words that go along with the itty bitty boxes.

Cora Belle are you ready for another year?



She's just kidding? She's ready.

Goose of a Different Color

On my way home from work today I glanced at the Canadian geese in my neighbor's pasture and had to do a double take when I saw a goose of a different color. I ran home and got my camera hoping they would still be there when I came back.
I looked at this goose for a long time trying to decide if it was a domestic cross or an a mutant Canadian goose. Our own white buffalo.



I still don't know for all that looking.

Bliss

Llama Training in a New Year

Part of Willow's training is getting her use to people. Socialize her. Goldilocks took to llama training like a natural.



They soon became good friends.



Goldilocks and my son were home for the New Year and I put her to work training Willow. Willow responded well and I wish I had Goldilocks here for awhile. She has the patience to wait Willow out.



She still won't let us touch her but ohhhhh we sure want to.

Happy Holidays!

My special ornament for this year. When I saw this hanging all by itself I knew it was suppose to be mine.

It's Dottie

The blurry picture is Dottie shaking her head. If you look closely you can see her green eye.

Guess

Llama Training Continues

I'm off for the next two weeks so the llama training is in full swing. After eating out of the bucket once, Willow had a bit of a setback and was refusing to eat out of it again. I now have the time to stand and wait her out. I gave her no grain unless it was held by me. Yesterday she ate her whole meal out of the bucket I held. Today she was eating out of the scoop in my hand so I got out my clicker and started in with clicking her for stepping toward me. I had her moving all around in a few minutes.
This is fun. I really like her and I think she will learn to like me. Just look at that face. I think she has the look of eagles.

Willow Fits In

Why?

Why would someone cut nice neat square holes in my fence along the road? What was their intent? Was it to let my goats out or was it to steal them? Two squares were cut out of the fence and laid neatly over to invite curious goats out of their pasture and into the road. Everyone says it's probably kids but the holes are so neatly cut with each wire cut the same length that to me it seems like an adult.........that just happens to have wire cutters in their pocket.

A mystery that has put my goats in jeopardy.


The temporary fix is not a good look either.

Lexi's New Best Friend

Lexi is the oldest doe. She has out of the pen privileges. Basically she goes where she wants and now wherever she goes she has a shadow.




A large shadow.

Day 7 In Pictures

Llama Training 5&6

She's starting to warm up and not hide behind her little barn when I'm in her pasture. She ate grain from the bucket about 4 feet from where I stood.

Then the stampede of goats went by her pasture headed for the grain bin and it was too much for Willow to stand. She was being left behind. She took a running start and leaped her 5 foot fence and went running after them which threw them in a panic and they ran....and then she ran after them so they ran...and then she ran. You get the picture. She ran and bucked around the pasture. She stood on top of the yodeling hill. She chased the goats that ran from her. She sniffed the ones that didn't.



I am never going to catch her now.

Llama Training 3-4

Sadly no training just feeding in the dark. It is dark in the morning when I feed and dark shortly after I get off work.
After being scared to go inside, Willow is using her stall to eat out of her hay rack and grain out of her tub. She does like grain. Now if I could only get her to eat out of my hand.

Llama Training-Day 2

Willow saw the pigs for the first time and didn't freak or sound the alarm. This is big because llamas HATE pigs. It took Koo a long time to get used to the pigs.

She ate a little hay out of my hand. Can't get her to take grain. Still very skittish.

Llama Training -Day One

Willow eats hay from my hand. And it was the yellow local hay....not the good green orchard grass.
I didn't have my clicker so I clicked my headlamp. Just loadin' my clicker.

Getting to Know You

Imagine living in a huge pasture with a few llamas and a couple of alpacas for the first 2 years of life, wrestled into a trailer and plunked down at the funny farm. All of a sudden you share space with small goats, chickens, ducks, dogs, the sound of pigs in the distance, and a lady that wants to get to know you. You go from a beautiful estate to a small farm in great need of a Manna Pro makeover.

The dogs were a special concern for Willow. She followed Grace along the fence.



Grace hid behind the hay so Willow couldn't see her.



Willow saw her.



Willow sees all.



She may never let me touch her but she's going to make a vigilant guard.

This happens to be my 500th post. I have never done anything 500 times:)

Christmas Came Early

Meet Willow. Her owner is moving to Germany and needed to find homes for her llamas and alpacas. This morning Hubby and I went to look at her near Auburn. She lived at a beautiful old estate straight out of the pages of Jane Eyre. Running wild in a huge pasture she was suspicious of us from the start. She came right up to see what we were doing but decided we were up to no good so stayed out of our reach.We finally cornered her in the garage and got her rope and halter on and then without letting go we headed for the door. When we walked out the door all hell broke loose. She bucked and flailed with Hubby holding tight to the rope. He hung on for dear life, knowing that if he let go we would never catch her again nor see our halter and rope. I'll I could do was say "Oh...Oh...Oh" as he was thrown around the pasture on the end of a lead rope attached to a llama that was stronger than we thought.
He hung on until she gave up and we got another hold on her. Cradling her in our arms we walked her to the gate and into the trailer. She settled in and kushed next to the hay bales we put in to limit her space. She hit her mouth when throwing herself around so a little blood was dripping but it didn't look too serious.
Home we went and backed the trailer right up to the gate so we wouldn't have to repeat the rodeo. Hubby doesn't think he wants to be a cowboy.
She stayed in the trailer looking out the door for a long time taking in all the animals and smells.



She is beautiful and in excellent health. She is very curious about the goats and they are curious about her.







I'm going to have to do a lot of lovin' on her to make up for the awkward start.

If I had to lose......

I'm glad it was to Cale. Congratulations to Cale Johnson, a sweet young man, for winning the Manna Pro homestead makeover. When I saw his video I knew I was doomed. He is a great example of what I have been telling people all along....get your kids involved in 4H. I work with kids that have trouble making friends and I always talk about getting them involved in a 4H where they can be around other kids, learn how to talk to people, and learn a bunch of life skills too numerous to list, all centered around a project they are interested in. Of course I love the animal projects because it teaches kids to be responsible but there are so many others. It really takes the pressure off to be around other kids with similar interests in a structured environment and not just winging it on your own on the playground-a scary place for a lot of kids.
So hats off to Cale. You are a fine example of what's right with kids today.

Thanks to everyone who viewed my video and left comments. It was by far the most viewed video! Thanks to Mary for all her hard work making it. I will cherish it forever!