theoldwolf

Learned yesterday that Misha, here being fed by Angela Stanley, along with another slightly older lamb named Elvis, got into something poisonous on the farm and died within hours of each other. In convulsions. Kathy thinks it may have been cherry leaves, but there's no way of knowing.


Reposted with kind permission of Phillip M. Jackson

A farmer's life is hard... and I only knew these little critters for a few weeks. I can't imagine what it's like when you're up at 0 Dark:30 in icy sleet helping them be born, only to lose them to some stupid fluke.

On the Woad again
Just can't wait to put on the Woad again
The life I've Pict is tending sheepen for my friends
But I just can't wait to put on the Woad again...

Left Gap Mills today around 2, amidst the most mixed of feelings. Much done, so much left to do and undone because time ran out. But there's always another time. Now my family awaits me in Salt Lake, and I hope to get back before my Daughter takes off to parts far, far South on a grand adventure of her own. I pray for her safety - she wants to wend her way down into Central or South America, and I will send her blessings of Godspeed.

Many, many thanks to all my friends for the warm Birthday greetings - I shall find some appropriate means of celebrating. I have many trinkets and gifts coming home with me, so I feel not at all neglected as I travel through the beautiful countryside.

Life is good. If I were any better, I'd have to be twins.

I have spent the day mucking out a basement that makes Shelob's lair look like Martha Stewart's pied à terre by comparison. The gods of West Virginia must be angry with me - it's been raining on and off all day, and as I got to the landfill with my second load, the skies unzipped - it was like a torrent. Soaked and muddy, I got to the landfill office, and the skies broke and the sun peeped out... Yarg!

Rewarded myself by visiting the China Palace - it was a good supper, groan belch groan. Hope I don't catch my death from the air conditioning, because I'm still wet.

Very little time left on the farm...

The animals need to be fed morning, noon and night. If you're not there, they go hungry. Feel like sleeping in? Hungry animals. Feel like taking a day off? Hungry animals. I don't know how full-time farmers do it.

Hats off to those who grow our food.

Got the lamb with the broken leg in to the vet yesterday to get his cast off. He's got some pretty mean cast sores on his leg, so the vet dressed the wounds, put a bandage on and told me to keep him clean and dry for a couple of days and then bring him in again. Repaired a gate on a shed area and turned it into a lamb hospital - cleanest and driest place on the farm I could think of. Hope the little guy does well.

Partly cloudy and some sprinkles in the Cove today, but that helps keep the heat down. It's starting to warm up. Taking care of the farm would be easier if I weren't also "taking care" of the farm wife's mom - nice lady, but a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. I answer lots of the same questions over, and over, and over... But we get along just fine. Ever see Guarding Tess? "Yes Ma'am". "Yes Ma'am". "Yes Ma'am". Works like a charm.

The last three days have been a blur.

Daily chores include walking, chasing down and feeding five dogs; bottle feeding 1 calf and 1 sheep 3 times a day; feeding chickens and 1 satanic pigeon, collecting an egg or two if there are any (last two days there haven't been, don't know if she's not laying or has found a different place to hide her eggs); letting sheep into the pasture in the morning and bringing them back at night (Mark is an excellent sheep dog); feeding the neighbor's horses once a day; caring for three caged birds; feeding wild birds; checking 5 cows for any new births (none so far); doing what repairs the weather will permit (it rains often and without warning); and handling any emergencies.

Monday night while hunting for cows we came across a sheep that couldn't stand. It took two days for the vet to get out to the farm, so we basically had to bring her down from the upper hayfield in a jeep, find her a comfortable spot in the shade, and bring her food and water as she would accept it. The vet says she's ancient, has a dislocated shoulder and probably a brain abscess. He gave her an antibiotic shot and told us to keep her comfortable. She may get better, and she may not. Yesterday she wouldn't eat or drink, but today she takes water and will eat grain and hay. She still can't stand on her own - only time will tell. I hope she recovers, but I wonder what one does with a dead sheep... I mentioned our lamb with a cast, he looked at it and said it might need to be removed earlier than thought. Also mentioned a lot of the sheep seemed to have footrot (a lot of them are limping) and recommended penicillin for them. Kathy puts this green copper solution on their feet but by the holy skull of Mogg's grandmother, I'll be dipped if I know how she catches them to do it.

Sheep are surprisingly smart when they want to be. The more I'm around them, the more I see that for "dumb" animals, they can be inventive and devious.

Our biggest challenge is the horses Kathy is boarding for a "friend". Her fences are not designed for horses, and they seem to be able to go anywhere they want in spite of our best efforts to keep them in the fields around the house. The foal seems to have a small cut on its foot above the hoof, which may have come from getting over, under or through fences, but it doesn't look serious. I do worry because there's nothing we have done that has been able to contain them, but they keep coming back so I know they know their way around. I can't remember if I mentioned that one of them bit me the other day - we were trying to work in the carport where there's a mitre saw, and I was trying to shoo her out of the way. She whipped around like lightning and nipped my shoulder. No damage, but her speed surprised me. She lost a goodwill point for that one.

Mark and Angela have to head home on Saturday. They are the best people, having them here has been an absolute joy, and I shall miss their company.

It's difficult to get online here with all that's going on. I'm amazed Kathy manages to get a comic out three times a week with all the work there is to do. Large kudos to her.

More as circumstances permit.

Farmers leave today for Hawaii - many instructions gone over and things should be well in hand. I just hope the animoles don't get sick or require urgent medical attention while they are gone.

Dialup connections profanity blasphemy censored blasphemy grumble snarl yarg

Rain blasphemy profanity snarl yarg censored

Rain. Mud. Dung. Grease. Greenery as far as the eye can see. Injuries upon my hand, where the one-eyed demon pigeon has already vented his fury. Already hunting invisible cows... not helped by the fact that you could almost put this one in your pocket. She's so tiny - Patience is the orphan calf, last daughter of Daisy of blessed memory. She can hide anywhere, and yesterday evening gave Kathy quite a scare before she was located hiding behind a hay bale. She needs to get a bit bigger so we don't worry that she's escaped through a hole in the fence somewhere, or has been carried off by an owl.

This is the farm. Glorious!

Making banana bread tonight.