Friday, October 26, 2012

Buh-bye Go-goats





Well, it was a difficult decision to make, but all the goats went to the sale. Only Annie and the sheep remain. I had to cut down on the workload and the feed bill.





So now, it’s just my little band of sheep, EmmaLouMoo and Sushi, the Maremmas and my two saddle horses...and temporarily two steers who are destined for the freezer as Christmas gifts...and of course the chickens. Yeah, that should make life much easier. Hmmm.

I’ve taken to making some of my own clothes as I hate going to town and shopping is not a pastime I enjoy and I am grateful we only go to town every 3 months. Not a lot is needed here on the ranch, thankfully, which gives me flexibility and a little time to hone my skills. Making things for my 2 grandbabies has been good practice and kinda fun. Once again, I am grateful for the internet with its wealth of tutorials and suggestions, not to mention online purchases of fabric, notions and patterns. Abby liked her twirly dress, and I hope Kinley likes her romper.

 It’s been weaning week here on the ranch and a couple thousand calves are separated from their mothers so the cows are able to rest between calvings. The smaller, younger and/or calves that aren’t thriving, are pushed over by our house and put in the back pasture where my critters spent the summer. This way they will get supplemental feed and be doctored as they may require, until they are large enough and strong enough to be moved to a larger pasture somewhere else. This has made for some pretty noisy nights, as about 200 of them are on the other side of our rock wall transitioning and the moo-ing and bawling is pretty constant through the night. Considering I can still remember the nightmare of traffic and sirens while trying to sleep in the city, cattle-lowing is music to my ears. I have always preferred animal noises to humans anyway. They are much more soothing.


We haven’t yet gotten the winter shelters up, but it snowed last night anyway. EmmaLouMoo and Sushi took cover in the lambing shed while the sheep and Annie cuddled with the Maremmas under the fruit trees.








 Mister is out in his new digs. If it gets really ugly he can access the old kill-shed hidden behind the willows and wild roses.






One of my leppies got pretty sick before they put the weaners out back. *Note They are not wieners which are hotdogs, they are weaners, as in weaned off of milk.* 
 He didn’t show up for his grain one night, or the next morning. The Maremmas had been locked in with the sheep instead of going out on patrol because we have lots of traffic on the ranch right now. I  didn’t see any buzzards flying so I assumed the calf was not dead. With the pups locked in with the sheep, the coyotes could have easily come after the body and the Maremmas would have been barking like mad, not to mention the coyotes yipping, but it had been quiet for a couple nights aside from the weaner calves. I figured either the leppie was stuck somewhere, or had escaped. I was prepared to saddle up Mister and go look for him but a few hours later, I found him, staggering through the thistle. He had pneumonia and was really weak, so we brought him in with a couple of his buddies and made a little spot in the old scale for them and started him on some anti biotic shots. It's nice to have them all off the bottle as feeding 13 bottle calves twice a day really took its toll on me this year.

Cletus and Bruno, who always make me feel wanted, greeted me by the ‘alley’ where their feeder is. They have taught the sheep to stay out of it, so they have free access to their own food while the sheep graze and get hay, although I have seen both taste the hay and grain from time to time. They may have a wee bit of an identity crisis, living amongst the flock. They wiggled and nose touched and kissed until one of them spotted something out of place in another pasture and they charged off to work.



Randyman helped me feed, fill waters, gather eggs and we headed back inside as darkness fell. The snow on the Steens was a chilly blue backdrop to the barn, making our little rock house seem more cozy than usual. I grabbed some thyme, rosemary and parsley out of the garden on the way in, to use with our lamb chops for dinner. I'll have to grab a bunch more to dry for using this winter.


So goes another day.

19 comments:

  1. I know you enjoyed the goats. But you are important, take care of yourself 1st.
    I spent a night at an Uncles once when they where weaning calves, oh my what a ruckus from BOTH side of the fence!
    I am so glad we do not have snow yet. I scrapped the 1st heavy frost from van window this a.m. forgot to give myself time and was nearly late for work :(
    I marvel every time I see the photos of the beauty you see from your cozy stone home EVERYDAY.
    hugs...

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    1. they sure are noisy, Carol! Thanks and hope you have a great week!

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  2. How could one look at the picture of your barn with those majestic mountains behind and not simply fall in love!? Are those cedar trees next to your house? This is not an angle that I have seen before of your property. They are beautiful trees.

    It is always sad to see you animals go for what ever reason. Before to long you will probably wonder how you had the time to take care of them because something else will fill up the day. That's how I am anyhow. :)

    Hoping you have peace as you move into this next season, knowing that even though winter brings extra duties, it also brings a bit of calm.

    Staci

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    1. HI Staci! The trees are 100+ yr old Lombardy poplars. Unfortunately they are hollow in the center and need to come down. We already had a branch come off in a windstorm and destroy our roof so they put a new one on. Everytime we have a heavy wind, I cringe, but I hate to lose the trees!

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  3. It is always nice to read your blog...makes me feel like I have stepped back a bit in time. I am glad that you were able to make the choice to cut back your workload some, because your health has to come first. I realize that was probably a huge struggle for you...
    Your place looks beautiful...how can one not feel closer to God with evidence of His handi-work everywhere you look. I hope this winter you will have more peaceful days than not.

    Elizabeth

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    1. Thank you so much, Elizabeth. It is easy to keep a running conversation going with Him here.

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  4. Never an easy decision, but a wise one, I'm sure. Even without the goats, you have your hands full. Such wonderful pictures - I can't imagine being able to see those views every day. Surely it's close to Heaven. I love the picture of your cozy home, nestled in the trees.

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    1. I meant to add that those rompers are adorable! I can't believe you are new to sewing!!!

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    2. Thanks Susan. It is beautiful here. I really need a 'range-fix'. I've been stuck here close to headquarters too long and I'm dying to ride! It takes me awhile to understand some of the directions but I'm slowly figuring it all out.

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  5. Love the twirly dress, too! I know you will miss the goats, but with winter coming on, you need to be able to manage without feeling so stressed. Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your life with us. You are amazing!

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    1. Thanks, and it is easier without them. They were forever breaking out :) Annie, on the other hand, stays with the sheep so she got to stay.

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  6. Good to see you posting again Petey. You know we're all addicted to the portraits you paint of your busy life on the range. I too love the all the photos you share.
    The romper is the cutest! I'm sure the baby will love it. Was that sewn on your new old treadle?
    Winter is knocking at the door here too. Slightly more restful, just a different kind of work. Take care of yourself friend.
    Kristi

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    1. I do use the treadle. I did have to pull out a portable machine for zigzagging some fabric tho, so it didn't unravel. Different kind of work is for sure! Great weekend to you!

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  7. Greetings. We always have a couple of weaners who are hotdogs. Your mountains look like ours and I agree with what you say about city noise. I lived in the city for a little more than a semester and hated it. No, I'm wrong, I loved the moments I spent with my brothers. I can't agree with animal over human sounds though. Maybe I'm still young enough to need the sounds of family around me. There's nothing like starting to wake with the familiar sounds of dad or mom talking quietly or my brother playing his guitar softly or even my little brother jumping on me to wake me up with shouts of joy. Maybe I'm not so much a ranch-boy as a home-boy. I loved your photos, though. I feel better now,I read Petey's blog. God bless! Xer

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  8. I'd love the people sounds if they were my kids but they aren't here. I mean the traffic and loud bass and other such things. Plus an unhappy calf is a lot easier to listen to than an unhappy human haha! Good to see you, now I feel better too

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  9. instead of go-go-dancers u had go-go-goats...oy! i saw the dex comment n i won't try to compete. it sounds like ur satisfied with ur goaty decision n that's all that matters. i see ur point bout city noises n he did too but he always wanted to live in the city until he did. it gave him a fresh perspective. it's cool that u saw his point too. that's special cos some grownups would get miffed. he's only a squirt. it's what make u special, ur spirit...i love snow this time of the year n we got all our herd down so let it fall. God bless u petra lady. danielsan

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    1. It always makes me smile to hear from you guys and I love the way both you and dex share such a neat illustration of what its like to be in your family. I could close my eyes and actually imagine hearing parents discourse and you and your guitar. My sister and I used to play, I loved to listen to her too. A lot of people like to put themselves here, thru my blogs, and I enjoy putting myself there, in a family. Pretty cool, we can all share and appreciate the blessings of others. I also have found experience or age doesnt necessarily make someone interesting...it's more the willingness to share what is really inside. God bless danielsan, if I don't 'see' you, you guys have a great week, and thanks for taking time here!

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  10. Cute romper! The picture of the barn with the mountains is so beautiful but it made me shiver from the cold! LOL!! I know you will miss the goats but it will cut down on the workload a little bit. :)

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  11. I love the dresses!! Wish I had the needed patience to learn how to sew & do it well! As it stands now my favorite work jeans are STAPLED where I ripped them....lol When the staples fall out, I'll likelt stitch the hole, but it won't be pretty....

    Sorry about having to sell the goaties, but at least things will be easier for you!

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