Okey dokey artichoke-y

About a year ago, we planted a couple of artichoke plants as a complete shot in the dark. We didn't think we had the climate to grow them but figured we'd give it a try. Just the other day, I found a lot of artichokes on these two plants. How exciting!

There's probably 12-15 on this plant alone.


Aren't they beautiful?


I'm looking forward to eating them.


You'll notice the picture of this second plant is far away. It's because of the weeds.


See? Giant weeds. I didn't want to walk through those.

Plus, I was in my standard flip flops...not good for weed walking.

FFR

All My Babies and the New One

So I got ambitious and decided to put together banners of my babies around here:

The dogs: Honey and Lucy who we know oh so well.


The horses: Yuma and Rocko.


The mule: Henry. He doesn't have a banner because he's the only mule. He's a little more fuzzy right now.

Last but not least, the new baby:


Oh yeah...we're pregnant. Did I forget to mention that?

The answers to the questions you're dying to know:

Due Date: January 4th, 2012

Currently: 4 weeks, 2 days along
We are: Thrilled, over the moon, delighted
We want: A happy, healthy baby...any gender works for us!

So the symptoms I have had so far...

I can smell EVERYTHING. A bottle of wine across the counter, alfalfa on a truck with my vents closed, when someone took a dump in the bathroom...I didn't say everything was good.

My skin has gone back to being 14. This wasn't fun the first time...why would it be fun now?

I have to pee all the time. All...the...time.

I'm congested. No morning sickness yet, though the books say it'll be a couple weeks before that sets in, but my nose is constantly stuffed up.

I'm exhausted! All I want to do is sleep. I'm ready to crash into bed by 9 and I definitely don't want to wake up the next morning. Drag...the...feet.

And finally, I'm emotional. I cry at the drop of a hat, and I will cry over spilled milk. You just try it! We had to say goodbye to one of our best receptionists this week and I had to write her a letter because if I talked to her, I was going to bawl all over her.

Overall, I feel great!

^ In terms easier to understand, our baby is the size of a poppy seed. That's tiny!

Thanks for sharing in our joy!

FFR

'Pacas in the Pool

This last weekend, MIL J and I were putting up the dog run when the alpacas came running in from the field to visit. This isn't too uncommon. They like to see what we're up to and see if we'll throw them some food. I told Moe I didn't have any food and got back to work. When I next turned around, this is what I saw:

'Paca in the pool!

Up until now, I've never seen the alpacas get in the lake. However, this wouldn't account for much because I'm not home very much. FIL D, who is home most of the time, said he had never seen them in the lake either.


After Moe, Larry followed suit. 'Pacas in the pool! Did I say that already?

No. No I did not. I said 'Paca in the pool, not 'Pacas.


It must have felt good. They have to be hot with all that wool.


It felt really, really good.


Shemp, who often stands on his own, finally joined in. Larry decided to just lay down in the water. These boys had to be cooking, I know I wanted to be in the pond too.


I know they're taunting me.


Apparently, our neighbors have never seen the 'pacas in the pond either because we've gotten calls telling us they're in there and asking if their stuck.


No, they're not stuck. They're just hot.


These guys don't really play "follow the leader", they just all wanted to go into the pond.


Then they all wanted out...at the same time. Honest, I've never seen them follow each other.

Anyway, since they've discovered the pond and how good it feels, they've been spending a lot of time there. The pond, once again, provides cooling abilities for another species.

FFR

Charlie Update

Do you all remember this sad face from many many months ago? He's the dog who showed up by our fence and who prompted me to think of LEPTOSPIROSIS in that horrible voice they use on cheap commercials for diarrhea...Um...moving along. He had a cute happy face and really just needed a home. Remember?

Well in case you forgot, there's a picture.

And now I want to give you an update on little old Charlie. That's his name now. He's grown up quite a bit and looks happy as can be with his home. It's good to see him running and playing with his sister.

There he is playing.


And running. For my OCD, I would have switched those. But I'm trying to work on myself. Did my mentioning it just take me back a little? Maybe. One step at a time.


And running.


And running.


Finally! A picture of him standing still.


Oh wait...he's gone again.

Hope you enjoyed the Charlie update. He's a bit of a nutcase but we like him anyway.

FFR

"Mowing" the Lawn

When you have animals, mowing the lawn means so much more than just pushing a mower around. It's a carefully set up series of fences and ropes to keep animals contained in an area you need mowed. When we first got the sheep for weed control, we kept them in the front pasture. Worked like a charm, kept them from meandering away from the weeds and they ate down all the star thistle (nasty, nasty weed!).

Since we rid ourselves of star thistle, we seeded the field with grass seed to create 'free' food for the animals. More or less. We let it grow for a long time then finally released the animals to get to it. Uncle G and Aunt J recently sold their horses. As a result, their fields are growing out of control. Following our clean-up that day, we loaded the horses (we left Henry behind...he's large, hard to haul, would require a second trip, and would be coming back in just a couple weeks for a party anyway...to name a few reasons) into the trailer and took them over to Uncle G's.

In we go.


Haven't been loaded in almost a year and no hesitation. Actually...


Rocky had second thoughts about getting out.


But he got over it. He's a fine looking beastie.


When Yuma got out, Rocky started following.


And away they go.


They both look great.


I love these boys.


Here they come!


Yuma couldn't wait to dig in.


Neither could Rocky.


Safe to say, they won't be going hungry. It comes up to my knees.

FFR

Winter Coats

I dread the onset of summer. I really do. First of all, it gets really hot, really fast. I don't like the heat, I don't like sunburns...of which I have two on my arms and face. I don't like that even when it gets really hot, really fast, it will suddenly have a cold day. I never know if I'll need a coat...or an umbrella for that matter! Today is one of those days. It's foggy and overcast...but I'm thinking it's going to burn off.

But the number one reason I don't like the start of summer is that everything around here starts shedding it's winter coat. We don't have to worry about pollen...Ok, yes we do. There's a lot of pollen in farming areas. But I don't have allergies. Everyone else does though. Poor them. Uh, what was I saying? Oh yes, we have to worry about pollen but at the start of summer, we also have to worry about hair. Lots of it...flying around. Everywhere. The lawn needs a shave, not a mow.

So it's not really that bad, but it feels like it. Especially if you're the one shedding them. A few weeks ago, we took Henry out and we had slave labor...aka, friends who thought it was fun...to shed him out. So he was pretty well taken care of. The other two mangy boys had to wait until today. I figured I'd take some before and after pictures for you. A bunch of their hair had already been rubbed off on fences and rolled off in the grass, but there was still plenty of hair for me to end up breathing.

Rocky...all patchy looking.


Up close and personal with the patches.


Oh Yuma, you looks so pitiful.


And filthy.


Oooh...


Moooom! I'm bored. Let me go now!


Aaaah...


Again, again! I'm the handsomest!

I feel better knowing the boys are shed out...but it's impossible to get the clumps of hair off the gravel.

Haaaaaaaaair!


Mooooooooore haaaaaaaaair!

FFR

Rocky's Donkeys

I truly believe, even though it's not true, Rocky was bred to be a cutting horse. Man oh man, does that boy ever have fun chasing the donkeys. During the winter my boy slacked off. He got kind of lazy which is a good thing. If he hadn't, he might have twisted an ankle or something and that would have been bad.

For that, I'm glad he's a lazy bum in winter. I'm a lazy bum too...but not only in winter. If I could hibernate, I would. Except I'd miss eating. I love to eat. As much as my doctor tries to ruin eating by telling me what I can and cannot eat, I still love to eat.

There are the donks.


Heeeeeeere's Johnny...or...Rocky. Right. Roooooocky.


And there he is, herding the donk a donks.


And there's Rocky saying, "Hey, there's my momma. She might have some foodage for me. See ya donkeys."

Really, it was just more of a silent nicker. But I know that's what he was thinking or hoping for. Like me, he loves food. We would hibernate if it meant we could still eat. Perfect world for both of us.

Never mind how dirty and mangy looking he is at this moment, we'll talk about that tomorrow. I mean, you thought your dogs shed! You just wait...

FFR