Tuesday, February 10, 2009

OH Joy!

Well, it is almost spring here. The pond ice broke up last night. It was either the high winds, the 1 1/2 inches of rain or the addition of water into the pond.
Yes, the creeks are running. The Witch-hazel is blooming MMMMmmmmm. The robins have already gone north. And the flocks of geese....high in the sky....are flying your way. Whooppee.
On the other hand, we are facing two days of heavy rains on already water soaked ground. That means the large creek between me and the highway will be too high to cross sometime over night. Dang! We are also being warned of high winds. Maybe like yeaterday, when the dog beds blew off the porch. The dogs didn't mind.... they were fast asleep under the kitchen table all day. I guess it keeps the sun out of their eyes. There are running dogs in the woods, and my dogs won't come to the house for breakfast this morning. I'm hoping we keep electricity, and phone. Cell phones don't work in our valley.
Our contractor called yesterday. He has time to work on the victorian roof. Oh JOY! But has to start now, when he just gave me the figure and I haven't yet gotten any money from my friendly banker to cover the cost. I said...go ahead. I can't go down to watch/help because my working husband had to take the truck to drive thru the creek.
Now that I think about it, I must be a bit warped. I was so glad to hear we might have a roof to keep out the rains, that I didn't care what the shingles looked like. Now if I was buying a sheep....which I'm not....I would care what the wool looked like. I would ask for photos, parents genetics, and possibly go over and feel the sheep before buying. I must not be willing to wait for the choice of shingle....I did suggect a color group....aawww....a builder knows more about roofs than I do anyway. If my house had a decent roof...I would accept it, no matter what the color was. If my ewe had a lamb, I would enjoy it, no matter what it's color was.
So the saga of life as a shepherd turned house-mother continues.
peeps

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Is it spring yet?

Can I crawl out from under the bed yet?
I'm soooooo tired of this winter....Global warming HA! This was a real winter....I don't remember when the pond was not frozen. We still have piles of ice along the muddy roads...the creeks are running and the pastures still have ice too.
How are you folks in the great frozen north doing?
I will say that I put my foot down in planning for the next ice storm. Although we had electricity...we were frozen into our valley for 5 days. Yes, we did have electricity...we have friends who didn't....My theory this time was that we had animals who needed us during the length of the storm and recovery. However, as I think about losing 5 whole days out of my life....I won't stay again.
What if those were the last 5 days of my life? Would I still stay home with the cats and the goose...the dogs and the sheep. No. It's my life, I need those five days. I have things to do and places to go. The next ice storm that is predicted, I'm leaving. Bye.
What happened in Arkansas where our old house lives? I haven't heard if they are getting disaster status....but they need it. The whole town was out for a week too. City crews were cutting trees out of the roads and pushing them out of the way with bull-dozers. I know...a lot of them used to be my trees. We almost lost a porch...but our missing contracter came right away and propped it back. Another 4 foot pane of glass was broken and there are storms coming thru all week. I have to deal. Everyone here in the south is trying to recover the best they can....the last couple of months have not been kind to our old house. I am trying not to take it personally that we just had the worst ice storm in Missouri and Arkansas history. Lucky us.
Since our old house is on ice....so to speak...until we get our new roof....we are going back into the antique business to fill my spare time. I don't expect 85 lambs this year....I have lots of time.
If there is another ice storm...you will find me at the beach.
I don't think there WILL be another ice storm this winter, not only is the witch-hazel blooming...but the robins have arrived. They don't stay here all summer....so they are on their way to your house. Happy spring is coming....That means jumping lambs will take over your barns, your pastures and your lives. Enjoy!
Peeps