road trip, new sheep!, athletes

We woke today to a fresh blanket of snow, and even better than that the SUN!!!!! We put out the heated water buckets last night, good thing as it was 27 degrees this am. It has been cloudy here for over a week--or I may just be exaggerating but it seems like a long time, for this sun lover anyway. I was beginning to feel like I was back up in the tundra region of northern Minnesota--where there is cloudiness for days and weeks on end. Only a reprieve when the wind starts blowing and blows the clouds away, but then you have the wind chill to contend with.

ROAD TRIP
Dennis and I travelled to Loveland, CO, near the Devils Backbone area to look at some sheep for a companion for Marble.
It was de ja vu as we saw a house that we had considered purchasing 1 1/2 years ago on one of our house hunting trips. The setting was gorgeous in the foot hills of the Rockies, but, only 5 acres and crowded. Plus the house needed an enormous amount of work to be inhabited. Probably a lot more storms and precipitation snow included. Well anyway, the sheep farmer lived right across the street from this house we looked at.
We ended up purchasing 2 sheep from him, about the size of Marble. When we first let them out of the kennel, Marble turned tail and ran. She did not know what to think of these strangers in her midst. But after a few minutes, they were following her around like a bunch of groupies.

So no more loneliness for my little Katahdin hair sheep. I could almost see the smile and peace on her face as I did chores this morning. We have not named the newcomers yet. Will have to wait and see what their personalities dictate. The black ewe has an "A" on one of her sides however, so there is some hint of what her name will start with.
We also had a second road trip that day. A new Nubian goat breeder lives by us, only 4 miles up the road. She was gracious enough to let us come and visit with her herd. She has some amazing milkers, giving 2 gallons per day no less! Now I really understand what the "poor mans cow" is all about. My goats aren't quite that good, but I will keep them. Always nice to meet new breeders and network and help each other out.


ATHLETES
I laid awake all night Saturday night thinking of athletes. I have never been one with physical prowess, or have the need to compete physically. And have really never been jacked up by athletes performances. But this athlete is outstanding, if you just stop and think of his accomplishments. No team to back him up, just raw talent and the love of running. You see, my red hat friends and I went to a movie about one of the greatest athletes of all time. I was so touched by this film that I had to mention it. I still get tingles and choked up when I think of the greatness of this athlete. The athlete is Secretariat! The American Thoroughbred race horse who won the Triple Crown in 1973. That was the year that I graduated from HS and was only 18 at the time. I remember hearing of him, but did not take much interest, as my thoughts were on boys and my future, probably in that order. The Triple Crown is made up of three races, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. These three races are all within 5 weeks time. Secretariat broke the record for the Kentucky Derby and I believe that it still stands, but the Belmont, he won by an amazing 31 lengths. 31 Lengths! I had to do some research into what his stud fee would have been etc, he serviced 58-60 mares a year, earning $125,000 per breeding and sired 653 foals in his lifetime. None were triple crown winners. He died on Oct 4, 1989. A great horse. A greater athlete.
I have always been a horse lover, and wanted them so bad all my life. But, by the time we were able to afford to buy land out in the country, I was too old and brittle of bone to get one. However, is there a miniature Big Red in my future??? We will see.

More later....................................................................

1st snow(well one of them)

This is what we woke up to this AM. 34degrees outside, but very beautiful, but desolate at the same time. This is looking toward the town of Nunn. Dennis said that the weather man said that Fargo ND and Crookston, MN our hometown are supposed to be warmer than we are here in Co. But it is supposed to get up in the 50's by Tuesday. There was ice on the water buckets, Dennis said it is too early to get out the heated water buckets. WHAT?????!!!!!
Bear stopped dead in his tracks this morning as he came to greet me. He did not know if I was friend or foe with all my extra clothing on.

You could almost hear a pin drop outside, except for the goofy white Guinea male, perched atop the chicken coop, sounding off, at who knows what. But I thought that he looked particularly handsome with this background. It is hard to tell where the horizon starts when looking out on the prairie.

Marble, snug and warm in her little hut. She has a very thick winter coat, and is supposed to shed it come spring. Always greets me with a "maaa" begging for her scratching. Still have not found a little companion for her.

My three remaining turkeys. One tom and 2 hens. I may not be able to keep the male, as the chickens have been plucking out his tail feathers when he fans his tail. So sad, such a majestic bird, but short on brain cells. His only fault is that he is docile, and puts up with it.

We erected a lean to shelter for our two little buckling's. They are enjoying there new digs, and are closer to the females. I have not yet painted it, so it looks a little rough right now.


LuLu says "What the heck" snow again? Both the dogs love the snow, and can be seen rough housing in it by the light of the moon.


Ahhh, a day inside. Lets start quilting!!!!
More later..................................

Friends, anniversary, veterans and our first snow,

My friend, Linda, and I attended an auction this am. She had $8900 to spend, and I only had a measly $4100. After she bought what she had her eye on, she handed me $1000 of her leftover $$$. Now how is that for friendship. Unfortunately, I was not able to get what I had my eye on. Went well over $8000. Two gals behind me even passed $2000 up to me. OH well, I never was much of a gambler anyway. One gal took pity on me however, and gave me a quilting book and a pattern, so I did not go home empty handed.

Dennis and I celebrated our 36Th wedding anniversary. Here is a picture of the two of us 36 years ago, a few months before we were married. The dog is my Great Dane, Dixie Doodle Dandy, Dixie for short.
We celebrated by going to Greeley for a MUFON meeting(mutual UFO network) truly interesting. We had a very delicious meal at the Cattleman's steakhouse, with stimulating dinner conversation,a tasty Cabernet, a very relaxed, memorable outing for us old timers. Hopefully we will be around for another 36 years.

Today we had our first snowfall, since last March. Looks like a couple of inches. The high today is only 34 degrees, and is supposed to get in the teens tonight. But thankfully no wind to speak of. I am kind of looking forward to winter, hoping that I can do more "girlie" things around the house, namely quilting, spinning, weaving and knitting. Maybe clean once in awhile, but that won't be on the top of my list.

On a sad note, I lost one of my little Katahdin hair sheep.She is the white one, nose to nose with LuLu.
She is away for necropsy right now, some tests are still pending. Her and her sister were still in quarantine. I only have the one little lamb now and have been desperately looking for a companion for her. Sheep are very herd oriented, and don't do well alone. I have been giving her extra attention, and scratches, which she loves. Little Dido, gone but not forgotten.

To all the veterans out there, thank you for our freedom!

I guess that I should extrapolate on the auction that I attended, it was for my quilt club Stash busters. Every time we attended we got a star worth $100,(funny money) and for each show and tell we would rack up stars worth $100. I did not walk away empty handed however, I got a lot of projects finished during the year, and was inspired by alot of great quilters!

More later..................

When the cat's away, BOOOOO!, sewing room

When the cat is away the mice will cook????
Our daughter in law went to an out of town wedding the last weekend of October, and Ryan and Lili came and spent a day with us. Ryan cooked us a delicious seafood meal, the likes of which we have not been treated so special before, except maybe at an expensive restaurant. It is pictured below,
of course Dennis had to sample the wares before I had my picture. Ryan made fresh shrimp with Cajun seasoning and garlic cooked in butter, butterflied rainbow trout, wild caught that he and Dennis had caught the prior weekend at Cache La Poudre, up by the continental divide. Our garden new red potatoes, green beans, and for desert, pumpkin pie with gingersnap crust, and the pumpkin was not out of the can. And little Lili enjoyed her jar of organic baby food. Yummy!

BOO!!!!!
I know Halloween is over, but here goes. We had a very memorable one, spent at Ryan and Julies home. Julie had purchased enough pumpkins for each of us to carve one. I have not done this in years, since my children were small, but it was great fun. Here is a picture of the family doing the carving.We were out on the deck on a beautiful fall day. Tera and Brady, Dennis and Lili, Ryan and me, and Jen, Julie's sister. Julie was the camera man that day.

Ryan treated us to supper that evening also. He made barbecue ribs, chicken wings, and sausage, baked beans,and corn.
Here is a picture of our little bat girl in flight,
and Lili with Dennis and I.

You will note some of the pumpkins that we carved.
Speaking of Halloween, my sister in New Ulm, Mn had 1100 trick or treaters(sure would not want her candy bill) my mom and dad in Tucson, AZ had 25, and we had none, the same as last year.

SEWING ROOM
Here is my almost completed, but set up sewing room with the painted floor that I did.
I also made a fiber studio just adjacent to this. Set up with my two weaving looms, just waiting to be warped and a project started, hopefully when outside work is finished. But still have not painted that floor yet. The weather is supposed to be in the upper 70's here this weekend, so hopefully will get that project started.


This is a quilt that I am working on for my Saturday Sampler quilt club.
It is just the center pictured, I have all the blocks done, just have to assemble them, and add borders and quilt it. I have until March to complete this project.

My sweater is still a work in progress. It is turning out way too large, I will probably look like a line backer in it.
Oh well, should keep me warm, and I can always shrink it down. It is hard to knit with homespun yarn, as it varies in consistancy.

I came into some money, who-hoo. Not alot, but enough to purchase drapes for my living room. They are triple lined and room darkening, energy savers. Can you believe that when we purchased this house over a year ago, there was not one curtain up, anywhere. Just office looking blinds.


More later....................................