Newest family member

"CAYENNE" with Jordan
She is a sweet puppy but DRIVING me insane on some days...


Its been a busy summer and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any. It'll just be different, but I am mentally preparing myself (and trying to have a good attitude) for football, piano practice, AWANA, CAP, watching my neighbors son 3 days a week, Jordan's and Jocelyn's Bible study, PLUS I need to do SCHOOL some where in there!! Wish I had some pictures to share but I really haven't gotten my camera out of the case in some time(bad me!!!)

Loving Animals is hard

We've had a rough week here, three of the goats have been fighting something. I believe it is worm overload. We thought it was coccidiosis and was treating them for it. But they weren't getting any better. Then after a conversation with my friend Dalyn white gums and anemia came up. She reminded me that could be worm overload. I did my research and all the symptoms listed here my goats had...grr. So I wormed my whole herd. Unfortunately it was too late for Half- pint. I found her dead Wednesday morning. Her sister was doing a little better until this morning. She probably won't make it to lunch time. Their mom is doing much better. Only time will tell.
If that wasn't bad enough we had to put our 17 year old cat Harley down. There were a lot of tears on Tuesday as we said our good-byes.
I really hope next week is a better week.

Butchering Sheep

***NOT FOR THE WEAK STOMACH***

Turn back now...




Pictures ahead...





Last Chance...





OK one more chance...

It's really not bad by my standards but some might think so.

This is the girl we butchered (by "we" I mean Rob)

This is the one of the knives Rob used, he will definitely be buying more.

Getting the pulley set up.

Putting the legs in the spreader.

Finally hung up and ready to cut into.

First cutting.

As the internal organs started to fall out it got more difficult, but he figured it out.

Jacob and Jordan holding back the wool so none would get in the meat.

Starting to skin it.

J&J holding back the wool once again.

Almost done skinning.

internal organs on the ground.

cutting off the hoof area.

Lungs inside the cavity.

Cutting off the front leg.

Cutting off hoof area.

First leg done.

Rest of the carcass.

I didn't take anymore pictures after this, we were running around getting bowls and rinsing.
The table is a door off of an old refrigerator.
The older kids helped the whole time, asking great questions. We talked about the difference between our meat and store bought meat, and how it was so important to know this skill. Jaelyn came out once and took some picture, but Jocelyn was no where to be found;)

Dreaming

planning
scheming
plotting
hoping
waiting
drawing
researching
charting
coloring
reading
dreaming of Spring...but without the wind thank you very much!

Bruiser

Bruiser was hit by a car last night and after Rob and I took them to the ER vet we had to make the decision to put him down. That was one of the hardest things we have ever had to do. And what makes it worse was that only the oldest knew he was hit, so then we had to tell them all in the morning their sweet dog was gone. So many tears shed today by all. It is sooo quiet here without our Bruiser. He wasn't loud, but his presence was. It is so weird to realize just how much he was in our lives. "Don't throw the chicken food out if Bruiser is outside", " Is Bruiser inside or out"~how many times had I said that daily?? "Is the gate closed", "Pick up the cat food so Bruiser doesn't eat it"...the silence here is deafening...we will miss the ole Lug! We always keep the gate closed except on Monday nights when we have garbage early Tuesday morning. So when we got home last night I had let him out, he doesn't usually go anywhere but to pee and come back...except for last night. I went to look for him outside after putting the kids to bed. The neighbor was calling me from across the street...I couldn't really hear her, except that she had Bruiser and he had been hit...I went and got my car keys and told Jacob to lock the doors because Bruiser had been hit by a car. I drove two driveways over and bruiser was laying there with the neighbor. He had drug himself about 50 yards. We originally thought he had broken back legs...but after the vet had looked at him she realized he most likely had a severed spine. Then I knew. How hard that night was. I am so thankful for good neighbors and that my husband was in town. I can't imagine having to go through that alone. We will miss him so much!!