THE FACE OF COUNTRY...

The faces of country living come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and ages. Of course, every spring, we all fall in love with all of the newborn babies. And, at our farm, we also make special accomodations for our aging animals. We make sure that they have comfortable, quieter areas to live out the rest of their lives. They've added so much to our lives in their dedication to working and training hard for us. They've produced beautiful babies for us, provided us with many hours of fun and funny situations. They've earned this place of honor and respect. One example of this is one of my female llamas, Abbie. I purchased Abbie when she was pregnant. She was not very tame and would not allow me to come very close to her. But, everyday I would stand at the gate and talk to her about how beautiful she was and how beautiful her baby was going to be. I would put a container of food on the ground near me and then call her and stand very still. I wouldn't reach out and touch her even when she would finally come over and eat the food. Day after day I would move the food closer to me and eventually put my hand in the food, so that she would have to eat out of my hand. One day I was finally able to rub her as she ate. Fast forward to birth of new baby Annabelle. Annabelle was born during the day while I was at work. Abbie was waiting at the gate with her new baby for me to see when I got home from work one day. Annabelle was a spunky new baby and really did not want anything to do with me, only her mom (which is really what you want when a baby is born, so that she will be accepted and bond with her herd). Abby trusts me so much that she allows me to trim her by hand, with scissors each spring when llamas need to be sheared to keep them from overheating from the summer heat and humidity. No chute, no halter, she just stands there and patiently allows me to trim her. One really hot day, I was trimming Abbie and as yet had not even touched Annabelle. When I was finished with Abbie, she pushed her baby Annabelle over to me and must have told her that she needed to stay still and let me trim her. Because, she did. I couldn't believe it. I had been concerned about her overheating and was thinking that I was going to have to halter her to trim her. I felt that I had earned Abbie's trust so much so, that she trusted me with her most precious gift, her child. All of my llamas are very tame and they give me such joy everyday! I love to be in the barn with them. Especially when there are new babies. The mama llamas hum to their crias (babies) - it's lovely. They are the most intelligent, gentlest animals that I have ever raised, and, I've raised about every kind of animal there is. Honest gentle acts of kindness go a long way with all living things..........

PUTTING THE BARN TO BED

Kind of late getting out to the barn tonight. Have to close the door to the chicken coop and just generally look around and of course say "Goodnight" to everyone. Did not get out to feed today - so I also gave them a late night snack - have been busy bottle feeding a lamb that was born this morning and not being accepted by his mom (mom is young, she'll do better next time). The chickens were all roosted in their coop, the peacocks/hens and babies were all roosted up in the top of the barn. The sheep and llama's wanted a snack and a pat goodnight. Found one brown egg in the can of feed. One of the 'girls' lays one everyday - in the feed can. Sometimes if we come out too early, she's still in there and looks kind of crabby when we get too close. The donkey's were lying down in all of the hay they knocked down, they looked up and yawned when I turned on the light. Started talking about increasing the size of our flock - possibly bring in some exotics - they are always fun to raise - and also some Buff's which are good layers and pretty easy going - anyway, we're going to pick out a few different breeds and have a fun colorful bunch running around this summer. I think I talked my husband into lining the inside of the chicken coop with plywood so that I can paint it and hang better nest boxes - make it look really cute - stay tuned. Annie (English Golden Retriever that is on a diet - not by her own choice) has lost 1.5 lbs. so far - I think that I am beginning to see a waistline - well, at least she does not look as much like a large & lovely barrel as she did before.

RUDY LOVES ANNIE...HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Rudy Loves Annie - Happy Valentines Day! Rudy and Annie are two of my dogs. Rudy is a black Standard Poodle and Annie is my large and lovely English Golden Retriever (who is currently on a diet and exercise program). They have had two litters of the most beautiful babies together, Goldendoodles of cream, black and brindle colors. If, and I think it is possible, animals could love one another - they do. They do everything together and are so considerate of each other. I see it everyday. Even though Annie is receiving less food to eat and will usually growl and knock any of our other four dogs out of the way to get their food, she will stand quietly by while Rudy eats. When he comes in with snow on his face or ears, she licks it off. They lie together all of the time and often use each other as pillows. They walk together outside and swim together in our pond in the warmer weather. I think that they love us, they definitely show us love, so I think that they love each other also. Whatever, I want to live in that world. When Annie was having their babies, Rudy would clean them and was in the welping pen with Annie the whole time. He would lick them everyday and as they got older, he would be goofey - which he always is - with them and play with them like he was their age (in many ways he is - you'd have to know him and his brother Obie which a friend of mine owns)..... Happy Valentines Day to Rudy and Annie - one of the sweetest, most thougtful couples I know. All relationships should be so loving. Here is a picture (or two or three) of them together.

RENNOVATION CAN BE FUN..WELL, REWARDING ANYWAY

Rennovation is my husband and my middle name. Everything I look at, I view as a potential story or a picture. Together, my husband, a contractor/carpenter, and I look at anything and picture what it could be. We've rennovated quite a few buildings, mostly historic buildings in S.W. Wisconsin. It is our labor of love and we can't seem to quit (even when we say - this is the last, or no more). We see buildings as living things that just need some love and they will return to their former functional, beautiful self. Here is the building that we own and are curently working on - weekends (we both work more than full time for others). This building is the Cyrus Woodman House and is located in Mineral Point, WI. It was a single dwelling at one point in the 1800's, early 1900's and it was originally two levels - walk out and 1st floor. We cannot pinpoint when the 2nd above ground level was added. It was 'remodeled - hacked apart' during the 40's - possibly earlier. It was made into 4 apartments. There have been several residents that have lived there for the greater part of their lives. When we purchased it, we made much needed structural improvements, and have been for several years now, finally we were able to get to the fun stuff - the cosmetic (my specialty). We still have landscaping to do this summer. Currently we are adding two more apartments to the building (dividing one large one and renovating the walk out). It is such a win-win situation, the neighborhood loves the improvements, the residents love it and I'm sure the building is smiling too. Enjoy.