Wednesday, August 21, 2013

It's that time of year again.........my sheepy friends

The time of year when I talk incessantly about Wi Sheep & Wool Festival.  The time of year when I am a babbling pile of sheep dung that can't seem to string 10 words together without saying something stupid.  I have no clue why I love doing this, but I do and I get a real kick out of watching everyone enjoy themselves and knowing I helped them have a bit of fun.  Since I'm not really much for showing my sheep, it's really about the people and camaraderie we share while showing.     I'd be lying if I said I don't like to win, but there's just something about the way everyone helps each other even though they are helping someone that is showing against them that is the coolest part for me.  And when a fellow exhibitor wins, there's back slapping and congrats all around. 

As of today, we have 104 Shetland sheep entered in the Midwest Shetland Sheep Breeders Assn. Show!!!    That is the 2nd highest sheep numbers for this show and I'm hoping a few more will enter before the late entry deadline on August 30th. 

Our Inspection Workshop has filled up, but still have spectator slots that can be utilized.   I also have one person that paid their money and decided to take a class instead, so the Hands On Workshop has 1 opening yet.  
We have a nice collection of donated items for the silent auction, great cash prizes for the photo contest again this year, Premier 1 and Farm & Fleet have donated buckets and halters for our class winners.  I even have a surprise donation that I'm waiting to hear back about, so cross your fingers that they decide to give it to us for the show.   Championship plaques are ordered and here already, rosettes are ordered and will arrive tomorrow.  NOW, I just have to get some lambs halter trained......sigh. 





Wednesday, August 07, 2013

EWE SALE!!!

I am going to offer a pair of ewes for one special price for this week only.  One is a experienced mother and always throws spots, the other is a white ewe lamb that is one of a set of twins and I'm keeping her sister, so she is for sale.  You can view more info about both on my Ewe Sale Page and 2013 Lamb sale page on this blog. 

Sheltering Pines Ceylon-moorit smirslet flecket
OK Acres Duchess-white 2013 ewe lamb

Separately they are $300 each

This week I will sell them for $450 for the pair.   (Both of these girls are sold)

**I have a unexpected expense rear it's ugly head, so I thought I'd try a bit of creative marketing to try to solve the short fall.

If you see something else you'd like, just send me a message with your phone number and I'll give you a call.  
email me at: okacres@hotmail.com 

Monday, August 05, 2013

Summer=Flowers

A flower themed post.......

Our 12 year old Tess in front of my hibiscus that is loaded with blossoms this year.

I got this ubber-cute cauliflower sheep from my friend Terri (Thanks Terri, I love her)

A few new plants and flowers down by the sheep shed  The wagon wheel that is on the right, just out of the picture is full of hornets.  I will do more planting there when the hornets have been killed convinced to leave.  
***FYI***I just updated my ram page with up to date (current) photos of my rams, their fleece and 2013 micron data.  Also, still several good sheep for sale, multiple sheep discounts and free transportation to Jefferson or can take to Allegan MI for MFF  in 2 weeks for a small transport fee for fuel.   May even have transportation to MN if you let me know before September. 


Friday, August 02, 2013

Lazy Days of August.......ha

There's been a bit of a gap in my blogging posts this past couple months.  This is, hands down, the busiest summer I can ever remember and I'm not done running my ample butt off quite yet.  The spring was cool and rainy for an extended period of time and so we started the summer by trying to catch up and have never quite gotten that accomplished.  Couple that with our various committees and meetings, family events, working, etc....blah, blah, blah.  You get the idea.
Last month was our county fair, lots of cutting, raking and baling hay, reseeding pastures, spraying, fertilizing, all due to the damage that the drought caused last year.  We lost most of our pastures, they simply burned up and didn't come back.  The abundant rain this spring was welcome and very helpful to a lot of us that count on it to make our crops grow so we can feed our animals. 

This year's county fair was hotter than hell heck again, it takes a bit of creative fan positioning to keep all the animals cool in the barns.  I had two young men that took lambs and sheep to the fair this year from my flock.  Clayton took Alabama and her ewe lamb, Angel.  This was Clayton's 3rd year with Alabama at the fair and I decided it was time to sign her papers over to him as a surprise on the day of the show.  It was so awesome to watch this hardworking young man open the papers and turn them over to see his name as owner.  He cried, I cried, his mom cried and so did a few people watching.   He has such a bond with Alabama that it felt really good to be able to give her to him. What a great moment, I can't watch the video of it without crying.  (I'm such a sap) 

Justy on the far left and Clayton is 3rd from the left.   (giant meat sheep all around)
Notice my smile........I think it's bigger than theirs. 

Left: Justy, me in the middle and Clayon on the right
Just look at the smile!!!   Justy with Angel in the front and Perdy on Justy's right
Justin, everyone calls him Justy, is an incredible young man that has brittle bone disease.  He wanted to show a calf so badly, but it's just not feasible since the slightest bump or stumble by an animal of that size could break Justy's bones.  The compromise was my little Shetland sheep and after Justy spent 40 minutes with the lamb we picked for him, he called his mom to declare that he loved his lamb.  There were lots of tears from his family when he was showing, they didn't think they'd ever be able to let him do something that he wanted to do so badly.  My heart simply soared to see those kids have so much fun, and I'm quite certain I got far more from them showing my sheep than they got from doing it.

I got a nice surprise on Monday night when I found 3 bantam chicks that had hatched under my bearded Belguim D'Uccle hen in the big coop.  This little gal is as fierce a protector as I've ever seen.  She actually jumped up the side of the brooder wall to warn us that we were much too close for her comfort.  
Mille Fleur D'Uccle hen protecting her 3 little charges.

Emily and Landon came out last night to visit us and as usual, I loved seeing the little guy.  Here he's getting introduced to a little d'uccle chick, but seems more fascinated with the camera that mom is holding than the chick I'm trying to get him to notice.  It finally peeped and got his attention, but by that time Emily had switched to her camera phone. 
Landon and baby peeper


Mike and I

Mike and I
Mike and I at Nick and Emily's wedding

Raised beds & chickens coops

Raised beds & chickens coops
Can't wait for this stuff to actually be food....