Wild and Wooly

We came home on Friday to a flock of missing sheep. Not only one pen of sheep had gone adventuring, but all three pens were out. True, the ram, Jim, was hanging out with Sebastian, the Clydesdale, and that pasture fence is far better suited to a large horse than a short-but-wide and crafty wooly. The ewes had somehow popped a gate open and I am sure it was just too hard for Jim to keep from joining the party. Look out, girls! The one that is really puzzling, though, is the pen of market lambs. No gates were open, no fences looked scooted under and they are definately too high to jump. Hmmm, only the sheep know, and they aren't talking. Anyway, they all willingly followed the pickup back to their safe pen where feed and water are plentiful. We ran them all into the barn and re-sorted back into the right pens again, tied the gates shut and hoped for the best. Time will tell who wins this one.

Saturday morning dawned sunny and warm, so I took advantage of the mild weather and scrapped my plans to clean and bake for some long-awaited yard work. The sun felt wonderful and the roses look much better. About 4:00, the wind changed and the clouds moved in. By Sunday morning it was snowing and cold. It snowed hard while we were in church, but then it was done - just a skiff. KP and Taylor came for a visit this weekend, it was great to have them in church and for lunch together afterward. That makes two weekends in a row now, yaay! We were even able to take a family walk in the sun last week, one of my most cherished family activities.

Most of the stock tanks have heaters in them, but some need to have the ice broken and thrown out daily in order to keep water to the livestock. I love the cold weather. The brisk air makes you feel so alive and refreshed, but it does make chores harder. Here in this part of Oregon, our cold snaps are usually quite brief and mild compared to other parts of the country. I miss the cold and snow that I grew up with in the mountains, but it is easier on the stock and we don't have to feed for as many months down here.
Until next time, may the cold refresh and invigorate you and may the snowflakes fall upon you softly.