featuring… Finn!

Posted on April 30, 2011 by tara

Last Saturday was Finn's big day- the livestock exhibition! Unfortunately, he didn't do so well- which didn't matter to him, but it was a bit disappointing for me.

As soon as we got in the show ring, that lamb started jumping and trying to get away. It was a completely new experience, so I don't blame him for being afraid.

I eventually got him set up square and and bracing against my leg. The judge seemed to like us and pulled us out of line first. I was pretty excited, but in the end she chose the two girls next in line to move on to the next round.

We had a good run, and even though we didn't win, it was worth all the hard work.

Finn… ish

Posted on March 30, 2011 by tara

After two tests in the past two days and a full day of rain today, I've been feeling pretty tired. But nothing could deter me from going out to the barn to meet the sheep I'll be showing in late April!

I actually have a ram lamb this year! At first I thought I would be disappointed if I didn't get a ewe, but I have already fallen for this hunk.

He's strong and spirited, just like any unbroken lamb, but he's also kind and somewhat polite. So, I decided to call him "Finn"- that's right, after Huck Finn. I think it suits him well.

Here's to hoping for a fun time and maybe even getting better than last place this year!

winner

Posted on September 22, 2010 by tara

So many people voted for Maggie in the photo contest I entered her in! The theme was "Back to School", and we won for "Best Overall Photo" ! Thank you so much to everyone who voted!

Here's the winning photo:

I've still been at the barn a lot this semester. On Monday night, I did "Ewe Watch", which was basically just watching for and helping with delivering lambs. We had a couple ewes in Stage 1 of labor, but we didn't see any progression into Stage 2, so it was a very calm night. It was fun watching all the other little lambs though. I didn't have my camera, so these are from my cell phone… but isn't that lamb so cute, standing on her mama?

We were watching them, and they were watching us too!

Corny Sheep Garden

Posted on September 5, 2010 by tara

This weekend was so much fun! We are only a few weeks into the new school year, but I have already been stressed out quite a bit. So, it was great to take a break, spend some time with my sweetie and an awesome friend, too!

On Friday night, Michael and I went on a date to Olive Garden (we had a gift card from our way cool friends, Erik and Erica!) We had a wonderful time just talking about now, and talking about the future. After this year, school will be over for both of us! It is a little scary not knowing exactly what you'll be doing one year from now.

Saturday morning, we went to the local sheep sale! You might think I'm just obsessed with sheep, but I went for the extra credit, really! Anyway, it was lots of fun, and here is a photo of the top-selling animal, a suffolk ram (he's standing right in front)!

After church today, we took a 4-hour nap. Wow. And then I made corn muffins, but the recipe was new and it didn't really make what I was looking for.

la petite grenouille

Posted on April 25, 2010 by tara

Well I guess you could call me a "bad" blogger, since it's been over a week! Ah! This past week was so busy, but the best part was the livestock show on Saturday!

On Friday morning I went out to the arena to wash and shear Frog. You can probably guess that she hated every minute of it! (and I was there for about 2.5 hours… that's a lot of minutes…)

I didn't have my camera out there so sorry, but here are some phone-quality (aka not very good) photos of her after her bath and blow-dry:

Then yesterday was the show, so I went out at 9am to re-wash her and make her beautiful! I had a few really good friends come out to watch, which really meant a lot to me =) It's good to have some encouragement!

I've only ever shown a sheep one other time, but for this show, if you've EVER done it, you are considered "experienced". So, I was in a class with some kids who have been doing this a very long time… I prayed Frog would behave, and she really did do her very best. It wasn't good enough to win; we got last place out of the 5 in our class. But I don't care. Frog and I had a really fun time and she really did excellent. The judge even said what an excellent class we all were.

I'm going to miss my sweet Frog <3 .

Here we are, second from the left:

Later that day I went on my first "double date" ever! It was so much fun. We went out roller skating and then to get ice cream =)

Photo courtesy of Lelia:

La vita è bella!

hopscotch

Posted on April 6, 2010 by tara

Tonight for Family Home Evening, I had a brilliant (and secret) idea. Michael figured it out as soon as i drew just a few squares on the ground…

Ok so I'm not the best hopscotch artist. I haven't played this game in years! But it was so much fun. Believe it or not, Michael won! Not by much though.

Then we came in and I was going to make a salad for dinner… but then, I found tons of BUGS in my head of lettuce. All dead ones. Yuck.

Yesterday, Michael met Froggy (my sheep). When he walked toward her and she ducked behind me, it really made me realize how much she's come to trust me. She was scared and just wanted me to protect her. The Savior referred to all of us as His "sheep", and I know that as we trust Him, He will protect us.

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:14-15, 27)

Sometimes, following the commandments may seem tough, and we might not want to, just like Frog doesn't always want to do what I ask her to. But it's through these things that we begin to understand our relationship with Christ and our Father, and we know They will be there for us when we need Them. Because my sheep and I work together, she knows what I ask of her, and understands that I will help her and keep her safe. In this life, we can do nothing alone, and we only become better with the help of God.

Froggy

Posted on March 31, 2010 by tara

I managed to snap a few photos of Frog today, in between her acting like a crazy person. So, here they are!

bah ram ewe

Posted on March 30, 2010 by tara

Yesterday was AWESOME!! I finally got out to the sheep barn! Needless to say, it was pouring down rain (yes, I was riding my bike) by the time I got there. Ah well. It was worth it. My sheep is a Suffolk ewe and she's pretty small (which is good, because realistically, I'm kind of a small person. aka not a tough strong man or anything!). Honestly, I never realized how badly behaved Bubbles (my sheep from 2 years ago) really was until I met this girl! She already walks with me without too much resistance, and we even went outside! It took Bubbles weeks to do that. The one funny thing about her though, is that sometimes, when she doesn't want to walk, she tucks up her front legs and jumps! So that's why I'm calling her Frog. You've heard of a pig that thinks it's a dog, well, here's a sheep that thinks it's a frog!

Michael picked me up from the barn and we went to Subway for dinner! A nice end to a rainy day! =)

Today, I took the divider out of the guinea pig cage. Yep, after about a month, Maggie and Juni are back together! They are thrilled to have their big cage again and have been running and popcorning like crazy! Maggie is pretty glad to be in charge again… which means Juni has retaliated by spraying pee in her face. Oh, sisterly love!

work work work

Posted on March 23, 2010 by tara

This week is quite busy so far, but that is nothing out of the ordinary these days. Michael has this huge project due this week, so his partner has been over and they've been living, eating, and breathing this assignment. I had a midterm today… and another one on Thursday. The only day I'm "allowed" to go out and work with my sheep is tomorrow, but sadly I think it might have to wait until next week =(

Maggie's incision is almost completely closed now. I'm glad we could help my little girl. Lately, I've been putting their blanket down in the kitchen and letting run and play in there, since it's bigger than their cage. They also haven't lived together since Maggie's surgery (3 weeks ago), so they like to have supervised playtime.

Tonight during their dinnertime, they got so excited that they knocked over their playpen gate! Here's a video:

On another note, my wandering eye gets me into trouble. Today I found a sweet little guinea pig that people are trying to get rid of… in the pictures she looks so frightened and I just want to go pick her up, bring her home and spoil her. She's just 6 months old and is already so unhappy. And I get unhappy because I can't rescue every pig. I can't change the world. I wish I had infinite time, money, and resources. Poor little pig.

sheep, pigs, and a test, oh my!

Posted on March 17, 2010 by tara

Ever ride a bike down a huge hill, knowing you really need to use the brakes, but it feels so good to go fast that you just… don't? The weather today was beautiful, and yes, I was riding my bike, full speed down a hill. Spring is in the air, and I know that despite all my "grown up" worries (school, jobs, etc) there's still some kid left in there. OK, probably a lot of kid. It's just fun to let go once in awhile.

Today I had a huge exam. It was so hard, and I studied so many hours for it. I might not have done well, but at least I did my very best. That's all anyone can ask.

Last night, I got "my" sheep for the Livestock show that happens next month! Basically, I get to train it, bathe it and sheer it, then parade it around a ring and hopefully win a ribbon. I am so excited. I did this 2 years ago (missed it last year since I was in Switzerland) and had a blast. My sheep was "Bubbles", and we ended up 4th in our class. Not the best, but now I am more experienced so we'll see how that goes.

Here's a picture of sweet little Bubbles just for you to enjoy:

In other news, Maggie went back to the vet today. This could be the last time, unless I want her checked up on next week. Her staples are out and the incision healed, but it has to stay open to be flushed, so the vet cut it back open. Now I'm in charge of flushing it and filling it with this white goop, until she looks like a "jelly doughnut" (vet's words, no lie!). Anyway, I'm glad my little buddy is OK and still here with me. If we didn't do the surgery, she would be gone and I would be very lost.