Sad Days. Turn That Frown Upside Down & Smile Those Frowns Away

It was a day of tears mixed with excitement and ending with HAPPINESS. Yesterday my very young baby lambs were sold. All were weaned more or less. Sheep start eating within days of birth and their rumen works so much sooner than goats. Selling my sheep was as emotional for me as their mothers, the ewes. The ewes cried and I cried. None of them were really named, except EMO and Napoleon. Twin lambs with opposite personalities. We had to keep looking for the EMO lamb that felt so sorry for itself it hid, sulking. EMO wouldn't try to find it's way out and he suffered at first from weakness and malnutrition and we named him so we could look ... specifically for the continually lost lamb. Napoleon, the other part to the twins, needed watching because he loved to sneak-up and "ram" a leg. He was always beating-up all the larger black lambs. One of the lambs were going to get hurt, especially the black lamb of the same litter. The black had become completely fed-up with Napoleon's orneriness.

Emo Runt

The lambs had to be caught, some with ropes and some by their back leg. 

The mothers and our ram tried to always get between to save them from capture. Finally, it was my decision   to let the "mother-of-all-sheep" go with the lambs and baby lambs expressed their appreciation with silence and comfort. She was the Santa Cruz breed ewe and the breed has an unique talent that all sheep herders yearn,  a mother ewe that feeds them all. The ewe would take on any other bummer lambs and be the most loving and protective foster mother. I mourned for her because she's old and she will be missed on our farm. The mother's left behind started a constant bleating that sent me to the house. I shouldn't have watched. The little woolly lambs were going to probably be eaten. The clothes of the day had been in the mud and lanolin covered my hands. I stepped into the shower and cried.

There was now enough money to buy some cool clothes for the hot weather. Our trip to the great state of Arkansas was soon coming up. Steve and I are celebrating our 40 year anniversary. We aren't going on a cruise or having a party, but we are doing something much better. A trip to witness and greet our ever changing family. We're going to see and be there when my daughter has her baby girl, Susan. A dear grand daughter is coming into our family and she'll carry my name. The Levi girl here, can't wear jeans for the trip and be comfortable in high heat and high humidity of an Arkansas Summer. My daughter and family live near North Little Rock, in a small town that looks as beautiful as the rest of this amazing state. It would lovely to see Lightening Bugs. My Bree hopes they are still busy making the night come alive. This trip will truly be a great blessing and adventure. There's never more an exciting time than added a member to our Eternal Family, Baby Susan

The new pants! I can't get the idea of the Latin word Capra, meaning goat. So the Isle of Capri is actually, the isle of goats. And...my cotton pants and the image in the brain ... these capris should be on a goat. It is important to know our yearling doe loves orange. The capri or shorter pant picks (say that fast three times) for the adventure, are all light neutral shades.

The decision was right to sell and with feed prices at an all time high, this farm needed to downsize. Goats and sheep are still getting good prices. It was the best resolution and good timing. A new direction is now being taken by a new focus on my mother and also some of the time will be used to work on the computer. Farmers are supposed to be tougher than this and this farmer is too soft and loves her animals. It's a time to consider the new more important, lasting work, and focus on my callings. The duty to my mother and Family History.

All of the rest of the money that was received from the sale, every bit, bought the program access for Ancestry.com and I had a coupon, too. I think I've been experiencing a touch of heaven finding my ancestors and learning just so much about their lives. My ancestors were members of the Church in two lines on different sides of my family. Each of the families were taught and joined the Church through the efforts of the Lord and earnest desire of the missionary to follow with faith and testimony to share the Gospel with others. The missionary's name was Wilford Woodruff. We are all so blessed.

This Is Not Happening Now I'm Finding My Family

My mother doesn't like to talk to me during the day.  Her need is for me to be with her, but genealogy is in my lap. My mother wants me to  help in all things, she wants me to help with her medication, and to help her with food, and getting dressed completely. The genealogy can come throughout  the rest of my day after the chores are done and no flooding occurs. She watches TV and it's that's when my attention falls on the computer and the search continues for my ancestors. And before the program access ... I wasn't getting very far, in fact, the direction that all was going was backward because of continual  mistakes that I have been discovering and already added in. Other families in a hurry to do their history have hooked themselves to my line. It is a frustration mess, because I can't correct their errors, but I can leave a note. This should have been watched carefully and online sloppiness carefully corrected. The procrastination doing genealogy has cost me a great deal of time working-out these errors. Don't wait until you are older, this is a young person's job.

The thought of doing a DNA test seems fun. It can be a treasure of information and a learning experience in which we all could benefit. Can a brother be convinced to give DNA? All the findings could be so interesting for our whole family. At least that's what everyone is talking about these days.

Horders should be collecting names. The names take-up less room and so much is learned by the  facts about each family, a real Family History. The subscription for me is like my personal, huge jigsaw puzzle and people match, but I might have to turn the pieces around a few times to fit in my puzzle. Never-mind horders--you'd keep all the notes, papers, letters, information, records. My shredder is going to be at my side and I'm going to use it. Save the records online.


Obsessed, no determined. I admit I really am. My goal is to have everything as correct as possible because accuracy is one most important parts of my compilation of my family history.

The facts and information has to be perfect and even small conclusions holds back the progress. So I work carefully. That's why I love Ancestry.com. It shows me the proof. The census records and parish records are wonderful and just, tell me, who names their kid, Strangeman Heirsh? There is a reason.

Journal: A chance to remember sweet little lambs and the dear ewes, loved.

Next year will be more lambs. Now's the opening opportunity to pursue one the greatest of all callings in my life, and that's collecting and sealing-up Eternal Families. For this, I feel true happiness and grateful for being able to muster the courage to sell the lambs. The plan that isn't "seen" may have been that the farm was blessed with just enough, and it was a lot, of good wholesome stock of sheep to sell just for this purpose. Maybe this is a trial of selfish desire to keep my abundance versus using my increase to do more Heavenly pursuits.

Adding Leaves and Twigs Daily

I'm so TACKY these days!

dragonflyhorsetack.com

Wow! That horse's hindquarters look just like mine.

 I re-made a roper noseband today. The noseband was already perfect, but the head strap was so long, certainly would've fit a Shire Draft. I looked at it in the store and wondered why the noseband and strap was only $4.00, it was new, made from heavy quality leather. I told Steve that I couldn't live without it and it got popped it into my shopping basket with a Cob-size bit. The Cob bit was planned. I needed a 41/2 inch mouthpiece and the only one in the store was on sale, too. I even bought a brand new pink, full fly mask for $2.00. A mistake made by the store and now I'm the lucky owner of a huge draft-size mask. I know that it was huge, but it's a project re-do.

The Square Box Is A CD Case--Mask Size XXXL

I'm thinking this county is filled with average-sized horses with big prices and big prices for all their equipment. Must be a lot of people that attend the show circuits. If the size doesn't sell and hangs in the store a while. It's "sale time" and I should be checking the store more often, or not. Roper Noseband, surprise, doesn't even fit our stocky little quarter horse! Re-do, but I'm good with that, I've had a lot of practice repairing everything in the bunkhouse aka. tack-room. It should be named Rat House.

The noseband part was okay. I just cut the modified the -- in there forever -- Chicago Screws off with the loops that went through the noseband. The head straps needed two more holes on each side and I looped each piece on each side and through the band. I put my new Chicago Screws in and now it's perfect. Tools used, a one-size fits all ancient hole-punch, an ice pick that had been used on "Ol' Blue" when he had bloat, a really rusty screwdriver, the non-Phillips version. Old style, real old style. Oh, and a pair of scissors from the Dollar Tree to trim and bevel the edges of the leather. I was set, the screwdriver worked great after my work with my improvised awl. The Chicago Screws fit perfect and tight.

I don't believe I'm unique at my age of 60, that when we were all growing-up in California, we were only taught about the breeds that were developed in the United States and with the exception of the Thoroughbreds, drafts, and the relatively "new" import of the Arabians. My father always talked to all of us about our Dappled-Gray Arabian, Smokey. Insert "unpronounceable name" nicknamed, Smokey and he was the son of one of George Patten's Egyptian, Arab mares from Poland. It was so evident to see in "new" Arabian's faces, that the breed has even changed so much in the last forty years. The horses from other countries were mostly unheard of and if I'd been asked, "What's a Warmblood?" I would've said a real "roundup race horse"  Most importantly, I was constantly taught by my grandfather, a California State Judge and real rodeo eventer, grandstand announcer, and even a rodeo clown. My dad was a rodeo star in college and also a gymnast. I should've said that the other way around. By being the gymnast, I think that he had incredible balance and could stay on anything he rode ... and with his strength, he could hold to anything. My two experts constantly fed me what they knew and by looking at my dad's college books, from the 1940's, that's what I learned here at Danger Ranch. Did I say they whisper in my ear all the safety precautions, over and over that I learned by rote to the tenth degree? I need to listen and maybe our place would be known by my dad's ranch name, Rock 'n' Oaks Ranch and not Danger Ranch.

The 4-H and FFA members are still asked the major breeds of the animals as just one of the many judge's questions during showmanship competition. The dairy goats, were NO SALT. Memory aid for: Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen, Alpine, La Mancha, and Toggenburg.  I was on the Internet, when the web information all  was new and I was using it to try and find information, right in the middle of Larin's showing years for beef cattle and goats. I was searching files and files for information on pigs and sheep, because when you're in fair long enough, Master Showmanship requires a showman to know about all the breeds that were exhibited at the fair. I about fell off my chair when I saw a college list of the breeds of livestock around the world, and I couldn't stop myself. I ended-up looking at the horses. I knew there were Welsh Ponies, I had one, but even the Shetland ponies .. I thought they were "Made In America" I suppose I never thought about where they were from and why the breed was developed.

We raise Bashkir Curly Horses and have owned them since the early 1990s. Curlys were made in America and all by themselves. The horses are pretty unhappy when we have really hot spells with the East Winds during our winter months and the horses have this huge pile of long curly hair covering their bodies. I know they miss the cold and even the granite rocks. Our foundation mare from the BLM used the rocks to rub her hooves against granite for a medi/pedi and she had perfectly formed, hard feet. Our farrier couldn't believe the perfect condition of her feet and they never changed, ever.

Snaffle Bridle

Western Outfit with Curb Bit on the Bridle

 I'm still learning everyday about horse tack, disciplines, health and hoof care,conditioning, techniques, and even clothing for me. My grandfather had the Western Wear and Saddle Shop. I thought I knew so much. I had to sell, clean, and rehang and rearrange every piece of equipment and clothing in the store. I did have my Poley Saddle from Australia, it was a gift to my grandfather when he imported all the Australian dogs to raise and sell. He wouldn't have ridden a non-western saddle, and he couldn't sell it ever, so I asked for it. The Poley was so comfortable, but 100 years old. The shop had all the English saddles,and all those, and the shop sold a lot of them, to my surprise. English saddles look to me like expensive bareback pads. Everyone shied-away from the very old Australian saddle because it wasn't sleek, dressy for show, and it was really old. I loved it and didn't push anyone to even look at it. It snuggly fit my rear perfect and never, ever became saddle-sore, but that's a good thing, because I'm working cowgirl.

THE BEST SADDLE EVER!

The Poley Saddle Is Just Like Mine

Not Tooled, Less Padded & It Has

A Western Girth & Breast Collar and Crupper

The Crupper Keeps The Saddle From

Moving Forward Over the Withers, When Going Downhill

Hooks to the Back of Saddle &  Loop

Fits Under The Tail of the Horse

Could Happen-New Fashion Statment

Yesterday, I brought the training bridle from my trainer, called a Weaver Gag bit. It reminds me of something I brought a long time ago. Sally-Horse has her head-set and I want to go from her gentle snaffle and then the hackamore and then back to the Weaver and then use it as needed. It's a training device.

 She's new at all the training and so she has soft mouth. Sally-Horse stops with voice commands now. The combination bridle can only be described as a robe headstall  with a nice latigo leather earpiece. The mouthpiece is sweet iron and I know Sally-Horse likes that. The real difference is that the bridle has sliding gag that only is used when necessary. I only have to use it softly and she collects herself and I love how she now has responded with my voice even before I ask her with the reins. I laughed out-loud when I was waiting for my mom to see her on the driveway and she was a little impatient. Old habit revisited. I promptly said, "Whoa!" and she stopped and then, stepped backward four steps for punishment and stopped. I knew my trainer had done that with her over and over and she was really "putting herself in timeout" I'm so anxious to do this all over again, and again. So many ways to train, so many ways to make mistakes. I'm going to try and make myself and the horse that I have been intrusted with in my life, better and better. I wouldn't have picked her, she wouldn't have picked me, but we're together.

 Remember, I'm just writing a journal here. I want to remember when I looked at this Weaver Gag it suddenly brought me back to the time I ordered a training hackamore contraption out of the Western Horseman in 1963.

 It was in the classified ads in the back and was headlined as the training device that taught all horses fancy tricks. I was determined to teach my horse to lay down, shake hands, stand on a stool, and bow. I didn't know my dad already taught my horse to shake hands. I thought I was teaching her so fast, I could accomplish anything. My dad and grandfather laughed when they saw what I had bought. It was a scam, with strings and pulleys.

 I can't believe it! I found this piece of junk still in the bunkhouse! Gotta check-out the thin cotton strings and all the pulleys. Honest, I didn't know it was lighter than kite string in the ad. This so called "training piece" was so bad even the rats didn't eat it. I could never prove my grandfather or my dad wrong because I couldn't figure out if it was inside out or upside down, or even backwards. This contraption was never once on any horse. If I did figure it out, ever...just the strings alone, make it worthless.

The truth is I still have trouble with just about every halter and rope combo, some bridles, and always have to redo the reins to the flat inside on the horse-side. I put a little orange yarn on the nose band to help me see where I am.

This morning I had the hardest time snapping my blouse, it took so long getting dressed. I had to hurry to get to my mom's house. I grabbed my phone and tried to put it in the snapped pocket of my blouse to carry to my purse-phone-holder-goody, I couldn't get my hand in my pocket. No pocket. I need to tie an orange string on my clothes? My Wrangler snap-front blouse was on...inside-out. OOPS! I thought I turned it right? Smile, not old setting in, just still the same

 Please No, No, No...I'm not eating dirt again, ever! Memorizing the rules as if I was wasn't drummed constantly with rules my whole life and if you stick to the rules...you still get hurt! However, I LOVE being saddle sore. Weird, huh?