D'Ranch at Clearwater

Today's face in your face Friday is happy/sad, but I encourage you to read it through to the end. Daisy has always been our best FIYFF sheep, and as you can see, she still enjoys the spotlight. Many of you probably saw her cute face with her tongue sticking out and it made you smile. It makes me smile too, but only because I know how close she came to dying this summer. You see, Daisy was attacked by a "stray" dog in June, almost 2 weeks to the day after our ram was attacked.... I say "stray", only because chances are it was a weekender visiting the lake and letting their dog run loose. The dog went for her neck and almost tore her right ear off, puncturing her face several times and severing the nerve that connects the right side of her face and jaw. After a month of flushing wounds, administering antibiotics, and changing her dressings, our pretty Daisy finally healed as much as she could. Now, for the rest of her life I will have to clean out her mouth twice a week since she cannot feel the right side and grass becomes lodged in her jaw. Her right ear will always droop and her right eye looks slightly lazy, but she will always be my beautiful Daisy. We used to allow other dogs on our farm. No more. You see, other people have "good dogs that would never hurt anything"... right up until they eat a chicken, destroy a flock of ducks, tear a hole in the back side of a lamb... or go for a sheep's throat. We don't blame the dogs, we blame the humans. Dogs have an instinct that cannot be denied, but it can be controlled through proper training and/or restraint. Dozens of unrestrained dogs wander our neighborhood unchecked every year. Some are visiting, some live nearby year round. They chase cars, chase animals, and chase each other. They also occasionally kill my small livestock, chase my neighbors cattle, and torment another's horses. Our dogs also run free over their 40 acres, but also go visiting to the neighbors now and then. They, like their furry cousins, are just doing what dogs do. They, like the others who live nearby, are often attacked or chased away by weekend canines. So this is a plea to those of you that have friends or family who visit the lake and the surrounding communities during the year...Please do not let your dogs run out of your sight, especially if those dogs spend the majority of their lives in a yard or an apartment. Please know that down the road, across the creek, and behind the trees are beautiful little animals who are the joy of the farmer that tends them, and her heart breaks everytime she loses one. Please respect the cattle rancher up the hill, and the horse rescue across the way. Please let your dogs enjoy the freedom to run and play, but not at another's expense.

This is Harley's "can you make the rain stop now please?" face.

Sometimes I really hate goats.

What happened to the snow we were promised? This is just cold and wet and yucky.

A 7 and 1/2 lb spaghetti squash. 1 of 13 harvested this year. That'll do donkey, that'll do.

Our boy did not have to have surgery! The doc was able to reset Poncho's hip!! Our boy did not have to have surgery! The doc was able to reset Poncho's hip!!

This beautiful boy is going in to surgery now. We love you Poncho!

Meet Plum. This pretty boy joined the flock last week. Hopefully he and the four hens of that breed will produce some lovely chicks next spring. #LavenderOrpington

Funny little Farm Friends! These two love each other, and will play like this everyday.

Here's about the cutest piggies in a leaf pile face in your face Friday you have ever seen!

Almost forgot the butt of the day! Here is a half and half view for you. Sorry Ron. So some of the sheep jump around, some pull and strain against the shearing stand, then you have this cute girl who lays on your knee to make your life easier.

All butts all the time!! Lol. I was curious as to what color Bucky's sister would be under her milk chocolate wool. The answer: milk chocolate. Maybe I should name her Hershey.