Time To Feed The Lambs

Is This Close or What?

While taking pictures, a horse walked up to me and literally stuck his nose (and his eye )into my business

Me and one of my new buddies (post surgery).

Trina's Petting Zoo

Trina and Brian have several different items roaming around their property. For example, there's Tom the Turkey who is very people friendly and will follow you up and down the fence line acting like he's eavesdropping on your conversations. There are ducks, geese, llamas, chickens, horses, sheep, lambs, etc.

Three black baby lambs were born that morning and this picture is of a momma and her baby born that week.

Is your mama a llama? Look at the wool on that sheep!
They all seem to be asking "Who you lookin' at? Why don't you take a picture then it might last longer?

This chicken was getting a little too close to me while I was taking pictures. Those are my shoes.

Another New Adventure - Banding the Lambs

Last weekend Joe and I went to Kaycee, Wyoming (population 249) where my friend Trina lives. Kaycee is about 70 miles north of Casper and this was the furtherest north I would have traveled on this side of the state. (Trina works in the same department in the oilfield as I do). For some reason, Trina, and her husband Brian, have become parents to several "bum" lambs. These are lambs that have been rejected by their mothers for some unknown reason or are orphans. On this particular day, they were mothering some 20+ lambs.

Trina had been talking about how she lived in the country (imagine that) and all the animals they have on their small ranch. Yes, ranch, not farm. So, since it was supposed to be a nice weekend, we made arrangements for Joe and I to go up around noon on Saturday and help feed the lambs and see her other animals.

Steve (who works in our department also) and his family were also coming up as they were going to take some lambs home with them to their place outside of Casper. So ultimately Trina had a lot of "help" that day when it came time to "band" the lambs going home with Steve and Jill and their two little girls Brianna and Octavia.

Banding is where a rubber band - a tight rubber band - is placed near the top of their tails so that the bottom part will eventually fall off. Also, a rubber band - a tight rubber band - is placed around the male genitalia. In other words, their balls will fall! Never having seen this done before was quite shocking and disturbing to me. Let's just say it was no picnic for the little lambs either.

I have been told though that banding is much more humane than the two other alternatives used - razor blade cutting off or bitting them and then ripping them off!!! No fooling!!!

All I can say is YEE HAW girl - you're in Wyoming now!!!

This is the rubberband going on the tail.
This is the rubberband going on the ball, y'all.

These are poor lambs trying to hide before it's their turn!

This is Steve helping Trina. Notice the bag of rubberbands hanging on the fence.

Run lambs run!

This one didn't run fast enough and look at all the other stupid ones hanging around to watch. Do you think they think she's going to feed them?

You know what they say about curiousity?

We Finally Had To Give In...

and buy a snow shovel since winter seems as though it will never end. So, we are now the proud owners of a HAND-HELD, AIR-COOLED, FULLY AUTOMATIC snow shovel! Unfortunately, it seems as though I've been the primary operator since Joe is still recovering from his broken ankle. It just wouldn't be a great thing for him to slip and fall while shoveling and have to start all over again!!!

And, don't I do a fine job?!?!

Our Frequent Dinner Guests - Sister Parkinson and Bennion

At least once a month, Joe and I have the missionairies over for dinner (sometimes it's more often). We also recently added a couple more guests who have been very kind and generous to us since our move to Wyoming - Bob Bennion and Bill Shiek. Pictured here are Sister Bennion, Bob, Bill and Sister Parkinson (who just completed her mission last week). (Also, Sister Bennion and Bob are not related as far as they know).

The sisters recently brought over a set of elders to our home for dinner which was quite nice. We don't have the elders in our ward, only sisters. However, Elder Jennings is also heading home which is in Milledgeville, Georgia and he wanted to meet some fellow Georgians. We love our missionaries and enjoy the time they spend with us!

Bob and Bill have also started coming over to have lunch with Joe every Wednesday which gives Joe the opportunity to visit more often with his "buddies".

March Visit To Grandma and Grandpa's House

The kids made an unexpected visit to come see us at the end of March. Though a short visit (there was a big storm heading our way), it was a nice visit. Not only did they bring our favorite grandson, but they also brought a truckload of wood to burn in our woodstove. This was the first time that Derek and the dogs had been up close and personal and in the beginning neither group really knew what to do with the other. But it didn't take long for everyone to get along with each other.

Derek taking his first real look at the furry kids and they at him.
A little closer inspection...

Something caught Derek's attention.

Finding some of Grandma's toys

Derek showing off some of his first steps.

Playing with Grandpa and Blaze and B.J.

Isn't he a cutie!!!

How Time Flies...

Mom and Dad always said that the older you get, the faster time flies. I believe that! It seems as though the last few days have been enveloped by the weather and work. Monday through Thursday is devoted almost entirely to work since so many hours are spent away from home. Fridays have been set aside for doctor visits and running errands. By the time Saturday rolls around, it's spent doing nothing primarily because of the weather. Such was the case this weekend - another round of all day snowing and no real reason to get out and see if I could manage to get stuck in the snow.

So in a nutshell this is what has happened since my last blog...the kids came to visit which was fantastic though it was a very short trip. Derek is getting so big now with new teeth, jabbering away and even taking first steps. How exciting for me, him and them! Corey brought us a load of firewood and we've made use of some of it to build a fire in our woodstove. Sure made the house warm and cozy during the almost daily snowstorms. Joe has been released by his doctor, but goes back in four weeks for a checkup. I had my 6 month mammogram as a follow-up and all is well. I don't go back for another for a whole year! Hopefully Joe and I won't be seeing doctors anytime soon and for a very long time.

We've fed missionaries and friends twice in the last couple of weeks. Joe went to his first priesthood broadcast with one of his buddies Saturday night leaving me all alone in the house for the first time. (It was great, but very quiet). We watched conference on our television set in our jammies! That was outstanding! I've fixed meals or dishes for others who were in need for about three weeks in a row. But, how could I not since we've been so blessed by the kindness of others.

So, life is still great. I still love living here. I still look forward to whatever is going to happen in the future and experiencing it with Joe.