Tuesday morning, still no Anni. After doing all the morning chores, I took the buggy out into the woods and started looking for her. The trees were wet and heavy, and I looked and called and called, but nothing. I checked all the woods, switching the buggy off to call and listen. No Anni. Back at the house, I filled in an application for lost dogs, then messaged Carrie who now works at the Ionia animal shelter that Anni was missing and asking if she could call me if / when Anni was brought in. I also posted it on the local FB page, and someone reverted that someone else had posted a found dog on another page and added copies of the photo and text. Yep, it was Anni. I called, and left a message but was advised that she'd been taken to the shelter. Called the shelter, no answer. Eventually got someone on the line, but the animal control person wasn't back yet with Anni and she'd call me when she did get back. An hour later, the call came in, and I went off the retrieve my dog. They'd given her shots, one general one including kennel cough and routine stuff, another with a pain killer as she'd hurt her paw, which I don't understand why as they knew she was mine and that I was on my way to fetch her. A rather subdued Anni met me, looking a sight for sore eyes - she was covered in sticker burrs, limping and was feeling rather sorry for herself. Cost $20 to get her released, she hopped into Noddy and off we went, home. Herbie told her that she was a lucky dog, as he would have left her there !! She's been sticking pretty close to me since, and today she was running around like normal, not limping at all, chasing a stick that she keeps bringing back for me to throw again.
Been feeding Dolly soaked beet pulp twice a day, with the concoction added, and today for the first time in about 2 weeks, I actually saw her at the hay bale feeder, and then she went out into the veggie garden with the other cows ! She is horribly gaunt, but if she is actually eating grass and hay again, then I can build her up fairly quickly. Thank you God, I had visions of her dying on me, or having to shoot her.
Yesterday morning when I went to feed the sheep, the girl Trifle, or Cake, couldn't settle on a name for her, was dead at the feeder with her head caught in the cattle panel. Damn, with all the Anni business of the day before, I hadn't checked the sheep in the evening like I usually do. Struggled to free her head, she is the last of the horned sheep, although she just had partial horns, then dragged her out, tied her to the buggy and took her out back. I've been sad since yesterday, hate losing animals so senselessly, particularly girls.
We have 2 new herdshare owners join the farm this past week too, welcome Cheryl and Joan :) Forgot to ask how they found me, but must have been via the internet as I didn't have to give directions to either.
Think the swop of Immanuelle and Coco has fallen through. It's been a month that Immanuelle has been in with Gabriel, so hopefully she's preggers, and no word. I texted, asking if there was still interest, and received a garbled reply about fixing the clutch on the tractor, as their hay crop was a lot smaller than expected. Now that we've had such a good rain, maybe there'll be some interest in them for actual money.
Yesterday I made a chicken curry for lunch, which turned out rather well. Was my first chicken curry ever, and I really liked the sauce, so may use if for other dishes in future too.
Jackie and I were going to go pick peaches tomorrow, but she is going to be out of town, and picking by yourself is not as much fun, so I don't think I'll be going. They only have 3 days to pick, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Maybe I'll just buy some that they pick. It's more expensive, but I'd like to dehydrate some to make chutney with in the Winter.
2 more days, and Herbie is on leave for 2 weeks. Yippee, not sure what we'll get to do as I'm tied to daily milking, but the odd day trip would be fun.