Just in from wrestling with sheep. Picked out 5, 4 ewe lambs from Spring 2014 (should all be pregnant) and One-horn, the one 2013 boy twin from Licqourice. I'm leaving at about 5:30am tomorrow morning for an auction in Ohio. A 5-hour trip with 5 sheep in the van. Going to be fun :). Maybe not. Decided I'm not taking Anni with as a dog in the front will probably disturb the sheep in the back and I dont want to have her at the auction. We went and licensed the van today after putting insurance on it. Damn, had to pay $52 tax on it. Death and taxes, or taxed to death !
I went to fill it up and drive a little to bump the battery which was flat, flat, flat. Took me 3 runs at the driveway to get up. Been here in Michigan for 8 Winters now and learning to drive on snow and ice. Like hell I was going to have to call Herbie to pull me up with the truck.
Funny thing about the ice is watching the poultry sliding on their asses. They have such surprised looks on their faces :). Always makes me laugh. Daisy May fell outside the lower barn today. Touching my head (wood), I haven't fallen, yet.
The boarding chickens are fitting in well. They see the side yard as home, I still feed them there but they're learning that the others get fed first. The little black silkie is right at home with the geese :). They are extra work, but not a lot.
Going to be home late tomorrow, so did milk for both Tuesday and Wednesday owners as I'm not sure when I'll be home.
A friend said that they were sorry we were having such a bad start to the year, but I don't feel that we've had it worse than any other year ! Just plug on. Worked out if we get good prices for the sheep, then sell 2 x Jersey bulls, Shaw and Larry, keep Parrot to father Daisy Mays' and Stars' next calves and then butcher him in the Fall, and butcher the Scottish Highland bull, Big Red now. Thinking of offering ½ to a meat market guy who was interested in any grass-fed beef we had available. This way we should have enough money for the Winter taxes, and then when we eventually get our 2014 tax refund in about August, it will be in time for the Summer taxes. Hell of a thing, having to time your farming around taxes. Which we get back with the next refund. Crazy system.