Everyone ready for Halloween?  Thanksgiving?  Christmas?  Time is flying by, time to finalize Shetland breeding groups, bring in another load of hay, find some motivation to get things done.  I have been needle felting, and made some orifice hooks for spinners out of wine corks and beads, now I need to find spinners that need orifice hooks, lol.

I didn't make it to the big Fresno Fair this year, missed my chance for a corn dog and other fair food.  Weather is finally cooling down into the 80's with even a 79 in the seven day forecast, now where have I stored my sweat shirts and cold weather clothes?  The big draft horse and equipment sale is coming up the end of this month, always a fun event.

 

what's up

August is almost over and boy oh boy I will not miss it when it's gone.  August 3rd, my cousin who was in the process of moving from California to Idaho came to spend one night enroute.  When he called and said he was about 2 hours away I decided ok, time to put clean cover on the sofa.  As I took the one off the sofa out to the washer (my laundry is out in a separate building) I walked down the three steps and went about 5ft and almost stepped on a coiled rattlesnake.  $@#;;&% ran back in the house found my shotgun, box of shells, loaded one shell and shot the snake from the deck.  As I watched to make sure I got the snake I see a second one come out from under the steps ....... that I had just gone up and down.  I quickly loaded another shell  and blew that sucker away too.  Both snakes were about 3 ft long one with 8 rattles the other had 9. 

My one night visit with my cousin lasted 5 days, he had kidney stone surgery two weeks before traveling.  Ended up taking him to Urgent Care Facility and getting him some antibiotics.  Would have been a nice visit if either one of is was feeling well.  He is going to be 85 this year and since Idaho is a ways away don't know when we will see each other again.

I had my kidney stone surgery on Monday, feeling much better, just waiting to get off antibiotics tomorrow so hopefully I will have an appetite and food will taste good.  Haven't been to fiber group get togethers in over a month, hoping to feel up to going on Sunday.

Come on Fall ...... I seriously need some rain.

If it's over 100 degrees how can I have frostbite?

Well I have made it thru July, weather 7 day forecasts are a continuous rolling 102 to 107, and August is known to be more of the same.  Why oh why did I move to a place that has 6 to 8 months of summer.  I am so looking forward to Fall.  The last few years it has rained just enough on one day of the Big Fresno Fair to mess with attendance, Fair runs for 10 days in the beginning of October, can't wait.  It was cloudy, with thunder and lightning Wednesday with a few sprinkles, not even enough to dampen the dust, just saw a few drops of water in one of the dogs feed dishes.  Don't need lightning starting fires....there are 2 major fires just north of here, the Sand Fire in Mariposa County, near Yosemite, area is close to last years huge Rim Fire.  Saturday a fire started in Madera County area of the Sierras called the French Fire, brought a lot of smoke my way Saturday night.  And now, I see my cousin in Shasta County posted pictures of lightning caused fires in her area.

Two of the older Doppler ewes each had a single ewe lamb two weeks ago and are doing fine.   The Shetlands are having issues with the hot weather but the ewes do have a big fig tree to hide under during the day.  Bella and Dollar hang out in the house close to the fans.

How do I have frostbite?   I am living on popsicles and I noticed the tip of my tongue seems s little tender, LOL.

Doctor has been on vacation so nothing has been scheduled yet for my kidney stone, since it is in my kidney and not causing blockage it is not an emergency .....

Stick a fork in me I'm done ....

Here it is mid July, temps hanging out in the 100 - 105+ range, day or two have slipped to 98/99 but still feels like 100 ....... last two days have been humid from the clouds coming north from Arizona, no rain left to share with California.  My two zucchini plants had a few blossoms ..... no zucchini, yellow squash has some new growth but no squash right now, tomatoes are disappointing, not producing enough to make the time or the water worth the effort.  I should just go to local farmer's stands would probably be cheaper in the long run.

Still haven't figured out how to download pictures from my tablet, lambs are getting big.  I banded all but one of the ram lambs, he was too small when I did the others, need to get him done before it is too late.  On the downside of making them all wethers looks like I have one that is not going to have horns, oh well.

Finally made doctor appointment, had to go for referral since it has been 5 years since my last appointment with the urologist, then go through xrays, CT scan, yada, yada, yada, yes I have another kidney stone, parked in my left kidney so have to go for another treatment to blast it out one of these days.

I'm ready for winter but I know the rest of you are enjoying the idea of a long hot summer.

Go California Chrome

Today's is the final leg of the triple crown in horse racing, something I don't pay a lot of attention to until after it's over. 

But today is different, California Chrome is a local horse to this valley and trained at Harris Ranch across the river from me. 

Go California Chrome.

Just to let you know I am still alive. Google error will not let me post on my computer.  I bought a tablet several months ago and am a slow learner when it comes to new things. Lots of new lambs and baby goats but camera died too.
So I now have a new camera too, now I just need to figure out how to load pictures here and I will be all set.

If you have heard there is a drought in California it is true, very little rain this year and what little grass grew in my pastures is now gone. Weatherman has predicted the next 3 days will be over 100 degrees.

I have been able to follow a few blogs, hope to catch up with the rest of you soon