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Alan and I went out to the barnyard first thing this morning to check on Lucy and her little baby. We distracted Lucy with some cow cookies while we gave the little one some love...
Lookie LOOKIE! Our first girl of the year!! YAY!
She is the smallest calf we've had delivered on the farm. Houdini was little, but not THIS little! We haven't named her yet, so if you've got a suggestion we'd love to hear it! Her mama's name is Lucy.
And now for some more modest photos...
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure had a delicious dinner, and the left-overs have been just as super! Having the extra couple of days off work this week sure was nice, too. Today, Alan and I went to the Homestead Heritage Thanksgiving fair near Waco. The festival features local craftsmen and shares a bit of insight to their sustainable living lifestyle. I loved it! They had lots of handmade things for sale (pottery, jams/jellies, cheeses, baked goods and grains, fiber arts, wood crafts, soaps, etc) so I was able to pick up a few holiday gifts, and even a thing or two for myself! But, I did manage to leave all of the BABY CHICKENS there... I'm very proud of how strong I was to resist the cute little fluff balls!
When we left the farm today, Lucy was doing just fine, enjoying her huge pile of hay. We figured she would be having her baby in the next 24-48 hours, so last night I made sure she had her own area in the barnyard where the other animals couldn't get in her way.
We got home just as the sun was setting, and LOOK what we found in the barnyard with Lucy! Her BABY! We don't know if it's a boy or girl yet, but it's very obviously black. With Lucy's beautiful red coloring, we were HOPING for a red baby. Dang it... Now, just cross your fingers that it's a GIRL! We'll know tomorrow.... And I'm sure we'll be open to name suggestions, so get your thinking caps on! This little baby is unbelievably tiny...I don't think it's face (from top of head to tip of nose) is as long as the palm of my hand. TINY!
Wishing you all the happy-est, and tasty-est of Thankgiving holidays!
After a morning of cooking and prepping, Alan and I will be having turkey dinner at his parent's house. I'm looking forward to baked turkey, delish veggies, and some ooooh so good homemade pumpkin pie!
Gobble till ya Wobble!
PS: I'll try to give an update on the farm in the next day or two... Lucy, our little red Dexter heifer is due to deliver her baby any day now. I've GOT to get an updated photo of her! The transformation has been incredible since you last saw her! Can you say MILKSHAKE, anyone?!
Cheers to you!
On Friday, Amy posted the CUTEST holiday tags in her Splitcoaststampers gallery, that she made with images from my recent Whipper Snapper sets.
So that I remember her fantastic idea when it comes time to make my holiday tags for the year, I whipped up a little "reminder" tag for myself.
I chose to use the shorty snowman from Gardening Snowman, and a sentiment from Think Snow.
Thanks for the inspiration, Amy!!
After using my snowman image on the crazy rainbow striped Cosmo Cricket paper earlier this week, I decided to do something a little less WILD.
I present ... THE MAN IN TAN!
Simple does it these days. Not such a bad thing, you know?
PS: I love Glee.
PSS: Thanks for all the suggestions on my nail polish post! Quite helpful! I found a couple of your suggested items on ebay, and look forward to amazing results!
Here's a random question for you ... do you have a favorite nail polish that does NOT chip or peel off within a day's wear? I prefer natural/neutral colors, or even a bit of sparkle. I'm currently using Sally Hansen's Diamond Strength "no chip" nail color. It's pretty good about not chipping, BUT, it peels off like you wouldn't believe!
Suggestions?
Yesterday I announced the release of my two new cling stamp sets with Whipper Snapper. Here's a project I put together using my favorite ice skating chicken, from the Think Snow set. The sentiment on the card is also from the same set.
What's not to love about an ice skating chicken?!
Weeeee!
It's that time of month again! Time for another Whipper Snapper
cling set release! This month, there are two sets being released: Think Snow and Gardening Snowman
I chose to use images from Think Snow for my first couple of projects, and I had a ball! The set has this cutie snow fella, a chubby cozy penguin, and an ice skating chicken (of course!), and is PACKED with cheery winter holiday greetings.
The second set being released today is called Gardening Snowman. The set has a couple of fat fellas, along with all kinds of gardening themed items to accessorize them with. I'll share something with this set later this week.
Click on the images for a larger view...
It is also my pleasure to introduce you to five new Whipper Snapper Featured Designers as well! Be sure to check out the galleries and blogs of the November/December Featured Designers as they showcase these sets! You're sure to be impressed!
The Who's Who of November/December Featured Designers:
Amy Rohl
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/rohla
Blog: http://inkaboutme.blogspot.com
Carla Murphy
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/cardsbycarla
Blog: http://cardsbycarla.blogspot.com
Gabriela Divine
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/gabydee
Blog: http://gabiwithaneye.blogspot.com
Jennifer King
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/jkincolorado
Blog: http://lookiewhaticando.blogspot.com
Randee Elsing
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/Randee_E
Blog: http://www.mystampingground.blogspot.com
Just a reminder, you can see all of the projects current and past Featured Designers have uploaded to their SplitCoast galleries by viewing the Whipper Snapper Featured Designer Gallery. Have a look -- it's a great place to find all KINDS of great inspiration!
Have fun!
It's been a short while since my last farm update, so here's some brief news from the barnyard.
Bad Boxcar Betty is all healed up from the coyote attack. The hair on her jaw has completely grown in again, covering up the nasty scars on her face and throat. And, she's back to her Bad Betty self!
Leaves from the Hackberry tree seem to be a favorite. Of course, green and fresh off the tree is best, but apparently fallen leaves are acceptable.
Callio-Pea is nearly impossible to take photos of. Why? Because this is the view I get, at all times. I'm pretty sure she thinks I need to have vanilla cookies in my pockets at ALL times. Today, sadly, I did not. (They LOVE animal cookie/crackers... I need to pick some up next time I'm at the store.)
Meanwhile, Betty eats leaves.
"Are you SURE you don't have any cookies? I'm a good goat!"
What a sourpuss. Sticking her tongue out at me... hmm.
Cute little Lucy, or little red Dexter heifer, is due to have her baby soon. And we are SO EXCITED! Lucy is so small that we actually waited nearly an entire year longer than typical before her first breeding. She's had a bit of a growth spurt, but is still the smallest cow on the farm. And she's just the cutest thing! Lucy's back is about waist high to me, to give you an idea of her size. (And I'm 5'8.)
Her round belly is so cute, and now we can see her little pink udder filling (where before, we couldn't even see her udder!) She's getting so FAT!
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING FAT!?"
I went to bed Monday night, sore from that silly caterpillar sting. Yesterday morning, the redness was all gone, and finally the burning sensation was gone as well. I was still a bit tender, but tolerable. Today, I'm good as new! No pain, no redness. And Mom, I think my brain is OK, too! *grin*
Last night when I went out to the barn to lock up the goats for the night, I saw the BIGGEST skunk at the barn! Here's hoping it moves on and finds a new home, soon!
I got stung on the neck today by a Puss Moth (ASP) caterpillar.
All I can say is, OUCH OUCH OUCH!
It feels like I've been hit in the neck and lower jaw with a fast moving softball...and the pain just continues to linger.
I'd volunteer for a wasp sting over this nonsence ANYDAY!
Update: It's nearly midnight, and it still hurts! Not as bad as earlier today, but jeez, enough already! Benedryl spray seems to provide the most relief (it's not itchy, but rather a deep ache and burning sensation), and an Excedrine took away the aching pain in my lower jaw. I tried to take a photo -- most of the photo is out of focus, but you get the idea. Gross.
I thought I'd better get a post up before I get a call from my Dad telling me that people in 'blogland' are going through withdrawals from lack of information! *grin*
Yesterday, we took Stewie, Runner, and Baron to their new home. The same woman who bought Chuck last year bought this year's three boys. Her and her husband own a large Tennesee Walking Horse facility, and the boys will live out their life on the horse ranch. (In Texas, horses do not count towards a land owner's agriculture exemption, but cattle do. And since we raise Dexter [the smallest breed of cattle], our little fellas are ideal for providing an agriculture exemption for a horse ranch owner.) Not to mention, they're just the cutest things!
After we unloaded the little guys, the owners of the horse ranch took Alan and I out to the far corner of the pasture (on golf carts - cool!) so we could see how Chuck was doing. He looked wonderful! I wish I'd had my camera with me, but I didn't think to take it along.
Stewie, Runner, and Baron are going to be so happy on the ranch! After they get settled, they'll be put out in the same pasture with Chuck, and they'll be belly deep in the best coastal pasture grass we've seen in a long time! Happy cows = Happy farmers!
Today, I'll problably do a little work around the farm, and then, time for more illustrating and painting - what FUN!
Hope you have a wonderful day!!
I'm sorry I haven't had much in the way of paper craft projects to share lately. ...but, like I always say, that doesn't mean I haven't been busy! I've just been busy on SECRET stuff! *grin*
Monday, November 16th, two new Whipper Snapper cling mount sets release, and I get to introduce you to five new Featured Designers. You know how much I love doing that! So, I've been busy making samples with the new sets, AND I've been busy with Summer 2010 images. Can you believe it! It's no wonder I always feel like I've been left in the dust with each holiday that passes.
I thought I'd share a little sneaky peeky of one of the new single images being released later this month, with Whipper Snapper. I really do love snowmen, and what's not to love about a group of snowman pals!?
Hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday...we're one day closer to the weekend!
...and in a flash, the weekend was over.
We did have a busy weekend, and that makes the time pass quickly.
On Saturday, I drove Alan's dad to the airport in Dallas, and then made a side trip on the way home by a new Sprouts market and Costco. We were dangerously low on TP and paper towels, neither of which you want to run out of when you live on a farm! I picked up lots of fresh produce at Sprouts (which is not always easy to get at the regular grocery store we go to), and was able to get yummy Greek yogurt, too!
On Sunday morning, Alan and I took a short road trip and stopped in at a farm supply store (chicken food was on the shopping list). Sunday afternoon, we loaded Truman (our youngest donkey) onto the stock trailer and moved him to his new home. A family not too far from us wanted him as a companion to their little jenny. The short drive, and the relocation process went perfectly! We know he'll be very happy with his new friends and family.
Last night I got a call from someone interested in Zip, my fancy frizzled rooster. So, we loaded him up and met the gal in town. It was, of course, love at first sight. So, Zip has a new home too! Good for Zip! (I can only have so many roosters on the farm...)
PS: Happy November! What's on your menu for Thanksgiving? And have you started your shopping lists for the Christmas holiday yet? Time to get busy!
