I’m scurrying around trying to pack everything I need to join Shannon again at her lovely home up in Oregon for a couple of days.  Hubby is traveling on up to Portland for business (installing a machine) and I talked him into dropping Annie and I off for some felting and fleece lessons.

So while I wandered around the pasture, saying “see ya later” to my girls, they all enjoyed the shade of the oaks on a sunny afternoon.  It’s always funny to me how mama’s and their babies will snuggle even after the baby is just as big, if not bigger, than her mama — Lily and Bubbles, above, for example.

I’ve got a stack of registration forms, filled out with pictures included, ready to take to Shannon (the registrar is going to have her work cut out!)  I’ve also got my ONE washed fleece in the tub ready to meet Shannon’s carder.  I am a little disappointed I didn’t get a couple more washed, but oh well, I’m sure I can learn enough with just one. 

I’ve checked on the weather for Oregon, to see what it’s like and yes, I believe I’ll be taking a sweater.  I’ve been  used to 80-90 degree weather and it looks like it’s going to be partial clouds and in the 70’s up there.  That’s a bit chilly for this sissy California girl.  I like having sweatshirts on, when a lot of other people wouldn’t be thinking of wearing them.

I’ve got to finish writing out my instructions on how to take care of this menagerie for my dad and father-in-law to figure out.  I also have to secure my last dog crate — I’ve got three now, and need four to bring home four sheep!  One of them is not mine, it is being brought down for a Jacob breeder down in the Bay Area (5 hours south) and will be staying until she can pick it up.  At least we’re bringing him toward her half way, so she doesn’t have to travel as far.

The only thing I’m concerned about is not having my mocha in the morning… Hey Shannon?  Got a Starbucks near by?   Until then, I’ll let sleeping sheep lye.

Just had to share this — super smart functioning farm I’d say!  Kinda blows the doors off of PETA and others who’d lead you to believe that all farmers have cruel ways and that cows don’t like to be milked!

We live in a gorgeous area of California, somewhat still hidden from the daily rush of the busier places.  Over looking us is a large wilderness area which we call locally, “The Alps.”  They are rugged snow capped mountains of granite which house multiple lakes and creeks with lush meadows.  Amongst all this breathtaking beauty is my absolute favorite flower, the Leopard Lily (I commonly call it a Tiger Lily which it is not.)

They grow in very wet, shady areas right on the edge of running water.  I have often seen them in marshy meadows where they are growing in a couple of inches of water — often they are neighbors of fern.

I had gone fishing with Hubby and a friend up at the base of the Alps a week or so ago and as we fished down the creek, I had noticed a small stream pouring in to the creek.  I followed it up the side of the mountain a little ways and found a patch of my flowers.  The sight of them always makes little butterflies in my stomach.

This was a nice sized patch but it is even better when you find a whole meadow full of them.  Their elegance is incomparable.

Hubby recently came back from one of his log moving adventures to our friend’s mill and brought back a small bouquet from our friend’s spring.  He knew that a little handful of these lilies is the way to this girl’s heart.

The Leopard Lily is so delicate and fine, the colors are vibrant.  I enjoy every second of enjoying them — especially with my lens!

“A state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.”

That can be a good thing right?  Because that’s what I hope I mean, good chaos.  We’re having quite a few people over tomorrow afternoon for an Independence Day Celebration here at Mud Ranch.  There’s four families with 4 kids, us with Annie, Hubby’s middle sis with her daughter and son, Hubby’s parents with his grandma, my parents and 1000 water balloons, plenty of food, and fun old time games.  We’ll be hosting a bunch of games such as the three legged race, the gunny sack race, the water balloon toss, the egg race (Never heard of it?  Do a relay race with a fresh egg carried in a spoon and see how far you get,) and guess how many red, white and blue m&m’s are in a jar. 

So this morning, before the chaos ensues I went for a walk to check on the horses and cows in the lower pasture.  The calves were laying down in the early sun until the horses started for the gate where I stood then they decided to get out of Dodge.  I should have named Pigpen “Snort” because he sure gets offended at small things… any time you approach, he sticks his tail up and heads off.

Cali showed me her gorgeous fly mask which has a hole in one eye.  It is pretty new too, so lovely when they ruin a 18.00 mask and have only worn it for a month or two (at the most.)  So yesterday I picked her up a new one but just had to show you how humorous her one eye is, peaking out from behind the netting.

I let the girls up to the upper pasture which surrounds the house, mainly because I don’t want them in the lower pasture (they snuck through while Hubby was working on loading some logs with the excavator.)  I also think the grass is a bit rich for them down there — the little pork chops.  And, knowing horses, they can get in to trouble if not looked upon regularly and it’s much easier for me to keep tabs on them up here.

How many sheep can you find in this picture?  Lost?… They look like stumps.

The sheep were let out of the barn at around 6:00 and were already up on their favorite hill trimming the brush.  They talk back and forth to eachother constantly while up there, busying themselves with finding the best treats.  Nope, we don’t raise sissy sheep around here, they’re mountain climbers.

So as I type this post, my cake is baking  in the oven, my strawberries sprinkled with suger are sitting in a bowl on the counter soaking.  I’m putting together a cake that is taken from the Pioneer Woman’s site.  It’s her recipe for Strawberry Shortcake only I have revised it.  I’ve put it in a rectangluar pan and am putting the juicy strawberries on it under the frosting with a flag decoration made from halved strawberries and blueberries on the top.  I’ll be sure and get a picture and let you know how it tasted.  I’d imagine it’ll be fabulous.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s celebration.  Though I don’t have much confidence in our nation as of right now, I sure do love our history and admire how wise our Founding Fathers were.  I’m sorry, but I sure don’t see us getting any smarter…  I will celebrate tomorrow and on the 4th remembering those who fought for our country, who are fighting for our country, and those who respect and hold true to the values we started with.

What are you doing for your Independence Day celebrations?

On Saturday my friend and I took out our Kigers to the arena.  My excuse was just to see how well Cali would do after not being ridden for a while — Meleah’s excuse was to see how her new gelding we brought home from Washington would do.

Smoke did very well.  In the trailer he was pretty nervous but we let him ride loose and opened the back section of windows so he could look out.  Every now and then I’d see his gray muzzle sniff the wind and then poke back inside.  I do know that he was very glad to have landed at our house.  He went right to grazing the grass and taking a long drink.

Maleah offered to take Annie for a ride, and notice no saddle?  Yep, he’s that calm.  This is exactly what Maleah wanted for her girls — she’s got 4 from 8 down to a year and a half.  Annie actually cried when I took her off his back and put “Toots” up there.  She didn’t want to share Smoke — and he isn’t even hers.

I took Cali out and Cali comes from DianneC up in Washington, same place we picked up Smoke, a mare that now lives in Nevada named Belle, and my new saddle!   Looks like we’re attracted to all that Dianne has for sale!

I rode Cali around the arena first for a while in my saddle — which fit her perfectly!  She did really well, was a bit stiff at first but then settled in pretty good.  I had untacked her in the shade trees when Hubby showed up and I offered for him to take a spin.  Bareback, halter and lead and they look like professionals.  Cali is about 15 hands, Hubby is 6′.

They all cruised around the ring at a nice little pace — well, Cali lapped Smoke I think.  Maleah said she’s going to rename him “Mo,” as in “Mo-lasses.”  But that’s perfect for a kid’s horse!

He took Meleah’s two oldest girls ages 8 and 5 around the ring by themselves (pictured above is her 3 year old.)  They were able to control him very well, stop, turn and he didn’t pick up an ounce of speed.  He knew he was supposed to be careful.

I think I could talk Maleah in to joining us for our Play Days once a month and yes, Cali, I’ll take you too (why does Sunnie get to have all the fun?)