It’s That Time

Sheeps & Peeps1 Comment



The barns are quiet, but soon they will be teeming with 4-H and FFA youngsters and their livestock.  Farmers from all over the county will bring their prized animals to be paraded and judged.

The fairgrounds are also quiet, except for the carnival workers setting up the rides, the food stands and the games.  Here they hope to tempt the fair go-ers with thrills, candy apples, cotton candy and the chance to win giant stuffed animals.  The Kingwood Fire Dept. and dozens of community organizations are preparing massive amounts of batter, sausage and all the trimmings.
Because you see , it is Buckwheat Festival time, and come this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all of Preston County will put a hold on their everyday lives.  They will head to our county seat and get their fill of Buckwheat Cakes and carnival food.  They will see which one of their neighbors grew the blue ribbon hay, buckwheat and giant pumpkin.  They will find out who produced the winning yeast bread, canned vegetables and needlework.  They will watch parades for the chance to see their child perform in the band, ride on a float or perhaps even be Queen Ceres or King Buckwheat.
Yes… it is F-A-L-L, and it’s Buckwheat Festival time, here in Preston County.

Barn Cats in Late Summer

Sheeps & Peeps1 Comment
Kismet
Muffy
Bootsie
Spot
Davita and Pumpkin



Pumpkin



During these waning days of summer, the barn cats have been taking it easy. The hot days and cooler nights have encouraged them to spend most of the day cat napping, leaving the night for prowling. You will find them in the rafters, on top of the stacks of hay or straw, or in Muffy’s case wherever she finds a convenient nesting spot. Kismet, our very first barn kitten, now chooses to spend most of his time at the old barn, far away from the other crazies. We love them all, and they are great company when doing barn, and even field chores. Of course, most importantly, they are very good at their job of barn patrol.

Glimpses of Late Summer

Sheeps & PeepsLeave a comment

We are really enjoying these glimpses of Late Summer, yes S-U-M-M-E-R.  We refuse to use the F-A-L-L word until after the autumnal equinox on Wednesday, the 22nd; refuse to recognize the F-A-L-L word because that means that the W-I-N-T-E-R word is just way too close for comfort.   They leaves are beginning to turn, and our thoughts must also begin to turn to the seasonal chores that lie ahead.
Thank you for all the warm thoughts, prayers and hugs… both real and virtual.  They really do help.

Sheeps and Peeps… and Cows

Sheeps & Peeps3 Comments

I have struggled with writing this post for well over a month.  Usually we strive to keep this blog a happy place… not dwell on the sadness in farming and in life, because… well, because it is really just nice to come here and focus on positive things.  But, today is my late husband John’s birthday.  John passed away suddenly in March, and still on most days life is emotionally difficult.  He was my best friend and Sheeps and Peeps’ biggest cheerleader.  Most of all… he was a good man.
We all miss him.

Last fall we added some adjoining acreage to the farm and for Christmas John gave me a cow.  Well, actually a picture of a cow.  He had arranged with friends to get one of their spring calves.  You may think this strange, but honestly, to a farm girl, this is about the best gift ever!  Our son, Jonathan, worked all summer fixing fence, preparing the pasture.  Finally, we were ready and the big day arrived.  Needless to say there was a lot of excitement from our neighbor, Roger’s cows and some of them quickly gathered on their side of the fence.

Amanda and family arrived with not one but two beautiful calves!  A heifer, which Megan quickly named ‘Betty Lou Moo Moo’, and a steer who, unfortunately Jonathan named (following an old family tradition started by our father) ‘Beef’.
Betty Lou and Beef on their arrival, August 14th
The calves are doing great!  They have a wonderful pasture and beautiful watering trough.  Of course there will be more pictures and stories to come.  Many, many thanks to Amanda for giving us this wonderful gift in John’s memory. 
Beef and Betty Lou Moo Moo near watering trough, September

Happy Birthday, Honey… and thank you… you would love watching the calves.

Meet Belladonna

Sheeps & PeepsLeave a comment

Those of you with enough patience to make it to the end of the previous post about our visit to the Wild and Wooly Fiber Festival, have already met the newest member of the Sheeps and Peeps Barn, Border and Brush Patrol.  She is Belladonna.  Bella is a  Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese, Maremma Sheepdog, and will join our Komodor, Samson, in guarding duties.  She was born on July 15th and weighed 16.4 lbs at her 8 week check-up. 

Of course you realize that this will result in flurry of puppy pictures and puppy stories because we love new babies here at the farm.  Today will be no exception….

We currently have a few lambs in the corral and Bella is staying in a small enclosure inside the barn pen when we are too busy to keep an eye on her.  Saturday evening and Sunday morning I took her for a long walk to the bottom of pasture and back.  Sunday evening we started down the hill and made it just over the crest when Bella firmly planted herself and sat.  Well I kept going, whistling and calling (a good training experience, I am thinking).   I am sure that she will follow.  About half way down, I look back up and there is no Bella.  Walking swiftly back up the hill, I am wondering what she is up to.

She has gone back up to the corral gate.  In no time at all Feisty’s ram lamb comes over to investigate.

And Bella immediately knows where she is supposed to be.  She just isn’t too sure how to get there.
Soooo smart!!

West Virginia’s Wild and Wooly Fiber Festival

Sheeps & Peeps1 Comment

We visited West Virginia’s Wild and Wooly Fiber Festival at the WVU Reedsville Arena on Saturday.  There were several vendors selling wool and wool products, a fleece competition, a local 4-H club selling food, and there were a lot of alpacas… so cute, so curious.

Sarah Beamer was there with her Kerry Hill sheep and in spite of a broken foot gave great shearing demonstrations.
Several farms brought angora goats.
We visited with the folks at the Peavine Hollow Farm booth, and watched a noisy angora goat shearing demonstration.  Lena bought some beautiful gold and blue mohair locks. 
And we bought this…