That's What It's All About

Charlie greeting the newest resident of our farm. First he touched noses with Mom, and then with the lamb. When he tried to step in and do some serious cleaning Mom stomped her foot and we all moved on.

The first two lambs of the season. There is a shelter for them, but they prefer this tree.

New lambs are so cute. These are both female, which is a good thing. This one has a black nose and some black spots. She is adorable. Just ask Charlie.

And the Snow Keeps on Falling

Weave One Heart

Veryl Ann Grace, my friend in Hawai'i, creates wonders in the fiber arts. A photo of one of her weavings is displayed on the Hawai'i Handweavers' Hui Gallery. It's a beautiful weaving, as are the other works in the gallery. Well worth a visit! You can also see the wonderful hat she made me on her blog, Fiber in Paradise.

St. Helens Speaks

Friday morning (1/25), Mt St Helens from my porch. Really cool steam plume.

Same day, same steam plume. From the Johnston Observatory.

Just a little closer.

Yet More Dirty Dogs

My name is Alea. I'm a Tibetan Mastiff. I am too regal to play. There is no mud on my nose.

"Right after Christmas (thankfully before and not after bathing to get ready for the Deland, FL shows!) she decided to have a good old dig in the yard." - Robyn Allwright

Koda, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, and Buttercup, American Bulldog. That is not a brown mask on Koda.

That is mud.

"We had a couple of stumps removed from the backyard. The resulting sawdust and mud sinkhole proved irresistable to the Dynamic Duo. All hell broke loose when I let Buttercup and Koda out into the backyard unsupervised. I swear I went inside for just a minute...well, really more like 5 or 10." - Tammy Ardolf (from Tammy's blog Koda)

"From left, Contessa, A Pyr Sheepdog cross, Sasha, Great Pyrenees rescue, and Royal Hunter, Hunter for short, an AKC Pyr." - LvbleLeRoy

Contessa is not only clean, she stopped in the process of getting of the table because she was told to. Wow.

More Muddy Puppies

"I thought I would share this photo of my trio - my Golden, Sammy and Berner puppies - after a torrential rain storm. They were so happy with themselves, all I could do was laugh!" - Laura Olsson and the Muddy Wonder Trio

That's a kitchen Leo is confined in. He lets Catherine cook in there occasionally.

"And my entry - Leo (Great Pyrenees) at six months" - Catherine de la Cruz 

Boris, a Caucasian Ovtcharka. Hey Boris, your roots are showing!

Thor, also a Caucasian Ovtcharka. No roots showing here, just the red-gold glow of head and face!

Pinta, a Central Asian Shepherd. Normally more than the blaze is white!

"What a fun concept. Thor and Boris are both normally red and Pinta was white." - Angie Wheat

Rainy, Rainy Day

Today is one of those days that should be looked at through living room windows, with a warm fire in the hearth and a hot drink in hand. Since it's been below freezing for over a week, the ground is solidly frozen. This morning freezing rain fell. The freezing rain turned to rain, but it made little difference, since the ground froze the water almost immediately. I had to get supplies. I took the van out and started up the hill, wheels spinning. I put on the brakes and thought a while. If it was this icy here, how would it be on the tight curves of Leonard road, going down the steep hill? I turned around in my neighbor's drive and headed out the back way, which is longer but avoids the hills. The roads were all icy, but not too slick if you stayed in the ruts. At the feed store the big rig driver who had just brought in a double trailer of alfalfa was talking about all the accidents on the freeway and 508, and how he had chosen not to turn on Leonard but continue on to where 508 met up with 12, the main state route. Made me glad for my choice. 

Loading the supplies was slippery business, but my boots have great traction. Charlie, who had insisted on coming with Jesse and I, kept close watch on everyone. He really draws attention. "Someone has a polar bear in their van!" "Wow, that's one BIG dog!" The brave workers loaded the van anyway, as Charlie sniffed the bags and faces. He just loves going to the feed store.

We got home without incident, although the county road was still very slick. The van has much better traction with the extra weight in back. My chickens now have scratch and my sheep some alfalfa to supplement their grass hay. I even walked up my hill without slipping. The geese are happy, because there are now puddles to bathe in. Water has been freezing too fast for bathes the past week.

I now plan to stay inside as much as possible the rest of the day.

Starry, Starry Night

One of the best things about the cold weather we've been having is the clear, clean air. The full moon shone brightly early this week, making crisp shadows and allowing me to navigate my hill at night without a light. The nights seemed brighter than many of our cloudy, rainy winter days.

Tonight the moon is up late, and the stars are out in force. So many, many stars. White, blue, yellow and red stars. The longer you stare at the sky, the more stars appear. Endless stars. In this part of the world in winter one tends to forget there is sky, let alone sun, moon and stars. There is but a white and grey cloud ceiling. Not this week. There is bright sun, blue sky, black sky, and endless stars.

I love living in the country, where light pollution is minimal. And in spite of having to haul warm water to the animals twice a day, I love the crisp, clear cold spells of winter. Frozen mud may make uneven footing, but it's easier to deal with the warm, wet, sticky mud.

And that sky.

The Contest Continues

Dogs do love to get dirty. Here are some more Samoyeds trying out dark coats.

"Maria and Chase (named by the adopter), came in as strays into a northern MN shelter (rescued by Playing Again Sams) and we figured they were littermates (and yes, real hellions too). I love this photo!" - Maria Kirylo

"These two would be right up there. That's what you get when you put together puppies, a sprinkler and a lawn that's just been top dressed." - John Deyomas

I love the little puppy's expression - "Yes, I think I like brown."

"Here's one of Shadow from 2002. The crazy part is that Shadow's coat must be made of teflon. A day after this shot, with no bath, he looked clean. What we didn't get with the towels fell off on the kitchen floor." - Ron Manor

And The Winner Is...

I thought it would be fun to have a contest for a picture of the dirtiest dog, and suggested it on the Samfans list. I think this entry intimidated everyone else. I'll post more pics as I get them.  

"Here's our entry into the Dirty Dog Contest...a picture of Yuki from quite a few years ago. This is the result of her being rolled around by another dog one misty evening on the freshly seeded lawn. I think the only thing on her that even came close to being white is her muzzle. A very close friend of ours didn't realize it was her until he recognized the kitchen floor!" -Debbie Yip

Notice the deep color and even distribution. You really have to work hard to get yourself that thoroughly colored. Samoyeds just gotta have fun.

How Muddy...

can a dog get?

Jesse is going for the championship. I didn't think to take pictures until after I had toweled him off some.

"See, the top of my head isn't muddy. Much."

The new, rare breed, a chocolate-tipped Samoyed. Much rarer than the silver tipping so greatly desired.

Best Laid Plans...

The dog kennel.

The dog shelter.

Snowy Sunrise

White Christmas

We rarely get snow on Christmas day here in the Pacific NW. Our Australian visitor was thrilled when the white stuff started falling. The rest of us were thrilled when it looked like it wouldn't stick. I discovered on my drive home that my area had more snow, and it had decided to stick around.

My animals are less than thrilled the day after Christmas, when their world is white, wet and cold, and food is under 4" of snow.

The chickens, reconsidering the whole "free range" concept.

Muscovy, trying to keep her feet warm.

Charlie, playing in the snow. The dogs are thrilled. Millie is loose in the lower pasture, thoroughly enjoying this white world.

Drying Out

Several of the chickens take advantage of a rainless spell to dry out.

The turkey hen dries out on the picnic table, while looking in the window to see what's keeping breakfast.

Boston Dogs At Work

Babe stands at full alert, protecting her acre of woods in Boston, with Hannah watching carefully in the background. No one gets in their fence unnoticed!

And when some critter manages to sneak through, Zoron and Babe avidly chase it down. "If I can just move this log..."

These lovely Anatolian Shepherd Dogs protect their woods, house, and Audrey Chalfen (Shahman's Tales of Anatolian Shepherds : A Turkish Dog). Will there be puppies in Babe's future?

Happy Millie

With three major wind and rain storms in a row, Millie has been unhappy living in her kennel. I couldn't bring her in the house during the storms because I already have two alpha bitches in there, along with the other 4 dogs, and just can't upset that balance.

I've rigged a tarp inside the kennel that is keeping most of the rain off, but Millie's sleeping crate was filling with water, and she kept pulling out anything I put in. She didn't have a safe place to go.

I decided something had to be done. I put an old wool sweater in the low back end of the crate in case water gets in, a door mat on top of that, and a small rug over the mat (more comfortable, you know). Then I took an old raincoat and draped it over the back, to keep wind and rain out of the air holes.

Finally, something Millie likes. No, something she loves. She went in and didn't want to come out again. In this picture I've just come in to take her for her morning walk down to the very fun critter area while I feed. Usually she's jumping on the kennel door to get out. Today she deigned to stick her head out. "What? I'm busy!"

Even after I talked her into coming out and got the leash on her, she was trying to go back in. You can see layered look and her comfy carpet.

The dog bed just outside is one that had been inside the crate, and she pulled it out. The previous dog bed she pulled out and destroyed. And the dog blanket. But the carpet she seems to like. Cosy home. Happy Millie.

Destruction From Above

I'm sure everyone has heard of the devastation in Washington and Oregon states from rain and winds. I-5 is closed for 20 miles. Ten feet of water on the freeway. Coastal communities were blasted with hurricane force winds, and many are without power and, ironically, drinking water is in short supply.

I live right in the midst of the closed freeway area. Fortunately I live on a ridge high and, well, not dry, but not flooded. Also fortunately I was working at home Monday (I work in Olympia, on the other side of the closure), so I'm stuck here but that's OK with me. It seems Lewis and Grays Harbor (and probably more) counties are closed - can't get in or out for a while. We had terribly strong winds and lots and lots of rain, but my power is on so I'm happy. Meanwhile people in the western part of the county are being evacuated by boat and helicopter. People are being plucked from housetops. We don't usually get this extreme weather.

My sister lives by the coast near Montesano, and is without power. Lots of downed trees. They expect to take up to 8 days for power to come back on. Yikes! The main city of the county - Aberdeen - was isolated for a day. No roads open in or out, and I believe no one had power.

I haven't been off my property since Sunday, but I understand it's a real mess out there. They expect the freeway to be closed until Friday. Sure glad I have what I need to work from home.

My sister and I were going to pick up her son and his wife on Thursday - they are arriving from China. Now it looks like neither of us can make it. Fortunately a good friend in Seattle will do the airport run, and my other nephew in Seattle can put them up.

Life is interesting in the winter.

And I have an extra bag of dog food, and raw bones in the freezer. Lots of food supplies, and lots of water stored (I have a well with a pump! - no power, no water). Something EVERYONE should have - you just never know. I still need more work on my emergency plan, but I'm sure glad I've done what I have. I don't need to leave home until the devastation is repaired some. I'm definitely one of the lucky ones.

Duck in the Headlights

When Berna chased the bantams, the Muscovies were with them. The ducks flew off as Berna ran down the hill. When I finally left for work, I noticed a duck across the county road from my lane. A very shell-shocked duck, looking just like a deer caught in the headlights at night. I pulled into the closest driveway and walked back up to her, talking softly and encouraging her to cross the road and head up to our lane. She did seem to know who I was, and slowly - very slowly - headed in the right direction. Once I got her on the gravel lane she took off flying about 2 feet above the road. Assuming she could find her way from there, I went on to work.

The next morning I realized that only 2 Muscovies were lined up for food. The third must of flown out of her known territory fleeing Berna. Sadly I counted her as gone. The other two wandered around aimlessly for 2 days, obviously missing their friend.

This morning as I was feeding the sheep I heard the susurration of happy ducks. I turned to see three Muscovies doing their greeting dance. They then Egyptian line danced to the next kiddie pool, formed a new circle, and chattered some more. Tails flaired, crests up, and heads moving back and forth they made a happy trio. I'm so glad to have them all home.

Berna in the morning

Berna is my house guardian. She has this job because her prey drive is too strong for guarding poultry. Ursa, who spent the summer as an outside dog, has decided that 13-year-old bones do better in the warm, dry house. She still needs to patrol the front yard and upper bird pasture regularly, however.

I was headed out to do the morning feeding, and Ursa wanted to come along. Unfortunately she takes much longer to get up and moving than Berna. Bear took one look at the open front door and went from flat on her side snoozing to loping down the stairs in about half a second. First she chased all the bantams back into what was once a dog yard, and then dashed down the hill to see who else was chaseable.

For the next 10 minutes she ran after chickens and I ran after her. Then she ran down a rooster, grabbed him by the wing right at the shoulder, and took off. She pranced all around the woods, the buildings, up and down the hill, holding a bird bigger than her head. Finally her hearing returned, and she heard me suggesting we go back in the house. She looked at me - dazed bird in mouth - suspecting a trap, but thought her house was the perfect place to further examine this full-grown rooster prize. She trotted up the stairs and waited for me at the door.

I grabbed her collar, gave the "drop it" command, and with a little prompting she released the rooster. He took that opportunity to disappear, and appeared to be uninjured. Berna got lots of praise and some really good treats in trade. I got 20 minutes of serious aerobic exercise.

While the "come" command obviously needs a lot of work, I was pleased that "inside" and "drop it" were both (eventually) recognized and obeyed. I am also pleased that Berna, while loving the chase, doesn't seem inclined to actually hurt the birds she runs down. But I don't think she's in danger of a job description change any time soon.