Our Little Honor Student

"Lambs should start ruminating (chewing cud) around three weeks old." Keebler won't be three weeks until Wednesday and he's been doing this for several days already! We're so proud. But not too surprised. We're all a bunch of good eaters around here ;-).



So what exactly is chewing his cud? Well, first he eats some grass. If you listen closely you can hear him...between bird calls.



He can even eat laying down, half asleep.



Then, if you watch closely you can see him burp up some half chewed grass and chew on it some more. In his sleep. With his cute little ears hanging down in "sleep mode". With his trusty Border Collie.

It's super hot here and sitting under a shade tree with Keebler is not a bad place to be this afternoon.



Enjoy!

Sunday Stills

I'm joining the Sunday Stills Photography Challenge. This Sunday we are to "look beyond the typical barn shot, if possible get inside, get different angles, things in barns etc…"

Being in Kentucky I felt almost obligated to feature horses or tobacco. As there are horse barns all over the country and many of the horse barns in Kentucky started out as tobacco barns, it was an easy decision.

I'm going to start out with two favorite photographs from my archives, just to set the scene. These were taken last summer and are of a friend's barn just up the road. Not only can you see the traditional styling of the barn, but also tobacco hanging to cure.

I can smell the tobacco in this picture. Hard to describe - the smell and the fact that I can smell it by "sight". Through the barn, some of her cows in the background. Note also the basketball hoop. I don't believe I've seen a barn in Kentucky without that requisite garnish.

These pictures are inside our barn - once a tobacco barn, converted to horses and now for sheep. The stalks of tobacco in the first two pictures are speared onto a tobacco stick and those sticks are then hung (by hand) all the way to the top of these barns, resting between two "stringers" - the long square boards running throughout the barn. This time of year, all the tobacco barns are this empty as the tobacco has been stripped, baled and sold.

This is the top end of the back of our barn. Our barn dates back to at least 1922, when it was moved to this farm from a neighboring farm. All of the wood has been replaced at least once I'm sure, but I'm not sure that this last remaining bit isn't still original. The lace work of the boards reminds me of a church window.

A question - can someone tell me how to retake this picture and remove the glare?

Keebler, Ya Feeling Lucky?

"Dude."

"Seriously. "

Actually, all the cats and dogs have been very kind to Keebler. Even Eli. Iris is a bit miffed because she has yet another sheep that won't do what she says, but, well, that's just another day at the office for her.



A cute Keebler fact - his ears droop when he's sleeping.

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I've emailed the first draw from the Clover Contest. Will post the answer as soon as they confirm the location :-).

'Night Momma

Ready for bed. Soft blankies, alfalfa hay, fresh dandelions - the important stuff.

A couple of cute fun facts: there's nothing cuter than his big yawn and he "talks" in his sleep when he's dreaming.

I hope he's having sweet dreams.

Do You Feel Lucky? Well, Do Ya?

I've found several four leaf clovers (there's a cute Ewen baby pic in that link too) this spring.



I found a five leaf yesterday.



In this area of the yard. (Click to biggify)

Can you see it?

If you can, leave a comment of "Found it!" (but don't say where ;-) and a way to reach you and at the end of the day Saturday, I'll have Saint Tim draw a lucky number and if you can tell me which quadrant it's in, I'll send you a set of vol. 1 and vol. 2 Equinox Farm note cards.

Have fun!