How to throw your back out with overalls

 
Carhartt winter overalls are made of heavy cotton canvas. On the inside they have a thick quilted material. They are meant to go over jeans and sweatshirts and boots so they are huge. The matching coat is then big enough to go over all of that.

So, when I thought about this today, I realized I'm basically wearing a boat cover. HEAVY. Now next winter I don't imagine this being an issue as I'll be stronger. This winter however, is our first winter at the Mother Ranch and my soft, sweet, suburb body is suffering. Not only from the weight of these things but because I'm finding they are completely changing my walk--to one of a duck!

I can feel my spine telescoping downwards... 

 

Sweetness and Siri

 

Haaaaa! 

Sweetness the donkey started a squeaky bray and Siri, from the phone in my back pocket said, 

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you said."

 

We lost a sheep today...

 

We came home today at 4:30 after being gone all day to find a dead and disemboweled sheep.

Actually Michael found her. It was Speckles. I was feeding horses in the big pasture and heard Michael call to me from the sheep/donkey pasture that we only had four sheep and the fifth was dead. The whole conversation took place with us calling back and forth about 200 feet away from each other.

Me: What?? I see the four...is that the fifth one way back there? (As I'm saying this I'm realizing that it's not normal for one to be so far away from the others...)
Michael: Yes, it's dead.
Me: Are you sure it's dead? Maybe it's just sleeping?
Michael: Oh it's dead alright.
Me: How do you know?
Michael: It's eyes are open and it's intestines are hanging out.
Me, jogging up the lane now: You saw it?
Michael, matter of fact and calm as could be: Yes.

Suddenly all the questions he had been asking about death and where we go after were more clear to him. (Ah. I see. So the part that makes us "us" goes to another place and this other part stays here.) We all went out to the sheep and Michael reached out to touch her fur. He wasn't freaked out. He touched her leg. He told her he was sorry. 

We of course assumed coyote until we remembered there is a mountain lion on the east side of town (in our old neighborhood of all places!)--just a few miles away. A friend suggested we call the Division of Wildlife and the guy on call called us back. Brad sent him pics and the guy just said that there are some signs that it might actually be a mountain lion. OMG! Nothing is safe from a mountain lion! I don't worry much about coyotes with the horses, they typically ignore each other. But a big cat!? Please pray and send good juju to the Mother Ranch. That cat needs to be caught and relocated far far away!

UPDATE: The Wildlife guy suggested Brad skin the sheep's neck out to see what kind of bite marks were there. He did and we are now 99% sure it was a coyote. While not a happy thought, it's definitely better than the thought of a mountain lion lurking around! 

 

Sheep wrecked

 

Sigh. Midge has been doing amazing with remembering past sheep dog training.

Thought this would be okay.

Not okay.

At all.

I walked into the sheep pen with young (training wise) Midge. Had her lie down. Went to open gate while (I thought) keeping an eye on Midge. Suddenly 5 thundering sheep hit me at the knees and I actually went completely airborne for a moment. Landed hip, wrist, back, head. Got to an elbow and found them heading for me again!

Midgie was just doing her job, bringing the sheep to mom.

I shrieked, "LIE DOWN LIE DOWN LIE DOWN!!!!!!!!!"

Midgie did. Brad came and removed her but not before she moved again and sent the freaking sheep in my direction for a third time. I still wasn't up yet so I just screamed and kicked at the poor sheep until they went the other way. Not my finest moment.

I finally got up and out of the pen. 

Arnica orally and topically. Advil. Ice on several parts. Ouch.