A Busy weekend..............

The past four days have been busy for all of us. The kids had Friday off as well as today and Steve was home Friday. We completed several more tasks that needed finishing before cold weather. Steve built a new door for the chicken house on Saturday. The old door had completely fallen apart awhile back and we just hadn't found the time to replace it. This new one should last a good, long while. The boys worked on replacing fence posts and Mom and I shelled black beans while the shop was open. The boys also worked on the wood pile and put a good portion of dry wood left over from last year on the front porch. I've had a fire the last two mornings. We have had below freezing temps overnight and that morning smudge warms the house up quickly.

The lambs have more than adequate shelter but they prefer to sleep outside. As you can see, little Sugar on the end spent the night outside as she's covered with frost.

Sunday three of us went for hay while Steve and the boys went scouting for deer and a place to put up their tree stands. Tyler passed his hunter/safety course and is very excited to hunt with the crew this year. We had four nice doe pass across the pasture on Saturday. That was very encouraging for the hunters :) They found two nice buck rubs and moose tracks. That really excited Tyler. It would be so cool for him to get a deer his first time out.We delivered our pigs to the butcher on Sunday afternoon. I enjoy raising them but I'm always glad when it's time for them to go. Loading them was a breeze and unloading them as well. I pick them up all cut and wrapped on Tuesday. The smoked meat will be ready in about a month. Everyone is anxious for fresh sausage and bacon. I'll have happy customers this week :)

The rest of the week we will be doing our fall shearing as long as the weather holds. The weatherman said snow showers here and there. That could change our plans. Our new pup, Otis, is growing quickly and already loves to help move the sheep and goats along. The adult ewes will just stare at him and stomp their feet. He doesn't back down but he's not ready to take them head on just yet either :) He's a real sweetheart and we couldn't be happier with him.