Nar Drop B'y

So this has been the best summer since the dawn of time. Warm. Sunny. Dry. Very dry. Locals have told me they haven't seen the pond this low in 40 years. I believe it.
This is the driest I've seen it. Its only our fourth summer here but its parched. Every drop of rain we have had has been collected in buckets for flushing. Drinking water is brought in. Over 100lbs those big blue containers are. The furred and feathered get their required ration. Veggies got whatever fell from the sky.
We have dug wells here on The Compound. Three of em. Primary well is in the house and has been dry since early June, I think. The secondary well has been down to less than 12 inches of water now for months. The tertiary well is up in the woods and it has a good bit of water. Getting that water from 3 to 2 or 1 is not so easy.
Now there was some panic a couple days ago when the pump on well 1 went haywire. Thought I'd have to get out the shotgun but it came back. Thank goodness.
Also thank goodness that its still warm and dry considering it could be cold and dry nearing the end of September. Himself gets what shower water ration is available. Why? Because I told him there was a little girl in the pond. Ages ago. But he is hasn't gone swimming since. What a sook. But this means my bathwater is getting cooler everyday. Nothing like hopping in the pond at 6am because Land and Sea is arriving at 9 but at least that was in August. But I'm no diva so as long as the well(s) recovers before the ice is on the pond we'll be alright. I know, but its a good thing I'm cracked and this isn't complainin' its explainin. Snort.
Gotta love the Laundromat. "Still nar drop, maid?", says ole feller.

Any Chickens 'Lowed in?

So I was out puttering about The Compound this morning. Burning a few branches and whatnot seeing as its damp and cam. Yes cam.
As I go towards the house what do I see but some of the chickens going up the steps....which is weird. But when I get to the top of the steps the Three Sisters are at the patio door wanting to get in. Chief and Spider were also at the patio door on the inside. They totally wanted the feathered ones to come in for breakfast.
No chickens 'llowed in today b'ys. The ladies did pretty well with the steps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BRyqKtPM0U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Larry Templeman

We had a storm blow in this week. Hurricane Leslie. And as she blew in, my uncle blew out.
I come from a very small family as they are reckoned here in Newfoundland. My mom only had the one brother. I got called Larry by my Nan T more times than I can count. I always chuckled about that.
Larry was born  and raised in St. John's but lived out on Mockbeggar in Bonavista for most of my lifetime. I saw him and Aunt Linda and my cousins Bonita, Krista ( Krissy) and Paul a good bit over the years.
Now in the past year or so I saw Uncle Larry more often than I did. He stopped by The Compound on his way to and from from Bonavista to town. He brought me a beautiful sealskin for me to make some boots out of. I had made a smurfberry cake that day and gave him and mom and dad some hunks for the road. He was a tall drink of water and I figgered a few calories might do him some good. Mom told me after that when she passed the bag to him in the backseat he eyeballed it and asked what kind it was cause it looked like what Nan T ( his mom) used to make. Sure 'nuff it was and he was impressed. Ate a hunk with fussels cream when he got home.
He had a couple of lovebirds; offspring of Olive and Popeye. We put em in a wee box for their trip. They got up to a lot of mischief I think. He was quite the artist and even when he was sick he drew me a picture of one of the birds.
This year I was told a few funny stories as well. I always joke about my Kramer hair especially when windy if my hair is pulled back. Well there were a number of pictures of me when I was little with my curls all brushed out. I could never figure out why. Well apparently Uncle Larry was the culprit. He'd always brush my hair and Nan would tutt tut at him and say Larry! What are you doing to that poor youngster's hair. That makes me laugh.
And there was a picture of me perched up in a boat. I had always thought why the hell was the boat so high in the air and why was I in it. Now Uncle Larry was really tall and I was higher than him in the boat. But apparently I wanted to be in the boat AND in the picture BY MYSELF so Uncle Larry coopied down so I couldn't see him and have a fit. Which is why he was smiling. Too funny.
Uncle Larry fought a hell of a fight over the last while. He had as many lives as a cat. Every time he would be on deaths door I would say...yeah right he's not going anywhere yet. He waited till there was a good exciting weather day. Nothing boring for him on the last going off.
He'll live on in the stories, memories and pictures of his wife, sister, children and extended family like me.
Gonna listen to some Johnny Cash later *wink*

Descended From Goats..

Watch "Sam brings home goat greens" on YouTube

So you might be thinking...descended from goats? What now?
Well when I first mentioned goats to Himself he wasn't overly excited but once they got here....well that's a different story. He shaves carrots for their breakfast and calls to see how they are doing. Yesterday he stopped at Butterpot to get ginormous dandelions and raspberry for them. Had to wash em too to remove spit bug spit and other possible nonleafy material that might be abhorrent to a goats palette. Yes I know...
Anyhoo it makes sense that he's a softie for goats. Here is the story. Sixty odd years ago Himself's dad was born and his mother passed away. So as his newborn son stayed in the hospital, Himself's pop (also a Sam) buried his wife. He then brought his baby boy home, to die they said. But there was a goat. And that goat provided the milk to keep the baby alive. Can you imagine? Well that baby grew up and had his own kids (couldn't resist) and one was Himself. So there it is. Thanks long ago goat!
So we will have the spoiledest goats in the world. Not a surprise I know.

Livin' the Dream

I'm sitting out by the chicken coop hanging out with Onesie. He gets picked on sometimes by the big chickens...even his mom. But he/she is a very advanced chicken...way smarter about everything than the other young chickens.
I just got back from a swim. Swimming in the pond is like walking around in the night being able to see in peoples houses. Nothing better than swimming around the pond after a hot day outside weeding and whatnot. There were swallows doing loopdeeloops overhead and then skimming around me an inch above water. Awesome.
When I was walking up the driveway there were baby bunnies hopping away. Himself says if I catch any I can keep em.
Storm and Cloud had lots of visitors this weekend...21 to be exact. Between them and the silkies everyone is amazed at the cuteness. Duke and Chief still don't know what the horned creatures are all about but as long as they all get the same amount of scratches and rubdowns they are content.
All the weekenders are packing up to go back to civilization so it will be back to normal peacefulness soon. Poor buggers slogging back over the highway in that end of long weekend traffic.
I love it here. I'm like that little jammy girl in the coffee commercial. I love my house! I love my beagles. I love my garden. I love my goats...you get the idea.

Goat News June 28

So I have spent the last 36 hours stalking my new goats. You've probably seen umpteen pictures and videos and that won't change till the data allotment gets used lol. Here are some things I have learned about Storm and Cloud.

1. They are super cute and are personality plus. They would be sure to win any Goat Congeniality award.

2. Storm loves raisins but Cloud does not. Can't blame him really.

3. They need raincoats and sou'westers and goat rubbers.

4. Hay is their least favorite thing to eat. Least being relative when it comes to eating anything.

5. I have said stop eating my shorts more times than Bart Simpson said to eat his.

6. As much as I hate people eating noises, goat chomping is a very soothing noise...just like chicken cheeps.

7. Himself makes more goat noises than the goats do.

8. Dandelion leaves and raspberry bushes are yummy.

9. They like their new furniture.

10. Its only a matter of time before I am sharing the couch with two beagles, a cat and two wee goats.

I need to learn tons more about goats but in the meantime thanks to everyone who helped in my procurement of Storm and Cloud…and if you love hearing about goats...go to The Grumpy Goat Gallery in Upper Island Cove to see two awesome girl goats and beautiful art...and Baynoddy in Chapels Cove to see goats, llamas and sheep not to mention the lovely spinning and knitted things.

Storm and Cloud

They arrived at about 5:30 yesterday. The cutest wee goats, Storm and Cloud. They didn't have to travel far...only from Whitbourne.
We had just finished their accommodations. And I had to laugh because I told Himself how little they were but he must've tuned me out or not believed my crazy talk. Well when he saw them both in a dog crate in the back of the pickup and then picked up one to carry him...well then he believed. Our beagle Duke weighs more than twice what one goat does.
Storm and Cloud had been living on a patio. They were filled with goaty glee when they were put in their pen. Grass and shrubbery to eat. Things to jump and play on. They started chomping and frolicking immediately. Duke and Chief were very interested in their new hooved brothers. They sang them a beagle welcome. Storm and Cloud ignored them.
Then as darkness fell Himself worried that the goats needed a night light. So there was light in the Old Shack for the first time in years in not decades. Storm and Cloud snuggled up together and went to sleep.
I dare say there will be even more visitors to The Compound now that these little munchkins have taken up residence. I know I am still doing a goaty jig! They are goatacular!