Decorative bird feeder or even a place where insects can visit the local watering hole.

I found these bright and colorful plates at the local Goodwill store and thought they would brighten up a flower bed or two.

  I put pebbles in the dishes so bees or butterflies could safely land on the pebbles to drink. You could put bird seed in them but I would attach a dowel or stick so the birds could land easily or just a pretty plate in your garden! Enjoy!

  

Supplies you will need for one plate:

1  3-4 foot piece of 1/2 inch copper pipe  ( I bought 10 foot of copper pipe and cut it into 2 pieces that measured 3 1/2 foot and one that measured 3 foot).

1   1/2 inch copper end cap.

1   1 1/4 inch fender washer.

  Gorilla glue epoxy

Epoxy the washer to the bottom of the plate. Let dry overnight. Epoxy the copper endcap to the washer and let dry overnight.

Sand the end of the copper pipe down with 80 grit sandpaper then switch to 120 grit sandpaper so the plate will easily slide off for cleaning. An orbital sander works well.

Zippy, a squirrel's life.

Zippy was a product of the summer storms. There were many trees down in my parents yard. My mom found him under his nest that had blown from the tree during the morning storms.

I had raised baby opossums for the conservation department years ago and baby sat sparrow hawks while they went on vacation and red foxes that were just on the cusp of being ready to release but never a squirrel. It is very important to do everything you can to reunite with mom but he was already chilled and even the squirrels were confused trying to take their regular path in the trees and suddenly it was no longer there.
So Zippy came home with us.As of yesterday he has been with us one month.
 We started him on Esiblac for puppies and then mixed that half with Henry’s Pets formula for squirrels when it came in. Never feed baby squirrels any other formula but the Esiblac for puppies. There are horrific pictures of well intended people feeding them evaporated milk or cow’s milk!
I also ordered silicone nipples for cheap off of Amazon and o-ring syringes they are the best to feed any animal with as they don’t stick like regular syringes and can be used multiple times.

He is approximately 5 weeks old now with lower incisors and eyes wide open! He has transitioned to a medium pet taxi with a water bottle and a few “safe” toys. He likes to nibble on the rat blocks that have all the nutrients they need while in captivity. Today I need to get a small animal mineral block for him
It is very important when they are weaned off formula at about 8 weeks old to supplement for calcium as gray squirrels like Zippy and any squirrel in captivity can die from Metabolic Bone Disease. It is very rare in the wild. This is a great place for resources. http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/squirrelcare.htm#7
Here are a few pictures of Zippy from last week. We are going out today for some more fun so stayed tuned for more.

First time above last week Zippy is able to curl his tail over his back! Yeah!

As if June isn't warm enough!!!

I have been wanting to post my winter project yet I wait till June to do it!!

This is an easy pattern from Yarn Harlot   http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2006/10/12/one_row_handspun_scarf.html

I made it out of Noro Keuryon yarn with angora. Super soft.

 

Happy Birthday!

 

 

Monty is two weeks old today. He is 3/4 Blue Faced Leicester and 1/4 Border Leicester. Mom, Monna is first time mom and very attentive.

 

This is Daisy and her son, Daegan. She and Dad, Kayman are CVM ( California Variagated Mutants) Daegan will be  a colored Romeldale as he is not badgered faced. They are a fine wooled sheep with multiple colors. Boy oh boy, did I learn when the description of the CVM were aggressive did I learn my lesson. Being used to Border Leicester and Blue Faced Leicester Rams that were so nice during breeding season. Then there is Kayman who will seek you out from across the paddock running with the pace of a cheetah and all you can do is hang on for the tackle! OUCH!

Meet Skylark

Skylark is the very first corridale lamb here. She was born during the cold weather. She had a twin boy whom, sadly we lost. She makes me smile when I see those ears and the oh so soft fiber she will be producing.

 

 

 

Isabella, my girl

I miss you everyday. Even though you were 12 it is never time to say goodbye. I got you from a shelter and you paid me back ten times fold. You and I spent our first year together while your other new friend was what seemed like many worlds away in Iraq. You were there when no one else was. You kept my sanity. You gave me a reason to keep going. 

Izzy, you could chase that tennis ball all day. I will always miss you. There is an empty space on the floor by my feet that will never be replaced. You were a good girl. Thank you for everything you gave me.

Remnants of Summer

 

Because of our late season drought I am forced to begin feeding hay to the sheepers. We hadn't finished up some paddocks because it was too dry for fence posts. So this evening I was pushing the hay cart just wishing I could head in for a nap! But chores must be done and I have waited all day to visit everyone. So I trudge on following what is left of the sparse grass and  I stumbled upon a little chipping sparrow nest. All constructed of horsehair from the mini horses. That is what most of the chipping sparrow nests were commonly made of but they will settle for dog hair and even human hair.  They have been known to pluck the hair straight from the source. They got their nickname honest. The hair bird.

The oldest chipping sparrow found as of now was 11 years old.

 

 

There were many times I could pick out from which dog of mine they used to line their nests.

 

         

 

 

This is one from a few years ago in a pine tree. Tugger’s hair lining the nest.

Unique uses for wool

This lady is so creative! She uses wool to felt nests and place in floral arrangements. The nest shown is made from one of my colored Blue Faced Leciester  girls. Check her etsy shop out at http://www.etsy.com/people/FreckledFig

 

 

Starling, my beautiful girl who passed away.

One down, two to go.

Momma dog made her way to her new foster home last this past Friday! She is staying with a family that takes white german shepherds. Thank you Echo Dogs Rescue! Now she can have a life couch and all. It was a sad goodbye for the women that work at Spoiled Pets Grooming as they helped provide her care until a foster home could be found. She now is sharing the  couch with two other shepherds in Omaha, Nebraska.

We are working on getting the two puppies to a rescue next. Momma looked for them. She was a good mom. Better than most people.

                          

 

Good bye Momma dog your puppies will be in good hands. I promise. I hope you get everything you deserve.

 

                                             

Waiting for a forever home…..

 

                               Momma above enjoying her time out and time free of worry.

These little boys and there mom were picked up off a major highway near where I live. We didn’t really know what we saw as we were in the west bound lane. Soooo…what do you do? We took the nearest exit and there was “momma” and her two pups. She no longer had any food to offer them but they weren't giving up. “Momma” was in need of some groceries soon. She was very skinny and worn out. The little boys were very shy and no sign of just being a puppy. Cars were not moving over a lane for us. We had to move slow in order to not scare them into the highway as the only thing she was sticking around for was one of the puppies I snuck away to the truck so she was reluctant to leave. We had no food or “lures” for them. The one boy still with her was nursing as she was walking away from us. Just then I remembered I had a sheep lead in the truck and preceded to get it and the puppy I had taken. She came to a dead stop not taking her eyes off either puppy now. So I carefully place the lead over her neck and carried the one pup I had in my arms in front of her just like a new born lamb so mom can follow. It worked! She walked with us placing the boys in the truck first she climbed in without hesitation.

             The “boys” taking time out from play to relax and dream a little!

 

Now the next problem…we have her safe where do we take them? I was already at my carrying capacity at home. We could fix something up in an emergency. So we drove around for about an hour while I called shelter after shelter in which we all know the answer to that one. “we are full”

Finally, a lady agreed to take them at her boarding/grooming business. But they can not stay there for long. I went today to get pictures of them for a lady that helps rescue dogs off chains hoping we can get them homes. Black puppies are hard to place as they are black and “nothing” special because they don’t look past the color.

The day we left them they had the look of relief with food and water, shade, and somehow knowing they didn’t have to run. Mom looks like a white German Shepherd. The puppies look like the “runaway” dad we saw with them. He wasn’t in bad shape but there was no way we could of gotten him. So I hope he will make it ok.

Momma dog is sooo smart. She watches the caretakers every move. Comes when called. She has great potential for a house companion. The boys? Well, they can now finally be boys!
For now anyway. They are in need of a forever home.

Now to leave you with a smile and take time out to play and free yourself from worry!!!!!

 

Rudy gets a bath!

You would think his world came to an end. Poor guy. But he is squeaky clean.

                          

 

And he is forgiving.

 

Oh wait a minute….what’s that? A tail? Everything must be ok now. Just gotta live for the moment!

                      

Rudy

 Introducing the future flock guardian (we hope!). Rudy is a very energetic Komondor. He so far loves socks, cats, herding the sheep, and lunging off of furniture.
Rudy goes to visit Myah and the sheep but still slithers through the gate when the visit is over!
It has been hard to leave Tugger behind. I walk to his grave many times wishing I could bring him back. At five years old he matured into such a perfect livestock guardian and companion.
Rudy will eventually mature and hopefully full fill Tuggers' paws. They are big ones to fill.

                                   I don't know guardian or lounger? Hmm...time will tell.
                               





   Bone Cancer is a monster. How do you tell your best friend it is time to go?
                                         





                                                                               
                                                                     

              Tugger, I miss you everyday.   It has been only been 1 1/2 months yet it seems so long ago.                                        

Announcing, my Etsy store has arrived!  Please visit my shop! Soon to come will be roving, and paper cuttings that are farm and fiber related. You can contact me through my blog or my store! I look forward to meeting you!

In memory of Tugger who was released from
  osteosarcoma (bone cancer) on June 19, 2013.  R.I.P. I will miss your
happy face everyday.
 

      I Only Wanted You 

They say memories are golden

well maybe that is true.

I never wanted memories,

I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,

a million times I cried.

If love alone could have saved you

you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,

In death I love you still.

In my heart you hold a place

no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway

and heartache make a lane,

I'd walk the path to heaven

and bring you back again.

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same.

But as God calls us one by one,

the chain will link again.

–Vicky Holder