Since None Of Us Has Any Sun...Again...

How about a sweet picture of Biscuit enjoying the fleeting sun from the other day.  He's looking over at all of the rest of his buddies...on the other side of the fence.  Sometimes it's complicated being Biscuit ;-).  

I'd suggest "putting yourself in the photo, sitting in the sun up on the hill", but you'd end up with muddy pants.  Sigh...

Might as well just torture yourself with  a new puzzle!

A Warm Winter's Nap

Hank and Baba (Blossom) napping in the sun, when...maybe two weeks ago?  I just remember that it was a lovely afternoon.  Even in the 20s with snow on the ground, if it's sunny, I can curl up outside just like that.  I must be a sheep.  I'm not hard working enough to be a Hank.

"You might think I'm sound asleep..."

Here's a new puzzle.  I made two actually.  Here is a link to my entire album of puzzles.  Have fun :-).

Happy National Puzzle Day!

Boy, this week sure got away from me!  Sigh...  The beautiful snow has all melted and the 50s and 60s predicted for the next few days sure feel like winter is over :-(.  Hopefully February won't let me down.  

These are not the Hank pictures I mentioned last post, but I like them, too.  I will do a full(er) Hank post next week when my brain is working at full(er) steam.  If you have any more Hank or Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) questions, leave them in the comments or drop me an email.  

I'll let Hank take over now.

It was a beautiful foggy frosty morning.  I took a really nice shot focusing more on the cattails with the Frog Pond behind it, but I think Hank and his tracks add a nice element.

Passing the little Frog Pond, headed back to the "big pond".

On the way back.

Stopping.

Always paying attention to the back of the farm.

And his sheeps at the barn.

And me :-).

Headed back in.

Hank and I love the snow :-).

Here's a new puzzle to celebrate National Puzzle Day.



Enjoy!

Of Course She Is

Here are a few more shots from Andy's integration day.  I was so sad to not find a good shot of Kate for the calendar this year.  Calendar pictures need to be the right direction (horizontal, not vertical), sharp, good color, interesting composition, high resolution...  I think we've got one for next year!

Kate goes everywhere with me, especially if there are sheep involved...which there almost always are ;-). Her motto is "I can help you with that!"  When I let the main flock into Graham and Andy's paddock the other day, I went in with them to make sure no one tried to modify the borrowed "space ship".  Kate followed me in, but I didn't notice that because I was busy taking pictures.

I don't have much true stock dog experience.  Iris and I figured out more things than I thought we did over the years, but I definitely need more training.  Letting Kate follow me into a paddock full of sheep, while accidentally setting up a nice photo, might be a big no-no.  Not paying attention to my dog in the first place is probably even a bigger no-no.  A dog not as good as Kate would probably teach me that lesson the hard way ;-).

However, to me (again, remember I am definitely no expert), if I turn around and see that my dog has followed me somewhere, but is laying down waiting patiently while I'm goofing off not paying attention, that's not just a pretty calendar shot.  I think that means she's a great dog and I am so honored for the opportunity to learn from her.  I am looking forward to stepping up my game this year.

We all sat out there in the paddock for a good while letting everyone get acquainted.  Being a cocky young punk, Andy got a fair sampling of who would send him flying if he got too friendly (Rebecca Boone) and who would make some good new friends for him (the boys).  When I was ready to clear them out of there, Kate was up in an instant.

"I can help you with that!"

We had to make an emergency run to Florida this weekend.  My mother is in the hospital down there and needed someone to come get their two dogs and cat who were traveling with them.  I left a note for our farm sitter and explained how to use Kate to set hay out for the sheep.  "Open the stall door. She knows what to do."  I got a text the next morning, "Kate's awesome!"  She really is.

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Here's a new puzzle and a new puzzle tip.  If you click the puzzle piece at the bottom right of the frame it takes you to the same puzzle, but on the puzzle site.  There, if you click "play as", you can change the number of pieces to make it easier or harder, depending on your mood.  Have fun and stay warm!

Santa Andy

So the rogue outlaw has turned out to be anything but.  So much so that I've given him the name Andy because he reminds me of my old horse Handy, who also came with an actual bad reputation, not just for being a brat.

The weather has been crazy warm and everyone was out enjoying it today.  Stella came over to help me decorate the sorely neglected Wool House and then we pulled out some Santa hats and introduced Andy to "how things work around here".  He had a blast :-).

First one out the gate.

"Cookies?  Got it!"

"Wear a stupid hat and pose for pictures?  No problem!"

"Go out the other door to see if we could get some pictures with all the spring green grass?  I'll be the first one out again!"

"Back in to beg for more cookies?  I think I like this game!"

"He's a quick learner and I'm a good teacher." (See Graham's legs in the reflection?)

"This is the Wool House.  This is where the spinning wheels and looms are."

"Wow!  It's just like I always dreamed about."

He gave 20 a full introduction, but fat Graham was blocking all those pictures ;-).

Lots to check out.

"Well, I'll be..."

"This was as fun as you said it would be!"

Everyone needs a good friend (see T-Bone and Hickory in the background :-).

There will be a Christmas Eve cookie party tonight.  Don't forget to notice the moon.  It was gorgeous coming up over the front field this evening.  I

Here is a fun "practice puzzle" for my fellow puzzle junkies. I'm planning a big puzzle for tomorrow :-D.

Even Though It Sure Doesn't Feel Like Winter

You might still enjoy a long nap with Hank and Maisie :-).
 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

...Maisie Week!

I mentioned the other day that we'd had to re-print all the Christmas cards this year and that it sort of involved Maisie...as most things usually do.  What happened was in setting up the diagram of characters for the back of this year's card, I assigned Maisie the number 1.  Spud was supposed to be number 10. but I cut the 0 off and he ended up number 1. as well.

Now it would have been classic if Maisie had been assigned number 10. and she cut the 0. off so she'd be number 1. but alas it was just an error on my part...as most things usually are.  Sweet Spud could care less what number he was and besides, he was too busy eating gold, frankincense and myrrh Cheerios to notice ;-).

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Intimidated A Little?

A beautiful heavy frost last night.  I took a couple pictures of the early riser sheep out with Hank, who was camouflaged in silver.  He saw me and left the sheep (nothing going on in the neighborhood this morning apparently) to come out and say good morning and make a lap around the yard.  He does this pretty regularly and when he's done, he wants to be let back in with his sheep.  If I've left the barn, he'll lay down at whatever gate is closest to them and take a nap, waiting for me to come back.  

This morning I walked down towards the house to talk with the contractor who had just pulled in.  I looked back at the barn and saw Hank, Kate and Comby.  Ooh, that's a neat picture - click.  Wait a minute - seems odd that Hank is laying in the driveway...  He's never done that before...  And then I got it.

Remember how Hank will split the difference between two groups of sheep so he can watch both?  He was splitting the difference between his sheep...and his person...who was talking to a "stranger".  

And he wasn't napping ;-).

The original picture for the post this morning.  You'll have to look closely to find Hank.

Coming out to say good morning...and watch my back :-).

Anyone want to do another Hank puzzle?

Puzzle Fun

If you are looking for something fun to do on a rainy afternoon...