More eggs, fewer sheep

With the gradually lengthening daylight (and mostly sunny days this month), the hens are slowly increasing production. Not fast enough for the people wanting to buy eggs, though....

Speaking of buyers, the people who came to buy three ewes last Friday left with four! Good thing I had spent time pouring over last year's micron test data, because when they hinted at being open to taking a fourth ewe, I knew who I should let go. So Bauble joined Boop, Bonnie Lass, and Blossom for the trip south to their new home. I admit to some pangs, because I thought Bauble was my most beautiful Shetland, and since her dam Blaise is gone I can't try to replicate her. Just the night before, Rick stayed in the Sheep Sheraton awhile after carrying a bucket for me and I caught him loving on Bauble.

After the four left, I put the three 'barn sheep' out in the wooded lot with the remaining girls so they could figure out the new social order and live together. Since some of the 'mean girls' had left, I was hopeful that no one would get hurt in the kerfuffle and by this morning, all seemed copacetic, thankfully.

I continue to be delighted with my new iPhone's camera capabilities. On my way home from work Thursday, snow-covered Mt. Hood was shining in the sun so I pulled over at the bottom of our hill to see what I could capture. Finally, a true representation of what I get to enjoy with my naked eye!

Evening photo of dark yarn? No problem!

Besides spinning navy singles, I'm plying two very different singles I spun last year into what for me is an experimental 2-ply:

Not sure I'd wear these colors, though, so this yarn might be knit into a gift.

That's it for now from . . .

Reality, looked at steadily, is unbearable

Forgive me if I have used this C.S. Lewis quote as a blog title before. It just rings so true. Not for my own immediate reality, the reality of my quiet, rural life; that in and of itself brings both relief and guilt for having it so easy and safe. I was not born in untenable conditions of poverty, or famine, or war, or gang violence, or natural disasters, or societal pariahhood; I was born white in America, with an 'acceptable' name and face that does not raise prejudice or suspicion. While my near ancestors were immigrants and came with nothing, they came of their own volition and were legally able to work (on my mother's side) or obtain land to farm (on my father's side). Some call this the accident of birth, but it is no accident that there are WAY too many people who have no compassion, no ability or willingness to imagine themselves in someone else's shoes, with someone else's experiences. Even supposed Christians demonize others for these reasons, ignoring the teachings of Jesus and the Bible as a whole – not that that is anything new since early days.... Humans can just be so utterly vile that being one of the species can be depressing – if one looks steadily at that reality.

So look away, friends. Not to the point of being uninformed, but enough to stay sane. Look to beauty, especially in nature, which, despite all the damage done by humans, still reflects the Creator's hand. Remind yourselves of your blessings, and look to humans who demonstrate kindness, selflessness, generosity, good humor, helpfulness, faith. Strive to be that kind of human. And take care of yourself, because everything looks worse if you are short on sleep, fresh air, exercise, plenty of water, and good nutrition. Lastly (but most importantly for me), trust in God. Today is not guaranteed, but eternity is for those who trust in Him.

Making pictures helps me focus, literally and figuratively, on beauty. And I must say, despite the hours, frustration, and the loss of some data that was meaningful to me in switching over to a new phone, I am enjoying the new iPhone's improved camera.

couldn't have captured this distant Redtail with the old iPhone

Sabbath afternoon

Saturday night popcorn is POPULAR!

a pretty morning after the spectacular sunrise above

Notice Broadway at the bottom?

girls with new ear tags, above and below

another long-distance shot I never could have gotten with the old iPhone

Blessings to you from . . .

What doesn't kill you....

I must be getting stronger in some way, shape, or form considering that this is day seven fighting a virus that I can't seem to lick. The coughing and fatigue (from coughing, or any other exertion) are not letting up and I am just so tired of both – yeah, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. 😏 Getting sick like this is not like me at all. It is also strange that neither of my guys have caught it, even though they are both shoveling down the holiday sweets from clients and family that keep appearing in our house.

I'm not getting much accomplished other than twice-daily barn chores, occasionally turning the horses out to let off steam, keeping the fire going, and doing a little cleaning. I did open, spin and ply the last two Advent fiber snacks:

We opened our gifts Christmas Eve:

Poppy was happy to get an empty box to shred

And I turned out the horses then rode Stella when my guys went to the family dinner on Christmas Day. When they returned, Brian and I got out the Lego set my sister gave us for Christmas and put it together. Believe it or not, this was the first Legos I've ever played with!

We stayed in the arena because we could hear four-wheelers

On Friday Rick had me meet him at the Verizon store to get my Christmas present from him, a new iPhone. The salesman couldn't get the data to transfer; after numerous attempts over more than two hours, we gave up and he sent me home to try to do it here. I've lost count of how many times I've tried and been foiled here over the last two days, so I'm going to go back tomorrow and demand a different new iPhone; this one has got to be faulty. (Maybe IT caught my virus???) Hopefully the Verizon salesman will resolve things quickly because wearing an N95 mask is another seriously fatiguing experience; it's a struggle to get enough air.

A couple of my blogpals have already shared their 2025 reading lists. Knowing how long it took me to copy my Libby records into a post for last year's reading list, I thought about splitting my posts into half-year reading lists, but obviously didn't. So coming up soon will be one looooonng post listing all the audiobooks I've listened to this year – long, because rarely a day goes by when I'm not listening to something via the Libby app on my phone. And thanks to the new AirPods my guys got me for Christmas, it will be even nicer to listen going forward!

That's it for now from . . .

My daily therapy

Following are the daily photos with captions that I've shared on IG/FB starting November 6 through today, minus the four I shared in my last post and a couple I had already deleted. Some days I've shared more than one, as from the outing Stella and I took on Sunday (big horse blog update coming), and the day I posted the ferns and fungi. From here on, I'll include the photos from my daily IG/FB posts with my ~weekly posts here. As I said in my last post, looking for pretty/peaceful/positive things to post every day helps keep me sane in a crazy world, so this will continue for the foreseeable future!

Look for the light in God's creativity and love.

Still focusing on the light.

Some of the girls.

Still my big red goober, looking fine this fall.

The season that makes my senses sing!

Good morning!

TOTALLY worth the clean-up.😍

Full color or black and white? I enjoy both!

Friday night lights.

Our first time trying the OHC Mountain Trail course. SO fun–and Stella rocked every element!

Blessings of rain.

My beautiful Poppy–definitely a bright light in my world!

And that's a wrap! This morning I blew the leaves and debris out of the arena for the last (6th?) time this year. I love fall, but celebrate when the last of the Bigleaf Maples at the south end are bare. Now the horses can get out and stretch their legs, and I can school Stella, more often.

That's it for now from . . .