Alice Acres ~ new (human) grandbaby!

[Alice Acres]

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday and Good luck on the turducken!

I just stuffed my free range almost a pet turkey (35 lbs after butchering and cleaning) with an 8 lb muscovie duck. It is my first time trying something like this, but it should be good. I can't fit my home grown turkeys into my oven (neither could my family last year) so I cook them in the fire pit half deep pit style/half smoked style.

Oh, that smoking sounds good! And heavenly leftovers too

This is the recipe he used 2 yrs ago - just used it as a guideline. He makes his own ingredients up, but wanted to see the assembly steps mostly.
http://homecooking.about.com/od/turkeyrecipes/ss/turduckensbs.htm

 

[Alice Acres]

So darn busy!

One update - the turducken didn't happen. Todd decided he didn't want to "contaminate" the turkey with the duck...oh well.
But, both separately turned out wonderful...

Yesterday the ram went in with the ewes. Actually, 2 of them.
We got 2 young rams from a friend, in our sheep swap. One was by accident - she sent the wrong one. He is 3/4 dorper, 1/4 polypay - and not that great looking...his nickname he came with is "Squirt"! He is really nice though, temperament wise. Then we got the "right one" a couple weeks ago, and did quarantine on him. He's 3/4 polypay/1/4 dorper, but much nicer structurally, but Todd had concerns all his "boy parts" aren't quite mature. So, he decided just to send both of them out together, to make sure one of them for sure gets the job done. :/
It wasn't my 1st choice, but they are out there. Both boys grew up together, and are fine - no fighting, etc. We'll have to see how they do as they mature.
So, give or take a bit, we should have lambs in about 5 months.

I've been super busy working. I did have one day off over Thanksgiving (oh the joys of nursing - someone has to work the holidays!) on Saturday. I got in off the wait list for an agility trial, so my OES Chewie and I drove to that and had a fabulous day. We went 4/4 with our Q's (Qualifying runs), and they were also in the placings - 2-1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd.
Here is a picture of him from an earlier trial in September :

He's since had a haircut, I'm going to try a couple links from the photographer's site from Saturday:
http://herreidphotography.zenfolio.com/p198685206/h4cdb0084#h4cdb0084

http://herreidphotography.zenfolio.com/p53217087/h4cd902ac#h4cd902ac


Then Monday on my next day off, I spent the entire afternoon shaving down a friend's OES. She is in coat transition, and the matting got away from her...

Yesterday and today are back at work, 12 hour shifts. I am off tomorrow - and can't wait!!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Cool picture! Enjoy your day off

 

[bonbean01]

What a gorgeous dog!!!! Enjoy your day off and glad your lambing time is different than mine...by the time your lambs arrive I will be needing another lambing fix

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

That's so cool. Hope you enjoy that day off. Those are my favorite days. lol

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Great looking dog and how cool that guys do agility. Some day, when I have time I would love to get a dog and do agility, I think you form an amazing bond with your dog.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

I just saw this and thought it was interesting. http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/old-english-sheepdog-becoming-a-rare-breed

 

[Southern by choice]

I just saw this and thought it was interesting. http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/old-english-sheepdog-becoming-a-rare-breed

I saw that too, maybe a week ago?? I thought it was pretty interesting.

Alice- Adelina has gained 4lbs, also forced an a.m. routine change. Thanks!!

 

[Alice Acres]

Ah yes, this has sparked numerous discussions in the sheepdog world. It started with the UK putting them on the "watch" list this fall. And it's true - numbers are steadily dropping. Actually lots of breeds are, especially if they are big and hairy.

And also - the photo in the article was taken at our National Specialty in September. All the best OES from the US, Canada and some from other countries were there competing. The dog pictured was not the winner of the Top Twenty competition - my dogs' cousin was the WINNER! And at that same show my puppy Bond won Best Puppy - he has his picture up on the podium too

Bond -

And my Granddaughter (same one modeling the sheep shearer in another post) with Chewie winning Top Junior Handler -

Chewie has all his hair trimmed off now, as he also does herding and runs as a sled dog all winter. We are doing carting as training and conditioning now in the fall.

 

[Alice Acres]

I just saw this and thought it was interesting. http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/old-english-sheepdog-becoming-a-rare-breed

I saw that too, maybe a week ago?? I thought it was pretty interesting.

Alice- Adelina has gained 4lbs, also forced an a.m. routine change. Thanks!!

Very nice!! I hope she keeps it up