Girls and the mini horses

    I finally got the picture of when the girls came to dinner a few months ago.  Joe cooked chicken on the grill and we ate out on the patio.  So much fun listening to the girls talk and visiting with them.  Before dinner the girls were out loving on the minis.  They took some great pictures of each other.
   We are looking forward to all the Grandkids visiting and spending time here!

The new roof!

November 13, 2014.                     Just need to finish the roof trim!!

                               

Red Wattle Sow

October 25

     We bought a heritage breed of hog! The heritage breeds are rare and we wanted a pig that does well foraging for most of its food as opposed to one that is penned up and fed just commercial feeds.
We chose a Red Wattle sow named Rosie. (probably because she is red).  She is friendly but quite large so not quite what I would call a pet.  No, we aren't going to eat her.  Rosie is two years old and has been bred to a Red Wattle boar.  There should be about a dozen little piglets born around the first part of January.  Rosie will be kept in part of the barn and one of the cattle pens this winter so we can keep an eye on her and keep the piglets warm with a heat lamp.
    A Red Wattle pig has two wattles hanging from its neck.  The wattles don't do anything, sort of like our appendix.  They are just distinguishing breed traits.

Oct 30 - Nov 12 Roof on

Who knew there was so much involved with getting a new roof?  Not me, that's for sure.
      After removing the red metal and two layers of shingles and tar paper, there were hundreds of nails that had to be popped up.  Again, thank goodness for the proper tools and strong able bodied people.  Then some new bracing and sheeting was cut and installed.  The sheets of under liner went down and then the metal was put on the addition first so the metal would not have to be hauled across a finished roof.  Joe and Wayne had a few challenges with the 20 foot panels in the blowing wind, but they did great and got the job done.  Then the process started again on the old roof.  I don't know how the guys have been able to work on the roof as the temperatures are running about 25 degrees below normal.  This weeks high was about 31 degrees and low around 22 at night.
We now have a beautiful green metal roof ! The trim is on all sides except the high end of the house.  That will get put on next week when we have a tractor with a lift on it so the guys can reach the peak.
     Joe also put in the last two French doors.  What a difference they make in the way the patio side of the house looks.
     This week I have had a cold and have not been any help.  The cats and my Yorkie, Muffin, have loved snuggling in bed while I slept the week away.  I have basketball tournament week and homecoming.   Callie and Emilee borrowed Papa Joe's flatbed trailer and decorated it for the homecoming parade today.  He was out in the dark last night hooking up the trailer for them.  They didn't call until about 7 pm.
      Rosie, our Red Wattle pig has settled in nicely.  I have let her out to graze, but she seems to always wind up in the yard by us.  Very sociable.  She knows her name and comes when called, especially if she thinks food might be involved.  I added another strand of electric fence tape so that should keep her out in the pasture.  She has a house made from straw bales in one side of the barn.  She seems warm hunkered in her straw bed in her house.
    Joe's mom, sister and brother in law finally arrived from California.  They bought a beautiful place on acreage just across town.  It will be wonderful having more family back here!