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Big Life Bullet Points

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Box of crackers for scale
  • We are cucumber rich. I used this phrase in a conversation with Joanie at SuperLu this morning. She laughed. (SuperLu is the grocery store SuperValu. The “Va” on the sign on the side of the building were burnt out for a long time, hence, SuperLu.) I may drop in with a small bag of cukes for her tomorrow along with the recipe for Spicy Frozen Cucumbers. Mr. Big Food will be taking in a bag for Kelly tomorrow, too.
  • Reflection. How great is it to know the names of the people ringing you up at the store every Sunday? And not just because you look at their name tags. Mark rang us up at the Pig. James took our stuff out to the truck. That’s a thing– folks carting your groceries to your truck. Not at all unusual to hear, “James. Come up front for carryout.” James is the assistant manager, by the way.
  • This Bonnie being with baby business is interesting. I was starting to have my doubts. By my calculations, she would be due late this month and so I expected to see some signs by now. SueK, did you tell me that wasn’t the case? Can’t remember. Just yesterday I *think* noticed a pair of teats. We’ll see.
  • Speaking of The Dumbies, as Mr. Big Food calls them, they’re getting on nicely with Gentleman Jack. (And he is that, by the way!) Jack tries to put his big head through the fence to nozzle them but it doesn’t fit. Clyde’s does. It’s sweet to see them be so friendly.
  • Among the 500+ crappy old books that Daughter C and The J-Man left behind in the apartment were three book boxes full of those in which I had an interest. I cataloged two boxes yesterday putting my library of crappy old books at 3419. One was Emily Post’s Mrs. Price Post’s Etiquette: “The Blue Book of Social Usage”. My God, she must have been a bi*ch in real life. You should see what she had to say about putting dinner napkins to the side of the forks. Called it vulgar. Let’s confirm my impression.
Chorus girls?
  • Another Daughter C left was Jericho: The South Beheld (1974) written by James Dickey (Deliverance) and featuring the watercolors of Hubert Shuptrine. I haven’t read the words but the art is beautiful. Here’s a review from GoodReads:

Shuptrine’s watercolors, as Dickey admits, are not designed to “go with” Dickey’s text, but if you take Dickey up on his opening invitation (to flit invisible through the South with eyes and self wide-open), they ARE the landscape. Published in the mid-Seventies, it’s a bit too nostalgic about its subject–I am not sure Dickey’s eyes are THAT wide-open–but it is a ambiguously beautiful book, and some of Dickey’s best writing is herein.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/963846.Jericho
  • Supposedly there’s a heat wave a-comin’. One model is forecasting a temperature of 100 degrees tomorrow. The others are more conservative– high of 90-92 Monday and 91-94 Tuesday. Here’s what The Government has to say:

Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 107. Calm wind.

  • Geeze. A whole new challenge has just presented itself. TTYL.

5 Responses

  1. 1) gestation for sheep is 5 months. I don’t remember when you noticed breeding activity.
    2) just because he may have mounted her doesn’t meant that was the date of conception – she may have been too young. I don’t know it for sure, but I suspect it’s possible to have early heat cycles before maturity permits ovulation.
    3) watch teats and udder development. If you’re just seeing teats, you probably have some time to go. Usually the udder develops – visibly – then the teats enlarge. Right before birth, they get very full. Not much you can do anyway except watch for problems. And predators.
    They usually have twins – not always, but selection has been for twins or triplets. Triplets aren’t uncommon, but not common either – twins are pretty usual. Make sure to check the area for a second one if you see one. You may find one that didn’t make it, or a second one that needs help getting started. Especially with a first birth, the ewes sometimes don’t really know what they’re doing, if you know what I mean.
    Can you provide them – or her, at least – a limited space sort of close to where you can easily check them?

    1. Hum. A space of her own? I will cogitate on that. They have their shack. Will she give birth out in the open or in the shack?

      I want to say it was late February or March that I first noticed the Spring Fever activities.

      And what about Jack? The sheep and he are getting along across the fence line. Should I wait to put them together until after she births (if she does)?

      Right at the fence line really close to the garage there’s a tree then fell over years ago and now has a whole lot of stuff grown up around it. Sort of like a fort a kid would have. They love going under there during the heat of the day. Problem is, there’s no way to keep her in that general area. I guess she’ll just do what nature intends.

      I will keep an eye on her and them.

      Yuck. I just saw mention of udder infections. Ugh.

  2. Copied your Spicy Frozen Cucumbers and plan to make some. They sound wonderful and I’m about at the end of my pickle making rope.

    Tomorrow is predicted to be our hottest day so far this summer–98 with 65% humidity. Hope no one at either house melts.

    1. Cucumber rich and pickle weary.

      I am not kidding– they are the best! I put them up in 2C quantities in 3C freezer containers or Tupperwares. Perfect serving size for us. Best when still a tiny bit frozen but also good the next day just cold from the fridge.

      It is so freaking hot. But at least we had no rain today.

  3. “Will she give birth out in the open or in the shack? ” Her choice…who knows!
    Maybe the “fort”.

    “I guess she’ll just do what nature intends.”

    Bingo. Go with the flow!! If you fence/close her in, you can make the decision. Other than that, just wait and watch.
    If you don’t have a predator problem (and you’ve given no indication that you do), the only reason to get involved at all would be if a problem developed. Other than that…as you say… it’s up to Mother Nature.

    I think I’d leave Jack out until she gets settled with her babies. He’s not likely to cause any problems, but this is her first time, and when they don’t know what they’re doing, it’s best to limit distractions.
    I’m assuming that you already know that eventually Jack will provide protection from local problem animals. You mentioned neighboring dogs at one time, I think.

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