Bummer Lambs

Last Wednesday we got a call from the Sheep Experiment Station up in Dubois. They run 3 bands of sheep with 1,000 sheep in each band. They sell orphaned lambs or extras (the polypays can have up to 5 lambs and they only let the ewe's keep two). They give them their starter shots, band them and sell them for $7.00 each.

I had never been up to the Station and it was awesome! There is nothing but sagebrush for hundreds of miles and then suddenly there is this little New England like village; small, neat, white cottages with large trees and lilac bushes around them, a little play ground, and long sheep sheds all in the middle of nowhere.

Prairie Spy paid his money and got 5 little lambs.

Mr. Bechtel's sister's children were here visiting for the week. E. loved helping with the animals and we were thankful for her help.

Cowboys and Indians

We went on a fun hike up to Castle Rock and the kids played hike and seek (with violent death if found) with Mr. Bechtel.

The boys were determined to win, since last time they were sure of getting Mr. Bechtel, but when they shot him, he said, "and with my last dying breath, I shot you dead."

It's pretty fun sneaking around.

Castle Rock

Spring Break

We spent a few days last week down in St. George and Panaca. (Have to escape now before the animals all have their babies! ) We dropped off Braeburn at BYU with Mr. Bechtel's brother, James. Braeburn wanted to see what college life was like. He had a great time on campus and lots of fun with James, but decided return missionaries are obsessed with getting married! President Monson would be pleased!

We spent the night with Alaskan Wild Berry and Winesap (20 minute notice...) and had a great time exploring the country again down south. The kidlets are becoming Panaca history scholars with Mr. Bechtel and Uncle Scott telling lots of great stories.

Enthusiastic Lawn Care

The Business Magnates expand!

This year they're working hard trying to get some commercial jobs to add to their residential lawns. College and Mission are coming right up.

I'd hire them in a heart beat!

Granny Smith and his car, "Thunder"

Pinewood Derby 2011

Looks Great!!

Butchering the Pigs

Marco and Polo, our two pigs, became pork the first week of March. The mobile butchers came and they were fantastic. They walked back to the pen, where the pigs were calmly munching on grain, killed them with one shot to the head, and the pigs didn't suffer a bit. Plus they weren't distressed so the meat will be perfect.

Winesap and Alaskan Wild Berry wanted one pig. So there was one for us and one for them.

The truck couldn't get back to the barn because of the snow, so we dragged them up to the truck. Cindy, the cow, followed close behind. Prairie Spy was distressed at this and said, "gosh, Cindy, you're just the kind of cow that would watch horror movies!"

Here they are skinning the pig. They halve the carcass, put it in the refrigerated truck and then take it to the butchers to make bacon, ham, sausage, pork roast, pork chops and ribs. Yum!

It cost us $227.00 to buy one pig and raise it, and the butcher costs were another $200.00. So, with out charging anything for our time.... total cost was $427.00 for just under 200 pounds of healthy meat.

And here is part of the liver and the heart, sitting on my kitchen counter while I meditate on what to do with them, and I listen to the kids saying, "UUUHHH GROSS! we are NOT eating THAT!"

I can't say I blame them. I partially froze them to make them easy to cut. Then sliced the liver thinly and froze it and diced up the heart and froze it too. Probably we'll just have really healthy dogs...

Blue and Gold Banquet

Granny Smith is very lucky to have a new scout leader. Sis. Frandsen was the Spy twins old scout leader and she is the best!