November 29, 2010: Misadventures.

I think we are going to rename our blog as our Misadventures...

As you know, last week I started digging the fence post holes to mend a fence line. I am pleased to report, I am half way! I am sad to report the weather is playing cruel tricks on us and digging the second half of the holes is nigh on impossible now with the ground so solid. We have snow on the ground and bitterly cold temperatures, reminiscent of Canada. Reminds me why we left Canada!

It was so cold the other night that our water pipes froze. We had left the tap running that serves the kennel but that tap froze leaving a pretty icicle. The water pipes inside the house have frozen also but that was because we very stupidly did not leave a tap running. Ijits, we are! So here we are without water inside or outside. Lucky me, though, ever wanting a job, I can now trade fence post hole digging for carrying buckets of water from the water tank up the hill down to the house. That doesn't seem like a fair trade! The good news is...we did not empty the swimming pool so we have oodles of water for the toilets..and the walk from the pool to the loo is a short one. A second piece of good news is that we still have a little hot water left in the tank. Last week we had to replace the water tank when we discovered the previous tank had completely corroded and we had water going in all directions. Our superb plumber was in like a flash to replace the tank.

Late last week I discovered that frozen grass is quite easily mowed! Who would have known? I was lamenting the fact that I had not mowed my lawn at the end of the summer (due to rain) and was having to walk through ankle deep grass. Thinking I had to wait until spring to cut the grass, I decided, as a break from digging post holes, I'd cut some rushes with my strimmer (weed wacker). To get to the rushes, I had to go across the frozen lawn and so I experimented...yes, you guessed it, the grass cut perfectly. I never got to the rushes until the next day. I strimmed as fast as I could before the sun hit the frosted lawn and made it too wet to cut. An hour later, one section of my lawn was done. The next day, another part was done...and then the snow came down and relieved me of my duties. I've still got my eyes on completing this winter lawn mowing as soon as the snow melts and the next frost appears. At least I did cut a path down to where all the garden prunings have been stacked. The grass down there was knee high. I had been saving it for the sheep but that area needs a fence to be completed...which means more post holes to dig. GROAN! I should add, cutting frozen rushes is hazardous! If you are going to be so darned stupid, wear full face protection. Better still, don't try it!

When it started snowing on Friday, I took my girls - Bailey, Meg, Sioux and Bee - oh, and Blade, for a run in the forest. It was awesome! Very peaceful save for my huffing and puffing, and delightfully pretty. Good for the soul. I love living next to the forest. I took another crew of dogs for a run on Sunday on a different trail and that was just as beautiful. Oddly, Bailey, has been very eager to go on runs with me. Usually she dawdles up the hill with much begging and cajouling. The last two weeks, she has been at the front of the pack, leading the way. I'm not sure what's got into her but I like it! Perhaps it is my slow pace she is enjoying. I have stiff legs from all this running...I was going to say I have stiff leg 'muscles' but it would be a stretch of even my imagination to use the term 'muscle.' That's still a work in progress. Still, I am finally managing to pick up a little bit of fitness in preparation for our annual Christmas Day run. I hope to give Kelvin a darn good thrashing again this year. Perhaps it is a bit of an unfair advantage. He still has not started running again after his recent bout of meningitis but he hopes to be able to start again soon.

If it sounds like all work and no play, ah, no, the dogs have been getting out. I had the youngsters out a couple of times last week and they continue to improve in leaps and bounds. The job at the moment is not to bring them on too fast...which is hard when they are picking things up so quickly and they are so keen, eager and fun to be with. Bee is starting to learn to go back for sheep blind, and we are working on bend outs and pull ins. Kelvin will be running her in trials next year so soon we will start transitioning her to him. The older dogs have had time off, except for keeping them fit, but soon they will be called into action. Today we'll be moving lambs to different fields so they will all be getting a turn. And on that note, I must get outside and get cracking. Keep warm everyone.