Learnin' the Hard Way

The blog title I was mulling around all day was 'greener pastures' in honor of moving the sheep to a new area. But after the day's events I had to make a change. Here's a quick recap for you. Hey, someone deserves a laugh at our expense!

• We headed to Virginia today to get groceries and materials to put temporary fence up north of the house, between the spruce trees and dad's potato patch. So, $171 later we are home (it's about 2pm.) We get right at pounding in corner posts and running string line. Nate had to remind me that every job takes at least twice as long with Kohen and I helping. The kids and I took an hour break so I could do my chat for class. We finally got all of the lines run, four lines of electric wire and one of polytape wire. Nate did a final brushing of the fence line with the weedtrimmer to ensure that there was no weeds, grass, etc. grounding out the fence. Maybe he should of left some, but I'll get back to that in a minute. What we learned was 'temporary' fence by no means means 'easy to install.'
• So the fence wire is up and we set aside the copper pipe we had been using to hold the spindle of wire. Enter one three and a half year old boy. The boy proceeds to pick up the piece of copper pipe that is about 32 inches long with a 90 degree bend in it. What does any overly curious, inquisitive, quick-to-act three and a half year old boy do? Picture it...picture it....Yup, he sticks his pointer finger right in the end of the copper pipe. And it sticks. A quiet "Mommy, help," is all that is heard from the child who does not yet understand that voice has volume, and an 'inside voice' is the preferable level for conversing. After a stressed mommy tries unsuccessfully to tug the pipe off, daddy saves the day. Thank goodness Nate's patience shows up in times of trial. So the second lesson learned the hard way at Koe's expense, in the words of his daddy, "Don't stick your finger in holes!"
• The third lesson of the day is one that God has been trying to teach us over and over, but we are very slow to learn. Sheep will not go where you want them to go when there is luscious green grass just through the gate. It doesn't matter that you are carrying the grain bucket, or their lamb, or tugging their lead rope. (Actually the collar and lead rope was the only thing that did work, thanks Sabrina, but I was too impatient to move 1/13th of the sheep at a time.) I put the collar on the sheep I didn't trust, and then assumed Fiona, Ellie and the lambs would follow. Big mistake. Ellie headed to the field, Ella the lamb tried to go through the electric fence. She was quick to learn it was not the right way to go. Use your thought bubble here: Nine sheep are in the new pen, so full of tall grass you can barely see them. Ellie is in the field munchin', Anna is running loose between Nate, Kohen, and the grass, and Charlok, the notorious is still in the main pen with Good Mama's ram lamb. So I fill the feed pan with yummy oats, have the cattle panel positioned so I can quickly close it when they run into the holding pen, and I am hiding behind the donkey shelter. Charlok is not stupid. Flighty, cautious, neurotic, but not stupid. Finally after another ten minutes has passed they run into the feed pan and start to eat. I leap out, run across the pen and shut the cattle panel. I was prepared, I had three pieces of wire at the ready to tie the cattle panel to the post and other fencing to secure it. That would have sufficed for any other sheep we own, but not Charlok. She took a full out running with her head up and barreled straight into the corner that I had just wired shut. I never did find all three pieces of wire. The lamb was right on her tail. This led to my relearning an old lesson I've learned over and over, my husband is much stronger and wiser than I. He would probably have used four pieces of wire! Nate and I spent about ten minutes trying to catch them with no luck. Finally the ram lamb ran into one of the 'log cabins' Nate build for shelters and I was able to catch him. Charlok is still in the pen. If we can't catch her tomorrow Nate's ready to be done with her. She's a negative influence on the rest of our fleecy flock.
• Poor Annafleece had to learn the hard way more than once tonight. She does not know what the electric fence is and got caught in it three times trying to get to her two-legged daddy and mommy. Nate had to run and untangle her from the fence. It's breaking his heart that she's out there right now. I'm not sure how much restful sleep he'll have tonight, he's so worried about her. Ella and Fiona both had quick encounters with the fence also. Plus Dodge tested it out first, he wasn't paying attention and ran into it, and then ran about half way down dad's driveway. We got a good laugh at his expense. I'm glad we bought one of the smallest chargers, it packs a punch. The shetland adults all have experience with the fence, they stay away. Ellie, Fiona and the lambs have to learn. Let's hope it doesn't get any harder. The donkeys were thrilled with the new lush grass. I hope everyone is fine in the morning, this farm/shepherd thing is tough work!