Ram Tough, Ram Destructive

I happened to be looking out an upstairs window one morning last week while I sipped my first cup of coffee.I heard a loud "THWUNK" and saw the tall stump of an old cottonwood tree sway. Then I saw my ram Goth take aim and run full force into the stump again and topple it! Goth examines his handiwork. ( Head work?) The other cottonwood stump still stands, but for how long? The two cottonwood trees towered over our property when we first moved here. We built a ram pen around them and years of my rams ramming them and chewing away their bark killed the trees. ( They are cottonwoods, we did not care ) Even though the trees are dead and the stumps have begun to rot, I could not have pushed them over with a sledge hammer, or even a car without causing damage to the car . So you can see, the power of a ram is mighty.Now the tall stumps of the trees are finally being pushed down by the mighty force of a ram.

"ram, n. 1. An instrument or device for driving, forcing, or crushing by heavy blows or thrusts. " Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Dictionary I think the pens the zoos build for rhinos would be perfect for Goth.

What Goes On In Vegas......Might Be On My Blog !

~~~I am going on a road trip to Vegas with some of my favorite people .We join some more of our favorite people when we get there,time to pack .I hate road trips, and I really do not like the heat or particularly care much for the desert, so guess what I am doing at the hottest time of the year ? I am going on a road trip, to the desert, in the summer . But I am very excited to go on this road trip because I will be driving to Vegas with my youngest son Daniel and his wife Breezy ! We will be meeting up with my oldest son David and his four daughters,four of my granddaughters .How can I NOT be excited ? All of these precious people are not only related...they are FUN!!!! (sorry Breezy about the bad picture ) Here, Daniel and Breezy have driven about 5 - 6 hours to pick me up for the trip.We are checking our route.

~Wouldn't you know it, since Hubby will be in charge of the critters while I am gone, I go out to do my morning feeding and there is MR. BRAINLESS ( aka Goth ) with an injured horn. The numbskull ( quite a literal term for him) has been bashing away at the fences, the tree, etc., to get to the ewes, and caused damage to his horn, leaving a bloody, gaping wound at the base of his horn. Really, you can lift the flap of skin at the base and see all the inside parts of anatomy you DON'T want to see ! And I'm leaving tomorrow...I can't leave Hubby to manage this. ~~~So, it is time to move Goth in with the ewes so he will be busy and not get himself any more injured while I am gone. This means we need to move the ram lambs OUT of the ewe pen where they are so happy with their Moms. Well, they are not happy tonight, they have been bawling all night for their Moms, but they'll get over it. Meanwhile, we catch Goth, apply triple antibiotic to the base of his horn, put a ram mask on him, and spray him with fly repellent in the hopes the flies will leave him alone to heal. Then..hooray, he is in with the girls ! (if you click the picture it will enlarge and you can see some of the damage ) ~Here is Goth with the ram mask. The mask blocks his ability to look straight ahead, thus making it a little more difficult for him to run rapidly and ram straight ahead. He can see fine out of the sides of his head. Like blinders on horses. This really has make a good difference for our ram management.

~~~Off to Vegas ~~~

Spot of This and That : Movie and a Ram

Tonight while I was refilling hummingbird feeders and turning off hoses , I turned to find myself almost face to face with this......my ram, Goth. Fortunately he was as surprised by me, and not quite sure what to make of his freedom. Also fortunately, it is not breeding season so he was NOT in a bad mood. As I have stated in a previous blog, I do not like to be close to Goth without a wheelbarrow, fence, house...etc., in between us.

He was fairly simple to pen up , I just filled a wheelbarrow with alfalfa and he followed it back to his pen. Then I put together and secured the gate he rammed down to make his escape. I suspect I will be putting him in with the ewes ( girl sheep ) within the next 2 or 3 weeks.

A Day At The Local Theater

I had the opportunity to spend most of today with 3 of our grandchildren. They have been wanting to see the new Pixar movie 'Wall-e' . Their Mommy had to take new baby brother in for his first check up so we all decided to see the early movie. We started with the kids' snack pack, popcorn, candy and beverage of choice. I told the children I wanted their honest opinion ( like THEY would hold back on their opinion) of the movie after we saw it. I would take a picture of them in front of the movie poster and they were to indicate their opinion by showing their thumbs up or down.

Oldest grandson gave 'Wall-e' a two thumbs up ! Granddaughter #2 gave 'Wall-e' a thumbs sideways, it was O.K. I think she would have appreciated a day doing art projects and having tea parties more than the movies. Granddaughter #5 gave Wall-e a two eyes closed rating, finding her blanket, Grandmas' lap, and a dark theater more conducive to naps than watching 'Wall-e', but in all fairness to the movie, she did watch it 2/3 through and it WAS nap time after all.
Last week Oldest Grandson and I went to see 'Journey to the Center of the Earth'. We both enjoyed it ! It was old fashioned, corny but entertaining fun. He still talks about it, even after 'Wall-e'.

I did enjoy 'Wall-e', and I am amazed at how Pixar can take animated robots and make them so human with voice sounds and gestures. The eyes ( again with the eye thing, see 'Jeepers, the Spot on Peepers') are the telling thing with the animation.

Ended the day (writing this blog, really ) with a great meal Hubby made and discovered the very, very, best cheese I have ever eaten.....I now have a new favorite craving.......but that is another blog !