The Sale

Here are a few picture of Sadie selling Edward at the sale. It was really cool to see her name and hometown on the big screen.

Meet Honey

Meet Honey:

She is a Yorkshire gilt (Yorks make great mothers.). In January, Sadie will show her in the county's breeding show. We hope to breed her in the spring so we'll have our own show pigs next year. I hope Sadie enjoys being in the pig business as much as I did when I was younger. Robby still has to find two barrows (boys) for Sadie to show at the county show and at Fort Worth. It's an exciting time of zoo expansion around here.

Introducing Oscar and What's His Name

UPDATE: The black-face now has a name: Edward (or "sometimes we can call him Ed," said Sadie.)

Sadie and Robby made a quick trip south to pick up her lambs. The cross is named Oscar and the smaller, black-faced one has yet to be named. We'll see what name fits his personality as we get to know him (Oscar's name may change, you never know.)



T.S. was happy to see his daddy and sister. He jumped in and started helping when it was time to unload.

As you can see, they aren't halter broke(n) yet. The next few days should be interesting as we get to know them and they get to know us.

How to Entertain a Four-Year-Old Boy

T.S. had a great time at the stock show, too. It was hard for him to be quiet and still around the pens. (You don't want the lambs up and walking around a lot.) Thankfully, the rain/mist stopped Tuesday afternoon and he got to have some fun outside. All you need to entertain a four-year-old boy is a rubber band gun, a few rubber bands and a can. When he got tired of shooting at the can, he enjoyed "shooting into outer space."

San Antonio Stock Show, 2009

Ready to load Leonard and leave Happy.

Putting the halter on to go weigh and feed.

Show lessons with Craig. (kind of like Playing Lessons with the Pros on Golf Network)

Dressed and ready to go. (notice the sun hasn't come up yet.)

Waiting to go back in the ring after weighing.

We're Back

We got in last night from San Antonio. It was a long trip, but fun. Sadie worked very hard--feeding Leonard every 3 hours on Monday and Tuesday. (Thanks dad for doing the late night and early, early feedings so we could sleep a little.) She was at the barn by 6:30 Wednesday morning and ready to show him in the first class that morning.

Once again, Sadie was an outstanding showman--she impressed quite a few people with her abilities. She and Leonard were pulled as soon as the judge felt of the lamb. She then had to weigh him and wait in an alley with the other kids who were pulled. After that, they went back into the ring and showed again. Sadie and Leonard ended up 14th--only the top 9 sell. We were so proud of both of them. There were about 40 in her class and the weight range was from 100-113 with a 5 pound overage (which means some of the lambs were probably 118). Leonard topped the scales at 97 lbs. Once again he was small and mighty. I'll post pictures later.

Fort Worth Stock Show

Sadie and T.S. petting Beauregard (Elsie the Cow's calf)

You can pack a lot into two days. We left Wednesday for Fort Worth and were home this afternoon. What we did at the stock show:

• Checked out exhibits--YAY for free stuff!
• Petting zoo
• Magic Show
• FFA Barnyard--another post with Sadie's pictures of all the animals and babies coming soon
• Rodeo
• Stock show food--overpriced but a GREAT indulgence!
• Fun with cousins, aunts, great-aunts, grandparents and friends
• Oh yeah, Sadie even showed a pig! (pictures to come--this is the only time we lost T.S.; right in the middle of Sadie's class. Don't worry, we found him and Sadie's "fans" have plenty of pictures to share.)

Sadie showed Wilbur on Thursday. She was pulled the first time through for the judge to look at again. She didn't place in the top ten but she showed like a pro. She's already talking about next year.

The happy face marked our pens.

Watching Robby clean up Wilbur. Sadie couldn't do this because she'd already changed into her show clothes.

Sadie waiting for her class to be called. She's posing with her very special pocket brush.

Next stop: San Antonio with Leonard the Lamb.

A Picture of Our Week, so far

T.S. has developed asthma. It seems to be stock-show-dust-induced. We have spent every day but today at the doctor. We've been doing breathing treatments every 2 hours and we're taking oral steroids. A four year old on steroids and albuterol is an interesting thing. He has literally bounced off the walls. The good news is the steroid is clearing up his eczema and we seem to have turned the corner today. His oxygen levels are better. We'll go back to the doctor tomorrow and see where we stand.

We did find out yesterday that he does better taking the treatment if he is occupied, so today he decided to paint during a treatment.

County Stock Show Pictures

Sadie with Leonard after she showed.

Sadie doing an interview on KNNK radio.

T.S. playing in the dirt. Sadie showing Wilbur.

Sadie showing Harry. Why the shot of her back? Please notice her "poop" rag in the pocket. She had to use the rag to wipe "stuff" off of the pig; then she had to keep it with her. She's definitely a serious showman since she put the rag back in her pocket.

Thanks to Connie for taking such great pictures of the pig show after I left. Sadie had a great day and was so appreciative of everyone who helped her. Pictures of Otis to follow, I'll have to get them from my father-in-law because I accidentally deleted them.

Randall County Junior Livestock Show--2009

Yesterday was another great day for Sadie. Otis placed 3rd--he actually beat another lamb. Leonard placed 2nd and Sadie showed like she had been showing for years. Once again, the judge had fabulous things to say about Leonard but ended by saying he was just too small. Sadie did a nice job in showmanship. Leonard was tired and uncooperative, but Sadie never gave up. The judge had more nice comments about her and the lamb.

In the pig show, both Harry and Wilbur placed 4th. She was chosen to come back to junior showmanship and did a great job. We'll post pictures later.

T.S. had a pretty rough day. He and barn dust don't seem to agree. GeGe took him home after the lambs and came back for pigs, but I ended up having to bring him home.

Robby had a great day, too. All of his FFA kids made the sale. He's already left this morning to go to the Swisher County show.

We were so glad that so all the grandparents were there to watch and that so many of our family friends were there to help and share the day with us.

What exactly is keeping us busy?

So it's Thursday and I haven't posted since Monday--what's keeping us busy?

• Laundry--piles and piles from daily life and the stock show
• Sadie--homework, basketball practice 4 show animals
• Volunteering at school
• Grocery shopping--for some strange reason my family thinks they need to eat
• Stock show cleanup and prep for the county show this weekend
• Necklace orders--the dining room table has disappeared again
• T.S.--He had his weekly Bubble Fest yesterday. I wonder if they sell bubble stuff by the gallon

Tonight's agenda: supper with Cowboy 4-H Club as we gather all the animals that will head to the Randall County show this weekend.

Friday: We'll check our animals in at Canyon. The grandparents are arriving from Aledo for the big weekend.

Saturday: Show Day! Sadie is excited.