Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Easter quote #2

' 'Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.'
(Longfellow)

So far 6 tornadoes have been confirmed touching down in central Kentucky the night before last.... one not far from me that passed just to the north. They will probably confirm more tornadoes. That was a nightmarish night. Fortunately, warnings went out in a timely manner to take cover, and I've heard of no fatalities.

Out to check Noel again.

My flat tire couldn't be repaired. I knew I was due to get new tires soon, so I just ordered 4 new Michelins. They'll be installed on Tuesday morning. Wednesday I have to take Robert to Louisville for a visit to his eye surgeon, so it'll be nice knowing I'll be safe on new tires.

CynB - Re: Rabbits -

I had to run into town for some feed. I noticed that the spare tire that was put on my truck yesterday had lost a lot of air since it was put on, so I got the minimum amount of feed that I could to get me to Tuesday afternoon and prayed that this tire would get me home today. It did. Barely. By Monday it'll probably be flat as pancake as well, so I'll have AAA take my truck in on Monday (if the tire is flat) and use a rental (AAA pays for that if you have their top level) until they've installed the new tires. The only thing I have to use a vehicle for before Tuesday is to pick up my pain meds on Monday, but they're important.

No cria yet. Tomorrow is exactly 11 1/2 months since Noel was bred, and gestation is 11 1/2 months. Normal range can be 10 days in either direction.

While driving to the feed store, I discovered that a barn less than 2 miles from me was destroyed by a tornado the night before last. It's quite the mess. That was NOT one of the 6 that have been officially recognized as having touched down.

A little too close for comfort, Heidi...

So true, DOrA!

Good Easter Quotes/TOPP, CynB! Have a wonderful family gathering on Easter!

Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket, Heidi! The tornado stayed away from you, and the tires got you to the feed store and back!

I need to head to bed. Sending healing energy, positive thoughts, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and to Everyone ! Happy Easter if you celebrate in sone way!

They have now verified 8 tornadoes so far, including the EF0 one that hit 2 miles from me. EF0 has winds at 80 MPH.

https://www.wlky.com/article/four-tornadoes-louisville-kentucky/39729848
The one near me is the Buffalo one, in LaRue County. It's 2 miles ''as the crow flies'', but closer to 3 1/2 by road.

No cria today.

I'm really hoping for tomorrow. Noel was herself born on Christmas Eve. I think having her first cria on Easter would be amusing.

I caught the skunk that's been coming into the feed room through the cat flap!

A few days ago I separated Noel and her grandmother London from the rest of the herd, so I could keep a close eye on Noel. Today the 2 of them started shoving each other around and spitting at each other, so I turned London out. I think Noel's hormones are starting to go crazy. Hopefully that means that she'll have her cria soon. She still has another 8 days before I need to start worrying.

That skunk was another pregnant female.... and she had gotten comfortable using the cat flap into the feed room! It would have been a nightmare if she had been able to teach her young'uns how to do that!!!

I think we have labor pains!!!

Came to check on Noel! Labour pains, eh?
I'll come back later.
Have a good day everyone. We're having an easy day today after yesterday (Easter Sunday). We had a great but exhausting day with family.

Heart avatar for Mother's Day in May.
I miss my Mum.

Hoping Everyone has had/is having a great day!

Darn! No crib yet. I guess we're all on 'aria watch' until baby arrives.

Exhaustion has set in. (I was up until about 5:30 a.m. as hubby was having some discomfort that made me nervous.)

Thinking of Everyone and sending {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, positive thoughts, prayers, and . Take care, Everyone!

I see the computer thinks it knows better than me. I typed cria, but one time corrected it to crib, then next time corrected it to aria. Darn!

Just about everything that can go wrong, has.
The cria was laid wrong. I was up almost all night watching for any signs of hard labor, which didn't start until 10 AM. Shortly after I noticed contractions, the front feet appeared. But she made no more progress. I had to call Mike the Vet. He discovered that not only is it dead, but he cannot reposition it to get it out. He has to do a c-section to get it out and save Noel's life. He's never done one on an alpaca, and is back at the clinic researching it right now. Of course, it's a bitterly cold and windy day as well. I'm undecided about whether I want to cry or swear.

Oh no, Heidi!
Do both, cry and swear.
How awful for Noel - and for you.

I just got back inside. Noel survived the c-section so far, but there’s still shock to deal with. The cria was a huge 20 lb white male. Normal size is usually 12 to 15 lbs. 20 is the maximum. And it was all twisted up in a knot. Noel is a smaller first timer. There is no way she could have delivered this guy on her own.

The last calf was also born today. It's a big black heifer out of a good Red Angus cow of mine. Calving is now DONE.

Noel made it through the night and is looking good. She'll be OK.

Good news following bad, Heidi.

And I now have 4 new tires on my truck. She rides SO smoothly now!

Noel didn't make it. Too much shock and stress.

Noel's breeder feels so bad about Noel's passing, even though I told her it isn't her fault, that she's offered me another bred Alpaca. I've decided to take her up on the offer. Her name is Carmela and she's bred to a dark brown male named Jumping jack Flash. I'll be getting her tomorrow. I'll put a picture on my page. It was taken just 2 days ago.

Oh no Heidi! I'm so sorry about Noel. It must have been too much for her.
Glad you're getting another one. I love that the male breeder was called Jumping Jack Flash.

Darn! My comments didn't get posted. I finally got back ini after accidentally logging out a few days ago.

Heidi, I'm so sorry to hear about Noel! Her breeder sounds like a very caring and responsible person. I hope Carmella will become a well-loved member of your alpaca family; she's beautiful.

Thinking of Everyone and sending , healing energy, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts and prayers for all! Stay well!

I'm back from picking up Carmela. The entire trip took 6 hours, but that included MAJOR traffic jams due to road construction.... not pleasant towing an extra wide trailer (more stable in high winds). She's the exact same color as Noel, and is due to give birth in June. I saw Jumping Jack Flash, and he's a small male like Hunter, so I'm not expecting complications this time, from a big cria. He's also a deep dark chocolate brown in color. VERY handsome.

Wonderful news, Heidi!

I'm off to bed. Sending healing energy, positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, and to all!

Now I have the 'flu. I'm hurting all over. I hope it passes soon.

A woman with a salad
walked past me in the
restaurant and said,

''You know a cow died
so you could eat that
steak''

And I replied, ''If you
weren't eating its
food, it might have
lived''.

Mother Nature
apologizes for the
late arrival of spring.

Father time was driving
and refused to stop and
ask for directions...

I NEED to remember that cow joke, DOrA!!!

Still feel under the weather, but not as bad. I hope I feel completely well by Saturday (2 days from now) since I have 2 weddings to go to.

Carmela has fully integrated with the alpaca herd. She's a smart girl. I gave her a thorough hosing down yesterday, which delighted her. Alpacas love being soaked with water hoses. That's how we got her loaded into my trailer. When I put my halter and lead on her at her breeder's, she laid down and refused to budge an inch. Neither of us felt like trying to carry her, so her breeder decided to try something new. She got out her water hose and sprayed the ground in front of Carmela. Carmela scrambled to her feet and walked towards the hose. So the stream was moved closer to my trailer. Carmela continued to follow the water for 100 feet to the trailer door! Once we got to the opening, a quick shove from behind got her inside. Her breeder had never heard of anyone trying that technique, but it worked so slick that she says she'll definitely use it again. I called her a genius!

I'm sure that the water hose sprayed behind some critters would lead to expeditious loading...

Have been trying to keep up with how everyoe is. Sorry to hear about Noel. Hope Carmela settles in well. Me too CynB - I miss my parents - especially in March - always a difficult month to get through.
Hope you are all well - I have been unable to log on for a few weeks - had a fall and fractured a couple of vertebrae next to the spinal fusion and skinned my whole right arm. Amazingly the dress I was wearing (from Gudrun Sjoden) was not damaged at all. Spent 8 days in hospital and a week at my sister's unit so I could have some time before I had to tackle stairs. Still having my arm dressed twice a week but it is healing well. Have to wait another 2+ months to find out if my back needs surgery. I honestly believe I must have had a fantastic time in a past life as I seem to be going from one thing to another. At least for now I don't have to worry abut Covid - had it early March and had the Sotromavab infusion - only tiredness and cough left.
Hope hubby is ok Julie - must have been a rough night if you stayed up worrying about him. Is he ok now?
Mine is off to Sydney again on Sunday which will leave one son and myself to try and arrange moving some of our furniture out of storage - our house is finally ready for us to move back in. Such good timng - son has torn back muscle, I have the fractures, eldest son has just left for Sth Korea and third son back in Darwin, and daughter just back from Darwin and cannot get any time off.
Van is back in storage for a few months - would love to do the grey nomad thing and just take off somewhere, anywhere. Maybe one day. Take care everyone.

How nice to see your post, Midge. I'm so sorry to read about your fall, but relieved that there is some healing of your arm! It's not so good that you have fractured a couple of vertebrae. Here's hoping the features will heal well! It's amazing the your dress made it through the mishap unscathed!

Hubby is doing better, though he's having pain in his neck and shoulder. There is a possibility that he had a reaction to his second Covid booster. I'll be due for mine in a week or so. The only reactions I have had so far are being exceptionally tired after the second shot and the usual soreness at the injection site. I admit to being a little hesitant about the next booster.

How nice that your house is ready for you to move back in. Too bad you don't have all family members available to help! Take your time and be careful.

Thinking of Everyone and sending lots of , healing energy, positive thoughts, prayers, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}}. Take care!

Yesterday I attended a double wedding. Two of my farrier friend's daughters were getting married. Instead of scheduling the weddings two weeks apart like they originally wanted, they decided to combine them on the same day, same venue, but different ministers.
If you remember, the last wedding I attended was one of the most wonderful days I can remember. So full of love for everyone. And so perfectly planned. Every word said was beautiful and meant.
The first wedding yesterday started out kind of creepy. The guests arrived, mostly in jeans or biker gear. Not my thing. I knew nobody but the bride's immediate family, and didn't feel like I belonged there. They started the ceremony, and alarm bells started going off in my head. The minister reminded me of a cult leader. He started out asking the father of the bride and the father of the groom to come up front and preach. I have NEVER heard of such a thing at a wedding. The groom's father went into a cultist religious extremist rambling rant that scared the daylights out of me.... especially with half the crown muttering ''amens'' throughout. The fact that the groom allowed this means that he agreed with those views. Then the minister started on an almost-as-scary sermon that sounded like something out of the 18th century. He also added a bit into the vows asking the bride (only) if she agreed to OBEY her husband's every order and command!!! I would have walked away right there if I was the bride. This is going to be a very abusive (emotionally and physically) marriage, I can see.
The second wedding was far more normal, but it had nothing special about it. But I was so upset by the first ceremony that I started feeling really ill and left before the reception.