2025: the year in review

 

January
Some cold, but not too much snow this month. We did have a spell of bitter cold. I lost a few kits, so I wheeled two does with their litters into the basement. The Redskins/Commanders enjoyed a dramatic playoff run. It was a fairy tale season with another sensational rookie QB (sound familiar?) that ended with a loss to the Eagles in the NFC championship game. I bought a Jayden Daniel's jersey. It was fun being a Redskin/Commander's fan again, but all that ended later in the year. Anyone want a Jayden Daniels jersey? We had dinner with David and Nancy Greene, and I had a few lunches with friends/colleagues this month. Trump became president on January 20. God save us! It was a sad day for the US and the rest of the civilized world. Will we survive?

February
Some snow this month. Five years had passed, so I had another colonoscopy. The prep wasn't so bad. Everything's fine, just some hemorrhoids and diverticuli (normal for my age). Another 5 years? The first lambs were born on February 18, a beautiful set of triplet ewe lambs. I ended up keeping the two red ones as replacements. The early lambing was the result of one of the NCSU rams vaulting several fences, a month before the intended breeding season. Speaking of the NSCU rams, we decided to part with them after one season of breeding. One was too small and the other sired too many ram lambs with horns.

March
The official lambing season started on March 10. The barn was cleaned about a week before. I had two sets of quads and many triplets. It was a busy month tending to the sheep and their new babies. Six lambs ended up in the orphan pen. Four were quads since neither of their dams were ones I would have picked to have four.  I kept another of the orphans as a replacement, a triplet out of one of my oldest ewes. I named her Eddie after her grandsire (Ms. Piggy is her grandmother). I celebrated my 63rd birthday this month. I guess I'm doing okay for my age. Mom is 95 now. Still plugging along. I did a card shower for her. She did one for me. Lara turned 43. 

April
Lambing continued into April with the yearlings and 2 year olds. Louise had another set of triplets: two bucks and a doe. I was present for the birthing. Unfortunately, Thelma did not breed. I think her offspring (who still tried to nurse) prevented the buck from servicing her last year. I eventually gave Ramen away to a new home. Some family members objected, but I didn't care. Ramen was a pain! The baby goats were so much fun to watch. I left one intact so I could use him for breeding. A longer than usual power outage caused some anxiety. I had to haul water. I submitted my taxes close to the deadline. I owed a ton.

May
My precious Oliver turned 5. His health is stable. He'll never be fat. Ty became a 4 year old. He's my perfect companion. I helped with the skillathon at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, hoping that it was my last trip to the festival. A late set of triplets was born on the 11th. The ewe had only one side of milk so I began bottle feeding all over again. I left the lambs (I dubbed them Rock, Paper, and Scissors) on the ewe. Sadly, I had to cull the ewe, one of the older ones, after the babies were weaned. In total, I raised 91 lambs (out of 38 ewes). Only two had been born dead. I lost another when it was a couple of months old.

June
We saw a performance of Noah at the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA. The depiction of the Ark and animals was amazing. Stretch got a clipping. Summer's are too hot for him. Alex and Isabella graduated from high school. Big checks for them. This month marked two precious years with Cash, who turned 2 in March. He is such a sweet boy. No regrets spending big bucks for the big fellow.  The Nationals had an 11 game losing streak. Their promising year began to tank. 

July
I spent a day at the York Fair (in PA). Robin and I bought Gabby's reserve champion meat birds. We gave them back so the family could enjoy them. It was fun watching Gabby and her family enjoy the 4-H experience. Brought back many memories. The Nationals finally fired their manager and GM. The rest of the season was painful.  Their two All Stars (Gore and Woods) faltered after the break. At least they didn't lose 100 games. Daylen Lyle was a bright spot (5th in the ROY voting).

August
I was invited by the Coalfield Sheep Association to speak at the dinner before their sale in Clintwood, Virginia. It was a reunion of sorts, as I was reunited with two of my VA Tech classmates. I bought a fall-born ram lamb at the sale (from Buckeye Acres). I named him Buckeye. Real original, huh? He's a pretty boy. I had been wanting to get a ram from Buckeye Acres. Ty accompanied me on the trip. After leaving the sale we went to the "Breaks" (Breaks Interstate Park). It is dubbed the "Grand Canyon of the South" and straddles both Virginia and Kentucky. The next day, Ty and I went to New River Gorge National Pike. Highlights were Sandstone Falls, Grandview, and the New River Gorge Bridge. I weren't disappointed. I sadly lost one of my favorite ewes, Ivanka (1711). I have her daughter (named Hollywood) to remind me of her. Ty and I went to Blackwater Falls and nearby Thomas, an old mining town. We saw several waterfalls.

September
Lara and I had our second epic adventure, this time to Iceland. We spent ten days touring the island. Fire and Ice. Lara planned the stops and did almost all the driving. I arranged the airfare, car, and lodging. It was a spectacular trip. The scenery was beautiful and diverse. Waterfalls, galore, not to mention hot springs, volcanos, glaciers, canyons, and beaches. Relaxing in a geothermal pool (lagoon) was a highlight. Lara enjoyed seal spotting. And who could forget the penis (Phallological) museum?  Even the food was good. So much lamb!  So many sheep. Horses, too. I didn't want to come home. I'm already planning my next trip:  Italy or the Highlands (Scotland) as of this writing. Newfoundland and California are still possibilities. I took Mom to the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful museum of a "wonderful life," well worth the almost 3 hour drive.

October
October is my favorite month to hike (and travel). The first hike of the month (with Ty) was Ohiopyle State Park in the Laurel Highlands in southwestern PA. Ty and I went to Swallow Falls and Casselman River Bridge State Parks next. I lost my glasses somewhere along the way. I fell on my face in Casselman park. I took Ty to Michigan for five days. We went to the Upper Peninsula. The highlight was Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I took a boat cruise, while Ty waiting for me in a kennel. We drove along the lakeshore, making several stops, before ending up in Sault St. Marie. Our hotel in Mackinaw City was a block from the beach, along Lake Huron, with the bridge in clear view. Ty and I spent a day on Mackinaw Island. There were lots of firsts for Ty on this trip. He got to play in three Great Lakes. Robin and I spent her birthday at Great Falls, Maryland side, her first time there. The rams went in with the mature ewes on October 15. I took Falkirk to Mom's and put Buckeye with the mature ewes at home. The little billy went with Thelma and Louise after I got back from Michigan.

November
Buckeye went in with the young ewes on November 5. I put a clean-up ram with his girls. Ty and I hiked to Weverton Cliffs (near Harper's Ferry). For us, it was a challenging hike, 570 foot climb in elevation with many switchbacks. The views of the Potomac River were worth it. I had to reserve a week in November for Jury Duty. I was called once and released. The parties involved decided not to do anything that day.  I unexpectedly got my driveway paved. I was offered a good deal ($10,000) so I did it. On the way to taking Mom to a hair appointment, I was the victim of road rage. An aggressive driver side swiped my Escape. The repairs were approved under my uninsured motorist clause. Mostly cosmetic damage, but the estimate was $1858. I decided not to fix it; not worth the $250 deductible. I reported the incident to the police. I doubt they'll get the guy. Mom and I took a scenic drive that ended in Cumberland at the terminus of the C&O Canal, our first time there. Thanksgiving was at a friend of my sister's (Michele). The sheep (from Mom's) came home on the last day of the month. I swapped the rams around.

December
First snowfall of the season was December 2 (~4 inches).  Oliver had a good 6-month check-up. He gained almost a pound and his T4 was normal. The office Christmas Party was at Dale Johnson's new house.  Celebrated an early Christmas with Kevin, Briana, and Jack. Christmas with Michele's family (again). The barns were cleaned and the manure was spread a few days before the deadline. MDA was completely uncooperative. A week or so later, drainage was on the side of the hoop house. Let's hope it helps. The hoop house got so wet this year, inviting so many rats! The Redskins/Commanders are a bad team again. No playoff run this year. At least, we've got last year. I say the same thing about the Nationals. We've still got 2019! But it's getting old. The Nationals are changing everything so maybe there's some hope.  I'm far more committed to the Nationals (than the Commanders). I love baseball. If they name the new football stadium after Trump, I will forever be done with the team (and football).  Next year is the 250th year anniversary of the US. Terrible timing (not much to celebrate), as sadly we ended the year with the Tangerine Toddler still as POTUS. God help us.

Five Years

It's been more five years since I lost Max and Zak. Zak's last day was September 30, 2020. I was in the hospital (for gall bladder surgery) and unable to say goodbye to him. I will always regret this. Robin and Greg had to take him to the vet for euthanasia (I hate that word). My poor boy had stopped walking 7 weeks prior. I was carrying him out twice a day to do his business. I cooked lamb for his meals. He still had a good appetite. My guilt was eased a little bit by the fact that (before I went into the hospital) I had already made the decision (with the vet) that Zak's quality of life had gone and it was time. That terrible time. He was almost 16 years old.

My beautiful boys

Going at it

Cuddle buddies

Sniffing

Mornings on the bed

On the deck

Max's last day on this earth was the last day of 2019, December 31st. I don't think I ever cried as hard as the day I took him to the vet. He had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The medicine had stopped working. He was skin and bones. He got sick and stopped eating. I couldn't get him to eat anything. I would drain the tuna from the can and offer him the tuna juice. It used to be his favorite. He had stopped using the litter box and hygiene had become a problem. I couldn't spend as much time with him as I wanted to because I needed to be with my mom more. It was a heart wrenching decision, but it had to be made. Max was 17 when he took his last breath. I held him as they vet put him under. I am crying as I write this post. I miss both of them so much, to this day.  

Playing

Posing

Biting his nose

The chair

Both inside

I love the pets I have now:  Ty, Oliver, and Cash -- but I love the way Max and Ty were together and with me. Of course, as they got older, they interacted less with each other. They both lived very long lives, though their last years were difficult due to their advanced ages. I hope Max and Zak are romping around in heaven together like they did in this life. One day I'll see them again on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Until then, I love, miss them, and think about them often. Max and Zak.

Remember the Alamo

I've been to the Alamo twice. The first time was in 1998 when San Antonio hosted the Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). The second time was in 2016 when I was attending a Southern Section meeting Animal Science meeting. Dahlia and Niki were my travel companions.

Posing in front of the Alamo

Spanish mission, c. 1718

The Alamo is a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound founded in the 18th century by Catholic missionaries in what is now San Antonio, Texas. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, a pivotal event of the Texas Revolution in which American folk heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett were killed. “Remember the Alamo” became a rallying cry in the struggle for Texas independence. Santa Anna was eventually defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, leading to a free Texas.

Alamo Cenotaph

Alamo Plaza

Alamo tree

Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is 6,225 feet above sea level and straddles the border of California and Nevada. The beautiful blue lake is the largest alpine lake in North America and largest freshwater lake after the five Great Lakes. To say the scenery is break-taking is an understatement.

Largest alpine lake in US

Barbara J. and I 

I have been to Lake Tahoe three times, though not since 2001. All my visits were in conjunction with the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) Convention in Reno, Nevada. All January visits. One visit was with my friend Barbara J. (1994). One was by myself (1998) and one was with my mom (2001). When Barbara and I visited, we went to San Francisco afterwards. Same with my mom. In fact, we combined it with a trip to visit my Aunt Ginny (RIP 2025) in Arizona. When I went on my own, I went snowmobiling. Wow, was that fun. So fast. I fell off the snowmobile multiple times. 

Fun on a snowmobile

Dashing through the woods

Stopping for picture-taking

Alpine scenery

The biggest ski resort in the Lake Tahoe area is Palisades Tahoe. When I was there in 1998, it was called Squaw Valley.  In 2021, the name was changed due to its divisiveness. The ski resort hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. I took a ski lift to the top. No skis. I don't ski. Then or now.

Squaw Valley (now Palisades Tahoe) 

Ski run

For some reason I can't find any pictures of when Mom and I visited Lake Tahoe. There are pictures of the rest of the trip. I recall we took a sleigh ride through the snow. We shared the sleigh with a scout for the  Washington Redskins (and his wife). We drove to San Francisco afterwards. We spent a day in Monterey before taking a plane to Phoenix.

Pyramids of Giza

July 1996 -- What can I say about the pyramids? They are one of the most spectacular things I have seen in all of my travels. When I was riding a camel among the pyramids, it was one of those "pinch-me" moments in life. I felt like Danny DeVito in the movie, Jewel of the Nile. After a few minutes,

Yep, that's me!

I don't recall there being an entrance fee to see the pyramids. I'm sure there is now. After we got there, we were followed by a couple of camel "jockeys." The tagged us for being rich Americans. No offense taken. We each got on a camel and went for an unforgettable ride.  I quickly lost track of Earl, my work partner. His camel group rode off in a different direction. I was quickly separated from the only person I knew in Egypt (and for only a brief time). It was a little unnerving, but who cared, I was on a camel in Giza. We ended up at a "vista,"  a perfect place to take pictures with the giant pyramids in the background. They had a getup for us to wear, so we'd look the part of an Arab roaming the desert. As I recall they also had film and Pepsi for sale.

Earl's camel group

Oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Pyramids of Giza were built between approximately 2600 and 2500 BC. Mysteries still surround their construction. Since 1996, I have since visited sites that actually older than the pyramids. In 204, I visited Stonehenge. Its construction began around 3100 BC. The year before Lara and I visited passage tombs Newgrange and Knowth  in Ireland. They date to 3200 BC. Carrowmore's megalithic monuments, also in Ireland, are even older. The Great Wall of China is way younger, no more than 500 years old. I have visited the Great Wall twice, at two different locations.

A donkey to spoil the view

Riding through the desert on a camel

I visited the pyramids almost 30 years ago. They haven't changed, but I'm sure the area around them has. It wasn't very touristy when I went. You probably have to take guided tours now. I felt like I/we got to see the pyramids "unspoiled."

My pictures aren't the best. They were scanned from pictures taken almost 30 years ago. Not to mention the film was probably Seattle Filmworks, a less expensive option than Kodak.  

The Med

August 1996 -- The Mediterranean coast of Egypt extends from the western end of the Nile Delta to the border with Libya.  When I went in 1996, the beaches were largely unspoiled. The sand was white. The water was an incredible blue. We drove from Alexandria to Marsa Matrouh. We passed El Alamein on the way. I wished we would have had time to stop. While I've never really been a beach person, I could be if I'd lived near beaches like these. Definitely the prettiest beaches (and water) I've ever seen. Even the Caribbean doesn't compare.

Agiba Beach

Me and our driver

Cove

What a background!

Waves

Nabil (L) and Earl (R)

Stunning coastline

No greater place to ponder the meaning of life

Pearl of the Mediterranean

August 1996 - Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great and is the second largest city in Egypt. The city lies at the western edge of the Nile River Delta, directly on the Mediterranean Sea. The population of Alexandria was 2-3 million when I visited in 1996. Now it is 5.8 billion. Wow! Other than the pyramids, I have to admit that I liked Alexandria better than Cairo. I enjoyed the time we spent exploring it.

Founded 331 BC by Alexander the Great

Along the Mediterranean

Citadel of Qaitbay

Fishing

Lighthouse of Alexandria

Walkways

Fisherman

Boats

Mosque

Sidi Yaqut al-Arsh Mosque

Montaza Palace

Majestic palm trees

Clock Tower

*  *  *  *  * 

Sadly my pictures aren't the best. They were scanned from pictures taken almost 30 years ago. Not to mention the film was probably Seattle Filmworks, a less expensive, lower quality film than Kodak.