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. 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 last year's intended breeding season. Speaking of the NSCU rams, we decided to part with them after one season of breeding.

March
The official lambing season started on March 10. The barn was cleaned about a week before the first lambs hit the ground. 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 one of the orphans as a replacement. 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 he could eventually breed the does, including his mom! 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.

June
We saw a performance of  Noah at the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster. 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. 

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.

August
I was invited by the Coalfield Sheep Association to speak at the dinner before their sale in Clintwood, Virginia. It was s 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 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. The last leg of the drive was especially picturesque. It went through an area with lots of wind turbines. Those areas are always scenic.

September
Lara and I had our second epic adventure, this time to Iceland. We spent ten days touring the Island. 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 volcanos, glaciers, canyons, and beaches. 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 had fallen at Casselman park. I took Ty to Michigan for five days. We went to the Upper Peninsula. The highlight was Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We spent a day on Mackinaw Island. 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. 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 reported the incident to the police. I unexpectedly got my driveway paved. I was offered a good deal ($10,000) so I did it. 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).

December
The office Christmas Party was at Dale Johnson's house. We went to the annual Rowe Christmas party at the American Legion in Williamsport. The Redskins/Commanders are a bad team again. No playoff run this year. At least, we've got last year. I say the same think about the Nationals. We've 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).