Guess What I Got For My Birthday? And Other News...

The goats and alpacas are still pregnant.
However, Baby, our little terrier/chihuahua mix is not.
On my birthday (Oct. 28th) Baby gave birth to two tiny puppies, one boy, one girl!
Since it was my birthday, I got to name them. At first, I was going to go with "Happy" and "Bertie", but everyone here groaned at that idea, lol!
So, I went with "Bingo" and "Jingo". Bingo is the boy, Jingo the girl.
They are growing fast and fine. It appears the daddy was the cotton-pickin' Manchester Terrier from up the street (aka the Mini Pin) . The yard is tightly fenced, but that little bugger is so tiny, he was able to squeeze his way in through a wee little gap by the gate.
Bingo is solid black, Jingo is brown and black. At two weeks they now have their eyes open and try to walk, although it is more of a wiggle-crawl.
Baby is doing fine and being the best mama she can be!
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Other news:
The Darlin' Man had his retirement ceremony, an award ceremony and then his unit gave him a BBQ.
His actual date of retirement will be the 21st of this month, but all he has left to do are all the classes and paperwork the military has you do when you are retiring.
He has enjoyed sleeping late and though he is still shaving every morning, he has refused to get a haircut.
He says he plans to look like one of the Duck Dynasty guys within a year, lol!
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Other News:
We think we have found our house Up North.
It only has a little over 5 acres, but it is GOOD land...fertile, with water access. Also, a house and a barn.
The house needs fixing up...but that's okay with me! IT HAS A BIG BARN!!!
I call tomorrow to make an offer on it.
Cross your fingers (and toes), light a candle...do whatever you do as we hope and pray we get the house and land!

Feeling My Age.....Sort Of...and Bed Wars

I don't physically feel that old.
Just some days I mentally feel old.
When I hear *my* music being called "golden oldies" or "classic rock", etc.
When I see reports on what kids are being taught in schools....and NOT being taught. (cursive, anyone?)
When I see furniture styles that I grew up with being called *retro* or *mid-century*. (ACK!)
When I realize that at least half the products I grew up knowing as *household names* no longer exist.
Just been a bad couple of weeks for feeling/realizing this.
I'll get over it....
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Baby, our terrier mix, has been more and more insistent on telling us (and the Darlin' Man in particular) that the big bed is HERS, always has been HERS and always will be HERS and she is only (but generously) allowing us to share it.
Typical night here, Baby goes to bed when I do. Usually that is before the Darlin' Man goes to bed. (I get up before he does, so I usually turn in before he does)
Baby settles herself dead center on the bed.
Darlin' Man comes to bed....and then the trouble starts....
Baby, scoot over!
Low growl.
Baby, I mean it, move over!
Grumble, grumble, doggie sigh.
Get your paws outta my butt!
Much muttering in doggie talk and Baby rolls over.
Baby! Get down by my feet! You are drooling on my leg!
Uft...sigh...grumble...Baby rearranges herself and rumples up the sheets to her satisfaction.

Pause in the general grumbling from both parties for perhaps 20 minutes...the Darlin' Man starts to softly snore, then Baby stealthily belly crawls up the length of the bed and snuggles down between us.
The Darlin' Man rolls over in his sleep and goes to put an arm around me...Baby growls louder. Darlin' Man wakes up (a little) and begins to grumble.
Baby, you can't sleep there! Pillows are for PEOPLE! Now get off!
Outright SNARL.
That's it! Off the bed! Shoo! (Darlin' Man firmly grabs Baby and places her on the floor) Here's a pillow, now HUSH!
Quiet reigns and I drift off to sleep. Sometime in the wee hours, I am aware of Baby scrambling back on the bed.
We wake up in the morning with Baby sleeping soundly between us, half curled around the Darlin' Mans head. She looks triumphant.

Only picture of Baby I could find right off. Yes, she is little. But there's a lot of dog in that small package!

One of These Things is Not Like the Others...

Every morning after milking, I open the chicken coop door and scatter scraps on the ground outside. This encourages the chickens to get out and about a bit. This morning, Baby (our rescued stray) decided to join in the fun!

The chickens don't seem to mind and even Red, our psycho rooster, is okay with the strange creature that has joined his flock!