Planner

Here it is folks, my planner.  Now I know it looks like amateur hour, but I am an amateur and I made this planner to work for me.

 I like the pattern to change because I get bored looking at the same planner every month. I found all of my page borders here.  They have a ton of borders over there and you can download a free copy or buy one that is more editable.  I had a hard time choosing on the December borders so I added a few extra pages in December.  Each month also has a corresponding weekly page.

I did a two page spread for the month, including an area for notes on the side. The weekly page has the month and then "___ to ___" following it.  This is so that you can make it for a week, or if you find that you need more room than that you can make it for just a couple of days.  I will be using it for a week at a time.  Each box has seven lines in it so it will be easy to use one line a day. I also have a training box.  In my last post I shared my aspirations to run a half marathon this year, so I will be working on getting to there in increments.  This space is perfect for writing training regiments that are proven for long distance training or, just to write in what you want to work on.  There is also a "jot it down" section that has no lines.  This for me is blog notes or other fun things I need to remember.  For you it could be the doodle area, I don't know.

I also included a small bi weekly budget and a bills page.  The bills page is just that, a page where you write in your monthly bills, the amount and the due date.  No budgeting is done on this page.  The bi-weekly budget is where all of my budgeting gets done.  I have anxiety and seeing all our money mapped out all at once is overwhelming to me.  Even though we don't live paycheck to paycheck, I budget paycheck to paycheck.  All spaces are blank so if you decide to use them, they are easy to write in or type in.

I did go through and try to get all the Holidays and other random days...like Pi Day (I let my inner geek out). So if there is something missing, add it. I hope you enjoy this planner as much as I am hoping to.

I did this through Google Drive and you will need a Google account to access it, but if that doesn't work for you, let me know. Once in Google Drive, there are three folders that are pretty self explanatory, but if you're confused just ask and I'll try to do a better job.

So here it is...  2015 Planner

Happy New Year from I Sheep You Not!

The last post!

First off, please accept my apology for not posting last week.  I kind of let the week get away from me.

This will be my last post.

I'm just kidding! This is my last post of 2014. I am not giving up that easy. With next Thursday being Christmas, I am not going to worry about writing a post and missing out on all the fun.  Kids will be out of school, family gatherings... my mind will be mush.  This post will cover the last two, boring, routine weeks as well as tell all of you my New Year's resolutions.  If I tell them to you, perhaps it will help as an accountability program. So here goes.

The last two weeks have been rather monotonous with the sheep. Just trying to get them to trust me and making sure I give them the space to get over their shyness.  I did however mess up BIG this week.  One day the sheep or the goat let themselves out.  Now these sheep are still very skittish and I have said from the beginning that if they ever got out, they would be gone because we can't get close enough to them to get them to move where I want them to be.   I was in full panic mode as I am looking out my kitchen window and am seeing Rosie and Agrippa just grazing away.

My first thought was that they managed to leap the fence and that our pasture is now ineffective.  I am truly thinking that even if I manage to get them all back into the pasture, that they will all just jump over the fence again and I will just be back here again in no time.  As I head towards the barn I am moving slowly thinking that Caoihme, Grizelda and Bellisarious might have wondered into the barn to munch on the hay, and then I see it.  The reason they were able to escape (read that like Dory...e scapp A).  I had a brain fart the day before and did not chain the barn gate shut after feeding them.  Thank the Lord that they didn't figure out my screw up until the next day, but oh man, I was feeling super stupid.

Once I figured out how they got out, I felt slightly better about under taking the task of trying to re-pasture them...slightly.  When we got these sheep, the previous owners let their dog out to help corral them.  I am pretty sure that my 14 yr old lab/newfie mix could definitely chase them, but without already being in a pasture they would just bolt all helter skelter and IF he did catch them, he would try to eat them.  Luke was not an option.  The only thing I could hope for was that they would want more oats and I could bribe them back into the pasture.  I grabbed a bucket with some oats and started shaking.  Rosie was the first to come back into the pasture (no surprise there), but Caoihme is the leader of the group and she was not convinced that the oats I was shaking was going to be any better than the grass she was already eating.  One thing I have learned so far with Caoihme, is that if I crouch down on my heals, she will come closer to me.  I crouched down by the open pasture gate and sure enough, she came sauntering up to me to see what I had.  Once she realized that oats where what I had she ran into the pasture followed by the others.  Crisis averted.  I shut that gate and double chained it. Double checked that I chained the barn gate and then went inside to drink my coffee and curse myself for not chaining the gate.


Onto my resolutions...


I'll keep this short for this post, but here is what I am planning for 2015.

I want to run more, and eat better.  Make my Weight Watchers membership work for me.  I pay for it and I go to the meetings, but some where between my bank account, the meetings and my head all motivation to eat better is lost.  I am tired of that nonsense. So next year, you'll hear about my progress right along with the progress of the sheep. I'll even tell you my weight changes each week (not the actual weight but the fluctuations up or down).

I want to do my make up daily.  For as "hippy" as I am getting with my essential oils, I LOVE my Mary Kay.  Did you know I am actually a consultant for Mary Kay?  Yeah, I am not very talkative about it, but I am.  Next year, I want to be more talkative about it. I want to do my make up more.  Not because I feel like I need make-up, but because I like it.  I like feeling like not everyone can see my chicken pox scar on my eye lid. I like my eyes with my make up done. They're blue-er.

I also, want to run a half marathon! There! It's in print for the world to see (if they're looking).  So now I have to at least try to be physically ready to do it.  If it doesn't happen this year, early next year it will. :)

I hope you all will continue reading my journey as it changes and grows next year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from I Sheep You Not! See you next year.

Progress!

Hey all!  I hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving and a safe Black Friday venture (if you ventured out at all).

It has been two weeks since my last post, but a productive two weeks.  I have been immersing myself in research about the Soay Sheep.  Looking for tricks and tips on the best ways to care for them.  Success in mine! More on that later...

The past two weeks have been a flurry of activity around here.  We host Thanksgiving for family and friends who either don't have a Thanksgiving gathering of their own or are avoiding their own families.  Either way, we always enjoy the company and celebrate all we are thankful for in good company.

When I haven't been busy cooking or cleaning I have been reading about Soay sheep.  It is so nice to once again have something to study and take notes on and feel like my brain is once again in use.  If you didn't already know, I love to read.  When I am reading about something that interests me, I can not get enough.  I have a notebook that is filling up with notes on a basic first aid kits for Soays, what treats they can and can not have and little tips and tricks on how to better earn their trust.  Routine is the first step to earning their trust and we have settled nicely on 9 am and 4 pm as my barn visits and trust building.

It my morning visit I take care of all the feeding responsibilities for all of our animals.  I talk to all of them and ask how their night was.  Even though I will never understand what is bleated, squawked and meowed at me, I like to think they understood the question and are answering. Or maybe they just are impatiently telling me to hurry up with the food.  Either way, the noise quickly quiets down as I complete my chores and all I am left with is quiet grazing sheep who I am desperately trying to win over...and it's working.

This week I have gone from feeding Caiohme hay out of my gloved hand, to feeding her hay out of my bare hand, to touching her nose with my bare hand while she eats hay and then finally, to her eating oats out of my bare hand.  Next up, just trying to touch her without a food incentive.  I have noticed that Rosie is a huge problem in these exchanges.  She isn't exactly on good terms with Caiohme.  We noticed this week that Caiohme is sporting a swollen eye (all sites agree that we should leave it, but keep an eye on it), and I'm guessing Rosie is to blame.  Every time she comes near Caiohme and the others, they run off while Caiohme puts her head down as if to head butt Rosie.  Rosie is constantly putting herself between me and the sheep and she is always trying to eat what I offer them.  If this keeps up, we may have to section Rosie off while I am out working with the sheep.

We have been looking into temporary fencing for the sheep so that this spring we can have a vet visit our farm and do any necessary shots.  We also need to find a livestock vet.  I do realize I should have done so before getting these sheep, but I'm on it now.

Pretty sure I have typed enough for this post. It isn't funny at all, but hey, I'm not that funny of a person regularly. :)  In any case. Maybe next week I'll tell you about Sean needing hearing aids and all the hilarious cases of what was said vs. what was heard.

Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoy your Christmas trees (if you have them) and don't forget to set your boots out tomorrow night because St Nicholas' comes Friday night.

Hooligan's Shenanigans

Welcome back!!! So excited that you hopped on over to read about our week.  Besides the cold and snow, it has been business as usual this week.  A barn visit to open and close the coup every morning and night as well as a mid morning and afternoon visit to the sheep pasture, trying to convince them I am an okay person in their lives.  

Today held the best sign from Caoimhe that I am not perceived as a threat.  I held out a hand full of hay and she approached me and sniffed at my hay.  She walked off without taking any, but I continued to stand still while holding the hay with my hand stretched out.  After a few minutes I allowed the hay to fall from my hand while leaving my hand out-stretched.  Caoimhe turned and approached me once again and sniffed at my gloved hand.  This is amazing to see considering two weeks ago I couldn't get within twenty feet of her with out her steering the herd away from me.  In the Soay sheep, the dominant female is the leader of the group, and all the others will follow Caoimhe's direction. This is progress that is encouraging to see.  Hopefully this will continue.  I noticed that while Caoimhe was sniffing at my hand, Grizelda was considering coming to see what all the interest was about.  If I can get these two ladies okay with me, the rams should follow. 

Now, I bet by this point you are wondering why I titled this post "Hooligan's Shenanigans".  Well I will tell you.  This week has had quite a few interesting conversations and random acts that have been hilarious in their own way.  I realize that those of you who read this, are on my FB, and therefore have seen one of these shenanigans on my status.  I will completely understand if you chose to close out of this page, but if you do, you will miss out on a hilarious conversation with C. 

Still here?  Fabulous.  Onto the shenanigans. 

A little back story for you. Sean and I have often joked about if our kids were a crime syndicate, which kid would hold which cliched position.  D, our youngest is most definitely the Boss.  She calls the shots and if you don't do as she wishes, you will feel her wrath.  C, our only son is the muscle.  I once had a pediatrician say "He is freakishly strong, isn't he?" when he was a year old. He is five now and all muscle.  He is however a lover not a fighter, so when he hits you, you know you messed up bad.  That leaves B, our oldest daughter,  She is the brains, the adviser.  She gives D her very enlightened opinion, which she usually ignores.  B lacks the confidence to be a leader and so she follows D, who has the tenacity to lead.  Although she doesn't have the confidence to lead, you can tell that she wants to lead so we are regularly subjected to screaming, bossy behavior that only irritates the little Boss and causes her to send in her muscle to hit the brains of the outfit.  

Okay, with that back story in mind, imagine my surprise when D, punched C in the face!  Poor guy had a slightly bloody, fat lip.  I am not sure of what caused the punch, but she got him gooooood.  Following the usual TV based protocol of a crime family...the Boss NEVER does their own dirty work like hitting the muscle.  She really stepped out of her designated roll and clocked her big brother good.  Perhaps it was an exercise in dominance.  Showing her physical strength to support her leadership skills.  Whatever the reason, C hasn't been as rough with her this week. 

Don't worry, C is fine.  Yesterday I was treated to hearing a round of "Guess What? - Chicken Butt" that ended with C telling D that he loved her and she responded in kind.  

Next up on the shenanigan list is C and his not lying.  For the past few weeks C has been telling me that a girl from his school lives right by us.  This week I finally asked the little girl's mom if they did indeed live by us (they don't by the way), but she did tell me that her daughter says that C gives her kisses. 

 Let's stop right here, and take a moment to realize that C has me wrapped around his finger the same way Sean is wrapped around the girls' fingers... and now my little Squishy Bear is KISSING a girl other than his Mommy!!! Oh. Hell. No. 

Okay, so, after the shock wears off that  my little boy is kissing someone else, I tell Sean.  Who calls C into the sitting room to have a chat.  

Sean: Are you kissing on (little girl at school)?

C: No

Sean: Are you lying to me?

C: Yes.

Sean: (stifling a laugh) C, does (little girl from school) give you kisses?

C: Nope!

Sean: Are you telling me the truth?

C: Nope! 

Sean: (outright laughing) C, tell me the truth! Are you kissing girls at school?

C: No Daddy, I not.

Sean: Is that so?

C: (smiling)...no...

I am not sure if he is lying about kissing or not kissing the girl from school.  Either way, I am not happy that he may or may not be taking an interest in girls so soon. Ugh.  When these kids become teenagers, I will gladly accept large gifts of wine.  Maybe that will soften the blow of betrayal I will feel when C starts dating and when my girls stop being girls and become she-demons once a month.  

So, that has been my week.  This weekend is going to be a flurry of activity as we prepare for Thanksgiving.  If I do post next week, it will be on Saturday, but I might just wait and make it a two week catch up post.  You'll have to wait and see. :-)

Hi. Welcome. Let's get this started.

Have you HERD?  The Wenzels have sheep!

I Sheep You Not!

Okay, Okay now that I've had my puns, let’s get down to the business of writing a blog.

First off, let's talk about what this blog will be about.  Despite it's title, this blog won't just be about sheep. Oh no, you will be treated to all kinds of fabulous happenings at our little farm.  Yes, you will hear about the sheep, you will hear about our hooligans, our dog, our cat and my crazy idea of becoming a runner (I'm up to a whole mile. I know, bad ass right?).  You will find a few swear words here and there...you read the previous sentence, right?  You will also find out that Sean (my Hubs) and I are really excited about having a farm and yet, completely flying by the seat of our pants. Come on though, it wouldn't be a Wenzel Adventure without a Clark and Ellen component would it?

Side note: Sean and I are strikingly similar to Clark and Ellen Griswold.  So they will be referenced frequently.  If you don't know who Clark and Ellen are, go rent a National Lampoon's Vacation movie. Any of them except the European Vacation...that one had a whiny Audrey.  

Moving On! 

On our little farm, we have Sean, me (Beth), the hooligans B, C and D, Luke (the dog), Pumpkin Bo Bam (the tolerated cat), Rosie the Goat, Jack the Rooster, sixteen hens (if you want that roll call you'll have to ask) and the new Soay Sheep, Caoihme, Grizelda, Bellisarious and Agrippa. Huh? You haven't heard about Soay Sheep before? Well, neither had I until a coworker of Sean's introduced us to the breed. He knew of a farmer who was downsizing his herd and was willing to make us a deal. The soays are smaller than regular sheep and they won't need sheering in the spring.  You "pluck" the loose wool from them.  If you want any more information on soays, hop on over to www.soayfarms.com. Okay, let me introduce the sheep! 

 The Rams, Bellisarious and Agrippa

 From Left to Right: Caoihme, Grizelda, Bellisarious and Agrippa

 Grizelda. Yes, the females can have horns.

Caoihme, pronounced KEE-va. She is expecting a lamb this winter. 

Now, these sheep are about the same size as our pygmy goat. Sean literally just picked them up and loaded them into a trailer.  So far they are still very skittish around us so everyday I have been going out to the pasture and just spending time around them.  Hopefully when Caoihme's lamb arrives she will let me get closer than three feet.  This is her 4th lamb and has been a good mom to her others according to the previous owner, so that is a HUGE plus.  

Well, I'm thinking I should wrap this up for this post.  My hope is to get you an entry at least once a week of the happenings of our farm. This is a new experience for us and for some reason, I feel like sharing it with you. So there you go. The inaugural post of "I Sheep You Not". 

~Beth 

p.s. if you were disappointed in my post, sorry about your luck. This post was written in between kid pick ups, play dates and unclogging the toilet. It's hard to concentrate around here sometimes. :)