Goats Nesting
I don’t like the sound of thawing. It’s a good thing there is so much snow, it’ll take a while before it’s gone. I hope. Or really, I hope that the temperatures will drop below zero again and we’ll get more snow. Snow snow snow.
It’s been a couple of foggy days. With snow on the ground and fog in the air, it’s like walking around in creamy pea soup. Or something.
Things went well yesterday at the playground. It was much easier now that I had cleared paths between the various buildings. And more importantly all the doors opened up without a struggle. That made things a lot easier. I was met by a funny sight when I opened up the door to the goat and sheep building. They were all running around freely inside. The goats and sheep and lambs. They have their seperate spaces, but the doors to those were open. I guess I didn’t close them properly when I was there on Saturday. The goat door can be kind of tricky, sometimes the lock doesn’t shut properly and the door can spring open, especially if Mads or Magnethe jumps up on it. So that can happen. Just odd that both the sheep and goat door were open. I almost thought someone had been in there and let them out. But in that snowstorming weather that doesn’t seem likely. Odd. But I bet they’d had a fun time together during the night, haha. I hope the lambs stayed out of Mads’s way.
And then today it was back to work at TMU. It was closed on Thursday and Friday because of the weather. Apparently only one guy had braved the snow storm to turn up. Only to find the place closed. D’oh. But now the busses are running again. I had a couple of little talks. First with Trine. That is the social worker at TMU. She is also my contact person there. So I guess she’ll be the one I have to deal with the most. She’s very nice, so that’s good. And then I talked to Peter, the bossguy. He once again said that he was pretty confident that my case would be done by the time they close down for summer holidays. When the first term is over. So that’s good. By then they should have put my case together so they can present it to the “system” and I can get a flex job or retirement. I don’t really care which one it will be. If I get retirement then it doesn’t mean I’ll just sit home and do nothing. I’ll get a “skåne job”. Not sure what that is in English. But basically it’s like a flex job only less than 20 hours. And that would be fine with me. Flex job or skåne job, I don’t care. As long as it’s something I can do without feeling horrible. And I’ll keep working at the playground. Working on the social phobia. And hopefully I’ll feel happy. That’s more important to me than the number of hours I’ll end up working.
Speaking of the playground, let’s have some piccitures.
“Hmm.. I think I’ll stay inside today…”. Mads did not like the look of the snow. He did actually go outside, but only very shortly. I was over by the lambs, I guess that’s what made him jump out. I pretty much only caught a glimpse of his wide butt as he jumped back inside though. Hehe. Way too much snow for him.
And for Magnethe too for that matter.
The lambs and sheep were outside though, in a spot with less snow.
Look at Mini:
She’s such a little cutie pie. It’s funny how she still scrunches up like that. You can see how her back arches, compared to the other one. I like picking her up.
She’s so tiny in my arms. Although you can’t see that on the picture. But I feel like a giant when I hold her. In a good way.
Hello up there. They are awfully cute yes.
But don’t worry, Mads.
You are still the cutest.
I brought a comb and spent some nice time grooming Magnethe. Wow, you wouldn’t believe how much wool and hair I gathered up. It was sweet. She seemed to really like it. Per complimented my work, he said she looked much better without all those weird tots of wool. Hehe. She is a pretty girl.
There’s nothing better than lambs and goats when you’re tired and sore. I could have sat there and groomed Magnethe for the rest of the day, it would not have been a second wasted.
Time is all we have.
February 26th, 2007 at 21:54
Skåne job? Like Skåne in Sweden? Does that mean Danes think Skånelanders are lazy? :) I know some of the Swedes think they’re strange!
If it just means ‘low number of hours’, I guess we’d call it a ‘part-time’ job. But I couldn’t really find any information I understand about it… does it involve charity work, or is it _any_ low-hour job?
February 26th, 2007 at 22:05
Stu – Haha. Well it’s spelled the same way. But it’s not referring to Skåne in Sweden. “Skåne” means to spare someone.. or to take care of someone. It’s not just part-time work, there can be other factors. It’s tailor made to a person, so if a person has some special needs then they’ll be catered to. A “special needs” job. Maybe.
February 26th, 2007 at 23:25
Ah… ok. I don’t think we have those in the UK. I certainly don’t know of a name for it. But I know exactly what you mean.
I’m disappointed that you don’t think people from Skåne are lazy… that would be funny :) It’s like when I went to France and they’d never heard of ‘French Cricket’. Well, it’s a _bit_ like that, anyway.
February 27th, 2007 at 3:06
The Big Clean-up: Spent about 3 hours today picking up sticks at my parents’ house. My husband cut up the big branches with a chain saw, we loaded them into a trailer, and hauled them to a big pile. Dad has a chipper/mulcher to use on some of the branches and then the other pile he can burn. My husband also cut some limbs with the chain saw for our neighbor so she can move them.
We still have our yard to take care of now. Will probably take a half a day, at least to cut up limbs and move them to our burn pile.
The goats like all the branches that fell into their pen. They’re rubbing their horns and chewing on the branches. “Oh, boy. New toys for the goats.” Guess they will have to be our “chipper/mulchers” for some of the sticks!
Over half of Iowa’s counties have been declared disaster areas due to the ice storm, downed power lines, etc. Some people around here just got power back late Monday afternoon after being without power since Saturday afternoon. Then others may have to wait till Sunday. Luckily we had power except for about 3 hours on Saturday.
The ice melted off early Sunday morning leaving us with trees/limbs down. We had some snow Sunday, but no accumulation, thank goodness. If someone had been gone all weekend and came home today, I’m sure they’d wonder what had happened. I think if the ice hadn’t melted, it would have been too dangerous to go out to clean up anywhere.
Plume, I know how you feel after your snow shoveling. I’m getting stiff and sore after today’s clean-up and there’s more yet to come at our place.
February 27th, 2007 at 6:13
Debster, I’ve heard about those ice storms and they terribly dangerous. I hope you and the goats and your husband are doing ok.
I sometimes forget how beautiful and then not so beautiful snow can be. I can’t imagine having to shovel snow whether in Denmark or Iowa.
One of these days, you and Plume must come to sunny San Diego. We’ll run on the beach, eat fish tacos and relax. I think that shall be very wonderful!
We don’t see snow here except for the east county of San Diego, and when it does snow lots of people drive up there to play in the snow.
So be extra careful since you say there will be more to come. Rain will be falling tomorrow in San Diego and snow, too, in the mountains.
Also, moominlizard says “hi.” He (or she?) showed up one day on the grounds without it’s tail.
I’ve been putting slices of fruit and they’ve been eaten but I had assumed the cats ate them since you mentioned that cats eat fruits.
Man, was I surprised to see moominlizard back, and very much relieved. Of course, it just stared at me; not scared at all. So it’s back home and it’s little stub healing.
My father was here for a visit and just loves moominlizard. When I told him, he want out and petted it on its head. I can’t do that. I’d be too scared; but moominlizard seems to like being petted.
He’ll disappear for a few days, just like moomincat, and then show up again.
I wonder if they’re related….
Mmmm…
February 27th, 2007 at 15:18
Luis Lemmings: Try offering Moominlizard a fruit kabob when you see him. Find a nice long stick and put a chunk of fruit on it. Then offer it to Moominlizard. That way you won’t be too close to the biting part of the lizard. Just don’t poke him with the stick! (Maybe I need to box up some sticks and send to you. We have millions of them on the ground still.)
Never had a fish taco, but have heard of them. We use hamburger, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes in ours and then add salsa (mild for me).
Plume: Do you have tacos in Denmark? I like enchiladas, too.
February 28th, 2007 at 22:28
Stu – Well I think ALL people from Sweden are lazy :P
Debster – Wowz, that sounds more dramatic and scary than funny. Be careful with the chain saw. If a homicidal maniac comes around for tea, make sure NOT to give it to him!
The playground goats love branches too. When trees are pruned they always dump the branches in the goat pen. Mads especially likes to get in there and wrestle them around with his horns. It always makes me smile. Sometimes I’ll pick up some little brances and wave them at Mads and then he’ll start rubbing his horns against them almost like we’re duelling. En Garde!
I do believe we have tacos. I have never had any though. Enchiladas neither. I am very conservative in my food choices. Can you put soup in a taco?
Luis Lemmings – I’d love a day at the beach with you guys. Another winter you’ll have to come to Denmark when the sea is frozen. Maybe we can walk to Sweden. At least you could in the olden days, before global warming.
I am glad Moominlizard showed up again! That’s great news. I’m glad it’s ok. Be sure to tell it not to scare you like that again.
Maybe there is a secret society of moomin animals that go around and look for people that could need some animal company. Then when we don’t see them for a few days it’s because they’re off with another human in need. You never know.