Each time I write, I pick a subject first and then try to stay on subject.  That way I see the subject staring back at me as a reminder.

I had a busy week last week, so I am hoping this one is relatively calm.  We had a successful open house at the shop, Country Pickins.  It was Friday and Saturday.  Cheryl worked Friday and I worked Saturday.  After work Sat., my son and I went out to pick up a buck goat a woman needed to get rid of.  She's moving.  She wasn't home, but told us to go ahead and pick him up.  We felt like we were goatknapping!  My son has a pickup, so he had gotten the big dog crate out of the shed and a few bungie straps as well as a leash.  The buck had a collar and came right up to us.  We squeezed him in the crate, loaded it and off he went.  I was in my car and needed to make one stop before running in to pick up Houdini the drop-off kitten.  He was neutered at no cost to me.  We have a Task Force here called the Montana Spay and Neuter Task Force.  Twice a year the set up at the local Fairgrounds and do masses of spays and neuters, all for free.  I gave them a donation.  It's really a positive thing for our community and I would hate to see it go away.

After running the cat home and getting him nice and comfortable, I went and picked up my Little Sister from the Big Brothers & Sisters program.  She's 12 and we've been matched for 5 years.  She spent the night and we laughed and had a great time.  We like to play the Shrek Operation game!

I had made arrangements with a friend to come out Sunday afternoon and do a blood draw on the new goat to test him for CAE and CL before I let him breed my girls.  I then decided to have my girls tested as well, since they recommend testing twice a year.  Susie had only done it once before, but I think she did a great job.  The first was the easiest, but then I had to leave her and another woman to do the job themselves as my Little Sister and I had plans!  The organization had a gathering in town at a place called Arts on Fire.  You can go and paint your own ceramic projects you pick out and then they fire them.  We painted ornaments yesterday.  It was fun.  Ice cream cake was provided by The Stone Cold Creamery.  So, if you can or have the chance, mentor in some way.  It's rewarding!

LaVonne

montanacountrypickins.com, click on Serenity Sheep