Fickle Weather in KY, Blessed be my friends.

When I decided to move here, I was told about the wonderful weather we would have. Not a lot different then NJ. But different enough. Not a lot of really hot weather, good rain fall, etc. However since we moved, we've had a straight week of temperatures over 100 Degrees Fahrenheit, a drought for the last 2 summers, and the windiest year that anyone can remember.

We bought a canopy to use as a sheep shelter. This is a large tarp on a hoop secured into the ground by six auger stakes about 3 feet deep.

This is the shelter getting installed in July 2007.

Last February we had a sever wind storm that literally pulled out the 2 front stakes from the ground. I was away on business when it happened, but my friend Glenn who was watching the sheep for me helped secure it so it didn't fly away on me.
Last summer we had another wind storm that literally bent the posts of the front section of the shelter. Mind you that this is about 2 inch tubular steel that it bent. I was not the only person that this happened too. I was able to come up with a fix by removing the first set of posts, and folding the tarp back onto itself.

The Shelter Being Used By Our Shetland Sheep

All was well again until the morning of New Years Eve.
Overnight we had a heavy wind again. Funny no high wind warnings were issued that evening.
When I woke up and took Bella, my golden retriever and Goldie, my calico cat, for their morning walk I found the shelter belly up like a dead whale.

The aftermath of the windstorm.

The tethers that held the shelter to the anchors had all rusted away and snapped in the wind. Another on of the steel posts had broken as well. The shelter was being held in place by only one anchor that I had ties down with a ratchet strap. The other ratchet strap must have worked loose with the winds. It was still connected to the post, but not to the anchor.
Again thanks to my friends. Glenn was over in a half an hour, and we turned the shelter over. Actually the wind turned it over, and we just kind of guided it, and controlled it.
I sometimes wonder what I would do without the people that have befriended me here.
I did not know anyone when we moved here. The people of KY are just the greatest. I'm glad I decided that this was where I wanted to start his farm.
Well Glenn and I secured the shelter down with some 5 foot steel fence poles that we pounded several feet into the ground, and lashed it back together with rope. The main goal was to stabilize it until it can be replaced this spring with a more permanent structure.
This is just one of the things that can happen with this wacky weather, and one of the many times that our friends have come to our aid.
More on that another time.

I am a Gentleman and a Shepherd

Some would say that I am a computer geek...I have been a software developer for many years...didn't start out that way. I was heading for a career in psychology....long story....it changed somewhere along the lines.

Lived a fairly traditional life. Did all the right things. Got married, bought a nice house in the suburbs....woke up one day and it was clear.... a change had to be made. Actually, the change was made for me....another story.

So.... I find myself single again in my early fifties. Time to do what I really want.... but what is that? I know that I want to find my own true love. Krishna and Radha are my inspiration. I send my prayers daily. With the help of the beautiful voice and words as interpreted by Krishna Das (and Match Dot Com) I found her. My querida. She is a queen. A lovely vision made for man...this man. I am captivated. She brings my dream...previously unknown to this mortal consciousness...to reality.

I wake up.... I am in the state of Kentucky ... 14 barren acres, no fence... a house about to fall in on itself... AND 8 living breating eating moving fenceless sheep. Prmitive Sheep to be sure. But sheep none the less. And they need guidance. I am ready. At least I think so.....

The adventure began in July 2007...These are my stories. Our stories.