Our Christmas Season

Joshua has been on me to blog since the last time he blogged (which was quite a while ago). So, we have finally sat down to start something.

It's been a crazy few months. I don't know where October went (besides in the history books), and suddenly November was upon us. We were fanatically crazy as we prepared for my Grandma's 80th birthday celebration and, consequently, visiting relatives from Indiana and France. We thought we would get a break from the chaos and cleaning, when Thanksgiving week hit us full force, and we again found ourselves preparing for more relatives and Thanksgiving itself.

And then December came. With calls of "Christmas is only 3 weeks away!" and "Christmas is only 20 days away!" we quickly remembered that Christmas was coming upon us...along with more cleaning and chaos, as we scurried around to prepare surprises for each other, and prepare for relatives. When the Christmas is only 18 days away! call came 'round, we took a morning break and went to a Ladies Brunch that our grandparents' church puts on every year.

Grace, James, Grandma, Red, Mum, Madeline and Megan,
Ben, Emily, Rachel, Grandpa

You may, therefore ask why in the world guys are in the picture above (taken after the brunch by a patient photographer). The answer is that the guys served the ladies. Joshua and James were part of the serving crew, whilst Grace, Megan, Madeline, and Rachel were part of the eating crew. We boys enoyed the serving and te eating. In summary, it was a fantastic day!


This year, Dad started (hopefully) a new tradition. Last night, we all went outside to the burn pile and had s'mores while singing Christmas carols. It was a strange phenomenon: s'mores, a fire, and a cool night, in the beginning of December! The fire was "big," and there was no wind, so it didn't seem that cold. It could've almost been any summer day...save that we had to go in at about 6 , as the fire was low, and it was PITCH BLACK outside! Ok, the temperture being about 20 or less degrees outside was a little different from a summer night. All the same, I hope we will be able to continue the tradition next year!

We then decorated the Christmas tree and hung up our stockings. Sometimes on the mantle, sometimes on our little brother, who, for the Christmas season, is dubbed Sockery instead of Zachary.

Pictured below is this seasonal sibling...

 I hope you all are having a fantastic time getting ready for Christmas!

Red and Ray (a.k.a. Joshua and Rachel): editor of the CODERLAMBIAN

And a Happy New Year...

The 4-H season has officially restarted! On the evening of Thursday October 10, Elite Livestock (the 4-H club we at the Coderlambian subscribe to) hosted their first 2013-2014 meeting. Whereas there are some empty seats from seniors who left, there were many familiar faces, as well as some new ones.

As you see, there are now seven Coderlambian editors. Rachel, is not planning on buying and selling a market lamb, but instead will continue to head the wool and crafts department. Expect to hear from that quarter.

This year, we hope to improve our Coderlambian staff in a couple areas. We hope to be more consistent with our market letters, improve our showmanship, and become leaders of our 4-H club. As a result, we hope that we'll be able to keep you updated on the progress of activity!

Disclaimer - for these next couple months, we can't guarantee consistent updating. Whereas the 4-H year has started, we don't really start until March/April, when we get our lambs. However, we'll find something to keep you informed!

Red - editor of the Coderlambian

Introducing the Newbies!

The long awaited post has arrived! We are here to introduce to you, potential buyers and moral supporters, the two newest "editions" :) to our Coderlambian staff!
It doesn't really matter how we introduce them - they're twins, and are consequently very similar in age, looks, likes, and dislikes -

Madeline (left) and Megan (next to left) when we were on
family vacation this year.

Madeline and Megan are 8 years old, but have been around almost since Rachel, Grace and I joined 4-H market lambs five years ago. They've helped with getting late newsletters out on time; they enjoy entering things at the Clark County Fair; they like crafts and cooking (including the consumption thereof). They are ready for their first 4-H year!

Watch out Clark County Fair! Competition's comin' (to town)!

Red: editor of the Coderlambian

The Fair in an Overview - Part Four

Sorry for not having posted for a while...but of course, you didn't expect us to on family vacation, right?

Saturday decided to crawl (in regards to time). The official start time of the Junior Livestock Auction was 11 AM, but the sheep didn't get started till mid-afternoon. Several of the Coderlambian editors (myself included) served as auction runners, running paperwork to the buyers, and back to be filed. Finally, one-by-one, our turns came. All in all, we did exceptionally well, and we'd like to thank those who bought our lambs: Riverview Community Bank (under Mr. Sheaffer), bought not one, or two, but three of the Coderlambian animals; Rene and Calvin Wigen bought one of our lambs - we'd like to especially thank Mrs. Wigen for the multiple hours she spent at our house, giving us tips on good sheep techniques. We'd like to thank Three Kings Environmental (under Mr. King), as well as Fazio Bros. Sand (under...well, guess: Mr. Fazio). These four have been very kind, generous, and supportive when we've gone to see them. (In addition, this hasn't been the first time that we've seen Mr. Sheaffer, Mr. King, and Mr. Fazio buy Coderlambian lambs...) We also had some very generous add-ons - we greatly appreciate those who gave them.

That ended Saturday. Sunday evening, there was a Quiz Bowl for the sheep barn. The Intermediate division literally rocked the show, much to the shame of the Seniors...After the Quiz Bowl and a Potluck, we returned to the sheep barn to help pick up. However, pick up was picked-up rather quickly, and as we were going to wait a while (for a complicated reason), and as it was the last night of the fair, we decided to go on rides...again. But this time, we had some help.

Pictured here are Rachel and I, a friend from the sheep barn (to
the left of Rachel), and siblings/friends (everyone else)

We had a good time, but apparently, everyone else was aware of the fact that it was the last night! We were at the rides for 2 hours at least, but only were able to get on three or four rides...talk about traffic jams!

Well, next post, we'll be introducing the new editors to our group. Stay tuned!

Red: editor of the Coderlambian

The Fair in an Overview - Part Three

On Friday there were a couple shows. First was essentially a show where you showed what kind of breeding stock/offspring you had at home. You showed your rams, your ewes, essentially your "flock," in competition against other rams and ewes of the same breed (however, most of the showmen who entered this show had all the animals in a specific breed category). After each of the separate breeds were judged, the champion ram, ewe, etc., of each breed contested with their counterpart of the other breeds. Some of us were able to help friends show their sheep, but none of our livestock competed in this show.
However, one show that we did compete in was one that, actually, everyone who wanted to sell a lamb had to compete in, so it wasn't necessarily voluntary...

Zachary cleaning his lambs hoofs - part of showmanship

Bo-Peep and Coco awaiting the judge's decision

Line up

This show was a "how-well-do-you-keep-your-lamb-groomed" as well as "how-well-do-you-show-your-lamb" idea, rightly called Showmanship (or Fitting and Showing). Somehow, pictures of Rachel and James were overlooked...except, you can see James in the last picture, between showmen 3 and 4 from the left. All-in-all, we did well.

The last two days were quite a bit more relaxed (except about twenty minutes of day - 17.5 minutes before entering the auction ring, and the 2.5 minutes in the auction ring on Saturday). But we'll still save those facts for another day...

Red: editor of The Coderlambian

The Fair in an Overview - Part Two

One of the best ways to communicate nowadays is pictures. You know the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words..." Well, instead of reading tens of thousands of words, this post has quite a few pictures...

This part of the fair is extremely long. It went from August 7th to August 11th, but a lot happened in those days.
On Wednesday, Rachel and her friend MacKenzie got bored...


...this was the result. No, this is not a common occurrence at the sheep barn...at least, it wasn't. But boredom, Kool-Aid, and an Oxford wool sheep seem to a equal a tye-dyed sheep.

This is Rachel and MacKenzie putting the "poor" thing back. Actually, it turned out great. There were some hilarious reactions to this "new breed."

JAC - he sold two lambs

We also weighed in our sheep. At the Clark County Fair, your lamb needs to gain a certain amount of weight before being able to be sold at the Junior Livestock Auction.

Little Bo Peep and her miracle sheep

Rachel and her little lamb

 The Little Shepherd with his not-so-little sheep

Me and mine

 Our lambs met the requirement, but barely. Three of the lambs scraped by, two of the lambs cleared it, though it was skeptical they would because of their initial weight, and one lamb made it by handsomely.

On Day 2 (Thursday, August 8th) we had our first sheep show. This was market class; basically, how good does your lamb look for the freezer...here are some pics -

I just had to throw this pic in - the two on the right
(Pink and Purple) are Junior editors next year!

Jim and the judge

Z-man and Alisha

Line up during the show

Bo Peep and Coco

This picture on the bottom right needs some explanation. At the end of the show, each club gets together it's top five lambs, and the judge grades which group has the best set of lambs. Our club placed second in that category (the gent second from the left held Reserve Champion for 4-H market lambs).

Well, that's it for this post. There's at least one more coming up on the second part of the fair, possibly two, so stay tuned!

Red: editor of the Coderlambian

The Fair in an Overview - Part One

Within the first 5 days of the fair, Joshua Red, Gracie, James, Zachary, and I all had 4-H cooking demonstrations to perform in front of judges.

 Zachary and James both made oatmeal and smoothies, but at separate times. I only appear to have pictures of Z though. However, they both did a fantastic job.

 
Gracie made some dinner rolls.

Joshua and I both made a separate pizza. Josh made a regular one, and I made a gluten free one. All in all, I ended up with a blue ribbon for some rolls I made and blue for my pizza; Red got blue for his pizza; Grace got a red ribbon for her rolls, but a blue for some crepes she made with her friend Olivia; James got blue for his oatmeal, and so did Zach. We're all happy with how we did, and appreciate the feedback the judges gave each of us.

Well, that covers what we did at the fair from Friday August 2nd to Tuesday August 6th. The sheep part of the fair will take up at least one post, so we'll save that for later!

Rachel: editor of the CODERLAMBIAN

Saturday Preperation

Well, my goal to write everyday after the fair has - failed. I will hopefully write an overview of the fair. But, that will come later.

However, I have a post for today. This is to prepare you for the auction tomorrow - just to get you in the mood. :)
















Rachel: editor of the CODERLAMBIAN

Still Entries

Three days before the 1st day of the Clark County Fair!

All morning, we were doing last minute preparations to head off to the fairgrounds with still exhibits. Baked goods, pictures, wool, and hand work were piled into the car for departure.

While we were running about, filling out paper work for the Clark County Fair, Grace and James stayed home to help our friends shear Cocoa (Grace's lamb). Grace's lamb's wool is actually rather nice - that is not completely normal since she is a meat lamb.

Joshua has been busy, too. He's been digging holes at a friend's house.

Rachel: editor of the CODERLAMBIAN

The Last Time

This is the last time we will be going to buyers for the 2013 Junior Livestock Auction.

 

This is the last time there will be two red heads amongst the editors of the CODERLAMBIAN.
This is the last time Joshua and I will be selling lambs at the Junior Livestock Auction.








However, this is not the last time I will blog. I will be trying to post every day that we are at the fair so you can see our progress.

Rachel: editor of the CODERLAMBIAN

Work and Play

We had our last wool meeting on the 19th. We finished up some projects for the fair, and dyed some wool with Kool-Aid. What do you think?

 










On Friday, we all headed off to the beach (with the exception of our 2 oldest siblings). We stopped by our favorite local coffee shop on the way there.

Do you think Zachary has grown at all? 

                                                                                                    

Waiting for a Frisbee to be thrown. :-)

We went to the Astoria Column. This beautiful view met us while we ate dinner. :) 

Rachel: editor of the CODERLAMBIAN