Its Lambing Season!

Jiffy gave birth to a pair of buck Lambs this morning.

New Floors

Winter in Kirksville Means RENOVATING!

I once saw a sign I found rather funny that read: “Kirksville has two seasons: Summer…..and Suffering!” It’s quite true. As soon as the good weather rolls out, the inside projects begin. We installed 2 3/4" hardwood flooring throughout the the first floor of our home and re-tiled Laura's bathroom. A couple of sore knees later tada a real face lift to our floor. Carter is free to start spilling his juice again!

Gary's Buck

Our friend Gary Moss took a nice 9 pt buck this morning on our place. (with a muzzleloader)

Carter Visits Santa

Last Saturday, Amy took Carter to visit Santa at Sydenstrickers Implement Co. Carter really enjoyed all of the tractors and trucks. Santa held up a John Deere tractor toy and that was all the persuasion Carter needed...he hopped right up on Santa's lap and took possession!

Awesome Picture

Carter Acting Cool in His New Shades!

Enjoying the Kittens One Last Time

Carter played with the kittens tonight one final time. Due to increasing cat food bills (6 cats) we are downsizing and adopting them out to Grandma Reller over the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Mega Bucks

In 2010, the shooting house treated everyone who sat in it to a good one!

Miss Prissiness Photo Shoot

Amy had a photographer come to our place and take some pictures for Christmas. Attached is a sample...to see more visit:
http://missprissiness.wordpress.com/

Carter Enjoys Catching Kittens (more than the kittens like being caught...)

I'm gonna be King of Pride Rock!

Carter dressed up as a lion for Halloween. Laura, Mom and Dad took him to Truman State University and did some trick or treating in Centennial Hall. It took the little guy a while to warm up to the concept of going door to door and taking to strangers......but soon he realized he would be getting candy and it was on!

Wordless Saturday: Beautiful Fall Family Day

12

Good Bye to an Old Friend
This buck first made an appearance in our backyard during August of 2008. At that time, he appeared to be a three and a half old twelve pointer with great genetics so we “red shirted” him and appropriately named him twelve. No one saw him again during the 2008 deer season so we concluded he must have been killed during the firearms season. In 2009, he was neither seen nor photographed and this firmed up our assumptions that the story was over for “12”. August of 2010 brought with it a pleasant surprise when photo of “12” was captured by a wildlife camera which had been placed on a ridge just 150 yards north of our home. The five and half year old buck appeared regal and in his prime and I remember thinking if I could just have one shot at him it would be terrific. (Understandably, I wanted to be the lucky hunter). I went hunting Friday evening hopeful but also with reasonable expectations because “12” was just too smart to walk in front of a hunter. At 6:30p.m. I ended “12’s” life with a well placed arrow and while the whole experience seemed bittersweet, I am stoked that I will be able to place his great antlers on my shelf and think of him often.

I'm On A Boat!

T-Pain....you don't have nothin' on Carter

Back to Back

Laura enjoyed winning two championships two weekends in a row in September.

Chasing Cats

Carter is getting pretty attached to a litter of kittens living in the lily garden. He doesn't hesitate to grab one. His is certainly proud of himself when he is successful.

Sunday Afternoon Fun

A nice lazy August Sunday. We went to early church and then Laura took a ride on her horse while Carter fed the sheep Black-Eyed Susan flowers. Good times!

Laura Wins it All in Winigan!

Champion Market Lamb - Champion Breeding Sheep

Champion Senior Showmanship

It's always a good sign when you are getting dirty looks from the crowd because you won everything....... but, Laura said she did not feel too bad - she has put her time in.

Summer Get Together!

NEMO Fair 2010

Laura had a great day at the fair on Tuesday. We took 4 market lambs and 2 breeding ewes, so we were very busy! Showtyme, breeding ewe, received Champion Hampshire. Two of the market lambs won reserve champion for their breed, and then one of the lambs went on to win Adair County Reserve Champion!! To top off the day, Laura won Showmanship for the Intermediate Class. Yeah, Laura!!!

Needless to say, Carter is tired of the fair. He had to spend two full days at the babysitter. He's glad he doesn't have to go to the babysitter for the rest of the week:)

Mama Kitty did it again!

Mama Kitty won Best in Show at the NEMO Fair this year. Laura then won Junior Showmanship. Yeah, Mama Kitty and Laura! Carter enjoyed the show also!

Reserve Champion Ewe

Showtyme, one of Laura's yearling ewes, won Reserve Champion Ewe at the Daviess County Junior Livestock Show on Friday. Good job, Laura! Laura and Amy managed 4 sheep at the show, we will see how they do next week with 6 sheep at the NEMO Fair!

Also, Carter turned 13 months old today, and he has finally started walking on a regular basis. Watch out world!

Summer Toys

Forget all the toys in the house, Carter's new toys this summer include the hickory nuts that land on the backporch. He tries to get as many in his hands as possible, and then tries to bounce them in front of him and chase them. It is a game he can play a long time!

"Caesar"

Introducing “Caesar” a 400lb registered Suffolk ram and the newest member of the Bartig family. Laura and Mike went to the National Stud and Ram Sale Saturday to purchase this champion ram from the Crego family of Ft. Collins Colorado. Believe it or not, Caesar is just a yearling Ram (we have really high hopes for him.) A special thanks to Joaquin & Diana Crego (http://www.cregolivestock.com) for giving us the opportunity to purchase this outstanding buck. As the pictures show, Caesar has a tremendous amount of style and eye appeal with incredible hip and leg muscling. His lambs last year brought on average sales exceeding $2500.00. While all rams are inherently dangerous and should not be trusted, Caesar has been extensively worked with and as you can see is gentle enough to be set up by Laura.

Laura's home

Laura is home from JBA, but she had time for a pic before she left. She had a blast!

More pics. . .

Pictures from last week's trip

Last week's trip

Carter and Amy spent last week visiting cousins and grandparents and taking wagon rides!

Laura

Laura is at Joseph Baldwin Academy for three weeks, but she was able to show her lambs twice before she went. Bill Nye received third in his class in Marshall. Yeah, Bill Nye!

Cute pics

The dolphin swing has made it back to the Bartig house. Laura spent many hours in it in Troy, it made many Lofgren children happy in St. Louis, and now Carter gets to enjoy it.