Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Baymule]

Beggars can’t be choosers. All of a sudden, a previously rejected mode of transportation sure beats walking. Ahhh…. The joys of being broke and on foot. BTDT

More rain, just what y’all need. I hope the rain helps the farmers and ranchers. The tarp will give the sheep a place to get out of the rain. My sheep can take some rain, but sure crowd into their shelters in a hard rain.

Your Nativity set sounds like it is something to behold. Next year, take pictures and show us!

 

[Mini Horses]

Your Nativity set sounds like it is something to behold. Next year, take pictures and show us!

Agree!! I feel we've been left out. 😔🥴

 

[Ridgetop]

I found a picture I took several years ago. I rearrange the positions of the shepherds, magi, and wolves each year. The wolf pack and their 4 pus are on the far right. The dog facing them is a Pyrenees. The dog in front is a liver masked Anatolian (Rika). I should probably get another dog and paint it like a black masked Anatolian (Bubba). Or just repaint the Pyrenees. I keep adding stuff as I find it. There are some kittens and chickens, and a baby burro which you cannot see since it is hiding in the stable behind the donkey. My father-in-law made the stable for me and I glued bark on the roof to be more realistic. The greenery are 5 miniature fake pine trees which I bought one year my mother was visiting. She liked doing miniature scenes and we found these at the dollar store. I have decided to wait until next year before adding any pieces to my set. I will try to make a well, and save my money this year since we will be spending a lot going back and forth to Texas. Plenty of time to add to the set at next year's sale.

The Nativity set is sitting on the buffet my great grandfather built to go in our old house (which was my grandparents' first home in the San Fernando Valley). He was my maternal grandfather's father, born in Germany and apprenticed in the Guildhall at age 11 to a furniture maker in Germany. After the great Spanish flu epidemic in Europe killed his wife and 2 sons he immigrated to America. One of his sisters had immigrated here before him and urged him to start a new life in America. He was a master cabinet maker and built it with hand tools. He ever had a power tool. The wood is quartersawn oak. The special grain is due to the way the lumber is milled.

Here is a picture of the matching china cabinet. The pieces were made to match the table and chairs, also quarter sawn oak and sized to fit in the large dining room of my grandparent's home. (They are a little crowded here.) Some of the chairs shown in this picture don't go with the set. The original chairs are the ones with the arched tops. They are rather delicate, and I worry about some of my large sons sitting on them. LOL The picture is not very good but it is clear enough. My great grandfather died the year after I was born.

Found some more pix of my Anatolians while hunting through my pictures on the computer. One of these days when I have a few months with nothing to do I should categorize my photos. Anyway, here is a nice one of Angel on watch over the gully.
And 2 other photos of Angel and Rika. You can see the difference in type between them. Angel is larger than Rika and not quite as thickset. My sweet Bubba was also very thick and powerful and even taller than Angel. He also weighed about 150-160 lbs. Still missing him.
Angel Rika

These pictures of Angel were taken when she was less than 2 and has not quite filled out. Rika was 7, and is shorter and thicker in build. Angel weighs about 125 and Rika about 110 lbs. One funny thing about Angel is that her tail is longer than normal! It is one way of recognizing them when they are on the other side of the gully. LOL

Anyway, on to the happenings of the past week. Ran, rain, and more rain. The tropical deluges of my childhood are back. Terrible flooding everywhere except on top of our ridge. The tarp was up for the sheep thank goodness, and the sheep huddled under it. DS1 had to retie it a couple of times but although it now has a couple holes it held up for the last 2 storms. We are expecting another one starting Friday. 6 more are expected in the next few weeks. The ground is pretty soggy and muddy. DS1 was able to get 20 sandbags so we will put them out around the back and front of the house.

DH picked up the old Explorer and the shop said it had a broken motor mount ($900) and shocks ($800). DH said thanks for the info and brought it home for DD2. DDIL2's dad can do those repairs. Then the next morning DS1 discovered that the rear tire was flat on our new(er) Explorer! Grrr! DS1 took it to American Tire for a repair and found out that the hole was too big for a repair - we would need to buy a new tire. Since the tires were only about 3 weeks old DH called Galpin about the road hazard warranty. Surprise! Galpin told him that they no longer had road hazard warranties on their tires. Since Galpin had always included road hazard on tires for the past 20 years DH had not asked about it when he bought the new tires. DH was not a happy camper. Next day DH took it back to American Tire to get the tire replaced but they didn't have that size in stock. They had to order one. He also found out that the new tires he bought at Galpin Ford were only good for 50,000 miles while the ones at American Tire were good for 80,000. They ordered a tire for him, and since all the tires were new, he could buy a road hazard warranty for all the tires. The price for the tire was less than Galpin and had 30% more life to it. Suddenly the "deal" he got buying 3 tires and getting one free from Galpin was not as good as he thought. He was also not happy about no road hazard since he had also replaced all 6 of the dually truck tires at Galpin as well. As a good wife I did not say "I told you so" about Galpin and their "deals".

Galpin has gotten the diesel engine and the truck is supposed to be ready in another week or two. We are holding up on our trip to Texas and won't leave until February since with the expected storms we can't load the flatbed in the mud. I have marked everything we plan to take in the stock trailer - mostly water resistant/proof stuff and in plastic tubs. I packed sheets, blankets, and towels in 2 tubs and they should be protected from the rain. Stuff in cardboard boxes will go in the covered bed of the Black Dragon. It will take us a couple days traveling slow and allowing for weather to reach Yantis since we will have to make a stop at Baymule's with the lambs. Once in Yantis we will unload the trailers, drop off one truck and both trailers and drive south to Athens for the wedding. Our great niece texted she had received wedding gifts I told her would be arriving from DS1, DS2 &DDIL2, DD2 & DSIL2, but not ours. That was because Walmart had sent me the ordered coverlet set to our address. In fact they had sent me 2 of them. DS1 reordered it to be shipped to Texas and returned the 2 identical sets.
Kylee also texted that a tornado had hit Athens. While it had taken out a couple of buildings, thankfully the wedding venue was spared. A bride has her priorities.

We received the sheep chair and ear tags, but I have not opened the box yet. I did suggest that we put it together, drive the wet muddy sheep into the barn, and get to work trimming hooves. DH and DS1 laughed uproariously. Since the cold rain was coming down so heavily you could barely make out the barn, let alone the sheep cowering under their shelters, I announced that we would wait for better weather. Lewis, the older ram that was limping badly, has recovered after being trimmed. He continued to limp for a couple days, and DH was worried that he might have developed some problem, but he is fine now. We need to trim him again - he was too sore to keep trimming when we tried the Hoof Boss.

We need to sort out the yearlings and ewes with weaned lambs and turn them in with Moyboy to breed, but I am holding up until the weather improves. I want them to lamb in time to wean the lambs off before transporting them to Texas. I also have to make an appointment with the vet for a health check on the ewe lambs I am bring to Texas in February. Since they are all ewes they only need a health certificate declaring them free of hoof rot and in general good health. Rams over 6 months old need a Brucellosis test and certificate, while rams under 6 months do not need a Brucellosis test. I will have to get my rams blood tested before they come to Texas and a health check on all the ewes. The certification needs to be within 30 days of entering Texas. I will make an appointment for the first of February. We can drive the selected ewe lambs/yearlings into the barn, get the vet check, health certificate, vaccinate, and trim hooves. I think I will give them a shot of Vitamin B for stress. We will keep them confined in the barn until time to load them for the trip. I have to pack a bale of alfalfa too, to help in getting them onto new feed. So far, I have chosen 5 lambs out of 3 different sires and 4 dams based on pedigrees. The 5th lamb will be 3 months on February 2 and able to be weaned. 3 will be ready to breed in May, while the 4th is ready now. 2 are out of Lewis, 2 are out of Smalley, and one is out of Moyboy. 2 of the dams are Axtell sired, while the other 2 dams are Wes Patton (Glennland) ewes (and grade 5's). Hopefully this will give an array of genetics to try out. The youngest one still needs her registration papers. I sent them in but apparently the society's computers went down during a storm (they are in Missouri). They were having problems getting the system up and running so there will be a delay in receiving them.

I broke down and called the orthopedist and they want me to come in for an x-ray. I couldn't get an appointment until January 31. It is possible that the knee will be fine by then but since the surgeon wants me to come in I will keep the appointment. It seems to have stopped clicking though.

I received my 2022 Agricultural Census. This year it is longer and more complicated. I filled it out then discovered that I could do it online. I had made a couple mistakes and the penmanship was sloppy, so I redid it online but got confused when they wanted to know how much interest and taxes we paid on our farm. Technically we have 2 farms - the one we rent out in Yantis and the one where we live in California where we "graze" our sheep. The form was technical about declaring the acreage you actually farm/ranch and the other farms you rent out, etc. I did ok until I got to that part about the interest and taxes. I decided to enter the taxes on our 5 acre field and the Yantis property, but not the taxes on the house and 1.6 acres although we also "graze" the sheep there. Then what to do about interest paid on farm loans? I will show the interest on the Yantis farm but should I include the interest on the California 1.6 acre house and property? There is no interest on the 5 acre field since that is free and clear but I am getting confused again. Then the amount for insurance. I carry farm insurance on the Yantis property but only regular insurance on our house in California and the field. What to do? It is not a tax document, and you don't sign under penalty of perjury but these government forms can bite you. I will read it over again and maybe make some corrections. The form also asks you to put in the $$ value of all vehicles, trailers, tractors, machinery, and equipment you use. I think they mean stuff that you will depreciate. I added up everything we own (including Big Blue since we paid for him and he belongs to us) and was shocked to see that the total of that stuff NOT including any inventory of usable items like meds, tags, halters, etc. was about $88,000! This is minor compared to what larger farming operations have invested in equipment but still shocking to me. And I think I forgot to include some stuff. Farming or ranching anymore is not just a mule and a plow investment! Thank goodness we have this stuff already. And that does not include any livestock. Wel I will try to figure out and complete this form tomorrow.
Next horrible chore will be TAXES! 🤢🤮 There are not enough bad emojis so I will leave it at that.

The coyotes are howling, and the dogs are upset. Usually, they ignore the distant yapping and howling but tonight the coyotes must be close up and taunting them. Well time for bed. It is already tomorrow.

 

[Baymule]

Please save yourself some time and energy and go straight to Yantis. I can meet you there with my trailer. If need be, I can spend the night in Lindale at my old neighbors, Robert and Sharon. It will save y’all detouring here, time and miles. Besides, I know how boring it is to travel highway 7, especially after dark. That’s a LOOONG drive of nothingness. Unless of course, it is late and y’all need somewhere to spend the night, then by all means, the doors of hospitality are open! Or if you just want to, I’m always glad to have y’all here and have a nice comfortable queen size bed. No more air mattresses that throw your dear husband in the floor! I’m so excited to start our cross breeding/ breed up program!

I whispered in Ringo’s ear so Cooper wouldn’t hear, and he’s excited too! I have a pen ready for them, with a sumptuous Pallet Palace for shelter. I’m getting really good at this pallet carpentry. Stand ‘em up, stick them together and I’ve got inside walls and outside walls. Easy!

That sucks about the tires. I buy mine at Discount Tire, always get the road hazard and always get excellent service. Discount Tire is all over the place here, dunno if y’all have them in California. With the way y’all travel, Walmart might be a better option for you. Almost every town has a Walmart, keep your paperwork in the glove box and no matter where you are, you can get whatever problems taken care of.

Great pictures of Angel and Rika. Love them! They are beautiful dogs.

That buffet and table are outstanding. Quarter dawn oak was the thing, back in the day. Now it is no longer done. To get quarter dawn oak, the log is run through the saw at an angle and there is more waste involved than in a regular straight cut. But the results are much more beautiful. How fortunate to have those pieces made by your grandfather!

The nativity set is so special. I love all the pieces!

 

[Mini Horses]

The nativity is beautiful! Obviously a work of love 🥰

 

[SageHill]

Gorgeous!!!

 

[Ridgetop]

I really do enjoy arranging it. I put white fairy lights in the poinsettias, "pine trees", and through the interior of the barn. Make the wolf cave among the trees, etc. Once it is set up the grandchildren love to come to look at it. When the family was smaller we ate in the dining room and it was a lovely focal point. Now with so many people in our family (20 including our children and grandchildren) l set the table in the family room since that dining room table will easily seat all of us. I would put it in the dining room, but the room is too small. LOL Glad you like it and I hope to add a couple more figures next year. This year they had a Little Drummer Boy which I wanted and with $l00 purchase yu got 2 free sheep. I need more sheep. LOL

As to the quarter sawn oak furniture I bought an old green painted dining set at the thrift shop cheap. Really ugly olive-green paint but dovetailed drawers and solid oak construction. I stripped the buffet and it was a QUARTER SAWN OAK! When it was finished I gave it to DS3 and DDIL1. They love it and it is in their LR. A real pretty piece with carved detail. I hate stripping carved detail LOL but I use dental picks and stiff toothbrushes. Anyway, no pictures of that piece, but it turned out really nice.

Well this week is turning out to be bad already. DH was checking his bank account on line and asked why we had a check for $700 going to a name he did not recognize. I got out the checkbook and looked up the check. Our checkbook has carbon copies of the checks in it. The check was a $100.00 check to Boys Town charity. The picture of the check on the computer showed that someone had scribbled over the payee name and changed it, then changed the 1 to a 7. It was then paid through Viamericas which is apparently a service to allow people to send fuds to foreign countries. The checks were mailed between January 2 and 5. Thi is the time rent checks and SS checks go through the mails.

Not the worst thing though until . . . DH remembered that the property tax check was mailed in the same bunch of mail in the same USPS mailbox. Sure enough the $2443.70 check for property tax payment was also changed to another payee. This check was scrubbed and a completely new name and amount of $2400 inserted. This check was made out to Everardo Garcia and cashed through the same Viamercas.

DH went to the post office and they wouldn't take the report other than to say they would report the box might need a new lock. The USPS takes no responsibility for anything you place in a supposedly locked government mailbox! What? They told DH he had to go talk to the postmaster in Burbank.

I also did reports and letters to our bank and the police department which DH will be delivering tomorrow. He will have to fill out a police report for the theft of the $3000. We will have an issue with the bank since it is obvious that the checks were tampered with - on one check the name and amount are written over without any initials! I don't hold out any hope of getting out money back but since the endorsements are both Mexican names as is the woman doing the Viamericas transaction I wouldn't be surprised if it is a gang thing now to rob the mailboxes. f people are still getting checks by mail for SS or monthly income, that is the time to hit them.

We are out $3000.00. From now on we will have to drive to the post office to mail stuff instead of putting it in the nearest postbox. If we didn't have bad luck we would have no luck at all.

Oh yes, and Robert has taken the TV controller and put it somewhere. 😈 DH is very upset. All 5 of us have turned the house upside down searching every room, in all his toys, etc. No luck. DS1 went online and ordered 2 spares. There was discussion of using my bedroom controller but I hid mine. 😁 I knew this day would come. DH thinks Robert is sooooo cute when he gets the controller and brings it to someone to turn on his cartoons. Or tries to turn them on himself. I don't think it is cute because I keep anticipating the problems like him losing it. I really hate being right all the time. 🤨

Please make the bad stuff go away.

Robert is beginning to go through the Terrible Twos early - he won't be 2 until March. While at his Lola's house he wanted his baby brother to put on a special pair of socks. When 1 month old Nicholas did not immediately obey Robert leaned forward and bit his foot. Later he was sitting the couch and wanted to hold his brother. So sweet! He kissed baby Nick several times then decided he was done. He tried to throw Nick onto the floor like he does with the toys he is finished with. Gotta watch him. This morning Nick was snoozing in his swing. I came into the kitchen and noticed that he had placed the toy he had been playing on top of Nick. Luckily it was light. Nick will grow up tough - if he survives.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Is it a regular remote? Our Roku has a feature where you can push something on the console and it makes the remote emit a sound so you can find it if it's hiding. Maybe Robert will find where he has hidden it when he wants to watch cartoons again.

My munchkin has been throwing tantrums a lot recently, and is also biting when he gets frustrated. He bit my arm today and now I have a bruise. He also headbutts, and then gets upset that we no longer want to hold him and set him down. He is very cute when he is in a good mood.

 

[Margali]

Well this week is turning out to be bad already. DH was checking his bank account on line and asked why we had a check for $700 going to a name he did not recognize. I got out the checkbook and looked up the check. Our checkbook has carbon copies of the checks in it. The check was a $100.00 check to Boys Town charity. The picture of the check on the computer showed that someone had scribbled over the payee name and changed it, then changed the 1 to a 7. It was then paid through Viamericas which is apparently a service to allow people to send fuds to foreign countries. The checks were mailed between January 2 and 5. Thi is the time rent checks and SS checks go through the mails.

Not the worst thing though until . . . DH remembered that the property tax check was mailed in the same bunch of mail in the same USPS mailbox. Sure enough the $2443.70 check for property tax payment was also changed to another payee. This check was scrubbed and a completely new name and amount of $2400 inserted. This check was made out to Everardo Garcia and cashed through the same Viamercas.

I feel your pain! This happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully the bank will refund you the money based on police report and images of the carbon copy.

One thing I do now which helps is use the billpay online thru bank. It will print and mail a physical check if the recipient doesn't have ACH setup. Harder to alter and the bank know who it is issued to at beginning.

 

[Ridgetop]

@Baymule
I have been going over the papers on the lambs I plan to bring back. I just remembered a beautiful ewe that my evaluator chose as top quality and a keeper last summer. She had some excess black around her eyes so I was warned she might throw color. Sometimes White Dorpers are born with small tan patches or little black spots that fade out as the animal ages. By the time they are 6 months old the spots have usually disappeared. Animals with color spots over a certain % cannot be registered. Since I have White Dorpers, I can't have color but have kept her since she is so nice. Her spectacles have faded and I considered registering her since now the color % is under the amount allowed for registration. BUT since Baymule wants color I will bring her back to Baymule if she wants her. She has terrific conformation. Here are the ewes I have sorted out to choose among. DS1 and DS2 will help me choose since they are really good on choosing conformation.

1. Cleopatra - named by DGD1 Elizabeth for her heavy eye makeup. LOL She will have a green tag GR?
Smalley X AQD 0439 - B/D 4/10/22
This is the gorgeous little ewe that Colene told me to keep. Her sire is Smalley, the young ram I bought at the last show I went to. He has combined Hijo, Axtell, GlennLand and Lewis lines. Her mother is an Axtel ewe - HSS, BF, Glennland, and Axtell genetics. She is 9 months old and can be exposed in April for fall lambs. Her mother produces very fast-growing lambs. (Her single lambs make 100 lbs. at 3 months). She is not registered yet, but I can register her if you want since her eye rings have faded. I would be keeping her but don't want to take a chance on her throwing too much color. If I had commercials I would definitely keep her for her structure..

2. P16 -
Lewis X OR8 - B/D 5/29/22
This ewe is out of my older ram, Lewis, and a home bred ewe. Lewis is one of my best rams with a beautiful front. , He is log and has a good butt. I love what he throws. He is on Lambplan. He throws very fast gaining lambs to weaning. Her dam is Axtell sired (Axtell is a Hijo sired ram) with Hijo, Glennland lines which produce thick muscled sheep. She is 7.5 months old and can be exposed in May for late fall lambs.

3. P15 -
Lewis X OR27 - B/D 5/19/22
This ewe is sired by Lewis again, sire of P16 above. Her dam is another Axtell daughter and she has double Hijo lines. Hijo is the line that produces enormous butts and muscle.

4. BL31 or 32 (twin ewe lambs - have to choose one to send and will keep the other)
Moyboy X 8219 - B/D 8/25/22
This ewe lamb is out of a grade 5 ewe with Lewis, Hijo, Glennland lines. Her father is a Hijo sired ram. Her mother breeds reliably every 9 months. This ewe lamb is 6 months old and can be exposed to a ram in July for winter lambs. I will be choosing one to keep since there were twin ewes. If you decide you don''t want one of these twins I will be keeping them both since I only have 1 daughter out of this ewe.

5. GR40 or 41 (twin ewe lambs - have to choose one to send and will keep the other)
Smalley X 7088 - B/D 11/12/22
These twin ewe lambs will be barely weaning age by the time we leave for Texas. I love her mother -who is my first White dorper. She is a PHP daughter, a grade 5 ewe, and is holding up really well. She will be 6 in March, breeds every 9 months, lambs easily and quickly without any fuss. She milks heavily, is a great mother, and holds condition well. I like her ewe lambs. I have 2 breeding daughters, a couple granddaughters, and will keep one of these ewe lambs too. The drawback on this ewe lamb is that she is very young and will not be able to be bred until next winter for spring lambs. On the other hand, any daughters born in the winter or spring will be able to be bred for fall lambs at maturity. And she will fit in well with your young lambs being born now. Lucky that they are all colored so you can identify her! LOL

The Bloodlines - you can go online and look up the various breeders to see their quality of stock and conformation. They all have websites. They all breed Fullblood, Purebreds, show sheep, and commercials. They exhibit around the country including Duncan Ok. Except possibly Paul Lewis who sells based on performance using Lambplan. His rams are ordered in advance and shipped all over the world. The Moys do not breed and sell commercials and have gone into Fullbloods only. They only breed, show, and sell show sheep.

Do not discount show sheep. The Standard of Perfection is what it says - a standard toward which to breed sheep (or any livestock for perfect carcasses, wool or milk). By breeding towards the Standard of Perfection and buying breeding stock as close to that as possible you will be able to reach the goal of producing excellent carcass quality sooner.

Lewis White Dorpers - Paul Lewis is on Lambplan. He ranches in the Oregon mountains and sells his rams all over the United States. They are sought after as herd sires to upgrade flocks due to his Lambplan testing. I have an excellent breeding ram from Paul and a couple of ewes.
GlennLand Dorpers - Wes Patton has raised sheep forever. He has retired from Chico State where he taught AG, specifically sheep. He is located in northern California. He has top quality show sheep, and also commercials. I mostly have ewes from Wes. When I had him look over my flock he accused me of cherrypicking his best stuff. I hope so. LOL
Axtell Quality Dorpers - Travis Blackburn raises sheep in Utah. He raises commercials as well as top quality sheep for show. I have several ewes out of the ram I bought from him. I also had 4 ewes. Unfortunately, I lost 3 of the ewes and sold the 4th. I do have daughters out of both the ewes and the ram.
Smalley Dorpers - Ray Smalley and his father Fred both raise Dorpers in Utah. They raise show quality and commercials. This ram is one I bought at the last show I attended 2 years ago. He is an excellent ram although I don't have a lot of mature ewes out of him yet.
Willow Creek Ranch - The Moys raise and breed show sheep. Several years ago they sold out all their sheep - beautiful Purebreds and some Fullbloods. A year later they decided they wanted to breed again and bought all Fullbloods. They have lots of oney and can afford high priced sheep. They bought out a couple top winning flocks and every Grand Champion on the circuit. They have beautiful sheep and show all over the country. Their prices are high but their sheep are lovely. I was lucky to get this ram as a 3 month old junior ram at an online sale for the minimum bid of $400.00. The Moys' ram prices nw astart around $2500 to $10,000. He throws beautiful lambs.
HIJO - This breeder has excellent Fullblood sheep. Many breeders add a HIJO ram to upgrade. Many of my purchased sheep are HIJO sired. By buying HIJO sired ewes and rams I get the HIJO genetics for a lot less money. His bloodlines are predominantly imports, hIs animals are PRICEY but in Dorper circles everyone recognizes his name.

All of these breeders have excellent stock. They bring in rams and ewes from other breeders, as well as doing AI and embryo transplant to upgrade. I investigate the bloodlines of all sheep I am interested in bidding on at auction. First, I look up the pedigrees of the sheep, then I look up the breeders that have animals in those pedigrees through the Dorper Society website. That helps me decide on which animals will go well with my flock's bloodline. Not everything will "click" with what you have so you have to investigate before spending your money. Then if you don't get what you want, you need to decide if what you got has qualities that will combine properly with the good parts of the rest of your sheep. Breeding the perfect animal is a long tiring process. And in spite of the name Standard of Perfection, there has never been a perfect sheep. LOL

So I have 5 lambs for you - do you want them all? If not, decide how many you want and I will bring those. I will also bring back a bale or 2 of Alfalfa to use to get them over onto your hay and grass. Do you want me to worm them as well before we leave? I can worm as soon as they are in the barn and then just before we leave for Texas.

I currently have 29 ewes 6 months and older, 13 ewe lamb registrations at the Society to be issued, and I have 7 bred ewes to deliver in April. Bringing back 5 good ewes to start your cross-breeding program (and my Barber Pole worm ID program) will give us both a good start. I am excited to see if my White Dorpers will just keel over and die or be somewhat resistant - at least enough to work with.

I will let you know when we plan to set out and ETA. Instead of staying for a month before the wedding we will probably come out closer to the wedding date, just enough time to unload the stuff into storage, go to the wedding, come back to Yantis, show the place to the kids, and somewhere in there pick up our puppy from Erick. If the tenants are out you can spend the night with us in Yantis. We will have beds and I am bringing bedding. DS1 has a comfortable inflatable mattress he is bringing.