You Can Never Have Too Many Toys.....

Especially if you are a big dopey Dogue who has a stuffed toy obsession.....

I can only think that his time of extreme doggy destitution has contributed to this.

Shown are his toys and one fence post insulator that he has commandeered--and these are not all of them by any means. Nothing is safe....most of my tools--including rakes and hoes have chewed handles. He also likes to chew on nails in the fence, the odd sprout and old 2 x 4's......

He is a good boy though, most of the time, even if he doesn't share well, and will strive to play with and horde all his toys so no one else can have them! Poor fellow has been deeply depressed acting when he has to go in his pen in the morning, instead of spending the day 'on vacation'. He still chases cats, so he can't have the run of the yard unless I'm home.

Boone also has his own 'fan club'--people just seem to really love him (or are scared to death of the big baby). He even has a lady who sends him toys and such as she likes to help out with rescues. The red toy in his mouth is from her, and she also sent two others, that I will ration out to him over time. :-)

Hanging out with the Cats

As vacation progressed a routine was soon developed. Up fairly early, do all the feeding chores, let sheep out etc. Then breakfast and a leisurely cup of coffee, and after that on to the major projects of the day. Around 2:00 p.m. when it was the hottest outside, I would knock of for awhile, go in and have a late lunch and a 'rest'. Usually this laying on the couch, reading or perhaps there was a nap or two...... Meshach quickly adapted to this part of the routine and would almost beat me to the couch. There he would plump himself down on some part of my person and snuggle up in a new throw I got last week. Very content for this 'rest' to last all afternoon if need be!

Later in the day I would head outside again to work til evening chore time. It was a pleasant routine and one I enjoyed and definitely could get used to. Meshach loves to 'hang out' and will keep close tabs on me when I'm home. Sage wouldn't have a thing to do with me the first few days, except send me puzzled and irritated looks--what was I doing home, messing up his schedule??? By the end of the week, he had decided it was okay, and would occasionally check in during 'rest' time for a good petting session.

When I got ready to leave for work on Monday, Meshach was heartbroken. He tried to intercept me at the door, pushing his little body between me and it. When that didn't work, a few sad meow's.... as I was closing the door I heard him pathetically mewing and scratching at the door. He is such a sweet little cat, and my little shadow.

I'm sure Sage was secretly glad to get back to his routine! ;-)

I've posted some pictures of the boys. Meshach was having a good old time playing when I wrapped him up in one of my shirts. He loves to be covered up and enjoys a good play session on occasion.

And then there is Sage..... Doesn't this look just say it all? In the second photo he is a) thinking about taking a quick nip b) thinking about swatting me or c) thinking about running and acting silly... he took option c, but it was a toss up there for a minute or two! Picture 3 of Sage demonstrates how huge this cat is getting---remember he is not even a year old yet! He is laying in a very large, ample Lazy Boy recliner, and as you can see, almost takes up the whole space cross ways! In the last picture he is sleepy and looks rather sweet--he sleeps in the bathroom sink a good deal of the time... but its getting to be a tight fit. Lest you think that he is demon in disguise, he does have very sweet moments and sometimes tries really, really hard to be good. Hmmm.... I think we should have an office cat.

Little Bit O' Garden

Over my vacation, I was able to get the garden somewhat planted and weeded. I have a very small garden area--made up of four railroad ties in a square pattern. I usually plant my tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and sometimes corn in this area. Spilling over behind this official garden area, is a new place I decided to make a 'salad garden' this year. I planted an assorted packet of lettuce seed and spinach. Its well on its way to being ready to start picking and enjoying! Yes, you probably do see some weeds mixed in there, as I'm not a fanatical weed remover, but I'm thrilled at how well this late salad bed is doing---its in a well shaded area and I think that has helped.

To the side of the railroad tie garden there is another area that I've been trying to get some nice perennials planted in--things with a 'cottage-y' feel to it. Some folks can pre-plan a flower garden---seeing what will work here and there, but I'm not one of them--I plant with abandon and little thought. Most of the time it works. Since I'm a big fan of the cottage garden look, this helps allot! In this area I have hostas under the redbud tree and around the bird bath, mixed in with a fern or two and some recently added Lamium. (I think that's what its called) Out from under the tree there are Sage, some corieospis, and other flowers that I can't recall the names of. There is also eggplant this year, and hopefully a bit later the squash seeds will come up and produce. The prim and proper song birds use the birdbath and the butterflys enjoy the flowers.

(These are not the same hooligan birds that eat all my catfood, and mess up the sheep water troughs horribly!)

Across the sidewalk from this flower garden is another long skinny section of 'garden'. This year I've planted some flax seed there--so we will see how that goes! Mostly if it works out, it will be for the birds to enjoy, but I've heard the flowers are lovely. I've also planted some wildflowers in behind it against the fence. At other odd spots I've planted more squash, and am in the process of turning the itty bitty back yard into a pumpkin patch. I've planted groud seeds, and some herb plants around the edges of it and the rest is covered with plastic (which I thought would kill the grass--but has so far just caused a very lush green growth to sprout up!! huh...) I also plan to plant beans back there to. Yes, my window of opportunity is closing, but at least I'm getting there! My tomato plants in the garden area are looking great and so are the peppers, so it's well on its way to being productive!

By the way, I dislike mowing grass----it seems pointless to me and a great waste of time and fuel. Oh, yeah, and this is why I got sheep--so they could mow and save me time--Ahem..Not my point... my point being, I'm trying to use as much as my yard space as I can for gardens, flowers etc., so I won't have much yard to mow.

So anyway, in the pictures you will see my salad garden, and two pictures of the area I mentioned. The railroad tie garden, with the salad garden behind it, and to the back of the picture is the flower garden, with the birdbath. That's Ariel resting in the front, and all of Boone's junk, er, toys there to the right. His motto is the more toys the merrier, and if there aren't enough toys laying around, there is always something to steal out of the hallway! Oh, and that's Boone's swimming pool on the right edge of the picture.

Have a great week!

Fairlight Drake

I thought you might like to see a new picture of Drake. He is a nice little fellow, and I love his color right now. He reminds me of a (potbellied) deer! His horns are beautiful and clear his head nicely---they look a little close in the photo, but they aren't--its his puffy cheek wool that gives the illusion.

This boy is the only intact ram I've raised here. He was born with lovely blettet markings, and is an overall really lovely boy. I was captivated with him as a lamb, so he managed to escape the wethering process.

Drake is for-sale and has had several people interested in him, but he is related to allot of the other shetland's that populate the area, so we are having a hard time finding him some ladies that aren't his cousins...so to speak! I would love to use him myself, but he is related to every ewe I have.

Hope you enjoy the pretty boy on the green pasture!

I'm back......

Old Fashioned Roses on the Gate Posts

Entering the driveway to my place

(My faithful 'help' Ariel and Boone to the left)

The East side of the front

The driveway with my house/yard at the top of the picture--really its there!

...and I don't even know where to start! I was on vacation last week, and it was just as I feared---my computer at home wouldn't let me post anything on blogger. I couldn't even get signed in without it locking the whole system up. Bah....

I did try and limit my time on the computer anyway, as I had so much to do around the place. I updated some of the website, but again got froze up/locked out when I tried to go in to the html page. Me thinks my computer has 'issues'!!

It was a good vacation. I played a few days and worked like crazy most of the time. The house, the yard, the garden, the farm---it all needed attention and had been sadly neglected.

Fortunately for me, every year around Memorial Day there is a school reunion. Since I live in the old school building, it gives me a great incentive to get things 'spiffied' up. I seem to work best (and most frantically) on last minute deadlines. :-) I like to have the place looking nice for all the alumni that drive by, slow down, and take pictures. Things looked a bit rougher this year than normal, what with piles of tree debris still around, but the parts that were trim-able or mow-able got tidied up. One day I spent three hours weed eating! Not all at once, since I'm not that tough, but it sure looks nice now. (I could probably spend another three hours weed eating the back areas....but I doubt I will!).:-)

The sheep are all on grass now! Oh Happy Day! I'm not feeding any hay right now after months and months of feeding. I know it won't last too long, but if we continue to get the rains we've been getting, then I have hopes that the 'off' pasture can do some serious growing over the next month. First it was getting the girls conditioned to the clover filled lower pasture---taking several days of increased grazing time, then it was Blue and his buddy Lanny, and lastly the three Shetland boys. Its amazing how fat every one is all of a sudden. I think that some of this just has to be gas or something as they positively look like a field full of giant ticks! Not a real pretty sight just yet! Finally though they are settling down and are content for the moment. Since chores are now minimized, I have allot more time in the mornings to putter around before work. (Well, maybe not lots---but some! ;-) This morning, I trimmed a sprout out of my yellow rose bush, and discovered it was in full and beautiful bloom!

I also did some advertising of the sheep--now comes the hard part of deciding who must go to new homes, and working with people to make sure that the fit is good for all parties involved (both two and four legged!). This is not my favorite part of farming, but sadly I can't keep them all. I do have two wethers that are pending sold as soon as I get the deposit. They actually are going to be companion wethers for their dad, who I sold earlier this year. Their sire isn't real aggressive so I think they will have a nice little flock.

I took a few pictures of the place after the mow job and thought I would share them. The first one is of the old fashioned pink roses on my gate posts. In the second picture you can kinda see that there are vines on both sides of the driveway. Some years they are really quite spectacular. They are lovely this year, but a bit sparse. These bushes came from my mailman years ago. He pulled them up in a roadside ditch and brought them to me. The hardy little things grew and thrived! In the second picture you can also see Ariel and Boone ---the two dogs and 'good help' to the left. In pictures three and four, my house and fenced yard are located at the top of the pictures. Yes, in amongst all those trees is a house! ;-)

Sheep Gone Mad!

It's been a wild week---even the sheep have been off the wall and crazy. The sheep have been busy mowing the front yard, and pushing down temporary fencing, and driving me nuts. I'm not sure what has gotten into them, but every night they have been running and hopping around and fighting. Even when the weather was hot earlier in the week. And we aren't talking about the silly babies either---we're talking about full grown, full figured ewes! These pictures were taken shortly after I turned them out on the front for the evening----this was about their tenth lap around the yard. Silly sheep.

I've been running a bit crazy myself, trying to get things pulled together for the Fiber Festival. I think I've got everything about ready, and can actually work on rolling balls of roving at the event, if I have to. I'll try and take pictures of my booth. I sure hope I have good sales this year.

I'll be on vacation next week (YIPPEE!) so not sure if I'll get to post any--my computer at home is ill and while I hope to get some of the bugs worked out while on vacation, we will see how that goes. :-) Ah... vacation! I plan to get lots of yard and 'farm' work done, as everything needs attention. The sheepies need to be wormed too and then by the end of vacation they will be out on grass full time--so no more babysitting them in the evenings! By the way, whoever says sheep are stupid, is well, stupid! They are so incredibly stubborn and headstrong, but not stupid. It didn't take some of the big fat, er well equipped, white sheep very long to discover they could simply stand up on the temp. fence and ride it down. After multiple reinforcements, and much screaming (on my part), it didn't take them long to learn to run as fast as they could when they heard the banshee screaming out of the house and through the yard. Well trained sheep in three days or less. But they are still sneaky and don't believe in the honor system.

Bloomin' Flowers

Evening Primrose
My Grandma gave a start of these to me years and years ago. From those couple of spindly little plants, they continue to bloom and spread each year. I love them. My Grandma has passed away, but I think of her every time I look at these lovely, low maintenance flowers.

Finally the flowers are back. Color is starting to dot the green landscape again. After the hard freeze in April, all our flowers were gone. It was strange and they were missed. Plants that were protected (by weeds for instance.....) are now producing a few random blooms. I enjoyed 'stalking' them with a camera and wanted to share this weekend's beauty.

Very Light Pink Peony

This is the only peony I had that didn't get frozen back--its a 'speciality' one and blooms later than my regular 'old fashioned' ones which bud out really early.

Iris

I have no idea what 'variety' this is, but think the color is so lovely. Several years ago a co-worker and I were offered all the Iris we wanted if we came and helped dig them---I got lots of colors and varieties, although some have been 'weeded' out by the sheep. I found this one nestled under a tree in some tall weeds-one of the few iris blooms to make it through the freeze.

Pink Clematis--Variety Unknown

A few years after I moved in here, a little plant came up and started vining up the fence beside the gate. The next year it started producing these lovely huge pink flowers. After some research I realized it was a Clematis. Where it came from I have no idea---I sure didn't plant it and I'm still working on getting one to grow on the other side of the gate! It's normally covered with huge blossoms.

Morning Beauty

Without digging through the mulch to find the little plant information tag, I can't remember what this plant is. I planted it a couple of years ago, and it has thrived and added to the 'cottage garden' theme I enjoy.

Most of my plants and flowers have been gotten from friends and family, so it seems each has a story and memories abound along with the blossoms.

Have a good week.

Happy Birthday Ariel!

Although I'm a few days late posting this, Ariel celebrated her Tenth Birthday on Saturday! Hard to believe this goofy 'puppy' is now a senior citizen. She still looks mighty good, but she has started to slow down a little.

In honor of her Birthday, I got some all white, all sugar snack cakes and let her have one and Boone have one. They also got a pig's ear each, some jerky snacks and assorted other goodies.

Ariel has always had finicky eating habits. If she were a person, she would be one of those kids that who saves and hides their candy bars behind the bed to keep the other kids from getting it. Getting her to eat and not save her Birthday goodies took some patience. She finally dived into the cake, as you can see in the bottom photo, but she still hasn't eaten her pigs ear!

Boone gobbled, his cake, treats and pigs ear in about two minutes and then sat there and stared at Ariel's goodies!

Anyway, happy birthday, good old girl. It's been a wonderful ten years!

Spring Chores

Operation "Sheep to Grass" at work



The grass is really growing now! Yipee! The sheep are hungry for the taste of the green, and are pushing against fences, forcing just one more little inch of space to reach the grass on the other side. Operation "Sheep to Grass" is now in progress. I took a few pictures the other night of the girls and lambs after letting them out on a narrow strip that separates my back and side yard from their pen and the neighbors pasture. They ran here, they ran there, grass hanging from their mouths, their eyes on the next delectable treat. The lambs didn't figure out how to get out the gate until it was almost time for the mom's to come back in. There was allot of wailing, with a few half hearted responses from the ewes. They are up to an hour tonite. The strip of grass is getting mowed quickly and they are already starting to complain about how all the good stuff is gone!



One of Tab's extremely cute ewe lambs!






Tonight I plan to work on fencing the lilacs in, so that maybe by tomorrow night I can let them out on the front. That should keep them busy for the rest of the week in the evenings. Then it'll be time to start them on their 'real pasture'. Its looking good--allot of clover this year, so I'll need to be careful and make sure no one over does it at first. The minute the sheep hear my truck pull in they start in bellering at the top of their lungs. It could drive one mad, as they don't let up until I let them out. Some are more talented and artistic than others and will let their voices trail into a long mournful wail.



Usually I let the sheep in without fencing the lilacs, since they are only on the front a short while, but this year, after the toll the ice storm took on the lilacs and then the hard freeze, I just didn't think they would be up to a third assault. I priced some welded wire today, (39.49 for 100 foot) and surprisingly its not too expensive. I have already installed step in plastic electric posts and will get 36 " welded wire and attach to these posts. I'm hoping this will work as a temporary, easy to move fence. I know it would not likely work if the sheep were in there all the time, but I think maybe this will deter them for a short term situation. I hope.



The Shetland ram pen is almost ready to let the boys out there for a while too. I still need to 'fence in' a tree to keep them from chewing the bark off, but that shouldn't take too long. Last night I chopped thistles out of there (courtesy of my neighbor, whose fields are full of 'em), and this morning I sprinkled some old alfalfa hay over the new grass that is trying to grow where we burnt a brush pile. The boys were sure 'it was time' and they were headed out to grass. What fits they threw. Blue the big Merino ram and his buddy are headed onto new grass too, as soon as I get a 'hanger' limb of wild cherry cut out of there and disposed of. Lanny took matters into his own hooves the other morning, and pushed down/hopped over a badly abused cross fence between them and another small paddock. He was in there happily devouring clover, when I spotted him. As I stood and stared, it was the old---is that sheep on the wrong side of the fence debate. No, he isn't, I think I can see the wires, yes he is--he can't be over that far and not be out of his pasture......





I've been building fence, grazing sheep, picking fleeces and rolling roving for the last week, so that consumes most of my 'free time'. I'm also working on my sad little yard, trying to convert more areas to garden space (my grass is pathetic). I've got a tiny 'salad garden' planted but not up yet, which I hope will yield spinach and assorted lettuces, if Sue the chicken doesn't find a way to break in to it. I also planted some eggplant (which some kind of bugs immediately tried to devour), ornamental gourd seeds and some morning glories. I'm hoping to turn the back yard into a pumpkin patch to have some sheep fodder for fall. Since I want it to eventually 'look pretty' too, I planted the morning glory seeds, some lavender and rosemary plants and still have some tomato, and other herb plants to get in the ground. I hope to buy some pepper plants and who knows what else when I go to the store this week (I have no control when I walk into the plant section.) I try and restrain myself with the thought that somebody is going to have to plant all those newly bought plants!





On a cheerful note, we are finally having some flowers blooming again. After the five day hard freeze in April, we lost all our beautiful blossoms on the flowers and trees. Now a few hardy Iris have poked their stems up and are budding out. I saw two clematis blooms on the vine the other day(normally its covered!). My 'specialty' peony is going to bloom I do believe as well. (all the old fashioned peonies got their buds frozen off, as they always bloom earlier). And last but not least are the lovely pink evening primroses, that are in full bloom. I love the primroses--they are a no care plant that spreads and blooms almost all summer in 'difficult' places. My Grandma gave me a start from hers many years ago. She has passed on since then, but the flowers continue to proliferate and they often remind me of Grandma and her passion for plants and flowers.





Have a good week!


All the Shetland Lambs minus one (Little Deb, who stays with her Mum all the time!)--Try to tell that mob apart!!

Where Kittens Come From.....

...well we all know where kittens come from, but have you ever wondered where that kitten came from? You know, the little tiny one, that isn't hardly old enough to walk, let alone be away from its momma?

I doubt that my experiences are unique, since I have feeling there are allot of suckers, er, animal lovers out there that read this blog. From time to time over the years there have been a few kittens that show up--basically out of no where---too tiny to be weaned, not even 'dumping' age for those who are cruel enough to do so. These tiny mites are not to be confused with the older kittens and cats who have so obviously been dumped with regularity.

Driving to work the other morning, I think I had a rather abrupt and startling revelation, about 'where kittens come from'. My neighbor lives on a blind corner, and had just pulled out in front of me, as I came around said corner. Well, we were both running a bit late for work, so we were moving along at a pretty good clip. I was following fairly closely behind her, when suddenly I saw her hit a kitten. A tiny kitten. It came flying out from under the car and into the ditch.I didn't stop. I was sure it was dead, and I couldn't bear to see its bloody mangled body. Normally I stop and help when I see an animal in distress... normally. That's why I have 5 cats and 1 dog (this is not counting the 1 cat and 1 dog I got to pick out myself--10 years ago!). I'm not sure why I didn't stop. I was sick to my stomach and arguing with myself for the next mile or two. I probably would have went back, eventually. I was surprised my neighbor didn't even reflexively brake after hitting the kitten. I had slowed down considerably and was still arguing with myself when I saw my neighbor pull over. Ah, I thought, she is going back. Then as I passed her, I saw her get out and pop the hood. Hmmm... hitting a cat and having car trouble all in one day, I thought? So I turned around and went back. I rolled my window down and before I could get it down, she blurts out--I swear I hear a kitten! I immediately blurt back---it fell out! She asked where and I told her, but she was pretty sure she had heard it since then. So parked on the sides of the road on a hill we did a search of her car---under the car, in the engine, the wheels. No kitten. She asked where the other one was, and I said, follow me back and I'll show you. I got there first and saw the little body laying about where I thought it had landed. It hadn't moved. As I walked closer, I saw tiny ears sticking straight up and a few steps more revealed little eyes staring at me! I couldn't believe it---it was alive! I quickly took the last few steps and scooped it up. It had a bloody nose, but otherwise seemed unharmed. Amazing. My neighbor quickly headed home with kitten in tow, and I headed on to work--arriving 'only' 8 minutes late.

Throughout the day I wondered if the kitten was okay, if it had suffered worse than we thought. By that evening I couldn't stand it any longer and called her. The kitten was fine and out playing with his siblings! Seemingly no worse for wear. The story didn't end there though, as my neighbor went on to tell me about the rest of her day! After she got the one kitten home, she again searched the car to make sure there were no more stowaways. Then off to work she went, putting the pedal to the metal to try and get there on time. She works all day, so her car sat in the parking lot the entire day, except for errands at noon and then after work, a stop by a fast food place and the gas station. While at the gas station, she suddenly heard a kitten crying. Again.

By now she had gotten quite adept at releasing and opening the hood of her car, and quickly threw it up. There on a little plastic shelf behind the engine sat the little kitten. It attempted to run, but she nabbed it before it could dash off, burning herself on the engine in the process. She thinks that probably everyone at the gas station thought she was nuts! She immediately put the kitten in the car, and locked the door! :-) The little mite immediately hid under the armrest. Let's just say there was one little kitten that was mighty glad to get home and see his mum! I'll say it again--amazing that these two tiny little sprites both survived.

The first little kitten that was ejected from the car, looked suspiciously like Sage. Hmmm... could that be how the wee (and temporarily sweet), Sage made his arrival into the neighborhood? Only he knows for sure, but it sure would explain where some of these little imps have come from. I tried to find a really cute, helpless looking photo of Sage to post with this, but I'm afraid that his pure orneriness just can't be hidden. He has sweetened (and fattened up--now 13 pounds worth) since his worst days as a teenage mutant kitten. Now he just has spells of out of control orneriness, interspersed with dopey sweet moods, and hogging the bed at night.

Selena

Selena--a few hours old--March 2006

I thought I would do a couple of posts on the colors of some of my Shetlands. There is much confusion out there regarding what certain colors really are. I must admit, I'm as confused as the next person. I'm setting this up, before I actually shear, at which time, I hope to have a better idea of what color Selena is. She has a lovely buttery soft fleece, but I'm unsure as to the color. Her sire is Minwawe Redford, who is registered as a Moorit Smirslet Sokket and her dam is Fairlight Blackberry Winter who is an Ag Grey. Her mother also has horn buds, hence Selena's wacky little horns. Selena was born a dark moorit and lightened to a golden color throughout the summer, although her face and legs have stayed dark. Her fleece has a grey tinge to it, but its not the defining Ag greying that you see in a grey or musket sheep. So take a gander, and tell me what you think! I'd love to hear opinions and discussion.



Next two pictures--Selena at three weeks or so old.

Selena---Late Summer 2006 on a rainy day--this shows the overall grey cast to her fleece.

Selena----early fall 2006---Beautiful!

The next four pictures taken April 2007--just before shearing

You want to see my beautiful spot?

Are you SURE the cookies are all gone?

Selena in all her nekkid splendor!

See the post on Luna to for a sample picture of her fleece. Glorious fleece it is too, except it has some kind of dander/dry skin problem. ARGH. I've had several tips on trying to salvage it, but will have to wait until after the upcoming fiber event (for which I am mightily scrambling to get ready for!!) in a few weeks. Hopefully then I'll have more time!

Joy Cometh in the Morning

I would like to share a tale of three shepherd's and the sheep they care for. One shepherd is very experienced, one sorta experienced (me) and the other, relatively new. Not quite a year ago, I sold five of my girls to a new Shepherd-ess and her family. Allena has had other livestock and was an experienced livestock owner, albeit new in the sheep biz. She wanted a start to a little fiber flock, and I ended up selling (and trading from them to build me a website) two Shetland ewes, 2 Merino cross ewe lambs and 1 Shetland/merino cross ewe. Later that fall, they purchased a pretty little Shetland ram lamb from Malinda at Locksley Fields.

This spring was their first lambing, and as the countdown drew near, there was a flurry of emails between the three shepherd's as the excitement grew and a bit of anxiety crept in. "Lucy" lambed with nary a hitch and produced twin 3/4 Shetlands. Then DuClair, one of the Shetlands started to lamb, but things quickly went wrong. The first lamb was trying to come out with head back and shoulder first. Allena was quick to realize something was wrong (since she'd been watching them like a hawk) and bless her heart, went to work on fixing it. Most shepherd's get a few years under their belt before they have to do an internal assist, but those hardy few that have to be initiated their first year, deserve a medal of some kind! Sadly, although she was able to reposition the lamb and get it delivered, it died right away. The second twin also died despite efforts to save it, although it lived a few minutes longer. Both were nicely marked ram lambs. This was DuClair's second lambing, so she had a full udder and complications were a real possibility. Sadness and despair were all consuming. Then morning came and Mist, the other Shetland, delivered a set of healthy twins--a boy and a girl. Joy was now mixed with sadness. An attempt to graft one of Mist's lambs to DuClair didn't work. DuClair was deeply depressed, and miserable.

Then a rejected three day old lamb from Locksley. Hmmm... Could it work? So an exhausted and worn and worried Allena and family went and picked him up. One last chance for his 'real' mom to take him...nope. Then came four days of hard work, more worry and ingenuity as the job of grafting this three day old lamb onto a three day past lambing ewe in mourning became a reality. Would it work? Battles of will ensued, a certain ewe had to be held to let a little rejected lamb nurse. DuClair wasn't fooled... but wait--it did seem to be working! Then Jerome's and DuClair's miracle.... but I'll let Allena tell you in her own words in an email she sent to me yesterday.

"I wanted to share a few thoughts on "the change" in DuClair. This morning she was trying to make her mind up, butting one minute and giving a lick or two the next. She was so confused. She got sheared, and then afterward I built her a nice large pen to play in with Jerome. There was more butting and some licking. When I took them back in and wet him down, she started licking him like crazy, well like she had just given birth, where as all day before she would flip flop. HEY my baby!, wait, you aren't my baby. Are you? She got so interested in licking him she was chasing him around the pen licking him all over. So I got the water and really drenched him since it was so warm and boom, she took him, started grunting at him, attacked the dog that had the nerve to sniff at him. Her head went from hanging, to up and alert and happy. Her appetite exploded and she tried to snatch a finger or two to go with the cookies, when just MINUTES before she refused her grain. She sucked down water like it was going out of style and kept insisting that Jerome nurse, RIGHT NOW! His poor little belly was full so he would just stand there and get licked while he dozed on his feet. She's back, I'm not worried about her anymore, she has a baby to live for. She won't let him out of her sight, and she's acting just like he was born today. It's incredible. I honestly don't think I have ever seen anything so beautiful or touching, to see a ewe and lamb go from sad, surly, annoyed, depressed, resigned, miserable then just boom, elated new mother. Her eyes are lit up, and she is SOOOO very proud of her precious little boy. He's sick of her and wants to be left alone lol, he wants to romp and play and she's treating him like a baby. He's a little put out, but also different. Before he would nurse, and he was getting plenty but his little tail didn't go much and now he feels loved, and there is a difference in him too. The hurts are being mended and a new family has been reborn from the ashes of disaster. She is the model mother, protective, attentive and full of love for her "newborn". I love the sound she makes to call him. This was really hard, lots of downs and lots of worry. We all suffered from the effort, but now, we all watched in awe of the miracle of life that was created within these two beautiful creatures. I don't feel bad about the babies now, although it would have been nice to save them. I made it better for her, and him, and that counts for something. I did a good deed, one that cost much, and it was very much worth it.
Allena (who by the way is going to attempt to sleep all night, and if not it will be because of her own little baby instead of DuClairs!!!)"

.....and another excerpted from an email from earlier today (I love this part too!):"God gave us animals to keep us company to love us, and for us to love them. They do what he created them to do, they act like God wants them to do. We don't. We sin, they are innocent, we hurt people with malice and wickedness, they do and act how God tells them too. I don't think it's stupid, childish or over emotional to adore, revere and love the wondrous creatures that let us see the glorious love of God everyday, and people don't notice it at all. If all on earth that is beautiful and loving is an example of God then why on earth wouldn't there be animals in Heaven? Anyway to my way of seeing it, animals reflect God's love, and that is why they are so special. "

Pretty cool, huh? I didn't play a very big role in this story, just some moral support, some advice and lots of prayer, but I was emotionally involved and was very sad about how things were going. I really felt bad for them--DuClair, Allena and her family. I always offer 'after-care' to people I sell to and am excited when they chose to keep in touch and I can see how the sheepies are doing. That does have a down side at times, since it still requires an attachment on your emotions, but I sure wouldn't have it any other way. Tears came to my eyes when I read about DuClair "re-birthing" her little Jerome! I'm still amazed and thank God for this miracle.

To read more details about DuClair and Jerome you can go to Allena's blog at http://www.allena.thethreeringranch.com/ and Locksley Fields blog at http://locksleyfields.blogspot.com/ where Jerome's 'real' mom lives!

If you want to check out my website that Allena and Beau built for me go here: http://www.fairlightfarm.com/ (Can you tell I just learned how to link to other blogs??? ;-)

Rainy Days and Wednesdays......

The sheep on a not so rainy day

It's a rainy day here. I think we are in for a few days of rain. We always need it, since we've been 'that' close to drought for several years. It's hard to not get tired of it pretty quick though, when water is standing everywhere and muck up to your ankles. Rain water does make your hair softer though, for what that is worth! :-) And I got the yard mowed--which was masquerading as a very mangy looking pasture. The sheep were being very delicate and spoiled this morning and wouldn't go out on pasture. The rain was mild at that point, so I didn't feel to sorry for them, as I heard their mournful baa's from the barn. Silly things. I finally tricked them as I was leaving and called 'sheep-sheep' as I was going to the truck. There was alot of grumbling but when I drove over the hill they had went on out to pasture. Not sure they will stay out long, but hunger may be an incentive!

I will likely start breaking them into new pasture after this rainy spell is over. Since putting the sheep on grass for the first time this year, I don't want the added problems of wet grass. (For some reason this intensifies the bloat effect). I'll be so happy---and so will the sheep--when I can move everybody over to new grass and quit feeding hay at least for awhile.

Last night I drove through a very aggressive storm on the way home--high winds, blinding rain and hail. Debris from the ice damaged trees was littering the roads. The only thing I could think of as I hunched over the wheel and tried to keep it on the road, was that the hail was probably riddling my truck with dents. Yesterday was a hard day for new truck. On the way to work I met a large what I think was a tree trimmer truck when I was almost to town. Suddenly something hit the window with a loud th--whack! I didn't see it coming and I didn't see it leaving, but it sure messed up the front windshield. There is large, approximately three to four inch diameter circle now inscribed in the middle of the windshield. It has a tiny chip in the middle but the major damage is that circle---I can even feel it on the inside. I took it out to the glass repair place, and realized right off it was a bad sign when the guy said, with awe in his voice---"I've never seen anything like that" and reverently rubbed his hand over it. Of course it couldn't be buffed out, but I had to check and see. So, I guess I'll be putting a new windshield in the next week or so! Did I mention that I made the first payment on it Monday? :-0

On a 'could have been worse' note (it can always be worse, as they say), the glass repair guy told me about a woman that was talking on a cell phone to her sister, driving down the road. Suddenly something hit her windshield, broke through and hit her in the shoulder. She gasped out to her sister that she thought she had been shot! And then hung up the phone! (I have threatened my own sister that she better never do that to me!!!) While her sister frantically tried to notify the highway patrol, the 'shot' sister stopped her car and soon realized that it wasn't a bullet, but what they think was a lug off a big truck! Her shoulder was badly bruised and the windshield cracked, but the damage could have been so much worse if it hit her in the head. (remember--it can always be worse! ;-)

Back to the sheep, I've had two of the lambs 'choke' in the last week, while sampling their mother's grain in the morning! Both are wether's but I doubt that has anything to do with it. One is Rain's big boy and I was able to help him right off , but this morning it was Rouen's black lamb and he was really in distress. I tried the modified 'sheep Heimlich', I tried whacking him on the shoulders (poor feller I'm sure his already jaundiced opinion of me just got worse!), then when that didn't work and he continued to gag and foam and generally act distressed, I swung him by his hind legs a little and finally when even that didn't work, I stuck my finger as far down his throat as I could. (very sharp teeth on the little bugger) That finally did the trick and he looked at me like 'what the heck was that all about'?? Sometimes when I get to my job in the morning I feel like I've already done a full days work! ;-)

I hope to post a very touching story later today! Stay tuned!

Luna

Luna was born a smashing little moorit/white flecket. A very striking little girl. However the tell-tale signs of Ag greying were there in the 'sugar-lips' and silvering around her eyes. I knew she was a musket and would gradually fade to a taupy white.

The transition has been beautiful to watch as each season brought a different color, before the 'final fade' set in.

Luna is a sweet little (and I do mean little--she is one of my tiniest ewes) ewe and has overcome her shyness to bravely wave her forefoot at me and accept crackers from my hand.

I thought it would be interesting for those fellow shepherd's who are interested in such things to see the progression. The first two photos were at a few hours old and a couple of weeks.

Willow and Luna, at about two months.


Luna in all her spun silver and gold glory--about 5 months.

Luna just before shearing--almost a yearling.

Next shows Luna (check out that cute whiskery face!) after the removel of her lamb's fleece and a picture of the fleece itself after being skirted. This fleece is extremely soft. I'm very happy with it.

These last two photos show (not very well I'm afraid) a sampling of three different colors of fleeces from the yearlings. On the left is Luna's musket, in the middle is Selena's Moorit (?--this fleece has steely grey cast in it--there is not color break, but just an overall grey--the pictures do not show well--any ideas??), and on the right is Gina's lovely darker Moorit fleece sample. Hopefully these pictures will line up well, but since there are so many, we shall see! Comments and ideas appreciated!