Mapleton Farm Sales List

Wild Windy Winter Weather

2012-01-24T07:08:00.000-08:00

We lost two very big old trees last week after a windy winter night. One 50ish foot pine, broke off 15 feet up and fell and split a neighboring maple in two. I will miss these two trees. Seems odd to be sad over trees, as it could have been much worse but when they are so old and huge, it makes it especially sad for some reason. I worry about the 60 foot cotton wood in the back 40 or the giant horse chestnut trees in the front pastures. The years that went into becoming that big. Just glad I didn't take a dash out to the barn to check on everyone out there, like I considered doing that night. They fell on my path to the barn. I often stopped under those trees to check on the ram lambs and often threw their hay to them there on my way back to the house.

Also glad the ram lambs escaped injury!

"What happen here? We did not do that!" say the boys.

It is time to wrap up my last year's registrations, which means I have to finalize what I am naming everyone and decide on their colors and markings. Then it will be time to get ready for the new lambing season. Hatchery and seed catalogs are coming in. It will be maple syrup season before we know it! Hope everyone is doing well. If you are looking for lambs this spring, I have all the adult ewes bred to Swiftriver Neville AI: gullies, kats, spotties, Ag, and solids! A little something for everyone! Yearling rams will be available as well. I plan on selling a few adult ewes again this year to allow me to keep a few lambs. Give me a shout if you see anything you are paticularly interested in.

Quick Photo Update...now with words!

2012-01-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

Okay, there we go. Happy New Year! Sorry it has been so long. It has been grey and drab lately, not great for photos, my camera was giving me problems, and life has been really busy. Holidays, everything got done, with one exception...no cards this year. I usually take pictures for our holiday card the first snow cover, which typically takes place first week in December. Well a whole month later and as you can see still no snow. We have had flakes here and there but nothing that stayed very long. This day pictured was 45 degrees and sunny, usually around here is about 15 degrees in January. Not that I am complaining. As long as there is no snow, I am glad it is mild. The worst is when it is cold and no snow. I am of the mind that as long as it is cold, we might as well have some snow. I am thinking it might be the calm before the storm and we will get more snow in a shorter time frame and I will be sorry I even mentioned snow! In the meantime, the critters seem to be enjoying it. I let the goats and sheep out for a little exercise and a little browsing time.

Watson found a wonderful new home to help them with their plans to have a small herd of Sannens for some family milkers. Whistle and her doeling are doing well. Debating on her name. Song or Snap to go with Whistle?

Olympia and Dessie

My sheep numbers are 27...21 ewes and 6 ram lambs. Last year I was at 20 ewes and 5 rams, so just plus two for winter, not too bad considering we had 30 lambs last spring. Two of the ram lambs will leave after shearing. One is spoken for, the other will be sent to market so are numbers will be even then. Neville, Cotton Candy, and Sprinkles went to their new flock. I miss them, but am looking forward to Neville's lambs and grand lambs from those two ewes. Currently, I have the right number to move without a herding dog. The past two days, I have let them out while I do chores and by the time I finish and give them fresh water and their hay, they are all back in their paddock with me and all I have to do is shut the gate. Cotton Candy and Sprinkles while beautiful and wonderful in many ways, had a tendency to run off with all the lambs!

Cookies and Cream (Hester's and Champ's daughter)

Sprinkles' coming two year old daughter Cupcake is a carbon copy of her mom anyhow.

They were very good girls, not nibbling on my fruit trees!

The mild weather is messing with the the lambs a little, some are beginning to roo already.

Olympia's daughter Autumn

Really? I let you out for 10 minutes and you have found some of the only remaining burdocks? Double click on the photo and you will see what I am talking about. Seriously, they had to work to find them!

I also kept Sprinkles' sisters Peep, Fluff and their mom Marshmello pictured above, and fawn kat daughter Cappy pictured below.

Opal and her daughter Jewel are also beginning to roo.

Finn and the new laying chicks are all growing up too!

Da Boys!

2011-12-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

The five ram lambs above are to be wintered over for further evaluation. If however you are in need of a ram, let me know! I have an heir and obviously more than one spare! And I have more Neville heirs on their way, the entire adult ewe flock was bred to Neville this fall.

Fiber Chistmas Shopping? Look no further!

2011-11-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

NEW ROVING:

Along with a variety of natural colors in a variety of blends (Alpaca and Mohair). I have some dyed roving and bats to offer for the first time in 100% Shetland. The rainbow bats are fawn katmoget overdyes.

The burnt orange swirl was supposed to be orange and natural brown they overdyed the brown by mistake and left the off white natural. Not the sample I showed them but super soft roving none the less, and makes for a deep orange that is unique, with a frosted effect. I am a little disappointed as I was looking forward to the other combination but the mill is working with me to make up for their error. This is the first problem I have I had with this mill, unfortunately there was 12 pounds of my softest fleece in that order including Sky's lamb fleece! It is nice roving and available for sale. It is just not what I envisioned, so I am willing to part with it. I am hoping I have better results with the yarn they are spinning for me.

Finally, the natural charcoal is Slivermist lamb fleece, a grey katmoget, and modified black gulmoget Quechee (22.9 average micron) so uper soft. If you are interested in any new roving let me know. Also check out the sale and fiber pages to see pictures of other roving and yarn I have available. Inquire about our Christmas Special! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Zeus' patterned keeper ewe lambs...

2011-11-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

I also kept 3 of Mapleton Zeus' ewe lambs...

Minwawe Sprinkles' daughter ~ Fawn Katmoget

HarvestThyme Quechee's twins:

Gulmoget ewe lamb modified (fawn? or mioget?)

Fawn Gul/Kat ewe lamb

I could go on and on about what I like about these three, but I think they speak for themselves. Could you have choosen between the three from each ram? That puts at 9 ewe keeper ewe lambs.

Next three ewe lambs retained...

2011-11-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

These are HarvestThyme Champ daughters. A half poll that I used as a flock sire last fall. He was of Little Country Acres and Windswept lineage. Two farms you many not seen crossed often as they seem to be of differing philosphies on Appendix A, however the cross made for some really nice results when crossed with what I have here. Maybe something to be said for middle ground. The one thing I did not like about this sire was the power struggle he had with the horned rams here. Maybe he felt he had something to prove, but after fracturing the pelvis of one, he found his way to the freezer. Before he did he was bred to three ewes with great temperaments, which yeilded great results.

Black and white ewe with the SOFTEST handle I have EVER felt, and very nice fine, fine, fine crimp. She is a High Bid Hester daughter and Maple Ridge Logan grand-daughter. The largest ewe lamb of the crop.

Mapleton Opal's ewe lamb...would you call her modified? Opal is a High Bid Kermit and Minwawe Pearl daughter. I really like this ewe lamb as well. She is more petite but put together very nicely, and also has very soft finely crimped fleece.

Then we have a Pike Hill Olympia daughter, twin of the handsome gully fawn (mioget?) ram lamb. Is she dark enough to call a moorit gulmoget? The darkest of this year's gullies, but still may be modified. Her fleece is not quite as fine as her half or full siblilngs, but still a really nice ewe lamb with an awesome personality to match. I do not believe she is a half poll however, as she has small horn buds herself. Her twin rammie has very smalll scurrs so is a half poll. Her face is still not as light as her fawn mom's but her body and legs have gotten pretty light. Really love some color imput on her and the rest of the gullies you will meet over the next few posts.

I had said I was keeping 3...

2011-11-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

I guess I should have been more specific...

I had only wanted to keep three ewe lambs...TOTAL. I ended up keeping 3 ewe lambs from each of the main flock sires I used last year. So I figure that if I use only one flock sire this year, I will be less tempted to keep so many lambs next year, maybe only my target 3. We will see how that theory pans out. In the meantime let me reintroduce you to the ewe lambs kept over the next few posts. I will start with the Neville ewe lambs, which makes them F2 Heights Orions.

These twin ewe lambs are out of Mapleton Peanut. Both mom and dad have around a 24 average micron and these two did not disappoint. I will have to get a parted fleece shot for you, they are uper crimpy under their tips and have a lovely hand to their fleece as well.

I would still consider selling the black ewe lamb, if anyone is doing a little early Christmas shopping, OR her mom rebred to Neville but not both. I would like to keep at least one in my flock as they really have such lovely fleece.

Then we have the lovely grey ewe lamb out of Minwawe Marshmello. She is so sweet and a gorgeous color. Less crimpy, has a looser wave than her siblings but very soft hand. She also has a longer staple length. A petite ewe lamb...she is the little might that spent her first night in the house and weighted less than 3 pounds at birth. She is growing well and I expect her to do a lot of catching up over the winter.

Neville

2011-11-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

Well Neville and his ewes are getting along well. He is very polite. Even let me catch all of my ewes for their rabies vaccination boosters when the vet came. You would think he would have a problem with me separating them out in a catch pen and then going in to get a few that would not leave him, but he was great. He is such a good ram. I have a pretty good idea who is in season and will lamb first as them seem to follow him closely. They too seem to appreciate his gentle nature. I was so pleased with last years lambs, I am really looking forward to lambs from him again this spring. In his group to lamb here he has: two kats (one black, one fawn), two gullies (also one black and one fawn-both I think are modified), two solid moorit, one solid black that I do think is actually modified rather than iset, two grey flecket, one fawn and one black flecket, one black and one musket HST. All my adult ewes. All the big B ewes carry little b, with the exception of Hester. She is BB. There should be lots of variety of colors, patterns, and even a few spots again!

Can Too Sky will be expecting her first lambs. I am very excited about this pairing. She is a beautiful ewe.

Mapleton Peep will hopefully give me a ewe lamb this year. Her ram lambs all have been stunning. I am keeping her moorit (possible modified) son to replace his dad. Her other HST black and white ram is still for sale, looking for a flock of his own.

More photos of this past year's lambs tomorrow. Have to go get ready for the ferrier.

Token Goats

2011-11-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

Whistle and her doeling. I am thinking of naming her Song.

Watson and Whistle back in January

Close up of Watson

This very nice buck is for sale. Good home a must, serious inquires only.

Urge to Purge

2011-10-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

I like the flock size of 20, I do. I am currently at 30 to winter over. That is too many over so I am still offering this lovely black F2 Heights Orion ewe lamb for sale. I really like her so I would keep her if I sell her mom Mapleton Peanut Brittle as a bred ewe.

I really love my pretty Minwawe Pearl as I have told you time and time again, but I would also consider sellling her as a bred ewe, as well as Mapleton Peep. I have others with their genetics in my flock so I could spare any of these three. Prices on bred ewes is $350 for one, $625 for two, or $900 for all three. All are in with Swiftriver Neville.

I have decided to sell all but 2 ram lambs if anyone is interested. If the rest don't sell I will winter them over and sell them as yearlings or send them to the butcher as shearlings. So you MUST speak up before shearing. I might have the vet wether a few for potential fiber pets.

Last but not least, SOMEONE PLEASE buy my registered Saanen buck. Really nice fellow from really good milking lines. Leads nicely and is not aggressive at all. He is stinky though! I just REALLY don't particularly want goats! Sorry to those of you who like goats, but I just don't so much and I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all the animals here at the moment. I really need to simplify. So available very reasonably to a good home only. Whistle and her doeling will be my exceptions and will stay for the time being.

Simplified Breeding Groups

2011-10-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of making life more simple around here, I decided to have ONE breeding group for sheep and give Neville ALL the adult ewes. The group went together today. It is my last chance at Neville lambs so I decided, why not. I really like him. He is sold and will leaving for his new home in a few weeks. All lambs born here in 2012 will be F2 Heights Orion lambs. If people want or need unrelated rams for a starter flock, they can buy a yearling ram I winter over, there are 8 and 5 are not related to Neville (3 Zeus and 2 Champ). I may let one of these boys be clean up ram after Neville leaves, most likely the half polled gully.

So 15 adult ewes are in Neville's group, 2 are sold and will be going with him to his new home. So I will have 13 bred ewes for spring lambs. Still thinking about selling a few bred ewes yet this fall so inquire if you are interested.

So the other "groups" are the non breeding ewe lambs and goat doeling. Not mixing so well, they are terrified of her!

They just kept moving as a group, away from her...

There are 9 ewe lambs in this group. I had wanted to be at 20 sheep in my flock, it looks like I am at 30. Down from the 54 post lambing, but still a few more than I had planned. I am going into winter +6. Not too bad considering I had 30 lambs born here this spring. Next year I will have to continue to make some difficult decisions.

The other two groups are the bachelor ram lambs, and the goat pair Watson and Whistle. Still have some for sale so again please inquire. Really would like to sell Watson at this point. He is a nice buck but I really prefer the sheep...I will keep Whistle and her doeling as the token goats on the farm. Priced to sell so speak up! This will be the last year for goat kids for a while. Life is just too busy for me to milk a goat twice a day on top of EVERYTHING else! Maybe again someday, but for now I need let that idea go for a while.

Finn enjoyed helping "shuffle" sheep this afternoon, although I would not exactly call it help.

Last call!

2011-10-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

Breeding Season is almost upon us, ram or buck needed anyone?

I still have some really nice Shetland ram lambs and a Saanen buck for anyone that may have procrastinated and find themselves in need of a ram or buck this fall. Last call! Some of these guys are just too nice for the freezer. Please inquire for more info and pricing. Serious inquires only.

Reflections...

2011-10-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

The ewe flock grazing the south pasture is a pretty sight in the fall especially. I have spent some time lately comtemplating my flock and the other animals here. I have also spent some time watching the live stream of the Morgan Grand Nationals on the USEF websight. I realize that it is important to know ones purpose. I for example, would not pluck my horses from their pastures and expect to compete a the National level. Even though they have the breeding and training in their background, I once upon a time the riding ability to do so...they are horses here in the full sense of the word. In this point in my life, I would not have it any other way. Although, I may dabble at the local or State level, long gone are the days I could have been a National contender.

The same with my sheep. They are sheep here, grass based rotational grazers, burdocks and all. I do not grain them for optimum growth in the first six months like many show orientated farms do. Not to say there is anything wrong with that. If that is your objective, that is what you have to do. The key is knowing your purpose. I have bought sheep from all across the Nation, because I was looking for a specific trait that I wanted to add to my flock; patterns, spots, fine fleece, polled, a specific color, or UK genetics. Buying from far away can be challenging. I have some funny stories to prove it, like the fact that a ram I once bought from a picture was a different ram altogether once he got here, my "ram" was a ewe and went to MN. Some came with slight flaws but I take full responsiblity for the selection, afterall I didn't go select them in person, nor did I go pick them up. In my opinion, that is the trade off of the convenience of having them delivered from far and wide with the wonderful attributes they were bringing with them. I think my flock has benefitted quite well:

In all honesty, I wouldn't have that any other way either...at this point in my life. I still could reduce my numbers but I still like what I have put together here and am pleased with the results. Someday I will have the time to go on buying trips and make those all important addition selections in person, but for now I think I will just hold steady for a while. So my flock will not be dispersed, reduced maybe, but not dispersed...they fit my purpose just fine...

Stand by your Ram

2011-10-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

After a goodnight sleep and some good advice, I went out to take photos and think about my flock with my sheep. One thing is for certain I stand by this ram, Swiftriver Neville. He is a F1 Heights Orion. His dam is Swiftriver Thistle (Cairn Farm Frosty X Maple Ridge Althea). Fall two year old micron of 26.5 SD of 4.8 and CV of 18.2. Despite being all that you see in his photos, he has a wonderful temperament and carries moorit and spots. He will get most of the ewes I decide to breed this year. The hard part will be deciding on which ewes that will be and that is yet to be determined. He leaves for his new home end of November. I will really miss him but I only use my rams for two seasons. He, I think I could have kept forever. I didn't want to winter over any mature rams this winter. I am wintering over a few of his sons for futher evaluation to replace him.

The new man ~ The half poll gulmoget will get my two possible poll carriers, Hester and Quechee.

That is all for the moment...more thoughts on the ewes later. "The End" says PEARL!

I don't know if I want to be a Shepherd anymore...

2011-10-02T02:43:00.000-07:00

"Say What?"

(Clarification for my three ewes above...I wasn't talking about you. You will stay here always!)

Really! Seriously! It has gotten to be too much for me I think. I have to reduce my numbers drastically or disperse my flock altogether. I am really considering it. I have been up all night stressing. Maybe not the best time to make a decision, with NO sleep. I just don't know if I can or want to do it anymore....for a variety of reasons. The comment of what the organization does to its young comes to mind. But first and foremost it is that life is too short and I am too thin skinned, and let's leave it at that. I am too old and too young to be up all night stressing over SHEEP! It so happens to be a very important family member's birthday this weekend and again I am stressing over sheep instead of celebrating, something is definitely wrong with this picture. So I will take it as a divine sign to begin to try to let go. To start, I am thinking of selling three bred ewes, come fall. Serious inquires only and YOU MUST come and see the ewes in person prior to me taking a deposit. I will no longer after this year, sell ram lambs. I will band all ram lambs for wether fiber pets or the freezer, or winter them over and offer them as yearlings. When someone picks a ram at a few weeks old it is hard to know what it will mature into come fall. I get that now. I will no longer take deposits on a sheep/lamb that is not selected in person. No amount of pictures or email can replace the first hand experience and perspectives are too different. It is just too subjective. There will be a requirement that all sheep/lambs will be picked up within 14 days of said deposit or weaning. Cash and carry will offer a 10% discount on all sheep and lambs. I think I will only breed half dozen ewes to Neville before he leaves. May get a terminal sire yet of a cross breed or Cheviot for some freezeer lambs. A cross breed ram runs $200 dollars these days and a Cheviot $400 so we will see. Within a few years I will no longer breed my sheep and have reduced my flock to a pet fiber flock. Stay posted...I may change my mind after I get some sleep...no not likely...I really am over worked, over stressed, and over tired something has to give. So it has to be the sheep.

Timeline of photos previously posted...

2011-10-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

More...

2011-09-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

... photos from yesterday AND

Sales update:

Fall Sale

Dessie's twins, kat ram and dark moorit ewe

Peep's black and white ram lamb

Violet's grey ram lamb

Prices are $250 for one, $400 for a pair, $100 each as unregistered

Silent Sunday

2011-09-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

Update

2011-09-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

I visited the local fiber festival this weekend, dropped off some fleeces to be processed, ran into fellow breeders and fiber enthusiast, and saw some beautiful animals. Different in the focus of their breeding maybe but all beautiful Shetlands none the less. The best part was coming home and knowing that what is in my pastures suit my purposes very well. Not indiscriminately but very intentionally. Not necessarily logically to the outside perspective but completely logical to me.

The fiber festival had to share the weekend with my other favorite fall event: The New York Morgan Horse Show. My friend called me 58 days before the show and said get your horse ready and come with me. Although my first instinct was that I didn't have enough time, I decided to try to pull if off to be with my friends. Long and the short it was not enough time and I ended up scratching from my classes after one that could have ended tragically but luckily did not. My horse was showing signs of suffering pain. Now finding her source of pain...farrier, chiropractor, saddle fitter, all lined up to help me sort it out. Vet didn't find anything when I had her up before the show. I suspect back pain due to unbalanced shoeing and possible hoof pain for the same reason.

Finn has been fixed and has a broken toe (from chasing the cat), poor guy feeling under the weather. Started his bird dog training previously though and he is a natural!

Did you know that a red sex link second generation of being crossed, reverse their colors, the roos being red and the hens white? The lone chicken I got from my friend's child's class is actually a rooster. Crowing and all! These two are the same approximate age. Note the differences.

The Final Four

2011-09-20T05:02:00.000-07:00

This ram is looking for a flock of his own! There are only four available registered lambs for sale this fall left. Dessie's twins. Which I can't believe are still available as you know they will carry those crazy spots of hers!

Peanut's black ewe lamb, which I would not be heart broken to have to keep. She is the softest black lamb of the entire lamb crop.

Then we have Peep's exceptional black and white ram lamb. He is maturing into a really nice ram. He was looked at over the weekend and may be going to a new flock soon. Six generations back on his pedigree he is related to the flock he may join so it depends if the flock owner wants something 100% unrelated. I am keeping his solid moorit (maybe modified) twin brother as you know I am still tinkering with those elusive modified colors. However this ram is the better ram overall.

Other sales updates. Carmel's black and white ram lamb sold this weekend. The grey kat with the long tail and the mystery gully half poll am unsure what to do with. They may go to the butcher this fall or be wethered and wintered over. I will sell either/ both at a deep discount without papers if you want to give them a home to save them from the table.

Three ewe lambs sold today only 2 more available...

2011-09-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Cotton Candy's F2 ewe lamb (check out the praying manthis on her in this picture) is sold. She and Pearl's and Opal's ewe lambs have a wonderful new shepherdess. Pearl will be staying the season and will be rebred to Neville. I do love my pretty Pearl even though she pretends she doesn't like me, I know she secretly does.

So Dessie and Peanut's ewe lambs are still for sale, as well as some really handsome ram lambs. Dessie's ewe and Peep's ram would make a nice breeding pair as would Peanut's ewe and Dessie's ram.

Burdock Magnets

2011-09-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

Who me?

What? Not me, those are thistles! Oh like that is any better!

It was the moorit ram lambs idea he said who ever had the most wins!

Boys will be boys!

Father and son...ram lamb is for sale.

Katmoget ram lamb has just a few burdocks.

Really I am totally innocent...hey I heard a rumor I might have a small group of ewes this fall. Is that true? Really? I promise no more burdocks or thistles for me.

Me too. I heard I might have a few too!

Hmpf, the shepherd lady said I have to wait till next year.

This handsome fellow is looking for a flock of his own.

Neville gets the majority of the ewes this fall before he, Sprinkles, and Cotton Candy leave for their new flock. Pearl is being retained after all and will be added to his group this fall. See Pearl has a thing about dogs, and the home she was going to was planning to get a LGD, well Pearl would not have that! Therefore she will stay for the season. Her ewe lamb, Opal's ewe lamb, and one other leave for their new home on Thursday. Pearl's ram lamb finally made it to the Cape this weekend. Thanks Veronica!

"Oh by the way I won the burdock game, I am just saying," says Neville

more photos

2011-09-02T09:54:00.001-07:00

2011-09-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get this ram lamb on the right to Cape Cod all summer to no avail. So before any final travel plans are made or abandoned I wanted to let Veronica (and others) have a few last views of some options. So Peep's son is on the left and Pearl's on the right. Both handsome guys, horns looking very good. Both F2 Heights Orion. Intermediate or more of a longer staple fleecce. Both HST with nice tails. Peep's friendly, Pearls reserved...much like their moms. Neville is a laid back very calm ram.

Here he is with Zeus and Dessie's son in the background. That katmoget ram is also so for sale.

As is Dessie's daughter shown here with her mom. She is so dark moorit! The black ewe lamb of Peanut and Neville's, another F2 Heights Orion is also still available. Will carry moorit from her mom, not sure about spots, possible but not definite.

Cotton Candy's F2 ewe lamb with the krunet will carry spots. She is a big ewe lamb. She will also carry moorit and possibly the modifier.

Here is she again on the right, standing on a railroad tie but still she is surrounded by yearlings and adults...Peanut's ewe lamb is the other black sheep in the photo.

And had to include Neville and the ram lambs in their new location, enjoying fresh grazing and browse. Many beautiful ram lambs still available. Puppies, adult sheep, a few goats, all sold... now to move the rest of the lambs before winter. If you see anything you like be sure to inquire! Discounts on multiple purchases. Still about 10 over my target number for winter. Unfortunately for my sheep my next door neighbor is a meat processor and owns his own plant. He is always asking if I have any available. Those boys are way too nice to meet that fate but I can't winter over 10 rams. Now is the time to go ram shopping for fall!

Two more photos for Veronica...Pearl's first then Peep's:

F2 Heights Orion Keeper Lambs and Fall Breeding Plans

2011-08-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

This is Peep's son by Neville. Please excuse the burdocks...the boys were bad and got into everyone they could find...like they were looking for them! I am keeping this lamb and the one below that is Carmel's son. Neither will be used this fall but given the year to mature. I really like both these ram lambs and they both have black and white HST twins that are still for sale.

The plan is that Neville will get the largest breeding group with 10 ewes (2 sold). Two other ram lambs will get a breeding group: a katmoget son of Zeus' and Sprinkles' and the fawn gully of Olympia's and Champ's. They will get two ewes a piece (all B) to avoid BB lambs when possible. Neville will get two B ewes but both are also patterned and carry moorit Bb. All ewe lambs like the ewe lamb below will be given the year to mature as well.

This is a fleece shot of one of the F2 ewe lambs. Two black F2 ewe lambs are still available as well as a dark moorit ewe lamb and 2 katomoget ram lambs of Zeus'.

Good things come in plain packages...

2011-08-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

Edit here: Change in availability status. Opal's daughter and Pearl's daughter will be going with Pearl instead of the ram lambs.
Don't let these beautiful lambs' plain packaging fool you. Two, if not all, carry spots. They would be a great addition to a flock or make a great starter flock of their own.

sold

for sale

sold

I am still over my target number for winter! Don't miss this chance at adding one of these beautiful ewe lambs to your flock...the black ewes are F2 Heights Orions.

Fall is in the air...

2011-08-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

The nights are cooling off, back to school ads have started, and here in NY you know summer is almost over when the NY State Fair, that is the 10 days preceding...ending on Labour Day, promos are on the radio non stop. So now is the time to think about our breeding groups and you yours. If you are still in search for a good ram we still have some available...

Father and son pictured above: Swiftriver Neville F1 is sold but his handsome F2 HST sons are still for sale. Peep's above and Carmel's below. Excuse the bare paddock...they really do have pasture with electronet but they had come in for the evening.

The polled boys...one is staying here and the other is sold. SOOOOO soft and crazy crimpy when you part their fleece!

No question about this ram lambs horned genetics. Dessie and Zeus' son is very handsome and correct. Fleece length will be longer intermediate, has luster, and nice crimp coming in at the skin. very soft handle as well other than the burdocks he and all the rams were able to find! AND GREAT HORNS!

Can Too Sky will be in a breeding group this fall. Color opinions? Moiget mom, registered as moorit. Most likely will be in Neville's breeding group....I think I will give him all the adult ewes this fall before he leaves.

I also still have some really beautiful ewe lambs for sale in moorit and black, three different sires. All could carry spots even though they are not loudly spotted themselves.

So our days escaping to the lake might be over:

Time to begin harvesting the fruits of our labour:

The pigs are getting big:

Chickens laying about 2 eggs a day, just enough for us. I don't think I could bring myself to buy grocery store eggs.

Finn maturing into a wonderful dog! Lucy still adjusting but out from under the couch now that there is only one pup to try to avoid. Hey not the garden!

Garden fall crops have been planted...need to get in and do some more weeding and find something to do with all that squash! Everything else coming in slowly but surely. The recent rainfall has really perked everything up out there, including the lawn and pastures. Time to knit some hats which means I need to get going and spin the yarn I want to use. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I have enjoyed it but I really do love the fall most of all!

Grey, brown, and black

2011-08-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Well it is official...a deposit was made on my pretty Pearl.

All adult ewes that I can part with this year are spoken for...leaving me with an even dozen adult ewes for breeding season. I still have some really beautiful lambs for sale: Black and White F2 rams, Fawn Katmoget rams, Mooirt ewes pictured below, and black F2 ewe lambs a few of which are also pictured below.

Wet Wool!

2011-08-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

From my recent posts you can see we need the rain. And did it ever rain yesterday, flooding my basement kicking the sump pump and dehumifier in high gear but not before it got my 2011 wool clip wet! UGGGG! I know I usually have it skirted and sent to the mill by now but remember my skirting helper? (FINN PUPPY) I have not been back to it since! So I went outside and took wet wool on the hoof pictures once the rain let up. A few of my keeper ewe lambs:

Plus I will keep one (hopefully only one) black ewe lamb featured in the last two posts. I really like them all but I will be using Neville again this fall on most if not the whole adult ewe flock so I have to be careful how much big B I have. At least three and maybe the fourth are Bb. How did I go from keeping only 3 lambs ( I distinctly remember saying that) total to keeping 8 ewe lambs!!!!!! But honestly how do you choose between all those patterns and spots and possibly some modified ones in the group? All have the intermediate fleece length with very soft handle and luster that I prefer but are coming in super crimpy at the skin which was what I was trying to accomplish with the breeding pairs. I think I need help! Don't even get me started on the rams!

F2 Heights Orion Black Ewe Lambs - For Sale

2011-08-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

Possible Change in the Sales List

2011-08-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

I try to sell my lambs quick so I don't get attached to too many of them. Well that is the theory anyway. Some folks wait to even place their lambs on their sales list until they mature more and can be fully evaluated. That way you don't let keepers go by being too quick to sell. Well I have too many keepers as far as I am concerned because I like them all and I have to try to move more lambs before it gets too hard. I have had to say some hard goodbyes this year already but with 54 sheep post lambing it was inevitable. If all my sheep were carbon copies of each other it would be easy but the Shetland diversity makes it more difficult and more enjoyable, I guess you take the bad with the good. So this lamb below was originally to be sold and if someone doesn't want her quick I might not be able to let her go at all. She is a possible polled or half poll...and spoken for twice but the first home chose a more friendly ewe and the second had transportation issues getting her to TN. So maybe it is a sign that she belongs here.

If she stays I might sell the black F2 ewe of Peanut's with horned genetics. Peanut is also being removed from my sales list due to the unexpected loss of her triplet sister and sale of her mom. I am keeping her moorit daughter pictured in the center as well. Peanut may be for sale again next summer.

(Excuse the recycled photos below) Peep has been making her case that she needs to stay and been sucking up to me every time I go out to the pasture. Her beautiful fawn half sister left yesterday and another half sister Sprinkles is also sold, so Peep will be staying for this breeding season. Might be available again next summer.

Everyone has had to give up some of their favorites in order to keep lambs, so Pearl on the left still for sale. I love my pretty Pearl but Marshmello's F2 ewe lamb is just as beautiful shade of grey and will be staying. If Pearl is here this breeding season that will give me 13 adult ewes of breeding age...3 less than this past year so I am making progress keeping my numbers in check either way. I would love to see her go with her beautiful F2 solid black ewe lamb, so a package price is available. It has not been easy but have met some wonderful folks this summer and glad I can help them with their flocks.

Gone Riding!

2011-08-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

If you need to reach me, call my cell. It is a riding tack cleaning kind of day.

Two ram lambs...unregistered or fiber pets to be wethered by your own vet...

2011-08-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

Violet's grey ram. Where did THAT tail come from? I have no idea...but he is a friendly fellow and has beautiful fleece. $100 OBO as an unregistered ram OR have your vet wether him for a fiber pet.

Then we have Carmel's black and white that stuck his head through the welded wire panel in the barn turned it, got stuck and proceeded to tear the horn sheath off, leaving the horn core intact. A new sheath is growing over the base and is looking good. He is BEAUTIFUL and still looks like a horse colt to me...long and square. He is an F2 Heights Orion. Can be sold with or without papers as a ram or have your vet wether him for a stunning addition to a fiber flock.

A note on Carmel: I did lose her recently to a freak trama to her eye (not sure what from the vet thinks she got HER head stuck somehow in something and damaged it getting free), followed by the excessive unforgiving heat. Although I got her through it, she lost her eye and subsequently I made the heartbreaking decision to let her go. She was one of my finest most correct ewes and I miss her. I will keep this ram's twin in her stay.

Sales Status

2011-08-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Neville, Cotton Candy, and Sprinkles have had a deposit made on them, and will leave as a group in November. Bella and Marshmello's fawn ewe are being picked up this weekend. Storm leaves in a couple weeks and still waiting to hear about transportation for Pearl's ram lamb. Anyone want to take a ram lamb to Cape Cod for me? Hope's ewe lamb was sold this week. So what do I have left?

Black ewe lambs: Cotton Candy's krunet and Pearl's solid (F2 Heights Orion) by Neville, and Hester's spotted (likely poll carrier)

Morrit ewe lambs: Dessie's solid dark morrit and Opal's (possible poll carrier and possibly modified)

Katmoget ram lambs: Dessie's fawn and Violet's grey (longer tail would sell without papers for $100)

Black and White F2 Heights Orion ram lambs: Carmel's and Peep's

Two Saanen goat kids, one buck and one doe

Here a few photos I got of the ewe flock this morning before the rain, which you can see we really NEED:

And Finn...all other puppies have sold. He stays and is a great dog!

For SALE and for keeps...

2011-07-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

Whistle and Watson's kids are still available to a good home. We have decided to keep the adult goats and repeat the breeding. Both kids are stunning and ready to join your herd. They can be registered.

I am keeping Olympia's ewe lamb, as well as her ram featured a few posts ago, for futher evaluation. I really don't NEED to keep 4 gully lambs and one gul/kat but I still can't quite bring myself to choose between them yet. This ewe is darker than the others, but I don't think I would call her moorit.

Shetland Rams: Sold and For Sale

2011-07-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

Pearl's ram lamb, Neville, and Storm are all spoken for...

Still for sale are katomget rams, HST F2 Heights Orions, and possibly willing to part with mysteriously marked half poll:

Horn Envy?

2011-07-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

I love the photo of Neville's horn next to Olympia's polled or half polled ram's hornless head!

A break in the weather so time for a quick update...

2011-07-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

No AC in a house built in 1850. Radiant heat so no hope for central air. Window units not practical with 10 foot ceilings. So when it hits 100...we hit the lake! We don't own a boat but they sure do make a pretty picture! Sorry for the lack of posts...simply too hot.

German Shorthaired Pointer update. This is Reilly...not Rose. I have to double take most of the time now. She is a beautiful dog, sweet, and smart. She still most likely going to a family friend...just depends on which family friend is really serious. The ones we held her for decided they are not ready. Another is coming next week and will most likely purchase her. If not, a third is still considering her. Weddings, babies, and new jobs have been the reason for all the indecision. Between the three, one of those excellent homes should work out for her. She is a special pup and we are very attached to her so we needed to know where she is going. She was the one that I saved during delivery and had to get breathing. Therefore, always my sentimental favorite. Unfortunately Rose and Lucy (our other GSP) think two puppies is too many. Rose does much better with the male pup as the breeder of the stud dog told us she would.

Finn the male pup we are keeping:

Making sure no upland birds bother the sheep!

After the chicken fiasco. I have been locking in the sheep every night into the welded wire which they are destroying. Time to get them up front in the south pasture and hope that fence stays hot enough to keep them safe.

They have been let out everyday into electronet, but it has been so dry the pastures are not what they usually are.

I have some really beautiful sheep and lambs still available for sale. Prices are negotiable to the right homes. Please inquire!

Quechee's lambs are too cute. The gully in front and the gul/kat to the left. The lamb to the back is sold and waiting for pick up.

Hope everyone is tolerating the heat. We did get a little much needed rain today. I hope we get more soon. I never remember a July this hot or this dry. Record breaking last week! Blogger is not letting me comment anymore...must be something on my new computer locks me out. When I have the patience to struggle through my lack of texting skills, I can sometimes leave a message from my phone. So on that note Kelly and Kristi thanks for visiting and commenting on my last post.

Saturday Update

2011-07-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

I rode my horse Tess today and I really need to lighten the work load here to make more time to ride my horses more often. It is after all the reason we moved to the country. Tess pictured in the fore ground is wonderful under saddle, despite being a diva in the pasture. Looks like a little work would be good for all the horses and ponies...as well as me. So I am going on a mission to get us all in shape. Maybe I will even take her to a show this fall.

I like having less chickens. A flock of five seems to be just about right. The year old layers are giving us about a dozen eggs a week which is just fine for now. The other two pullets should join in this fall.

In terms of sheep and goats. I would like to get down to 2 goats and 20 or less sheep. Storm below is sold and will be picked up next month. The brown based F2 yuglet in the last post is also sold and is awaiting transportation to Cape Cod. So I guess that brings me down to 40...so I have 50% of my flock still for sale.

There are plenty of mature sheep as well as lambs looking for good homes, and I will be posting pictures of them throughout the summer:

Ram Escapades...

2011-07-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Being a beautiful day I thought I would let the ram lambs out for a while to graze thinking I would be able to lure them or herd them back in the barn before dark...

Well when the time came, no such luck. They did not want to go back in the barn for any amount of grain or chasing. So we had to catch them...one by one. I did not put them back in the barn but out with the big boys...
Who were completely unphased by the little ram additions to their pasture...

All is peaceful and I love how mellow my mature rams are. Went in to change their water today and out of 13 rams total, lambs and adult, not one even batted an eyelash in my direction. Very respectful, calm, content, and wonderful boys one and all. Not to worry, I keep an eye on them just in case, but grateful it has been a non issue with this particular group. I have come to the conclusion that it is not horned or polled that is the biggest factor for me with a ram, but overall disposition. With rams, some are unfriendly and turn nasty. Some are overly friendly and do the same. Others like Neville is a calm cool and collected as they come. The solution is to breed for the best temperament possible, have zero tolerance for bad ram behavior, respect their space and demand they do the same for you, never turn your back on them, and know sometimes that will even not be enough and make the hard decisions in the event that happens. For now I am just happy I seem to have rams that fit my low conflict expectations. I just have too many so let me know if you are in need of one. Out of the 13, two are sold and waiting for pick up. Many more beautiful rams to choose from however.

Moorit Photos for e s

2011-07-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

F2 Heights Orion light moorit (possibly fawn) ewe lamb (Swiftriver Neville X Minwawe Marshmello)

Opal's twin ewe lamb experienced transportation trouble to TN so is again available for sale (HarvestThyme Champ X Mapleton Opal) possible half poll.

Dessie's ewe lamb (Mapleton Zeus X Mapleton Destiny) is very dark moorit at skin.

Group photo to show shades of moorit:

Yearling Bella still petite for her age but very cute and has the crimpiest loviest fiber!

Peanut and Neville's ewe lamb...replacing her mother in my flock...Peanut is for sale...so an example of what she produces:

Dessie's most awesome HORNED ram lamb:

Such fine, shinny, soft crimp coming in under his lamb coat. Oh I do love the kats!

F2's rams waiting for their tags...

2011-07-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

Brought the lambs in for the vet to visit to give them their shots...they will get tags tomorrow.

Peep's. Color input anyone? Little b but modified or not?

Peep's other twin ram...horns are looking good. For sale.

Pearl's below (sold but sister and mom for sale).

Then we come to Carmel's ram lamb. Would you call him a white yuglet katmoget, grey, or black flecket katmoget?

Looked around for his black and white HST twin for a photo opp and didn't that stinker get his horn caught in the panel and tear the horn shealth off. Remember the slow growing wiggly horns I mentioned earlier on...does breaking easy indicate a possible half poll? To add insult to injury...literally...Carmel injured her eye in the pasture, on what I have no idea! If it is not one thing it is another on a farm.

More of the same

2011-06-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Just Shetlands in my flock now (and one cross bred wether that is destined for the freezer so he doesn't count). Spooky and her other lamb sold. The Shetland ram lambs are maturing very nicely. I love the black and white one of Peep's below. Other Shetland news, the possible poll carrying ewes of Opal's and Hester's look like they are going to Tennessee. Edit here: transportation problems...so Opal's and Hester's are still available for anyone lookng for some nice poll carriers.

Just Red Stars in my laying flock...the folks that bought Spooky brought be a few year old hens and started pullet chick to go with the started pullet I had tucked in the barn. My friend's kid's class had hatched her and she came here to live. None are laying right now but hopefully sooner than if I had to start chicks over myself. The yearlings are just finishing molting so I am hopeful. Still have a few eggs in the fridge to tide us over.

Pigs just two this year...Tamworth Hereford crosses to raise for our table.

Goats...just Saanens. Two for sale. Either the kids or the buck and buckling. I would like to keep Whistle and either her daughter OR Watson.

The buckling is for sale either way and he is very handsome.

Photos for my SSS&T Posting

2011-06-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Forgive the repeats for regular followers but I just posted some of the sheep for sale on the yahoo list and put a link for here so here it goes:

Keeper Kats

2011-06-23T05:32:00.000-07:00

I know I should probably not put as many pictures of what I am keeping, but my keepers need some attention and photographing them helps me evaluate them too. I also have so much related to them for sale and they willl have offspring here in the future so I think their inclusion on the sales blog is relevent. So we have Spinkles ewe lamb above by Zeus. Her twin ram is stunning and is for sale, as is her mom. Below we have Carmel's ram lamb...what color would you call him for registration? His black and white twin ram is for sale and is also very handsome, as well as his dad Swiftriver Neville.

Usual Suspects

2011-06-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

Well the chicken mystery is still unsolved. From some emails I received after my last post and local farmers I have talked with, it seems the prime suspect for the kill is a weasel or mink. Ironic this farm was a mink farm back in the 1940's. The tell tale sign...a few were missing their heads. Then I think an opportunistic raccoon and our resident fox family came in to help clean up. The live traps are empty so no luck there so far. Our pigs were picked up yesterday and that same farm will have pullets ready to lay available beginning of August...Red Stars. I think I will pick up a few of those and order some other breeds when we order our meat birds and start them later in the summer when I am ready to give up my mudroom again for a while. Not ready yet...

Took a few pictures of ewe lambs available for sale yesterday. There are 3 brown based ewe lambs (one or two of those may be modified or carry the modifier) and 3 black ewe lambs for sale, as well as the 2 black and white F2 Heights Orion ram lambs, and 3 katmoget ram lambs. It is Monday...reasonable offers considered. Violet and her ewe lamb left this weekend to start a new shetland flock close by. The Cheviot and one of her lambs leave soon to join Lilly in her new home. That is all the update I have for today, so I will leave you with a few photos:

Pearl's F2 Heights Orion

Opal's and Champ's ewe lamb possible poll carrier and possibly modified.

Hester's ewe lamb also possible poll carrier by HarvestThyme Champ:

Cotton Candy's F2 ewe lamb:

Hope and Patches' ewe lamb:

Marshmello's F2 ewe lamb:

Destiny and Zeus twins:

Better close up of the ewe lamb.

Pretty Pearl - this photo is just for you Robin :)

Bad night for the laying hens...

2011-06-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

...their coop was broken into or we forgot to shut the small door of their other coop and all were killed last night. I went from 14 layers to zero in one night. Raccoon or fox? Anyone know what predator would take all of them? Piles of feathers everywhere. Live traps set so I guess we will find out...Anyone ever order started pullets? The thought of starting all over and raising baby anything in my mudroom at the moment is daunting. Just as I was ready to return the rug and take back the room from the puppies. I know that is topic is off the sales focus of that this blog was intended to be, but I guess that I needed to vent about my latest farm mishap. The layers were 2 and 3 years old, so I guess it was time to replace them, but they all were still laying consistently. I am sorry I failed to keep them safe. I worry about my lambs. The sheep were brought into the welded wire and the outside charger with surrounding electro net is on as a first line of defense. In the 5 years of having the small animals here nothing has ever gone in to any fencing to take anything until now. Best layer suggestions, I know everyone has their favorites. I had a White Leg Horn, Buff Orpingtons, R.I. Reds, Barr Rock, Easter Eggers, Red Star, and Silver Laced Wyndotts. I think I liked my Buffs the best.

Horns and Puppies

2011-06-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

This is Swiftriver Neville an F1 Heights Orion and the sire to many of the this years lamb crop. So he is 50% UK and 50% old New England blood (Maple Ridge). This ram makes me want to keep horns in my flock because simply he is magnificent. He is also the calmest coolest ram ever at three years old, he doesn't have a mean bone in his body. Now mind you he is the alpha ram but his presence alone seems to be enough to command the respect he needs to be in charge. He also seems to respect that I am ultimately the REAL alpha of the place and as long as I bring him good things like food, water, fresh pasture, a few scratches, and ewes in the fall, he finds no need what so ever to ruin a good thing. His microns fall of his two year old year were 26.5 SD 4.8 and CV of 18.2 SF of 25.2 and a CRV (find that an interesting number to look at as it seems that the higher it is the more crimp) of 58.9. He is for sale as I generally like to use a ram for a year or two and then have them move on. He carries moorit and spots. I am keeping his two sons pictured below for further evaluation. Ideally I would let him have a breeding group here in the fall and then let him go to a new flock. He is priced at $350 but there is a $50 discount if purchased with a ewe. He also has two HST black and white ram lambs, also priced at $350 available for sale. His musket HST son is sold and is going to Cape Cod!

The last male puppy sold and will be leaving for his new home tomorrow. The last female may also be sold to a good friend. If they decide they are not ready for a dog at this time, we might keep her ourselves. She has been here too long and we have gotten attached. If our friends take her, we will still be able to see her often.

Brown Based Gullies

2011-06-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

Olympia's twins: moorit (?) ewe and fawn ram lamb. He is either half or fully polled. Has small "chips" for horns. He makes me want to give up horned rams altogether!

Quechee twin ewes may also carry polled. I am wondering if the gully is mioget as she is lighter than Olympia's ewe and darker than her ram. The gul/kat I think I would call fawn. For the time being all 4 are being retained, as well as Hester's fluke gully ram. I have some decisions to make about the future of my breeding program and if I do decide to go "polled" and I would need to keep all the gully's as the foundation of that.

FOR SALE

2011-06-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

Saanen buckling

Aunt Dessie (NFS) with Hope (NFS) and ewe lamb daughter that is for sale.

Marshmello's fawn F2 Heights Orion ewe lamb

Dessie's fawn katmoget ram lamb above and Sprinkles' fawn katmoget ram lamb below.

Peep's black and white HST F2 Height's Orion ram lamb.

Rotational Grazing

2011-06-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

Time to move the electro-net. Sad to say I miss placed a roll or two. Actually took them down and forgot to pick them up and now the grass has grown up and I can't find them! So that is my job today move the netting and locate the ones that are missing. These photos were taken this past weekend and they are ready to move again. Here a few pictures of sheep I am retaining in my flock for the time being. Yearling - Mapleton Silvermist by Zeus so some her half sisters and brothers are currently for sale.

Yearling moorit Can Too Sky - may carry the modifier from her mom who is mioget. She will be bred this fall then may be offered for sale next summer if she gives me a true mioget to keep in her place.

High Bid Hester and HarvestThyme Champ had twin lambs this year. The single yuglet patched ewe lamb and this mystery ram lamb. He will be retained for further evaluation. Small "chips" for horns.

This grey ewe lamb has to stay, I just can't help myself. Marshmello's other daughters, Peep and Sprinkles are offered for sale, as well as this lamb's twin F2 fawn ewe.

Dog Days! Record high possible today!

2011-06-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Rosie

Three puppies on the go!

Liver Male for Sale

Liver Female for Sale

The puppies are doing really well. They are up to date on everything and will be 12 weeks old tomorrow. They are really super puppies and are ready for a family to call their own. They are 100% crate trained had had their second booster shot. Great at staying around and coming when called. The are very sweet and are doing really well learning not to jump and don't even puppy bite anymore...well they still rough house with one another and chase Aunt Lucy (our other GSP). Lucy is still hiding under the couch so puppies really need to find a good home soon for Lucy's sake. The rest of us are getting more and more attached so the sooner the better. These are really fantastic dogs and have great potential with their breeding and champion bloodlines.

What has got your goat?

2011-06-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

Whistle and Watson have twin kids that are beautiful, one buck and one doe. The Saanens are all registered or registrable.

Lilly is 100% Nubain but has registered parents but has never been registered. She has been exposed to Watson all spring but I never saw him have any interest in her. However, there is a possibility she is bred for fall kids. As you can see her dehorning was not quite successful at a few days old. LILLY IS SOLD!

Hoping my vet had better luck nipping the kids horns in the bud, literally. I am afraid I get quite uncomfortable holding them while she does it so will take the blame for Lilly. This time I tried not to show it as much so maybe she had better luck and didn't stop too soon.

Watson

As I explained in a recent comment, and many of you know from the past. I have always been on the fence about the goats. I would like only a pair...if any. I would like Whistle and her doeling to stay or Whistle and Watson to stay, OR I would like them all to go together as a group. However I have to clear all goat decisions with DH, since all sustainable living animals are "his". The horses and sheep are "hers". As someone said to me recently, "but you are the boss of the barn." Well I like to think so but maybe that is why I don't like goats, they challenge my authority. :) If you are interested any or all of my goats, give me a shout!

Change of plans...a different ewe lamb selected...

2011-06-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

A new Shetland flock is starting locally. From the pictures they had selected the ewe lamb below. When they came to pick out the second lamb, Violet and her daughter (above) decided that they were going to make the selection easy on the new shepherds and wormed themselves into their hearts! The ewe below is actually Violet's half sister. She is by HarvestThyme Champ and could be a poll carrier, from Champ, or Hester, or both. She is now offered for sale.

I took some good photos over the weekend. I will post a few over the next few days. Starting with Dessie's twins:

Fawn katmoget ram lamb and moorit ewe lamb.

It is Monday! Anyone want to make an offer on any lambs, sheep, goats, or puppies?!

Hershey and her son reunite with old friends!

2011-06-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

It is a bitter sweet feeling to watch her leave for a new home, but I could be happier about the home she is going to. She and her wether son will be reunited with one of her ewe lambs from two years ago, as well as 2 wethers from last year, and 5 sheep from the year before, 2 wethers and 3 non registered Shetland ewes. They as group make a beautiful handspinner's fiber flock with two of the nicest folks as their shepherds. I will miss Hershey but I am so glad she will be retired from breeding. I am also pleased she will have two of her children with her to keep her company and have the chance to get fat with her only job to grow her beautiful 12 pound fleece. Thanks Lee and Cheryl! Here is a photo recap of your purchases:

2011

2010

2009

Not too sure which is which but one is with this fiber flock and the other is with Hershey's bottle ewe from this year with a 4-H family (can't read tags in this photo).

Thanks again and happy SPINNING! :)

Sheep Math

2011-06-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

Minwawe Pearl

I am sure you have seen the "Chicken Math" on some fellow bloggers' blogs, but today I was thinking it also applies to sheep! I started out with 24 sheep, 20 ewes and 4 rams. Sixteen lambed, giving me 30 lambs. So up to 54 minus 1 bottle baby given to a customer that have bought sheep from me in the past. We are at 53 right? Well if I sell half my adult flock and two thirds of my lamb crop, it should reduce my flock size right? It certainly FEELS like I have a lot for sale in my effort to simplify my life. So let's see. I keep 12 adults, and 10 lambs for further evaluation...whoa...PAST 20 again! 22! That means I have to CONTINUE to make really hard decisions.

So a few more lambs may be added to my sales list...just not sure which ones yet. In terms of lambs I think using multiple rams makes the decision making process more difficult. Right now I was thinking of keeping two ewe lambs of Zeus', one gully and one kat. Two ewe lambs of Champ's one possible mioget and one gully. Three ewe lambs of Neville's, both of Peanut's moorit and black (maybe I should only keep one) and Marshmello's grey. So that would be 6 or 7 and then I am deciding between 4 ram lambs...two of Champs both without horns at the moment so temping for sure, and one or two of the F2 Heights Orion ram lambs...I like all but really I can't keep them all. I plan to use only one or two Shetland rams this fall and only breed 10 or 11 adult ewes, using a terminal Cheviot or BL for freezer lambs to back up the groups. As a family member said to me the other day...then we will be less tempted to keep on keeping lambs.

Since I have decided if I really want to keep Marshmello's grey, I have decided that I should let my beautiful Pearl go. I can't believe I am saying that but I really have too many sheep! So she is for sale with her F2 Heights Orion ewe lamb or Sprinkles, I want her to go with a friend. Add an unrealted katmoget ram lamb and you have the makings of a great starter flock! Inquire for pricing.

Moorit, Modified, or Musket? (some spotted or with a hint of white)

2011-06-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

Mapleton Peanut Brittle had twin ewe lamb this year. This moorit ewe below has some flashes of white around her face. If Peanut sells, I would like to keep this F2 ewe to be the replacement moorit in my flock.

Then we have Marshmello's beautiful ewe lamb that is brown based with a dusting of white around her neck. She is beautiful and very correct. I have kept every ewe lamb Marshmello has had to date. They are simply impressive. This year I am placing on my sales list 2 of her adult daughters and this ewe lamb ONLY because I would like a smaller flock size. Not sure what her color is going to be. Her sister is Ag but I am not seeing the sugar lips on her. Light moorit like Sprinkles possibly or fawn would be my best guess at this time. She is an F2 Heights Orion and seems to have her sire's crimpy fleece and her dam's longer staple, which I think has the makings a really nice soft crimpy intermediate fleece, which was goal at least. She will carry spotting. As a single purchase she is $350...with one of her sisters or another lamb there is a $50 dollar discount on each. Repeat buyers also receive a discount (hint hint Mac).

Pearl's ram lamb below is looking like he is going to be musket to me due to the light rings around his eyes. I really love this ram lamb and think he will be an excellent flock sire. Great looking horns, nicely built, good tail, flashy markings, soft intermediate fleece, and is an F2 Heights Orion. He is SOLD and will be travelling to Cape Cod this summer! Life's a beach!

HarvestThyme Champ was a half polled ram I used this fall. I loved his crimpy fleece and his nice wide stance behind. Little Country and Windswept lines which a little bit of a contradiction in terms, but worked. It was debatable if he was mioget as registered (he had a mioget mom) or just light moorit. I think his ewe lambs out of Mapleton Opal will keep me guessing too. What do you think? There is definitely a hint of gold but will it turn to a true mioget, I guess time will tell. These fine ewe lambs may or may not carry spots and polled. I would like to keep one but that puts me up to 10 lambs I would like to keep for further evaluation and 10 adults. I guess that brings me back to my magic number of 20.

So that is everyone...I think. Many breeders keep the best and sell the rest. This year I am really selling some of the very best in an effort to bring my flock to a more manageable size. I may breed only a handful of Shetlands next year for purebred lambs, and the rest will be bred to a terminal sire for freezer lambs. This summer may be the best time to add something to your flock from Mapleton Farm. So leave a comment, email me, or call me to reserve your sheep and lambs!

Double Post Day - Puppy Update

2011-06-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Only two puppies still available. Some may wonder why are they still here? So let me give you the low down and more information on the ones that are still here. Well there were 10 (we are keeping the 11th) to place so I think I have done pretty well with finding them good homes. The male and female that are left are some of the nicest pups in the whole litter. I can't get over how each family that came to get a puppy seemed to pick out the perfect puppy for their situation and family. The personalities just seemed to match, like they knew instantly THAT family was meant to be theirs. Well the two below seem to think they would like to stay HERE and are very comfortable with the routine. However, that is way too may dogs for us. So the females and pattern puppies were the first chosen. Two solid females and two solid males were chosen next. So we are left with two solid livers with a little white on their chest and toes, one male and one female. The two families that choose the other males, had two year old children. The male below jumped on both and was quickly out of the running. He however, typically is so sweet. The first to curl up in my lap if I sit on the porch with them....he just thinks he should stay and is particularly naughty when people come to look. Lucy (our other GSP) doesn't think ANY puppy should stay and has taken to hiding under the couch all day. The pups left are doing very well. They are kennel trained, come when they are called, go for walks in the fields with us, don't wander off and just lounge on the porch on nice days. Here a few photos from today.

Rose has been teaching them SO much. Not to bite, not to jump, not to chase the cat, to stay away from the mower and horses, how to point at the chickens, and today she was "flushing" the field in case any unsuspecting bird might be hiding in the tall grasses.

B&W and Shades of Grey (Edit...I almost forgot one)

2011-06-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

We have a few really nice black and white spotted lambs to choose from this year. The only one I knew for sure would be spotted is Mapleton Hope's daughter. She is precious and very correct. Her sire is Spring Hill patches, who is modified so she could carry the modifier. She is for sale, as I have her mom and her Aunt Dessie in my flock. She sooo cute though...I try not to look at her too much so I don't get attached. Priced at $350 as a single, $300 if purchased with another sheep or lamb.

Then we had a nice surprise. Swiftriver Neville AI carries spots! I had wondered if I had "wasted" so many spot carriers on three rams I didn't know if they carried spots or not. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Twin Springs Cotton Candy had this beautiful big krunet ewe lamb. She carries moorit. If I would put together an ideal starter flock I would choose her, her mom (musket or fawn?), and her half sister Peanut (moorit). That package I would price at $800. Which I think is very reasonable considering that it includes an F2 Heights Orion.

Other Heights Orion Grandlambs:

Mapleton Peep's HST son, carries moorit. For sale $350.

Mapleton Carmel's twin ram lambs. I LOVE these two. I am keeping the ram below, well because he is also katmoget (and have already confessed that is a weakness of mine). The ram above however is even more impressive in terms of fleece and structure, and I do love his markings. He still reminds me of a horse colt and he carries himself with that type of presence. Both carry moorit from their mom. He is also priced at $350. The one below, born first, struggled a little at birth and I always seem to get attached to the ones I "save"...

Which is why I am emotionally attached to Marshmello's ewe lamb below. She spent her first night in the house if you remember that far back, it seems like so long ago. Her sister will be featured tomorrow and is much more impressive and SHOULD be one I keep, but we have already determined that I make many decisions when it comes to my flock based on emotional attachment. So a golden opportunity for someone else to add some really outstanding Shetlands to their breeding program.

Like Hester's ewe lamb who will be going with another ewe lamb (yet to be determined) to a new Shetland flock locally. I almost forgot since she is spoken for. Isn't she cool?! Under her birth coat her fleece is coming in uper crimpy and soft! She is by HarvestThyme Champ and may carry polled.

Patterned Shetland Lambs - Kats, Gullies,Gul/Kat

2011-05-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

In addition to Dessie's moorit ewe lamb, she has a beautifully horned fawn ram lamb. He is really nice and flock sire material. He will carry spots from his mom. His dad is Mapleton Zeus and his pattern originated from Enfield Greyling.

Sprinkles had twin katmoget lambs, a ram and ewe pictured above. The ewe lamb is spotted and loves me and since I placed Sprinkles on the sales list, this ewe lamb is staying right here. The ram is for sale at this time but I really like him so wouldn't be disapointed to winter him over as a possible replacement for Zeus. He is available however as a flock sire. Very nice soft uniform fleece, conformationally correct, and horns are looking very good at this time.

Violet's ram lamb will be best as a wether I think. He has a beautiful soft dense fleece that is a dark grey underneath, but he has a horrid tail and is pathetically friendly. Ideal makings for a fiber pet or ram companion. I don't like to see the friendly ones go in the freezer. His price is $125 non registered ram to grow out or wether.

Quchee's twin ewe lambs. Both stunning. One a fawn gul/kat which means every lamb that she will ever have will be a katoget or a gulmoget. The other a brown based gulmoget. Not sure yet if she will be moorit, or lighter. She very well may be modified so fawn or mioget? I think we may keep one of these lambs. I am leaning toward the gully since I am so kat heavy...surprisingly. Either way one of these fine ewe lambs is for sale for $350. As with all gullies, there is a chance that they carry the polled gene, I do believe Quechee is a least a half poll. The pattern tracking back to Roban Dillion, who also carried the polled gene in addition to the gulmoget pattern.

Which bring us to the other half or full polled gullies in the lamb crop. HarvestThyme Champ (mioget half poll) is the dad. Olympia's spotted moorit ewe above, who yes you guessed it is staying here. Hester's ram (yes I am going with him being recessively gulmoget despite people saying that is impossible). I saw Hester lamb so I really truly know that this lamb is hers. Since he is one of kind or fluke he will be staying for some test breeding, if not this year, next.

And Olmpia's son and yes he is as crimpy and soft as he looks. He will also be staying.

"Solid" Moorit and Black

2011-05-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Pearl and Neville's ewe lamb

Peanut and Neville's ewe lamb

Violet and Zeus' ewe lamb

Dessie and Zeus' ewe lamb

Peep and Neville's ram lamb

Patterns, modified, and spots featured later in the week.

Pasture Shuffle

2011-05-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

Sheep really pleading their case that it is time to move.

Ponies busting out of their paddock and loose in the yard. Okay, okay, I get the message. So I moved some electro net for the rams, replaced some split rails, moved the sheep to the back pasture, and gave the horses back the whole north pasture. The horses have access to their paddock and barn from this pasture. Less turn out of me. The sheep spent the night out back and will continue to do so for a little bit. Needless to say everyone is happy. Well maybe not the goats...they are still in the barn. The ate my garden starts and attacked the fruit trees when I let them loose for some browsing time...not what I intended them to browse on! I will work on their new location this week. I think the kids are old enough to handle eletronet now.

Click to enlarge the photo above. Does that horse look 18 years old to you? He is why I want less sheep. I want more time to ride! I need more time in general.

F2 HST anyone!?

Cheviot/Shetland cross wethers growing well. Can be weaned anytime for those of you considering the Cheviot.

CONTENT!

This ram lamb photo cracks me up with his little "soul" patch spot and wink! This handsome fellow is sold but he still has some half siblings for sale and a twin sister. More lamb photos tomorrow.

Puppies and Storm

2011-05-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

Only two puppies left to sell. The male above and female below.

Finn & Rosie

Mapleton Storm - SOLD!

Come August Storm will have a flock of Shetland ewes of his own!

Assorted sheep photos

2011-05-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

The flock making a case for me to move their electro-net as they see me approach the charger...

Minwawe Sprinkles...this ewe is for sale ONLY because her daughter is her carbon copy and we are more emotionally attached to her. Sprinkles is a fantastic mom and has fabulous lambs. I am keeping her spotted katmoget ewe lamb from this year and her ram lamb is equally stunning. He is currently for sale but if he doesn't sell he may just replace his father in my flock.

Carmel's ram lamb standing and his sister cousins ewe lambs of Peanut's are laying down. Peanut is for sale so I may keep one or both of her lambs. Carmel and Peanut are triplet sisters...the ram is for sale. I am keeping his spotted katmoget twin. All these lambs are by Neville so are F2 Heights Orions.

Also by Neville...Marshmello's twin ewe lambs. The ewe above looks like she may be modified...possibly fawn...does not look Ag. The ewe below is grey and I have to confess I absolutely love her. So much so I am contemplating letting her replace Pearl as the grey in my flock. I do love my pretty Pearl. Maybe I will keep both. Any sheep I end up with at the end of season I won't be disappointed in. I really love them all right now. The lamb crop exceeded my expectations and I am happy with my foundation flock. It is simply about numbers. I would like to get down to 10 adult sheep and a half a dozen lambs to winter over to select from.

That being said there are only a few that are off the table in terms of availability (and strickly for emotional reasons) and I will be happy with what ever ten I end up with, as long as I retain a variety of colors and patterns.

Pearl's Black Ewe Lamb

2011-05-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

In this year's lamb crop I got three beautiful solid black ewe lambs. All so much a like I have to see which ewe they are nursing from to tell them apart. I better get them tagged before their mom's decide to start to wean them. Hopefully this weekend we will get that done. This is Pearl and Neville's ewe, so an F2 Heights Orion. She is stunningly beauiful with a soft consistent fleece, perfect tail, correct conformation and I just love her wooly poll and cheeks. I plan to keep one black ewe lamb. If Peanut sells, I will keep her lamb as a replacement, so more than likely the lamb above will be for sale. Her twin brother is going to Cape Cod! She will carry spots from Pearl. She is priced at $300.

Good Rammies

2011-05-25T05:47:00.000-07:00

The boys I have right now are such good boys to EVERYONE:

Puppies

Sons

Sisters (Dessie above and twin Hope below)

Sharing a pasture line.

Best of all they are good to their people, very polite respectful boys.

Make me a Deal Mondays

2011-05-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

There a few things I am quite certain of:

1. I have too many sheep and goats
2. I am emotionally attached to all said sheep and goats
3. I am very unconfortable pricing and taking money from people: a) because I don't want to ask too much and not be able to sell them. b) because I don't want to ask too little and not find them good homes, have them end up on dinner tables, or undercut fellow breeders and make them mad ( you all know how much I don't like conflict). c) See one and two.

SO I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR YOU ~ MAKE ME A DEAL MONDAY

On Mondays, if there are critters of mine that you are interested in and have been watching, make me an offer, explain to me your plans for the critter and how it will be cared for, and we will see what we can do. All reasonable offers considered.

Then there were 4...well 3...

2011-05-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

These are the last four puppies still here. The patterned pup, Finn, is the one we are keeping. So we have two liver males with white on their chest still available. The other is a solid liver female. All are kennel trained and love just hanging out on the porch on nice days like today. They are so sweet and very smart. Hope to find them homes as good as the other puppies have found. Each family seems absolutely perfect for the puppy they chose, I couldn't be more pleased.

Silent Sunday

2011-05-22T06:31:00.000-07:00

Horned Rams for Sale

2011-05-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

Katmoget ram lambs looking good! Mapleton Destiny's above and Minwawe Sprinkle's below (he is very square I just caught him turning funny). Both by Mapleton Zeus. $275 each/ $150 as wethers

Mapleton Storm (Minwawe Bahama and Minwawe Serendippity) yearling moorit HST ram. I am keeping both his full sisters, Destiny and Hope, so I feel I can afford to let him go. If he is not sold by fall he will get a breeding group. Price $300

Swiftriver Neville AI, Heights Orion 3 year old ram. I REALLY love this ram and would like to use him again this fall, but if someone wants him before then I am willing to part with him (just means I will keep more of his lambs). Otherwise I would like him to stay for the first part of breeding season, available mid November for pick up. I don't plan to winter over any mature ram this winter. He is stunning has wonderful hand to his fleece with very good microns, UK genetics,carries spots, and has a very calm respectful demeanor. Price $350

Modified? Shetland Crosses. And MORE puppy pictures.

2011-05-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

Golden girls? Opal's twins above and Can Too Sky below looking pretty moorit. Waiting to see how their color comes through on the lambs as they mature. I will have my mioget yet...one of these days!

Shetland cross lambs. Corrie cross above and Cheviot below. All now wethers. Lee and Cheryl he can come home to you soon...let me know when you want to pick him up. I just have to tag him, but he has had his CDT and has been banded and tail docked. HE IS SO SOFT and very friendly.

Update on puppies. Rose was little sad over the weekend and whined after each puppy that has been sold left. Although I too was very sad to see them go, it is much easier with half as many to take care of. I think Rose feels the same way. Still have 4 solid liver or almost solid (white on the chest and toes on a few) pups for sale, two females and two males. All are very sweet and will be as beautiful as their mama Rosie and may have the hunting instincts of their Champion papa.

Female above (SOLD) and male below

Another male: (SOLD)

Another female:

Wordless, Almost, Wednesday

2011-05-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

Whistle and Watson are the proud parents of these twins born on Saturday, a doe and a buck. The buckling is for sale, the doe is staying here.

Solid liver pup.

Hershey has decided she loves her ram (wether) after all. She has taken over feeding him.

Our pup...still unnamed.

Those flashes by his eyes are looking gulmoget too, don't you think? Note the lack of horns.

Puppies as Promised and their update...

2011-05-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

The five puppies that have sold, their families check their growth here so this is for them! On Thursday they turned 7 weeks and got their first shots. My vet has a large and small animal practice so she made a farm call and did the puppies and horses shots and took photos of the sheep and puppies! I dewormed the puppies the week before so they are up to date on everything they need before they leave. My vet told me about the lime vaccine. So when you start heartworm prevention, the test for that can also test for lime disease, and then you can have them get the preventative vaccine for lime. She said that a preventative for ticks is a good way to go as well. Either way she said they are seeing a lot more of it in the state.

The puppies are going great, eating Iams puppy food and going outside every chance they can for playtime! Many are doing really well and are going potty outside a lot of the time. We are trying to keep them out of my garden but the tulips are just the right height for them to swipe the heads off as they run by. Rose is teaching them not to bite. She gently puts her mouth around theirs and closes it if they bite too hard. She also teaches them then when she barks a certain urgent way, like when two wandered into the ram pasture, that they better high tail it back to her. It is fascinating. She is not nursing them much any more but mothers them in lots of different ways. They play hard and then...

...come in and crash! Now that is a dog pile! Nothing like a good nap after a lot of fresh air and sunshine. They will be 8 weeks old Thursday so they will be ready to go home anytime after that. I am so pleased they are going to such wonderful loving homes. I will see you all soon! I hope I can find equally good home for the rest. They certainly deserve it! They are ultra sweet like their mom and strikingly beautiful/handsome like their dad. I will get more individual photos of the five sold later this weekend so check back if you don't see your pup in these group photos.

Some of the BOYS! (Puppy pictures next time I promise!)

2011-05-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Daddy sheep!

Rammie Lambies!

Some with horns...

Some slow growing and wiggly...hmm...

And some without notable horn growth at all:

Moving Targets

2011-05-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

How do they know when I want a picture of a certain lamb in particular? A game of catch me if you can with Peep's ram lamb:

"Okay fine if you MUST!"

Black ewe lambs.

Sprinkles

Cotton Candy

Cheviot

All of the above are for sale.

Lamb pictures and a very pregnant goat!

2011-05-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

Olympia's ewe lamb

Dessie's ewe lamb

Carmel's black and white ram lamb. Side above and tail below. I will post other black and white of Peep's tomorrow.

Look who decided to turn musket on me after all...Pearl's

Opal's ewe lamb above

Hester's ewe and ram above and Marshmello's moorit below.

Cotton Candy's ewe lamb

Quechee's ewe lamb

Pearl's ewe lamb (I think) all the blacks are beautiful and look very much alike.

And the goat...due this week...got milk?

More Puppy Pictures

2011-05-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

Skirting Fleeces...with a little help!

2011-05-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

I was going to DO something with that britch wool! Oh well. That of course is the puppy WE are planning to keep! He will be my first boy dog but since we already have two females, we thought he would break up the dynamic a little. Anyone want to suggest a name? Born on St. Patrick's day, mom Rosie and dad Spud. More photos coming this evening of puppies and lambs, as long as my computer decides to cooperate.

Flock Starter Packages Available

2011-04-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years my flock has grown. I have keep lambs. I have gathered sheep from a variety of states and brought in UK genetics with Neville. I really love the results I got this lambing season. Now I am faced with an interesting problem. I like too many and I have too many. So I am letting sheep go that I never would have imagined I would part with and offering some of the best lambs ever born here for sale. I simply need to simplify. I take care of all the critters here pretty much all myself, with the occasional fencing/tractor work or jobs that really require more than one person. I have a few little helpers that help on occasion but really it comes down to just me. I actually moved 4 rams the other day by myself. Not the smartest idea, but they are all good boys. I just got tired of waiting for help and they really wanted back outside. As I have said with this many sheep, not having a herding dog is problematic. I am allergic to most herding dogs. SO...it is time to downsize. I have pups still left to sell as well. A goat about to have her kids. Spring sports season in full swing. A garden to think about planting if it ever stops raining. Working part time. Would love to get my horses in shape and ride a little more often, maybe even go to a show. And yes don't even get me started talking about how behind on the laundry I have found myself again. I guess I am just feeling the pressure of it all. So that is good for you. I am offering deep discounts on starter flocks if you buy 3 or more sheep. Please check the Sales tab at the top of this page. Inquire for details and pricing. Speaking of all that, I better get working. I will leave with a few photos my sister took while she was visiting.

F2 Heights Orion rams

Watson

Lilly is still looking for a new home. Whistle's kids are due at any moment.

Silent Saturday

2011-04-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

Liver German Shorthaired Pointers

2011-04-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

The five puppies left to sell are all solid or almost solid liver. Some have a little white on their chest and/or toes. The have beautiful coloring, ranging from almost a milk chocolate to a dark chocolate color...all are considered "liver." They all are very sweet, like their beautiful mama Rose. When I looked for Rose I specifically looked for a solid GSP. Now I hope others looking for solid find us, as we have some really beautiful ones to choose from.

Puppy Update

2011-04-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

Five weeks old today! They are getting big! Here are a few of the boys. I have some folks coming today to choose between these three cuties. Four of the females are already spoken for. We are keeping a male. So there will most likely be 3 females and 2 males still available after today. All mostly solid liver, a few with a little white on their chest and toes. They are getting so playful these days and get so excited every time someone walks in to the mudroom where they currently reside. Very sweet personalities on them all. Needless to say they have been very well loved around here and a lot of fun to have around. It is been very nice meeting all the wonderful families that have come to see them and reassuring to know they will all have such good homes. The boy in the middle is sold!

Start of the lamb sales list...

2011-04-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

...Okay I am not 100% sure who we are keeping but I have narrowed it down to about a dozen Shetland lambs. I would like to keep only half or less than that but we will see. So many nice lambs to choose from. So I will start with lambs, like the adult ewes, that are similar to something we already have or family lines that we are heavy in.

~ Mapleton Peep's twin ram lambs F2 Heights Orion ~

For sale

~Minwawe Pearl's twin lambs, HST moorit ram and black ewe lamb.~

For Sale F2 Sale Pending....heading for the beach! :)

~Mapleton Carmel Apple's HSt black ram lamb.~

For Sale F2

~Twin Springs Cotton Candy's black krunet ewe lamb.~

For Sale F2

~ Minwawe Pearl's moorit ewe.~

For Sale F2

~ Mapleton Destiny's twin lambs, fawn katmoget ram and moorit ewe lamb ~

For Sale

~ Minwawe Sprinkles had twin fawn katmogets: ram For Sale

~Mapleton Violet had twins, a black ewe and a grey katmoget ram~

For Sale

Mapleton Hope's ewe lamb: For Sale

Possible poll carriers

~High Bid Hester's ewe lamb~

For Sale Reserved for Oaks Corners! :)

~Mapleton Opal's twin ewe lamb~

For Sale

So that is a start. I wanted the folks that were thinking about lambs from me to be able to make their selections. It may take me a while to make my final decisions. I honestly like them all! Not a bad problem to have I suppose. Give me a shout if you want me to save you something in particular.

Is Gulmoget Recessive?

2011-04-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

This ram lamb has tan on his sides, above the sokket and around his eyes with in the yuglet markings, and has a tan belly. At first I thought her was emsket because his mom is homogeneous black, but great-grand dad is a gully. What do you think? I will try to look for more pictures of him, or take more tomorrow. Thanks!

Additional photos:

Seriously look at that bum...

Puppy Pictures!

2011-04-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

The Delema! The Start of the Sales List

2011-04-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

You know the problem with having too many nice sheep? You get too many nice lambs...and you end up having to sell ones you never thought you would. Unless you have unlimited resources and unlimited land, that is just not practical. I also move my sheep with out a proper herding dog, although my GSP usually helps I am not letting her near them at the moment because of her own pups. I am allergic to most longer haired dogs that herding dogs seem to be. If you have a short haired border collie and want to trade for a GSP puppy let me know. Since that is not likely to happen, I need my flock to be small enough to want to follow me with a little grain. So I have been working on my sales list. It is really hard and the only way I can see to do it is to try cut back on sheep that I have something very similar to in my flock or high concentrations of their lines. Which puts some favorites on the list, but it is getting to the point where they are almost all favorites. Some I NEVER thought I could part with, but I can't keep them all. So without further ado here is a quick list of the adult and yearlings and one goat doe available for sale, available immediately unless otherwise indicated:

FOR SALE:

- Mapleton Bella (Minwawe Bahama X Minwawe Cha Cha) yearling

- Mapleton Peanut (High Bid Kermit X Twin Springs Cotton Candy) available after weaning, 2 year old

- Minwawe Sprinkles (Minwawe Cupid 2 X Minwawe Marshmello) available after weaning, 3 year old

- Twin Springs Cotton Candy (Twin Springs Gideon X Twin Springs Gemma) available with ewe lamb at her side or after weaning. 5 year old

- Spring Hill Patches (Twin Springs Buster X Twin Springs Juniper) yearling

- Mapleton Storm (Minwawe Bahama X Minwawe Serendippity) yearling

- Mapleton Zeus (Mapleton Cooper X Pike Hill Olympia) available October 21st
2 year old

- Swiftriver Neville AI (Heights Orion X Swiftriver Thistle) available November 21st
3 year old

- 2006 American Cheviot Sheep Society Registered ewe (Green MMG 347 ST 1021) available after weaning, 5 year old

- Corriedale crossbred ewe Hershey, 5 year old (might be going with son to one of my favorite fiber flocks!)

- Nubian yearling doe Lilly

In terms of the lambs, we are still making our selections. The nice thing is that they were almost all born with a spare so even if I decide to keep one twin, the other is most likely going to be for sale. The exception being Quechee and Olympia's lambs...we have to let them grow a little before deciding on them. I certainly don't NEED to keep 4 gully lambs but just not able to choose between them yet. Both single black and white ewe lambs are for sale. So please inquire if you see something you like as you watch them grow on the this blog. Flock starter packages available.

2011 Lamb Page Updated for easy reference!

2011-04-15T17:39:00.001-07:00

More photos from Yesterday

2011-04-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hester and Champ's twins, ram above and ewe below. Maybe modidied black and may carry polled.

A few of the older boys:

Left to right...Marshmello's, Dessie's, and Violet's.

Quechee and Zeus' twin ewe lambs, gully above and gul/kat below. May also carried polled.

Cotton Candy and Neville's ewe lamb.

Sprinkles and Zeus' katmoget ram lamb.

Hershey's ram lamb below who she has begun to feed on her own. I gave twin sis away to a prior customer for a bottle baby...she actually joined a flock that has her two year old sister.

Dessie and Zeus' elegant moorit ewe lamb.

Okay I am working on my sales list and lamb pages...one thing for sure is that I will have moorit ewe lambs, black ewe lambs, katmoget ram lambs, Spotted F2 ram lambs, fully horned and possible poll carriers, with a variety of soft fleece types to choose from. Some adult ewes will also be for sale. Flock starter packages prices available as well. Inquire for more details or check back as they will be posted soon.

Big Day Out with the Whole Crew

2011-04-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Olympia's ram lamb

And her ewe.

Hope, the only yearling to lamb this year, and her adorable ewe lamb by Patches.

Dessie and Zeus' twins...kat ram and moorit ewe

Oh and my favorite F2 ram lamb! Carmel and Neville's.

One of Opal's sweet twin ewe lambs.

Pearl and Neville's twins, HST moorit ram and black ewe.

Sprinkles and Zeus' ewe lamb.

Moorit ewe out of Marshmello and by Neville wearing mud lipstick.

Pearl's again...he is SO cool!

Peanut and Neville's twin ewe lambs.

Carmel and Neville's other twin ram lamb...he is very cool too.

Showing his other end.

Marshmello's other ewe lamb. I think she is my only Ag this year. And what prey tell do I call her markings!?

I took a lot more pictures but I will save them for another day...will be updating 2011 lamb page soon.

It's a wrap!

2011-04-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Well I think they have my timing down. At 6 am I found Hope and Olympia cleaning off their lambs. Hope had a black yuglet ewe lamb, Spring Hill Patches is the dad.

Pike Hill Olympia was not to be out done this lambing season! Twin gulmogets!

One was perfectly dry the other was still in the sack when I arrived. It took a little doing but she got the little ewe lamb up and going. She has some white spots of her own on her face (again two solid parents). The first twin you ask? Ewe you ask? Nope that little bugger with no horn buds is a ram lamb with a fleece that is unbelievable! I will have to get some better photo of them now that they are dry. Maybe even modified!

Puppies are growing like crazy!

I think I need a nap! Stats and lambing summary as well as more recent pictures of the older lambs coming soon. How many did I say I planned to keep? I don't know how on earth we are going to decide! I would like to bring flock numbers back to 20. So 24 adults going into lambing, and 30 lambs, oh I definitely need a nap!