Wild Windy Winter Weather

 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!

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!