May 2020
We have the absolute best sheep shearer! He was able to come out and shear our sheep last week. The sheep are breathing a collective sigh of relief. They were not sure about cutting me loose with the clippers. Even though they approved of Raven and Ticco’s new do? I am glad Ryan was able to shear- it is so much easier on the sheep. He’s speedy, kind and a hoot to be around. Can’t ask for much more right? Stay tuned! I will be posting fleeces as I get them sorted out. To be continued…..
April 2020
Our Zippy cat is so funny and what a giant personality in that little body! She loves having lambs in the house. She sleeps on the couch in the office at night, right above them. Every time we have a lamb inside. They follow her everywhere and look for her when she ‘disappears’ on them. They forget to look in boxes. ha!
We introduced this little wonky lamb to you all a few days ago. Today’s update? Zippy named him Timber. Because right now he falls over once in a while. AND because he will grow to be as strong as an old oak tree!
This is Raven’s very first shearing- a baby fleece! She is an East Fresian sheep from our friend Deb’s flock. Luckily she’s been up on the shearing stand before. We worked with her as she grew so she would be used to it. She looks thrilled right?
Oh Raven- you will feel SO much better!
This picture shows the beautiful black wool hiding under the cinnamon colored tips. The cinnamon color is from the sunshine. I love it.
And then she was bare! It’s been chilly at night here- Spring seems to be waiting to arrive? I was worried about having shivery, naked sheep. I tried out several different clipper blades and found my favorite. It left about 1/2 inch of wool to keep her warm. Also went fastest through the wool. Raven was quite patient. Princess was not happy though- didn’t even eat her grain?
I’m so glad I am checking feet and such. When I trimmed her front foot I found what may be a puncture wound in the softest part of her toe. Ouch. I cleaned it out, soaked it, medicated her foot then gave her a dose of antibiotic just in case. Followed by her vaccines. Was so proud of me- until I was falling asleep last night and it occurred to me I had not given her a dose of wormer? Egads Sandy.
There are so many differences with each fleece. The white one on the left is Ticco’s Mohair (Angora goat). On the right is Raven’s East Fresian wool. I’m always so surprised to see how little the sheep look after they are shorn! Raven’s fleece averages locks 4 inches long, is bouncy wool with low lanolin content and lovely black! We’ll be offering up fleeces as I go- keep an eye out on the website ok?
PS- here is Raven’s biography
April 2020
And so it begins! I’m not sure I wrote about it but our shearer has postponed his shearing rounds due to COVID. I spent years working as a dog groomer. After all, this will be just like a big dog shave right? I gathered up my clippers, blades, shearing stand and all the necessary ‘stuff.’ My plan? To enjoy spending time one on one with my peeps. That is easy. A good time for a hands on assessment of their health going into summer. Trimming their toes if needed and giving vaccinations/wormer too. All in one visit.
This is our Ticco the Angora goatie. He was my first ‘victim.’
And he was ready! He was very good and patient with me- I’m not very speedy!
His fleece is so soft and fine that it felts while he wears it. It boasts locks 3 to 4 inches long. I’m not sure how much of his fiber I will salvage but I’m looking forward to his Fall fleece. No playing in hay bales this summer Ticco goat!
Same time next year Ticco? (Say whaaat?) I don’t think he’s too impressed with me. Love you anyway goatie!
April 2020
Every Spring a lamb or two finds its way to us. I love them so much. Bottle lambs can be a lot of work but they make up for it in many many ways. Sweet little souls tromping around in the house, flopping down on blankets to nap and being where I am. Most like to be rocked to sleep. Not this little boy! He’s quite independent and it is serving him well. He has some physical disabilities to overcome and work through.
His favorite place to sleep is at my feet under my little computer table. He is very sure he does NOT want to be held. Only scratched when he wants to be. Cracks me UP!
He is an East Fresian sheep who got a little smooshed by his twin while they waited to be born. His front legs are a little crooked and he has a crooked neck. He has a head tilt for now. He is making progress even in just the few days he’s been here with us. His walking is stronger and he is practicing his lamb hops. Only his front feet get a tiny bit off the ground but he is so proud! He tosses his head around to sass me like a regular lamb too. Sassy is a good attitude for him! We’ll keep you posted on his progress!
This world we live in has made me aware of things I take for granted. Things I do not need to think about every day- or sometimes ever. We are lucky to be where we are and the sheep are doing fine. So far so good.
Shearing time has arrived and the covid restrictions have postponed our shearer’s trip to the farm for a while. SO, I gathered up my supplies and will be starting on them myself this weekend. Wheee!
It will be a lot of work BUT it is also some very laid back time to spend with each sheep. They not only have a haircut, we also check their teeth, hooves and their body condition. It helps us in the fall to decide who will move into the group that gets grain for the winter.
Not all of the sheep appreciate being handled up close but the shy sheep generally tolerate me. If you would like to reserve part of anyone’s fleece please send the sheep an email. This will take more time for me to accomplish so we appreciate your patience. Fleeces will be added to the website as each sheep is sheared, or I will contact you.
Stay home, safe and well everyone- smooches from the sheeps!
March 2020
Some days I wonder what the heck is going on around me! Sheep shenanigans are a normal happening and they sure find wild ways to spend their time. Sheep are very curious and don’t think ahead! Adventures often lead to some unintended consequences.
The most recent event happened in February 2020. We have three beautiful East Fresian sheep who are almost a year old. Merlin, Wicker and Wooliam. Little Wooliam seems to be the one left behind of the three. Like if you had siblings there may have been one who always took the blame for shenanigans or got caught every time- and nobody else did? Well that is Wooliam.
Wicker acted concerned but Milo was truly concerned:
I saw him hanging about near the fence by the yard. Hmm. They like to see me so didn’t think much of it. Later? He was still in the same spot? WELL. Turned out he was stuck. In. A. Tree. Do you see me now?
Well, between a tree and the fence to be exact. They found a little gap to slip through. Since they are woolie Wooliam did not make it through. He got stuck. Completely stuck. Poor peanut.
I leaned on the fence post and pushed him the rest of the way through. He was stuck at his woolie little hips. He bounced away to get back to the brothers who abandoned him. I, however, was the one shunned for the indignity of the entire situation. He did not come near me for a week- not even for treats!
All’s well that ends well though. He’s forgotten now and live zooms along like normal again. I really hate when they get into those spots. Even the smallest situation gives me a heart attack til I have the sheep safe again. My neighbors would tell you I am a sissy farmer. And they are right!
I must admit to being an inappropriate giggler though. I tend to do so at the worst moments. Just ask Jim! Pretty sure that didn’t help poor Wooliam’s embarrassment. Specially since everyone had to come over to watch the proceedings!
Such innocence looking back at me from Merlin and Wicker. Boys boys boys!
We do not breed our sheep so lambing is not something we do. However, I have really patient friends who let me get my ‘fix’ every spring. No snuggling them up in person this year since we are in stay at home times. What fixes that? Photos of course! Be prepared for many!
Today’s lambs arrived at our friend Deb’s farm- beautiful East Fresian sheeps. They are wonderful mamas.
As Americans our past has been rocky but we’ve managed to pull through. This is a scary time in our history and when it is written, it will say Americans are strong, brave and up to any fight. There is no red and blue, just red, white and blue.
(I have no photo credit here but if you know who snapped this iconic photo, happy to add it here.)
CORONAVIRUS-19 CANNOT BE SHARED FROM YOU TO YOUR PETS OR FROM YOUR PETS TO YOU!
A message from our pack- please share if you can, there is a lot of confusion about this!
Dogs are vaccinated for a completely different strain of coronavirus- and have been for many years. It is a part of the 5-way yearly Distemper vaccinations your dogs receive. Confusion has caused dogs to be relinquished at shelters/rescue groups. OR people have been requesting that pets be put to sleep by their vets. If you have ANY questions about this information, please please contact your vet, local humane society or a rescue group to confirm ok?
Please share this message if you are able, there is so much confusion about so many things right now.
Thank you for reading- if we can help please let us know? We are all in this together- we can get through it if we keep good care of each other!
Smooches from our pack and their sheeps
February 2020
This is Biscuit, a beautiful Romney sheep who started his life out in a strange way. From day one he would only walk backwards?? It absolutely freaked. His. Sheep Mom. OUT. Poor girl!
We never did figure out why he did that. It only lasted a few weeks before he figured out walking forward was much easier. He never looked back, was a completely normal, healthy sheep his whole life. We never did figure out what caused him to walk backwards. Life sure is interesting around here right?! Definitely a sheep for the ages….
Penny just added her new roving AND yarn to the website! Good girl! Soft and naturally colored- here’s your next yarn or spin your own roving! Smooches from Penny! (Read about our Penny)
February 2020
This past Christmas I was lucky to be part of a very special gift. A family with a little flock of five Jacob sheep lost a little one named Max. They had some of Max’ fleece and needed to have something made as a keepsake.
His owner wanted a special present for his wife to keep to remember Max. What a thoughtful Christmas present right? This is Max-
Jacob sheep have such beautiful fleeces. The colors vary from a lilac (bluish gray) to white and all the way to black. All shades in between. Each fleece is so unique. Max’ wool was soft and the lighter colors. Almost a butterscotch color tone throughout the fleece.
I was a little nervous when the wool arrived. I’m sure by now you all know worry is my middle name. I’m good at it! ha! I didn’t weigh it because I was not sure how much yarn I could spin from that little handful of wool. Guessing maybe 2 ounces worth?
However, I forgot how light weight Jacob wool is and so little lanolin. Whew! Washed it up and got to spinning the yarn. They gave me free rein for this project so since there was not much wool, I separated it according to color and divided it in half. As I spun each ply I kept the colors separate so Max showed up in the scarf prominently. I added random areas of white silk to stretch the yardage out. After the yarn was plyed it was gorgeous if I do say so myself!
Got out my knitting needles and got to work. I’m not an accomplished knitter though. Charts and detailed instructions send me screeching to hide in the nearest corner! SO, simple it would be. Straight knit on needles way too big for the fine weight yarn. It worked into a scarf that is so soft and drapey? I was happy but would he be happy with his present for his wife? Here is the scarf:
Thank goodness, he was very happy with the scarf! Phew! I love working on items like this. A much beloved sheep family member to the end result of a scarf to be kept as a memory of their little sheep gone too soon. I am blessed to be able to do what I do in so many ways!
We recently adopted a Great Pyrenees and named him Jolly. He is certainly a very very very jolly dog! His full name is Jolly Isaac Hilton Ryan. How’s THAT?? He will be one year old in February 2020. He currently weighs 100 pounds. Whoa!
His owners loved him dearly but Jolly’s leg was broken and they could not afford the medical care he needed. They asked us to adopt him so - well- of course we did!
The injury happened in November 2019. Both bones in his right front leg were broken clear through. Ouch! This is the original x-ray of his leg when we brought him home.
The second x-ray is from Jolly’s check up on Friday. His youth is working for him indeedy. Can you see the shadow around the break? That is new bone tissue forming around the break. The smaller bone (ulna) is healing almost straight. The bigger bone will be crooked. Most likely he will have a bump on his leg and it does toe out a little. Might even be a little bit shorter than the other?
All of our critters have the most wonderful veterinarians. The Brodhead Veterinary Clinic is the best. They’ve kept them in the best care for 20 years now. Thank you all!
Now we wait! Jolly is off cage rest as long as he is not jumping and pouncing about. No running. He has a tie out on the front porch so he can survey the world. He has a few toys stashed under the porch and sticks to chew up. If he doesn’t have any troubles, he goes back to see his vet at his yearly check up? Go Jolly Dog!
SO, now we just enjoy the cute and let that leg finish healing. You can read more and see many photos of Jolly Dog in his bio! More updates soon!!!
Today my faith in my fellow humans has been restored. On the way to the vet, we spotted a frightened little paint pony racing toward the highway. Haltered with lead rope dragging. We stopped to keep him off the highway and he was intent on staying in the gravel next to the road. Definitely exhausted and he was beyond fear into flight mode. Made me cry.
Then the magic started. At least 20 vehicles escorted that pony through both lanes while he ran. People made phone calls to people they knew in the area, talked with the sheriff's department and just made sure that little pony was as safe as possible. Round 3 miles later, he did take a turn on a road that led him off the highway. There were several times he ALMOST went to people who were out of their cars calling to him. He was just too scared.
A younger girl was following him on foot through the cornfields full of snow. She followed him to keep him in sight through cornfields and snow sometimes over a foot deep. She was amazing and dedicated to keeping that little pony safe.
Once he turned that corner, people followed him and we departed for the vet. I want to thank any of you who helped that pony. You are good for my soul.
(PS- an extra thank you to the fellow who helped me get out of the snowdrift on the side of the road- I walked too far and down I went! I am always to be relied on for some comic relief in a pinch!)
Well, it is bedlamb in the barnyard my friends. The sheep were so excited to FINALLY see snow! They've had their sleds ready for weeks. This morning, after hours of rain/freezing rain on TOP of snow, their little sleds are actually frozen to the big hill? There is a trail of mittens, scarves and hats all the way to the barn. I have some very ticked off sheep. Poor little peanuts- if I could change the weather I certainly would!
Another year flew by. Wow! Today finds us with a brand new family member- a Great Pyrenees we adopted through a friend. After the accident, the owners could not afford the veterinary care Jolly Dog’s broken leg will require. It was heartbreaking for them to let Jolly go but they asked us to adopt him. I’m very sad for them. Jolly misses them too but he will come around. He’s 8 months old and 100 pounds of puppy! His youth should help that bone knit right up. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, we are pondering launching a fundraiser for Jolly’s vet bills. So far it is $810. Like I said, pondering that today.A silent auction of sorts? We held one when our Zippy cat had to have her little leg removed a few years ago. I think everyone had a good time with the online auction. Hmmmm…. for now, here is a photo of our Jolly Dog to get us started.
I can’t believe another year is drawing to a close! I always think I should write a little end of year blog but I could never fit everything in . Unless I wrote a book. And even then it might not fit? ha! The sheep are working on an email newsletter that will be heading your way next week. Lots of news and surprises! Smooches to all our friends and family. Our sheep’s fan club is the bestest!
Gilbert is also shocked that a new year is upon us!
Sounds like a TV show right? HA! Recently we welcomed three lambs from our friend Deb’s flock. They are East Fresians and have lovely fleeces. They are adorable and love treats and scritches!
