Anna - at Six Weeks

Like much of North America, we are in a cold snap right now, with very high winds and drifting snow. Kate needed to go into town to get some things and didn't want to take Anna out in the weather ... so ... she called to see if I'd babysit. I said 'YES', even before the question was out of her mouth. So ... Anna and Grandpa spent much of the afternoon together ... :-)
When she woke up, she was a bit unsure of what mood she'd be in ...
but then she heard that voice ... and knew that Grandpa was here ... and that he is a 'push-over' ... so she'd get whatever she wanted. That put her in a VERY good mood ... ;-)
Kate came home, earlier than we were hoping ... and Anna begged me to stay ... in her own way. But, alas ... I had sheep to feed!

Happy Birthday Anna!

Anna ... In Sheep's Clothing

What is there to say ... other than ... is she NOT the CUTEST baby girl ever born??? ... hehehe

Certainly ... she is the most loved ... :-).

Dogs

Above is Kayla, waiting for a belly rub; Nick wondering what he is supposed to do; and Kate with Anna tucked in a snugli, inside her coat.
Oh dear! This is Kate, Anna and I with Nick and Kayla. I MUST buy a new coat. I had NO idea that it looked this bad!!!
Wondering where supper is ...
And ... Nick ... at work with his sheep ... sort of ... :-).

Shetland Ewes In Snow

FirthofFirth India ... TONS of rare genetics with no white fibres in her black fleece ... and with attitude ... ;-). She is bred to Underhill Thelonius Monk. The lamb(s) will have UK sires up the ying yang ... and will at least be carrying spots.
WillowGarden Kazinga, one of my most primitive fleeced AI lambs (Great Plains Robin - F1 Minder x Todhill Glayva). She is At/Ag and bred to Hummer ... At/Ab ... so she will have a double patterned lamb,
In front is WillowGarden Vistabella. She is a daughter of Great Plains William the Conqueror (F1 Greyling) and Great Plains Robin. She is bred to Lugthart Starry Champion, an F1 Greyling.

Behind her is Great Plains Sara. Sara is an F1 Lightning. She was bred to Bramble Nick.
And this little doll is SheltrgPines Zimbelstern. She is bred to WillowGarden Kilimanjaro (F1 Glayva). We are looking forward to superb spotted lambs from this pairing!

BFLs In Winter

Beechtree Miss Marple and Beechtree Sorrel ... doing what they do best. Eating ... ;-)
Platinum and Hetherington ... wishing that I'd put the dang camera away!
Brae and MacLaine ... coming out of hiding.
Hugging.
A group hug.
Hazel ... don't tell the others, but you are my favourite ... ;-)
MacLaine ... I love you too!! I promise!

Better Pictures

The sun came out today ... so I grabbed my camera. When I got to the new sheep, of course, the sun went in. But here are a few more pictures that are better than yesterday's. I REALLY like these girls.
They will be as lustrous as the others once their fleece grows in. To feel Sorrel's fleece takes my breath away, so is so soft!
Miss Marple feels less soft ... perhaps ... but ... still under or right around AFD 30 ... based on my experience with other fleeces. But heck ... what do I know, eh? hehehe
Both will have VERY low SDs and CVs ... to be sure! And both are already well loved.
Above, Miss Marple is continuing to holler at me and ask ... 'Where is the REAL barn?? The one like we had at Beechtree Farm?'

She'll adjust. They ALL do.

hehehe

Life IS good!

Home Again

Well ... another marathon trip to Michigan ... and I am home with two new black patterned BFL ewes. Both bred ... :-) Both looking somewhat confused by the new surroundings.
It was late, cloudy, dull and approaching sunset when I went out to take pictures tonight, but at least you get the idea.

The darkest, and oldest, is Beechtree Miss Marple.
The lighter one, is Beechtree Sorrel.
Both are bred to different rams ... so ... my seven BFL ewes will, hopefully, deliver lambs from five BFL rams. That should surely give me a jump start on the new BFL portion of my flock ... ;-)

Life ... is very good.