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Friday, April 11, 2008

Willow Garden Update

Ok ... the update that so many of you have been waiting for ... in the Reader's Digest 'Condensed' version ... :-)
Gene and I have struggled for some time with making our relationship work. Sometimes it looked like we might just be successful, but more often it just looked like a lost cause.

A little over a year ago, we decided to separate and continue living here as friends and room-mates. That didn't go well.

Then we decided to just let it roll and see where the relationship would go and if it might grow into something positive again. We both worked hard at that ... but ... it was just not good.

Finally we both came to the realization that the best part of our relationship is our wonderful friendship and that we were losing that by staying together. So ... we decided to sell the farm and use the equity for each of us to start a new and separate life ... while maintaining our supportive friendship.

I looked EVERYWHERE for a place to move me and my flock. There was nothing near-by that would work. Finally, my real estate agent and friend suggested that I just buy Willow Garden.
So, Iris is here to help me make the announcement ... that as of today, I am sole owner of this farm, and that my sheep and I have a home ... our home.

It will be tight, and it is going to mean some changes. First off, I'm going to put in an apartment in the south-facing, very bright, walk-out basement. I'll live there. Then I will rent out the upstairs by the weekend or the week as a two bedroom suite ... a Guest House. It should work well.

So ... if you want a place to holiday ... on a sheep farm ... near sandy beaches ... wineries ... antiques stores ... craft boutiques ... art shops ... this would be the place to book.

Gene is looking at property on Monday and should have his next home sorted out shortly after that.

It is all good.

:-)

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Pink Noses RULE ... :-)))

I have this 'thing' for Shetlands with pink noses. Don't ask me why! I just LOVE them! Here are just a few of the ones from this year.This lovely little girl is out of WillowGarden Papaya and Underhill Thelonius Monk.
These two are out of Great Plains Sara and Bramble Nick.
This little doll is out of Shepherdswood Linga and Thelonius.
Above is a ram lamb out of one of my F1 Hornblower ewes and V Creek Hummer.
And this little keeper is out of FirthofFirth Masala Chai and WillowGarden Kilimanjaro.


What Colour Is This Lamb?

This little boy has me in a quandary. I have NO idea what colour he is. His dam is a white ewe, Whistle Stop 0429 (Lizbet). I thought she was Awt/Awt. Lizbet is 75% UK genetics. The sire is WillowGarden Nelson, a grey katmoget (Ab/Aa) that is also 75% UK genetics.
This guy is not a katmoget as there is no pattern on the underbelly. I can't even tell if he is brown or black based as his colour is taupe. Body colour is only on the outer ends of the fleece.
Is it possible that he is Awt/? and that the 'colour' is all pheao?

I like this guy a lot ... but ... what the heck is he?

Lambs Pictures

This little girl is out of Great Plains Isabell, an F1 Greying Ag/Ab ewe and V Creek Hummer, who is out of several UK sire lines. She is a gulmoget/katmoget (Ab/At). She'll be staying here ... :-).

Below are two of my spotted gulmoget ewe lambs out of WillowGarden Billie Holiday (a Great Plains Tisket gulmoget) and Bramble Nick (who has several UK sire lines behind him as well). At least one, and maybe both of these girls will be staying here as well.
And these two are Shetland Mules (Shetland dam and a BFL sire). I am liking the mules ... a lot. These two girls will be for sale.

Friday, April 04, 2008

Tulip



My friend Jill came to visit a couple of days ago and emailed me a picture that she took of Tulip and her triplets. The picture shows what a super mom she is ... :-)

Thursday, April 03, 2008

UPDATE - Pictures to Follow ... someday

Just wanted to let you all know that I am alive and well, just very tired. My Shetlands started a lamb-slide on Saturday afternoon, when Great Plains Tulip pumped out triplet Shetland mules (BFL sire). From the birth of the first to the third one slurping up colostrum, it was just over an hour. This ewe is one of the best moms I have ever seen. These lambs are growing like weeds and have awesome looking fleeces.

17 more Shetlands have lambed ... six of them since midnight last night! I am pretty happy with what I am seeing out there. Lots of spots. Lots of very even and crimpy looking fleeces. Great conformation.

So far, I have had eight Shetland rams born and 19 Shetland ewes. My experience tells me that the boys will catch up ... so in the remaining 25 or so yet to lamb, I am expecting a LOT of rams ... :-)

Photos will follow when I can stop building more jugs to keep up. Eight ewes have lambed in the last 24 hours and there are several more looking like they are ready to reserve barn space!