Animals in My Life - from US Thanksgiving

This magnificent animal is my new ram from Julie Guilette. His name is Bramble Nick ... and he is working off part of his keep by servicing some of Stephen's ewes. He is ... F2 Greyling ... F3 Holly ... and F2 Jamie. He is also a gentleman ... and beautiful!
AND ... over my last few visits ... Alpha, who has HATED me for almost as long as I have known her ... has now decided that I am her trusted friend! It is amazing what several hundred dog cookies can accomplish ... hehehe
Seven of the ewes that I have at Sheltering Pines are being exposed to SheltrgPines Justinian. Justinian is an F1 Roban Dillon gulmoget. He is homozygous black, so there will be likely be lots of black lambs ... but ... Matt and I were just discussing tonight the amount of moorit in my flock ... ;-)

U S Thanksgiving Weekend

Well ... I arrived last weekend at Sheltering Pines with my usual enthusiasm and energy ... and a HUGE list of things to get done. My friend Stephen ... appeared somewhat overwhelmed ... at first ... hehehe
Troy and Greg cut down dead trees, winterized fish ponds and the pool and did a LOT of other assorted tasks. Kim N was visiting as well and she helped Stephen sort out several knitting problems. Sandy and her husband helped put a new roof on the 'Wool House'.
Slowly ... Stephen started to become more like himself as he helped us all to get tasks completed ... :-)
This is the light I put up at the top of the ram barn so that Stephen can see to do chores at night. My friend Dan, pictured below, passed things up the ladder to me. When we were done and I was back on the ground, I told Dan how frightened I am of heights. He told me that he was as comfortable on a ladder as he is on the ground ... but how would I have KNOWN this ... hehehe
Dan and I also built a new cover for the cellar way, as this was a priority for Stephen's 93 year old Mom ... and I ADORE her! Look at the determination on Dan's face ... ;-)

The whole weekend was so much fun ... and we got a lot done as well!

I'll try to post sheep pictures later.

"The Kid Across The Road Who Makes It Possible For Me to Do This"

While I was away this past weekend, Matt ... the kid across the road who makes it possible for me to do this ... looked after my sheep and the farm.

I decided that since you all hear about him so often, that I'd post a picture or two. Above is Matt wearing his new hat. I am TRULY hoping that it will be a mild winter so that he won't have to wear this hat often. It tends to scare the sheep ... and the shepherd ... hehehe.
This is Matt on AI day. He was SOOOOOO very helpful. And he didn't wear that 'hat' ... hehehe

Matt is likely the best thing that came from our move to this farm.

BUT ... do NOT tell him that. Instead ... just say ... 'Nice hat Matt' ... hehehe

Gulmoget Pattern ... and away for a few days again

Here are two pictures of gulmoget pattern ewes. The gulmoget pattern has 'v' shaped eye flashes, white under the chin and on the chest, a white belly and under tail area, and white in the ears. It is my favourite pattern in Shetlands.

Above is WillowGarden Billie Holiday. Along with being gulmoget, she is also spotted. I love Billie!

Below is WillowGarden Kay Star. Kay has been artificially inseminated to Todhill Hornblower, the black UK ram. Is this not a face that can only be loved?
I have ten ewes in the US at the moment, and at least half of them will be bred to an F1 gulmoget ram from different lines all together. I'll try to get a picture of him while I am there.

I will not be back until Sunday night ... so ... don't expect an update before Monday.

:-)

Kate

I set up the main breeding groups yesterday ... for the 38 ewes that will be bred the 'regular' way ... :-)

I have six ewe lambs that I am not breeding this Fall as I think they need to grow some more first. Also in this 'no-breed group' is Dailley Kate.

Kate is almost 14 years old, and a treasured family friend. She had a stroke last winter, but still gave us a wonderful ram lamb ... Box Car Willy.

As a result of her stroke, Kate droops on one side and drags one of her back legs slightly. She has her own house and pasture right beside the house that she shares with others who need the space. Kate frequently has a booger displayed prominently ... but we love her anyway.

At the moment though, Kate is NOT a happy sheep. She spent most of last evening and this morning trying to find a way through the fence to get with the cute little mioget yuglet ram lamb in the next paddock. Fortunately, her vision is poor and she was doing this by feel only.

She seems to be over it now, so we'll hope that she was cycling yesterday and that we won't have to worry about her getting in with Gus for another 16 days! I do NOT want her bred again ... no matter what SHE wants ... hehehe

Sir Prize

I keep forgetting to post new pictures of Sir Prize. He has turned into a beautiful boy ... and is a GREAT hunter! He prowls all of the barns, along with his mom, Baghera, and his buddy, Barnie. I haven't seen a rat or a mouse in WEEKS.

And THAT ... is a very good thing.

:-)