Merry Christmas!

I thought I'd share some outtakes from our Christmas card photo shoot.

No animals (or humans) were harmed in the taking of these photos.

Yep, this six year-old can hold a rooster in one hand--even after putting a wreath around the rooster's neck.  He tried this with many of the hens, but none were quite so happy to model as Colonel Brandon.

 Macadamia would wear a hat, but would not look at the camera.

Don't worry, the hat has been inspected by a llama...

 ...twice.

Almond tries a little too hard to participate.

With a pocket full of treats, my little guy lured in more lambs than he bargained for.

Our best model?  Sally!  She mastered wearing a hat and looking at the camera.

She looked snazzy in the scarf, too.

Cute Youngsters

There are few things cuter than Filly.

If you prefer cute cows, here's Sally:

Macadamia is also pretty cute, except when she's "helping."

She was so busy she missed the group shot.  It's all the ewes--both big girls and lambs--in one place.

Mystery Solved

How Gunpowder's horns become green:   green fence posts!

And it begs the question: Can horns be itchy?

Back To Normal

Pistachio knows we're up to something.

Yesterday, we moved the ewes back to the front field.  It would have taken a lot of maneuvering on a good day.  We needed to make room in the barn for nine fluffy pregnant ewes.  The Mule moved out of the barn, and Barack O'Llama has a new stall. The move was a bit dramatic.

"You parked here so I could have a snack, right?"

The sheep freaked out...

Sandy is out in front.  Hmm.

...but recovered quickly.

All that running made Theresa hungry.

Sally went nuts.   She flung her neck and her legs around just like a llama does when worked up about something.  It's a scary sight no matter what animal is doing it (although it's much more impressive with a long neck).  Snowball clicked at her, and she stopped...eventually.  It's a good thing the Mule (just barely) fit in its new home.

Getting it back out might be an issue...

We had enough sense to corral Gunpowder before we starting moving the ewes, but we didn't think to restrain any of the other animals.  There were llamas and sheep everywhere and a cow on the loose. Sally ran to the front pasture as did Snowball.  All of the ewes went that way as well (whew), but some of the ewe lambs headed for the other side.

Our biggest concern was a llama fight.  Eventually, all the sheep and the cow ended up where they belonged (the wethers needed to be carried--good thing we have Shetlands).  Barack O'Llama was in the back field with Snowball.  They were getting along much better than anticipated.  Barack was reluctant to leave; he needed to be removed via halter.

Two llamas!

Barack seems happy to have his flock back.  Gunpowder thinks we delivered two more ewes to him, and he's been chasing Pecan and Almond around.  Together again, Calico and Henrietta have resumed their feud. 

A Puzzle

Taking advantage of a December day in the mid-60s, the boys and I took a little "nature walk" through the backyard this morning.  They were doing a good job of observing; they noticed that Gunpowder has one green horn.  The question is: How did Gunpowder manage to get crayon on his horn?  It boggles the mind. 

Gunpowder: Truly a greenhorn.

Snowball was so excited to greet us that he didn't finish eating first.
 

"Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"

Hazel begged for some peanuts.

"If you give me a peanut, I promise I'll go to bed on time tonight."

Can you imagine how cute their lamb(s) would be?

Theresa and Gunpowder

Llamas, llamas, everywhere

It's been awhile since I've posted.  (It's the season for not being able to keep up with blogging.)  I was scrolling through my recent pictures, and I realized a person would think that I have a lot of llamas, a few sheep, and a crazy chicken.  Hmm.

Look at all those white llamas! 

Snowball, ...

Snowball, ....

... and more Snowball.

(Perhaps there are so many pictures of Snowball because he is one of the few animals who doesn't try to eat the camera?)

Now for the rest of the llama herd:

Barack O'Llama bonding with the Mule.

Some sheep:

The ewes know a sheep shouldn't be in the backyard.

'
(Yes, Almond is in the backyard.  Yes, it was intentional on our part.  He seemed to really enjoy his mini vacation. There were a lot of exciting things for him to eat, like raspberry bushes.)

Finally, the crazy chicken:

At least she doesn't have buddies up there.

That's the inside of the barn, and she's roosting on top of the garage door.  She's been up there three nights in a row.  I'm not sure if she's brilliant (seriously, what kind of animal is going to get up there?) or completely insane.

Let's not forget about the cat.  Scott didn't want to her to feel left out, so...

Yep, she's wearing a "coat," too.

Anyone who knows our cat will be shocked to hear that Scott is still alive and in possession of all of his body parts.

Keeping Busy

While Gunpowder is performing his annual duties, the other animals are keeping busy as well.

 Snowball has been trying new things...

Obviously, Snowball likes the rain much more than Barack.

 ...and trying new looks.

"How do I look with my ears back?"

Acorn is a multi-tasker--having a snack and practicing climbing at the same time.

Acorn: Always up to something

 Cashew spends some quality time with her humans.

"Yes, I am fabulous."

Sally is making friends with the chickens.

Don't fall in with the wrong crowd, Sally!

Barack O'Llama's Belated Birthday

Barack O'Llama's fifth birthday was last Friday.  (He, unfortunately, did not wear a birthday hat.)  I thought I didn't get any pictures, but I just found some on my camera!

Enjoying his b-day banana.

"Seriously, I'm five?"

 And now for the pictures I knew were on my camera....On a (cold) morning this week:



"Oooh, some hay for me!  Thanks!"

 "What?!?! You're taking it to that other llama?"

 "I'll just sit here and look sad now."

Don't feel too bad for him--there's plenty of hay in his barn stall!

It's Been A Long Time (Again)

Breeding season is still in full swing. Most days, Gunpowder is following one ewe around. Frequently, the rest of the ewes are busy fighting with each other.  Sally keeps busy eating, and Snowball watches it all (usually looking a bit disapproving).
 

Snowball can't believe they are all behaving.

Calico seems a little bored.  Perhaps she can't find anyone with whom to butt heads....

Calico: sweet little sheep.

  ...Oh, wait!  Elvira has volunteered.  (I shouldn't pick on Calico too much.  She's not even one of the most frequent offenders.)

"Hey you, wanna fight?"

 Gunpowder spent a couple of days following Czadas around. 

He naps with his ladies...

Tricot felt a little left out.

...and he eats with them, too.

Gunpowder's crayon has changed from red to green.  (If he's remarking a lot of ewes, there's a problem.  In other words, multi-colored bottoms are not something we want to see.)

Poor guy, it's not the most flattering pose.

Some evidence that Gunpowder is at least trying to his job: look at those red bottoms!

Feeding frenzy.

Some evidence that Sally spends all of her time eating: look at that belly!  (My youngest son says it feels like a bouncy ball.)

When she gets tired, she lays under the hay feeder.

Barack O'Llama is still involved with the care of the ewes.  He inspects any items taken to the the back field.  (It's minerals, so it can go.) 

"Hmm, I can't eat a whole scoop of minerals in one sitting."

 

Llamas and Cows, Oh My

Barack O'Llama spent his weekend trying to outdo the ewes for drama.

He desperately needed a dust bath when Scott was cleaning out the chicken coop.  (Luckily, not in the chicken poo.  He's in the hole that I fell in, which is much bigger these days as it is a popular dust bath location.)

"Stop working and play with me!"

 He objected to a hay bale going through his stall again.  And he nibbled on it while he was protesting.

Barack making sure it's good enough to enter the barn.

 He didn't want to wear a sweatshirt.  It's not his fault, I don't blame him, and it's one reason we don't dress him up for holidays.  (He doesn't like hats, either.)

"Get this thing off me!"

Sally's relatives came to visit...well, see why the tractor was toting a hay bale around.

Daddy Bovine, aka John Black

Sally's half-siblings (the solid black ones are twins)

Scott made a trough this weekend (with no llama interference).  Gunpowder finds it a useful tool for showing off his ramliness.

"Why didn't he build this sooner?"

No new hay feeder?  No problem.  Theresa will just nibble from Gunpowder's fleece.

It sure beats me picking the hay out later...