Spring Is Coming

Parsley & Tarragon

Even if spring weather might not be right around the corner, our spring tasks quickly are coming.

Myrtle & Sequoia

Beryl is happy to see me.

The ewes and wethers are outgrowing their sheep coats faster than ever.  There are some big fleeces, especially Tiffany, Almond, and Peanut. 

Sassy & Tiffany

Some of the ewes are showing a lot earlier than usual.  Usually, it's impossible to see any pregnant bellies until sheep coats and fleeces come off.  Surprisingly, it's not the teeny tiny ones (like Myrtle and Mimosa), but the some of the bigger ewes (especially Molly).  It's time, once again, to go through the lambing supplies!

Theresa & pals

The ewes in the back look like they're gossiping about Myrtle & Mimosa.

We've almost made it through fall and winter (breeding season) without Henrietta getting bred--even with the several times the rams broke into the ewe section of the barn.  Yay! (If you're a new reader or need a refresher see here and here.)

Henrietta

Clove

Not Often Photographed

Some of the less-photographed ewes posed today. 

I tend to take less pictures of the non-pregnant ewes.  It's me, not them.  There's a big rock in the pasture with the bred ewes that I usually sit on when taking photos.

Lavender (the white sheep with horns) is already bigger than her mom, Cashew (the brown sheep with the green coat).  Sandy is peering at me from behind.

Henrietta contemplates running me over.  She's ready to go outside with other sheep.

Vanilla (in green) hangs out with Tricot and daughter Chamomile.

There are  a few ewes who are too friendly to photographed, unless you want pictures of the inside of their nostrils. 

Sequoia a little too close....

 ...Sequoia making a beeline for some scratches and the possibility of peanuts.

 Beryl and Molly are too busy eating their breakfast to notice me.

Beryl

Molly (yep, that's a new coat)

Muddy & Scruffy

It's muddy near the barn.  Parsley still manages to look clean.

Tarragon is losing some of his fleece.  Specifically, it's where his chubby belly rubs the poles of the creep feeder when he squeezes in for his meals. 

Beryl's bright orange coat works with her coloring, don't you think?

Sequoia, along with a lot of the other ewes who are in full fleece, are looking scruffy.  Every bit of their fleeces that are outside of their sheep coats are filled with hay.  (Hence the need for the coats!) Sequoia also has managed to get her leg out of her coat. 

Sassy is looking elegant, but Opal?  Not so much. It looks like she's due to go up a coat size, too...which means it's time for me to start sewing.

 Peanut is hiding behind Marble in this picture.  She went up two coat sizes this morning is now wearing the biggest size we have (other than the coat Yeti is wearing).  The good new is that her fleece looks amazing!

 I'm looking forward to seeing what Acacia is hiding under her coat.  From her exposed fleece, it looks like she's darkened this year. (Mimosa is peeking from behind.)

 Pawlonia was sheared in October.  Her fleece is growing really fast!

Cold

It's been awhile since I've posted.  I've mostly been outside when it's too dark to take decent pictures, and it's been cold (except for that day it was muddy...)

The ewes have been busy growing fleeces and, in some cases, lambs.  There's a couple of months to go until lambing begins, but a few of the ewes are already looking fat.  (And some of them--Myrtle and Mimosa--look really, really tiny!)

Meanwhile, Cypress watches the ewes and paces the fence line.  The other rams and wethers eat and nap.

Tiffany

Opal, Acacia, Pistachio, Elsie, & Mimosa

Vanilla and the ewe lambs

Vanilla and Cinnamon

Theresa

Parsley

Parsley

Sequoia, Sassy, & Myrtle

Annual Christmas Picture Outtakes

Molly won't wear a Santa hat.

Cinnamon won't hold still.

Barack O'Llama over-participates.

Humans get distracted, too.

Molly thinks she's found a feathery peanut.

Marshmallow participated (as always), but now she's done.

Barack O'Llama is interested in the Santa hat, but will not wear it.

The Boys

Today, it's the boys' turn.

Cypress spends most of the day pacing the fence line between him and the forbidden ewes.

Cypress

Yeti proudly models his giant, bright orange coat.

Yeti

Almond's horns are freshly trimmed (although "sawed off" is a more accurate description of the process).

Almond

Coriander is working on growing a gorgeous fleece.

Coriander

 Parsley and Tarragon equate me with food. For now, this is cute.  When they get older, it likely will be annoying.

The lambs: Parsley and Tarragon

Tarragon

Just Pictures: The Girls

Pistachio

Oregano's ewes: Acacia, Opal, & Pawlonia

Theresa

Mimosa (her eyelid is doing great)

Peanut

Calico

Elsie

Sequoia & Acacia

Theresa & Peanut

Elvira