Winter days are bracketed by morning and evening chores. Weather aside, there's a same-ness that settles in post holidays. We are officially in the lull before shearing and lambing time. It doesn't mean we're bored. There's a stack of reeking sheep coats on the laundry room floor – from last week's coat changes. And many of them are in need of mending, another task. Holly has organized the milk room clutter, so it's easier to locate hoof shears and sheep first aid supplies. We're taking stock of what's on hand, making note of what to order for lambing supplies. I
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The air has been blessedly still since 5:30 a.m. I am so enjoying the break from the thundering roar of wind, the soundtrack of the past week. Until just now, I hadn't realized how much this restless, incessant sound has been wearing on my nerves. Unrelenting gusts thrashing against doors; ice and snow peppering windows.   I've recently discovered Felicity Ford's blog, The Domestic Soundscape,  which has me thinking about the sounds that accompany life. I associate certain sounds with certain times of day at the farm: the morning is full of hungry, insistent baahs, (which are different from the friendly
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I'm admiring the view from the dining room window as I type, taking in the flat gray light before the snow begins. In the foreground, the tubular feeder full of sunflower seed and millet is suspended from one branch of the magnolia tree.  The heavy skies obscure my distant view of the Holyoke range. It smells and tastes like snow.     This morning little ewes, Java, Violet and Pumpkin (left to right) poked their faces impatiently through the gate while I fiddled with my camera, capturing some final images of the year. Fed the boys outdoors on snow. Calvin,
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This morning I thought the weather was perfect for kicking back and doing nothing, which feels really good after the bustling around getting ready for Christmas. It has actually turned into doing a little bit of everything here. A lone llama and goat greeted me at the gate. Hungry sheep awaited in the barns. Water buckets were not frozen but dirty, all in need of dumping, scrubbing and re-fills.     Caitlyn commandeered the new eight foot feeder that my friends Chris and Caleb had built and installed just before the holidays. Additional feeder space makes such a difference at this
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I'm sending everyone my strongest wishes for happiness, warmth and peace. with love,  Barb       
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Holly sent me this shot of the ewes at dusk on the winter solstice. The girls were having their own quiet celebration as light returns. My solstice celebration was unique this year. I've been on hiatus, visiting my brother in southern California for a few days – an early holiday celebration. Every year, he comes east or I go west about this time. Given the scary weather on the east coast last week, I was glad for a change of venue (though sorry that Holly and Mike had more snow to contend with!). It was the first time I've been
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This week is off to a rather bleak start, with damp and drizzly days. The flock is getting a little antsy from too much time indoors, not enough exercise, despite our best efforts to get them out and about in the paddock. Some of the girls are picking fights, as you can see in this episode from dinnertime the other evening, featuring  the rather un-ladylike behavior of Amethyst and Deluth. I have no idea who started it and why. I suspect hormones play a part. The open (unbred) ewes get ornery and take it out on each other. See for
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