Archives for sheep

Sheep Moves

Sheep Moves

January 9, 2010 | 6 Comments

One of yesterday's tasks was moving the little ladies from the open barn on the west side of Reynolds Road to the birthing barn on the east side of the road. The wind and driving snow added to the chaotic frenzy and, after weeks of same-ness,  the girls were thrilled to have a little adventure. Holly at the lead. It was snowing pretty hard!  The dash through the gate. Cognac takes a little detour to flirt with the boys. Signs of sheep traffic.     The scramble to the big barn. The little ewes will stay in the big barn until shearing
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FlockWork

FlockWork

January 8, 2010 | 5 Comments

I am beyond exhausted. Today was a big flock-work day. Sheep, goats, llamas. Coat changes, pedis, deworming, crutching messy butts. If they needed it, it got done. Snowy, cold and blustery here but it  somehow didn't feel terrible. Either I'm getting use to it – or maybe it just wasn't really that cold? We really hustled from barn to barn, group to group – constantly on the move. Didn't finish evening chores until way after dark. I'm sharing a few of my favorite moments of Holly and the boys in the carriage barn. The fellows all seemed to enjoy the
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Winter Thicket

Winter Thicket

January 6, 2010 | 7 Comments

  It's cold, but pretty here today, I went hunting in the thicket behind the barn(need some wild grape vine for a craft project). Had a little company. I can tell from the lack of hoof prints, the sheep haven't explored much beyond their feeders in recent days. My walk with the camera and pruning shears sparked some interest and they investigated the thicket with me.   Here's some shots for your sheep (and goat and llama) viewing pleasure.        copyright 2010, Barbara Parry. All rights reserved. Feel free to share a link to this site. Please do
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Wind & Snow

Wind & Snow

January 3, 2010 | 3 Comments

For hours I've been watching this poor guy. He's trying remain upright in a strong wind in order to glean the millet and sunflower seeds that have blown onto the ground from the feeder which has been blowing sideways all morning. Hellacious wind all night and right through morning has caused some crazy drifitng. This bird, the only one I can see from my window today, must be very hungry indeed to spend many calories fighting for a meal. I'm reading Elizabeth Marshall Thomas' book, The Hidden Life of Deer which is making me think about wildlife's struggle for survival
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Enough Snow!

Enough Snow!

December 13, 2009 | 5 Comments

Today got off to a bright start that made me think the forecast predicting yet more snow was false (ha, ha, ha!). Gypsy and Butch greeted me at the gate, looking for treats. I was packing apples today, their favorite. Sometimes it's oranges, sometimes carrots, occasionally bread. Whatever, they love it all. By mid-afternoon the sky was full of fat white flakes, coming down wet and heavy. Unbelievable. So I skipped the errands planned for the day and hunkered down. Finished decorating my tree.   The sheep have been loathe to leave the barn and I can't say I blame
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First Snow

First Snow

December 6, 2009 | 5 Comments

The first winter storm is magical and wonderfully transforming. Ours arrived yesterday morning with a sprinkling of confectionary flakes during chores. The intensity built throughout the day and by evening we were blanketed with an inch or so. Several inches fell during the night. So pretty to wake up to a winter landscape. Cocoa, in her 12th year, led the flock out of the barn as I placed hay around the paddock. No one had yet ventured out, but she was eager to follow the hay sleigh. The youngsters needed persuasion. I waved the flakes to coax them from the
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