Evening chores in late November. At dusk I fill the mangers with hay, top off water buckets and call the sheep home for the night.
The maidens charge at the sound of the dinner bell, while my llama Caitlyn approaches more leisurely.
After bringing in the ewe-lings I make the rounds, checking water, filling feeders in each barn. My last stop is at the top of the hill, a group of leicester ewes who are grazing the last of the high pasture.
As I head back to the barn, darkness sets in.
Late fall marks the end of grazing days. Several hard frosts and one dusting of snow have halted the growth of grass. I am taking down temporary fencing, bringing in water tanks, putting a winter’s worth of straw bales in the barn to bed the sheep in the cold months soon to come.
Although the year is winding down, this is a also a time of new beginnings. Last weekend, Cormo rams Teaberry and Parsley joined the ewes, which with any luck, will put the arrival of my first lambs in early April 2008.
It’s always interesting to watch the initial interaction when first introducing the boys and girls. Teaberry wasted no time in greeting the ladies.
And getting down to business . . .
While Parsley (at right below) was apparently suffering from shyness on his "first date", although it didn’t help that Buttercup was giving him the cold shoulder . . .
Hopefully, his technique will improve. While Tea and Parsely are the same age, Tea has proven himself with offspring from last year. Parsley’s performance will tell in time. He is courting a group of ewes who ordinarily would have been bred to Trumpet, my tried and proven Cormo ram who was killed in a predator attack in September.
Looking back at the events from earlier this fall, I send a strong thank you to everyone for the expressions of concern and also the suggestions following the attack on my flock. There is a post script to that story – which I will share in the near future.
Also, many thanks for the notes of congratulations on my ribbons from the Big E Fleece Show.
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Copyright 2007, Barbara Parry, Foxfire Fiber & Designs. All images and content property of Barbara Parry and may not be used in any way without written permission.
