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 don't mind the quiet of winter. During the rest of the year there's a daily conflict of where to start. Indoor work often takes a back seat because electro-net needs to be moved or a field needs to be brush hogged, or the stock tanks need the icky slime scrubbed out of them. Winter narrows the daily demands: two feedings; banging ice from buckets; freshening up the barn pens with fresh straw. And keeping an eye on everyone, watching for frost-nipped ears, trimming hooves, keeping mineral feeders filled, monitoring parasite load (though not really an issue at this time of year), changing sheep coats.

So it's business as usual for now.

Breakfast is served! The ewes dine al fresco in the south paddock outside the birthing barn.

Patten Hill sky at day's end.

I'll leave you today with a fun link, sent to me by a spinning friend.

The Bizarre and Brilliant World of Knitted Science

Couldn't resist sharing this; the geeky side of my brain loves the intersection of science and knitting.