First Lamb at Fiddle Knoll!!!

The day finally arrived! Adeline is our first lamb born here on the farm and she arrived May 18th at about 7pm. This is our very first picture and using the time-lapse function to avoid using the flash, Adelle looks a little "ghostly!"
Bonding...
Adelle is a great mom!
(Astrid is still big as a house! C'mon, Astrid, Adeline needs some playmates!:)
Finding the good stuff...
Miss Adeline...almost 2 days old!

The Shetlands!

The Shetlands have all been sold.. This is a tribute to them as they were my first sheep and taught me quite a bit about being a competent shepherd, but with the new direction for our farm (meat and dual-purpose sheep) the Shetlands just needed a new place to call home. We miss them, their antics and their personalities. But I know they are growing their wool for their new owners--you go girls (oh, yeah, and guy--sorry Speed)!

Speed

Thistle

Dharma, Karma, Pav

Pav with Dharma behind

Pav

Karma (front) and Dharma

The snow is finally all gone. Now we wait for green pastures to turn out the sheep. Peat turned 15 weeks on Tuesday this week and he is practicing his "moves" on Tally. Tally certainly does not care for it, but is remarkably tolerant...so far! Still no lambs, but I expect them any day. Astrid and Adelle are HUGE and looking uncomfortable so I suspect they will be glad when the day comes as well! We are in the process of clearing some more pasture to house a ram or two this year...another new venture! How exciting! Here's Peat's ear set at almost 4 mos.

Lying in wait for.....

Tally...notice how much she loooves being Peat's guinea pig!

Snow Returns...arrrgh!

It's snowing again...although I have to admit, it is sorta pretty. And the good news is, it should melt quickly and give the new grass a good soaking!

The sheep have been sequestered to a smaller area around the barn to allow the pasture grass to come in. They ARE NOT happy about it...but such is a sheep's life. The dogs really seem to enjoy the snow...but they truly are easy to please.

Dale caught the action through the house window...notice how dark and dreary it is...but spring is coming, right?

Yasso & Peat

Possession is nine-tenths of the law, and Peat's learning the laws....

Trying to maintain the law....

And....once again....puppy see...well, puppy do....

Here's Peat at about 13.5 weeks

And here are the white hairs on his tail near his pre-caudal gland...wonder if any of his sibs have this trait??
And here's Yasso...caught him in a moment where he stacked himself! Good Boy, Yasso! :)

Most of the Snow is Gone...more coming?

Finally able to walk about freely without dodging snow piles! Peat and Yasso did a little bonding...weather forecasts say heavy snow is possible...really? Pleeeease noooooo....!

Shearing Day Tuesday, April 14th 2009

The sheep lost their fleeces...well, not exactly lost them...they were taken with a bit of convincing! Hard to believe Louise was carrying almost 14 pounds of wool!

Before....

After...

14 lbs of wool in the grease...that's a 4 X 8 sheet of plywood!

Very nice crimp....
And here's Louise and Thelma with Speed looking on...they barely recognize one another with their fleeces removed!