The Weather Is Changing!

So nice to see blue skies today the sun is shining and the birds are singing a song of thanksgiving! We are checking the weather forecast to determine which day this next week will be shearing day. It will be interesting this year where I'm usually Gabe's helper and cleaner of the fleece area and with a 2 month old who's been quite fussy I'm hoping we are all up to the challenge. One way or another the fleeces have to come off! we have one ram that didn't get done last year and all of the lambs we still have from last year will be getting their first shearing!!! they will be so cute. Thankfully our oldest daughter Lily is right into helping with the sheep this time of year (lambs are a comin') and she'll try to fill in for me. 

Yesterday was also another beautiful day, with a bit more wind. The mud in the sheep yards are drying up as fast as the snow is melting under all the bedding. We are getting ready to move the rams all together and pitch out the shelters. We are also trying to decide which fleeces will be saved and processed and which ones will be used to start the fires in the pit! 

Yes soon it will be nice enough to have a fire and some tea outside! okay the girls will like marshmallows! Gabe and I will enjoy a nice warm cup of tea.

The mares are shedding their winter coats and look lighter with everyday. Beautiful they are!  We will begin working with them, putting on their harness and riding. I too hope to have a few days of riding this year! we'll see.

New life is beginning and that is always fun! 

Spring Excitement! (part 1)

This will be our second year of breeding sheep and I really believe the sheep breeders I have read about that this truly IS the best part! Just checked the calendar and we will be looking for lambs in about 6wks!!! That doesn't seem like enough time to "clean up" winters mess but we'll do our best. Last breeding season was an experience for the girls and I, we checked the ewes every day looking for signs of pregnancy. I remember when we were shearing Faleece milk came flying out and Lily our eldest daughter screamed "she's pregnant!!!" that sealed the deal that she was expecting! sure enough she was first to lamb. This year she's already make predictions of who is looking and acting pregnant. Homeschooling our children on a small farm has proved very educational. We are having fun as a family when we keep to the schedule of all the tasks before us and remember the order of importance...God,Family,Other

so far the blessings are still coming, and we are great full for that!

I have been getting the list made for lambing supplies and tomorrow we'll go get the organic oats, corn & soybean for the mix I make for our ewes. Since we grass feed our animals this grain mix gets the new momma-to-be's good and friendly for when their time comes around. We will also give the rams a few tastes as well just to keep them happy, and so that when they get loose we can get them back a lot faster, they will even come running for a rock in a bucket after a few tastes of grain!

Soon the Hens will be laying enough eggs that we can start to fill the egg orders we are already receiving. (anyone interested let me know!)

Seeds for the gardens will be ordered and last years stash will be pulled out and planted. This is making for an exciting spring!

Thoughts Of Spring (part 2)

It's a new month in this shepherd's year! Which means it's time to plan a shearing day! Thankfully we don't have to hire a shearer because Gabe has taken on that trade. A few years ago he took a course in sheep shearing and in time he hopes to advertise his services, along with hoof trimming. I figure he has plenty of sheep to practice on. This year the goal is to have the best fleeces off BEFORE the mud comes and the lambs are born! And get the second shearing done before fall arrives, yes we do have to plan that far ahead...

The farm where many of our first gen. sheep were from have already begun to lamb. It sure makes you get excited for new life and spring to arrive. But there are many tasks to complete in the meantime.