Just another soggy Sunday........

Yup, another rainy day in WA. no surprise really. Except the weatherman DID say it was supposed to be a mostly dry weekend (granted it was said last week and it IS a weatherman doing the prediction). I was really looking forward to cleaning out the chicken coop and barn from all the "leftovers" from the critters during the snow party.

No such luck, guess I'll have to wait. Darn. :P I decided to do a little picture taking during feeding this morning.

I'll start with the most shocking picture....I don't normally take pics of myself (let alone let anyone else take one) and I definitely try to at least run a brush through my hair beforehand. Not this time. Here I am in all my glory, no make-up, sweats and messy hair. Ginger didn't care though, I love how animals enjoy visiting with you no matter what you look like. :)


There was plenty of soggy poultry waiting to be fed.....the guineas looked the worse for the wear.....madder than a wet guinea? (or does that only work for hens?)


Didn't slow down the chorus of "buckwheating" going on....


My Narragansett tom thought the rain was so much better than the snow, much easier to strut his stuff....


Is this a face only a mother could love (or a turkey hen)?


Hey! Take a pic of ME! I am after all the handsomest male on the farm (this rooster did seem to demand I take his pic):)


There also were many soggy sheep, Bevin says "I hear it's dry back home in OR!!"


Matisse says "let's get the donkey to distract her and maybe we can escape and hitchhike back to OR.....or maybe go further South and go hang out on a CA beach....


The smart ones of the barnyard were these three girls, hanging out on a stall door. I honestly think they thought I would come over and hand feed them their breakfast.


The other smart ones were the kitties, Coopurrr and Hooch, snuggled up on the front porch.

My Witchhazels are starting to bloom, they have to be my favorite wintertime plant. The colors are so vibrant and defiant against the gray cloudy days.

An Unusual relationship........

One of my ewe lambs from Boulderneigh, Bevin, has taken an unlikely liking to the emus. At first I thought it was just by coincidence that she lay down next to their fence, but I've found her there many times and see her nose to beak with Fred or Ginger (the emus names are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers....):) Not sure what they're saying to each other but it must be comforting because then they usually lay down near each other....too bad some people can't be as accepting of differences.....

Confessions of a Sheep-a-holic

Let me introduce you to the lovely girl that started it all.....yes Michelle is very nice, but I'm speaking of Bella, the beautiful. :) This is the girl that made me question my undying devotion to the Jacob breed of sheep. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Jacobs, but I seem to have found room to love the Shetlands as well. And SO much variety of colors....it makes you want one of each, which is hard to do when you only have 5 acres of land!

After settling Bella in with the new and old Jacobs, I made the mistake of e-mailing Michelle to let her know how well Bella had settled in and how much I was enjoying her. I receive an e-mail from Michelle and I quote "And just in case I can tempt you, attached is a photo of my one remaining ewe lamb. Bevin may stay dark but could turn fawn (a silvery taupe) like her mom, who is my friendliest ewe with the champion fleece that I bought from Lois". Ok, now she knows I lust after friendly sheep....and what a beautiful color!! What's one more Shetland? Besides, Bella needs company of her "own kind". And so, I commit to Shetland #2.
Ok, two Shetlands, added to my Jacob flock that's not TOO bad is it? Exactly six days later I receive another e-mail.....and I quote "Is there any chance you would consider adding a ewe to your August sheep-buying trip? I just heard of a flock dispersal, and I happen to know that the flock contains some polled genetics that I might be very interested in. However, I can't add any new ewes to my flock, I would have to make room by selling some. I have Bella's dam, WSR Rechel, who is also a grey with crimpier wool and very friendly; she is my "supermom" and always twins. Let me know if you might be interested in her." How can I possibly let such a wonderful, helpful person down.....and she does have crimpier wool AND is very friendly.....not to mention a "supermom".....this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!! Introducing Shetland # 3 (standing next to her daughter Bella)
Three Shetland sheep, and they know each other.....I am a GOOD person.....they will be SO happy.... did I mention the first real Shetland that I fell in love with was a Gulmoget? Three days after I commit to Rechel, Bellas mother, I get another e-mail from Michelle (do you all see how evil she really is?) it is entitled "Your Gulmoget!" and she sends me a link for a to die for gulmoget lamb face AND she tells me how nice Briana is as well as her sheep AND she lives in OR. A phone call, a few e-mails and sweet little Ellen is spoken for....... cute, huh?



Briana tells me how special and sweet this little girl is and even sends me a pic of Ellen in her lap....
Now I'm thinking to myself....you're definitely getting yourself a nice sized little flock of Shetlands......but no ram......not to worry.....I receive another e-mail from Michelle telling me, and I quote...." I really think you should buy Duncan from Lois. That way you would have your katmoget AND your proven ram in one great package. Here's her blog post with a photo (look for Duncan): http://stonehavenfarm.com/blog/?p=180 He's even brown-based, which would be nice given what you already have, and that black gulmoget ewe lamb you're going to get. :-)"

Yes, I do keep every e-mail I receive from Michelle.....in case I have to defend myself in court on an insanity charge......

A lovely phone call with Lois, followed by some great e-mails (in which I also find out she has a Border Collie named Finn just like me! What a coincidence! It's a sign.....right?) and I have now commited to an awesome ram, Duncan. Who happens to be a katmoget....another "must have".
Now I'm sure this will be all the Shetlands I will get......at least for now.....I'm still getting e-mails of available ewes.....who knows there may be a color that would compliment the rest of my Shetlands.....until next time....here's some pics of the handsome ram, Duncan....