Squirt close-up

A close-up section of Squirt's fleece, it spin's like a cloud.Luckily the sheep at this pasture have plenty of grass for the winter and their fleeces will be this clean at shearing, if my luck holds.

Squirt

Squirt is a BFL-Cotswold cross wether, he only weighed in at 2# at birth, I could hold him in my hand.I waited and waited for Jewell to have her lambs that warm spring day, but gave it up and went to the grocery store.As soon as I pulled in I saw everyone in the pasture standing over something, guess they were amazed at this tiny thing running around looking for lunch.He was way to small to reach his mom's milk bar, so I got my baby bottle out to feed him, Jewell hated that, she stomped and snorted at me.After about a week he was able to reach her and I could see Jewel smiling at me, she had her lamb all to herself. But he never forgot his first mom and still comes for chin scratches.Now he is a whopping 250#, or more, always good to have a bottle baby in a herd, the rest of the flock will follow him in when I need them.

Easy keeper

Pennelope is an easy keeper and a happy camper.Can you see the icicles on her chin whiskers?I noticed in late September of last year that she was putting on a heavy fall coat, I knew she was getting ready for a cold winter. I also noticed a flury of squirrels racing back and forth to the corn fields, dragging back kernels of corn to their nests.It was the first time I saw whole rows of completely naked cobs hanging on the stalks.I too scurried all summer in the worst humidity I have ever known, to harvest and can or freeze every bean,tomato,cucumber,okra,squash,pepper and corn that grew in my garden.Now I realize it was time well spent.It's amazing how long it takes to grow and put up vegetables and how fast the jars are emptied.I thought I had an endless supply of dill pickles, but the last one is gone.There is no comparison to the taste of home grown and cooked.

Hunting

Don't know if there is anything out there chickies.Did you know chickens will eat snow?Even tho they had warm water, I noticed all the chickens pecking at the snow.Maybe becasue it was sparkly-sparkly. Somebody is laying, found 2 eggs a couple of days ago, not many for all the hens that are around the feeder, but very much appreciated.It's hard to eat a store bought egg after having the real thing, such a pale comparison, more like water than a yolk.In a couple of months I'll have so many eggs, I will cook some and feed them to the dogs, they appreciate them too,afterall, they do protect the hens.

Snowy sheep southern style

We did get snow,not a lot and mostly ice now,but it came down hard and fast. We had Christmas,now winter,okay I'm ready for spring.By Wednesday we should be back in the 50's.Fifties are good, no frozen water tanks and hoses, and maybe, get back to work on trimming feet and washing,dyeing,carding some wool or mohair.It's hard to work outside in this weather, in the south we can usually work outside all winter, except for the freezing spells or cold rain.The sheep don't mind it as much as the goats, angora goats love the sun, some of them lay out in it on the hottest days.Sometimes the humidity can be too much for them.As soon as the snow starting falling all the goats headed for the big barn to hide.Sheep just stayed out and got all snowy on their backs.Think I'll wait until the sun comes out for awhile before I wake them.

A real winter

We are having a real winter, not just 2-3 days of cold then back up to 50-60's.Not above freezing the last 2 days, that means hauling warm water and dragging out the hoses to hook to the hot water line,melting all the water tanks, then draining the hoses and storing in the garage by the wood heater over night.Keeping 3 wood heaters going all night in the house, garage and shop. We had so many trees fall in the last 2 years due to drought and then too much rain, but they are burning fast.The extreme cold will probably be the end of my lettuce,turnip greens, maybe even my garlic we planting not long ago.I love having something fresh and green to eat in the winter, helps get thru the gloomy days.Fortunatley, the sun is shining, looked liked diamonds sparkling when the sun hit the frozen dead bermuda grass.I can take the cold as long as the sun is strong and bright.All the sheep and goats are taking the cold pretty well, they are eating lots of grass hay,sheep feed and some grazing to keep them warm.There won't be any more shearing until the weather changes, I have a few does that missed their last shearing, the sheep will be ready again as soon as we have a warm spell.

Happy New Year

What a great idea, to have a new year every 12 months, just when you are tired of the same old year, it's time to bring in a new one.I was lucky to bring in the new year with both my grandkids and family not to mention a mother-in-law to cook turnip and collard greens,hog jowl,peas,and all the side dishes, plus her pecan pie, most of it home grown.I grew up with the best southern cooks, ladies that grew their gardens,canned and cooked everything from scratch.It's a lot of work, and I deeply respect and appreciate all these country women I have known.Most of them gone know, but I will never forget them.And I know how blessed I have been to live in this small farming community.