Month: November 2011

Aragorn’s Companions

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Aragron is our three-year-old registered Border Leicester ram.  He has great bloodlines and throws a wonderful lamb with a long top and beautiful wool.  He is still kind of the wild, young thing but has settled down a lot this past year.  Three breeding groups this fall… we are so excited… only about 147 days to go before the first lamb hits the ground this spring.

604 –  Sweet Pea   Lincoln – Coopworth – Wensleydale
612 –  Princess   Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale
616 –  Rosey   Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale
720 –  Cassidy   Cotswald – Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale
721 –  Hannah   Border Leicester
722 –  Jill   Romney – Coopworth – Wensleydale
811 –  Petunia   Lincoln – Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale
815 –  Aibreann   Border Leicester
906 –  Lucy   Romney – Coopworth – Wensleydale
914 –  Bertha   Cotswald – Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale
919 –  Serenity   Border Leicester
922 –  Funella   Coopworth – Blue-faced Leicester – Cotswald – Wensleydale
929 –  Juliet   Border Leicester
1002 – Maibh   Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale
1056 – Hermione   Coopworth – Border Leicester – Cotswald – Wensleydale

Poseidon’s Girls

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Our five-year-old colored ram, Poseidon, is a Cotswald – Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale cross.  He is the most agressive of the rams, and you learn very quickly not to turn your back on him.  He is very large and can deliver a real wallop if you are not paying attention.  Let’s just say he definitely commands respect.  He also produces an amazing fleece, and vigorous lambs with beautiful, long curly locks.

4014   Fiona   Coopworth – Blue-faced Leicester cross
40      Athena   Coopworth – Border Leicester cross

41      Hera   Coopworth – Border Leicester cross
620    Daireann   Coopworth – Blue-faced Leicester cross
817    Dierdre   Coopworth – Blue-faced Leicester – Wensleydale cross
910    Julie   Coopworth – Border Leicester cross
930    Havva   Coopworth – Blue-faced Leicester – Border Leicester – Wensleydale cross
1008  Poppy   Lincoln – Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale cross
1025  Nettie   Border Leicester

Ready… Set… Go

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We were so excited Saturday to get the last of our 32 breeding ewes all set for breeding; all the hooves were trimmed and crutching finished.  We put up (and later took down) 820 feet of temporary fencing for moving lanes; moved dogs, dog houses and watering troughs.  We were excited that we got the ram’s bellies trimmed and marking harnesses on before dark, and were not working by truck light. We were even more thrilled that it was a beautiful day and not 20 degrees, not raining or snowing, as in previous years.
Today, we are proud to present the first of the 2011 breeding groups – Liam’s Ladies.  Liam is our six year old registered Border Leicester, purchased from Kelly at Spring Breeze Farm as a yearling.  He has great lineage and a super disposition.  He throws a beautiful lamb with a long top and lovely wool.

613 –   Hebe  Coopworth – Border Leicester – Wensleydale cross
711 –   Daisy   Lincoln – Coopworth – Wensleydale cross
716 –   Harmonia   Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale cross
801 –   Patience   Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale cross
809 –   Hestia   Coopworth – Border Leicester – Cotswald cross
821 –   Siar   Cotswald – Border Leicester – Coopworth – Wensleydale cross
924 –   Meara   Coopworth – Blue-faced Leicester – Wensleydale cross
1004 – Aurora – Registered Border Leicester  





Oh… So Close

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Althogh the lambs have been grazing close to the barn all summer, it really makes us happy to have the breeding ewes back in the barn paddock.  Maybe it is because they are so familiar… we know their voices, their personalities.  We have been hoof trimming and crutching, getting them ready for breeding, and we are oh so close.  Hopefully we can get finished up on Saturday and get everyone into their breeding groups. Maybe we better fix a cup of tea and get those breeding goup lists finished up.  There is a lot of fence-line pacing going on. 

Sweet Pea showing off her pedicure

Conspirators

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While Samson relaxed in the sun, under the goat tree, Belladonna appeared to be conspiring with Poseidon and Aragorn.  They spent about an hour chatting at the small walk-through gate.  It seemed that the rams were trying to talk Belladonna into helping them break through that gate (which is not in the best of shape due to a previous ram incident).  Luckliy Bella was distracted by the crow family when they came by to steal food from from her bowl and the breakout was averted.





What the Barncats Did…

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The barncats have been enthusiastically doing their job ridding the barn and the surrounding area of any critter foolish bold enough to wander into their domain.  Once the weather turned cold, they began to take their job very seriously.  We won’t disgust bore you with the evidence of their conquests, but instead will show you how they occupy their time during warmer weather… what we like to refer to as “The Barncats Summer Vacation”.

Out and About

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A trip to the Grantsville Stockyard this weekend with all its accompanying sights and sounds… then a detour to Firefly Farms Creamery + Market to stock up on their wonderful goat cheese.  This stop had been much anticipated and excitement had been building for days.  Our spirits were immediately lifted as we approached these beautiful goat totem posts at the entry.
 

We stocked up on their Allegheny Chevre, plenty to eat and enough to fix the Apple + Allegheny Chevre Tart (test driven earlier this month) for Thanksgiving. We loved peeking into the large windows looking into the Creamery. It was so much fun seeing the different stages of cheese-making. We picked up a few other favorites, and of course had to try something new. Oh… by the way… that new Golden Goat Cheese, available exclusively at the market, it’s every bit as good as their other award winning cheeses