Poseidon’s Girls

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After a marathon working weekend, we finally have all the breeding ewes’ hooves trimmed, the temporary fencing up, the dogs moved, and the breeding groups in place.  Here’s a little introduction to the first of the groups.  They spent most of the day over on top of the hill.  Only Petunia and her daughter, Poppy, even came down to the fence when we fed hay this morning. 

Here are Poseidon’s Girls
811     Petunia   Lincoln-Coopworth-Wensleydale-Border Leicester
1008   Poppy     Lincoln-Coopworth-Wensleydale-Border Leicester
1025   Nettie      Border Leicester
1119   Joannie   Romney-Coopworth-Wensleydale-Border Leicester
1140   Faith       Border Leicester
1141   Grace      Border Leicester

A Sense of Normalcy

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The farm is getting back to some sense of normalcy.  All the trees are cut off the exterior fencing, so we could get the electric to the hot wires turned back on.  There are still trees that need to be cut in the pastures, but they are not a safety issue.  Where fencing couldn’t be repaired quickly, we set up temporary fencing in new areas.  To make a long story short, all the animals are back in the groups they are supposed to be in… if not in the planned area, at least in a safe area.  
We’re several weeks behind in our breeding preparations, and hope to catch up this weekend.  It’s not the season we planned, but we’re adjusting.  As you can see in the bottom photo, there are still some lingering patches of snow on the north side of the hills.  We’ve been lucky to have about a week of nice, almost 50 degree weather to work in. 
And… as always… it’s great to have our girls back in the barnyard pasture.
Ours prayers are still with all those who were hit by Sandy… friends visited from New Jersey last weekend… the devastation there is unbelievable.

A Message From Muffy

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Before we head out to tackle fallen trees, shattered fiberglass posts, bent and broken temporary fencing, all the while trying to avoid the attention of two very large, free roaming rams… Muffy wanted to let you know that she has been very busy also, having significantly reduced the rodent population in the past week.  The proof, of which, she has brought as gifts to her human friends.  She says, “Hey, I’m just doing my job.”
Hope you have a wonderful day!  It’s cold here, but the sun is shining! 

Making Adjustments

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The snow has almost disappeared.  Bent and broken temporary, interior fencing has been popping out of what remains.  The hope is that today and tomorrow we will get everybody, if not back in place, at least in a new more appropriate place. 

This particular co-habitation is not supposed to be taking place.  Poseidon and Aragorn, the rams, managed to walk out of their paddock several days ago and have been chasing Hannah and Hermione (and each other) ever since.

Bella, however, has had other ideas and has established herself as the care-taker and peace-maker within this group.  It has been a joy to watch her at work.   

We’ve finally been able to feed hay to the ram lambs in the corral, so they have at least been able to get out of the barn.  We’re hoping to repair and reorganize enough in the next couple days to get all the lambs out of the barn and back into secure paddocks.  Everyone is safe inside the exterior fencing (which we still need to make it all the way around to check for downed limbs) but it is kind of chaotic inside that fencing.  At least, so it seems to the shepherdess/s who are used to having some semblance of a plan for each season.
So today begins, two weeks behind in the fall chores, and a new plan being created somewhat on the fly.  Oh well, as Leonard Bernstein, once said, “To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.” 

{this moment}

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A Friday ritual.
A single photo – no words – capturing a single moment from the week
A simple, special extraordinary moment.
A moment to pause, savor and remember.
Participating with the SouleMama blog.

Please forgive our breaking the ‘no words’ rule.  The electricity came back on last evening… after nine days.  Many thanks to all of you who kept us in your thoughts and for your kind words of encouragement!   Please join us in keeping those still affected by Hurricane/Blizzard Sandy in your prayers.  There are over 3,300 families in our county, alone, still without power.  We are so very grateful to all those that are working hard to get things back up and going… both here in West Virginia and the other areas with even more devastation.

Sandy's Blizzard 2012

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the first 'coop curtain' of the seasonbarn lanedrivewaytaking hay to the back pasturelambs tucked snugly in the barnglimpse of sunshine in the evening
cemeteryCathedral ParkCathedral ParkGeorge Washington HighwayBellviewroad grader
traffic backupsnappedconfusedcabin feverthe lambspumpkin
snow off barn roofat the barnsnowshoesbellacoop curtainthrough the barn door
Sandy’s Blizzard 2012, a set on Flickr.

There is now electricity within about one and half miles of the farmhouse! We’re hoping today is the big day! Hopefully by the weekend it will warm up and melt down enough that we can begin repairing fence, etc. Once again, we can’t say enough how fortunate we’ve been compared to others. We are thankful!
Special thanks goes to the volunteers at the Aurora Fire Department who have worked tirelessly in the community… first cutting trees and clearing roads, pumping out basements, delivering Red Cross meals, even picking up people to vote! The list could go on and on and on. They have helped so many.
There are more photos in this set and notes with more details on the individual photos on Flickr. Thank you so much for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers!

After Sandy

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A quick post to let you know that, yes, we are all ok.  Sandy hit our mountains with over 2 feet snow and drifts even higher.  Like much of the rest of our state we are without electricity.  We have a wood stove, and that is providing warmth.
Yesterday, feeding was done with snowshoes, and the tractor got hay to the top of the hill and the sheep in the back pasture.  Monday, we stockpiled hay in buildings closer to the some of the sheep.  A lesson learned from past snowstorms. 
As sometimes happens with big snowstorms, the animals have begun to rearrange themselves because they can walk over the temporary fencing dividing the pasture.  Bella, for the first time ever, has actually sought shelter and has hunkered down with two ewes in their small shed.  Although you can’t see their fencing at all, so far the rams have stayed in their small paddock.   Just in case they decide to wander, the corral gate was shoveled out and closed.  And those lambs that were shorn on Saturday, well don’t worry about them.  They are tucked away snug in the barn. 
Thank you, everyone, for all your thoughts and prayers.   The blizzard warning has been lifted, but we’re under a winter storm warning today for three to five more inches.  Roads are getting re-opened, so hopefully the lights will come back on soon.  We’re praying for all those who were hit much harder and are so much less fortunate than us.  We’ll keep you updated as we can. 

In a Cloud

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The fog that began Saturday evening, was still clinging to the ground all day yesterday.  It was very surreal, kind of (what we imagine it would be) like walking around inside a cloud.  Although it wasn’t raining, you could not help but be drenched from the fine mist that constantly surrounded you.  In spite of chill in the air, it was really quite beautiful.

Weather Update:
Rain began during the night, and we now have been issued a blizzard warning from 6 p.m. tonight through 6 p.m. Tuesday, with the worst of it coming around midnight. Most of the leaves are now off the trees, so we’re just hoping the lights stay on. Stay safe everyone!