tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30363908337197099952024-03-14T01:57:55.685-05:00Little Red Oak FarmA blog featuring my Shetland and Finn sheep flock in Minnesota.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-89437073026498085462017-02-28T11:03:00.001-06:002017-02-28T11:03:29.849-06:00After the FarmAnd here's where we ended up, for some years, anyway. A suburban house, about 25 miles closer to Minneapolis, MN.<br />
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I grew up in the suburbs. It's quiet on this block. There are lots of coffee shops, theaters and stores nearby. I was sold on it when I went to look out the back deck and saw this: </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KyMVH4ldkqY/WLWdommrc5I/AAAAAAAAEuw/_g7l4bOgPs4JihNoKb7f2JsxvxDbIIQwgCLcB/s1600/fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KyMVH4ldkqY/WLWdommrc5I/AAAAAAAAEuw/_g7l4bOgPs4JihNoKb7f2JsxvxDbIIQwgCLcB/s640/fall.jpg" width="640" /></a>It's on a golf course. We don't golf. I don't care. I just wanted to look out on something nearly as pretty as my own pastures were.</div>
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When winter was coming, this year: </div>
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Our house is on the far right looking out from the snowman. </div>
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And we live very near the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, where I walk 3-4 times a week: </div>
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That's Dear Husband, who is doing very well, these days.<br />
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It's an easier life. I take art classes, do genealogy, visit museums and friends, take care of my mom a bit and do what needs doing. But I surely miss this:<br />
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<br />Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-22086422674845384262013-09-13T12:30:00.002-05:002017-02-28T09:47:06.884-06:00Summer 2013 gone byOh boy, the summer went by without a peep from me, here. In May my only baby turned eighteen, <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgKIwhjMuuE/UjNMiLBMY9I/AAAAAAAABQA/UPpVFN5P0Pw/s1600/Em+n+cousins+18+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgKIwhjMuuE/UjNMiLBMY9I/AAAAAAAABQA/UPpVFN5P0Pw/s400/Em+n+cousins+18+bday.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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graduated from high school,<br />
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and then she and I took off for Colorado to deliver a few sheep to New Mexico finnsheep breeders. I confess, we took no photos of sheep en route or at delivery-- it was hot, and in the day it took to get there we were simply nervous about it all.<br />
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After delivery, we enjoyed the mountains.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west, from Golden Gate State Park west of Denver</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXyMZNY9hcA/UjNY2S2a7PI/AAAAAAAABQ8/RxYbi9oqMYg/s1600/Flicker+feathers+CO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXyMZNY9hcA/UjNY2S2a7PI/AAAAAAAABQ8/RxYbi9oqMYg/s320/Flicker+feathers+CO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking in the foothills, we found sad evidence of a Flicker's demise</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then, her babies. We hoped the dad helps <br />
with feeding, too.<br />
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Later in summer, as we sold sheep away to different farms, Emily again insisted we put in a big vegetable garden, which I enjoy as well. To her credit, she is a primo weeder and this year, learned to clean, cut and blanch beans for the freezer, as well. I think it's because she knew I would not have put in a garden at all...<br />
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I'm simplifying, cutting down on all animal chores to get ready to move. All of my sheep are gone except for a few rams. We gave the chickens away in August. <br />
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You heard right-- we will sell the little farm on the edge of the prairie next spring, I think-- the best crop I raised here was my daughter, who's grown and gone off to Yale. Visiting her there will be another adventure-- and at home, I don't want to tend animals, alone, so far from my old friends.<br />
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So... we're looking at homes nearer to Minneapolis, giving away 10 years of stuff that's accumulated here... <br />
and now I'm harvesting vegetables while I reminisce on all we have done here. <br />
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If anyone wants a 20 acre farm 40 miles SW of Minneapolis, with fenced pastures, outbuildings, and a pretty nice old farmhouse, give a shout! We'll tell you all you need to know to keep 'er going.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-64464508795634363052013-05-31T10:04:00.000-05:002013-05-31T10:08:06.265-05:00More Lamb PhotosLambs were born in late April, and most are reserved --except for 2 Finn ewe lambs and several ram lambs in both Finn and Shetland breeds. <br />
Minnesota has had gray, wet skies all month, making lamb photography unpleasant. They're growing fast now, so I'd better get old photos up and new ones, soon .<br />
During this rainy weather, I started a new "group" on Facebook called Finnsheep in America. Check it out if you are a Facebook time-waster, er, "fan", like me!<br />
Remember to double-click on pictures to see them enlarged.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M0lhTiaT7LY/UaimP_pz8QI/AAAAAAAABOs/Rw3QHVLhwro/s1600/Sukka+n+son+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M0lhTiaT7LY/UaimP_pz8QI/AAAAAAAABOs/Rw3QHVLhwro/s400/Sukka+n+son+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> This is LRO <a href="http://www.finnsheep-pedigrees.org/sheep-info/?aid=25360" title="Click for Sheep Info">25360</a> Sukka's ram lamb (twin), from my black badgerfaced Stillmeadow ram FBA no. <a href="http://www.finnsheep-pedigrees.org/sheep-info/?aid=24898" title="Click for Sheep Info">24898</a> . Great wool, great everything. I love both of his parents. Sukka is FBA no. <a href="http://www.finnsheep-pedigrees.org/sheep-info/?aid=25360" title="Click for Sheep Info">25360</a> . Obviously, he carries a brown gene. He's developing beautifully and is friendly. The Stillmeadow ram (we call Toivo) is QR (1/2 scrapie resistant) so this lamb may be, too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4g-6VSSwb7A/UainZyBNMKI/AAAAAAAABPc/Y2Tf01s7m_E/s1600/Kimi+n+quads+May+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4g-6VSSwb7A/UainZyBNMKI/AAAAAAAABPc/Y2Tf01s7m_E/s400/Kimi+n+quads+May+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faithful, friendly Kimi-- TRP 20-- has quad lambs following everywhere.<br /> 2 boys, 2 girls, only one girl spoken for. The lambs' dad was brown-- LRO Lanni, FBA no. <a href="http://www.finnsheep-pedigrees.org/sheep-info/?aid=26147" title="Click for Sheep Info">26147</a> .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQFEtfPPOLw/Uaim1MQGqAI/AAAAAAAABO8/c_jy6wYYGjk/s1600/3+of+Kimi's+quads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQFEtfPPOLw/Uaim1MQGqAI/AAAAAAAABO8/c_jy6wYYGjk/s640/3+of+Kimi's+quads.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 of four Kimi lambs chillin'. The ewe lamb at left is Coin, the other two are ram lambs. All are for sale.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2HMvqfseLU/Uaim2PFKhcI/AAAAAAAABPE/Dp7lgW2L5NA/s1600/Annie+lambs+n+Spot+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2HMvqfseLU/Uaim2PFKhcI/AAAAAAAABPE/Dp7lgW2L5NA/s640/Annie+lambs+n+Spot+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Red Oak Anthea, "Annie" the Shetland, with her brown ram and<br /> gulmoget ewe lambs, meet Spot the Finn lamb for the first time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie's lambs, brand new. The boy is for sale and looks nice. Sired by River Oaks Ciro.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z54fvdt_GA8/UainMFfhIPI/AAAAAAAABPM/bco0wTF4EdQ/s1600/Frowsy+n+Nappy+May+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z54fvdt_GA8/UainMFfhIPI/AAAAAAAABPM/bco0wTF4EdQ/s640/Frowsy+n+Nappy+May+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LRO Nappylainen, Finnsheep, lets Frowsy the ewe lamb nurse. Frowsy is available. Frowsy (twin) has funny puppy dog fur, which will later be replaced by fine, adult wool. She had a 1/2 sister like this last year-- whose beauty was that her wool was SO SOFT and coal black when sold at 5 months, I wished I'd kept her. Sired by FBA no. <a href="http://www.finnsheep-pedigrees.org/sheep-info/?aid=26148" title="Click for Sheep Info">26148</a> , LRO Sulev.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vbmKt4zpoe4/UainNOKPmsI/AAAAAAAABPU/rhd-TuZWMGM/s1600/Gail+in+hay+mow+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vbmKt4zpoe4/UainNOKPmsI/AAAAAAAABPU/rhd-TuZWMGM/s640/Gail+in+hay+mow+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We gave some stored hay to our shearer. I thought it was fun to be up in the "attic" of this little barn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mx5lyl6iAnc/UainovHAn3I/AAAAAAAABPk/rzBzLiPAWDM/s1600/Nina's+kat+ram+lamb+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mx5lyl6iAnc/UainovHAn3I/AAAAAAAABPk/rzBzLiPAWDM/s400/Nina's+kat+ram+lamb+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Katmoget Shetland son of LittleRedOak Nina & River Oaks Ciro. He looks<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pt9OZ9LYqWQ/UainpcRgLRI/AAAAAAAABPs/OtMAZc10-uY/s1600/Lassi's+Bling+Brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="457" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pt9OZ9LYqWQ/UainpcRgLRI/AAAAAAAABPs/OtMAZc10-uY/s640/Lassi's+Bling+Brothers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lassi, brown Finn ewe had quads, but only these two made it. The Bling Brothers, both headed for Missouri.</td></tr>
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Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-90694965546377395862013-05-06T11:15:00.000-05:002013-05-06T13:40:50.537-05:00Shetland and Finnsheep Lambs 2013<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3iOnw0Mp-s/UYf3-TR5UjI/AAAAAAAABOM/wAMlZNFzY6M/s1600/white+lamb+face+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3iOnw0Mp-s/UYf3-TR5UjI/AAAAAAAABOM/wAMlZNFzY6M/s640/white+lamb+face+13.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHO are YOU??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxJRra0V9So/UYf4TZin29I/AAAAAAAABOU/sTFTTXzse04/s1600/Sleepy+white+lambs+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxJRra0V9So/UYf4TZin29I/AAAAAAAABOU/sTFTTXzse04/s640/Sleepy+white+lambs+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do I need to say "copyright protected"? Mari's finn ram lambs. Too precious for words.</td></tr>
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The last lambs were born 8 days ago. Shetland ewe, LittleRedOak Trillium, started the baby boom on April 14, with this big, strong moorit gulmoget ram lamb out of Little Red Oak Scurs-- a brown scurred ram with beautiful wool. He will need a new home. He will grow up polled-- no horns.<br />
With all of these pictures, remember you can double click to see them up close.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4YGsVFbdFI/UYfX6jb4_EI/AAAAAAAABNg/CzAM0q2YtOE/s1600/Trillium+n+lamb+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4YGsVFbdFI/UYfX6jb4_EI/AAAAAAAABNg/CzAM0q2YtOE/s400/Trillium+n+lamb+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2uXDzqt-0nk/UYfMkYDI2sI/AAAAAAAABMo/Qp7pA2dTOfU/s1600/hay+wagon+lambs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2uXDzqt-0nk/UYfMkYDI2sI/AAAAAAAABMo/Qp7pA2dTOfU/s640/hay+wagon+lambs.jpg" width="640" /></a>Our sweetest Shetland ewe, LRO Anthea (Annie) was the last to lamb on April 28, presenting her twins outdoors in the small barnyard near the windbreak trees. Minnesota still had a bit more winter weather for us in April, so all the sheep were held in for a few days. This is the first day of release to the grassy barnyard:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZueUsnCQ7Lc/UYfMnegyyII/AAAAAAAABMw/9d1USDp_eoU/s1600/Mari+n+sons+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZueUsnCQ7Lc/UYfMnegyyII/AAAAAAAABMw/9d1USDp_eoU/s640/Mari+n+sons+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari (officially Reese TRP16U) brought her little rams outside. Both rammies have brown spotted noses. For those of you who care about sheep color genetics, that means they are Brown spotted sheep wearing white clothing. They will pass the brown gene on to offspring. These 3 are mild and sweet. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jEYVjxa_XfY/UYfM8c2oPFI/AAAAAAAABM4/wgbE2U0EcZ0/s1600/Lassi's+spot+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jEYVjxa_XfY/UYfM8c2oPFI/AAAAAAAABM4/wgbE2U0EcZ0/s1600/Lassi's+spot+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jEYVjxa_XfY/UYfM8c2oPFI/AAAAAAAABM4/wgbE2U0EcZ0/s400/Lassi's+spot+boy.jpg" width="400" /></a>Lassi, my original brown Finn Ewe, <br />
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had quads again this year, but only two boys made it, perhaps due to their size and vigor. We had an unusual year, in general, with many RAM lambs, a few preemies, breech births and stillborn. All of this was very hard on the shepherds, but usually the ewes got a little treasure or two to take care of in the end.</div>
Lassi is brown piebald/HST. Bred to Stillmeadow738 NY69-0205 (Toivo), a black HST badgerface ram, they created these fabulous boys, a Badger HST (already promised away) and a black piebald.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zANS_r8KbVg/UYfNDl1VLBI/AAAAAAAABNA/neu3eU2SZsI/s1600/Lassi+n+bgr+son.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zANS_r8KbVg/UYfNDl1VLBI/AAAAAAAABNA/neu3eU2SZsI/s400/Lassi+n+bgr+son.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next we see a lovely ewe lamb I named Frowsy (for now). Her wild, puppy dog, glossy fur will later be replaced by nice lambswool, I have learned from past lambs. However, last year's lamb like this stayed incredibly soft and pitch black. Frowsy is out of LRO Nappylainen, a Holstein-styled piebald and Sulev, last years' black HST ram with TripleL genetics. She will likely go to Missouri.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UR6VuNTI_Wk/UYfiOpVXGmI/AAAAAAAABNw/I6y46OZYFoc/s1600/Frowzy+lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UR6VuNTI_Wk/UYfiOpVXGmI/AAAAAAAABNw/I6y46OZYFoc/s400/Frowzy+lamb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" height="331" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0USa2QORd9Y/UYfNGIlYx-I/AAAAAAAABNI/POJfRUMvs0k/s400/Sukka's+boy.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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LRO Sukka, brown ewe, produced this handsome HST ram with Toivo.</div>
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I had to show you his stylin' jacket before he outgrew it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_a4WatZdcAw/UYf0GIFDN1I/AAAAAAAABOA/KBo35RpsDXE/s1600/Yale+Em+Kimi+lambs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_a4WatZdcAw/UYf0GIFDN1I/AAAAAAAABOA/KBo35RpsDXE/s640/Yale+Em+Kimi+lambs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Emily needed a picture of herself in her new Yale T-shirt for the student directory. She chose Kimi <br />
and quads to highlight. Coin, the ewe lamb with the quarter shaped spot, is behind Kimi; a ram lamb<br />
behind Coin. Em has Friendly the ewe lamb in her lap, while the biggest ram lamb sucks on her finger.</div>
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<br />Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-28511408915704875892013-04-15T23:28:00.001-05:002013-04-16T07:32:34.012-05:00Post-Shearing, Pre-LambingWe had a nice gathering of friends on shearing day last week. I thought I'd show you the cleaned up flock-- only a dozen sheep this year! 9 Finnsheep total, 3 Shetlands. <br />
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Here are the ewesies when the ordeal was over:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICVMjgBukVM/UWzNz9LIR-I/AAAAAAAABLU/a8hffVSW168/s1600/Ewes+after+shearing+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICVMjgBukVM/UWzNz9LIR-I/AAAAAAAABLU/a8hffVSW168/s640/Ewes+after+shearing+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium (Shetland, or S), Sukka, Kimi, Lassi (Finn-F) , Nina, little Shetland in front; Nappylainen (spotty Finn) Annie (S) and Mari (F) all pregant as can be. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zm0ymb-qLDY/UWzONPMQA1I/AAAAAAAABLk/luqQyVNSyo0/s1600/Kaia+walking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zm0ymb-qLDY/UWzONPMQA1I/AAAAAAAABLk/luqQyVNSyo0/s400/Kaia+walking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaia, Kimi's daughter, was hiding behind Lassi, above.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CafDUIxp2Ks/UWzORCjmJwI/AAAAAAAABLs/cUFTeqTo1_Y/s1600/Lassi+Nina+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CafDUIxp2Ks/UWzORCjmJwI/AAAAAAAABLs/cUFTeqTo1_Y/s400/Lassi+Nina+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lassi, Finn girl; Nina, Shetland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvGl61DIKtY/UWzOjxn9SGI/AAAAAAAABME/Ozllgj8UGZE/s1600/Nina+Kimi+Lassi+sheared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvGl61DIKtY/UWzOjxn9SGI/AAAAAAAABME/Ozllgj8UGZE/s400/Nina+Kimi+Lassi+sheared.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimi joins Lassi and Nina. Sooo big with babies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RG4_03Li12k/UWzOo9pOcfI/AAAAAAAABMM/to-flalO9xg/s1600/Nappylainen+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RG4_03Li12k/UWzOo9pOcfI/AAAAAAAABMM/to-flalO9xg/s400/Nappylainen+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nappylainen, pregnant now, moving to Missouri this summer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpB_RsR9hHw/UWzOjgQjBAI/AAAAAAAABL8/_UcGG_5Mfdg/s1600/Lanni+n+Sulev+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpB_RsR9hHw/UWzOjgQjBAI/AAAAAAAABL8/_UcGG_5Mfdg/s640/Lanni+n+Sulev+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lanni and Sulev, Finn yearling rams</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_aXmS4VXYA/UWzOSNSBcpI/AAAAAAAABL0/GKDQiGuF4P4/s1600/3+Finn+rams+2103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_aXmS4VXYA/UWzOSNSBcpI/AAAAAAAABL0/GKDQiGuF4P4/s640/3+Finn+rams+2103.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 3 Finn rams: Sulev, Lanni and Toivo, who's 1-2 yrs older.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGiuHt3L1EE/UWzN_H1q7dI/AAAAAAAABLc/FQuMDqlSk_s/s1600/Ram+faces+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGiuHt3L1EE/UWzN_H1q7dI/AAAAAAAABLc/FQuMDqlSk_s/s640/Ram+faces+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh feed us, please? We are nice boys.<br />
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Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-48765534234256063982013-02-26T12:58:00.002-06:002013-02-26T13:02:00.651-06:00Sheep in Minnesota winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally, a normal, snowy Minnesota winter-- we begin to worry about the effects of global warming when Minnesota has little snow and 40 degrees all winter, as it did last year.<br />
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The Finn and Shetland sheep don't mind the snow and cold, they are built for it. These Finn girls are mom and daughter: Lassi (right) and Sukka. It appears they opted to sleep outside and get snow-covered , rather than go into their lean-to for shelter.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q6KcDG5sI3M/US0BhmZrbrI/AAAAAAAABK8/G5YVNxGLoPk/s1600/wintersheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q6KcDG5sI3M/US0BhmZrbrI/AAAAAAAABK8/G5YVNxGLoPk/s640/wintersheep.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NWf1IuIHeVg/US0Aio66O-I/AAAAAAAABKs/s-4XMIS7tFA/s400/frost.jpg" width="400" /> I asked my husband to go outside and take hoarfrost photos on Sunday, and to please photograph the silly ewes walking in a line. The snow is less than a foot deep, but they will rarely deviate from the path they've trodden from feeder to shelter to fenceline where they hang out with the neighboring rams. The result was stunning.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZxg7P1F2Wg/US0Abrrn-WI/AAAAAAAABKk/b8JhF5rflGo/s1600/sheepline2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZxg7P1F2Wg/US0Abrrn-WI/AAAAAAAABKk/b8JhF5rflGo/s640/sheepline2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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DH and I also discussed selling all the sheep this summer-- which we've considered for some time. I need a shoulder surgery, and 3 months' rest . I am quite sure that means no hay bale or water bucket carrying. I also want to travel in winter. So... unless something else changes -- always possible-- we will sell off the remaining dozen Finn and Shetlands we have here, as well as the 2 dozen lambs expected to arrive in April.</div>
Keep a watch on this blog if you want more info, and message me to inquire. This will take a while to get done, but I know some people will have favorites-- as we always have.<br />
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Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-60040073683813387082012-11-12T13:23:00.001-06:002012-11-14T21:05:52.779-06:00A quick post about fleece<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcNnlT8kogg/UKFL1E2xr1I/AAAAAAAABJI/qP2T0YlN3WQ/s1600/County+Fair+Wool+winners+08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcNnlT8kogg/UKFL1E2xr1I/AAAAAAAABJI/qP2T0YlN3WQ/s1600/County+Fair+Wool+winners+08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frannie the cat, fleeces from our sheep</td></tr>
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</a>From my little flock of little sheep:<br />
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April's shearing of raw finn or shetland fleece in two colors:<br />
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I have a cream shetland and a white and black spotted Finn, both ewes' fleece. Each is about 5-6 lbs.<br />
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These fibers are well known to handspinners and felters for their soft beauty and color.<br />
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Raw fleece: Shetland $10/lb, Finn $14/lb. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9c3t6A0mQw/UKRaLvQY4PI/AAAAAAAABKA/0SIxKByqeTU/s1600/Kora's+2012+fleece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9c3t6A0mQw/UKRaLvQY4PI/AAAAAAAABKA/0SIxKByqeTU/s640/Kora's+2012+fleece.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kora, piebald black and white finnsheep whole fleece for sale.-- 5-1/2 lbs @ $14/lb + shipping.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ize21R9Z8YI/UKRan1CoZGI/AAAAAAAABKI/IvcVGYSyKyw/s1600/Maple's+fleece+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ize21R9Z8YI/UKRan1CoZGI/AAAAAAAABKI/IvcVGYSyKyw/s640/Maple's+fleece+2012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maple, cream color Shetland, 6 lb whole fleece @$10/lb + shipping.</td></tr>
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I also have roving, ready to spin or felt: charcoal/espresso color blended Finn/Shet $2.25/oz. <br />
Many colors of Shetland $2/oz. -- brown, brown/black blend, cream and fawn, cream and brown.<br />
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I've just sent 36 lbs. of raw wool to Hidden Valley to be made into roving-- most blended Finn and Shetland, some pure Shetland. Lovely wool and colors!Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-58624813957560733022012-10-25T12:06:00.000-05:002012-11-14T20:56:14.926-06:00Relaxing a bitA pudgy, orange-bellied fox squirrel is racing around my big lawns today, burying-- so quickly!-- half-cobs of field corn that the pickers missed. Will he return for them? Our three outdoor cats usually discourage any squirrels from staying here. Will corn sprout in my lawn next summer?<br />
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The super-abundant garden and apple tree produce is nearly gone, with only a half-dozen beets, kohlrabi and red cabbages remaining, along with 100 lbs of butternut squash. A few pounds of tomatoes will still turn red. We roasted all of these vegetables and the last summer squash for dinner last night. <br />
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I took nearly 100 lbs. of summer squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and butternut squash to the food shelf in nearby Norwood Young America this summer. My friend Trisha, City Mouse, took another 10-15 lbs. of tomatoes and eggplant to the St. Paul food shelf, and the same to other St. Paul friends. I've never donated it all, like that, before-- though I did give some summer squash to the lady at the McDonald's drive-through, once-- and always to the local librarians.<br />
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Much of the U.S. was bone-dry this summer, but Minnesota had regular rains through August. It's been dry since then, but today, it's finally really raining, turning to wet snow.<br />
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I am finishing up college financial aid applications for my daughter while it sleets outside. My biggest worry of the year, my unwell husband, leaves his cane at home now when he goes to work, still limping somewhat from his cancer surgery. He's doing great!<br />
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I spun wool at the Minnesota Zoo over the last two weekends. My spinning guild, the Northern Lights Handspinners, was asked to provide volunteers. It was a lot of fun to explain, even if 50 times over, how a spinning wheel works, what kind of fiber I'm spinning (wool! of course!) and what kind of animal it came from. The children were adorable, the adults very interesting and appreciative.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rbT6jzc8iDo/UKRVwEBe0uI/AAAAAAAABJc/aBN4zKRlgYU/s1600/ram+lamb+flock+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="377" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rbT6jzc8iDo/UKRVwEBe0uI/AAAAAAAABJc/aBN4zKRlgYU/s640/ram+lamb+flock+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two on the left and one on the furthest right need homes. I'll use the scurred guy quickly -- this week only!</td></tr>
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One of my 5 little Shetland rams otherwise destined for the freezer on the 21st went to a good home-- I am so happy! That's Apollo, the registered, 2-yr. old, polled moorit. We do get attached to them if they are sweet-tempered and have been here awhile. Another black fine wooled shetland, upper right here, also has a home. The two in the center are Finnsheep, who will stay here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PXOSCMJ-tUg/UKRV3h4PF_I/AAAAAAAABJk/YIdSfW-r-8Q/s1600/Mapleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PXOSCMJ-tUg/UKRV3h4PF_I/AAAAAAAABJk/YIdSfW-r-8Q/s400/Mapleton.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mapleton: mioget polled-- large mom, abundant fleece, sweet.<br />
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Three more 2012 ram lambs remain-- two brown and one black. One brown is scurred, meaning he possesses genes to produce both horned and polled lambs. His wool looks the BEST-- purly, crimpy and fine. He is almost TOO friendly. The other 3 are pretty good lambs, too-- but we only need one this year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLv8b3JpYc4/UKRWC66UF8I/AAAAAAAABJs/7SmAyVs9uvA/s1600/Candy%2527s+blk+black+ram+lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLv8b3JpYc4/UKRWC66UF8I/AAAAAAAABJs/7SmAyVs9uvA/s400/Candy%2527s+blk+black+ram+lamb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of LRO Candy, the HST ewe's, twins. Shy, super black (no sunbleaching), <br />tail could be tinier.</td></tr>
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<br />
Ok, back to that pesky application.<br />
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<br />Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-82115149245433182472012-09-12T12:23:00.003-05:002012-09-24T15:37:46.707-05:00Grace and Beauty The Grace is in so much that I see, but mostly in learning that my husband's sarcoma seems, for now at least, to be conquered! And it may be, forever! After 5 months under siege of that nasty disease, we are all beginning to breathe freely again. Howard had surgery to remove the (chemo-killed) tumor in his leg on August 9th. A month later, he's limping around with a cane, which he should be rid of in future months. Hooray.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_oLZOwCHtc/UGC8E3c-D3I/AAAAAAAABH0/jX7gc9fFTVk/s1600/Howard+Mikey+crutch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_oLZOwCHtc/UGC8E3c-D3I/AAAAAAAABH0/jX7gc9fFTVk/s400/Howard+Mikey+crutch.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howard's hair is growing back nicely-- it's longer now.</td></tr>
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Friends have blessed us all summer with visits to the farm-- sometimes just to cheer Howard in his recovery, often to do farm chores that he couldn't. Two or three old friends got to get on a tractor to mow our pastures for us-- thrilling, they say! Tom came early in the summer, while Paul took a turn this month.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-xB7GzbPdQ/UGC8_t8E8mI/AAAAAAAABIg/B1NX2jptlI8/s1600/Paul+tractor+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-xB7GzbPdQ/UGC8_t8E8mI/AAAAAAAABIg/B1NX2jptlI8/s640/Paul+tractor+hat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friend Paul hadn't been on a tractor for a long time.</td></tr>
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Howard's brother, Mark, cut thistles one 90 degree afternoon, with their childhood friend, Mike B. Friend, Trisha, helped plant our vegetable garden, which is now filling my kitchen with tomatoes, peppers, onions. Betti, Trisha, Paul and Ann helped prune and clear small trees and vines out of our windbreak in a few work sessions. Nicole came out and cleaned a barn or two with me, bless her for asking for the worst farm chores and then doing them! Howard's son helped unload hay last weekend, bringing along his wife and darling baby boy.<br />
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My sister, Iris, and my sister-in-law, Stacey, accompanied my daughter to Hawaii in June, when she attended Ag Discovery, a USDA-sponsored educational "camp" for teens. My gosh, that's going the extra mile --or 3000! (Now I know, it was probably more fun to do that than if the camp was in, say, North Dakota). In August, Iris picked Em up from band camp in Duluth, days after Howard's surgery.<br />
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If I forgot to mention anyone here, please let me know-- I am spinning out memories here, as they come-- I want to thank you all.<br />
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The Beauty is in all of nature around me-- fall is really coming, now. The maples outside my window are beginning to turn colors, and the fields of corn and soybeans, all around, have gone yellow. We have two apple trees-- Honeycrisp and Freedom-- that produced bumper crops of apples this year. Before the birds could get them all, we picked and brought the apples inside. <br />
Daily, I put apple slices in the dehydrator (did you know that one teen can eat 5 dried apples in a half hour while reading a book?). <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3OQ4UI2G3k/UGC9ZoxwybI/AAAAAAAABIw/o-U8stmWA0k/s1600/apples+%2526+wheelbarrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3OQ4UI2G3k/UGC9ZoxwybI/AAAAAAAABIw/o-U8stmWA0k/s640/apples+%2526+wheelbarrow.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Apple butter, apple sauce-- mmm-- these apples don't keep well, or bake well-- the Freedoms turn to mush when baked, or soften while stored. So-- many quarts of applesauce we'll have. I also have the BEST apple butter recipe around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e9VJkjVQo2U/UGC8OeZSQBI/AAAAAAAABH8/kNN8fqqMdM4/s1600/apple+peeler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e9VJkjVQo2U/UGC8OeZSQBI/AAAAAAAABH8/kNN8fqqMdM4/s640/apple+peeler.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVE my apple peeler/slicer.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W86t0Ou8QAE/UGC8z7FAq9I/AAAAAAAABIY/WOyNXO0iG3w/s1600/Apollo+facing+w+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W86t0Ou8QAE/UGC8z7FAq9I/AAAAAAAABIY/WOyNXO0iG3w/s640/Apollo+facing+w+boys.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some unemployed ram lambs, next to Little Red Oak Apollo, a polled Shetland Ram. All are for sale.</td></tr>
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Sheep sold really well here, this summer. Good thing, as I never updated my blog sale page. I do have ram lambs left-- a brown Finn ram and black and brown Shetland. But there's always a place for ram lambs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F9x4rsNyvjI/UGC9OCh471I/AAAAAAAABIo/wUdPHEOvczw/s1600/brn+Finn+ram+lamb+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F9x4rsNyvjI/UGC9OCh471I/AAAAAAAABIo/wUdPHEOvczw/s640/brn+Finn+ram+lamb+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Quad brown ram lamb, still available.</td></tr>
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I also have about 8 raw fleeces -- Finn and Shetland-- and a fair amount of blended roving for spinning or felting. I will market that now that I have time. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL6CEXFoK0E/UGC8m0x0pZI/AAAAAAAABIM/n5m2mtMW1Gs/s1600/Mari+Lassi+heads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL6CEXFoK0E/UGC8m0x0pZI/AAAAAAAABIM/n5m2mtMW1Gs/s400/Mari+Lassi+heads.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari and Lassi, the sweet Finnsheep ewes.</td></tr>
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And I will have time, again.<br />
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Things are looking better every day.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-72141431090362726102012-08-08T22:54:00.004-05:002012-08-12T22:32:58.479-05:00August 2012This summer's been built around chemotherapy sessions for my husband-- whose surgery to remove the much-diminished cancer in his thigh occurs tomorrow-- the end, we hope, of a long, stressful ordeal. Each month, Howard had two weeks of chemo. He lost his hair and sunburned easily, but it was nice that after the first round, he was able to take the chemo at home.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76qi28XykC8/UCMuzufkC7I/AAAAAAAABHA/ot-dEdrjMPE/s1600/Howard+Cancer+Summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76qi28XykC8/UCMuzufkC7I/AAAAAAAABHA/ot-dEdrjMPE/s400/Howard+Cancer+Summer.jpg" width="321" /></a>The ordinary life that occurred around that challenge was mostly vegetable gardening with my daughter, lamb and sheep-tending and selling, and a few trips to and from the airport.<br />
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In June, Em went to Hawaii-- the neatest program a country kid could win, if they truly have an interest in sciences related to agriculture. <br />
She plans to major in biology in college, and the (free) Ag Discovery program for high school students, put on by the USDA's APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) at universities around the country, was right up her alley. She got accepted to the 3 programs she applied to-- and her mom convinced her to pick the Hawaii trip. Why not?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E_h--eFPZc/UCMuSW2PtKI/AAAAAAAABGo/tA6biI-e-Bs/s1600/Em's+friends+overnite+July+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E_h--eFPZc/UCMuSW2PtKI/AAAAAAAABGo/tA6biI-e-Bs/s640/Em's+friends+overnite+July+12.jpg" width="640" /></a>When she returned, she had two school friends out to see the farm. They live in a suburb 25 miles away, where Em attends school. <br />
I don't think they'd ever fed corn to sheep so that they could pet them, before this.<br />
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Emily insisted on vegetable gardening this summer, though I'd have skipped that work for a year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bRbLpArHh4/UCMurTu-PLI/AAAAAAAABG4/BZOpAUbDovw/s1600/Pretty+Gardener+July+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bRbLpArHh4/UCMurTu-PLI/AAAAAAAABG4/BZOpAUbDovw/s400/Pretty+Gardener+July+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily loves gardening-- weeding! Because it's so satisfying, she says.</td></tr>
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We sold sheep left and right this summer, easily. Who knows why? The economy picked up and people felt freer to start new flocks on new family farms? <br />
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Some were for hobby flocks, some were pets, some were fiber animals, and I was unable to fill a commercial breeder's order for 10-12 Finnsheep ewes. <br />
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The buyers are always nice people, and I was happy to send some of my mature animals to good homes. It was our fear that cancer might make us disperse the flock in a hurry, and that often works out badly for the animals. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EpVXAyMEn6Y/UCMu9mYWj9I/AAAAAAAABHM/PEm5e3ZONJ4/s1600/Osmo+says+Goodbye+slurp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EpVXAyMEn6Y/UCMu9mYWj9I/AAAAAAAABHM/PEm5e3ZONJ4/s640/Osmo+says+Goodbye+slurp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite sweet Finn ram, Osmo, went to live with a spinner/shepherd who appreciated his potential. <br />
Barb took Paavo along with Osmo, and a little Minnesota hay to boot. </td></tr>
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We are delighted to have a much smaller flock now, knowing that two mature rams are happy in Iowa, and that my old best friend ewes, Candy and Maple, are clearing a forested homesite up near Canada. <br />
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Everyone keep their fingers crossed for Howard's recovery, as we hope for an easier year to come at Little Red Oak Farm!<br />
<br />Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-70982125355182351602012-06-18T15:07:00.004-05:002012-06-19T02:55:34.679-05:00Mid June, lambs are growing, pastures flowing!This post is part experiment: my cousin Jean just notified me that the blog was missing. Blogger agreed, and with a few button pushes, it was back up. A mystery.<br />
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I haven't written much lately. What's been happening?<br />
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I got all the outbuildings painted by an old friend who is, incidentally, a painter, and coincidentally, I ran into in the vet's office mid-May. So... one barn (lambing barn) was entirely re-painted, while 8-9 other small-to-huge, smokehouse-to-machine-shed barns got doors and windows and roof trim painted. All fresh!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zR-QneHzJw8/T-AtQmkLrmI/AAAAAAAABGM/qIGeJw8nCSs/s1600/Lambing+barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zR-QneHzJw8/T-AtQmkLrmI/AAAAAAAABGM/qIGeJw8nCSs/s400/Lambing+barn.jpg" width="400" /></a>A friend, Trish, my daughter, Emily, and my mom all helped me to plant the vegetable garden and flowerpots around the house. <br />
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The farmer who plants and harvests my tiny, tillable acreage remarked that he loved having another local guy mow his farmstead lawns, and I said, "give that guy my phone number". For $55 I get 5 hours back each week of my precious time, not spent on a mower. The guy with the zero-turn radius, 51" cutting deck machine does it all, well, in 90 minutes.<br />
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Love that. The theme here is, "getting help" on this farm, since my husband was diagnosed in March with a scary form of cancer-- malignant fibrous histiocytoma-- I'll say its name.<br />
Howard has to take chemo monthly for 4 months, then surgery, then radiation for 2 more months. You can see how just running to doctors and clinics would take up all available extra time, hence, the need for extra help.<br />
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Most all is planted and mowed and taken care of right now, so I should get out and take some sheep photos before the lambs are all grown. But we had a 6" rainfall overnight last night. For the first time ever, the lambs' and ewes' current shelters were in water up to the sheepies' knees last night, and it was raining, lightning, thundering so constantly that they wouldn't follow us to a dry shelter. <br />
Water ran like a wide creek through their pasture, between trees in the pine windbreak, and into the rams' pasture. <br />
I found the (4) rams in their plastic port-a-hut, similarly up to their knees in water, and when I called, they popped out of it.<br />
I could only hope that all sheepies found higher, dryer ground at the end of the pasture.<br />
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This morning, the sun was shining brightly, with lakes in fields and yards all around.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-50156810125527996492012-05-26T17:24:00.000-05:002012-05-31T11:03:39.389-05:00Finn and Shetland lambs-- take one, or two!I think the Finn ewe lambs have homes-- I still need to match up two that are left. I'll post them here, so their buyers can see them:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-snQxojbg7c8/T8FTUhH71oI/AAAAAAAABFQ/XGT7F0A9z34/s1600/Sukka+n+twins+best+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-snQxojbg7c8/T8FTUhH71oI/AAAAAAAABFQ/XGT7F0A9z34/s400/Sukka+n+twins+best+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Sukka is the brown yearling ewe who had these two black HST lambs. I will keep the boy, on the right. His sister, left-- not a terribly flattering pose, we've called Flower, for the skunk in Bambi-- if you see the resemblance. She's bigger and sturdier now. Sukka's been an excellent mom.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xw9gGSDTJI/T8FUJJ28lII/AAAAAAAABFY/IPjJKqQjQSk/s1600/Maple,+Em+Mikie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xw9gGSDTJI/T8FUJJ28lII/AAAAAAAABFY/IPjJKqQjQSk/s400/Maple,+Em+Mikie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Maple is a lovely musket Shetland ewe who is a dear pet of mine. Her mom was a largish, white ewe with superabundant fleece, Highland Hollows Bluebell; her dad was a beautiful mioget ram named FirthofFifth don Telmo Bourbon. She got his reddish brown color, which faded to cream. Maple has a modified brown ram lamb this year. Oh, Emily has Mikie the cat in her lap, as well as Maple.</div>
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Next, Emily wins the heart-- for the first time! Of a little black Finn ewe lamb. Her mom, Kimi, is the gray/black ewe in the middle, while Maple still hopes to hold onto her position with Emily...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPkkbEiJWgE/T8FXCIrHB5I/AAAAAAAABFw/keHFk9zil-g/s1600/Kimi's+black+lamb+w+ewes+n+Em.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPkkbEiJWgE/T8FXCIrHB5I/AAAAAAAABFw/keHFk9zil-g/s400/Kimi's+black+lamb+w+ewes+n+Em.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This other little Finn ewe lamb will go with a badgerface lamb (seen in the last post) to live in Missouri, with Jennifer. I just had to show you how danged sweet she is. Emily is petting her brown Shetland favorite, Annie, and the little ewe.</div>
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... but apparently, not enough!</div>
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<br />Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-58666748395137343682012-05-10T00:23:00.003-05:002012-05-10T22:55:45.475-05:00Last of the Spring lambs, Finn and ShetlandWill caption these soon, but here's a start: Finnsheep, black/grey ewe is Kimi. Her three lambs rest here. 4th sibling, Tiny Girl, went to live with a family to be raised on a bottle. All are strong, now. <br />
Next photo shows the three-- all black ewe lamb, HST (head socks tails) ewe, and ram.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F2r6AM3vFnI/T6tMV-OIhII/AAAAAAAABDU/VYudelOF_rY/s1600/Kimi+guards+her+3+lambs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F2r6AM3vFnI/T6tMV-OIhII/AAAAAAAABDU/VYudelOF_rY/s400/Kimi+guards+her+3+lambs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimi, finnsheep mom had quads. One bottle baby went to live with another family.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9GBvXJYM66o/T6tMaDIAqYI/AAAAAAAABDc/ubvQAAScWHs/s1600/Kimi's+three+May+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9GBvXJYM66o/T6tMaDIAqYI/AAAAAAAABDc/ubvQAAScWHs/s400/Kimi's+three+May+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are Kimi's remaining lambs: black ewe, black ewe with HST white markings, and black ram with white wisps on his crown. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5-7-H-wpsfg/T6tMfuyUb4I/AAAAAAAABDk/qCn8lWGBUow/s1600/Kora's+sweetest+girl+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5-7-H-wpsfg/T6tMfuyUb4I/AAAAAAAABDk/qCn8lWGBUow/s400/Kora's+sweetest+girl+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the sweetest little people-loving Finn ewe lamb ever. She is out of Kora, our elder piebald ewe, and Osmo, our elder brown ram. I can't bear to sell her to a commercial flock-- she's too sweet! She has a twin ram brother, looks quite the same.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-snzd0z2RO2o/T6tM3R_LOII/AAAAAAAABEE/PLA_lMdEXgU/s1600/Mari's+boy+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-snzd0z2RO2o/T6tM3R_LOII/AAAAAAAABEE/PLA_lMdEXgU/s400/Mari's+boy+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an amazing ram lamb out of my Stillmeadow badgerface ram (who is QR genotype for scrapie resistance) and my white ewe, Mari. The crimpy wool outlines his body as though he's wearing a lycra suit. Just amazing. Nice big boy, may carry brown.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CczecvgU1jk/T6tNACqBsMI/AAAAAAAABEU/EdMZ-CNIat0/s1600/Mari's+twins+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CczecvgU1jk/T6tNACqBsMI/AAAAAAAABEU/EdMZ-CNIat0/s400/Mari's+twins+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari's boy again, with his twin badgerface, HST sister. This girl is spoken for.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEsQlamm2uM/T6tMRtNaWcI/AAAAAAAABDM/N25TYKdq3jE/s1600/Annie's+girl+Mari's+boy+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEsQlamm2uM/T6tMRtNaWcI/AAAAAAAABDM/N25TYKdq3jE/s400/Annie's+girl+Mari's+boy+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari's ram lying down, Annie the Shetland's ewe lamb looks at us. She is musket, likely, and is spoken for by a family.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNZJ-y-o2Gg/T6tMjFRKAHI/AAAAAAAABDs/nqxpUQEyoTE/s1600/Lassi+n+sons+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNZJ-y-o2Gg/T6tMjFRKAHI/AAAAAAAABDs/nqxpUQEyoTE/s400/Lassi+n+sons+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lassi the brown Finn fusses over her young rams. She had quads; lost a ewe lamb before I got there, and lost a ram lamb a few days later. I regret that we missed noticing that the cute brown boy wasn't nursing well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jlh9AyKzp9Y/T6tMusLayJI/AAAAAAAABD8/xDjkALWc0So/s1600/Lassi,+Linden+Nappy+n+lambs+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jlh9AyKzp9Y/T6tMusLayJI/AAAAAAAABD8/xDjkALWc0So/s400/Lassi,+Linden+Nappy+n+lambs+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lassi guarding her two brown ram lambs. Both are big and sturdy, with lovely color.</td></tr>
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Nappylainen and the funniest little ram lamb (hers) ever. He has HST spotting from his dad, and body spots from his mom, so there's a little white everywhere, but... the funniest is on his rear. It's a big white circle, with a black dot in the middle.<br />
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Trillium, Shetland ewe, nurses her phaeomelanin-dusted boy.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wr5fJbm2hQo/T6tNkJhUB6I/AAAAAAAABFE/PU6ysl_pV1Q/s1600/Trillium+n+son+May+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wr5fJbm2hQo/T6tNkJhUB6I/AAAAAAAABFE/PU6ysl_pV1Q/s400/Trillium+n+son+May+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-22861803712790189162012-04-28T23:27:00.000-05:002012-04-28T23:27:04.584-05:00Lambs, lambs, lambsFirst, I love this-- it looks like Holstein cows grazing on our flat Minnesota pastures-- only it's two spotted Finnsheep. Mom, Kora, is on the right and daughter Nappylainen is on the left. Both produced lambs this past week. Kora had mostly-black twins, a boy and girl, big and healthy-- and Nappy produced a big healthy ram lamb. Hers has more spottedness-- but nothing like the moms' spots. First year Finns often have singles, but after that, it's twins, triplets, quads, and sometimes, more.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_-1scmB5cY/T5y__TSibYI/AAAAAAAABC4/dpcC-yA0ePY/s1600/Nappy+n+Kora+graze+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_-1scmB5cY/T5y__TSibYI/AAAAAAAABC4/dpcC-yA0ePY/s400/Nappy+n+Kora+graze+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VJkXcutv9k/T5y_3yrFesI/AAAAAAAABCw/kndPrf14LHc/s1600/Mari+n+twins+out+first+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VJkXcutv9k/T5y_3yrFesI/AAAAAAAABCw/kndPrf14LHc/s400/Mari+n+twins+out+first+time.jpg" width="400" /></a>Remember to double click on photos to show those lambs' amazing cuteness up close...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzNs0OvrS1g/T5zAHZ4M6KI/AAAAAAAABDA/qk9JqF3V-V4/s1600/lil+Badger+ewe+Apr+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzNs0OvrS1g/T5zAHZ4M6KI/AAAAAAAABDA/qk9JqF3V-V4/s400/lil+Badger+ewe+Apr+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
A few photos of Mari, the white Finnsheep, and her badgerfaced ewe lamb and black HST ram lamb: The badgerface girl is going to Missouri, but the boy hasn't been promised anywhere, yet. Both appear to have wonderful wool coming. Both are big, healthy twins. Last year Mari had triplets. One each brown, black and white lambs.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-9498107161984014232012-04-24T12:34:00.000-05:002012-04-24T12:45:27.071-05:00Forrest's been lucky---here are some of his lambs.Dear Husband (DH) Howard's first hospital day for chemo coincided with Forrest's butcher date, so Forrest got lucky and missed his butcher appointment. <br />
Then, I got lambing updates from the two farms I leant Forrest to last fall. Now I don't know: if I really want a spotted, polled ram, is this what Forrest carries? Or should I keep looking? It seems that what Forrest throws are bersugget or headsplashed spotted lambs, but not the spottedness I am after, which is harder to get. Here's a photo of what HALF of his 10 or so lambs looked like:<br />
Friend Lori, holding one twin he produced out of her ewe, LittleRedOak Mallow, a moorit who has thrown HST lambs (white Head, Socks, Tail). Forrest, remember is musket-- and had white tracery on his face as a lamb.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BiWjLwWbcBQ/T5bhaBSIy5I/AAAAAAAABCA/gAYC7Vbkd5s/s1600/2012_04_18_4458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BiWjLwWbcBQ/T5bhaBSIy5I/AAAAAAAABCA/gAYC7Vbkd5s/s400/2012_04_18_4458.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />This bersugget patterned lamb is also from Mallow.<br />
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<br />Next, triplets he fathered from LRO Catnip, a wildly spotted moorit ewe (Mallow's twin! The wool looks tightly crimped.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jU2YxMX8J9E/T5bhG7ni39I/AAAAAAAABBw/-pxROayGLr0/s1600/2012_04_18_4456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jU2YxMX8J9E/T5bhG7ni39I/AAAAAAAABBw/-pxROayGLr0/s400/2012_04_18_4456.jpg" width="400" /></a>And finally, a black lamb with white splashes out of LRO SunBear, a black ewe whose mom had even more white head splashes. </div>
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So, what do you all think of Forrest's potential? Piebald spotting is hard to find; polled rams are hard to find, and the two together are very few! I need one!<br />.</div>Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-56990451330351429492012-04-24T11:33:00.002-05:002012-04-28T23:09:36.662-05:00Two new lambs, DH returns to workBlogger changes still confound, but I'll get the hang of it, I am sure.<br />
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Yesterday the skies cleared, leaves progressed their slow-motion greening on ash and maple trees around the farm, and Mari the Finn ewe gave birth on the green grass of the barnyard . <br />
Howard had gone back to work after 2 weeks of chemo (1 in hospital) and chemo recovery (at home).<br />
Em had gone back to school, and I had the farmstead all to myself. A welcome change on a beautiful, sunny day.<br />
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I thought you might like to see some of the steps involved. First, the bubble of placental stuff emerges.<br />
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I sat on a haywagon a respectful distance away, and took pictures as Mari bravely pushed those lambs out by herself. Stupid, intrusive chickens hung around, though, waiting to peck at any interesting birthing matter... eeeuuuu.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ox2TX1x_YYs/T5y9-UnrZ6I/AAAAAAAABCo/CKVaG8dZhrk/s1600/Maris+2nd+lamb+out+Apr+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ox2TX1x_YYs/T5y9-UnrZ6I/AAAAAAAABCo/CKVaG8dZhrk/s400/Maris+2nd+lamb+out+Apr+12.jpg" width="400" /></a>Seems that most other ewes will vanish from the site when one decides to give birth. I think they are respecting an intensely private moment between mom and babies, but they might think "get me the hell out of here, that looks painful!"</div>
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Nice job, Mari. The little badgerface ewe lamb is already spoken for. Her mostly-black ram lamb is not, yet.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-57727287874581586762012-04-21T21:03:00.001-05:002012-04-28T23:03:07.448-05:00Lambs arrivingThis is really a test to see if the new Blogger format works. I'll be back to edit. (Days later, still don't understand the changed format or how to access)<br />
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But it's true-- Shetland ewe lamb, Little Red Oak Trillium, had a white ram lamb on Tuesday. Uneventful delivery, for us anyway. We were gone. She did it all by herself.<br />
On Thursday, Finn ewe, Kora the spotty cow-sheep delivered just two lambs. She had triplets last year, so, oh well. And nearly solid black, no wild carnival-splashed up lambs.<br />
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Little Annie, the Shetland pet, had moorit twins by Friday a.m.-- boy and girl--<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CJRt6Au1Wjc/T5y9RPoJeVI/AAAAAAAABCQ/UAiNY1Xa7-A/s1600/Annie+n+twins+Apr+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CJRt6Au1Wjc/T5y9RPoJeVI/AAAAAAAABCQ/UAiNY1Xa7-A/s400/Annie+n+twins+Apr+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
and now it's quiet in the lamb barn.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-4502073049500267262012-04-03T22:34:00.001-05:002012-04-03T22:36:05.377-05:00Last Chance for Forrest<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKNjTgXwtsw/T3u7cEUgm0I/AAAAAAAABAw/jtkvAFMB93w/s1600/Image043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKNjTgXwtsw/T3u7cEUgm0I/AAAAAAAABAw/jtkvAFMB93w/s400/Image043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Little Red Oak Forrest has a date with the butcher on Monday, unless you want him, and speak up quickly!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">After Shearing Day on Saturday (a great, fun time, by the way, and just look at all of those shiny, cleaned- up sheep) he acted as rams do, and I decided I'd had it with him. He's just a ram, not particularly aggressive, nor at all wild-- but when the sheep don't recognize each other after getting haircuts, they often butt heads to re-establish the pecking order, and Forrest wants to be No. 1! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Besides, I have 3 rams for both breeds I own, Finns and Shetlands. Forrest is so related to most of my ewes--he's a Highland Hollows Bluebell son. I am pretty proud of everything about him-- his hornless little head, his nice square build. His fleece is super-abundant, crimpy, and I had him micron'ed. His AFD was 27 at 2 yrs old, probably "good 'nuff" for many folks. I just want to keep moving on and keep my numbers down. I will look for an unrelated ram this summer.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are all 3 Shetland rams. The little brown guy is only 9 months old-- a Forrest son-- he got about 4 ewes PG in a few days-- when I didn't think he could. His fleece is baby-fine yet, at 20 AFD, so I will keep him to see how he works out.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oxw7kxxpvaE/T3u79N7AxdI/AAAAAAAABBA/afAC_HnF-n0/s1600/Image042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oxw7kxxpvaE/T3u79N7AxdI/AAAAAAAABBA/afAC_HnF-n0/s400/Image042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0PWNa6SE2rc/T3u8QxbaJzI/AAAAAAAABBY/J-xQDbO61Eo/s1600/Image035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0PWNa6SE2rc/T3u8QxbaJzI/AAAAAAAABBY/J-xQDbO61Eo/s400/Image035.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My husband, Howard, holding the little ram, Apollo, waiting for shearing! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2jSKVybpd0/T3u8H7GEwAI/AAAAAAAABBQ/CdrV0nlKfjU/s1600/Image021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2jSKVybpd0/T3u8H7GEwAI/AAAAAAAABBQ/CdrV0nlKfjU/s400/Image021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">There are so many big issues happening in my life right now it's hard to believe that a month ago I was relaxing, tying this quilt with Betty Ann-- the lady who was born in this farm house many years ago!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KtGcU3l36w/T3u8BcIDvlI/AAAAAAAABBI/0ERGqsX9jrs/s1600/Image004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Now my, my, what lovely wool. Just wish I could remember whose it was! Emily will remember. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KtGcU3l36w/T3u8BcIDvlI/AAAAAAAABBI/0ERGqsX9jrs/s400/Image004.jpg" width="400" /></div>Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-67335676830341589412012-03-28T09:13:00.000-05:002012-03-28T09:13:14.254-05:00Flock reduction after ShearingWe shear on Saturday! and it will be fun, with all of the friends and helpers who come out.<br />
There's a sad shadow over the farm this week, though, as my husband just heard he'll have a surgery and long treatment period and ... this spring is going to suck for him. All is very uncertain.<br />
<br />
The little flock depends on labor he won't be able to provide, so...<br />
A shepherd friend is taking home two bred Finn ewe lambs on Saturday afternoon. That will cut my lambing down to only 10 ewes. I'll still get 25-30 lambs, I bet...<br />
<br />
I also need to sell more mature ewes, and have decided to sell my dear Maple, a modified musket Shetland, <br />
and Elise, a white Shetland ewe out of Bramble Elsie. <br />
I didn't breed either one this winter, because I lacked a solid color ram and didn't want the offspring to have two light-color genes. <br />
<br />
Maple is an old pet of mine. Well, not OLD, she is 4 or 5-- but my OLD friend.<br />
She and Elise have given me lots of twins. Elise's are always black or white, while Maple's have been musket or brown and last year, black gulmogets. Elise has crimpy even-length fleece, while Maple has the super-abundant longer wool of her mom, Highland Hollows Bluebell. <br />
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More ewes, rams, and lots of lambs will need to be sold soon, but I have to decide who.<br />
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I'll put some photos in here soon.<br />
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Thanks, Everyone, for the nice words and prayers you've been sending up for Howard.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-7946140433679251872012-02-21T16:46:00.001-06:002012-02-21T16:47:42.944-06:00Shearing Day March 31st!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5YGcOyq2WU/T0QcxNYkgPI/AAAAAAAABAo/CUE7YpGA-VE/s1600/kitter+on+leanto+sm+file.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" lda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5YGcOyq2WU/T0QcxNYkgPI/AAAAAAAABAo/CUE7YpGA-VE/s640/kitter+on+leanto+sm+file.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitter on a cold tin roof-- of the sheep lean-to. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sat. March 31st, I think-- I'd better confirm with that shearer. If you need specifics, email me or call. Comment here if you don't have the contact info!</div><br />
Helpers welcome, 10am. Potluck lunch, plenty to do until mid-afternoon.<br />
<br />
Now, here's a great photo of Emily, showing off the handspun, handknitted gloves I asked a Spinning Guild friend, Elizabeth, to make for her.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNc8UEpIFWY/T0Qb0utD_sI/AAAAAAAABAQ/ojWq_fknlzY/s1600/Kora+Em+and+gloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" lda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNc8UEpIFWY/T0Qb0utD_sI/AAAAAAAABAQ/ojWq_fknlzY/s640/Kora+Em+and+gloves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">They are finn wool-- so we posed Emily with our biggest Finn ewe, Kora-- wait, I joke. We could not make a ewe do this, she was simply the one who went over to Emily, seated in the field. Nevertheless, she's lovely, don't you think? (both girls, really)</div><br />
The gloves are fingerless, with a mitten-fingertip flap buttoned back, see?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wubpyxJNuTk/T0QcAhPTJuI/AAAAAAAABAY/77li5QgWr34/s1600/fingerless+gloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" lda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wubpyxJNuTk/T0QcAhPTJuI/AAAAAAAABAY/77li5QgWr34/s400/fingerless+gloves.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, here am I, sitting nearby, approached by... Kora, again! The biggest Finn ewe here, on right, the youngest, tiny Shetland ewe lamb in front, Artemis-- and her mom, Annie, off on the left.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Another nice day in this very warm winter in Minnesota.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you want Elizabeth to make you gloves, I'll pass the word on, just ask!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRXEemiDilE/T0QcMgIoSmI/AAAAAAAABAg/XDlG23Yt96U/s1600/Gail+and+sheep+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" lda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRXEemiDilE/T0QcMgIoSmI/AAAAAAAABAg/XDlG23Yt96U/s640/Gail+and+sheep+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-49363522414810943172012-01-17T19:17:00.001-06:002012-01-17T19:22:52.580-06:00Dr. Seuss wisdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9INv0Z6vEU/TxYe2Lg7JVI/AAAAAAAABAI/rCN0AI9EMTY/s1600/Dr+Seuss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9INv0Z6vEU/TxYe2Lg7JVI/AAAAAAAABAI/rCN0AI9EMTY/s640/Dr+Seuss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-29037334065071276552011-12-31T23:25:00.002-06:002012-01-17T19:16:27.725-06:00A New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I didn't write much all year. It was a hard, sweet year saying goodbye to two elders in my life, and quite consuming. In March, to my papa, who helped me so much on this little farm. 83 is a good, long life, so we can't say we were cheated out of time with him--but I miss him terribly. My dad really liked driving out the 40 miles from his Minneapolis home to work around the farm, building chicken feeders and nest boxes, indoor pens and outdoor chicken yard; later, sheep feeders and salt boxes-- then rebuilding the old sheep lean-to. He grew up on a farm, and after raising us in the city, liked experiencing the animals and farm decisions all over again. From his ancient vocabulary came words like "Clucks"-- the name for a broody hen, and "the dead furrow"-- the furrow at the edge of a field where rain water pools, having nothing planted in it. He enthusiastically showed us how to butcher chickens and ducks-- and how to use his shotgun for unwelcome animals. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLWSOS2_YjM/TxYcLtD0MQI/AAAAAAAAA_4/KEDeQ5V2dXA/s1600/Grandma+Grpa+etc+visit+Nov+09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" kba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLWSOS2_YjM/TxYcLtD0MQI/AAAAAAAAA_4/KEDeQ5V2dXA/s640/Grandma+Grpa+etc+visit+Nov+09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A picture from Dad's last visit to the farm. My mom, their slightly younger friend, and my dad on the right, talking to Howard, obscured, next to him.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">From my garden, I made him pickled beets; liver pate and whole roasting birds from our chicken flock; and he was delighted when we brought orphan lambs to his house, one Easter Sunday.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He wired the chicken house, the pig barn and the granary for me, being a retired electrician. He taught me how to use power tools when he was in his 60s and I in my 40s-- and how to tie bundles of brush when you cut a tree down. He left me his miter saw, which we used to cut up cords of small firewood together.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I couldn't use tools all of 2011 because it made me too sad. Finally, in December, firewood needed cutting and I got out the miter saw... and it was fun to remember him while working. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAnFlwxHN8A/TxYb530J3DI/AAAAAAAAA_w/7o5RFFmPLss/s1600/Paul%2527s+art+exhibit+11+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAnFlwxHN8A/TxYb530J3DI/AAAAAAAAA_w/7o5RFFmPLss/s320/Paul%2527s+art+exhibit+11+2010.jpg" width="240" /></a>The other elder I lost was my old friend, Paul, who left his life in my hands when he had a stroke 2 years ago. He was my "job" (as his guardian) all of 2010, a sweet obligation. In May, 2011 he died suddenly, a blessing, considered so by his many friends. By then, I was getting pretty good at arranging end-of-life care, and we honored him well.</div><br />
All of this overshadowed the farm life-- which was full and rich on its own. We had 36 lambs born-- the most ever. Our four, mature finnsheep ewes had their first triplets (3 sets) and quads (one set). My little family worked so well together, all year.<br />
<br />
Emily insisted we have another big vegetable garden, and we all took care of sheep, meeting the buyers, transporting sheep to new homes-- until our little flock was down to 22 again.<br />
<br />
Now the sheep are calmly waiting until the excitement of lambs in springtime. The gardens are all trimmed up, though curiously lacking the snow cover of a normal, January, Minnesota winter! It's been above freezing many, many days this winter, and snow exists only in shady patches.<br />
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I'll put some photos in here soon.<br />
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Happy New Year, everyone.<br />
<img height="58" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLWSOS2_YjM/TxYcLtD0MQI/AAAAAAAAA_4/KEDeQ5V2dXA/s640/Grandma+Grpa+etc+visit+Nov+09.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 213px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 356px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-80785447167647771042011-11-18T21:58:00.002-06:002011-11-18T22:04:47.004-06:00Nearing Turkey time<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_huZqfk-amQ/TsckjivQt8I/AAAAAAAAA-0/eVN4McZO9Hw/s1600/Candy+Oct+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_huZqfk-amQ/TsckjivQt8I/AAAAAAAAA-0/eVN4McZO9Hw/s400/Candy+Oct+11.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The sheepies are getting winter coats on; they still like to sleep outdoors here and there around the barnyard.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is Candy, a stunner who didn't like us until midwinter her first year. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Emily fed her and a few other ewe lamb companions their hay in a small barn-- then sat in the middle of the hay until gradually, she touched each one, then stroked, and then mesmerized them. <br />
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Now Candy is our pal.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here are a few of this year's ewe crop that we are keeping: the spotty one, far back, is a finnsheep, Nappylainen. Love those spots and all else about her.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g81Rt8kYlgE/Tsckq_LM3XI/AAAAAAAAA-8/G-EbTve-g2Q/s1600/ewe+lamb+keepers+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g81Rt8kYlgE/Tsckq_LM3XI/AAAAAAAAA-8/G-EbTve-g2Q/s400/ewe+lamb+keepers+2011.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Bluebell's white, phaeo-spotted daughter, Trillium is next. Looks just like Bluebell as a lamb. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love her.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In front is Nina, a sweet little ewe lamb out of Boston Lake Niav and Kimberwood Harrison.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was hard to let Trillium and Nina's mothers move on to other Minnesota flocks, but we did.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The consolation prize is having girls who look just like their moms, and are just as friendly.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Halloween! Emily was a "mage"-- she tells me, an enchantress. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">But she had a minute to plink out some piano tunes before her night out.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58F7ITk83p0/Tsck5QPM7YI/AAAAAAAAA_M/1VlzGklTI1Y/s1600/Em+mage++piano+halloween+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="308" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58F7ITk83p0/Tsck5QPM7YI/AAAAAAAAA_M/1VlzGklTI1Y/s400/Em+mage++piano+halloween+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And another <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeqpM7S5BxY/TsckvUSLBXI/AAAAAAAAA_E/TLJevohPkbw/s1600/Em+n+Gail+Halloween+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeqpM7S5BxY/TsckvUSLBXI/AAAAAAAAA_E/TLJevohPkbw/s400/Em+n+Gail+Halloween+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a> moment to hug her mama, who wrapped up in the lovely cloak Auntie Iris made.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We have had a very dry autumn in Minnesota. I got so mad at crows drinking from my ewes' water pail, until I saw bluebirds doing the same, one day. A flock must've been migrating, as there were about 30 bluebirds all in one group, taking turns at the "fountain". I sneaked outside with a camera and hid behind the pumphouse to capture this:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMm6gHqbHlI/Tsckfy_289I/AAAAAAAAA-s/4xYIoDnTo6w/s1600/Bluebirds+at+waterer+Oct+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMm6gHqbHlI/Tsckfy_289I/AAAAAAAAA-s/4xYIoDnTo6w/s640/Bluebirds+at+waterer+Oct+2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0OsPMY5_gh4/TsclIgKSR-I/AAAAAAAAA_U/Zjx9ECus6As/s1600/bluebird+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0OsPMY5_gh4/TsclIgKSR-I/AAAAAAAAA_U/Zjx9ECus6As/s640/bluebird+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I have been extra busy taking care of my elder mom, post-op from a big surgery-- but she's mending now--<br />
and at this late date, I've been selling ewes and rams left and right! How strange, so late in the season-- but how nice to have my flock the size I want it to be!<br />
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-36887527216707791142011-10-12T02:07:00.001-05:002011-10-12T02:08:59.215-05:00So it's Autumn now....DH, Howard, was out taking pictures on the weekend morning, again:<br />
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Sheep come running to us now that they get a bale of hay every day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X5n0F3vvowA/TpU7Nc-yHjI/AAAAAAAAA9w/QEaO7PUUlR4/s1600/Morning%2BAutumn%2Bsheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X5n0F3vvowA/TpU7Nc-yHjI/AAAAAAAAA9w/QEaO7PUUlR4/s640/Morning%2BAutumn%2Bsheep.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Farmers took up most of the corn and soybeans all around us, last week:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vt7JCxDYsiY/TpU7N1d_2II/AAAAAAAAA98/PW4_qjtNyDQ/s1600/Stoeckmans%2Bcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vt7JCxDYsiY/TpU7N1d_2II/AAAAAAAAA98/PW4_qjtNyDQ/s640/Stoeckmans%2Bcorn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I love the look of this little Finn ewe lamb, one of quads born on Easter<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pE6Ms7eV4Uk/TpU7ObOKDOI/AAAAAAAAA-I/xRh8WJVnPng/s1600/Lassi%2527s%2Bbrown%2Blamb%2BOct%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pE6Ms7eV4Uk/TpU7ObOKDOI/AAAAAAAAA-I/xRh8WJVnPng/s400/Lassi%2527s%2Bbrown%2Blamb%2BOct%2B11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Fall will soon give way to, well, you know...Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3036390833719709995.post-13636109810748956222011-10-03T11:13:00.002-05:002011-10-03T11:17:31.149-05:00Before I give in to Autumn...My vegetable garden in late August, before September's frost took it. The beach umbrella is a genius device for vegetable picking out of the sun:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxxYYJogqy0/TondGVNYaTI/AAAAAAAAA9c/mtzr7lWhrPI/s1600/veg%2Bgarden%2BAug%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxxYYJogqy0/TondGVNYaTI/AAAAAAAAA9c/mtzr7lWhrPI/s400/veg%2Bgarden%2BAug%2B11.jpg" /></a></div>We planted a huge area in coreopsis, thinking there were plenty of vegetables. I tried to catch the sheep grazing, beyond:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ3FYRIzW0Y/TonchmiWirI/AAAAAAAAA9U/0GNBh8QQzjs/s1600/Coreopsis%2Bgarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ3FYRIzW0Y/TonchmiWirI/AAAAAAAAA9U/0GNBh8QQzjs/s400/Coreopsis%2Bgarden.jpg" /></a></div>Frances the kitty had been resting among the swiss chard, until I pulled the camera out:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JAsP-hw921o/ToncJxKehHI/AAAAAAAAA9M/1OFbKHHdUrs/s1600/Frances%2Bin%2Bthe%2BChard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JAsP-hw921o/ToncJxKehHI/AAAAAAAAA9M/1OFbKHHdUrs/s400/Frances%2Bin%2Bthe%2BChard.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In the sheep world, I can't believe I did this, but, when Karen Byron needed a moorit ram, I sent LittleRedOak Ash home with her!<br />
Forrest, the musket ram, is every bit as good, just light color, I reasoned. And there's a little guy born in June who may be equal to Ash. The mighty, curently still-tiny, Apollo!<br />
(Pictures soon)<br />
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Some of my lambs left in the past month; there are still a half dozen ewe lambs and ram lambs that need homes--more finns than Shetlands.<br />
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This has been a hard-working year for me, actually, two-- with elder parents, in-laws and an elder friend all needing lots of time. We may not even breed some sheep this winter-- for an easier springtime at lambing season.<br />
Fewer lambs means more time to enjoy them! We'll see.Gail Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09644852656633107525noreply@blogger.com1