Good Fences

Breeding groups are finally all set up, and we are depending on our good fences to keep the rams on their best behavior.  We still have some hoof trimming to accomplish with Aragorn's ladies but we've got the breeding harness on him in the meantime.
We were blessed with a gofer full of unsaleable pumpkins by our friends at Vested Heirs Farm.  They provide some bright spots in the somewhat dreary pasture, and the flock is definitely enjoying the late autumn treat.
Joining The Run*A*Round Ranch Report for Good Fences

Happy Thanksgiving!

Messenger
by Mary Oliver
My work is loving the world.

Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—

          equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?

Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
          keep my mind on what matters,

which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be
          astonished.

The phoebe, the delphinium.

The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.

Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,



which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart

          and these body-clothes,

a mouth with which to give shouts of joy

          to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,

telling them all, over and over, how it is

          that we live forever.

Sunday Muse

"Yet one smile more, departing, distant sun!
One mellow smile through the soft vapory air,
Ere, o'er the frozen earth, the loud winds run,
Or snows are sifted o'er the meadows bare.
One smile on the brown hills and naked trees,
And the dark rocks whose summer wreaths are cast,
And the blue gentian-flower, that, in the breeze,
Nods lonely, of her beauteous race the last.
Yet a few sunny days, in which the bee
Shall murmur by the hedge that skirts the way,
The cricket chirp upon the russet lea,
And man delight to linger in thy ray.
Yet one rich smile, and we will try to bear
The piercing winter frost, and winds, and darkened air."
-   William Cullen Bryant, Autum  

Weekly Top Shot

Most of the leaves have disappeared during this week of wind and rain, but last Sunday the hills were still filled with glorious color.  Here our old barn is peeking through the beautiful autumn hillside leaves.

joining Weekly Top Shot with The View From Right Here

Shearing

Saturday was shearing day, and we have been blessed with a beautiful crop of fleeces.  With the fleece off it will be easier to keep an eye on the lambs' conditions in between our scheduled scoring days.  Saturday was chilly, damp and foggy, but the sun came out for just a little bit on Sunday.  Despite all the rain, the leaves have hung in there and fall has been just beautiful.

Sunday Smile

Almost November

Well, the lambs are sheared and the fiber room is full to the brim of lovely fleeces just waiting to be skirted.  We've had our October snow and flirt with winter.  Thankfully it melted quickly.  The ewes are in their second paddock of the hayfield.  The rams have been walking the fence line, just waiting for their ladies to be readied for breeding.  It's almost November, can you believe it?

{this moment}

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

Sunday Muse

l(a

le

af

fa

ll

s)

one

l

iness

 

l(a leaf falls)oneliness by e. e. cummings

Weekly Top Shot

The old barn, the hayfield, those puffy clouds *sigh*... the glory of autumn
joining Madge at The View From Right Here for Weekly Top Shot


 

{this moment}

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

Sam and the Boys

In our flurry of moving activity, even Samson got in the rotating pastures mix.  He is now in with Liam, Strider and Jack.  A move he seems to be enjoying if the smile on his face in any indication.  The boys... they just try to ignore him.

Moving Around

A little late this year, but we finally moved the ewes to the hayfield pasture on Saturday.  Mid-summer was rainy so hay was made later this year.  Then it seemed to take the grass a little longer than usual to re-grow to pasture length.  The move went quite smoothly, and even Luke and Willet cooperated.  The ewes are very happy in their new pasture, and will remain there (with some paddock moving) until breeding preparations begin.

{this moment}

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

Happy October!

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
~ L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Scenes from the Buckwheat Festival

Sunday Muse

"Angels are visible to those who accept the light
 and break the pact made with darkness."
"The Valkyries" ~ Paul Coehlo

{this moment}

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

Friday's Fences

Liam, Strider and Jack are enjoying the cool fall weather.
joining Life According to Jan and Jer for Friday's Fences

The Buckwheat Festival

It's Buckwheat Time!  Our County Fair 'unofficially' begins today, and for all the youngsters who have worked so hard with their livestock and their exhibits, it can't come fast enough.  The banners are up.  The buckwheat batter is being prepared.  The rides are being assembled.  The barns will fill up tonight, and Lena's market lambs are ready to go.  Please, wish her luck!