Six Months

Hard to believe... the boys are six-months-old!  They are doing great and are right now on their own with the bred ewes.  They do still have their... ummmm... teachable moments but all in all they have wonderful natural abilities and are just amazing.

Asher - ready to take off down the hill

Birka - guarding Hera

Red - watching the chickens

Farewell to February

February said farewell in a lovely way... cold temperatures but lots of sunshine.  It seemed as if suddenly the birds truly believed that spring would soon arrive and began their songs in earnest.  March 1st definitely roared in like a lion, but oh, on that last day of February, we all enjoyed the sunshine and had a renewed sense of hope.

Happy New Year!

"And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke 

What better way to start the new year, than with a peek in at what the pups have been up to?  The boys have been making forays into the pasture sometime in the company of the shepherdess/s but most of the time they have been helping their mama out.  Bella is a tough instructor and keeps them pretty much in line. She is still quite affectionate, but doesn't take any nonsense.  Right now the pups are spending part of the day in the pasture and part of it in the barn next to a group of ram lambs. Although they are very busy learning their craft, Bella still finds time to work a little play in to the day.  She is doing such a great job being a mama.

Pink and Asher's Excellent Adventure

Pink and Asher are two very curious pups.  Under the corral gate and off to explore they go.  Just a few yards into the pasture and they can watch the big girls in Liam's paddock.  They really love to watch them and are on their best behavior... no barking, just a lot of 'guarding'.  Then when we call "Come, puppies, come", they squeeze back under the corral gate and come running. It is so wonderful to observe their natural inclinations to be good livestock guardian dogs.

{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

Puppy Update

The puppies were four weeks old yesterday. They have begun to eat a little solid food and are becoming very active.They all display good livestock guardian instincts, such as barking when someone comes in the barn door.
Both parents are working livestock guardians and provide protection to our flock.
Belladonna is a registered Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese 
Samson is a purebred Komondor 
The puppies were wormed at three weeks. We do not have an available date yet as we are taking things slowly, watching closely to provide for the family's growing needs.
There are two females and four males. Some of the puppies will be available to farm approved homes at $350

Puppy Pillows

The puppies are getting fat and sassy... slowly beginning to try to walk.  They look like tiny little tanks, trying to lift their bellies off the ground far enough to get around.  They are beginning to yip and yap a little also.  Still, their favorite activity is sleeping... snuggling, cuddling, using each other as little puppy pillows... all in their sweet little puppy piles.
Honestly, we could spend the entire day just watching them.

It's a..... Surprise

About a year ago we had Bella and Samson to the vet and had some discussion about breeding.  For months and months we watched and noted and counted days... and watched and noted and counted days... and watched and noted and counted days.  And nothing happened.  Seasons turned and we turned to other tasks - shearing, lambing, hay making.  And then in the last few weeks, the kids started noticing a change in Bella.  She was a little grouchy and as they put it, becoming obese.
And so, in her own time and season, Mother Nature took charge and delivered the most wonderful surprise... actually seven beautiful surprises. We're so proud of our wonderful mama and of course the papa too.

Good Fences - Early Morning

Samson is off on an early morning patrol around the perimeter of the back paddock.
A good fence and a couple of good guardian dogs keep the flock safe from harm.

Joining TexWisGirl at The Run*A*Round Ranch for a link-up at 'Good Fences'.

{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.

One of These Things

We've been playing a lot of "One of These Things Is Not Like the Other" for the last week or so.  With the heavy snowfalls and the apparently inherent 'es-capability' of hoggets, there has been an on-going game of musical pastures.  Each morning at feeding time everyone is moved back to their appointed pasture, and the next morning everyone is back in the barn paddock.  This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing except for the varying nutritional needs of the different groups.  We didn't really have the time or energy to discover and repair the escape routes before the next round of snow began.  So for now... musical pastures it is :)

{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.

Freezing Fog

Another common occurrence this winter has been freezing fog, and while it has made chores wet and somewhat difficult, it has also covered everything it touches with beautiful frosty crystals.
Winter wonders... everywhere you look.

Friday's Fences

Maddie is doing her job, as Bella runs up the hill.  Poseidon's and Liam's breeding groups are waiting for the arrival of their morning hay.  Every morning is full of chores, but also so much beauty in the everyday.

joining Friday's Fences with Life According to Jan and Jer

Dog Tales

The severe cold snap in the weather proved a challenge in making sure all were sheltered from the life threatening wind chills. All had good access to shelter but for the always - on - the - job guardian dogs....Sampson and Belladonna. Sam uses his doghouse frequently but Bella frankly refuses shelter, preferring to, at best, bed down in the downslope trees.

Thus, we decided to build a windbreak for Bella which was quickly claimed by Sam..and progressed into a two chamber shelter. ..then a tarped 2 chamber.

Finally as night fell and double digit temperatures kept falling with the wind gusts rising...and noone was using the architectural masterpiece..we decided to attempt bringing them in the barn for the night. Sam made himself right at home. Bella definitely did not appreciate being in, paced the floor, and escaped thru the gate to play 'catch me if you can' for a bit but both the barn and the dogs survived the adventurous night.