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.

{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

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.

{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

{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.

Much of the Same

This post has been in the works all week, and we've really struggled to get it done.  We had one almost spring-like day, but much of the week has looked like this.  Much like Bella, we've been plodding along.  The bred ewes are devouring 200 - 250 pounds of hay a day, cleaning up every last, little bit.  The hogget ewes are growing out and have been very entertaining of late when we arrive to feed.  Running through the snow, jumping up and down, they bring a smile and sometimes we can't help but laugh out loud.  And, of course that brings us to the barn cats.  They are always eager to provide entertainment.   The latest toy has been a discarded box that has received so much cat love, we're reluctant to throw it away.
Hope you're having a wonderful morning, and not digging out from under too much snow.

joining Rurality Blog Hop

Friday's Fences

Bella enjoying the 'shade' at the fence line.

We're loving the long, thin shadows of winter... when we've been lucky enough to see a little glimpse of the sun :) 

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

A Winter Mystery

While much of the weekend looked like this, the animals and their humans hunkered down and tried to stay warm for the most part.

Bella stayed in her usual spot.  Even though she has access to three different shelters, she seldom uses them. 

The sheep usually only seek shelter in the very worst of the wind and snow.  Most winter mornings we are greeted by these big, snow and ice covered bumps in the pasture.

The crows are always nearby, hanging out, watching and waiting.  They watch for Bella and Samson to fall asleep after their long night of guarding the farm.  They wait for them to turn their back, if only for a moment, so that they can fly in and steal a nugget or two of dog food. 

And on these frigid mornings, when the whole farm seems to be a frozen, snowglobe, they also wait for their chance to swoop in and pick off big chunks of ice that have frozen on the sheep's backs.  They quickly fly away with them and head down into the hollow, so that we have never been able to observe what it is that they actually do with them.  Are they after the ice for the water, or perhaps for the hay seeds that may have frozen inside?

joining The View From Right Here for Rurality Blog Hop