28 April 2016

Meet My Flock

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It has been decided that a handful of the female pet lambs from this year will become my future flock. I've managed to pick out four little ewes who I think will grow up into great sheep. I'm so excited to be starting a flock all of my own.

To be a member of my flock, you have to enjoy wandering around the yard with the dogs. This is only the second time out for three of the girls, and the first for Honey. Margo, the biggest lamb, is very curious about Teddy.



Is she saying "baa" or "woof"?



Aww, kisses!



Rosie (with the pink nose) and Margo are the boldest.


They also look very similar!


This is Honey. Her mummy did like her, but she didn't have enough milk for both of her lambs, so Honey needed help. She's the only lamb who isn't a Kerry Hill cross of some sort.


Honey may be the youngest by about a week, but she makes up for that with ears!


The longer we were outside the braver she got - look how far away she is here!




Teddy keeps a close eye on them for me.



The darkest lamb is Millie, the fourth and final member of my flock. There aren't so many photos of her because she wouldn't leave my side.


Millie can be very dainty when she wants to be.


And brave too!


In fact, once she discovered Teddy, she didn't really want to leave him alone, as the following photobomb demonstrates...



Lamb incoming!

26 April 2016

Talkin' 'Bout Fashion

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Nobby and Fred are now of an age when they should be spending more time outside. The fields are full of lambs younger than them out full time, but with pet lambs such as these two it's always best to take things slowly.


Of course they've been outside before, but this was their first day left out in the field, unsupervised, like "normal sheep".





While I was taking those photos of the boys, Blue Belle had come to stand beside me and I managed to get a nice close-up shot of her eye.


But I digress. Blue Belle has the patience of a saint with these two. I'm not naming names or anything, but one of them is more trouble than the other. It's Nobby.



From the day I first bought her, I always thought Blue Belle would look great in a tan leather headcollar. After trying on six other headcollars, I finally struck gold with the seventh.


I thought too that it would be nice to have a little tag with Blue Belle's name on it. After shopping around online I found a shop on Etsy that allows almost complete creative control over how the tag looks. I wanted something minimalist to reflect the layout of this blog and my books. I think the end result looks really great and very cute.


A navy leadrope completes the ensemble.


Blue Belle was enjoying her fashion shoot until...


"Go away, Nobby."


"This is my fashion shoot. Go away, Nobby!"


Even Blue Belle's patience has its limits.

It should be pointed out at this stage that Fred was trying to eat my camera at the same time.

Suckie has no tolerance of the boys whatsoever.


If they so much as stand next to her, she will hit them away. I had a laugh over that - the boys are being beaten up by a little old lady.


Blue Belle grazes on, oblivious.


It has taken me well over a month, but at last I have Blue Belle's new headcollar, leadrope and tag put together. I think she looks lovely.

25 April 2016

Back at Dairylough

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Today I visited a colt who's well on his way to being the most photographed Clydesdale ever.




He has noticeably grown since I saw him just last week.



He also continues to be effortlessly photogenic.


Outside I met Dolly, a 20-year-old mare staying for while, hopefully so she can have a foal by Micdan.


(Not the best photo ever, but I could not resist that flamboyant forelock.)


The colt's mummy, Colleen:


Buster the dog came out to see what the fuss was about.




And finally, I said hello to Fred. (No, not the lamb.)


He has a wonderful beard.


A huge thank you once again goes to Sam and Veronica for letting me visit, and to the Dairylough Clydesdales for being such good sports.