New additions to the flock

I'm pleased to introduce my two new lambs. I actually picked them up last Saturday and they have settled in really well. I have just been far too busy finishing up work last week to be able to post so here is my delayed picture. I'm sure I'll get more of them later.

Aren't they cute? This is Painted Knoll Suncook (Ram) and Painted Knoll Kanasatka (ewe). I have been looking for a good moorit ram to bred with as Dreamer is black. Their fleeces and colors make them wonderful additions to my small flock. It was also great to meet Nadine, Glenn and all of their animals, they have a beautiful farm.

The babies continue to grow. I have separated all of them except Yosemite and night time in the stables and that has been very successful. Now that I have some time off before I start college again I hope to start the halter training and look out for a few shows to enter my sheep into. 

To anyone else reading this blog any tips for marketing lambs for sale? This is my first year selling any lambs. All of my lambs (except Yosemite again lol) are advertised on NASSA sale site for $200. Yosemite is $250. Does that seem reasonable? Where else can I try? I am hoping that competing at local shows might garner some interest.

Oh final quick picture of some of the flock and what I affectionately call the clover paddock.

Next day of pictures

More photo's from yesterday. On the left is Bella who is so far staying black. She is far more delicate than the boys that's for sure! She is also still a lot shyer but has finally started coming over for pets, I need to introduce the animal crackers as it almost time for halter training to take place and the first series of shots. On the right is her twin brother Yates who's really enjoying the grass right now thanks to all the rain we are getting. It looks like the white stripe on the top of his head is staying even though the others have faded is this krunet? It looks like he will go light grey although I can't tell yet. 

Photo time

I took a few pictures today of everyone and here are some of them. I'd post more but I fell off my horse the other day and have a concussion so I don't feel great. Anyway everyone is growing up well.

These two boys are Yankee and Yippee. Yippee was named by one of my dialysis patients at work. Some of his white markings have faded but wow does he have the best horns. Yankee is also growing really nicely and is a very solid young ram. They are my terrible twosome.

Yosemite is still quite the looker and his horns are nice and widely spaced, still seeing how they grow. He is also the first of my lambs who I think is sold. Just hoping that travel plans work out for him as it sounds like a very good home.

Anyway for some reason blogger only likes me posting 2 pictures. So more tomorrow.

Some of the lesser known lambs

This is Ridgeway Bella one of the lambs I rarely manage to get pictures of as she is really the shyest of the bunch this year. I actually think she is going to stay black. She is very fine boned and square with a very good tail. She is for sale.

This is Ridgeway Yates he is the friendliest lamb of them all. I swear his white marking on his head looks like a mullet with sideburns. It's hard to get a good picture of him because he wants to sit in your lap and be cuddled. His horns are growing in nicely. Color wise he will turn a shade of grey, not sure what one yet. His fleece is really soft. He is also for sale.

That's all for today. Things are going well here. The weather is particularly hot and humid here but everyone is managing to stay semi cool at least. Last night we had thunderstorms so it is a little cooler....but not much. The fencing is still working well, I wish I had invested in it earlier.

Rainy day pictures

Well so far the permanet from Premier is working wonderfully and I hope it continues this way. It was very easy to install and a few of the sheep have been silly enough to get too close and have quickly moved away...yay sucess. 

Today even though it was raining I wanted to get some new pictures of the lambs as they are growing so fast. So here they all are.

This is Yosemite, the youngest of our lambs. He's growing so fast and has the longest legs I've ever seen. His coat is so soft and his little tiny horn buds are white. I can't wait to see how he grows up. He is for sale.

This is Yankee. He looks like he might go light grey like his mother. He'll at least be modified in some way. His horns are growing nicely and he's a very solid little guy. He is also for sale.

This Dreamer and his best friend Zebedee our wether. They get along well and I'm hoping Suncook fits right in with them. I know I said lamb pictures but the boys are so cute.

I'm having issues trying to post the others so I'll try again tomorrow. I also haven't forgotten about the MA sheep and wool show pictures that I promised.

Happy birthday Muppet!

So today is my PMU's birthday. He is turning 6 and everyone assures me this means he'll mellow lol (yeah right). I have had him since he was 8 months old and he's wonderful. Today we celebrated with a lesson from my trainer and we did some very good jumping (he's just getting started on that). She thinks we'll be ready to try some cross country jumps this year so woo hoo. Anyway here are some pictures taken in fall so everyone can admire him hee hee. I need to get some new ones.

MA sheep and wool festival

I am SO tired. We had a very good weekend at what was our first show for both sheep and fleeces. We left at 6am on Saturday and after a low bridge incident and a little map reading creativity made it to the show grounds at 8.30am. We entered Gypsy and Sabrina's fleeces in the 'Rare and minor breeds' class, Gypsy's was the one I was particularly proud of. Sabrina's was not as clean as I would have liked. Then we unloaded Gypsy and Dream Weaver and took them to their pen for the show on Sunday. After lots of practice they both lead like champions. A flake of hay and they settled right in.

Anyway then our tents went up and we looked around. I don't think it's bigger than the NH show but they have a lot more sheep there. 

At 2pm we got to find out the results of the fleece show and I am very proud to say that Gypsy's fleece won her class! Both fleeces also sold rather quickly which was a shame as I would have liked to get a picture of the ribbon with Gypsy's but when I went back with a camera it had already gone lol. 

On Sunday after a little asking around (and a lot of waiting) we found out that we were showing in the any other breed group in the wool division as we were the only Shetlands at the show. Dream Weaver came 3rd in the yearling ram class, getting beaten by 2 large welsh black mountains and Gyspy failed to place in her class that was a lot larger. I think the judge was looking for size and Shetlands are never going to win there, plus Gypsy is wonderfully delicately boned. The classes were a little disappointing and I'd like to see how they would do against other Shetlands. Overall the show was a success though and both sheep were fully admired, we also promoted the Shetland breed and Dreamer especially had a lot of adoring fans by the end.

Pictures will follow when I am more awake.