All in a flap

Alastair- Japanese Bantam Rooster

Alastair- Japanese Bantam Rooster

McDuff - Dutch Bantam Rooster

I know I said I wouldn't be posting but I had a few nanoseconds of time prior to indulging in a bit of desperately needed sleep!

Tonight the rabbit, sheep,crafts, woodworking, photography and poultry projects went into the show. We decided to leave the horse home. Only because she couldn't fit in the truck or the Sunfire no matter how hard I tried. It was also too far to walk or else I would have repeated the Achievement day fiasco as my blisters have finally healed! LOL

Much like the birds above I felt rather like them in the frantic race to actually get every animal into the show barns and then get out before anyone asked me to do anything else! A torrential down pouring of rain from the heavens had us stranded in the barn watching as ducks floated down the roadway in a merry game of "Isn't this a great time to be alive?"

I beg to differ. I don't like to be wet and as soon as it was over we made a bee line for the truck only to be brought up short again by another unleashing from the heavens. My only thought was "Please Lord, let this be the deluge you had planned for tomorrow." As I work outside. This is a career plan that needs some modification!

Anyways, for all my kids in poultry this year...GOOD LUCK and remember to smile. :)

The rest of you can follow the same advice. ;)

Under the Maple - Dorset flock

Belle- English Collie

The Zillig Dorset Ewe Flock

Dorset Ram

Another Dorset Ram

As promised I have new photos of my latest adventure into the fabulous world of sheep.This time I was at Marg Zilligs in Scotch Village looking at her Dorset sheep flock.

The neat thing about Marg is that she uses AI and is a full service facility. She can raise lambs, butcher and make use of their hides. There is no wastage on this farm.

Her mother, who has since passed on, used to prepare in excess of 100 lamb skins per year! That is alot of work. Trust me, I am learning as I am attempting to process my own lamb skins from this year. Not a job for the faint of heart.

Marg took me into the fields to look at her flock and as sheep are prone to be they quickly vacated the area I was in! I can tell you the exact amount of male/females in this flock as I spent alot of time looking at their backsides!

As we trudged in the heat they wisely took to the biggest tree in the pasture and had they known that they were posing for a fantastic shot I am sure they would have left that area as well. Sometimes you work with what you've got and by the end of the day Marg took me into the Ram Paddock where the boys were more than willing to display their assets for us females.

Considering I rent rams to cover my ewes I am always amazed at how large these fellows are. They make my daughters weanling Clun look pretty diminutive in comparison!

Marg uses genetics from the UK as well as Australia so it was nice to see a well balanced flock of sheep.

Not limiting her interest to just sheep, she has acquired a new puppy who is an English Collie. Belle is a very cute little critter who if left to her own devices will steal your sneakers and look cute doing it. Marg tells me that this breed was used mainly by the English settlers and that their dogs are a more open and upright sort of herder. Instead of the low to the ground approach we have all become accustomed to with the Border Collies this English sheep dog employs the regal "Please move" approach as opposed to the "I might eat you approach" the Borders seem to use. I look forward to seeing her when she is mature .

This will probably be the last you see of my posts for a while as we are preparing the kids for the NSPE where they will be exhibiting their sheep, turkey, chicken, rabbit, horse and lifeskills projects. Even as I write this I am tired! Also, I will be entering a few of my fleeces in the Provincial Wool and Fibre Competition so I will keep you all up to date on how that works out.

Enjoy the Summer!

Feeder Lamb -Photo

The Flock -photo

Rideau Arcott Ewe & lamb -photo

Rideau Arcott x Texel Lamb - Photo

Rideau Arcott Ewe - photo

What a gorgeous day it was yesterday. The sun was shining the temperature was perfect and only a slight breeze to ruffle the laundry.

BUT the best part was I was alone!!!!! Dave took the kids camping, an event I abhor but they adore so with the plausible excuse of

"I have to stay home to feed the animals" away they went.

After finishing the mountains of laundry to excessively loud Old Blues tunes I proceeded to putter about unfettered about the property without the constant buzz of "Mom, Can you ( insert duty here)?"

About mid afternoon with perfect lighting I decided to visit a neighbor who happens to have a flock of Rideau Arcott and Texel sheep. He runs about 250 ewes and has the most unbelievable vistas. If you have never been to the maritimes, we have gorgeous scenery. Stunning look offs and breathtaking landscapes are in abundance.

What we lack is large open spaces, open water excluded...sheep do poorly there!

So the ability to walk among 250 ewes + lambs on a large open pasture was way more fun than any one woman should have. I didn't always get the shots I wanted as the sheep were very wary of my presence and although I have a great zoom lens it was a challenge to get the camera focused on the subject before they moved. After a while I just sat down in the pasture and once the draft horses decided I was not going to spend the day scratching their backs the sheep relaxed and some nice shots were caught.

Today I am going to a Dorset Farm so be prepared for more sheep photos!!

Top to bottom-

Grey Puss 3x5 oil portrait
Little Puss 3x5 Oil Portrait
Black Puss 3x5 Oil Portrait

Guess what? I do remember how to paint! I know some of you are beginning to wander if I have traded my brushes for the camera but really, how could anyone hold this great weather against me?!?!

Today's painting (Black Puss) in the last in a trio of felines that I did for a woman who wanted to memorialize her friends who have passed on. I think it was a great idea as the oil medium is a great way to preserve those memories.

Often times I will receive old tattered photos that have become faded with time and the ability to paint these images in a more permanent manner suits me as well as the recipient. There is something about glorifying life in art that pleases me. It is like we are honouring that portion of our lives that we do not want to fade in our minds.

Right now I have 2 canvas' of a horse on my easel that a friend of mine lost. I do not normally get to do two paintings of one subject so I am having fun letting my mind choose which colours suit that faithful steed. Eventually I will finish and show you. I promise.

As for right now..I am off to photograph some sheep at a neighboring farm!

I Need Sleep - Last Resort Farm Alpacas

Four on the Floor - Alpacas

Going for Home!- Alpacas

Flying High - Alpacas

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain. Lots of Rain. All my feed buckets were 1/2 way full of water and all my sheep, now walking soggy sponges were determined to drench me with their water logged wool. Thank goodness they are shorn so it only takes seconds to become sodden as opposed to milliseconds!

So in remembrance of the fine weather we Nova Scotians experienced yesterday I am posting my galloping Alpacas.

They are not the most graceful of creatures while scooting about at full speed but I guarantee that you can not spend a moment without smiling when in the company of one. Or in this case 20+! I personally had a grand time.

Did you know that there is an etiquette to greeting an Alpaca? I had heard that they are quite capable of spitting at rude people and wanting to avoid the possibility of becoming covered in Alpacas snot I decided to follow Vickie's advice and drop my head down and allow Whoopi (the heap female) to greet me. A slight nuzzling of my hair and then later my hat, was all that was required to ensure I could stroll through their herd unfettered.

David on the other hand had an entirely different experience with a male Alpaca (get your mind out of the gutter! ;) ) and had to keep both hands on his ball cap as a young male decided the "House of Blues " ball cap would be a tasty addition to his diet!

Anna's experience with any sort of forage eating critter and her long blond hair usually ends up poorly so she stood behind Vickie for most of the visit. Connor was ignored by all the Alpacas and that seemed agreeable to everyone involved! LOL

The alpacas were very enjoyable to watch as they bounded about and dropped to the ground in a flash to roll energetically on the grass. The wonderful thing about Alpacas ( and there are a few!) is that they all use a community toilet. I am not talking about a "port a potty" but rather they all do their business in one spot! It was great to know that I could crouch down on the ground without fear of becoming covered in some sort of poo. It was a welcome surprise considering the minefield of "fertilizer" I have in my pastures!

Have a great day or in the case of my fellow Nova Scotians, stay dry and suffer in silence! Cheerio.

The Queen - Photo

Hello! -Photo

I have decided in my next life I want to be an Alpaca.

Today my family and I took a trip out to Malagash to visit some friends at the Last Resort Farm. Nick and Vickie Mirabile have quite a selection on Alpacas, Shetland Sheep and Icelandic Sheep. They graciously took us on a tour of their place and even though it was a "feel like 32 degree day" they let the Alpacas outside. I have some great photos of them bounding around the place.

I also have the above photos which really had me humming the tune "Don't Worry, be Happy"!

The Alpacas did not have a care in the world and lay stretched out in the sunshine and they made me jealous! So when we left we promptly went to Blue Sea Beach to laze about doing nothing...like the Alpacas.

Unfortunately the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up and we decided to leave BUT the sentiment was there!!

Don't worry, be happy!