Romeo Or Knight In Shining Armor?

We've had some pretty snows this winter.  Some accompanied by grey wet skies and a couple (so far :-) with the brightest blues.  It can be way down in the single digits, but if there's no wind and the sun is shining, there is no place better than hanging out in the barn lot with the sheep.

The other morning I noticed Big Moose was the only sheep with snow covering his back.  That seemed a little odd, but as he frequently sleeps near the back of the barn or just outside keeping watch with Maisie some nights, I didn't really think anything about it.

And then I noticed one other sheep with snow on her back.  The only other sheep with snow on her back.  Ah ha, I thought I knew what was going on.

Kaala is one of the popular girls.  One that frequently attracts attention from a few of the boys.  Well, mostly just two boys these days, Jared and Big Moose.  There used to be other boys, but Jared has schooled on them pretty strongly about who the "wimmens" belong to...and it being Not Them.  

Big Moose is not a slow learner.  Quite the contrary and he's very well versed in the 'duck and run' any time Jared turns his attention to him.  However, if there is anything Big Moose aspires to, it's to be Big J when he grows up.  He idolizes Jared.

How Big Moose and Kaala ended up outside together, apparently unsupervised, all night...   Well, she's another sheep who frequently sleeps outside.  The weather was really pretty nasty.  Maybe Big J decided to stay cozy indoors and finally let the kid have a chance.  

But...it wasn't just snowing that night.  It was also really cold and windy.  Why would anyone want to stay out in that when they could stay indoors?  Was something wrong with Kaala?  No, she looks fine (and that is yet another boyfriend, Baaxter, with her above ;-).  Then I remembered the girl fight from the night before.

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I missed videoing the bigger fighting earlier.  This was the wind down.  Girl fights...  I am now wondering if Kaala had decided to remove herself from that crazy, hormone powered fist horn fight and Big Moose stayed out with her all night to protect and keep her company, much like he stays out with Maisie some nights.  

The next morning...note Tessa only has eyes for Big J, but Big Moose and Baaxter are still hopeful ;-).  

Always remember, boys...

Rule Number One - all the 'wimmens' belong to Jared.  

Rule Number Two...refer back to Rule Number One ;-).

Lead Vocals

I was trying to get a cute picture of Cheeto's green nose from where she'd eaten some alfalfa leaf dust this morning, but what I got looks more like her and Salt's new album cover, which is kind of extra funny because of something else that happened this morning.

Remember when I posted the video of Big Moose going "Mmm mmm mmmm" when he was eating grain back when he was still a lamb?  Cheeto frequently makes that noise, too, when she's eating and I've heard B. Willard do the same on occasion lately.  I'm wondering if Cheeto taught them all to do that.

Other than "Mmmm mmm mmm", I seldom hear anything from Cheeto.  Oh, she communicates well enough (see above disappointment ears and eyes that she didn't get as much alfalfa as she wanted this morning all the time ;-), but she doesn't use her outside voice very often.  She did this morning.

Cheeto and Willard come out and eat in the aisle way along with Petunia and Clover Belly from the main flock.  Petunia and Clover Belly then go back in with the main group and Cheeto and Willard go back to Easy Breezy where they then split a flake of hay.  The rest of the flock is expected to trudge out to the fields each morning (up hill both ways) whenever there's not inclement weather.

Due to the deluge of rain all day yesterday, the main flock got hay both morning and night.  They were hopeful they'd get breakfast in bed again this morning and when they didn't, a couple of them started complaining.  Cheeto answered back...which I thought was odd, especially as it sounded like she was talking to Biscuit.  

Biscuit?  Surely that's not right...  

"Baaaa."  

"Baaaa."

Then I heard Biscuit, but alongside another really deep voice...and I remembered that was Big Moose!  So even though he's been weaned for almost two years (?), she still hears him even though his voice is completely different than when he was her little baby.  I think that's interesting on a couple of levels.

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Muddy Snowman

Poor Lancelot.  I feel like I should build him some sort of mud berm so he can smear mud on that remaining bare patch of white hair on his chest and face.

The snow is gone now, but I took some nice pictures while it lasted.  I'll post some more later.  In the meantime, this is a new puzzle.  An actual puzzle along with the puzzle of how/why you'd want to get That Muddy ;-).

You Keep Making That Face...

"You better be careful, Bullwinkle!"

"Why?"

"Your face will freeze that way!"

 "Thweally?"

"Huh."

Maisie And Her Minions

 

Those crazy little chickens have always gravitated to Maisie. I *think* I'd like to know why...

Crochet Lamb Camp

While spring lambing is still a few months away, we just had some surprise Christmas lambs in the Wool House!

   

I noticed this ewe standing off to herself, which is always a promising sign.

So I did a little check...

...and sure enough, we had lambs coming!  Looked like just a head and no feet, so I had to help her a little bit ;-).  You would much rather see two front feet coming first and facing the right direction with a nose showing just behind, but it all worked out and she had two healthy lambs.  

Next you do an udder check to make sure everything is working properly (but you don't need to sit them up to do that unless you are trying to take a picture ;-).

And then you make sure everyone gets a good drink so they get lots of colostrum.

Once you know the momma and babies are settled in you can start taking cute lamb pictures :-D.

I saw the pattern for this adorable ewe and lambs and decided I would learn to crochet so I could make them for Sheepmom for Christmas.  That was harder than I'd hoped, but a fun challenge for the end of the year.  I love tricking myself into learning new things and I had some excellent virtual help along the way, both in online tutorials and a crochet friend who was willing to answer the phone at all hours of the day :-).

I used leftover Rebecca Boone yarn and I dyed some of it to make the dark face and legs and pink udder.  The white lamb was made from her cousin Woolliam.  Both Rebecca Boone and Woolliam were born at Nistock Farms.  I wish Rebecca Boone had had some lambs in real life.  She'd have been an amazing momma :-).

Hen Party

 How about a new puzzle?

A New Spin On Roc Day

***Updated updated post ***

Last night's Zoom spinning was really fun so I'm actually looking forward to tonight's "meeting".  The ID and passcode are listed below.  It's the same as last night.  I've signed up for the paid subscription so we shouldn't get cut off.  See you in a bit :-).

***Updated post ***

Okay, just to make a confusing post from last night (see below) even more confusing-er this morning...  

Not only did I have my days of the week messed up yesterday, I also had my dates confused.  I thought Roc Day was the day after the 12th day of Christmas...and it's the second day after?  Or is that just a this year thing? I don't know.  

I do know I was on Instagram yesterday talking about having a Zoom spinning party "tomorrow night" and I should have been saying "Thursday night", so I feel like I should honor the "tomorrow night", which is now "tonight" for those of you trying to keep score at home. 

It's sure not critical and if we have to celebrate a spinning holiday two days in a row, well, we'll just have to suck it up and do it and have twice as much fun :-).

The meeting ID for 7:00 Wednesday night is:  (857 499 7099) and Passcode for Wednesday night is:  (6BZwW9)  

We will probably get cut off at 7:40 since I haven't set it up for the paid account yet.  If that happens, I'll set up a second meeting at 8:00 if anyone is interested.  If we don't get cut off, then we'll continue on until 8:30 or so.  If you can't get in tonight, we'll do it all again tomorrow :-).

I'm headed to the barn to do chores and won't be back until just before 7:00.  I think I have everything set correctly, but if not, just bear with me and I'll get it figured out!  Also, remember I am dealing with rural internet so if it gets bogged down or jagged-y, I apologize. 

In the meantime, if you'd like a short tour of the Wool House, follow the Instagram link above.  Also, the window is clean.  It has moisture inside the panes.  Adds to list...

* * * Original post * * *

Thursday is Saint Distaff's Day, also known as Roc Day.  Normally spinners all over would be gathering to spin together, but obviously that won't be happening this year.  Or could it?

I'm going to host a Zoom spinning "meeting" in the Wool House Thursday evening at 7:00 (eastern time).  I've never done anything like this before, so please bear with me as I muddle through.  I think it might be nice to visit with some fiber friends and see what everyone has planned for the new year!

I'm going to leave the meeting open so no one will need a special invitation to join in.  You will need the meeting link and code and I'll post that here around 6:30.  I think that will work.  I may do a test meeting tomorrow just to make sure.

The meeting ID for Thursday night is:  (857 499 7099) and Pass code for Thursday night is:  (6BZwW9)

I'm going to be spinning my old friend Ford.  I've already got the bag of roving out (kindly gifted from a friend) because I am super prepared and organized...and could have sworn today was already Wednesday ;-).  

Everyone is welcome!  Wear your finest woolens...or your pajamas :-D. 

Ford - Fall 2015

Who Cooks For You?

Normally we all try to get Auntie Reg to cook for us, but we were happy to watch and take some pictures of her guest chef on the hillside yesterday.  We didn't have any desire to eat what he or she was planning on cooking though ;-).

This is a Barred Owl who has been frequenting their back yard this winter.  They have an indoor viewing window, but I was happy to social distance outside and take pictures.  He or she let me slowly creep within 25 feet of the tree.  I stayed for a few minutes and then quietly backed away.

What a beautiful and exciting opportunity.  Thank you!

If you'd like to work an owl puzzle...

Is It Safe To Come Out?

20 spent the final days of 2020 hiding behind the roving stash in the Wool House loft.  I don't think anyone can blame him for that and I think I finally have him convinced that no one blames him for 2020, period.  He asked me to wish everyone a Happy New Year!