Thursday, December 21, 2006

Raining diamonds

We woke up yesterday to a third morning of freezing fog. The fairy dust is pretty, but the gray does start to wear on you after awhile. During the day it started to rain, a very cold rain that didn't melt the fairy dust but rather added a diamond coating to it (but blessedly not to the roads).

I left the sheep out for awhile, and then brought the sodden things in. My friend Lois talks about "self-cleaning" sheep who get wet from the elements and then shake the VM (vegetable matter) out of their fleeces along with the moisture. Apparently my sheep missed that session in sheep school, because they just get wet and sorry-looking.

Today dawned clear and sunny, after a night of heavy showers that eventually washed away all the fairy dust and diamonds. Ah, I don't realize how much I miss the sun until I see it again! That and a couple nights of decent sleep without coughing put me in a positive, energetic mood. I think the sheep appreciated the sunshine, too. Here come Rechel and Bella for their share of attention...
while Dinah discovers that Brian's touch is just as nice as mine is...
...and likes it so much she gives him a kiss!

Oh, just so you know - it's raining again.

That's it for now at . . .

6 comments:

Tina T-P said...

What sweet pictures of Brian & Dinah.

We had to go to Seattle today - the sun was out there too, for a while - I had my 6 mo. check-up at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance - 200 miles (round trip) for a pap smear! They have said if everything is clear, I could resume going to my B'ham doctors. That would be a good thing...

We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas & the Happiest of New Years! :-) Tina

Michelle said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, too, Tina! Let me know what the doctors say; we'll pray for "clear"!

Kathy said...

What great pictures, Michelle! For the past few days, we've had sun shining on the snow in the mornings. It reminds me of the "jewels" we all have around us everyday if we take the time to see. :) In the mornings, in the bitter cold, I have seen many "diamonds" around me...(and I include you and Tina in them!) :)

And I will keep very good thoughts and many prayers headed NW for Tina!

Kathy said...

And Brian is as cute as the girls! :)

Unknown said...

All your sheep are so cute. I am curious. How many acres should you have to raise a few sheep? I know they love company and one should probably have no less than three or four. How expensive are these babies to keep as pets? (I know they are livestock really, we already have a dozen chickens and my husband gets annoyed with me for insisting on naming them all.) We also have three dogs (one of which is quite elderly) and a cat.

Michelle said...

Cate, that depends on so much! We only have five acres, and right now the sheep have very little of that dedicated to them, so I feed them hay much of the time. We also have three horses, and I would love to have ALL our pasture fenced so that both species can utilize them (at different times). But that would take a lot of money and a change of heart on my husband's part....

As far as numbers, when I bought my two bred girls in February, they were just fine together. You have to have at LEAST two, but not necessarily more than that. I'm aiming for four ewes, breeding two every year and selling the lambs (or one of the ewes if there's an exceptional lamb I want to keep). Hope that helps, and that you can get your own sheepies!