Happy little harem - and Bramble

From nearest to farthest: Bronwen, Katie, Barish, Annabelle - and Bramble, off in the distance. Barish has an evenly divided little harem: two experienced seven-year-olds and two clueless yearlings. I haven't seen him cover any of the girls, but I suspect Annabelle at least has been bred. She's certainly acting like his companion, finally integrated into the flock for the first time since her arrival. Bramble, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with this harem thing; perhaps her encounter with Braveheart when he broke out last winter has permanently traumatized her? I know, it's a stretch, but her demeanor makes it an easy one. I guess time will tell if hormones take over, or if she is even fertile after her long episode of vaginitis.

The weather is cooperating perfectly with breeding season; a lovely dry stretch with cool nights and sunny days means the sheep can stay out 24/7. Next week Barish and Byzantine both go home, and Blackberry returns. While I hope that Barish settles his girls, I am thinking about clean-up duties. I could make it easy on myself and put Blake in with all four girls, or I could divide them up. If I go to the trouble of using more than one clean-up ram, I think I'll put Blackberry in with Annabelle and Katie, and Bunker in with Bronwen and Bramble. Too many nice choices; I can't complain!

That's it for now from . . .