Don't shoot the messenger!

Yes, I saw crocus blooming in McMinnville yesterday afternoon. If it makes you feel any better, we're not that far into spring up here on the hill.

That probably drove away everyone who is currently surrounded by white. If you're still reading (and know me in "real life"), you'll get a chuckle out of this - someone thinks I have style!
Since Wendy has never seen my fashion sense (decidedly casual), I will assume she is complimenting my blog, and I thank her for that.

Here is what I am supposed to do as a stylish blogger:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

So here are seven things about me
• I never rearrange furniture. When I move into a space, I figure out the very best way to arrange what we have; why mess with it?
• I took piano, clarinet and accordian lessons as a child and teen. I still have a piano and an accordian, plus a mountain dulcimer. I can play none of them well.
• The first paying job I remember was ironing shirts for a neighbor.
• My car is almost always tuned to public radio; I rarely listen to radio anywhere else.
• I really like the TV series "Monk." I flatter myself that I have similar powers of observation and deduction, without the extreme OC behavior. Hee!
• That said, the only TV I watch on a regular basis is the local nightly news.
• I'm athletic and highly competitive; yes, even in my middle age.

I haven't recently discovered 15 blogs, so I am just going to list some blogs I think are deserving of this award, and why.
@ Romi's Studio - this knitting designer creates amazing things in yarn and metal; in other words, she is truly stylin'!
Antiquity Oaks - Striving for self-sufficiency is always in style, in my opinion, and Deborah is an excellent evangelist.
Camp Runamuck - Theresa is always creating something, whether it be beautiful spaces in her home, sewing her own clothes, weaving, spinning, or knitting.
Country Girl at Heart - Deb definitely has a sense of style, and finds such wonderful pieces at auctions to decorate her space. She's also an ambitious homesteader, growing her own food and fiber - even though she lives in a condo!
Crosswinds Farm - Corinne's animals may not appreciate her sense of style, but it sure is entertaining for the rest of us!
Front Porch Indiana - Beautiful old home, beautiful animals, beautiful blog.
Miss Effie's Diary - Miss Effie is the queen of shabby chic style and creative entrepreneurship - plus she has one of the most giving hearts I know.
Misses Peach's Meowz - I don't think there could possibly be a prettier blog or cozy cottage than those maintained by Karla and her very special feline(s).
Punkin's Patch - The crazysheeplady is amazing with paintbrush, camera and fiber!
sheep dreams - Dianne is another crafty Kentuckian I admire - goodness, that makes three Kentucky blogs on my list; four, if you count the person who gave me the award! Sounds like Kentucky deserves a "stylin' state" award! (Does that make up for only awarding ten blogs?)

That's it for now from . . .

In the company of greatness!

When I got back Sunday night, I began the arduous process of wading through nearly 200 emails (and a mountain of dusty, dirty laundry). One of the emails looked bogus, a hacker's ploy to get you to click on an infected hot link. I didn't take the bait, but didn't delete the email, either. After all, what if Boulderneigh really had been voted one of the top agricultural blogs?

Eventually yesterday I had a moment to enter the website in my own browser window to see if it was legit. Lo and behold, a list came up, showing Boulderneigh as #21 in the top 45 agricultural blogs on the net, including Pioneer Woman and Farmgirl! I don't know how I got there, but the company - including nine blogs I follow and enjoy - sure is good. :-)

So how about some agricultural content (since I still haven't had a chance to look at my photos)? When we got back, I decided to play "upset the fruit basket" with the sheep. After two weeks of quarantine and no symptoms whatsoever, I decided it was safe to put Bronwen back with the ewe flock, along with Browning who had been keeping Barish company in the Ram-ada Inn. Banjo got separated from his mother (who needs all the calories she eats to put some flesh back on her bony frame) and put in with the other older lambs, along with Barish. I watched that introduction carefully, but Barish is just as mellow with the little boys as I expected he'd be. He did butt heads with Bodhran once, because Bodhran challenged him (the little upstart). After one meeting with those aberrant horns, Bodhran decided he'd had enough and they've all been cohabitating the "wood lot" nicely - if you can ignore Banjo squalling for his mama. The upside of his noisy weaning is that suddenly he wants my attention, so I'm loving him up for Jeannie. Now we just need to get Rick to wether his brother so they can move to their new home....

That's it for now from . . .

Yes, life IS good!

While waiting for our sheepy visitors, I want to acknowledge the award Denise gave me; isn't it beautiful (and true)? Thanks, Denise! (And I happen to know that Denise's life is looking particularly good because she will soon have possession of her own little flock of Shetland fiber boys! She is already a master spinner and knitter, so she knows just what to do with all that wonderful wool she'll be harvesting.)

The award came with the following questions to answer:
1. What would your perfect day consist of?
Let's see; a perfect day would have time for ALL the things I love - my husband, my son, my mom, my sister, my animals, riding, playing with fiber on wheel and needles, friends, music, sweet treats (with no calories - hey, it's a PERFECT day!), a good mocha, the beach . . . . I think my perfect day would need to be about a week long!
2. How would you describe yourself if you were an item of clothing?
Comfortable jeans.
3. What hobbies are you currently working on?
Spinning, knitting, gardening, getting my horse back into condition.
4. Walking in the woods in wellies or barefoot on the beach?
Oooh, walking barefoot on the beach! Can I go right now? With the dogs?
5. Have you ever hugged or sang to a tree?
I don't know if I've ever sung to a tree, but trees - especially majestic ones - have inspired me to sing about their Creator.
6. Growing your own veggies or nipping to the supermarket.
Definitely growing our own.
7. Have you found anyone exciting in your family tree?
No one exciting, but lots of inspiring people who have seen opportunity and immigrated and worked hard to better their lot in life and see to it that their children got a college education.
8. Slap up meal in a posh restaurant or fish ‘n’ chips from the wrapper?
I know just the posh restaurant - and it offers fantastic vegetarian selections! (Mmm, can I go there for supper, after cleaning the sand off my feet?)
9. Which element do you most resonate with, Earth, Wind, Fire or Water?
That's a tough one. Definitely not wind; I'm not a fan of wind. Fire and Water both have their fascinations, but Earth provides food for us and for our animals. Let's see; trying to tune in to my resonating here . . . Water it is.
10. Do you believe in fairies?
No, but I do believe in angels, good and evil.

I’m passing this award on to three bloggers who unfailingly appreciate the best in life:
Bill at Willow Garden has got to be first on the list. :-)
Leigh and her husband are creating a good life on five acres, and
my friend Deb is creating a good life - complete with homegrown veggies and fiber pets - in a condo! You go, Country Girl at Heart!

That's it for now from . . .

A new tree grows at Boulderneigh

I think MiniKat has got to be the awarding-est woman in the blogosphere! She recently sent another one my way, bless her heart; it's enough to make a girl immodest. And isn't it handsome?The history behind it is powerfully emotional. The designer Ces said, "I designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us." (If you click on the Bella link, you will learn of the great tragedy in her life, and hopefully count and recount the blessings in your own.)

I've often lamented the apparent evaporation of my creative juices; I used to create two- and three-dimensional art for the fun of it, then commissioned work took more of my time. But since I've had Brian, I haven't made the time or even really had the urge to do much in the media I used to enjoy - and any hankerings I get are quickly drowned out by the busy reality of my current life. But in pondering this award I realized that blogging is a creative outlet for me. I love photography and creative writing, and blogging gives me a reason to indulge in both - with the hope that someone else enjoys my efforts.

Through blogging I have met many friends and "sisters" with whom I share much in common, or who, however different our lives may be, inspire me. Some of them are:
Lois at Stonehaven Farm (even though she doesn't "do" awards)
Melanie at Our Wee Farm
Kathy at Sheep Thrills Farm
Tammy at Fairlight Farm
Sharon at Sage Creek Farm
Adrienne in Chicagoland
Sara at Equinox Farm

One of the people I've "met" through blogging, but haven't gotten to know as well as the above, is Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl. She is an AMAZING photographer (go see for yourself!). Recently she held a give-away on her blog, and I lucked out and won. My prize?This beautiful ceramic bird and two colorful fabric napkins. It was such a thrill to get these little treasures that it made me want to "share the love." Watch this space for your chance to win . . . something!

That's it for now at . . .

Honest Scrap award

Jenny Holden across the pond nominated me for the Honest Scrap Award some time ago; thanks, Jenny! (It took her awhile to acknowledge getting it herself, so I don't feel as bad for taking this long!)

The rules state: "When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends. Show the 7 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.” Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!"

Finding the tone of the rules rather irreverent, I don't feel bad about modifying them a bit to suit my fancy. Since it IS called the Honest Scrap Award, I thought it more fitting to nominate bloggers who come across as honest rather than brilliant (not that these blogs aren't also brilliant, or that the blogs I don't nominate aren't honest!). The following bloggers tell it all, the good and the bad, yet don't leave you feeling down and depressed with their "realness:"
Nancy K. of A Shepherd's Voice
Deborah at Antiquity Oaks
Sabrina at Boston Lake Farm
Tammy with Musings from Fairlight Farm
Sharon, who's In Stitches
Adrienne of Knit and Run
Molly Bee in Molly Bee's Attic
Allison of A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Now for ten honest things about myself, even though I could probably come up with more interesting lies:
1. I prefer being cold to being hot.
2. I prefer sweet over sour or salty.
3. I prefer the association of old folks to that of kids.
4. I prefer quiet to noise.
5. I prefer reading a book to watching a movie.
6. My artistic style is realistic, but I wish I was more of an impressionist.
7. I NEED animals in my life.
8. I've never broken a bone or had general anesthesia.
9. I've been to the dentist more than enough to make up for #8.
10. I look forward to heaven more than I can describe.

I'll end with some comic relief.Now she's halter-trained . . .

Now she's not! I don't think I've had a lamb assume this exact position before. I call it "sheepskin rug." :-)

That's it for now from . . .

I'm cool? Cool!

Yesterday first MiniKat and then Doreen nominated me for the Butterfly Award, "for the coolest blog I ever knew." (Well, they each nominated TEN blogs for this award, so I guess it should say "blogs," not "blog.") I had to blush a little when MiniKat said that she was only nominating the ten blogs she makes her husband read, too - and mine was one of them.

Since butterflies can fly, I'm going to send this little award to some of the off-continent blogs I follow, because I think it is cool to learn about other places and cultures, and cool that the world-wide web and blogging make it so easy to do. And the nominees are:
Kathleen's A Bag of Olives blog; Kathleen lives in Peru with her husband and beautiful dog and is a master spindler and knitter.

Nessa in Australia doesn't post to her blog often, but I am interested to see the development of Blackthorn Dairy Sheep.

Lene lives above the Artic Circle in Finland. She Dances With Wool like no one else!

Our Little Corner of Paradise is Barleycorn Gardens to a lovely Scottish couple. Stunning photography and a love of the Lord!

"BondBloke" in Scotland has two photography blogs that I enjoy, Photogenic Scotland and Fotos That Don't Fit.

Kanisha in France shares her tiny Ouessant sheep (even smaller than Shetlands!) on her blog.

Jenny Holden has a fascinating career in wildlife preservation, lives in Scotland, and has beautiful Shetlands, all shared on her Wandering Gecko blog.

Sue is a lovely lady in Australia who goes by White Lilly.

That's it for now from . . .

March: going out with lambs, lambs, lambs!

The weather today is not lamb-like; I left the ewes in this morning so the lambs don't get chilled in the cold rain we are supposed to get. While filling water buckets and hay feeders, I fell completely and totally in love . . . but more on that later! First, some photos taken two days ago:Inky, where are your babies?

Smart little lambies, letting mom's body block the brisk breeze!


Boys! (Actually, I've seen both little girls do this, too.) I would feel so bad for my ladies if they were freshly sheared and didn't have all that wool to cushion those pointy little toes!

I took some video footage of lamb races yesterday, but have been unsuccessful in uploading them (sorry, MiniKat!).

Back to this morning. Little Bramble looked interested in being friends, so I extended my hand to her. She approached and let me rub her chin. As my fingers massaged around her head, she occasionally wagged her tiny tail, and soon fell into a trance-like state of pleasure. Then - be still, my heart! - she laid down in the straw, totally trusting and enjoying the full-body treatment I was giving her.
Meanwhile, brother Blackberry was checking out my jeans and Muck boot:
Finally, Bronwen's curiosity got the better of her and she approached:
My three gorgeous gulmoget lambs!
Today is Butter's due date if she got PG from Braveheart's one-night stand. She doesn't look imminent to me, but I'll wait 'til the end of the week before getting excited for more Franjean lambs. Brava has finally developed a little udder which equals Butter's, so maybe they will lamb close together. Two small waves of lambs . . . not a bad way to have them!

Finally, I received this award from two dear blogpals, first MiniKat and then Sharon. I wasn't going to post about it, since it's given to blogs that "invest and believe in the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!” See that little line, "not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement"? How do you accept an award without appearing interested in self-aggrandizement? But when it came my way a second time, it seemed rude to ignore the kind gestures of these two ladies, and not pass the award on to eight others. When I looked through the list of blogs I follow, I realized I've had the fun of meeting nine of them (not counting my sister, neighbor, and the proprietors of two local yarn shops). So although this award is not necessarily for those with whom one has shared a physical proximity, these bloggers fit the other descriptions, too. Tina, Allena, Karla, Franna, Tammy, Donna, Lois, Shannon, and Tammy - consider yourselves awarded!

That's it for now at . . .

Sisterhood

We have a sisterhood of hens. Latecomer Lucille is thoroughly incorporated into the flock now, and comes running with the others when I approach the coop. (That's her on the left in both photos.) The girls know I rarely come empty-handed, and I try not to disappoint.

On Friday MiniKat gave me an award for "creative sisterhood." I must admit, I don't feel very creative since becoming a mom; I've wondered sometimes if having a kid at 40 sucks all one's creative juices right out of a woman! But since getting Shetland sheep three years ago, I've gotten caught up in all kinds of fiber fun, so maybe those are taking the place of the fine art I used to do.

This award comes with the request to nominate at least 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude, although like I said, MiniKat said she was passing the award on to those in the sisterhood of artists. I'm going to take my own liberties and pass the award on to those with whom I feel a particular sisterhood. As for passing it on, they can do it if they want to, or just accept it as my thanks for being in my life!

1) My SISTER, of course! She doesn't blog much and probably doesn't consider herself an "artist," but because of her I have experienced the unique and wonderful bond sisters can have.

2) Melanie, my "twin" out in New York. We have so much in common it's eerie sometimes!

3) Lois, my dear "big sister." She is so much gentler in spirit than I am, but we have a lot in common, too (like dressage and late motherhood). She has been a most appreciated mentor in shepherding Shetlands and in spinning.

4) Kathy, my "big sister" in Arizona, another spinning mentor (enabler?) and friend. We were actually living near Manhattan, KS at the same time years ago, but didn't get to meet then. Shucks!

5) Tammy, my sister in faith, shepherding and the love of horses and all animals. It was so neat to get to meet her and Allena (below) last summer when we were in MO!

6)Allena, a sister in homeschooling, shepherding, and spinning.

7) Sharrie, the "sister" who gets to live in the log house I've always wanted and babysit her son's bulldogs (who sometimes have puppies; be still my heart!) while watching lambs and calves frolic on their farm.

8) Sharon, I know you've been nominated for this already, but I have to nominate you, too, because of the kinship I feel with you!

9) Robbyn is a "sister" I've met in blogland who understands the blessings of the Sabbath, as well as the joys of growing your own food and eating healthfully.

10) Tammy, who I met at Black Sheep Gathering last year. Now she has a blog, her own beautiful flock of Shetlands (including Valentine, my favorite sheep of all time) along with the rest of her menagerie, and I have another friend and "sister" (and one of her chickens)!

That's it for now from . . .

Thanks, Claire!

This week Claire over at Whispering Acres gave me the Premios Dardo award. It always humbles me when someone shows their appreciation for my little corner of the blogosphere by reading, commenting on, following or awarding it. The Premios Dardo award is especially meaningful because "the original intent is to show admiration for a blogger's 'word darts,' i.e., getting one's point across cleanly and pointedly, as well as having a point to get across." I like that; thanks, Claire!

Here are the rules that go with the award:
STEP 1: Respond and rework. Answer the following questions, replacing one question that I dislike with a question of my own invention.
STEP 2: Add one more question of my own.
STEP 3: Tag eight other bloggers.

Here is Step 1 (I'm going to take a pass on Step 2):
1) What is your favorite day of the week? Most definitely the Sabbath - Saturday, the seventh day of the week. At God's bidding I get 24 hours to set aside my non-essential labors to worship, fellowship, rest, and reflect. It keeps me from going crazy! (And for those who think six days a week aren't enough to get everything done, I'll let you in on a secret. Just like 90% of a tithing Christian's money goes farther than 100% does for a person who doesn't return God's tithe, He blesses time the same way.)

2) What is your biggest fear? I used to have all sorts of Fears - with a capital "F"! Now I can't think of one, just some things I wouldn't want to experience, but know I would survive with God's help.

3) What was your worst subject in school? Health. I already knew the diet and exercise stuff, and the "sex" stuff was sooooo embarrassing!

4) Who is the last person you hugged? My hubby. He's very huggable, big enough and tall enough for a good bear hug.

5) What websites do you visit when you go online? A whole lot of blogs; The Animal Rescue Site and its related "click and contribute" sites; eBay if I'm watching something.

6) What was the last item that you bought?This cute little teacup and saucer for cheap, along with some groceries at the Grocery Outlet. Isn't it sweet? Oh, what's that inside?A regular 8-oz. mug! (This planter is going to be so cute filled with pansies and primroses on my deck where the deer can't eat the flowers. :-)

7) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would love to roam all over the British Isles, hike the hills and dales, visit the coastlines, see the native ponies and sheep and cattle, soak up the music, admire the textiles, and sit and listen to the people. But then I'd probably want to MOVE there!

8) What is your dreamlife like? In a word, busy. My mind is running constantly as I drift off to sleep, and continues all night. If you woke me up at any time between bedtime and rising, I could tell you what I was "dreaming" about the moment before. Mostly run-of-the-mill, daily life kind of stuff; occasionally stressful stuff; never weird or completely improbable stuff.

9) If you couldn't have your current job, and money were not an issue, what would be your second choice? Considering that my current "job" includes being graphic designer, editor, first grade teacher, maid, chef, baker, veterinary clinic payroll specialist, animal caretaker, gardener, hand-spinner, dressage trainer of horse(s) and person(s), I think I've used up more than my share of choices, don't you?

10) Has a celebrity's hair cut ever influenced your own hairstyle? Farrah Fawcett's "feathers;" didn't every young female (and a few guys) back then go for those? (Did I just date myself, or what?)

11) If you had a whole day to yourself with no work, commitments, or interruptions, what would you do? Call a couple girlfriends, load up the horses and haul to the beach to ride. Sit down and spin once I got home.

12) What was the last movie you watched? Day of Discovery's "The Eric Liddell Story," the true story of the man behind the movie "Chariots of Fire," complete with interviews of his daughters and others who knew him. The testimony of his short life is powerful; he was truly a man of God.

13) If you were to win the Powerball, what would you do with the money (besides invest it)? Pay off our mortgage, buy the five acres next to us, fence everything the way we want it, put away enough money for all of Brian's education, finish the basement, contribute generously to those causes we care about, buy a newer car, and cover the arena. And get the carpets cleaned every month. :-)

14) What is your favorite plant or flower and why? Oh my. If I had to choose just one kind to surround myself with, it would probably be Japanese maples. That would give me shade, color, architecture, even container plants - the works!

15) What do you do to try to make the world a better place? Treat others the way I want to be treated; share the gospel, using words when necessary; recycle; conserve resources; contribute to environmental and earth-centered charities.

Now for Step 3. I am tagging eight blogs who, for me, fit the spirit of this award. Please feel free to join, if you wish!
1. A Day Late and a Dollar Short
2. Antiquity Oaks
3. Boston Lake Farm
4. Chronicles of a Country Girl
5. Karen's Shetlands
6. Musings from Fairlight Farm
7. Punkin's Patch
8. Stonehaven Farm

Here's yesterday's calendar page as my parting shot (click to biggify):Yep, that's it; I'm protecting the masses - hee!

That's it for now at . . .

Another award!

I actually got TWO awards yesterday! Mud Ranch gave me the Fabulous Blog award; I'm blushing. This blog award comes with the responsibilities to list five things I’m "addicted" to and then pass it on to five more bloggers. Here are my addictions:

1) Animals - I love animals; I NEED animals in my life! Only animals give unconditional love; I cannot imagine a life void of animal friends.
2) Digital camera - I have gotten addicted to the instant gratification, the ease of putting photos on my computer to save or share with others, and the freedom from buying film and paying for processing. What an invention!
3) My computer (make mine a Mac) - what would I do without my blogpals, email and the internet? Ack! Don't make me find out!
4) Mochas of many flavors, hot or cold - I love the flavor of coffee mingled liberally with skim milk and sweet flavorings.
5) Sugar - yes, I have a sweet tooth. When I was a preschooler we lived with my maternal grandmother, one of the world's best bakers, for awhile. While "helping" her in the kitchen one day, she asked me if I had a sweet tooth. My response: "I have 32 sweet teeth!" (And doesn't my dentist know it!)

Let's see, five fabulous blogs that have not already received this award (I think):
1) Miss Peach's Meowz - I cannot imagine how much time Miss Peach's mommy Karla puts into her beautiful creations and her beautiful blog. And she's always doing things for others, too.
2) Tammy at Wrensong Farm is a relative newcomer to blogging, but a life-long animal-lover like me - and it shows.
3) Kathleen features her artwork on her Tulip Tree Hill blog: her creativity and whimsy fascinate me!
4) On High Ridge Highlights, Sharrie shares shots of sheep, scripture, shaggy dogs (collies) and - be still my heart - bulldog puppies that her son raises. Sigh.
5) Karen is another fellow animal-lover, birdwatcher and Shetland shepherd.

I also want to pass along the Lemonade Stand award to the following blogs:
1) Molly Bee's Attic - This woman is FUNNY, and amazes me with her positive attitude in spite of the fact that her husband blindsided her with a divorce and turned her life upside down.
2) A Blip on the Radar - That's what Tina decided to call the diagnosis and treatment for uterine cancer, and the blog she started about it, back in 2006. I think her positive attitude played a big role in making the title of her blog a self-fulfilling prophecy.
(Ladies, click and drag the logo at the right to your desktop if you'd like to put it on your blogs.)

That's it for now at . . .

Flock goals - and getting there

Several shepherds' blogs have featured their flock goals recently. How's that saying go? "Aim for nothing and you'll achieve it"? Yes, goals are important, and I have some flock goals of my own. They are simple, really. My long-term goal is to have a friendly flock of fully polled Shetlands with good conformations and little fluke tails covered with consistently fine, lustrous fleece, including on the poll and cheeks, and a market for them. The questions are: how long will it take to reach that goal, and what steps must I take to get there?

In just two years I think I've taken a big step towards a fully polled flock. My ram, and the ram I used last fall, are both half-polls, as are for sure one and possibly all four of my ewes. As for conformation, I own no perfect sheep yet. To my eye, Braveheart and Butter come closest; Butter could be a bit wider through the chest and some would say both could have longer toplines (I think they are beautifully proportioned). I think the offspring of both will contribute towards my conformation goals (and they have perfect little Shetland tails). The others all have traits to contribute as well.

As a spinner, I personally prefer a longer staple with lots of luster and a silky hand. I plan to harvest samples this spring from every sheep for micron testing, and will factor in the results along with the characteristics I appreciate. Braveheart is VERY consistent from front to back and has very good length in a single coat; I need to see offspring of his from each of my ewes to see how they cross. (Dinah is the only ewe I retained who has produced lambs from Braveheart, and I was pleased with her twins. The ewe lamb went to Alaska, and the ram lamb is my wether Browning.)

This spring's lambs will be from Franjean. Ideally, I would keep all his likely half-poll and full-poll lambs for at least a year or two and evaluate them compared to next year's Braveheart crop, keeping the best from each ram to cross with each other to continue towards my goals. That, however, will not happen; I have neither the space nor the agreement of my husband to expand my flock like that. They are my sheep, but this is our property, our time, and our family and I want to be the kind of partner I want to have. So I will work towards my goals as I can fit them into happy co-existence with the man I love on our little plot of paradise.

******************************************************
Yesterday Shannon at Kenleigh Acres sent me a Lemonade Stand award, for "blogs that show gratitude or great attitude or both” (I've added it over there at the right side of the blog). It always feels nice when someone gives me a blog award (They like me! They really like me!), but this one is especially meaningful. I do strive to recognize and appreciate the abundant blessings God gives me each day (including my blogpals!), and I'm glad it shows. In so many ways I fall short of living the gifts of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith), but as the bumper sticker says, "Be patient; God isn't finished with me yet." Kinda like my flock goals....

With gratitude from . . .

Muskrat love

Oh, um, I mean "musket love." Above are my lovely musket girls, Butter (front) and Brava. At least I think Brava is musket; I've gotten differing opinions on her color. Maybe I'll get a definitive answer at this spring's shearing. Since Brava lost all her wool when she got sick last May and has been covered ever since, I expect her clip this year to be fantastic, whatever its color. Sadly, Butter appears to have a break in her fleece from when she got sick this winter, so her buttery-soft lamb fleece may be trash. I will have to decide whether to shear her early and leave her uncovered so I can show her as a yearling at Black Sheep Gathering and/or Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival this year, or keep her at home and cover her fleece for maximum cleanliness and value. It will all depend on whether lambs arrive early enough and look good enough to have a "show string;" Butter is not for sale and would only be exhibited because it would be interesting to get a judge's opinion on her.

Switching gears completely, here are the first flowers of the year at Boulderneigh. I happened to spot them on Inauguration Day, looking like the inspiration for the ball gown Michelle Obama wore later that night. Can you imagine a ball gown inspired by this morning's sunrise?
Finally, lookee what Kristi gave me: the Wonderfully Wooly award at right. Thanks, Kristi!

That's it for now at . . .