My show string

I have had Shetlands for less than three years, and showed some of mine for the first time last year. Boulderneigh's second foray into the ring will be at Black Sheep Gathering this weekend. Of the four sheep I own that are of eligible age to compete there, I am showing three: yearling Braveheart and his sons, Blizz and Bluster (Brava doesn't have enough fleece to show!). Unlike other, bigger breeders, who can choose their very best from among many, I am taking what I can. How will my boys compare? I have no idea. My main goals are to successfully market the sheep I have for sale, and expose more people to the wonderful option of polled Shetland rams. If I accomplish those goals I will be a very happy shepherd - no ribbons needed!

My two ram lambs are accepting their halters well and leading decently, but setting them up in the ring to show them off to their best advantage will be a challenge (I'll need someone to help me in the ram lamb class). This morning during their leading lesson I snapped some photos which did little to capture their best qualities; hopefully someone at BSG can take better ones!
It is readily apparent which twin inherited his dad's poll gene, and which one did not!

Here is dad:Sometime before morning chores Braveheart broke off one of his little scurs. I was disappointed, since he would have looked nicer in the show ring with symmetrical scurs. Maybe he'll break off the other one before Friday.... Below is a close-up of Braveheart's fleece; it's very consistent from front to back, with this bold crimp all over. He has "blocky" locks with rather blunt tips to them; very different than all my ewes and the vast majority of Shetlands I've seen in the show rings around here. (Those long, flowing fleeces can hide a multitude of flaws!) So far, none Braveheart's lambs look to have his style of fleece, but only time and maturity will tell.
Off to get more done before leaving for BSG!

Hay in the barn

Well, it took two late nights, one morning, lots of Kleenex and a couple doses of prednisone, but we got 11 tons of local grass hay out of the field and into the barn. We have room for 2-4 more tons; we'll need at least one ton of fine grass hay for the sheep, probably from eastern Oregon (they waste most of the local stuff - too stemmy), and maybe a couple tons of alfalfa to supplement the horses (local grass is usual quite low in protein). It feels good to have the majority of that big task done - and I'm thankful that my back held up!

My in-laws left this afternoon; on the way home from the airport I picked up a crate in which to ship Blanche to Alaska next Monday. Yes, just Blanche. The airlines all got picky and won't ship two lambs to a crate, so Blanche has to make the long trip all by her lonesome and Bevin is still available. I'll put Bevin on the sales list I'm creating to take to Black Sheep Gathering; I'll be busy getting ready for that the next two days, along with all my usual tasks.

I haven't had a chance to take many new photos, or compose posts featuring "old" photos (from my Mexico trip). The best I can do right now is a couple of current, not-too-great candid shots of my sweet, beautiful Blanche, soon to be leaving Boulderneigh:May she bear many beautiful white and spotted babies for Suzanne at Silveraurora!

That's it for now at . . .

Catching up, in no particular order

That's Brava, in photos taken with and without flash. Between the two I hope you can appreciate just how wonderful her new fleece looks (as for how it feels, you'll have to trust me: crushed velvet!). She has gained back all her lost weight, too. In short, I couldn't be more pleased with our sheepy success story.

While I was gone, our chicks took another big step towards maturity - they now cluck! Gone are the baby peeps they used to make. Oh, and I had to clip wings. Rick had done this once before, but the young ladies have apparently grown more feathers. Yesterday morning, Morgan flew to the top of the tall chicken yard fence! I shooed her back in before she escaped, and ran to the tack room for a pair of scissors.

Rick and I finally got the corn (Early Sunglow) planted this afternoon. We also added a couple more tomato plants and replaced the watermelon and honeydew plants that had died. While we worked in the garden, Brian and his grandparents picked strawberries at a nearby place my mother-in-law tracked down - about five gallons for $5! We'll be eating like kings for a few days, and I'm keeping that farmer's number for future reference!

Speaking of food, as soon as we eat supper Rick and I are headed out to get as much hay in the barn as we can before we drop tonight. A neighbor we sometimes buy hay from is baling as I type, and he thought he'd have about nine tons for us on top of the 16 tons someone else as spoken for. Unfortunately, the flatbed trailer he has let us borrow in the past is occupied, so we'll have to get numerous small loads in the back of the pick-up. I'd better go take a prednisone now (allergies).

That's it for now at . . .

I'm back - and out of breath already!

Just a quick note to let my blog readers know I am back home at Boulderneigh. My eight days in Mexico were so quiet and peaceful and beyond my sphere of experience that it seems like a lovely dream. I don't expect to enjoy so perfect a departure from my "normal" life again - although if the chance comes, I'm all over it!

My husband met me at the airport Wednesday night with a dozen red roses and mushy card for our anniversary, even though I was in Mexico without him on the actual date. (Can I hear a collective "Aaaaah!"?) We had a quiet drive home and a good night's sleep, which abruptly ended at 6:30 a.m. when Brian bounced into our room. Since that moment, I've been frantically playing catch-up and entertaining company; I haven't even had a chance to completely unpack yet. I'll probably NEVER catch up on all the blogs I like to read!

Here's a couple sheepy tidbits, though. Thursday afternoon my farrier/shearer was here to take care of the horses and shear the three mama ewes. At my request, he brought a rounded, 24-tooth goat comb, even though he claimed it is just as likely to "slice and dice" as those wicked-looking, flared sheep combs. But for the first time, there was not a single, tiny nick!

I was also thrilled when I caught and examined Brava. She is growing a fine new fleece in the most luscious warm taupe, and is in excellent flesh! I took the spandex sleezy off so she is just wearing the Rocky Sheep Suit now. I will post some photos when I get the chance.

That's it for now at . . .