Vacation ~ Day One...

What a PERFECT first day of vacation!
"FLASH DANCE"
I spent quite a long time, sitting out with my ewes.

"ZARIA"
I am so blessed with a truly beautiful group of girls.

"ZEST"
(caught napping!)
Who are every bit as sweet as they are lovely!

My beautiful "DAZZLE"

Sweet "ANGEL"

Regal "DESTINY"

"CAT NAP" and "PRIMA DONA"

"GODIVA"
I love the TEXTURES and shades of color in this photo!

Do you remember "DILEMA"?

How about "CHANCE"?

"DREAM"s mad because I put her so far down in this post...

"ALICE" says: "I don't mind ~
Mom just saved the BEST for LAST..."

P.S. If you're a regular follower of this blog, you may realize that I didn't show Zodiak. Not to worry ~ she's still here! It's just that she needs her "summer trim" and is looking a bit like a Swamp Creature! Perhaps that will be another post, SOON!...

Vacation (?)

I have the next four days OFF work! I have so much to do that I don't even know where to begin.

I only know that I better get my butt off this computor and start something!

DREAM says...

"I'm practicing my smile because as soon as Mom's done building stuff for those cute, in a worthless, feathery sort of way Chickens, I'm sure she'll want to take more pictures of ME!"

It Was A SHEEPY Kind of Morning...

One of those lazy, semi-foggy mornings that just lure one out to sit with the sheep!





DREAM says...

"I know you're sucking up to me but that's OK.
You can go play with your chickens now..."

I'd Like to be the FIRST...

To wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Isn't she adorable?
I bought her at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival. This is the first time that I went for 2 days ~ without any sheep. What a blast!

I actually took two classes (knitting short rows and knitting with thrums) and learned so much! I also visited the sheep breeds display. It was fascinating, seeing all the different types of sheep! Best of all, it was SO nice to see the familiar faces of friends that I've come to care deeply for ~ yet see so seldom.

And then there was the SHOPPING!
I got:

This beautiful wicker basket from "The Basket Lady". She makes the most beautiful baskets and prices them unbelievably reasonably. Of course (and this is not the 'good part')...once I had the basket, I felt compelled to FILL it!

I swore I was not going to buy any roving this year. I always get sucked in by the stunning colors of hand painted roving. But this year, I stuck to my guns! Of course, I did get two HUGE skeins of hand painted Alpaca YARN and a beautiful pattern to make myself a shawl. I do so love my shawls! It'll be my Christmas present to ME.

Speaking of gifts to me: While perusing the Vendor's barn for the 50th time to get out of the hot sun, I saw a lovely couple with a display of Books that I recognized and have wanted to buy for quite some time! It was Jack and Barbara Maloney and their TRUE tale of the adventures of a Mid-life couple when they chucked life as they knew it and headed for the Scottish Isles and a life of tending sheep! I think this has got to be a great book for anyone who loves sheep.

I can't wait to read it!! Jack & Barbara are the parents of Eileen at Knot All That and also have their own website called, you guessed it: "Life on the Wee Mad Road"

I also got extra bobbins for my Roberta spinner, three bars of exquisitly "spice" scented Goat Milk Soap, and LOTS more yarn but I'm not talking about that now... ;-)

I admit, I was anxious to get back home to my beautiful, new babies. I left all the animals under the excellent watch of my good friend, Virginia. The sheep were happy new move back over to the side pasture today and Splash and Java got to spend their first afternoon OUT SIDE in the Bluff Country.

Java was so excited that she did a little DANCE!
'You put your left foot in,
you put your left foot out,
you put your left foot in
and you shake it all about...'

Splash just ran around exploring his bright new world.

Oh yes, one other thing I wanted to share:

This is my latest KNITTING project! It's a "Mosaic" pattern and is really EASY! It's my first time doing any type of "colorwork" (I'm intimidated by anything new) and I absolutely love it. The yarn is light Musket (Alice) Shetland and Fawn Shetland, blended with a little mohair. I'll be doing much more of this in the future...

All-in-all, it was a wonderful weekend.
And I'm so glad to be back home!

DREAM says...

"Life is Good in the Bluff Country!"

I Feel SO Much Better...

THEY'RE HERE!! My very first pair of Mille Fleur breeding stock, bantam Cochins arrived at the local post office at 7:10 this morning. As much as I tossed and turned and had really weird dreams all night long, I can tell you: that phone call jerked me out of a VERY sound sleep!

I threw on some clothes and jumped in the car and rushed into town. I was so scared on the drive home because they weren't "peeping"! The box was SO quiet.

But as soon as I opened it, out bounced two, obviously very healthy (all-be-it THIRSTY and HUNGRY) young Cochins!

This is "Java"
(she's a 4 month old pullet *young hen*)

I chose her because her markings are VERY nice.

The "Mille Fleur" pattern in Cochins is a work in progress and there are no perfect birds. Therefore, I am selecting pairs that will lead me closer and closer to developing a show quality line of Mille Fleur patterned Cochins. (much like I did with developing a line of quality, HST Shetlands!)

This is "SPLASH".
(he's about 3 1/2 months old ~ cockerel is the name for a young rooster)

I love his color and think he has very nice "type" for a young bird.

Both of these birds are very young and will most likely change dramatically as they mature. But, I feel like I'm off to a good start...

Thank you, Josh Singleton for all the hard work you've put into developing the Mille Fleur bantam Cochin and for letting me purchase these sweet, beautiful birds. I love them already and look forward to perpetuating the line that you've worked so hard to produce!

DREAM says...

"Welcome to the Bluff Country Splash and Java!"

"Mom's got pairs of these goofy looking birds 'Millie Flower' Cochins coming from at least two other breeders so we may as well sit back and watch the show..."

They're On The Way....

My very first pair of Mille Fleur breeding stock bantam Cochins left Utah, last night and should arrive in the Bluff Country early tomorrow morning! Their breeder (Josh Singleton of Utah) let them out for one last romp before placing them in the box that would bring them to their new home.

I went to my local post office and told them to call me the MINUTE my babies arrive and I will come in to get them. Please keep them in your thoughts and say prayers ~ wave DPNs or whatever it is that you do when you hope to influence the outcome of things ~ for them to have a safe journey!

DREAM says...

"God's speed, little ones.
Here's the thing: I'll grant you, they ARE kind of cute. I guess they'll be OK. I'm sure this means there will be another chicken post tomorrow, which is OK as long as I and my friends GET EQUAL TIME!"

It's a deal Dreamer!

If You Think the EWES Had it Bad...

My poor boys have been banned to the outer pasture, to make room for more CHICKENS in the barn!

They have plenty of good grazing and fresh water and shelter, so they're not exactly 'abused' but they're not exactly getting lots of attention either. Then again, that's not such a bad thing with rams. The truth is, I hope to have all three boys gone within the next month. Hunter (beautiful, Mioget, HST, 2yr old ram) is for sale. (although, I MIGHT just use him, quick before he goes!) I had a buyer for him but she can't take him until December and I do not want to keep an intact ram any longer.

Here are the results of his 2year old fleece micron test: He averaged 23.7 microns, with a standard deviation of 6.3, a coefficient of variation of 26.6, had 2% of his fibers below 15 microns, 85.4% below 30 microns, and a spin fineness of 24.3 microns. Contact me if you are interested in adding this handsome boy to YOUR flock!

The girls are enjoying the side pasture again today.

I have to move them back to their main pasture, before I leave for work because I don't have the electric hooked up on the temporary fence any more.

I LOVE this picture of my Black Cochin: "SHINE"

DREAM says...

"BOY! Things sure are CRAZY around here!"