I live in the state of DENIAL...

There will be no CURRENT (as in taken today) photos of Alice today.  Probably none tomorrow either.  You'll have to make do with pictures taken on Sunday.  Yes, I know she's bigger.  But nature has conspired to keep me from taking any photographs until the freaking snow stops and  Spring returns!

I let the sheep out on the hill behind my big barn, the other day.  The grass was much longer than that in the pasture and I thought they'd enjoy the treat.

I was right about that!

Nothing like a little green grass, blue sky and sunshine to finish off those lambs!

Everybody loves Spring!

Chance and Destiny on the hillside:

Shetlands are "hill sheep", you know.

Dazzle is really blossoming.

Poses like this could make me nervous!

But she was just enjoying the warm, SPRING  weather.

DREAM  says...

"Sn**?  What sn**?  There is no sn** in the Bluff Country after March.  Mom even said so!  All I know is that it's a good thing Mom took lots of pictures on Sunday.  She'll have a chance to use most of them over the next couple of days!"

That's right, Dreamer:  no sn**!

And my arm doesn't hurt either...

That Face...

Just LOOK at that face!

That is our lovely first lamb of 2010

"Bluff Country Dixie Cup"

Dazzle's little bundle of joy is growing up!

And she's quite the beauty!

She's also been quite the little snob/somewhat reserved.

This past weekend is the first that she's actually come up and let me touch her.

But we're making progress.

;-)

The jungle/pasture has gotten a bit long while I've been sick.

If it ever stops raining, I'll mow it!

I could lose a lamb in there!

Dixie and all the lambs will be for sale. 

How can I part with that face?

For prices or more information.

 Email me or visit the FOR SALE page on my Website

Dazzle and "Dixie Cup"...

Words Later...

The Rest of the Story...

As told by Dazzle...

"You wouldn't believe what Mom did to me!"

"First, she put one of those rope things around my head and drug me out of the pasture..."

"Then, she ties me to the gate and the stupid CHICKENS  were laughing at me!"

"And then she starts ripping my long, soft, gorgeous fleece right off of my body!!!"

"OK.  So it didn't actually hurt, or anything.  But it was still embarrassing!"

"Of course, being the perfect little angel that I am, I stood there calmly and quietly and endured the humiliation of it all"

"Except when Mom tried to pull the wool that was up by my ribs or down by my tummy!  That wool didn't slide right off and I didn't like it when Mom tried to pull it so she left that alone."

"Mom, said we can always get the rest of the wool another day..."

"I'm thinking  NOT !!!"

"I don't see her pulling the wool off of any of the other sheep!  What about Dreamer???  How come Mom doesn't tie HER up and pull HER wool off?"

DREAM says:

"Cuz I'm SPECIAL!"

That you are, Dreamer.  That you are.   But the truth is, I didn't roo your fleece because it isn't ready to be rooed.   It's quite common for a Shetland's fleece to 'release' when the new fleece is starting to grow in.  At that time, the old fleece starts falling out and the shepherd will see chunks of wool hanging from the sheep.  Dazzle had huge chunks of wool just falling off her rear end.  For those who asked, it's not an indication of anything wrong.  In fact, it makes removing the fleece quite easy and it makes for a much cleaner fleece.  I love a fleece that roos easily!

Although Dream's fleece doesn't appear to be ready to roo, I did notice that Alice has quite a few chunks hanging.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the earlier lambing date for some of the girls...

I LOVE This Picture...

"Dream" dreamin'...

I had such a wonderful time with the sheep on my Birthday that I  thought I'd share more of the photos.

*As always, click on any image to enlarge*

Dazzle ~ for Katie W.

Zodiak

Flash Dance

Sable with Dazzle and Flash Dance...

Zodiac (again)

(she is SO photogenic!)

And Dazzle is just so darned CUTE!

Of course we can't leave out the flock Matriarch

(and keeper of my heart),

ALICE

I am so blessed.

DREAM says:

"Now,  THOSE  are some good looking  "chicks"!

That they are, my Dreamer .

You'll  get no argument from me about that!

LGD in Training....

In case you don't know:  LGD stands for
Livestock Guardian Dog.

Sable is four months old now.

She loves to spend time with the sheep and the chickens.

Most of the sheep have gotten quite trusting ~ even friendly ~ with Sable.  For those who haven't yet, Sable instinctively doesn't push things.  She seems to know how to reassure them that she means them no harm.

Sable knows that if she is patient, the sheep will come up to her...

And they do!

Sable is making friends with the sheep!

These two (Sable and Dazzle) have become quite the buddies...

Of course, some of the girls are a little more hesitant to make friends...

That's OK. 

Sable's in no hurry...

She's not going anywhere...

DREAM says:

"That Sable IS kind of growing on me!  I guess she can stay..."

Thanks, Dreamer!