KINDRED SPIRIT FARM

She's at it again....

2012-01-19T12:10:00.002-05:00

Phyllis has a winter wanderlust that just won't let go. Ken has to go out and send Luke up the driveway to retrieve her almost everyday now! I don't know where she thinks she's going, but she's going to be coyote bait if she keeps this up!! The guinea fowl started this whole game....I think they were just sending her out ahead of them since she's so much more plump and appetizing.

January tidbits...

2012-01-16T14:36:00.002-05:00

Winnie with a mouthful of hay.....her usual headshot! Rosie, the ewe in front, came back into heat this week so we put her in with Barley who bred her the instant she went through the gate! Guess we'll have a few late lambs......

The ducks aren't impressed with the size of the pool, but are grateful for a place to wash-up and paddle for a minute.
I love these guys....they make me laugh everyday!

Miss Pearl was doing her best impression of "OMG it's cold outside...PLEASE can I have just a little more grain?" Those pleading eyes can't hide the big belly!

The end of the day brought a few jeweled treetops...a little compensation for a bitterly cold day.

Up the Road Apiece...

2012-01-13T12:38:00.004-05:00

I wrote this a few years ago, but thought it very appropriate for today's weather....I had a GREAT picture of Sam, the llama, out in the sleet and snow, but I'm having quite a time trying to get it loaded. Gotta love technology or should I say my lack of knowledge of technology? Enjoy...

Well, it finally stopped snowing and the countryside is beautiful. We laughingly refer to our house as being in "the Bermuda Triangle of the North".....we're North of the Lakes Region, but South of the White Mountains. Your guess is as good as mine when listening to the weather forecast! We could get the 4 inches they're calling for in the Lakes Region or the 14 inches they predict for the White Mountains....you just never know. On this particular day, we hit the jackpot.

Ah, the beauty of winter....kind of takes your breath away. You know, the thought of doing the barn chores with two feet of snow on the ground! Now THAT will take your breath away! The sheep don't seem to mind and, quite frankly, almost revel in the new snowfall. They play their games of sheep tag and king of the mountain as they leap from the highest point of the stonewall.....or manure pile. You would think it was a Spring day except for the fact that it's now 24 degrees with a 30 mph wind blowing!! Just how DO they figure windchill anyway? Oh, who cares, cold is cold. My nostrils stick together with every breath I take as I trudge out to the pasture and carefully place flakes of hay for the sheep and llamas. Mustn't mess up their fleeces....the shearer will be coming before you know it.

Anyway....back to the beauty of winter. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Well, I truely love a fresh snowfall as much as the next guy. Okay, maybe not as much as the snowboarder who starts waiting in September for the local ski slopes to start MAKING snow, but I can appreciate Mother Nature blanketing the area in nice fresh snow. What really fills my heart after that snowfall, though, is a freshly shoveled path all the way out to the barn and way over to the chicken coop. It almost brings a tear to my eye.

You have to love a man who's willing to shovel a path to the barn.....so you can do the chores. :0)

Like I said, I wrote this a couple of years ago, but as I sit here and look out the window at the snow falling, I realize it's almost time to go out and shovel a path to the barn.....again. How many more days til Spring?

Plant escaping!

2012-01-02T11:37:00.002-05:00

Yup....heard there was an arctic front moving in and decided to head for warmer climates!

Ken noticed this when we were having coffee this morning and thought it looked like my plant was making a run for it. Can't say as I blame it what with temps supposed to be below zero for the next couple of nights.....how many more weeks until Spring?

Merry Christmas....

2011-12-12T12:29:00.005-05:00

pWith Christmas fast approaching, I wanted to send out my Christmas card from Kindred Spirit Farm.....
NOT....Happy Holidays! I'm a firm believer in Christmas and all that it stands for....let's tell it like it is!!! Merry Christmas to everyone! May the Spirit of Christmas be with you throughout the New Year.

She just wanted to go for a ride....

2011-11-16T14:09:00.001-05:00

Darn it....I almost got away with it!

Talk about living at the Funny Farm! Never a dull moment....

Little and Big....

2011-10-14T14:18:00.001-04:00

I love this shot of Willow and her "brother" Sam...just plain cute!

Willow.........

2011-09-29T13:11:00.002-04:00

She's a sweet little gulmoget that has stolen my heart, but then again...don't they all ? Momma was one of our fawn gulmogets and Daddy was a black ram and this little beauty was the result. She is dripping in yummy fleece and as I said....she is as sweet as sweet can be!

Hope to be getting my act together to post more individual pictures of the flock...stay tuned.

Have you been counting sheep at night?

2011-09-21T14:11:00.004-04:00

I HAVE! Thoughts of Shetland Sheep dance through my head...who to breed to whom? I am really going to hone down who gets bred this year. Doing some heavy evaluating! I know where I want to improve my flock...now to put things in motion!

Oh, oh....

2011-09-14T13:21:00.002-04:00

Fall is in the air. The Bee Balm has faded (or been tromped on by the geese, ducks, and turkeys!). We filled the hummingbird feeder one more time, but noticed last night that they weren't around. Yup...Fall is definately here folks. It's supposed to be in the 50's -60's this weekend with a possible frost just North of here!!! If any of you guys regularly read our blog, you know that we live in a Bermuda triangle of sorts. We never know what "zone" we're in! I guess I'll be taking in all of the houseplants that are on the porch.....just in case. Good thing the hummers left town!

Dawn...

2011-08-30T13:45:00.001-04:00

I got this shot a few mornings ago. Now that mornings are getting a bit crisp, the fog in the early dawn hours kind of creeps along the pasture. I lucked out with this shot....

Not treading water....

2011-08-29T15:42:00.002-04:00

I'm hoping this post finds everyone safe and sound! One friend has been cut off from her surrounding area by the floods in Vermont, but her spirits are good and the sheep are safe, too. Good grief, in the midst of torrential downpours, my sheep were grazing like it was a sunny day! Yup...they are a hardy little breed. That's why I love em!

Diatomeceous Earth????

2011-08-03T14:27:00.002-04:00

Anyone have any input? I have been researching this stuff and am very curious to hear from people who may have used this for worming their sheep and/or goats....or what-have-you. We have been using it in the barn to kill flies and such, but I don't know of anyone personally who has tried this for worming! HELP! Yes...we are using the "for human consumption" grade.....

It's raining!!!!!

2011-07-29T21:02:00.002-04:00

Yippee! The sound of the rain is mesmerizing tonight....not a downpour, just an even, steady rain. You can almost hear the grass cheering! The pasture and lawn and gardens have been dry and in dire need of a good soaking rain. I hope it rains all night!!!! Of course it can stop anytime around 4 am and then the sun can shine....I have lots of wool to wash this weekend and it would be nice to have the sun shining and maybe a light breeze. I've put it my order.....now all I can do is see what's happening as the day dawns. Maybe I can get some pictures tomorrow, too. I'll keep you posted :0)

I'm on a roll!

2011-07-25T12:54:00.002-04:00

Well....at least I posted! It's not sheep, but it's part of the beauty of Kindred Spirit Farm. As I have said in previous posts, my gardens tend to be a bit on the WILD side! They don't want to stay in the boundaries that I have created and have even "jumped" and started a new life on the other side of the stone walls bordering the driveway....in the gravel, no less! How can you confine such a free spirit? I can't bring myself to pull them up, so I offer them to neighbors and friends who come and admire their tenacity. "Help yourself"...is what I tell them. BYOP......

bring your own pot.

Has it really been that long?

2011-07-22T14:15:00.003-04:00

I can't believe that I haven't posted since June! Time flies when you're working, farming, playing and just plain LIVING! Where do the days go...and let's hope they go by just as fast when the snow is flying and we're waiting for lambs! Right now, a bit of an October breeze would sure feel good. I guess I'll just pray to remember this warmth when I'm sitting by the woodstove this January. In the meantime....I think Saturday and/or Sunday should be a kayaking kind of day, don't you? Keep cool my friends!

Grumpy?

2011-06-03T15:21:00.002-04:00

No...not at all! Peanut is actually our "self patting" cat and is wonderfully friendly. I think she was just having one of those early morning pouts. When we were kids my Mom would get us out of a funky mood by saying "Why don't you go out in the garden and eat some worms?" Which sounded so silly that it would make us laugh! Maybe that's what Peanut was doing...looking for worms.

Dot.....you'll see why.

2011-05-27T15:41:00.003-04:00

Now, come on....what else would her name be? She is the sweetest little doeling.... :0) I'm enjoying these little Boer babies....very cute and mellow.

Hello

2011-05-13T13:52:00.002-04:00

Were you trying to get a picture of my nostril? The llamas are ALWAYS pretty aloof....unless you have a camera in your hand! Sam had to step into this shot of the lambs playing on the stone walls....oh ya, and my hubby decided to set the time and date on the camera. After I dropped the camera in to a water bucket, well let's just say the time and date haven't changed since then....nuff said?

Silly goose....

2011-05-04T14:08:00.002-04:00

Now, this is just plain silly! Poor Daisy was just minding her business when this foolish gander jumped her and decided to take a ride. Always something going on...you just never know what! Maybe tomorrow I can catch the llama doing a piroette across the field? Oh good grief...where's spell check when you need it? :0)

Happy Earth Day.....

2011-04-22T14:20:00.002-04:00

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to sit outside with the sheep and soak up some sun and smell the Earth! Ahhhhhh...I'm at peace when I'm with my animals. They bring a certain calm to both Ken and me.

We thrive when we celebrate the Earth...whether we are gardening, being shepherds for our flock, enjoying the sunrise or the full moon as it perches on the mountain top before it slids into the clouds. We are lucky to live in an area where we can enjoy the water, too, and kayak on a lazy afternoon....and just enjoy being. Mother Nature at it's best....such is New England.

Thank you for these gifts.........

RAIN?

2011-04-18T21:16:00.003-04:00

Nah....we haven't had rain. Oh, we've had a downpour or two, but no rain to speak of...ya right! Kiah has the right idea...keep em on high ground!

Maybe this will explain.........

2011-04-14T13:29:00.003-04:00

So I've been a bad blogger....I've been a bit busy. :0)

We still have three Shetlands and one Romney left to lamb. And did I mention that we also have two Boer does that are kidding, also? I feel silly saying that I've been busy when I see some of you guys that have HUGE flocks and LOTS of lambs, but in my own way...I'VE BEEN BUSY!

We have 19 lambs so far and the lamb races that have started have been spectacular! Now, if we can just get a consistent weather pattern of warmth without rain so I can sit on the porch and observe....with a cool drink in hand....well, I can relax a bit and just enjoy!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG....

2011-03-20T20:45:00.002-04:00

LAMBS...the first lambs of the season arrived late this afternoon when Nettle had a moorit ewe (she's the one laying down...brand new) and a black ram with a splash of white on his forehead. Everyone is fine and settled in for the night. I put Flopsy in the lambing jug next to Nettle so she might take the hint. LOL

How much longer???

2011-03-18T10:30:00.003-04:00

P L E A S E ! This has gone on l o n g enough! I expect Flopsy lambs every time I walk out to the barn. I guess since she has had triplets the past two years, she's taking her sweet time knowing what's coming! Can't say as I blame her. Flopsy has raised her triplets on her own every year.....good mama.

The piggies are here...the piggies are here.....

2011-03-15T18:57:00.002-04:00

and, oh my gosh, are they cute! We picked up four piggies in total, but the others are still a bit camera shy. More photos to follow in the next few days.

Got any wood?

2011-03-07T09:43:00.004-05:00

I'm starting my Ark today.....

March madness....

2011-03-02T04:39:00.002-05:00

No sleep.....no sleep......no sleep! I think I need to invest in some kind of webcam for the barn. Of course then I would stay up all night watching the sheep chew their cud. Might be better than the foolish movies that are on at 3:00 am, though!! It's very hard to shut off my head at times, and tonight was one of those nights. Work "stuff" rattled around in there and then that set off the "lamb worrying alarm" and at that point...why lie there with eyes wide open? May as well get up and check the sheep! Maybe I'll have some lamb photos soon.....

Warmer days today!

2011-02-17T14:17:00.003-05:00

Filled up the BIG bucket so the ducks and geese could enjoy the sunshine today.....ahhhhhhhhhh.

Two Dog Night?

2011-02-17T14:12:00.002-05:00

It was cold this past week....had to bundle up just to watch TV!

Snow Day!

2011-02-02T19:41:00.003-05:00

Oh, the shear joy of it all!!! I think I remember what it was like playing in the snow....vaguely. At this time in my life it's more like....shovel, haul buckets, shovel, haul hay, shovel....but we should never forget to PLAY! Right? We can learn alot from our dogs!!!! :0)

What?

2011-01-30T19:28:00.002-05:00

Shetlands may be the "norm" around here, but our two Romney girls are pretty darn cute, too. We hope to pick up a third Romney ewe to add to the flock next week.....weather is always the clincher this time of year when it comes to travel, though! Daisy Mae (pictured) and Blossom are both bred to our katmoget ram, Tucker. I'm pretty anxious to see what we have with that combination....should have lovely fleeces.

Did I happen to mention?

2011-01-28T13:23:00.002-05:00

Oh ya, by the way, did I mention the Boer goat doeling that we "rescued"? She was one of triplets and the 80 year old man who owned her didn't want to bottle feed. Need I say more? We just HAD to get her this little winter parka...very stylish, huh?

Looking for a vegetarian home for her.. :0) Anyone interested?

Snow Day!!

2011-01-21T19:02:00.003-05:00

Yes..it snowed again today and as you can see...no one is the worse for wear. Well....okay, maybe Ken and I are getting a little tired of it, but the sheep just take it in stride. Glad shearing time isn't happening for a while! Hey, did you notice the "no cows" sign on the barn? LOL. I think the llamas may have put it up there...... :0) They're the only ones that can reach THAT high!

Thanks Ken

2011-01-17T10:39:00.002-05:00

I asked Ken to try to get some winter pictures for the blog since I just have not made the time to do it....sorry folks!
I LOVE this picture of Bellatrix. She's like a little pixie..I could just squeeze her every time I see her!

Luke keeping a safe distance from the Wooly's...they're mean, you know! For such small sheep...they're tough little things! They will charge Luke and stamp their feet...not afraid of that dog thing!

Tim was just not too sure about having his picture taken...must have been a bad hair day. Toots, on the other hand, was more than willing to show off her baby bump. :0)

I think Sam was in the process of making snow angels...or just thinking about it, anyway!

A few of the girls looking for cookies, of course! They know Ken ALWAYS has either alfalfa cubes or animal crackers and both are YUMMY! Thanks for the pictures, Honey...you have come to my rescue again!

BIG girl...

2011-01-07T15:14:00.002-05:00

This post is for all of the people who helped with Bella's transport this summer. It's not the greatest picture, but it shows you just how much she's grown, how spoiled she is and how much we love our "little" girl....who is now a very BIG girl! Don't tell anyone, but I think Ken loves the big ball of fluff....who we fondly call "Fifi"! LOL

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-25T15:47:00.002-05:00

I want to wish all of my friends and followers a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season. It's a great time to reflect and count my blessings and you are all a part of that! I have enjoyed reading your blogs and sharing mine with you.....I do so look forward to perhaps meeting with many of you, too....and, if nothing else, just reading MORE about your life on the farm and maybe sharing a story or two about our mutual hobby/passion....our sheep and our crazy farm lives! Are we normal? Probably not normal for everyone, but definitely NOT boring, either! I'll be watching for your new posts and laughing and wishing we were neighbors.....hope your New Year is healthy, happy and has many bouncing lambs this Spring!!!
Peace to all......and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For my Sheepy Friends....

2010-12-09T15:28:00.001-05:00

I ask you....isn't this the cutest Christmas card????

It's Snowing!

2010-12-06T14:23:00.003-05:00

Okay, don't panic....it IS December, after all. I just don't happen to be ready, yet. Are you? I am NEVER ready for the first storm...I gradually become more accepting as the winter progresses, but right now...IT'S SNOWING and I'm not ready! I'm really hoping that the weatherman is correct in his pronouncement of only about 2 inches. It just so happens that we live in this "Bermuda Triangle" of sorts....we are not the Lakes Region, but we're not the mountains, either.....we are in our own little bubble where you never know what will happen. By tomorrow this snowman could be 6 feet tall! Tune in for future weather announcements.... :0)

Wooly Washys....

2010-11-18T11:57:00.002-05:00

An all natural scrubby to use in the shower and help exfoliate that "winter skin". It's been fun making my Wooly Washys....everyone is different! One thing is for sure, in the process of making these, my hands have never been cleaner!!!

Guess who's coming to Kindred Spirit Farm?

2010-11-11T20:23:00.000-05:00

I need your help....your creative help!

2010-11-09T07:48:00.002-05:00

Okay....I have been making felted soap bars....and having a blast! I have to get on the stick and do some more felted sheep for a Christmas Open House, too. BUT...in the meantime....what the heck do I call my soaps?? I need to come up with something very soon!!!
Here are a few suggestions:

Soap in a Coat
Ewenique Soap
Ewenique Sudz
Soap 4 Ewe

For some reason, either it doesn't knock my socks off or whatever, I can't seem to find the "right one". Now, my friend Sally came up with Flockin' Soap and I laughed my head off, but thought better of marketing it that way. ;0) She did have a very funny scenario for a commercial, though! So seriously...what are your ideas? Anyone out there with a good twist to scrubbable fleece for people? Or wooly soap?

2010-11-01T12:18:00.002-04:00

I really haven't been just lazing around...honestly. It's been very busy here! Fall seems to bring alot of work, doesn't it? Mending fences....oh how I love that job! Ya, right! Then it's time to put the breeding groups together. How many times can YOU change your mind? I have changed my mind soooo many times this year! I don't know why, but I have! There are reasons for this one and reasons for that one....just too many options!
I promise to be better.....really! More pictures to follow!

Gulmogets.....

2010-10-11T06:55:00.002-04:00

This is a breeding group that is going to be hard to wait on....Rosie on the left, Kiah on the right and Pippin peaking in the rear. The girls will be bred to RF Xander, a black ram who is as sweet as he is gorgeous. Xander sired some nice lambs this year and now we are hoping for some beauties out of this group, too. Kiah is the only one of these ewes who has lambed before so it is going to be REALLY exciting to see what both Rosie and Pippin produce. Kiah has produced consistently beautiful lambs. She is our Bonnie's mom and I'm still trying to figure out who Bonnie is going to be bred to this year! I think I have done the "Shetland Shuffle", with her, for a couple of weeks now!! Tucker? Thistle? Xander? The wait is on.....

This one's for Kathleen....

2010-10-10T17:24:00.001-04:00

He's one of our "stragglers"....born in July. Looking good!

Fat Wooly ewes

2010-09-29T15:16:00.004-04:00

Yup, that's Golden Rod in the background....hopefully it will be a new pasture area next year. In terms of NOW, that means more fencing. Is the fencing ever done? By the looks of the girls....no one is suffering from malnutrition!!

You looking at me?

2010-09-12T07:34:00.002-04:00

Cappy with her ewe lamb, yet to be named....this is a photo by my friend Deirdre. I have a feeling the "little miss" will be joining Deirdre's flock, along with her new ram and the other girls, very soon. Or will it be the flecket ewe? Decisions....decisions.

Toots........

2010-09-12T07:22:00.003-04:00

She's one of our favorite girls....our "plain brown wrapper" who has given us katmogets, gulmogets and now fleckets this year! She also is a sweet and friendly girl who is always there for a scritch.....but, especially if you have animal crackers in your pocket! Tootie is the ambassador for our Shetland sheep. She wags ger tail when petted and pretty much "sells herself"...that's how I got her. I went to see her lamb, that was for sale, and bought Tootie instead! Thanks for this picture Deirdre....I love it!

Coming soon to a pasture near you.....

2010-09-10T13:17:00.002-04:00

Okay....so Percy is coming to MY pasture.....and I'm getting excited. Everytime a new sheep comes here, I feel like it's my birthday....without adding more numbers. Know what I mean?

With some of our lambs already gone or leaving soon, it's nice to have one coming to stay....and bring in some "new" blood, too.

Heat wave!

2010-09-02T06:39:00.002-04:00

Yup...it's been pretty toasty around these parts...they say it's hot enough to breed sheep. (I don't get that??) Don't we wait for the cool Fall air to get things moving along? Well, I'll tell you what! I'm ready! Yes, our winters are long (sometimes a bit too long) but COME ON.....this is ridiculous! It's September and "we're having a HEAT WAVE....a tropical heat wave". ENOUGH! It's time for "autumn leaves" or at the very least a nice "Cool breeze, Mon". I feel like I'm in Jamaica...might as well have a nice Jamaican rum punch on the patio (okay, the porch) and sit under an umbrella and watch the palm trees sway (how about the maples?) I know we're supposed to be watching for the approaching weather system, "Hurricane Earl", but I think I may send him a personal invitation.....if he promises to bring a change in the weather.....it's time for Fall....my favorite time of year.

Ah, Dad? The pool's a little small....I think we need to upgrade!

2010-09-02T06:30:00.002-04:00

What? My feet were hot!

2010-09-02T06:24:00.000-04:00

It's raining cats and dogs.....

2010-08-25T13:52:00.002-04:00

and right now they are all inside...and very, very wet! Nope...I'm just too lazy to even get out my camera. Don't even have pictures of the furry beasts to post. I'm enjoying a day at home. So shoot me! I needed a day for me....lots going on. I guess the rain is a mirror of what I'm feeling today....kind of blah. When I get out of the doldrums...I'll post some nice perky pictures and I apologize for this rainy day posting. I guess I needed to vent.....and pout.

Beautiful Rosie...

2010-08-12T15:58:00.002-04:00

I love this ewe....she is the sweetest ewe and has a wonderful fleece! She follows Ken around the pasture like a pup. It could be the constant supply of what Ken fondly calls "green stuff"...or what the rest of us call alfalfa cubes!! He always has animal crackers and/or alfalfa cubes in his pocket when he's out in the pasture....of course they love him!!!

Colby...

2010-08-12T15:48:00.002-04:00

I almost sold this girl...many times. She just wasn't settling in and didn't seem to fit.....am I glad I listened to Ken and gave her a chance...and lots of treats! She has been a wonderful Mom and now lets us give scritches under the chin and doesn't even bolt! I guess all in good time....

Aberdeen and her little sisters....

2010-08-12T15:39:00.002-04:00

Aster produced beautiful Aberdeen, in the foreground, last year and these two little beauties behind her this year....as you can see Aberdeen has stayed black. I wonder if these two will follow suit....
Hey!.....any ideas for names? We are doing a "celestial" theme this year.

Bonnie has Blossomed!

2010-08-11T06:47:00.002-04:00

She seemed small (I was comparing her to lambs that were a month or more older) and there was NO ONE that would love her as much as I would! Right? So we kept her....and am I glad we did! She is as sweet as can be and has continued to blossom month after month. I LOVE her! She is a honey, caramel color through and through and just look at her.....
Ahhhhhh......I think it's here....the Shetland Shuffle is starting again and will be at a location near you soon. Ram #1? Ram #2? Or Ram #3? Here we go again....a one and a two...SHUFFLE!

Cappy and her little ones....

2010-08-11T05:55:00.002-04:00

Geesh....all this time... if I had only thought to bring Luke into the pasture when I was trying to take pictures!!! The sheep actually pick up their heads and look when the dog is around! These little guys were a surprise for us....living proof of a rams determination. Did I mention that rams can be a pain in the butt?

Simply Simon

2010-07-26T14:54:00.002-04:00

Okay...he's not a Shetland, but he's darn cute!!!

Growing like a weed....

2010-07-26T14:43:00.002-04:00

Bella says "I Do go see the sheep, but they keep trying to beat me up! Mom's spoiling me and talking about going to obedience class. What's an obedience class? Is it something good?"

It's raining........

2010-07-24T13:19:00.002-04:00

KATMOGETS!!! We finished off the lambing season.....finally! Thanks to Tuckers persistance (just wanted to make sure the job was done) we had our second crop of lambs last week. Tansey had twin rams and Cappy had a ram and a ewe. They have been bombing around the pasture today....just enjoying life!

BAD BLOGGER! :-(

2010-07-23T12:47:00.002-04:00

I DO have a really good excuse, though....we have had family visiting from California and Virginia. Does that work? I know, I know.....no excuse, but I thought maybe you would understand a house FULL of grandsons! Yup...they range from Sage, who is 17, down to Eliot who is 2, and we have Diego and Andrew in the middle (they are 11 and 7). Great ages all and wonderful to have here for a visit that is never long enough! Andrew got to see lambs being born "Wow that's gross.... but awesome, too". He's our future farmer...loves the animals...got out of the car when they got here with his barn boots on and ready to go! Gotta love it! Eliot loved his ride on Thomas the Train. Boy, is that munchkin a train fan...knows all of the Thomas the Train characters. We had to have a train set here for his birthday and a Thomas the Train birthday cake, too...didn't want him to have withdrawal while he was away from home, you know! That giggle of his is in my heart until next year. Diego got to stick his feet in the Atlantic ocean so he now lays claim to BOTH sides of the country!! He's the one, soon to be 12, that, when they finally move here, will have all the girls turning their head...."Who's the guy from California"? And Sage.....well, he FINALLY got to see Papa Ken ( his drummer idol) do a drum solo when the band played out at a local gig....I hear it was the highlight of his trip.....(seeing that Sage is ALSO a drummer)! I can't believe "my bud" is going to be 17 in a few weeks!! He and his Mom lived about a mile from us when he was growing up and I miss having him around....his visits always end way too quickly.
So now maybe you understand a little of what's been happening here....we DID have two sets of katmoget twins born, too!! One had twin rams and the other had a ram and a ewe. Yup...late... wasn't planned that way.... I thought they were already bred by Tucker in December and then dear sweet Tucker decided to jump the fence to make sure he got the job done. I think the new ram enclosure would like nice at my neighbors down the road, don't you?
Hopefully I will find my USB "thingy" so I can download a few pictures.....it's someplace safe....God knows where!!

What else? More Bella pics.....

2010-06-30T05:21:00.002-04:00

Bella has two big brothers that live here....one is tolerating her and the other thinks she's really cool! Our other Pyr, Cody, thinks she's a bit of a twit with her antics, but the BC thinks she's fine the way she is....."can we keep her Mom?" I'm going to try really hard to get some more sheepy pics tomorrow......but there may be a few more baby Bellas thrown in there, too! She's too darn cute! Maybe baby sheep AND baby Bella.....we'll see how THAT works!

She's Here!!!

2010-06-28T21:06:00.002-04:00

Baby Bella has arrived safely in New Hampshire and is even more beautiful than I had hoped!

Brenda....thank you, thank you, thank you! I'll get some more pictures tomorrow when she's a little more rested and knows she doesn't have to get back in a car!

It feels like Christmas!!!

2010-06-28T09:33:00.002-04:00

Well, today is the day I pick up Baby Bella, our new Pyrenees pup from Beechtree Farm in Michigan. Thank you so much, Brenda! Through the efforts of friends (some I've met and some I haven't), she will arrive in Massachusetts this afternoon where I will pick her up at Ridgeway Farm. Many thanks to everyone who helped work this out! I think Bella made some friends along the way, too, by the sounds of it! Tiffany's son, Robert, took very good care of Bella for the first leg of the trip and is already missing her!
Tiffany...I'll be sure to post some pictures when we get home from Shula's so he can see that she arrived safe and sound!
Sally...thanks for the sleep-over for Bella.
Shula....see you this afternoon!!! I can't wait to see some more pictures of your new ram! What a beauty!
Again, thanks to all, and Michelle....Beechtrees Bella Pastore thanks you for her name... :0)

What a face!

2010-06-23T17:15:00.003-04:00

We will be welcoming this beautiful new Pyr pup to Kindred Spirit Farm next week! After many e-mails and "with a little help from my friends"....she will arrive on Monday afternoon from Michigan. Now for the next "problem"....names!!!! She is coming from Brenda Lelli's Beech Tree Farm and will carry the Beechtree prefix, but then what? We have tried to find a sheep related name (Beechtrees Ewe'R the One?) , but I guess I haven't found just the right name....YET! For some reason, I think her call name might be Bella...it just keeps popping into my head....unless something better hits me. Any ideas out there??? I could be swayed.....Beechtrees Blew Bye Ewe? Beechtrees Ewe First? Come on....help me out here!

Life IS good....

2010-06-22T05:39:00.002-04:00

Now this obviously isn't a sheep.....and I know this is a blog about sheep, but it's also about Kindred Spirit Farm and what we hope to accomplish here....a certain way of life...of being. At this time in my life, I had hoped to be able to gear down a bit. Okay, well that's not happening! So everyday I try to find a few minutes of peace...a little oasis of time...and remind myself of my direction. Ken brought a certain kind of Zen here to Kindred Spirit Farm....he has taught me (okay I'm still learning) to calm myself and let things follow their path. I am my happiest, and probably my calmest, when I'm sitting in the pasture just watching the sheep....or sitting on the porch in my rocker and looking out at the mountains. Nature and animals in particular have always been what calms me.....hence Kindred Spirit Farm. It just expressed what I want in my life. We are Kindred Spirits here....Ken and I, the cats and dogs, the sheep, the woodsy creatures all around us. Kindred Spirits all....

Where's Waldo???

2010-06-17T11:43:00.002-04:00

The sheep were belly deep in new pasture yesterday and loving every minute of it! Of course there were alot of little lost lambs crying for Momma until they figured they better stay close...then things calmed down while they stuffed their faces. Funny but everyone was quiet in the barn last night, too....must have been full? This morning when Ken went down to open the gate, he had a regular conga line following him!

Photos for Kara...

2010-06-17T11:38:00.002-04:00

Here are a couple of shots of Aberdeen....Asters ewe from last year. The closeup is fuzzy, but you can see the curl! Soft, too! She was shorn the end of February.

Thanks Michelle!!

2010-06-15T21:49:00.002-04:00

I am a
Daisy

What Flower
Are You?

Funny....the Daisy IS my favortie flower! It's just so simple, yet, beautiful. Nothing fancy...just nice. You find them everywhere! I think I've been picking bouquets of daisies since I was a kid....and loving them.

Transport from Michigan?

2010-06-09T19:48:00.002-04:00

Hello all...I'm trying to find transport for my new Pyr pup from Michigan. We live in New Hampshire, but wouldn't mind a rendezvous nearby....Vermont? Massachusetts? Eastern New York (near Vermont?) Maine? Any help would be greatly appreciated as we are having bad "CAR-ma" at the moment!! Vehicles are down for the count and needing some TLC. She is ready next week, but we are open for dates....not too far away, I hope. Thanks.

Hello....

2010-06-07T22:20:00.001-04:00

Mom followed us around this afternoon and took lots of pictures...here are a few of them.

Colby and her ram...

2010-06-07T22:14:00.000-04:00

Little Io....

2010-06-07T21:59:00.000-04:00

Io is going to live with a 4-H'r and will be shown this summer....go Io!

Kiahs ram

2010-06-07T21:47:00.000-04:00

Aster lamb

2010-06-07T21:41:00.000-04:00

Mira's twin rams....

2010-06-07T21:36:00.000-04:00

Plain brown wrapper....

2010-06-07T21:32:00.002-04:00

Toots surprised us with this "flash".....from such a plain brown wrapper!

Asters Lamb

2010-06-07T21:26:00.002-04:00

My computer is acting funky so I'm loading these one at a time....
I am keeping one of Asters lambs again this year. Last years ewe lamb is still BLACK with a gorgeous fleece. These guys look like they may go emsket.

UPDATE UPDATE!

2010-06-02T21:37:00.001-04:00

Just came in from the barn....Aster had twins.....EWES!!!! Right now they look black...we'll see what happens. Pictures to follow tomorrow.
YIPPEE!! YIPPEE!!!!

Summertime and the living is easy.......

2010-06-02T17:04:00.001-04:00

Mimosa's little beauty...she is gorgeous....and sold. Can't keep them all.......

2010-06-02T16:56:00.004-04:00

Kiah and her "favorite son"....she had twin rams and rejected one of them. He has been placed as a bottle baby...soon to be wether...and will be living with two other shetland lambs that they have purchased. This little guy, the favorite, is still here for sale....he's on "Hold" at the moment. He's very cute!! UPDATE: Kindred Spirit Northern Star is SOLD to the Fair family!

Last but not least........

2010-06-01T20:30:00.001-04:00

Aster is our hold out this year.....any day now I expect TWIN EWES!
Okay...please may I have twin ewes?

2010-06-01T20:23:00.001-04:00

Colby came through with this RAM lamb....yup...another one! He will be for sale. We are tied at 6 and 6.

Late lambs....

2010-06-01T20:03:00.003-04:00

Toots came through with these beautiful lambs on Monday afternoon...a ram (top photo) and a ewe in the bottom photo. No names have come to mind, yet. Any ideas? So far we have Nova, Io (one of Jupiters moons), Moon, Zubenelgenubi (sp?), Cassiopeia, and at this moment I can't even think of the others. I thought Orion might me nice for her ram, but nothing is hitting me for her ewe! NFS at this time....

More sad times.......

2010-05-28T15:06:00.002-04:00

Okay.....I wasn't ready for this. We're never really ready to lose one of our furry friends, though.

Bridie and I have been through alot together....she was my bud and my best friend when a divorce came my way 10 years ago, and she was at my wedding last October when Ken and I got married. She loved him right away....

She cuddled with me and comforted me when thunderstorms were hitting all around us one summer night...(yup...I was the one that was scared)! She would sneak my coffee every chance she got....(never Kens...he drinks his black)...she likes hers with milk! If Ken made bread, you had to put it in the microwave to hide it! She was my counter-cruising, sock eating, best buddy ever....I loved her. She is the reason that my farm is named Kindred Spirit. She came to me almost 10 years ago...we will miss her terribly! Dragonmist Kindred Spirit....aka Bridie....

The Queen is dead...long live the Queen.

Simon says.....

2010-05-11T11:08:00.000-04:00

Why does everyone fuss so over those little sheep?

Long time, no blog.......!

2010-05-11T10:49:00.003-04:00

Kiah...one of our hold-outs!
Note the belly....

Pippin soaking up some rays......

Cassi is staying......we have fallen in love with this little girl! Soft, soft, soft....nuff said?

Hi everyone...funny how time just rushes by! Thought I would post a few pictures and tell you all how much I envy yours! Try as I may, I just can't catch those little buggers when they're "dancing"! The nightly races and ballet recitals are always a joy....that I have NOT been able to capture....time for a new camera, I think...or maybe I should ask Ken to try HIS luck! I sat in the pasture last night after work and tried to get a few pictures to share since I have been so lax with my blog. We are still waiting on a few stragglers to lamb...Lord knows I TRY to be patient, but this is getting ridiculous! Four girls were bred very late....and so we wait.

Changes.....

2010-04-28T21:29:00.002-04:00

I know they say change is good (whoever "they" are) and it certainly is inevitable, and sometimes it's just plain hard. Today we sold our small herd of Oberhasli goats....hard decision. I do so love goats! Their antics always make me laugh...they truly have a sense of humor! Ken and I had to make some decisions on just where we want to go with the farm and our animals. You know, when push came to shove, we both knew that our Shetlands are a top priority! We love them! This time of year, our morning coffee is enjoyed on the porch while watching lamb races...can you imagine anything better? I can't. Each and every Shetland is loved for who and what they are....Toots is the matron of the flock and keeps things in order, Flopsy is her second in command! We have ewes who become babysitters/nannies and quite often see one ewe in particular go hopping by with 6 lambs in tow! Kiah is a gentle soul who almost smiles at you, and her buddy Tansey reminds me of a bold teenage girl who runs the show. Colby is shy and Mira is bossy. We have older ewes who just want an animal cracker and a chin scratch and yearlings who are so loving that you swear they were raised on a bottle and raised in the house alongside the resident housecats! Much like the perennials, the lambs blossom each Spring...in leaps and bounds and I love having that as part of my life. Yes...I will miss the goats, but as Ken says, "I'm an Aries, Honey, what do you expect?"

We are in a bit of a holding pattern with lambing, right now. Not sure if Kiah or Toots will be next....I kind of think it might be Toots, but then again...maybe it will be Aster? I'll try to get some lamb photos this weekend....weather is sure to be better. We had flurries this morning!!!!

Two by two...

2010-04-17T11:25:00.002-04:00

The newest arrivals....ewe lambs! Yippee! I sure do hope this trend continues for the rest of the girls! Kiah looks like she may be next...cross your fingers! Girls, girls, girls girls.....keep em coming!

Sunday afternoon pictures.....

2010-04-12T11:45:00.002-04:00

First picture is Little IO out of Licorice and RF Xander...very cute!

These little ewes are two of Flopsy's triplets...Star on the left and Nova on the right.

One of my favorite ewes...(okay they are all favorites)....this is Kiah.

Rosie in the front (thank you Jen and Rich!), Mira is behind her and Cappy is in the rear.

This is Aries...brother to Star and Nova....always getting himself away from the others and into trouble.....ALREADY!

Ebony and Ivory....

2010-04-11T21:55:00.001-04:00

Simon is a doll and the "Ivory" part of the title....

2010-04-11T21:43:00.002-04:00

This is April....the "ebony" part of the title. Now that she has dried off and had a night to relax...she's settling in nicely with Simon. The two of them are precious and we are enjoying them, but they're NOT Shetlands. The Shetlands are definitely a hardy breed and birth easily (so far) and the lambs seem to be up and about sooner, too. I do love the fiber on both of the Romney girls, but again...my Shetlands are "my girls". Nothing will replace them....

New lamb.....pictures to follow!

2010-04-10T20:33:00.003-04:00

Okay....I have TRIED to call the new little Romney lamb "Quasar", but it just doesn't fit and he looks sooo much like his Dad that I think we are going to call him little Simon....just like Dad. He has a new friend/sister, April, who was born this afternoon. Blossom ( the Finn/Romney cross) had a really cute, jet black ewe lamb around two o'clock! I really thought that she would give us twins...being a Finn cross and all, but I'm glad for a healthy little ewe....or should I say "big" ewe. The Shetland "gang" is running circles around Simon, but he hippity hops along and kind of looks lost, but happy. I just LOVE his "smile" (see last post) Doesn't he look like he's smiling for the camera? I'll post some more pictures tomorrow......maybe we will have some more Shetlands, but in the meantime I'll be sure to post April's picture in the morning when I can see straight! It's been a busy day and I'm ready to hit the hay....

2010-04-09T12:30:00.002-04:00

This little guy made his debut on Easter morning...and I have been a bad blogger! It's been a crazy week....no other excuses necessary. Now, obviously, he is NOT a Shetland...he IS a purebred Romney and has been named Quasar. I think he is the epitome of "the little Easter lamb" that you always see in childrens books. Ken says, "He's smiling!" Of course he is....he was born on a sunny Easter morning!
Don't you think he should stay as a fiber animal? I do.....;-)

My Early Easter Present!

2010-04-04T06:15:00.003-04:00

We are on a roll....Licorice had a ewe lamb yesterday evening right around feeding time. (this is the ONLY reason that she would miss out on a feeding!) She was great as a first timer! Ken and I let things progress on their own, dipped the umbilical cord and then sat back to enjoy the show. I so enjoy listening to the communication between Momma and lamb as they bond. I'm really not sure if Licorice was being very attentive as she licked Io from stem to stern or was she hurrying to finish in hopes of not missing supper? Either way, little Io almost sparkled by the time Licorice was finished with her and settled in to munching some hay.
I wonder who is next??? Maybe Mimosa? Toots? We'll see....

Triple Trouble....

2010-03-31T20:09:00.002-04:00

Flopsy finally came through....with TRIPLETS! We have two black ewes (one is a krunet and the other a smirslet)and a solid moorit ram. I guess this was worth the wait, huh? She had gorgeous triplets last year and I kicked myself for not keeping one....won't make that mistake THIS year!
We have decided on "heavenly" names this year. Once in a Blue Moon was our first lamb of the year..... Comet, Galaxy, and Morning Star are a few other names we have tossed around, but we would be open to any and all suggestions!! After seeing posts for another blog on names, I think you guys have much better ideas than what I come up with! Let's hear a few.....

Update! Update!

2010-03-29T23:14:00.002-04:00

Try my hardest, but I couldn't get the darn pictures to upload.....I really dislike computers and connections and jpegs and megabytes...all of that other techno-babble. I DO, however, love walking out to the barn and being greeted by two little Oberhaslis! Yup...things are FINALLY happening! Kelly had twin doelings....what a good girl! Flopsy is in the jug next door....hopefully she paid attention.....pictures to follow when I get this darn computer to co-operate!

Full Moon???

2010-03-29T10:20:00.002-04:00

Nothing to report.....no lambs, just sleepless nights, tea-time at 4 a.m. again this morning after a quick check of the barn, some snow and slush, and exhaustion! I'm too old to be on baby watch, but I can't sleep when the temps dip to brrrrrrrr! I worry....I'm good at that!

We have decided to sell our yearling Oberhasli dairy goats. Just can't divide my time between the needs of the dairy goats and the needs of the sheep....I want to concentrate on the sheep. It drives me crazy when I go to get some sheep snuggles (with a pocket full of animal crackers) and I have goats dancing on my back! They are on the smaller side of the goat scale, but they are NOT pygmy or Nigerian dwarf, that's for sure! I have thought of Angoras and/or possibly pygoras...anyone's thoughts out there? Am I asking for more trouble? I know that the Angoras aren't nuts like the dairy goats...what about the pygoras? Maybe small enough to blend with the smaller Shetlands? HELP! I think I'm suffering from lack of sleep.....

2010-03-26T11:16:00.002-04:00

Okay....it's not lambs, but we had babies last night! We ended up with four little "mini-me's". Mrs Wilson finally had her kittens!!! I haven't had kittens on the farm in about 15 years and had forgotten just how tiny they are....itsty bitsy tiny! Mrs Wilson is what we fondly refer to as "our golden retriever"....she fetches tennis balls, plays in the water buckets and just is down right cute! Her best buddy is our Great Pyrenees....strange bed-fellows, eh?
Now if the sheep would co-operate.....