Last Gray Days of November

It just came to me.... I spend more time with animals than I do with people. Animals rule our lives here on the farm. Animals and the weather..... The other day it flurried.

I love snow. Julia says she doesn't like the snow. Except when school is called off. The Farmer likes snow except when it gets in the way of his farming and makes things very difficult. I like when we have enough snow to cover up all the piles of projects that should have been taken care of. That didn't happen last winter. We will see about this winter. The other day the snow was not difficult - just pretty.

At the end of November there is not much color left in the landscape. The prettiest color is the invasive bittersweet vine. Not that I want to promote it but it sure is a gorgeous orange color against the grey landscape. I love orange and gray and green together. What a beautiful natural combo.

In the pastures near our farmhouse, last January and February's ewe lambs are grazing. These lambs, almost a year old, will be "replacement ewes" for our mature ewe flock. We have separated out the best looking (yes, beauty sometimes wins in the sheep world) and hardiest genetics that we want to prolong in our flock. These "lambs" will grow out and continue our flock here at our farm. The ewe lambs are becoming mature. The rams are busy and the girls will probably lamb in April and May. Some may not lamb until their second year. I do not think they know what they are in for. They will take it in stride.

I love to look at their faces in the photos. They look like their parents and sheep that have come before them. Different mamas, different papas - a mish-mosh of breeds that thrive here on our land.

Nessie, our 8 year old Border Collie is never far from the sheep when I am walking and photographing. She doesn't like to have her photo taken. I bet you wonder how I know this. I do. She looks like me when she sees the camera and winces. Once in a while I get a nice photo of her. I love her. She is such a great dog. Such a great worker and so genuine and so sweet.

Winston, our Great Pyrenees Guard Dog does a lot of this....

and this.....

 

What a handsome boy. He is settling into his job without his brother Archie. We all miss Archie. He and Kate are becoming quite the duo playing in the afternoon when the predators are not around. Winston loves Kate. Kate gets tired of Winston.