Mud Ranch’s Real Dirt

Just wondering if you notice anything a bit odd about this picture — and no, it doesn’t involve the sheep in the background but rather, the foreground.

You may remember back in my post about feeding in the morning, the hoodlums there at the end that escaped through my double gate and meander down to the hay stack where they happily munch hay to their contentment and then lounge on the lawn as they please (this is a daily occurrence mind you, and is something I have “ignored” until I can get a new gate.)  So, this morning as I was headed back from the barn I saw the hoodlums gathering around the gate ready to make their break.  I quickly sped up the quad and skidded to a stop right in front of it, just so they couldn’t get through.  I went and moved my sprinklers and as I walked around the back side of the house, I glanced up at the gate ready to snicker at my defeating the hoodlums — my plan was, at that very moment,  being spoiled!

Hazel had called for desperate measures during this “crisis” of not being able to get at her morning feed (granted, all the other sheep — except the hoodlums — were eating with the cows and horses.)  She had crawled under the gate, then under my quad and was working her way out the front.  Oh, she must have worked up a good appetite because she stopped on her way passing the tires to nibble at some dried grass.  I walked up to her, wondering if she required any assistance and she popped out on her own.  I had to laugh… what else do you do?  So, I noticed that poor little Edna was without her sister and was bawling out in the pasture, wringing her hands… err… hooves and calling to Hazel.   I had pity on her, after-all she isn’t really a “sheep,” so let her in to the yard.  Oh, two sheep are okay I just don’t want all the hoodlums in there anymore.  I drive away, content that my two bottle babies are grazing on their turf and then drive back… the hoodlums are in the yard!  I can’t be sure if they took Hazel’s famous escape or if I have another problem spot… the joys of sheep owning (though they really do act a lot like goats!)

I have been wanting a “cute” logo — something to go on my Etsy site (atleast the tree and sheep part) and something to go on my website.  It seems that I am never satisfied but I’m wondering if I’ve finally settled on it.  What do you think?  Could I add or take away anything?  Perhaps a different shape to the box, maybe more square or… ?

Edited To Add: I have changed my Etsy Shop appearance with this logo in mind — please go check it out!  I’m pretty excited about what I’ve done to spruce things up.

We have a visitor for a few days until she continues her journey up to Washington state from central California.  She is the raffle lamb for this year’s Jacob Sheep Breeder’s Association AGM (annual general meeting) — which is actually quite a shin-dig put on by the JSBA including seminars and shows.  We attended last year when it was held in Dixon, CA.

This is the raffle ewe lamb donated by Robin at Meridian Jacobs down in Vacaville, CA.  She was won by Cathie up in Washington state at Swallow Lane Jacobs. 

 I know that on Robin’s end, this little girl doesn’t have a name yet.

She was looking for a friend, anyone to talk to this afternoon.  She felt pretty alone in this great big pasture with a bunch of strange sheep.  She did follow the girls around alright but was baa’ing all the time. 

It was funny — Robin has a beautiful little farm down there in central California but it is smaller acreage (I really don’t know how many exactly.)  We have opened up all our pastures because they’re so dry to let all the cattle, horses and sheep roam where ever they’d like and as Robin turned this little girl out she said, “I feel like I’m releasing her into the wild!”  I had to laugh because I can see why she feels that way.  Our sheep are safe though, with Abby on guard (speaking of which, she never got up from her mid-afternoon slumber while Robin was here… apparently it was too hot for the effort) and being that we lock the sheep up at night.  The little gal came in just fine though and is safe and sound in the barn til tomorrow morning.

I also wanted to show off two new “keepers” that I got from Shannon at Kenleigh Acres.  This is Demure whom is a beautiful two horned lilac totally unrelated to all my lilacs which is a huge plus!  She is simply gorgeous, has marbled blue eyes and is so feminine.

And this is Serenity — too bad she’s being shadowed by Tiffany because you can’t get a really clear view of her body style.  She’s what is known as “primitive” type as she is more upright or deer-like in body build.  Her twin brother just left in Robin’s truck going down to Meridian Jacobs for a big job this fall of breeding some ewes.  I hope he serves Robin’s flock well, I have no doubt though as both he and his sister and his dam are beautiful!

Demure and Serenity have proved to be a bit hard to photograph though.  They’re usually in the middle of a bunch of sheep or conveniently walking out of the picture.  Today I got Demure drinking — taken through the glass of my french doors and through our fence.

And Serenity, this is the only view she ever wants me to take.  I’ll win them over… it’s just a matter of time.

“The Primitive Sheep”