We bought our first ram from my good friend Shannon (who has become my good friend, because of that purchase) with zero intentions but to breed for meat – we didn’t care about breed standards, color pattern, horns, and fleece.  Of course, with the purchase of Douglas, a papered ram, I started doing my online studying and found that the Jacob breed was nothing short of awesome and they perked my interest and soon took over as a passion.  I started looking at my flock in a new light, one that saw all the flaws according to the Jacob Sheep Breeder’s Association’s guidelines and standard of perfection.  Soon I was shopping for rams that would bring me better horns, then that went to color pattern, and then the more I learned about fleece the more I wanted that to integrate in to my flock.  Since the purchase of Douglas, I have bought six more rams (I think that number is accurate… I’ve lost count) from Shannon each with a different goal in mind and the last three being the “prime” to enhance what I’ve got.

With Raider, came great fleeces.  I have had him now for four years and he has really produced lovely fleeces, but he is black and white and only throws black and white (being the dominant gene).  How was I going to get Raider’s fleece, but in the lilac coloration (recessive gene)?  So I went on to select Raider daughters whom I could keep, ones that would carry on what I liked.  From there, I picked out ones whose dams were lilac, then bred those lilac carrying daughters to a lilac or lilac carrying ram i.e. Prescott who was black and white himself, but threw the recessive lilac gene.  Above, is what I hoped to achieve.

“Selene” is a beautifully marked lilac ewe lamb who is out of a Raider daughter (one of my favorite ewes), Sarah Jane.  When Selene was a lamb she only caught my eye because she was a lilac, but that was it.  She was just one of those lambs that sincerely got over-looked and was never added to my “keepers list.”  Thankfully, Selene never sold, so that I could see what she developed in to.  I’m really excited to get a lovely lilac fleece, nice and open, beautiful wide crimp, and a long staple length.  Just what Raider produces, but so far, only in black and white.  Now I’ve got it in lilac.

I think Selene is pretty proud to be discovered as well.  She always did think pretty highly of herself (looking back on lamb photos), and so did her mama.  Now I do too!  It sure is nice to see Breeding Goals coming to fruition.

Selene as a lamb, with her mama, Sarah Jane.

Going out to feed this morning was pretty humorous.  Here is Blanche (gold colored) and Bonehead (Leghorn) coming out to see what on earth happened… then promptly they turned and went back inside.  All the chickens demanded warm water and breakfast in bed.  They got their food container filled, a sprinkling of scratch, and a fresh flake of hay to scratch around.  Hopefully that will all keep them entertained for a while.

My favorite little flock of Cackler Geese circled over head, honking and deciding how to read their instruments for a safe landing on the pond.

Penelope was racing around like a crazy woman.  It was a double jacket morning, especially since her legs are so stubby.  She is technically a medium sized dog weighing in at around 55 lbs., but her legs are very short at around six inches long.  She didn’t care though, the smile on her face was priceless while she played.

Despite the cold, Penelope and snow get along quite famously.

I decided to get some photos of our “Dudes” before I threw out a big flake of hay for them, this way they would actually pose for me rather than be stuffing their faces.  And though I thought it was a good idea,…

…Lancelot wasn’t impressed.  “Come on, Lady.  Throw the stinkin’ food already.”

Tristan was being a little fussy about the snow settling on his wool.

After that, he was perfectly fine.  He doesn’t get upset easily.  Lancelot just has a little bit of a ‘tude.

Here’s the girls, diving in to breakfast. 

And Hazel, enjoying every morsel.

The best part is that Annie has a friend over, which means mommy can stay warm and dry without fully participating in the activities of snowball fights, snow angels and the like.  I get to just enjoy taking photos, which is perfectly alright with me!

On Saturday and friend who started out as a customer came over to pick up her sheep.

The lovely Miss Francine was bred to our very handsome ram, Lancelot.  I can’t wait to see what they produce together.  Francine is a very pretty girl with a primitive build and a striking face.  Since her sire was a lilac, we have high hopes that the babies she carries are lilac as well.  Since that is a resessive gene, it is a bit like playing Russian roulette.

Speaking of lilacs, here is Miss Camille.  She will be a year old this spring and is joining Annette over at Daily Grace Farms.

And thirdly, this is Sicily, another yearling.  When my husband picked Sicily up to lift her in to Annette’s truck he said, “Wow, what a nice fleece!  I could snuggle with this one, she’s so soft!”  I love her face.   I hope and pray all three girls will be more than pleasing to their new owner.

Yesterday Annie and I went on a little hike to check on the pond.  We spooked the Canada geese almost immediately and they decided to take off.  The Cacklers and the Coots stuck around an entertained us with their funny antics.  The Coots were hilarious, chasing eachother around an basicly policing eachother and the geese just the same.  We also were amazed that this large pond is mostly frozen.  The geese had no problem walking on top of the ice but any of us, including our dog Penelope (who actually tried), would fall through in an instant.

Annie was very proud to carry her backpack with her baby animals, a water bottle, and a granola bar.  We stopped at her favorite tree to pretend “Milk Store Lady,” which translated means, “Starbucks Barista.” 

Then today I decided to take a picture of all the eggs that are stacking up in the refrigerator.  Currently we have about four dozen.  They make such pretty pictures… Can you tell I’m proud of my Farm Fresh Organic Eggs??

My favorite egg that I get is the one front and center, the chocolate chip egg.  It is laid by our Welsummer named “Welsie.”  Original, I know, but it fits.

Hope everyone out there in my blogosphere is doing well!

Then you see this:

 Susannah, biting off a bit more than she can chew.

 Susannah, grinning with her mouth gaping.

Susannah, talking to her buddies with her mouth full.

Susannah, grinning at you because she’s been caught… “and what are you going to do about it?”

Susannah, unashamedly flaunting her face-full…

…while her friends look on.