Workin Dawgs

Some pics of my Aussie "Spinner" and my Australian Cattle Dog "Hitch" working sheep on a friends farm near Owen Sound.

 Spinner fetches the stock ( brings the stock to the handler- me)

Here Spinner is driving his flock (taking stock away from the handler)

 Hitch is given the away flank (counter clockwise direction)

While here Hitch does a fetch.

What is it?

It's a bird.

It's a plane.

It's a crop duster!

A chopper crop duster to be exact.

Hayden and I heard this loud noise near our house. We thought it was the "feds" looking for a fugative hiding in rural Harriston. We were soon relieved to know it was just a crop duster. We watched in awe the  amazing show of skill as the duster dipped and twirled, dived and soared over the various corn fields. It looked like a giant dragonfly hunting insects.

Zilch

This is Zilch with my son Hayden. Zilch is our little triplet jacob lamb. Zilch was semi rejected by her mom at birth. I say semi rejected because she was allowed to "hang" with her family but not allowed to nurse. Determined that moms milk was best, Zilch was penned in our barn with her family so I could make sure her mother nursed her for at least a month.

 Early on Zilch recognized that humans were in charge of all resources. From making sure her mom stood still so she could nurse, providing feeding pans full of sweet feed to even being picked up to avoid being trampled by larger flock mates, the little ewe became very "tame". In turn we became very attached to her and would pick her up and carry her just because she was so cute and trusting.

 Zilch has moved on  with one of her siblings and another ewe lamb  to be part of a small mixed hobby farm and be loved by a little girl. Good luck sweet Zilchy, we will miss you but so happy you are in good hands.

Gardens

 Here are some pics of gardens around the farm, A evening storm made everything green.

Zaney's Adventures

Zaney would like to announce the arrival of more flock members.

You remember the elegant Zilla.

Here is Zion a rare lilac coloured ewe lamb.

This is one of Razberi's twins.

Here is the other little twin ewe. Zaney doesnt think they look much like twins.

She has to admit they do act like twins though.

And since we are asking , Zaney doesnt think Zion is so special either.

In fact, Zaney thinks it is getting too crowded.

Easter Lambs

 My jacob sheep have begun to lamb. This little ewe is Zilla.

 This ewe lamb is Zaney.

 Zilla is a good little lamb, never strays far from her mother.

 Zaney, well Zaney likes to wander.

 Looks like Zaney is ready to roll.

 Whimsey, Zaney's mother, is run off her hooves trying to keep track of her "wild child"

 3 shakes of a lamb's tail and Zaney is off again.

 Mom puts her foot down

and Zaney is sent to the corner. Stay tuned for more adventures of Zaney and her lamby pals, more soon to arrive.

Happy Easter everyone!

Signs of Spring

Here are some pics of spring around the farm. Grass is starting to turn green.

Jacob ewes are getting very big with lambs due soon.

 Winter blanket off and Julip is looking scruffy and a little under condition from the winter. Wish a blanket and inactivity caused weight loss in humans. It seems to have the opposite affect.

Spring flowers poke through Autumn leaves.

And the final picture in my Signs of Spring series is our continuely confused gander helping his ducky friends find a suitable nesting spot.  Happy Spring!

In like A Lion

Well first week in march and we had the storm of storms. Like probably most of the province we had record winds and more snowfall then earlier in the winter. I wasnt able to document the storm but the calm that followed it. Hope you enjoy the  photos from the farm.

 The geese didnt seem to mind the cold and snow but more so me interrupting their courtship to take photos.

 Same with Spinner. He seems more put off at having to pose for a pic than the cold and snow.

 My flock of Jacobs and the herding sheep seem no worse for wear, though the Jacobs are sporting evidence of the blizzard the day before.

 Two of my American Blackbelly ewes seem to be dreaming of their tropical heritage.

While their male counterpart seems to be dreaming of them and looking  very lion-like with his sandy coloured mane.

Herding Judge Profile????

I am judging a herding championship trial this year and was asked to write something about myself and submit a photo for the website. I wanted to include my dogs in the picture. They had very distinct opinions about this.

 Okay guys, I promise we will only use the best shots.

 Oh, oh an uprising!!!

 Clearly we are going to have to rethink this.

Spinner I promise she didnt mean it.....

All right who is acting like a princess now Hecate????

 Ok, ok separate head shots, I promise......

The End