Doe, a Deer

These are 4 of the 24 deer that have been eating the last year's new seeding in the field. They must have come down to the house to pay their restaurant bill. They came over as soon as the snow melted.

Supper !

Just Feedin' Some Sheep

Since the temperature got up to a balmy -6C, Len decided it was a good day to chop day into the sheep feeder. Sounded good to me because the feeder holds enough feed for about 3 weeks and I feed some bales in between in the barn feeders to keep me in shape!
First things first. Took the dogs for a long walk while Len brought the hay bales up to the feeder. Then we proceeded to chop. Pretty inventive guy I have, we use an old forage harvester than was picked up at an auction for $50, and he built a table to put the bales on to feed into it. There is a "do not cross line" on the table so no one gets sucked into the machine, plus I have a cut off switch that I stand beside while he feeds it in.
It works well, doesn't chop the hay super short so better for sheep digestion and there is alot less waste with feeding this way. Sometimes it hangs up it the feeder so have to check for that daily. Pictures are a bit dark since I took them with the Iphone.

 

 

 

The Ghost

I am known to watch "scarey" shows according to my friends and family. The other night I watched a show about a house that was haunted from a brutal murder in 1915. Off to bed I went and into a nice sleep. At 3AM I sat bolt upright in bed wakened by the sound of a very bizarre sounding "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". Slowly calming myself down, I went through the appliances that could be on..TVs, radio, computer, Nothing was on. I was starting to get a little scared..no way was my house haunted. So I willed myself back to sleep. The next morning I woke up and saw the door to the spare bedroom was open. I had put all the Christmas decorations on the bed to be packed away. Bet and Hank had been loose in that half of the house for the night and apparently pushed the door open and snatched the little plush dog that plays a barking rendition of  "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" when squeezed. He is now residing with the other dog toys.
Ghosts.....Not!

 

 

 

The Picture Says It All

Our new to us cab tractor...no more dust in the face! A/C and heat will make it pretty nice too plus a radio. Those were the things that I liked. Len went for the power, good tires and dual wheels (one set not attached in this picture). We all have priorities.

Merry Christmas to All!

And so it is Christmas......

I usually try to tie red ribbons and bows to dogs, sheep or whatever will hold still. I thought taking still pictures would be easier.

We have made a few changes this year to the farm when we downsized the animals. We sold all are breeding ewes and rams to Painted Ewe Farm in Saskatchewan and kept 21 Katahdin sheep to train the Border Collies with. We also have 8 North Country Cheviot replacement ewes that are staying the winter. 

Four Border Collies still run our lives, Mirk who is 12 now and watches a lot of HBO. The other three are working and trialing. Kip who is almost 7, Hank who is 2 1/2 and Bet who is 2 1/2.

Of course Clarice and Sonny the Livestock Protection Dogs, are ever vigilant watching their sheep.

Len is driving for Reimer Brothers and I am retired from Argo so staying home in a snow storm is quite relaxing.

Here are some pictures of the farm taken this week ...sure looks Christmas-y!
Mirk was in the house watching TV and missed the photo shoot.

Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year to all...



Hank




Bet




Kip





Sonny - Did you bring food?





Clarice - Such a great protector to her sheep



Yam Shepherd's Pie from Mennonite Girls Can Cook

Thought this was toogood not to share:



Mennonite Girls Can Cook: Yam Shepherd's Pie:   Shepherd's Pie . . . what can I say about it? You love it or hate it. I think it's a great family meal if you introduce the kids to it ...