Sheep Torture!

Is this the definition of torture or what? We started halter training and needless to say, the lambs did not enjoy it one bit. In all honesty, it wasn't much fun for the humans either. This ram lamb was jumping as high as my head and he had no interest in cookies or any other treat. I'm hoping it gets better with time.

I realized that the 4-H fair is probably the only show we will be able to attend this summer because my oldest daughter will be moving to college in the middle of August and it is going to be too hectic (and emotional) for me to be going off for a week here and there to shows. I was hoping to get to a few shows this year and get to know a few more "Shetland" people but it doesn't look very promising. Maybe next year!

Darn Bugs!

This is one of my favorite flowers in my garden. It is an orange cone flower and it blooms all summer. I noticed yesterday that the Japanese Beetles were having a feast in my garden so I had to spray everything and I'm not sure it made much of a difference. I think when I get to heaven, I want to ask God why in the world did He make fleas, ticks, gnats, flies and JAPANESE BEETLES!! But seriously, I love summer. The absolute beauty of the flowers, trees , sky , corn fields and wheat is amazing. I wonder if it ticks God off when we pass by all that beauty without noticing. I know He put it here for us to enjoy so go notice something today...here is the verse for this week...hope you enjoy it.

Matthew 18: 12-14

What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Bad Horns??

I am worried about this guys horns. They seem to be growing straight back and curving in. I guess I will just have to keep an eye on them. I am really suprised because his sire has beautiful horns. This guy has caused me alot of confusion..he was born black with white on his head so that is how I registered him. Then I got all excited because I thought he was moorit but now..well, now I think grey but who knows? Why would I register him so soon? My son wants to show the lambs in our local 4-H show and the papers had to be turned in by May 1st. This guy wasn't born until the 3rd week of April so ..I can tell that is going to be a real pain in the rear every year. Does anyone else have that situation and a better way to deal with it?

SO GOOD TO BE HOME

What a great week we had in the mountains of North Carolina. There were over 70 high schoolers at our mission site. We worked with Habitat for Humanity, painted and cleaned for several individuals at their homes and helped with a kids club for the area children. I had a great time but it is so good to be home. I missed the others in my family, my sheep, and I most certainly missed my bed and getting a good night sleep! I slept on air mattresses with teenage girls all week, so as you can imagine, not much sleeping but a whole lot of giggling and talk of boys went on! This picture doesn't do the mountains justice but it was taken with a disposable camera. The Youth Works staff said there would be 5000 kids in various sites around the country each week this summer. That is an awesome number of youth willing to take a week of their summer to help others!

Heading off for a mission trip

My two teenage daughters and I will be leaving for a mission trip with our church youth group. We will be gone for a little over a week. So as you can imagine my week has been crazy trying to get everything ready. We have gone on a couple of these and it is always so good for us. We come back feeling very thankful for all we have and with a renewed sense of wanting to help and serve others.
I have been trying to make reading my bible at night a habit. I know that sounds bad...like I have to make myself, but I guess that is the truth. It is usually been a long day and I just want to get to bed and let's face it..it is hard to imagine that stuff that happened all those years ago pertains to us..but I know it does. So, I started thinking about how God often talks about us being his sheep and He the shepherd watching over his flock. I looked it up and to the best of my knowledge, the Bible mentions the words: sheep, shepherd(s), flock and lamb(s) 96 times!!!! Now I looked them all up...really. I also had a blast doing it.. so I thought maybe once a week, I would share one of the verses with you. I hope you enjoy it..

Verse of the week: I Peter 5:2-4

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Talk to you all in a week!!

I was able to attend the Hoosier Fiberarts Festival a couple of weeks ago and took a workshop by the ladies who wrote A Shepherd's Rug, Letty Klein and Ann Brown. It was so much fun and I made this neat chair pad. If you ever get a chance to attend one of their workshops, I highly recommend it. If you can't find a workshop their book is really well written and easy to follow. They are wonderful ladies and it is just a fun day. It was the first fiber event I had ever gone to and I couldn't believe all the stuff people do with roving. I got lots of ideas!! Now I just need to find the time somehow to do it!

I enjoyed the workshop so much, I purchased enough roving to make another rug, a 2x3 with grey, charcoal and green. I have the braids done and felted and now I just have to sew it..again the time thing! I need to send my own wool off to get processed but am not really sure where to send it as I have never done that before. Any suggestions?

Shetland and Sheltie

This good looking guy is my son and the other good looking guy is our Shetland sheepdog, Rusty. I guess we were destined to get Shetlands since we already had the dog!

Here is Achilles with a mouthful of what is left of the pasture. We desperately need rain! He is a very friendly guy...I'm guessing too friendly for a ram. My son has chosen him as a personal favorite and named him after Achilles in the movie Troy. I really like his stripped horns!

My 2007 lambs

This was my first lamb born on our farm. He is Pinewood Aladdin and I have no idea what color he will end up. At first he was black, then brown, now I think he may end up grey. He is really well built and his fleece looks nice as well. He is out of Sheltering Pines Tibia Rex and Underhill Ellie Ann.

This little cutie is Pinewood Belle and she is out of Sheltering Pines Tibia Rex and Lil' Country Lexus. She has gorgeous fleece and 2 cute polka dots on her back.

This set of twins is out of Bluff Country Hershey and Bluff Country Zanex. They have beautiful fleece and conformation. They are Pinewood Nala and Achilles.

My very own sheep farm!

After 10 years of wanting sheep, I finally have my very own small flock of Shetland sheep. The only problem now is...I want more....more sheep....more WOOL!!