Signs of Spring

Around here two sure signs of spring are shorn sheep and daffodils. We had both this week. Last week we vaccinated the ewes and gave everyone a pedicure. I was delighted to find that most if not all of them had visible udder development, which is an encouraging indication that many of them will be lambing soon. Today 35 of the mature ewes were shorn. Hopefully this week the rest will get their turn. We weren't able to start until mid afternoon due to the rain that soaked the sheep yesterday, but we were pleased to be able to get more than half of them done even with the late start. Lambing should start in about 2 weeks, so the sooner we get the shearing finished the better. We used the extra time this morning to put the back wall on the pantry in the basement kitchen and hang one set of the doors. Just one more set of doors and some paneling on the front, and I'll be able to get start stocking the shelves. Still no good pictures of the basement, but I did take a few while we were shearing today.

Ewes gathered up and waiting to be shorn

The warm weather has everyone itching to ditch those heavy winter coats.

Tom shearing 

 Shearing done, now it's back to eating. We moved the round bales that the sheep hadn't been eating and rolled one out. There is less grass in the field they are in now, and they seem to be more interested in the hay.

Crocus, the first flower to bloom, approximately February 22 this year.

The daffodils were a week later, but these ones (the first) opened up on February 28.