Multiple Moons

Why gaze at one gorgeous full moon when you can gaze at four?

Hair Sheep

We have  Katahdin and Dorper sheep on our farm.  Both, of which, are hair-type sheep.

Hair sheep have a smoother coat (debatable?) than wool sheep, thus; they do not get sheared.

But, that does not mean that these sheep do not grow wool.  Each animal is different in terms of the amount of 'wool' each produces.  Some of our sheep retained a heavy coat, actually a cape, throughout the summer.  This cape looked just like its name - a cape that draped over the back of the animal. These capes are dens and heavy. I liken them to that protective apron that  goes over your body while having x-rays of your teeth at the dentist.  Some of these capes fell off some of the ewes during the course of the summer and some remained attached - poor sheep.  Sheep do not like hot temperatures.  Imagine wearing a wool coat in the heat of summer?  Unpleasant, near unbearable; I would imagine. Those sheep without capes looked to be a bit more comfortable.  Other ewes sported dreadlocks, and still others are just down right fluffy.

Ewe sporting a 'wool' cape.

fluffy

kinky

smooth

Some of our ewes are pure white, and others have some variation of black (the Dorper trait) with a few flaunting a bit of light brown.

All in all, we have quite an interesting mix. 

variation of color and texture

Since this summer was our first experience with sheep, ever; I was quite surprised at the variation in coats.  I was expecting the hair sheep to look more like goats - slick and smooth; but, to my surprise, they actually look more like the wool-type sheep.  I am not disappointed!

Sheep, hair or wool, should look like sheep!

Spring Has Sprung...In January?

January's weather, to date,  has been unbelievable - sunny, warm, spring-like (almost early summer-like).

I am still hanging laundry outside to dry; I am still gardening - weeding/trimming/mulching; I am still comfortable in a light sweatshirt, sometimes shirt sleeves; I am still riding the motorcycle with Glenn.  The thin layer of frozen pond has melted.

The birds, also, are acting as if it is spring - darting, chasing, singing instead of taking refuge in the protected woods or cedar thickets.

wren, mid-note

I even saw a grasshopper hopping about the pasture the other day.  Now, if I see a butterfly; I will be truly shocked.

daffodils - early growth

Daffodils, tulips, even hyacinths have broken ground with thick, green spikes.  My daffodils are notorious for exhibiting early growth in mid-winter, no matter how warm or cold the air temperature, but tulips? I want to yell,  "Stop growing or you will be sorry!"; but,  I do not think these plants will listen. The fact is; I will be sorry.  Some tulips tips have already been nibbled by, I am assuming,  rabbits. (They left their calling card - identifying pellets)  So, if I do not get my usual, beautiful stand of tulips; I will know who to blame.  Those rabbits may look cute, fuzzy and harmless; but, they have destroyed many a plant of mine over the years.  Now, where did those dogs go??? A bark or two might be helpful in keeping the rabbits out of my garden and back in the woods.  Oh, Buddy......

tulips - notice tips at left have been cropped

I know the weather can change any moment, after all...it is January; but until it does, I am enjoying every 'bonus' minute of faux spring.

Bad Rap

Yesterday, I gave my residential Blue Jay population a bad rap.  I said they were bullies.

In a matter of speaking, they are bullies - always pushing or scaring the smaller birds away from resting on a tree branch or away from a meal at the feeder.

But, today, my opinion has been modified.

I do have one bird feeder, a mason jar type that is preferred by the Blue Jays.  They are happy enough to use this feeder as theirs, as long as the jar is filled with grey-striped sunflower seeds. The jays can empty said jar in one day.  So, when the quart jar is empty, and I shirk or delay my daily chore to refill; they move to the nearby larger feeder - feeder #2, which is usually utilized by the smaller-sized  birds.

The small birds do not take favorably on having the Blue Jays share this, their feeder. They do give the jays their space, but the smaller titmice or juncos are never far from returning to their perch, or ground-feeding below just as soon as the jays fly away.

In reality, the Blue Jay is a much larger bird than any of the other birds enjoying the convenience of the feeding station.  How can I blame the Blue Jays for being a menace?  The Blue Jay just needs a whole lot more sunflower seeds per diem to survive than the more diminutive species.

Also, irrefutable, the Blue Jays add so much color to my yard; especially during the muted season of winter.  Flashes of blue cross my path regularly.  Even if I did not see them, I would hear them.  Blue Jays are very vocal - they are loud in letting their presence be known.  But, their coloring is their most distinctive and admired feature.  For some reason, when I watch a Blue Jay, my thoughts go to Scottish plaid - specific clan undetermined. 

So, bully - yes, beautiful -  yes, undesirable - a most resounding NO!

Cedar Waxwings In My Yard

Gazing out my kitchen window, early this morning, as I often do;  I noticed one, then two silhouettes of small, sleek birds.  After a few seconds of thought, I realized I was watching Cedar Waxwings in my sugar maple tree. The birds remained in the shadows, thus; their distinguishable coloring was not apparent.  But, I could recognize the bird by its shape, which includes a crest, and by the overall characteristic smoothness of the feathers.

Jubilation overtook me.  This is the first, well almost, time that I ever saw a Cedar Waxwing in my yard.  I was ecstatic.  I watched with great interest.  If nothing else happened, my day would be complete.

The birds remained only minutes as they were frightened off by a bunch of raucous Blue Jays.  My yard is always filled with Blue Jays - beautiful and big and scary to most other birds.  When the Blue Jays gather, the many other species of smaller birds scatter. When the Blue Jays depart, these smaller birds quickly return.  Officially, the Blue Jay is the bully of my bird world.

Nonetheless, the Cedar Waxwings have exceptional plumage - grayish-brown feathers burnished with a slightly golden belly and minute highlights of pure red and pure yellow.  I am thrilled I caught a moment to observe them in my yard. 

I will be sure to keep my eyes alert for more views of these little gems.

Note:  Actually, the first time I saw a Cedar Waxwing in my yard was a few months back (November 3, 2011 to be exact) when I saw Buddy mouthing what turned out to be a dead, headless bird. I immediately recognized it as a waxwing by the obvious and brilliant yellow color of the tail tip and bold red color of the wing tip. Morbid as it sounds, I took a photo of the dead bird. After all, that was my first waxwing sighting in my yard.  And, the colors were still amazing and worthy of notation.

Getting Excited

Can you guess what you are looking at in this photo?

Well, I will tell you - fence posts ready (coated with preservative - to slow down decay) to go into the ground for a new fence.

Yeah, little things like that can get my heart beating fast.

Unfortunately, I was informed that the next fence to be replaced is not the one I was hoping to be rebuilt; so, my excitement has waned.

But; a new fence, no matter its location on the farm, is still a wonderful accomplishment. 

So, I am not too disappointed.  Eventually, the new fence I long for will be at the top of the fence replacement list.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I just came in from filling up the dogs' water bowl - the chore takes me about 5 seconds since the bowl sits just outside the dining room door on the back deck.  The dish has been plugged into power to keep the water from freezing; and, it is certainly freezing outside - brrrrr! I did not even take the extra second to look at the thermometer which is nailed to a post only two feet way.  I was cold!

So, I checked the weather on the Internet - intellicast.com for Raphine - and was alerted that the current temperature is 27 degrees, but it feels like 14.  Yep, I did not need to know the specifics - so different from the sweatshirt weather we have been experiencing.  Now, I am really cold.

No going outside for me today - too blustery and too down right COLD!

Mountain Glen Farm through the dirty living room window

 

Today, I will enjoy the farm looking outside, through the windows, from the warmth and comfort of the inside of the house. WOW - I think the pond looks like it is iced over - probably just a very thin layer; but, fast nonetheless.

birds taken from door sidelight

sunset taken from reading room (Becky's old bedroom)

Maybe, and just maybe, I will get outside soon - as in the next few days - as I become accustom to the lower air temperatures of the season.  I will remain inside and cook/bake, read, quilt, e-mail a few  friends, knit, work on my Friends of Gladys Taber newsletter cooking column or a myriad of other things that I have been longing to do - inside.

Oops...I still have to get out to collect eggs, check the chicken water....time to put on my soft scarf, my knitted stocking cap, my fluffy down jacket, my heavy work gloves, my new boots....I should be able to manage the cold now - no problem.

I lucked out again...Glenn came home from working all day outside (logging in the cold) and I was able to talk him into doing my chores - either he was already use to the cold or already frozen to the bone.

Cold averted for, at least, one day.