Saint Valentine's Morning

11:08 AM, Sunday, 14 February 2010
Temperature: 61 F, partly cloudy and calm

A pleasant morning, although it began with the unwelcome presence of the neighbour's yellow lab. He was not doing any ostensible harm, since he was apparently digging after moles, but in case he develops a taste for sheep we make a practice of sending him packing. Stalking him in the long grass works well enough that when he notices that he isn't alone, the shock sends him haring off with his tail between his legs. Next time we might use rubber tipped arrows to communicate our displeasure.

The ewes are getting increasingly stubborn about eating bird feed, but a crook can be used to lift them off it by their necks, which generally makes them back off. An additional deterrent is that one of the more truculent geese has taken to biting at their noses, which certainly communicates that they are unwelcome at this particular banquet.

The black lamb which lost a horn has lost the horny part completely, leaving just a clean bud. It shows every evidence of being clean and ready to regrow in good health - her horns will merely be lopsided.

Today will continue with some rabbits being moved to arks, and more cleaning of old straw into convenient piles.