11:17 PM, 5 May 2010
chilly & damp

We've been having some unexpected last minute winter storms here. It seems Mother Nature's going through menopause or something; in any case, multiple days and nights of sudden rain showers, driving cold winds, and equally sudden hail showers punctuated by occasional bouts of sunlight have been the new norm.

Fanta is still alive although still recovering. Her surviving lamb however is no longer surviving; it looks as if she smothered it during the night, but we're just not sure. We buried it in the lamb graveyard with some regret.

We have come to the conclusion that the flock needs to be culled and have been making notes on sheep genealogies and personalities to this end. Fanta is likely going to go to the friend of some friends, to become a brush mower; she displays poor mothering traits, and we'd prefer not to hold onto her when our available sheep roster size is shrinking. We may have found a buyer for Bolivar as well, a lady who breeds and trains Australian shepherds as actual farm dogs. This is frabjous news indeed.

The sheep have continued to excel at getting out, with them doing so multiple times each day this week. They were dragged back in, kicking and screaming, until a sudden hail storm made them change their minds in a hurry and they became much more cooperative. Mitey and the scout from the ewe flock, however, appear to have become fast friends, while Hercules and Bolivar were bashing at one another while out with great and agile displays of masculine virility and activity. When Hercules wasn't watching, Bolivar was sniffing ewes' tails hopefully; he's lucky Hercules didn't spot him at it.

The geese should be hatching their eggs any time now, and the barn cats have been banned from the outdoors for resocialization, which appears to be going well thus far. We'll give it at least a full week, however.

Unfortunately, the sheep in their outings have discovered the seedlings. It doesn't look like there will be much of a garden this year; oh well, time to support our local farmers' market and CSA and try again next year.