Old News on Tess was a hero.....

Tess made it in the newspaper two years ago ...we had the 100 yr flood and most of our farm was under water. Some sheep did not make it back to the barn so Tess had to swim out to the island that they were stranded on and get them off . I recently found these links and thought you might to read about our flood.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003376351_eastflood09e.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sherrygrindeland/2003376684_grin9e.html

Tess was one tired and one very wet dog and got extra treats that night.

Clun Forest Sheep

Yearling.... with Callie (older ewe) to the right. Callie is my special pet who loves to be petted and hand fed and follows me around. She is retired and a nanny to the lambs. She is a great mom and loves to show off her babies.

Yearling ewes

Granny's daughter....what a typical head of a Clun should look like

People ask what breed of sheep I raise. I mainly raise Clun Forest sheep. They are very hardy and easy keepers, great mothers and great to work dogs on. They usually have twins and within minutes the lambs are up and nursing. They are very personable sheep and some have become pets over the years. One ewe, Granny, had 5 generations on the farm.

Here is the Clun Breeders site:

http://www.clunforestsheep.org/cf/index.htm

They Clun Associations does not show their sheep as they are preserving the sheep for what it was orginally intended for....I am impressed with my Cluns!!

Some of the lambs....

just born.....

one week old...

Anson, Kael and Rainey update

It's been a while since I wrote about Anson, Kael and Rainey. Today they got weighed, Anson and Kael at 25 lbs and Rainey at 22 lbs. Rainey was one of the runts in the litter and she is still smaller than her brothers but she is quite stocky. All the pups take after Scotty in build and large square heads. I would have thought Rainey would have had a dainty dish face like Tess but she has her father's square head...not too feminine at all.

Anson is the clown...he is the happy-go lucky puppy that wants to please. His nose still is quite long and with his white head it even looks longer. His cold blue eye rimmed with black is quite stunning on his broad white head. He still has a cast of gray to his coat.

Kael looks like Tess but in a masculine version. Thin, narrow white stripe, matching white legs and toes and eyes that melt your soul. His eyes are amberish and look down into your soul. He is far more serious than Anson and he is looking about to see what he can rummage up and steal. He loves to throw himself in your lap so be prepared and remove hot liquids from your hands when he does that. Can you tell that *maybe* I spilled my coffee when he threw himself on my lap?

Now the runt is Rainey. She is one of the two runts in the litter but is now catching up to her brothers. Her height maybe smaller but she is built like a linebacker now. Just three pounds lighter than her brothers, she makes up for it with her *Princess attitude*. She is Jeff's dog and sleeps in his lap, get his food and helps him critique American Idol as well as cheering for any LSU games.

Rainey has decided she is *mommy's little helper"....I turn the pups and dogs loose in the pond pasture and they play while I feed the sheep in the stalls. I use Tess to push the ewes off the feeders and sometimes I will grab a lamb to check it out, band it or hold it. Tess will lay in the stall or move the ewes as needed. Rainey has taken upon herself to help me in these chores. She will lay next to Tess and mimic each move that Tess does.....she will not rush the sheep but lie next to Tess. If I flank Tess to move an ewe, then Rainey is next to her. Rainey has learned to be calm and quiet in the stall. She will even walk with me as I go around the stall. She is not afraid and will listen to me as I recall her or tell her to sit. I see her brain clicking, figuring out what to do. She is very workman like in her attitude.

Each puppy in the same in some ways but wildly different in others....it will be very fun to start each one and see the progression. Having people handle them several times a week for the last five months has made them bold, outgoing and people friendly. They see people and it's all about "me, me, me...pick me up so I can kiss your face!!"

Rest in Peace, Libbi

LIBBI

Libbi and pups and one orphan lamb

A few yrs later with one pup and another orphan lamb



Libbi working ducks in an arean trial...she usuaslly won!!

Libbi taught me a lot. I got her as a 2 yr old, many, many yr ago. She was raised in a kennel and really only got to see sheep a couple of times but was loved and then I got her. She was a fine dog, very trusty, thoughtful and had a huge heart. She loved all babies, whether it be her own puppies, someone else's puppies, kittens and orphans lambs. Each year she raised orphan lambs (I would bottle fed and she would do the other duties) and when she had pups she would rasie the lambs in the same box with her pups. Sheloved being a housedog and cuddling next to you at night.

We grew up through the ranks, from Novice to Open and she won her fair share of trials. She had a gentle way with the sheep and they would move nice for her and if she was sent on a blind outrun, you just could hang out at the post and she would bring the sheep with no fuss or muss.

She went to work on the cut blocks in Canada one yr....moving 1600 sheep on the mountains and then drove them to market at the end of the season. She never quit and did a great job, thus showing her true testimony to her heritage.

After I retired Libbi, she then helped a 13 yr old hander the ropes on the trial field and won a trial or two for them and then she retired to a person who got her own sheep flock and was well loved, Through Libbi, she had helped us on our path to become better handlers and people in life....her kindness towards babies was wonderful and her gentle nature with anyone brought a smile to your face.

Libbi, we will all miss you and you live through your sons and daughters and grandchildren...one who is Lucy, a red and white image of you in spirit and love.

"Happy Birthday Ray, Jackie and Dan"

Today is the birthday of Ray, Jackie and Dan. Ray and Jackie live here and Dan is a visitor with his mom, Audrey. They all turned 3 yrs old today and we can remember when they were just fat butterballs.

Here they are as pups....can you find which one is Ray, Jackie and Dan?

Boys

Girls

Tess and the pups on the front deck

Here they are as adults

Jackie

Ray

Dan