Someone is putting on weight. At this time of year and for at least another 6 weeks, if not longer, I have to keep the animals out of the fields for two reasons 1) so that the grass can grow. Daisy does not understand this. 2) So that large animals do not pug the moist spring ground up. Daisy is classed as a large animal. She is not impressed with this ruling either!
I let the sheep into the Rat House Paddock for a few hours this afternoon for a run and to attempt to separate Hairy MacLairy the gate breaker back out. But I lost heart.
When they did separate, he was on top of the root cellar.
I would have sent the sheep-dog in but, well, you see the problem! So I called them back into the sacrifice paddock. Sheep also must wait for the grass to grow. He can stay for a wee while with Mama in her field but not for too long. He eats all their special pregnant ewe feed.
The chickens came out for a dust bath. It was a Martha Stewart day. Well lit but too much beige.
Good morning. Looking out my lightening loft window this morning I see that we have a cloudy day ahead today. And it should be warm (low 50’s – fingers crossed). It may even rain tonight. We might see a little green in the fields in a few days, but for the real eight inches of growth I need warm soil and time. And I am still short of hay. About two weeks short. So I shall continue my search for feed today.
I have been invited to write our farmy story for the Old World Garden Farms blog (I think it will be published this Sunday I shall let you know) and I found this photo for the page I am writing. Look at Daisy in all that grass. We will be fencing inside Pats Paddock this year so it can be grazed more intensively. You will remember that last year was its first year of growth. Look at that forage!
Good Morning!
celi
martha stewart day 🙂
Beige is just so safe!! (shudder!) c
I love how the kitty is friends with the chickens. I giggled when you said it was a “Martha Stewart” day! I made a comment to my husband some time ago after she was released from the clink that all of her house colors now looked like prison colors. 😉
Love the photo of the sheep dog nestled in between the sheep!
TonTon and the sheep have a special relationship, certainly nothing to do with herding..! c
Yep, the boys club got her .. they did not like the blonde playing in their playground, badly! c
You have a Peeping Tom-Cat, ogling the hens as they bathe. Well, as far as oglers are concerned, both he and his “victims” leave a little to be desired but still. Really like the pic of Daisy in the grass!
Your day, like most this time of year, will be a bit warmer than ours; the Lake keeps us cooler. Rain will be coming overnight. I’d better get some gardening done today before the ground is to wet to do anything. Have a great day!
You are right about the gardening, i am going to do a garden a day until I get them all cleared and i MUST get onto the next one today! c
“It was a Martha Stewart day. Well lit but too much beige” – I just died! (with laughter)
Beautiful photos as usual. The little green monster is rearing head. That farm is just calling my name! “Come to me Tia” I could roll around in that grass for hours.
Soon that grass well be very rollable Tia, Good Morning! c
Good morning! No one will convince me that animals aren’t capable of real affection. 🙂
These two are quite the pair! But he is just too rough with her, when he wants to get at her feed, esp as she is in a delicate condition. So i will have to watch him. He would be happier if there were two rams.. c
That’s one happy ram! It’s so difficult to be tough sometimes with our beasties – a bit like having kids all over again!
christine
I know what you mean Christine, he is so sad when he is out on his own! c
that pic of tonton is priceless. some sheep herder. and the kitty and the chickens!!! too cute!
Morning Jaz! c
OMG, how happy does TonTon look in that photo! Cute!
Good morning! They all still look pretty happy to be out and about 🙂 TonTon in particular.
and haha I love this bit: ‘It was a Martha Stewart day. Well lit but too much beige.’ So true!
Yep, that Martha Stewart got me too! I love that Hairy sticks by Mama – it´s so lovely. Lucky old TonTon, he´s a happy pooch 🙂
It seems we are on a similar mission, after the warmish – winterless winter; pastures are sloppy and mucky grass challenged places – to say the least. TonTon pulls at my heartstrings more with every photo 🙂
have a wonderous day C
“Well lit but too much beige” – HILARIOUS!!!!!!! And I love the picture of the cat with the chickens. Peaceable world, for sure!
a Martha Stewart day, well lit but not too beige. : ) had never considered how very true an assessment that is! the photo of daisy in all that grass. …how that tells the story of big land and wide sky and those whose lives are so thoroughly interwoven with, and dependent on, both. Another lovely morning begun with Celi and her friends. (looking forward to Sunday’s read.)
Well, this really ousts the notion of ‘the cats after the chickens again’. I love how they all live in relative harmony. I am sure everyday is a little adventure for them, in each other’s company. How wonderful is that!
Oh Hairy McNairy….. you are a favorite of mine! But please don’t steal food from the mamas!
I dig the happy dog smile…it made me smile. I can almost smell the damp field when you speak of rain. Hope the feed is found ~
I hope I can find more hay too, my usual guy sold my lot by mistake! however I can always feed them, we will get inventive!
c
Wonderful expression. ‘It was a Marhta Stewart day. Well lit but too much beige.’
I learn more about farming with each post, and my vicarious pleasure increases in proportion. This is true armchair farming.
awsome idea, I am going to drag an old chair into the paddock and do some armchair farming too! c
Poor Daisy!
Morning Mad! c
Something tells me the whole farmy would look quite different in configuration and operations if Miss Daisy had her druthers!
pug pug pug pug,, all mud! c
Good luck on separating Hairy! It is amazing how tenacious they can be when they set their minds to something. (I think Ton needs to have his job descriptions explained to him again! 🙂 )
Yes Ted, TonTon is a very confused sheep dog! c
So excited about you writing a farmy story in the Old World Garden Farms blog Celi. Can’t wait to read it! I just love Ton Ton!!! He looks like a friend to all the farm animals….with exception of the Guineas. 🙂 Guess what?! it will be in the 70s two days this week!!! Wild, wonderful and warm!!! xo
wow, you are getting really warm down there, your plants must be out full time now! c
Love the Martha Stewart phrase! Can’t wait to see your article.
Morning Mouse! The essay will fill in a few gaps .. c
Love the Martha Stewart shot!! And, your sheep dog doing his part! It’s way past morning for me, but I so do enjoy your mornings!!
Nigh night (laughter!) c
Love the picture of Hairy on top of the root cellar! I will spare my border collie the grief of seeing TonTon in the middle of the sheep like that…she would die!
Yes, TonTon has some identity issues and two big problems, the sheep are not afraid of him and secondly there being only three sheep (one of whom is a ram) that whole flocking thing does not really happen. If I had ten more sheep who had not grown up with the dog, we may do a bit better. He can work the cows! but not the sheep! They won’t listen to him.. They Luff him! c
Can’t express how much I love ALL of your photos. Your animals are adorable. I just love Daisy. Top of the morning to you as well! x
Thank you again for taking me on a brief trip to the farmy. I needed the fresh air, sunshine and open space today!
Ronnie
I think they are all just happy the weather is better.. that they don’t want to be inside at all lol. And look at my girl Daisy.. she just knows she’s ready for her summer appearance 🙂
Look at TonTon in the thick of things!
as usual… c
Congratulations on the invitation from Old World Garden Farms.
Just love the self-satisfied and contented expressions of Mama, Hairy and TonTon!
Beige….what a non-color! Now give me a beautiful BRIGHT spring day….ahhhhhhhhhhh.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Morning Linda! these wee spring teasers are gorgeous!! c
Yippee! I’m looking forward to reading your article, Celi!
Just catching up on your blog now – how I miss visiting your site.
P.S. The Martha comment made me laugh! I think beige is for old ladies 😀
Your Martha Stewart day sounds much prettier than what we have here. I can’t complain, it seems to be warmer by the day.. but brown.. so much ugly brown. I am in love with your cow. Plain and simple. I would ask to have her but there would be no grass for her to hide in. Send her my love.. xo Smidge
Martha Stewart Day huh? Heh, was it Martha that was well lit?
Great Post.
Still laughing at your quote” It was a Martha Stewart day. Well lit but too much beige.” Classic!
I grew up going to an aunt and uncle’s farm, and their sheep, Uncle Sam, was such a pet! Your photos today brought that all back and I’m “homesick” for those days, that animal, and my aunt and uncle! Looking forward to your guest appearance on Old World Garden Farms! Debra
Love the interaction of the different animals. One big happy family!
Why can’t people get along as well as your animals, they always look so happy together.
You should see what goes on behind the scenes!! c
Hello, c. I read about the tornados in was concerned for you all, especialls since there was no post this morning. Hope everyone is ok there. (feel free to delete this)
No i won’t delete it .. this is such a kind message, gale force winds but no tornado.. I will be back on board tomorrow after I have finished tying down the hatches! c
Glad you aren’t in Oz, we would miss you! 😉
“It was a Martha Stewart day. Well lit but too much beige.” I just adore that description (regardless of not knowing who Martha Stewart really is, but I don’t suppose that matters 🙂 )
That is the whole thing about Martha Stewart, she is not really one person and they are all sweet and pastel and yummy.. c
Some sheepdog! We always did end up short of hay in Maine somehow. Despite all we put up in the barn.
Love your description: “It was a Martha Stewart day. Well lit but too much beige.”
I know, how does it happen? Someone is too generous at the beginning I think. This year we will have more grass though so fingers crossed! c
I love how your animals are so friendly with one another. It’s a real pleasure to see the cross-species fraternization.
aren’t they sweet how they do that..morning annie c