So Long, And Thanks For All The Hay

The yearly sojourn to Kentucky to visit Sara and all the people and animals at Equinox Farm was modified from a car trip to a truck trip.  Not having any lambs this year, and so no new faces to join that flock, we were going to go in Julie's vehicle as it's easier to maneuver and better on gas.  But then an email arrived asking if I had any crossbred rams who would like to go live in Kentucky and be put to "work" (wink, wink).
As a matter of fact.....

I ran the idea past Rocky and Jared and they agreed that while they liked it here just fine they really didn't want to live out their days being celibate.  They are both half Cotswold, built well with nice fleece, and could have a very nice life siring commercial lambs and hopefully improving wool too.  We had the vet out to do paperwork, rigged up the gridwork that fits within the truck cap, arranged space for the spare tire which doesn't hang beneath the truck anymore because the screw thingy that held it up rusted out....grrr...., filled empty jugs with 'home water' and off we went.

The boys rode like old pros. We really appreciate rams that are quiet by nature and handled enough that a sudden trip like this isn't a rodeo.

We offered water at every stop (four) and at one Quik Fill there was this great old car next to us.  Guesses?

Yep, a Rambler.  Not sure if it was from when they were still made by Nash or afterward when American Motors picked up the brand.  If I had a million dollars I'd fill a garage with old cars just to pet and admire them.  Old cars have class!   :-)

The trip went well and the boys were installed in their new place before the end of the day.  They have a nice roomy space in the barn to acclimate.  The barnyard has some grass but not a lot and that's good - they are essentially eating standing hay here because of the drought. Sudden unlimited grazing on lush pasture would not be a good thing.

They have never seen a dog except Holly and we were a little concerned that they'd be scared.  Not to worry.  The guard dogs are very sweet and the rams were totally unconcerned.

Really, really unconcerned.  Rocky was getting his ear washed and I expected the dog's tongue to come out the other side the way he was working.  Or maybe the dog was whispering to him.

"Ppsspppssssppspssppsss.   Don't worry, I'll take care of you here."

It was good to stretch after the drive (11 hours) and we had a lovely look around at the farm where the boys would be living.  Besides the sheep flock and guard dogs there were herding dogs, chickens, guinea hens, peacocks and a nice orange cat.

One of the fields with the bulk of the flock on pasture there.  The boys are going to think they've died and gone to heaven.

Here's a cool structure.  It's a cistern to catch water coming off the barn roof.  A previous owner of the property dismantled the piping system which could supply water troughs around the farm.  Seems monumentally dumb to me to render it inoperative but maybe it wasn't holding water anymore.  After I got back home it dawned on me that I'd seen that brickwork before.  That Sara!

The boys never made a peep when we left and I'm sure they're happy there.  Now to wait for lamb pictures!

The next day featured a gathering/yarn swap at the farm which turned into a spin-in/knit-in in the barn alley.  How great is that?  Big fun was had by all and spinning and knitting help was there in spades.  

Bullwinkle went on walkabout toward the end and seemed intent on finding something edible  learning to spin.

He immediately understood the value of a Woolee Winder and checked them out on both a castle wheel and an e-spinner.

He inspected the actual yarn and declared it a fine job.

I'm not a morning person but the front porch is so inviting....

Sunday included a church service and then the afternoon was spent with the amazing Sara taking video of me as I walked through the use of our skein winders, teasing boards, blending boards and Quad Kate.  It will be a while before those get posted as I have a lot of cutting and splicing to do.  There's a darn good reason I got a C- in public speaking in college.  :-/

Monday came all too soon.  The sun wasn't quite up yet but the sheep were grazing right by the driveway.

"You all come back now, hear?"

"And bring some more of those jerky treats?"

We'll for sure be back!  Can't wait!

South to Kentucky!

This past weekend I had the big fun of taking another group of lambs to Equinox Farm in Kentucky to be friends for Baaxter.  Julie went with me and we transported four - three to be Baaxter's adopted brothers and one to be a future breeding ram for another farm.

We stopped five times in total between needing gas, having lunch, bathroom and stretching breaks.  The trip took almost twelve hours due to construction, detours and congestion in Columbus and Cincinnati.  Even though I was clipping along above 70 mph in most places I've become convinced that the state of Ohio becomes freakishly big when driven diagonally and actually expands as you're driving.  The lambs rode really well though, seeming competely unconcerned about the change of surroundings.

"Hey, is that a '57 Chevy??"

"Lemme get this gate open so I can go get a better look"

 

We finally arrived and we were all greeted by Auntie Reg with bandanas including the lambs.  It was like going to Hawaii and having leis put on you when you stepped off the plane.  :-)

 

 

The lambs were fine with it and settled down in front of the fan pretty quickly.

 

The New York band of desperados.

 

It was hot.  So hot that Blossom sort of melted.

 



 

The smallest boy is a triplet and I think he started to realize none of his family was there so he buddied up to the gray lamb even though it was so hot they were puffing a little. 

 



 

Burrnie has gotten big! 

 

 

And friendly!  :-)

 

"Have you any Nillas?  I would dearly love a Nilla!"

 

Baaxter was more interested in being with mom and maybe begging a bottle than joining in with the lambs.  After all, they are just farm critters whereas he is a house sheep.  But he didn't know he had gotten too big to live in the kitchen any longer and Things Were About to Change.

 

 

He spent a little time thinking about the new turn of events in his "fort".

 

 

But it's hard to sulk when your new brother comes and wants to play in your fort too.

 

"All right, you can play under here too but the big Lego is MINE!"

 

Boys.  They'll be punching each other on the arm and giving noogies in no time.











Calling MacGyver

When we had our neighbor Red weld up a spiffy crate for hauling sheep in the back of the pickup I figured that would handle anything that didn't require the whole trailer.  Turns out that wasn't quite true.  I'm happy to be taking six lambs to a new home a few states away, but six lambs are not going to fit in the crate.  And I really don't want to haul the trailer hundreds of miles for just six lambs.  What to do... what to do....

In a move that would have made MacGyver proud That Andy took a wire grid livestock panel (we use them when constucting hay feeders for the sheep) and fabricated an inner barrier which will keep young ram noses off the window screens and away from the back window and  wiring for the truck tail lights.

 

He cut out gridwork to accomdate the wheel wells and gave the panel a bend to allow for the curve of the cap.

 



I managed to secure the wiring in an empty plastic bottle and used duct tape to hold it securely.  Once the back 'door' panel is in place the lambs will only be able to nudge the bottom of the bottle.  Better to prevent a problem than try to explain to a state trooper why my turn signals don't work.

So, gridwork panels on both sides, but not toward the cab of the truck as it doesn't seem likely that they will be crazed and try to crash through.  Plus, the backseat will have enough stuff piled up that it won't look very inviting to a sheep.  That opens up a lot of floor space in front of and behind the wheel wells that will make all the difference for animals travelling a long distance. 

 

The two back panels overlap by about six inches.  The larger one on the right is tied such that it's in a fixed position.  The smaller one on the left will swing open for loading and unloading and to put a water bucket in during rest stops.

 

Put some nice deep straw bedding down and I'd be happy to travel in there myself.