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Saturday, October 21, 2017

She's Baaa-aack


After the sheep were shorn back in the spring, the Sheep Chicken had to stop sleeping on her ledge.  She couldn't get enough traction on the slick sheep backs to make her jumps.  About the time their wool started growing back to an acceptable length, the days got long and hot and the sheep stayed out grazing in the evenings, well past the time when she wanted to go to bed.  

She slept in the coop all long summer.  A week or so ago I noticed she was back on her platform perch.  I caught an occasional picture of her on various sheep's backs, jumping for her ledge, but hadn't had time to post them and then forgot. 

Two nights (or I should say late afternoons - chickens go to bed early!) ago short little Clover Belly followed a couple of the older sheep in hoping for an evening snack.  She didn't get one, but poked around the stalls for a bit looking for anything that might have dropped.

She was standing at the doorway between the inside and outside stalls (the right side of the picture) when the chicken hopped aboard.  She stood there for a couple seconds and then walked straight over to the ledge and the chicken jumped on up.  If you look closely you can see her next to the fan on the back wall. 

Sometimes I just "live in the moment" and watch what goes on without recording it.  Sunrises and sunsets are always better in real life and should sometimes just be enjoyed.  Bees working flowers...well, they are good either way.  A chicken and sheep so deliberately working together, especially one I've never seen helping the chicken before?  I wish I'd turned on the video camera.

*     *     *   In other news  *     *     *

Hank and June are now best friends.  Other than taking a walk yesterday where she shouldn't have, June is doing really, really well.  I'm putting up some more fencing today to hopefully stop her from future exploration missions.  If the Adventure Chickens figure out they could ride her to town... :-o

Cecil Aguilar's been back and made something extra special for us.  I'm telling you, drystone work is like tattoos.  Once you start you can't stop.  I of course took lots of pictures including a very cool one with Eli, who is trying really hard to make the calendar next year.  I'd say things are looking good for him ;-).

Tonight is the big neighborhood Pumpkin Carving Party.  I had planned to try to do a special felted pumpkin to carve, but...I'm now spending my day putting up fence :-/.  At least I can think about my real pumpkin design while I work.  I'm guessing it will be a Biscuit and Muffin design.  Stay tuned!

I don't know how it could possibly be almost the end of October, but it is and next Saturday is National Hug a Sheep Day :-D.  We are once again hosting a farm party to celebrate and would love if everyone could come!  Needless to say if I can't find time to post blog pictures, I probably haven't had time to work on the teleporter either, but June is all about some cookies as are Biscuit and Muffin and Mrs. Pepperpot and everyone else.  It will be a fun afternoon if you can make it :-D.

*     *     *   One more thing   *     *     *

When I was looking for a link for the words "Sheep Chicken" above, I found the post about Baby Belly and Spud helping last year.  I'd forgotten that had been Baby Belly.  Clover Belly is Baby Belly's daughter.  While Muffin may have ditched me and Mrs. Pepperpot, Clover Belly stayed very close to her momma her whole life.  We lost Baby Belly last week.

I am quite sure we don't have even an ounce of understanding about what goes on between animals, especially animals in a close family.  I was amazed that a sheep who I had thought had no previous experience with the chicken routine was helping out.  Now I'm extra amazed.  Remember Tilly stepping up after Iris died?  Something else to ponder while I'm stringing fence today.

SO, as I did with the long post about Tilly, let's see who made it to the end of this epistle.  Leave me a comment saying which sheep you'd love to hug most and I'll have 20 draw for a winner at the end of the weekend.  There's a 2018 Farm Calendar in it for the winner :-).


30 comments:

Marcy said...

Sad to hear about your loss of Baby Belly. I admire your strength. Wish I could be there for Hug a Sheep! I could never pick a favorite although Buscuit and Muffin have my heart this year😘

Cheryl West said...

My sympathy that you have lost Baby Belly.
I think my favorite sheep will be Clover Belly as she has taken on they bedtime duty of helping the chicken to her favorite roost.

JaneJMtl said...

I really enjoyed this post, and read it to the end, as I do all of your posts. (Actually, I often read them more than once, as I like them so much.) I love Muffin and Biscuit, but I’m going to pick Mrs. Pepperpot, who has been such a good mama to the little munchkins. I just wish I could be there to hug her in person.

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

I would love to hug a sheep or baby lamb--or even feed a lamb a bottle!!
always read your posts--love your photography--sorry about your loss--
and my favorite sheep in todays post would be Clover Belly cause of helping out the chicken--how cute-
enjoy the moments, di

Unknown said...

I can't wait to meet all the sheep. Unfortunately I would love to hug them all :)

Juliana said...

So sorry for the loss of your ewe. I know you will miss her. It's amazing that her own 'lamb' has stepped up to help the chicken!! I think my choice to hug would be Maisie. She sounds as full of personality as two of my very cranky cats--I like a little lemon in my sweet tea. Also, like other commentors, I love your long stories, and I, too, often read your posts more than once. It's a life that I love to know about, even though, or maybe because it is so different from my own.

Tee said...

I would hug each and every one, as I read each and every one of your posts. I often go back and read them again and again. I follow a thread and enjoy seeing what is going on at your farm.

DianeOart said...

If I could be there I would hug Clover Belly for helping and losing her mom.

janna e said...

For today, Clover Belly, of course.

Michelle said...

I can't believe someone WOULDN'T read to the end of your posts! Instead of being sad that all the sheep I got to see in person have died (especially Graham-Lamb and Keebler), I'd like to send some love to Mrs. Pepperpot, who must be rather amazed at all the human/sheep interaction going on around her. She hit the retirement jackpot!

I need orange said...

Aw. I am sorry that Baby Belly had to leave. So hard to lose fuzzy friends..... And it does make a body wonder about Clover Belly helping the chicken.....

I would hug Buddy. Right before I hug Hank (if it's ok with them to get hugged by strangers....).

:-)

Jean said...

Renny of course.

Shirley said...

Sorry to hear you lost Baby Belly.
I think I'd like to hug all your bottle baby sheep, but I will settle for the lovely Blossom for hug a sheep day.

Laurie in Maine said...

Sat staring at the empty comment box for long minutes trying to decide...too hard! I believe I would follow your lead and whisper "you're my favorite - don't tell anyone!" to all of them :) Get working on the travel-machine thing!

paula said...

So sorry for the loss, the ebb and flow of life unfortunately. I would hug Maisie but she would probably kick me first;)Don't be too hard on June, she's still a puppy, Hank will train her well. Would love to get up to visit, maybe next year....

Far Side of Fifty said...

Well I would want to hug Hank...:) BUT if I had to pick a sheep it would be Maisie:)
I think your adventure chickens are smart and can somehow communicate with sheeps...how else do you explain it?
Sorry to hear about Baby Belly...maybe you have sheep angels hanging about helping the chickens out :)

jordi said...

I have such a huge crush on Hank, that hugging a sheep might feel almost disloyal... but then again, Muffin has also got a place in my heart.. right next to Ms. Pepperpot and Biscuit, and.. and.. and.. the list is endless..
Comby (is there an e in that, I can't remember) too.. I'm useless when it comes to deciding... One day long hug will do..

Lisa said...

So sorry to hear about Baby Belly. I have seen studies about generations of crows passing along important learned information to their young. Why not sheep? It's unlikely we would make it down your way but if I did I'd sign up for hugs from Baaxter. I will probably have to hug my mini-Felted one in substitute. :)

knitski said...

Farm life just keeps going on no matter what! I watched an interesting movie last night about animals and well it just makes me realize no matter what farmers who truly love and take care of their charges diligently should always be supported for their efforts! Thanks for showing such kindness and compassion to your animals.

Dogs---our Sadie who is half Akbash is always wandering. She is always checking out a rather huge circumference around us and mostly is never close--drives me nuts at times!

Thanks for the great post always enjoyable to stop by to see your part of the world!

sophy0075 said...

I would have to hug Clover Belly-
she lost her mom 😥but she honored
her mom’s memory by stepping up to
the plate - oops, I mean ledge and
started to serve as the new ladder
for her late mom’s favorite Adventure
Chicken. So sweet.
(Rest in Peace, Baby Belly)

Mary Loper said...

I'd hug Biscuit. I read a lot of blogs and yours is my favorite. You inspired me to get two Romeldale bottle lambs this spring. One brown and one white - Lizzie and Darcy. They've been with the big sheep for quite awhile but Darcy still comes running to cuddle with me. My baby boy😊

Windswept Farm said...

I would pick Baaxter Black because he is the first lamb I read about on your blog. Sorry about Baby Belly. Now I will have yo read the posts she is tagged in.

Lisa said...

I would hug Blossom!

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Baby Belly. She has been with you for so long, there will be quite an empty space now.

If she would let me (probably not) I would hug Clover Belly, hoping it would help her feel better, because I'll just bet she's missing her momma.

I kinda know how she feels, sometimes I still miss my momma after 15 years. Maybe you could give Clover Belly a hug for me?

Chris S in Canada

Anonymous said...

Whatever sheep has made a post the day I were there hugging, that is the sheep I’d want to hug!

ElaineChicago said...

Even though all the sheep are so Hug-Worthy, I think I have to hug and have a talk with Mrs. Pepperpot. She is such a good mother. But then since I spun Murphy's beautiful fleece last year I need to hug him and thank him for growing such beautiful wool. I think I need to talk and hug all of them!!

Benita said...

I am really looking forward to coming down for Hug-A-Sheep Day. I think I want to hug Hershey the most because he gives me such a lovely fleece every year. I may have to bring extra cookies for him.

I am sorry about Baby Belly.

Leslie Nichols said...

And Scientist say only humans & monkey's use tools....pft... this proves Chickens do too and Sheep have major problem solving skills. Love this post.

Karen at longwell said...

I open my day, every day, with a quick read of your blog. And each time, I feel uplifted and move on with my day with a smile. Today I am smiling but with a sadness for your loss of Baby Belly...

Thank you for sharing so much with us. I wish I lived close enough to hug a sheep (maybe Bullwinkle) but will have to use my imagination until I can retire and make a visit.

And hugs to you!!!

Cappy said...

Sorry to hear about Baby Belly. Here's a hug to Clover Belly! {{{}}}

And I'd have to give one to Hank... :-)

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