Monday, January 15, 2018

January blues

It's definitely winter here in Ohio.
This year I had to syke myself  up to get through our winter weather.
More and more I dislike this cold weather and have been keeping 
focus on March....a little over six weeks away.
Yes, we will still have snow, but those bitter cold days should be no more.
Our temperature today was a high of 20 degrees with a couple more days 
to come of temperatures in the teens!
focus on the goal.....MARCH!

Although the girls don't seen to mind this weather.  When I went out to feed this evening
several of them were laying at the edge of the barn in the snow.
 Every evening I give them a little grain and boy do they get excited.
They wait for me at the gate, then run and jump ahead of me 
to each feeder as I try and put some feed in all the troughs
so they can all get a little.
 While they are outside I lock them out of the barn so that I can 
prop open another gate to place hay in the feeders without 
sheep trying to get out.  My system of gates has worked out well.
No need to water tonight as I did that earlier today.
So feeding time tonight only took about 15 minutes.
So glad!
 Some snowy pictures to share, the  pine trees always look so 
beautiful with snow on them.
It's been fun watching these trees grow, I planted them
as little tiny trees with hopes that they will grow up and make
a nice wind break for our house.
 Couldn't help but get a picture of our English Shepard, Red.
He just loves the snow and is my best bud that helps with the sheep.
 As soon as I open the gate most of the girls are back in the barn to 
start eating on the hay.
Since it has been so cold this weekend I've stayed home all weekend!
Of course I've had plenty to do. Finalizing the farm records for 2017.
It's good to know the sheep have paid for them selves plus a little.
Also working on my USDA 2017 agricultural farm census.
I keep track of so many numbers and spreadsheets but have 
never really totaled my wool clip.  This is one of the questions
on the census.  So off to look at my charts and see that our 2017 
wool clip was 125 pounds.  That may not be much compared to 
some of the other breeds, but marketing of the shetland
wool at local events and festivals adds value that is not 
seen by most sheep breeders.
I am one shepherd that is very pleased with the wool from my little sheep,
Shetlands.