The Holidays are over, Mike is back to work and I am trying to get back into some sort of routine.
The weather was pretty mild in December and not much snow. Well, that is changing with January. Winter has finally decided to arrive in full force. Below zero temps are coming...Brrrrr...
The guy we purchased wood from the last couple of years didn't have any available until December. We couldn't wait that long so that meant spending some Saturdays cutting wood on our property. There were quite a few downed and dead trees that make for some great firewood. We saved a bundle ($), and are hoping that we will only have to buy a few loads this year.
The sheep are all bred. We have a few Tunis ewes that are due in a few weeks, hoping for some good fair lambs. The rest of the ewes will not be lambing until April.
This is our first year using round bales. We were expecting more waste, and messier fleeces. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case. Mike made a couple of make shift bale feeders from some panels that we had. So far so good. The feeders have managed to keep even the goats from jumping on the top of the bales. A big plus, it is a LOT less work than feeding square bales.
We attended a Sheep Symposium this past weekend, that is always a good time. This year we entered the Photography contest- Our Snowy Ewe photo received first place in the Portrait of a Sheep category and Overall Best of Show. I was very excited, especially when I found out the prizes were a sheep mug and some Wool Socks. Just what I needed for winter :)
Stay Warm!!
I'm not really liking January either. Lots of grey, sunless skies and fine, dry snow. Would love to see photos of your bale feeders!
ReplyDeleteWinter in general is not my favorite time of the year.
DeleteAs for the feeders, we are just using livestock panels on one and livestock gates for the other. We had to do some cutting on the panels, because the Romney's have a bigger head and were getting stuck. Sigh...
Welcome back to work:) I know that feeling on our own again and it had to be cold:). Great shot I can see why it won. Hug B
ReplyDeleteRoutines...still trying to get back into one!
DeleteThanks for visiting :)
I love your photos. It's been cold here lately too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristina!!
DeleteThink Spring :)
Brrr! We get wood off our property as well. Or - I should say - my husband gets wood ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have that resource.
DeleteI always enjoy seeing your photos. Cutting firewood is hard work, but it's so satisfying to see it neatly stacked just waiting to be burned. Congrats on your win for your photo!
ReplyDeleteIt is a big savings! It is also a great work out :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by the farm!!
Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI like your ewe portrait too! Congrats on Best of Show.
I hope good weather finds you before lambing. It's cold and crazy windy here today.
Cutting wood with the Hubby sounds like good bonding time, lol! We have a corn/pellet stove and love the heat it gives off.