Farm Update

Our two remaining sheep seem to have recovered (though the younger still has a limp), and seem to be showing signs of pregnancy. If they are, that would be fortunate.

Through some friends, we now have a connection to a man who runs an exotic meats website, so when our flock is up to snuff we will have an outlet.

I will be picking up my Border Collie pup tomorrow or Friday. Hopefully by the time he is old enough to start training for herding, we will have a flock big enough for him to be useful.

Brutus - our giant loveable sheep-chasing mutt - is now starting to understand that the sheep should be left alone, and has been doing his job. Unfortunately he has been picking up ticks from the brush, which means I will have to spray, unless I can find an acceptable (and cheap) "organic" option.

The neighbors have lost another goat to the coyotes, and yet another to a rattlesnake. The rattlers are coming out of the ground, and seem to be rather aggressive this year. The toads are coming out as well, but fortunately they are harmless. In fact, they provide some amusing entertainment for the mentally challenged kids next door.

The sheep have shed most of their wool, and the apple trees began to bloom on Saturday (perhaps they are celebrating Pascha as well). The tangerine, lemon, peach and apricot trees are now full of fruit, with some lemons ripe and the tangerines close behind them.

Unfortunately the sheep emergency put me behind in my construction of the chicken coop, so the chickens are now in the garage waiting for me to finish.

Yesterday the Press Enterprise came to take pictures of us and our house (and our sheep). If you get the paper, we will be in it on Sunday. Why us, I cannot figure out.

I will try to post pictures soon.