We are finally the proud owners of three fantastic sheep! They are home and we are so excited. They are settling in just wonderfully! I’m so tired after being so wound up last night and then today, so I’m just going to post a few pictures and such. I’ll write much more in detail later on!

You would think that after a half hour car ride in the back of a station wagon, that the girls would want out! However, it took quite a bit of coaxing and such to get them to come out!

I finally got their attention with some animal crackers and a little tugging and pushing! Once they were out, boy, were they excited… their new yard was full of lush green shady grassland and they started eating IMMEDIATELY! We had just weathered a pretty severe storm that knocked the power out at Robin’s house and had flattened corn and knocked down big tree branches around here. So there was a nice wet rain all over the grass and the sheepies were very happy. They were wagging their little tails and doing these little frolics and jumps like lambs!

Now, I asked them to make sure everyone had gone to the bathroom before we got in the car, but of course, not everyone did so, so it was a good thing we had a tarp down and an old blanket! That really did save the day. Of course, Blue does need a REALLY good cleaning out… hay, chicken feathers and sheep poop doesn’t exactly help the resale value of a good station wagon. However, it was such a hoot to be driving down the road with a sheep smelling your hair as you drive. Lilly was very interested in my shampoo apparently!

It is absolutely a dream come true and delight to look out and see our little flock grazing in our middle yard. They look like they’ve been there for years! I have the materials to make them a little paddock area by the well house, but right now, they are safe and content to be in the big middle yard, grazing like crazy. I am watching them carefully to make sure they don’t over do it, and get bloated, but so far, they have been doing a lot of good cud chewing and lots of nibbling all over the place. Our new lawn service has arrived!

We have three watering stations set up in the yard, and have another in the works. I would rather they have four stations that they can get water from, so if any goes dry, they have another three just in case. And we’re trying to set it up so it’s at easy access points, so it’s easy on us! We are lazy farmers for sure! I don’t want to be in situations where we are chained to routines that are hard and too time consuming. I want to enjoy every moment of our chores!

Lilly is very friendly, and she will come when you call for her! She’s already decided that we’re all cool, and I’m sure that animal crackers have given her that decision. She loves to be rubbed and scratched and is very friendly. Her buddy Lilac, she is friendly, but a little hesitant still. However, she likes treats too, and has already been sneaking in little bits of head pats and chin rubs. I suspect it will only be a few days before she’s just as comfy with us. However, baby Mocha, she’s not to thrilled with us at all. Now it could be something to do with having an ear tag put in, a halter on her, dragged from her home, put in an evil moving box and then shoved out into a new place. Just maybe. At least she is still with her mom Lilly, and she’s very happy to stay with her at all times. Mocha will stand off a shoulder or two away and watch, but won’t come in for the rub or a scratch. Not yet at least. She doesn’t even want a cookie. No thanks. We’ll see how she is in a few days. I think she’ll come around eventually.

Lilly is like a dog! She just loves to be petted and all attention. I think I’m going to see if she likes being brushed tomorrow, on her head and neck. I’ll bet she does.

I know it will be a while till everyone settles in… and a good 8 months before we can have fleece, but right now, my heart just smiles so big everytime I see them out in the yard trotting along and grazing. Every time I looked out the window I was just so happy to see them. We’ve been outside about 4 times this afternoon and evening to go and visit the sheep! I spent about an hour just sitting in a comfy chair and visiting and watching them. They are so cool! Bucka and his posse are not totally sure about the big weird dogs, but they were happy to visit with me, too and get crackers! The sheep were pretty puzzled about the little chickens and were following them around very closely for awhile. It was funny to watch. The new hens are still staying close to the barn and not venturing out. I suspect it will be a few days before they catch on to the whole free range thing. But they are helping with the eggs for sure! We actually got 12 today!!!

Well, I am busted tired and SO ready to lay down and sleep! I will write more soon, but suffice to say, the sheep are home and happy and so far, so good! I don’t plan on adding any more mouths to the farm for a good while now! We have to do some more projects and improvements first… like a gas stove and a new bed for Jessy. She was promised a “big girl bed” way back when we bought the farm and she’s finally getting a nice queen mattress and foundation tomorrow… a pillow top comfy bed! It will be another week or so until she get the frame and headboard she wants, but at least the kid will be a happy camper in a nice bed! We have a few little projects that need to be completed so that will be priorities on the agenda for a week or two. That and a little REAL work too, to pay the bills! All in a day’s work!