Sunday, December 8, 2013

First snow of the season!

First winter in the Shenandoah Valley, and we're so excited  for snow! :-D The expected ice storm to follow, not so much.

 
Hay, delicious hay!
 
 
These guys aren't getting cold with that wool!

 
Mr Baxter & Chessies fat belly

 
Chessie staring down the ducks. Looks like she's been rolling in the stickers, but those will have to wait to be brushed out until after the ice storm.

 
Ducks like snow. Go figure.

 
Cuties!


Happy sheep! Haha

 
The Tobaggan!




 
wooooooo!

 
Got too cold, abandoned the boot.

 
<3

 
Passage Creek, beautiful in the snow!

 
Mr Bojangles prefers to forage

 
It's really coming down, now!
 
 
Sheep taking cover under the trampoline.

 


 
BRRRR

 
Cozy inside! <3



 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Holiday time, and newcomers!

Well, autumn has slipped by and now we're into December on our little farm. We have some new additions to our Icelandic flock. Due to a sad and freak accident, we lost out gorgeous moorit ram, Ysildur. Because breeding season isn't quite over, we found a breeder in the Shenandoah Valley and found another breeding pair to ensure spring lambs. I'm hoping beyond hope that Ysildur covered our ewes before passing away. This is our new ewe, Anukah. Fell in love the color of her wool! She's a good size and will hopefully breed this winter.

 
This is our new Ram, a 2 yr old that our sons named Thorin. He doesn't have quite the impressive set of horns as Ysildur, but he is much larger and more muscular, with a nice confirmation.  We decided to go with him for that reason.
 
 
The pair! :)
 
 
Hungry!
 
 
Anukah...LOVE  her coloring! I'm not sure what to call it. Her undercoat is very black, but the long wool almost has a magenta-brown sheen to it.
 
 
Mr. BoJangles, taking it easy.
 
 
Ysabel, most of her winter wool grown back in.
 
 
Thorin was named Sheepdog by his previous owner, partially for his mild temperament, but also for his coloring! Hah!
 
 
 
Our oldest daughter down by our creek, enjoying the late autumn colors.


 Pink pumpkin... makes the most amazing pies!

 
Virginia in late autumn, almost heaven. 
 
 
With the occasional bigfoot sighting...
 
 
Autumn baking. Chocolate chip pumpkin muffins!
 
 
Preparing pies for Thanksgiving.

 
 
One of these days I will have this old wood stove up and running to bake our pies in... 

 
Pumpkin pie from the pink pumpkin!
 

We actually had a little bit of snow on Thanksgiving weekend! And by little, I mean little. What you see, is what we got!  Hopefully we'll get a more impressive storm later in winter so that we can get out the old wooden toboggan. We have the BEST sledding hill!
 

 
We always put up our trees over Thanksgiving weekend. This is our Mt. Vernon Tree, with the ornaments we've collected so from General George Washingtons amazing estate. One of our most favorite places in all the world to visit!

 
The family decorating. <3

 
 
Saying goodbye to our daughter at the airport, as she leaves to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 
 
 
Cozy!

 
Baaa-by, it's cold outside!


For more information on our farm, please visit http://samsbillthepony.wix.com/getting-liberty#