Lambs are 13 days old

Frankie, now a wether (thanks, Cary and Bill) is definitely more curious, athletic, and braver of the two. He runs and pronks like a deer. When he is inside, he likes to climb the straw bale in his pen and look over his kingdom. He accidently got himself outside the fence on the pasture today, and was quite frantic until he charged through a very low hot wire when Smitty went out to save him. We don't leave them out there without supervision for this very reason.

Little black Meri is more timid and quite business like. She's cautious like her mum, Jennie.

Morning Barn Chores

This is the view from my kitchen this a.m. at 7:20 just before I bundled up to do barn chores. I am the luckiest woman in the world to be healthy and able to enjoy and contribute to my small part of the world. Just to be able to say "I'm off to do barn chores" makes me smile. Waiting for me with all their baaing, humming, and nickering are 4 horses (you can just sort of see Cord in the fence on the right), 11 alpacas, 3 kitties, and 6 BabyDoll sheep.
♥
I'm off to do barn chores. ☺

Lisa, who owes me a recipe, asked for a picture of the lambs. Thanks, Lisa, I wanted an excuse to post them. This is Maddy, an Olde English BabyDoll Southdown. Maddy's 3 months old, about the size of our Sheltie, and came with her mom Cardigan. She is supposedly weaned but we catch her occasionally going to the milk bar. I will try to get a picture of 2 month old, white Phoebe who is still in quarantine. Phoebe isn't quite as nervous as she was when we brought her home. In a week we will be able to put her with Maddy. I am so hoping that they play together.

Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep

I am totally beside myself with excitement. In the Hobby Farm magazine my husband found an article about these darling sheep. In the classifieds was an ad for a farm called The Bidlack Pasture that raises Babydoll Southdowns. And, imagine this, the farm is only about 30 minutes from here. I emailed Amy Bidlack and EEEEHAW we are going to visit this Sunday. I hope Amy doesn't mind that I lifted this picture from her website.

I have been researching this breed and there are several things that appeal to me. Number one to satisfy my fiber addiction, they have very fine wool, between 19 to 23 microns. Baby alpaca is classified as fleece below 24 microns so you can see this wool is really fine. Can't you just imagine blending these Babydolls with alpaca? Mmmmmm.

They are very small according to what I have read, between 18 and 24 inches and easy to handle. Apparently they are friendly and bond to their humans. Colors are black and white. I can just imagine these sweeties in the pasture with our alpacas. Will update after our visit.