New Face in the Flock

Anyone recognize this adorable ewe?

If you follow Sabrina, you might. Yes, it's Darla Gay. Sabrina's precious love, who is quickly finding her own spot in our hearts. Thank you Sabrina!
Her fleece and nonpolled (that means she carries the trait for horns) did not fit with Sabrina's goals for her flock, so she moved northeast in Minnesota a bit. We were excited to make the drive to Boston Lake Farm to pick up this sweet girl. My boys also had a great time running around and playing with the big boys.
She is settling in well. I usually quarantine new arrivals, but do to pasturing constraints and the fact that none of my girls have had spring 'work' yet (worming, CD&T shots, hoof trimming, or shearing) I felt comfortable enough to move her in with the other ewes.
There was a bit of sniffing, and much maaing, but no severe antics. I was more distressed to look in the ram pasture and realize that Daisy has started my shearing a week early. Bright fluffs of Marshmallow's fleece are littering the pasture. You might remember that she was kicked out of the ewe pen for harassing Scar with much of the same treatment. I had hoped that the boys would be a bit more assertive and curb her nasty ways. She has toys, and lots of room to run, but loves to torment which ever sheep she has singled out. If I weren't so worried about fox and wolves (my dad just spotted one within a mile of our place) I would not feel a need for her presence.

In other flock news, we are shearing one week from today. Brian Fitzparick again has the honors. The following week brings the first possibility of lambs. Lots to do in a short amount of time to be ready. Tomorrow brings another spinning day with a local group of ladies, and I also am registered for a booth at the Iron Range Earth Fest on April 17th. Plus planting a garden and general spring farm work, but more on that later.

On the drive to Sabrina's the boys and I were discussing Darla. Isaiah could say her name well. However, when we were at Sabrina's and I asked him to tell me the name of the new sheep his response was "Mine!" We'll see how that plays out...

si