Pushing sheep on a wet morning

Abundance

You have been heard.

Two unrelated (as in you don't know each other) comments in one day. I hear you. I get it. I have been a COMPLETE slacker when it comes to the blog. 

There are a variety of excuses...but at the end of the day, that's all they are. To be honest, I've started to feel the blogging "itch" again over the past few days. 

So here I am, and I promise to get back on the horse, so to speak. I'm not sure if I'll start with a "catch up", or if I'll just go from ground zero, but I'm back...and as you can see in the following shot...I'm happy to be here!

Oh, and here's a picture of me on said horse. 

Lambing is done!

FLK 354T with her triplets, plus a bit of extended family - taken a few days ago before we got yet another 6 inches of snow, in what may be the longest winter...ever.

As of about 10:30 PM last night, lambing is finished. Many thanks to the last two girls who chose to lamb at the same time and leave me with a celebratory full night's sleep! 

This year we started very cold (lows of -27) and finished with more cold and snow and wind.  I added a couple more "never want to see that again" happenings to my list of "sheep experience", but was also amazed at how hardy these animals really are. A good mom sure can take great care of her family.

It's early days, but so far I'm really pleased with both of the new rams I purchased last year. I'm looking forward to watching their offspring grow up this summer. Thanks Janice and Holly.

Now comes the fun part - lazy afternoons and evening lamb races!

Happy Easter!

Today is Ben's Birthday

and I knew JUST what to get him...

12 new Katahdins - Happy Birthday Benny!

Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink

It doesn't matter which direction you're pointed around here - all you see is snow. 

We're swimming in it...

and these girls are due to start lambing next week. How foolish of me. Note to self: Start lambing April 1st next year.

And now for something completely different

Ferocious!

Ralph attempting his "I'm a natural born killer." look. 

Very Scary....VERY scary indeed.

I've said it before, I'll say it again.

Border collies are so hard to live. 

Such hyper things.

He's a lover, not a fighter.

If you can't beat them, join them.

My name is Lisa and I am addicted to working dogs...except that it has been NINE days since I've worked one.

Just 16 days ago, I was pretty cocky with my "Where there's a will, there's a way." story. 

We've had at least another foot of snow since then.

So now I've gone from wheretheresawilltheresaway to ifyoucantbeatthemjointhem.  

Instead of fighting winter, we will embrace it!

The dogs and I will spend the rest of the winter hanging out in the back yard, playing with friends. 

As back yards go, we could be a lot worse off... 


Almost all of the pictures (think any of the really good ones) were taking by Jennifer McCaffery - thanks again!

Together again

Gyp's been in season, so needless to say there's been a bit of "separation anxiety" in the house. Hers for being locked out in purgatory (her run), and the boys at NOT being locked out in purgatory (her run).  2 young boys and a girl in heat - reminds me why I had Kate spayed! 

Given that I am definitely getting lazier as I get older, it was very nice to finally be able to run everyone together again today. We hit the trails and the dogs definitely were more interested in having a great run together more than anything else. Looks like we're back to our normal routine!

Where there's a will, there's a way.

The snow came early this year and it has definitely stuck around. I told Travis just last week that I figured I'd give Gyp a break till spring because the footing just wasn't great for me to be chasing a young dog around. 

Anyone who knows me knows I"m not great at taking breaks....so we dug out the round pen, first with the quad and a shovel, and then this week - when I couldn't get the quad into the round pen for all of the snow sitting outside of it - I dug it out again by hand. Flint and I in the meantime were working in a tiny packed area in the bigger pen. 

Fact of the matter is, the footing was no good anywhere. So...a little bartering with a good neighbour down the road...

and Voila!! a new training field.  

The guardian dogs love the new play ground I've given them,

and Ralph quickly took advantage of the new views.

and I took advantage of his distraction to get some shots at of him walking past me at eye level.  You can never have too many guardian dog pup pictures!

Proof that Flint can lie down. 

Proof that I shouldn't try to take pictures and work Flint at the same time. 

Here's to wide open spaces! 

Coming along

 Flint isn't the only one coming along in his training...

Finn

Amigo

and Lexi all had a "2 steps forward" kind of day.  

A great start to a Happy New Year.