tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307185572916956892026-07-21T22:16:30.400+01:00Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.comBlogger1588125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-10836244200705191732026-07-21T21:06:00.000+01:002026-07-21T21:06:00.115+01:00

Billy had his first outing of the year at Delamont Country Park. It was such a lovely day.Lots of hedges to nibble on.It had been months and months since Billy was out and about, but you wouldn't know it to look at him. He was cool as a cucumber.The special thing about this park is its fields that are often full of sheep.The "normal" sheep were confused when Billy wandered into view.He was keen

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-84747504053587006642026-07-19T22:28:00.000+01:002026-07-19T22:28:00.219+01:00

Recently, I said goodbye to Esther. It was unexpected, but I can comfort myself by knowing she had a wonderful, carefree life with her sheep friends for eight years.She was born in 2018, a young Texel/Mule. She was so tiny, and ended up coming down with E. coli which left her very weak. But she never gave up on her milk, and she lived in our kitchen for the first two weeks of her life until she

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-14354711680785581952026-07-16T18:59:00.000+01:002026-07-16T18:59:00.118+01:00

Jim had his first visit to town. I wanted to gauge his reaction to a busier environment. We walked through this park to reach the main street.Even though it was only spring, the swans were sitting ready for summer season.Geese have taken to spending time next to the river. Jim was very curious and friendly to them, but they hissed at him. He wasn't sure how to react to that!After walking on the

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-53942640642749563942026-07-14T15:33:00.000+01:002026-07-14T15:33:00.112+01:00

The day after I took Jim, Prue, Peg and Teenie out, it was the turn of four of the youngest pet lambs. There was Jewel:And her twin sister, Crystal.Susan was helping me babysit.Annie.Crystal.Bouncy Annie.The final member of the gang was Ingrid, who was clinging to me like glue.Watch out!Eventually, Ingrid plucked up the courage to wander away a little bit.It was fun taking these tiny children out.

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-29227975525275895982026-07-12T15:25:39.421+01:002026-07-12T15:25:39.682+01:00

With the way the weather was during lambing, I didn't manage to get the pets out wearing their snoods until they had almost outgrown them. A week of good weather saw me out at the first opportunity with a batch of four. Here's Teenie.Prue.I love evenings like this.Peg.Teenie.Jim was here too. He was like the more experienced expert - for the girls, this was their first time outside.Prue.Jumping

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-30462406118546705162026-06-30T14:24:51.319+01:002026-06-30T14:24:51.319+01:00

As the oldest, Ida was the first of the pet lambs to go out to the field. I was worried that she wouldn't be happy "on her own" with sheep that she didn't know, but I needn't have bothered - Ida was off grazing with everyone else within a day. I went out to see how she was doing one evening and was greeted by Kerry.Billy.And there's Ida.Billy again.Ida again.More Billy.Wee Matt wasn't to be left

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-39023855739443207382026-06-23T22:32:00.000+01:002026-06-23T22:32:00.114+01:00

Back in March, the Annesley Walled Garden and Arboretum in Castlewellan Forest Park was reopened to the public after a huge effort to restore it. I love flowers and was eager to visit to see for myself. I had to wait until April, when Jim was ready, before visiting. First we had to walk from the car park.It was Jim's first big walk out and he did very well.Before long we were at our destination.

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-52078257515310823032026-06-20T22:05:00.000+01:002026-06-20T22:05:00.113+01:00

 Billy, and even Wee Matt, last year spoiled me when it came to halter training. Jim took a lot of work to get him walking nicely. Both Billy and Wee Matt were happy enough to follow me while wearing the halter, but Jim would find himself at the end of the rope and lie down. I ended up tethering him for a few minutes before giving him his bottle of milk and within a week he was walking very

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-20316723362767664662026-06-17T18:30:36.882+01:002026-06-17T18:30:36.882+01:00

I wanted to take Ida out with one of the sweet boys (as I call them). One easy way to choose between the two of them is just to walk up to the gate and call for them both, and then whoever comes to me first gets to go for the walk. This time Wee Matt noticed me first. I was planning to use this as a halter training session for Ida, but she was very happy exploring on her own - I didn't feel like

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-78149075703791058582026-06-15T15:45:00.000+01:002026-06-15T15:45:00.116+01:00

I received the usual greeting when I visited the pets one Sunday evening - either Billy or Wee Matt leading the charge. This time it was Billy.Imelda.Ivy.  Kerry. Heidi. Billy. Ivy and Iris being very cute sisters. Kerry. Wee Matt and Billy enjoying the whins.   Iris. Ivy again - from day one, she's been very photogenic. 

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-71683518252282420252026-06-13T15:38:03.698+01:002026-06-13T15:38:03.698+01:00

I took the long lens out to take some photos of the flock at sunset. Of course as soon as I arrived in the field, everyone run to the shady spot.Out of the shade, the light was lovely.Flossie and Patricia.Bella and her two lambs.Patricia.The lamb I call permanently startled.Flossie.Martha and her lamb.These weren't quite the photos I was hoping for, but I think I got a few nice ones in the end.

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-45908265564386438532026-06-10T18:46:00.000+01:002026-06-10T18:46:00.113+01:00

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-81677958617285448192026-06-08T18:48:25.035+01:002026-06-08T18:48:25.035+01:00

The first batch of pet lambs (barring Ida and Ivan) to be treated to an evening wander were Erin, Ruby and Ilsa. The daffodils were still out when these photos were taken. Here's Erin:Ruby.It was the first time outside for these lambs. They weren't sure what to make of things at first.They felt brave enough to do some running around.Ilsa, the youngest, was a bit more clingy and would hardly leave

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-73195363412413798892026-05-28T22:07:07.391+01:002026-05-28T22:07:07.392+01:00

I love flowers but can't garden for the life of me, so when the daffodils bloom on the lane every year I am very happy to see them.Halter training for Jim started in the yard. I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce him to the daffodils.The pets wanted to join in the fun too.For being a good boy, Jim got some off halter time too.  Wee Matt really felt like he was missing out.I

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-81716884080184351782026-05-18T22:22:53.658+01:002026-05-18T22:22:53.933+01:00

Hello and welcome to my very long post about lambing - every year I fall behind with posting on here because lambing keeps me so busy, so to start with getting back on track again I'm going to condense everything that happened in the shed into the one post. There will be lambs!This lamb was an early one. I fell instantly in love with his permanently startled expression.His proud mummy.Lots of

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-38912336716395440162026-05-06T18:43:00.000+01:002026-05-06T18:43:25.458+01:00

I got a new camera lens for my birthday. I was keen to get it out to try. It's a wide-angle one, wider than I've ever had before. Billy and Ida joined me for a wee walk.The wider angle is good for selfies.And big landscapes.Ida was enjoying the freedom.I like this one because we're all in it - it's like a bonus wee puzzle to spot us.Ida did a little bit of exploring on her own.But not for

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-50421395676554146142026-05-01T22:25:00.004+01:002026-05-01T22:25:44.261+01:00

I took these photos on my birthday in early March. I was lucky that my birthday this year was one of the nicest days we'd had in 2026 so far, and of course I wanted to round off the day with a quick visit with my dearest woolly friends.Primrose and wee Ivy. In for that all-important drink.Irving.Esther's distinctive silhouette.Imelda, Astrid's ewe lamb.Ivy.Tess with the babies for size

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-80441365871750526452026-04-29T18:27:00.001+01:002026-04-29T18:27:00.127+01:00

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-36477814043490760082026-04-20T18:23:00.001+01:002026-04-20T18:23:06.549+01:00

At the end of February, after some halter training around the yard, I thought Ida was ready for a walk out and about - I know I certainly was, having kept the sheep at home during the Bluetongue scare in December, and then Dad's injury and poor weather leaving me far too busy to walk sheep anywhere in January. The weather was mild on this day, and I thought that a wee walk in Tollymore would be

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-57481201378240875432026-04-12T18:02:00.003+01:002026-04-12T18:02:39.173+01:00

Just some photos of baby Ida on a little walk. She took to the halter pretty well and is always happy to join in with whatever I'm doing.          

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-76222910707742879392026-04-09T18:56:00.001+01:002026-04-09T18:56:08.366+01:00

The seemingly endless rain that dogged us throughout January and February wasn't so endless after all - we were forecast one and a half days precipitation-free, so the lambs, two weeks old by now, were chucked out into the field. Irving, Astrid's tip lamb. Ivy, one of Primrose's girls. Even with her slightly deformed lower jaw, she's a cutie. Astrid.  Ivy is very photogenic. 

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-64289241982969049622026-04-06T21:40:00.000+01:002026-04-06T21:40:04.925+01:00

I wound up with two pet lambs from my six pet ewes. I called them Ida and Ivan. One Sunday afternoon in February, between showers that plagued us all month, I dusted off the lamb-sized snoods and took some photos of the lambs in the yard. Ida was wearing a green snood because it was my late granny's favourite colour, and Ida is named after her. Ivan was very hard to photograph - he wouldn't

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-91870051393128903432026-03-27T21:18:00.001+00:002026-03-27T21:18:23.015+00:00

The first day of February was mild and dry compared to the cold, wet slog that was January. I finally had some spare time to take Billy and Wee Matt for a short walk around sunset. It was the first walk we had of the year. After a tough winter, it was just wonderful to sit in the field with my sweet boys. It's hard to believe, but despite being the furthest travelled sheep on the farm, Billy

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-16498573564322277262026-03-05T22:19:00.002+00:002026-03-05T22:19:48.148+00:00

There's a small field where Blue Belle spends her winters, at the bottom of the Dump Field. By January this year she had it all eaten and she looked so sad (a tiny horse with a long face, I know), I took pity on her and let her join the ewe hoggets. She was so much happier to have some sheep to boss around. Her high spirits were lovely to see. One Sunday I took the camera out to get some photos

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-64879289894878758722026-02-15T11:43:00.000+00:002026-02-15T11:43:36.569+00:00

I had six ewes set to lamb early this year. Vera went first - she needed help with a big single tip on 17th January. I got them both into a pen, but Vera wasn't very interested in him and the lamb didn't make any efforts to stand. Over the next 24 hours, I kept checking on them both. Vera was a first-time mum, and she had lots of milk, but the lamb didn't stand until the following day. When he

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0