tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20307185572916956892026-10-07T22:23:00.181+01:00Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.comBlogger1612125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-51417848388834375492026-10-07T22:23:00.000+01:002026-10-07T22:23:00.176+01:00

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-31952028393540826482026-10-02T22:19:00.000+01:002026-10-02T22:19:00.171+01:00

Another evening, another visit to the pets' field. This time, everyone was divided into two groups - the ewes and their lambs at the very top of the hill, the pet lambs at the gate. Iris was highest of all, standing up on the wall.Ivy.Imelda eventually joined Iris on the wall.Tess.Billy.Imelda got a bit bored on the wall.Ida wasn't interested in the wall at all.Ivy.Rosie.Irving.Not my best photo

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-52192183762834344242026-09-29T19:28:51.995+01:002026-09-29T19:28:51.995+01:00

As has now become a very welcome tradition, I spent a ladies day at the dog show on Saturday. I went around with my camera, trying to capture some candid canines and stroking as many puppies as I could.  We went outside to catch some agility which is always enjoyable to watch. Heading back inside, we came across the parking area for Irish Wolfhounds. We caught some Afghan

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-14681541449930853772026-09-28T21:47:00.000+01:002026-09-28T21:47:00.231+01:00

The weather forecast for the afternoon was rainy, so one day in June I decided to visit the butterfly house - it was something I could do rain or shine - but when I got there, the sun was still shining. On the way to the Butterfly House, I saw some of the free roaming peacocks.When I reached the butterfly house, I ended up paying for access to the gardens as well. Still, I started in the

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-56783325675957334082026-09-26T12:45:00.000+01:002026-09-26T12:45:00.119+01:00

I had decided to take Oonagh out of the shed and into the pet flock, and that evening I went out with Susan to see how she was settling in. Astrid greeted us at the gate.As usual, Wee Matt wasn't far behind.And Billy too.Titch.The wee babies were near the bottom of the field and the last to spot us.Ingrid.Teenie.Ilsa.And there's Oonagh. She looked very happy.She was getting along with

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-34538339148406935192026-09-24T22:20:00.000+01:002026-09-24T22:20:00.202+01:00

I took Blue Belle out for a walk to visit the flock in the Potato Field.She'd been living frugally as is summer tradition, so as soon as she reached that fresh grass, she was munching away.She was still munching and making slow progress when a curious ewe came over to say hello.We eventually managed to make it to the next field.Grazing, of course, continued.The sheep in this field weren't quite

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-65423926721162427022026-09-23T19:47:00.000+01:002026-09-23T19:47:00.219+01:00

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-43639037843842492912026-09-21T12:42:00.000+01:002026-09-21T12:42:00.117+01:00

I love photographing the sheep but I do feel like I leave the dogs out sometimes. During a heatwave, I went out with the girls for a relaxing evening, watching the sunset and taking some photos. Of course, I still ended up easily distracted.I wanted to pick a nice spot.Susan and Fly played.Susan.Poppy and Susan.The sunset got a bit more intense all of a sudden.Fly was hiding.Poppy.Distant Fly.We

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-44078845367434367412026-09-19T22:13:00.000+01:002026-09-19T22:13:00.113+01:00

I went out to visit the pet lambs, recently sent out to live in the field.Prue.Cute wee Annie.Ingrid.Teenie.Jim, Ilsa and Ruby.Peg.Crystal.After greeting everyone at the gate, I decided to go for a walk around the field. Jim followed for a bit.Wee Matt was there, of course.He got a nasty nick from the clippers at clipping time, but they were healing nicely.Billy was along for the walk too.Astrid

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-55187121192781949702026-09-17T19:44:00.000+01:002026-09-17T19:44:00.112+01:00

LATE MAYI got a surprise when I went out to check on the sheep in the morning and found this tiny lamb - I thought we were all done! But mum was attentive and all seemed well, so I left them out with the flock rather than bringing them inside. The rest of the sheep were curious too.So that was the last lamb, or so I thought...LATE JUNEI got arguably an even bigger surprise when I checked on

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-21437685347039784442026-09-16T22:25:00.000+01:002026-09-16T22:25:00.213+01:00

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-32502888183481994552026-09-13T11:09:20.436+01:002026-09-13T11:09:20.437+01:00

One evening, I did my usual thing of calling for Wee Matt or Billy until one of them noticed me. This time it was Wee Matt, and I took him along with me for a wee walk.We were walking through the two fields where one of the flocks of ewes and lambs were grazing. Patricia saw us coming over and said hello. While most of this flock is normal, a few of my pet ones are in there.Everyone retreated to

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-25619462253748634752026-09-09T21:34:00.000+01:002026-09-09T21:34:00.261+01:00

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-4609197548123802432026-09-03T14:07:00.000+01:002026-09-03T14:07:00.120+01:00

The pets were still in this tiny field while their own was resting. I went back for a flying visit with the camera. This is Tess.Billy.Irving.Rosie.Billy again.Astrid's twins, Imelda and Irivng, having a conversation.Wool quality checks? Who knows?Fern.Helly.

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-33941741286440432022026-09-02T22:10:00.000+01:002026-09-02T22:10:00.130+01:00

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-60616308065978528172026-08-31T22:12:21.867+01:002026-08-31T22:12:21.868+01:00

On an unusually warm spring day, Susan and I went to check on the sheep at Bannon's Land and bring them some water. I took the camera along for a wee photoshoot.The trick with Susan is to have a ball thrower and a tennis ball.A few sheep to bookend the photoshoot.

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-19426563227999834022026-08-29T18:23:00.000+01:002026-08-29T18:23:00.172+01:00

I went to the gate with Jim and waited to be noticed by one of my sweet boys - it was Billy who spotted us and came running.It was a nice evening to walk in the Potato Fields.Wee Jim. Crazy to think that he's exactly a year older than Billy. At least it's only the one birthday to remember.Jim was enjoying the grass.The bluebells were still in bloom.This plant was bravely growing in the field

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-74750682883689539042026-08-27T15:26:00.000+01:002026-08-27T15:26:00.109+01:00

Since their field was in need of a rest, and with the men coming to clip them soon, the pets moved into the smaller field next door.Kerry. Wee Matt never far away.Tess.Primrose.Heather.Billy.Irving.Hilde.You think your hoggets are getting quite big, and then Titch stands next to them. No one's managed to grow as big as him yet.Imelda.Kerry again.Billy.Wee Matt and Kerry followed me to the

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-86078962952336927972026-08-25T22:01:03.940+01:002026-08-25T22:01:03.941+01:00

Every lambing season has its characters. This year, one of the standouts was Bonzo - named by my dad. His mum thoroughly rejected him, and then every other ewe we tried to adopt him onto rejected him as well. He didn't help himself by refusing to drink from a bottle, but Dad persisted, and eventually, he started drinking. He put back on the weight he had lost and loved following us around while

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-54346890842891395482026-08-20T13:40:00.000+01:002026-08-20T13:40:00.117+01:00

Back in May, I took Jim to Tollymore Forest Park. It was peak bluebell season, and believe it or not, I'd never been to a forest when the bluebells were out. We didn't take long to find our first bluebells - they were growing next to the car park.I usually walk along the river when I visit here, but this time I went uphill and just went looking for trees that might have bluebells growing under

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-46292473371559720852026-08-17T22:22:00.000+01:002026-08-17T22:22:00.113+01:00

One evening I spontaneously decided to take Jim for walk along a quiet coastal path.We passed some time walking back and forth along the trail.Jim was a very good boy.

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-8928319526470192932026-08-15T22:03:37.346+01:002026-08-15T22:03:37.346+01:00

To take these photos, I just went into the field, sat down with my long lens, and waited for the sheep to do something.Fudge and one of her lambs.Bonzo's sister.One of the youngest lambs."Mother!"Found her.Hazel's lambs.

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-81599898592098729092026-07-27T19:13:00.000+01:002026-07-27T19:13:00.129+01:00

I wanted to take Jim out for a wander, but then I felt sorry for leaving Wee Matt behind, so he came along too. Some tiny flowers were blooming on the verge of the lane that I wanted to get on camera. I took the wide angle with me first.I found a nice spot and sat down to enjoy the nice evening. I also switched to my handy everyday lens.Wee Matt wasn't the only one sampling the plants.Monkey see,

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2030718557291695689.post-22260577111511557392026-07-24T22:11:00.000+01:002026-07-24T22:11:00.178+01:00

The grass was getting long in the tiniest field, so we chased the flock in and closed the gate so they could concentrate on eating that good grass. I went to visit them with my zoom lens.I got distracted outside the gate there, but I'm in the field proper now. I just sat down and waited to see what photo opportunities would present themselves.Flossie and who I think is her lamb.Gertie.And her

Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17993614760240750546noreply@blogger.com0tag: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.com0