Moving forward

So, the Shetlands are at their new homes. 14 rams, some lambs and some mature, had to be sent to the market. Thanks to the wonderful Shetland breeders, all of my ewes and a huge amount of my rams have found wonderful homes throughout Canada.

I have moved and started a new life in Edmonton, AB. I still have 40 of this years fleeces and have decided to keep the majority of them for my own use. I have two jobs, one part time and one casual both in my field of dentistry. I am a registered dental assistant and found it quite easy to find work here.

What's next? Who knows, but it is less stressful and lovely here in the city. My main blog, Windy Grange, will become my fibre arts blog. I am going to be taking some spinning courses, continue my research on ancient textiles and work on reproducing them by spinning and weaving reproduction textiles of my own. There is also tablet weaving to study and reproduce too!!

I am going to work on felted characters. A friend has also offered to teach me how to knit, although I know the basics, I cannot follow a pattern well.

So many projects, so little time!!

Thanks for your support!! Check in from time to time and see what fibre fun is on the plate.

Rams - Mature and 2010 lambs Still Available

Hi Folks!!

Thank you for the outstanding response to my sale. We have sold all of our ewes, but have many mature and 2010 ram lambs still available. They would make incredible flock sires. Please contact me for listings!

Summer Solstice

Today is the summer solstice and I think it may rain! I cannot complain, the past few days have been hot, hot, hot!! We NEED the rain, it is dry and the pasture will not continue to grow without more moisture!! I still have sheep to feed for heavens sake!! :0)

We still have 30 sheep left to sell. Prices are marked low so there are no further discounts or horn guarantees. Pictures are on my sales blog (link on the right) or by request. Here is the sales list:

Mature Ewes:

Windy Grange Annika – S 30286
Fibre Works Isidor x Fibre Works Falerno
April 29/2008 Black Iset $200

WillowGarden Alexa – S 28253
Branble Nick x Great Plains Sara
May 4/2008 White $250

Fibre Works Fiat – S 19010
Great Plains Maximmlian x Fibre Works Sundae
May 7/2004 Grey Katmoget $200

SOLD
Fibre Works ISP – S 25422
Fibre Works Fandango x Fibre Works Gefion
April 27/2007 Black Flecket $250

SOLD
Fibre Works Kallisto – S 304881
Fibre Works Hasan x Nier Lakes Celeste
April 27/2009 Grey $250

Mature Rams:

WillowGarden Rex Harrison – S 18040
ShltrgPine Jacob Two Too x SheltrgPines Safiye
June 7/2004 Black/White Yuglet/Flecket $250

Fibre Works Isidor – S 25420
Fibre Works Finis x Fibre works Signy
May 2/2007 White $250

Fibre Work Indiana Jones – S 25421
Fibre Works Fandango x Fibre Works Daisy
April 20/2007 grey Katmoget $250

Nier Lakes Emmet – S 28304
WillowGarden Duke of York x Nier Lakes Emmy-Lou
May 9/2005 Black flecket $250

Windy Grange Apollo – S 30285
WillowGarden Rex Harrison x Fibre Works ISP “Issy”
April 23/2008 White Ilget $250

Windy Grange Blance –
Fibre Works Isidor x Fibre Works Fonteyn
May 4/2009 White $250

Windy Grange Bo - Fibre Works Isidor x Fibre Works Eureka
May 6/2009 White $250

Windy Grange Benji –
Fibre Works Falerno x Whistlestop 0531 AI
May 7/2009 Black $250

Windy Grange Brone –
Fibre Works Highwood x Whistlestop 0531 AI
May 8/2009 Mioget $250


2010 Lamb Ewes:

Windy Grange Caramel –
WillowGarden Rex Harrison x Fibre Works Easter
Twin Moorit Bleset $250

Windy Grange Ceallach –
WillowGarden Rex Harrison x Fibre Works Easter
Twin Musket Krunet/Bielset$250

Windy Grange Cora –
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works Fiat
Quad Grey Katmoget $250

Windy Grange Camilla
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works Eureka
Twin Black Krunet/Bleset $250

Windy Grange Christoff –
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works ISP
Twin Black Smirslet

Windy Grange Chica –
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works Highwood
Twin White/Black Yuglet/Flecket $250

Windy Grange Cappicino
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works Falerno
Twin Moorit Slight Krunet $250

Windy Grange Cass –
Nier Lakes Emmet x WillowGarden Adella
Twin Moorit Flecket/Yulget $250

2010 Lamb Rams:

Windy Grange Coal –
WillowGarden Rex Harrison x Windy Grange Annika
Twin Black krunet $150

Windy Grange Coco –
WillowGarden Rex Harrison x Windy Grange Annika
Twin Black krunet $150

Windy Grange Ciara –
WillowGarden Alexa x Windy Grange Apollo
Single Black Bleset $150

Windy Grange Chaucer
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works Fiat
Quad Black/White Flecket/Yuglet/Sokket $150

Windy Grange Calli Lilli –
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works ISP
Twin Black/White Flecket/Yuglet $150

Windy Grange Circee –
Nier Lakes Emmet x WillowGarden Adella
Twin Black Yulget/Sokket (Flecket?) $150

Windy Grange Chico –
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works Highwood
Twin White/Black Yuglet/Flecket $150

Windy Grange Caper –
Nier Lakes Emmet x Fibre Works Falerno
Twin Black Krunet $150

Sales List is complete

I would first like that thank everyone that has sent me such kind and supportive messages. Disbursing a flock of beloved Shetlands is not an easy task in so many ways!!

I have a complete sales list of all our Shetlands and it is available to anyone wanting to peruse it. Please contact me at vfoster@xplornet.com and I will send it to you.

Again, thank you for your support!

Vicki

So, it is at hand ....

I sadly have to announce that I must disperse the flock. I am moving and I cannot take any of them with me. :-(

If you know of ANYONE wanting Shetland breeding stock, please have them contact me. I have only had my Shetlands for 3 years, but have worked hard at having breed standard animals with beautiful fleeces.

Of course, I'll be keeping more of my fleeces than I expected, but at least I will have something of my lovely Shetlands.

I will be reducing the prices and all the animals listed on my breeding stock blog will become available as the person who was going to purchase them neglected to send a deposit and has since stop all communication. If you wonder, just look at Bill Stearman's blog for more details. I knew it seemed too good to be true, but in this case I was hopeful.

I will post pictures of all the mature Shetlands in the next day or so.

Lambs staying on our Farm!!

These are the 7 lambs that are staying on the farm - for now. I may change my mind later, but I want to observe their growth and colouring. I love the lambs, but hate making these decisions!!!

Enjoy the "eye candy" aka enjoy the lambs......

Windy Grange Ceallach
Dam: Fibre Works Easter
Sire: Willow Garden Rex Harrison

I cannot decide if she is Moorit or Musket. She has a blueish-grey tinge
to her fleece. I will have to do more investigating when I tag the lambs.
Edit: I am leaning toward Musket - she does have a mixture of white/brown fibres
coming when you look at the entire lock structure!

Windy Grange Conn
Dam: Nier Lakes 315405977 AI "Baker"
Sire: Nier Lakes Emmet

This ram lamb is unique. We are unsure if he just has excess phaeomelain
or if he will stay "calico". We will wait and see. He is nearly 4 weeks old and
is not fading much at all!!

This is one of the quadruplets, Windy Grange Cookies & Cream.
Dam: Fibre Works Fiat
Sire: Nier Lakes Emmet
Sale pending

Windy Grange Cappicino
Dam: Fibre Works Falerno
Sire: Nier Lakes Emmet

The deal fell through on this gal who I thought was sold. She has a beautiful, very even crimp and her markings, Moorit spotted Gulmoget, is so unique that I just have to keep her!!!

Windy Grange Cairo
Dam: Willow Garden Anu
Sire: Windy Grange Apollo

Windy Grange Caoilinn
Dam: Willow Garden Aelwen *Sale Pending*
Sire: Windy Grange Apollo
I love her even crimp and her grey colouring. I am
unsure if she will stay spotted or not, but I do not care.
She is yummy to the eye and to the hand! :)
*Sale Pending*

Windy Grange Cass
Dam: Willow Garden Adella
Sire: Nier Lakes Emmet

She is moorit and white with very few spots. Fleckett?? hmmm,
I will have to look into her markings. Yuglet for sure!

April Snowstorms brings .....

May Snowstorms!?!??!???

Well, it is our May long weekend - Victoria Day is Monday. We are notorious for wild weather this time of the year. We have had drought conditions for some time now and happily we have been getting much needed rain the past few days. Well, 24 hours of rain, some low pressure and cold conditions and what blew??? .... SNOW!!!

This shepherd does not care much what kind of moisture we get, we need it or the pasture will only be usable once. The ewes, rams and lambs??? well they are so not impressed! They are hiding in the shelters or near a fence, not wanting to move!! They finally got up to eat around 6 pm, I guess they figured they could wait out the storm?? Didn't think so!!!

I really wanted to tag, vaccinate, trim toes, etc. this long weekend but that will have to wait. I can finish some spinning and the tons of paperwork that has been waiting to be finished on a "rainy" day!

Apparently Bear, our black lab, doesn't think the weather, or I am, so funny!

Lambing Season was fast and furious!!

Lambing Season 2010 is complete!! It feels like it just started, what happened? I'm not even sure who hasn't been posted here yet. I do have pictures of 2010 sales lambs on my sales blog, check them out!!

Fibre Works Highwood (Nier Lakes Emmet) gave me lovely twins again this year. Surprisingly, they are black/white NOT Moorit or Mioget, which she usually produces. The black is pure black, so I doubt they are going to lighten up to Moorit!! WOW!!!

Ram lamb

Highwood with her ewe lamb

My favorite twins are Willow Garden Anu (Nier Lakes Emmet) ram and ewe lambs. I am not sure, but I think they are gulmoget, like their mom, but look at the face markings!! What would you call them????

Dark Moorit Ram Lamb

Moorit Ewe lamb

Their fleece is very even throughout!!

Fibre Works ISP "Issy" has twins!

Are they not cute???

Closeup of her ram lamb, look at those spot!!!

And ....

here is what happens when lambs get into things they should not
be getting into .....

;-)

More lambs...

We have had a run on lambs. I will post when I get a chance to catch my breath!!! :)

Happy lambing!!!

Orphaned and Re-adopted

This poor wee guy either was sent packing or wandered off again, only to be re-adopted by Issy (Fibre Works ISP). Issy had twins this morning, although I thought it was triplets until I dipped and found this guy was not a new born. He was already suckling, so I just thought he was 1st born. His markings were very familiar to me, although I have had a lot of black krunet lambs this year, I was suspicious. Lo and behold, his last adoptive mom only had two and was not looking for the wee guy. So, for now he is with Issy, although she is not so sure of him.

I have a friend looking for a bummer ram lamb, so if she visits the farm today I think I may send him with her. We have only 2 more ewes to lamb and I am sure they will both have twins. At least this sweetheart has had a good start to life and will be very spoiled at her farm. We will see what unfolds .... for now, he is with Issy.

EDIT: The poor little guy has been rejected yet again! He will be living at my g-friends farm where he will have lots of love and they encourage friendly animals of all sorts - cautiously friendly that is! ;0)

I guess all stories need happy endings, even if they are not the ending we intended!

Quad Update

The quads are doing very well. Fibre Works Fiat is keeping them well fed and attended to. They refuse supplemental feedings and, well, they usually have full bellies anytime I went to check to see if I needed to supplement. They are all thriving and join in the lamb races. Good job Fiat!!

Speaking of lamb races ...

Yet more lambs!

While my ewes have been busy lambing, I have been busy fighting a sinus infection. I dislike being sick and this sinus infection is kicking my butt! Well, on to more fun things like LAMBS!!

Another two sets of twins!!

Milehaus Clare had a lovely set of twins, but ...

her second born ram lamb wandered off and when we got the three of them into a jug, Clare decided he was not hers and we could not make her have him. So, we have a bottle lamb....

But ...

Willow Garden Adella had a set of twins (ram and ewe lambs)



later that day and
I whisked the abandoned ram lamb into the barn, smothered him in her
fluids, set him behind her and ...

Adella now has triplets!! She is an awesome first time mom
and is attentive to all three!

Winter, summer, spring, back to winter and now moving into spring!!!

The weather here has been amazingly crazy. Winter settles down and SUMMER kicked in!! We had a few weeks of 20c + weather! I am sure the sheared Shetlands were mighty happy they did not have to freeze without their coats. Then, normal spring time weather showed up. Not so bad, 10c + type weather, great lambing weather! Well, next comes winter (again)!! This was what I woke up to a few days ago.

I am NOT complaining too loudly, my fellow shepherds in southern Alberta had a worse time of the springtime wintry blizzard. I thought for sure we would have some lambs, but the ewes held tight.

Last night was the coldest night we had in a month and a half, -10c. Well, when I went out for the 6am check & feeding I found an adorable set of twins.

Fibre Works Highwood gave me these wonderful black/white spotted lambs, one ewe (left) and on ram (left). They were mighty cold, the ram lambs back legs were icy and stiff. He was born last as he was very wet still when I found them. Both of their umbilical cords were starting to freeze. Into the barn and under the heat lamp they went!! Towel dry for the two and some hay & water for mom and all are doing well.

Then, this afternoon while I was at work, my husband found these two lovely ram lambs.

Windy Grange Annika, a first timer, had these two black krunet ram lambs. They have lovely wool and will both be for sale.

Just over half done lambing now - 6 more to go!!

I, unfortunately, want to be out with the lambs more but have just discovered that I have a sinus infection. No wonder the left side of my face wants to blow up!!

Colour Genetics

So, I will admit that I understand the very basics of colour genetics. This year I admit that I'm stumped with some of the wonderful spotted and katmoget patterns I am seeing. I did not use a katmoget ram in the breeding program and there is absolutely no way he had a chance to breed.

If you have any advice, suggestions or can just outright "splain it to me", please do!!

There, I've said it outloud for everyone to witness.

So, back to the books & pedigrees .....

One more ...

Today, Willow Garden Aelwyn gave us a beautiful ewe lamb. The eveness of her fleece is amazing! Look at that lovely pink nose! :)

Hold on to your hats ...

Hold on to your hats folks, today has been a whirlwind!! It's rained on and off all day, but the certainly hasn't interfered with lambing.Two more sets of twins this evening with another (or 2) in some stage of labour (not hard labour but ...)!!

This big boy is going to be special!! Very even crimp throughout ... mmmmmm...
His mom, Nier Lakes 315405977 AI aka "Baker" (because she is originally one of Kathy Baker's)
and his Sire is our very first born lamb, Windy Grange Apollo.

This little guy loves to play "peek a boo" under his mom!! He is much smaller than the
first and where in the world did the Katmoget markings come from?? My only Katmoget
ram was tightly put away from all the ewes until WAY after breeding season!! Can they breed through plywood?? Could it be possible to have the Katmoget gene from the rams background "pop" out at any time??? Must I do DNA testing?? Very confused with the genetics at this point.

These two are from Whoopi, my Gotland/Finn/Shetland ewe. I love this X-breed's wool (~6" staple with a lovely loose crimp) !! The black is a ram and the moorit is a ewe.

Thus the lamb count is 12, 5 rams and 7 ewe lambs. Come on gals, we need more ewe lambs!!!

Good Morning, two sets of twins .....

Good Morning Wednesday!! Today was the day that "Bob", the butcher, came to visit at our farm. When we awoke to make ready for "Bob", I discovered not one but TWO sets of twins!! The twins were sharing moms for feeding, which was confusing to the moms and to us. Luckily, I could tell one set was "older" than the others (already dry compared to very wet), so I separated the older twin and mom and everyone is bonding well.

This is the older set of twin from Fibre Works Easter, two ewe lambs!

These two are from Fibre Works Falerno, one ram lamb (black, left) and one ewe lamb (moorit, right).

Lamb count for Windy Grange is 8 lambs from 3 ewes, 6 ewe lambs and 2 ram lambs! Could this be the year of the ewe??? {{fingers crossed}}

Quadruplets!

More pictures of our quadruplets! Fibre Works Fiat and her lovely 3 ewe and 1 ram lambs.

This little ewe lamb has droopy ears, but that is all that is wrong with this little fighter. She was probably one of the weakest (we had 2 larger and 2 smaller lambs) ewe lambs, but certainly not to be under estimated. Once she warmed up under the heat lamp (thus the reddish tint to the pictures) and got her fill of colostrum, she is every bit as feisty as her siblings. Her only brother is a cutie! Lovely and soft as corn starch wool and his colouring is so adorable. He is one of the larger lambs.

Here the brown/white "droopy" eared ewe lamb decides to explore the jug with her sister.

Another ewe lamb from the same group. Where did she come from?? Her sire is black/white. This gal is a looker, also one of the smaller of the 4 lambs, but just as rambunctious as the rest!

"Are you talking about me??
I know I'm a looker, just wait until I'm older!"

Oh, never mind, I just need another drink ... so thirsty!!!

Fibre Works Fiat is an excellent mom. She raised triplets last year and surprised us with the quads this year. She is not impressed that I try to bring supplemental bottles to her lambs. She consistently makes sure all 4 of her lambs get their time to feed.

I still introduce the bottles to the lambs ... just in case ....

Lambing 2010 has begun!!!

When it rains, it pours - but today the flood gates are wide open!! Lambing has begun at the Windy Grange today with Fibre Works Fiat (Nier Lakes Emmet) blessing us with QUADS!! Yes, 3 ewe lambs and 1 ram lamb!! Our first set of quads!! What a way to start!!

Three of the quads - 2 ewes & 1 ram lamb

This little gal was 3rd born, but seems to be the smallest. Her ears are a bit droopy and she was chilled. She wasn't sucking well, so we drenched with mom's colostrum and put here, her siblings, and mom into a large sized jug with a heat lamp for warmth. Her ears are still droopy, but I've seen her nurse since she had the colostrum. She is lying under the heat lamp on her own, but I have seen her "frolic" and follow her siblings to mom. I will keep an eye on her, I just hope I am not missing anything.

Well, there it is. We started 2010 lambing with a BANG!!

Fleeces, Shearing, and dogs - but NO lambs.

Shearing day has come and gone, it was a whirlwind of a day. Many thanks to my friends who came over to lend a hand since my husband was not able to be home to help. New shearers (there were two going at the same time!) this year who sheared 44 Shetlands, 3 Gotland/Finn/Shetlands, 1 Suffolk mix, 2 Romney mix and two llamas! WOW!

I was going to start skirting my fleeces this past Wednesday, which was my day off of work (I am a dental assistant working extra hours to cover for a co-worker who had surgery) BUT the wind had another idea for me. I like to skirt outside, much tidier that way AND it gives me the opportunity to sit with my pregnant ewes to observe and give them much love during the day.

My dog, Bear, a lovely lab/Pyrenees mix, earned his keep yet again! He laid chase to a sneaky fox who was either investigating the sheep pens OR looking for the barn cats. Regardless, Bear is keeping an eye on such matters!!

This is Floppy, a young female llama who joined our flock (herd) last fall. She is named for her ridiculous ears that have not developed properly and "flop" all the time. She is mighty happy that she was not one of the chosen llamas for shearing this year.

Well, time for work at "work". Perhaps this weekend there will be skirting, and maybe lambs!??!?!?!?! Here is to hoping anyhow.

Waiting ....

Waiting for 2010 lambs ... and waiting ... and waiting!! Actually, only one small breeding group is due anytime now, the rest another week or so ... but still waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting .... *le sigh*

Some better news

So, the good news is that I do not have to have a complete flock dispersment, but I do need to have a HUGE reduction! Please visit our Sale Blog for complete list of sheep available, for now, here are some of the rams available. (I'll post the ewes in a day or so!)

Windy Grange Benji
Whistlestop 0531 AI S19837 x Fibre Works Falerno
2009 ram lamb Black (twin)
Do you need a black ram for your flock sire??
Benji has his fathers looks and genetics - from UK & Washington State!!
Intermediate fleece, great confirmation,
really nice horn structure and great confirmation.
I really would hate to see him leave, but I
cannot keep them all.

Windy Grange (unnamed)
Fibre Works Indiana Jones x Mtn Niche Heidi
Heidi gave me triplets on her last
year of lambing. She is now happily hanging out
her last years on the farm.
This 2009 Moorit ram lamb is all that his father is and more
(mom has genetics from Washington State)!!!
He may be on the smaller side (he and his siblings are quickly
catching up!) but he is full of win! Great confirmation,
great intermediate fleece, great horns. What more
could anyone ask for as a flock sire??
I will not cry if he has to stay, and that is no lie!!

Windy Grange Blance
White twin 2009 ram lamb
Fibre Works Isidor x Fibre Works Falerno
This guy has a beautiful intermediate fleece,
great horns & confirmation!
If you are looking for a white sire, he's one of
two you can choose.

(Fibre Works (unnamed) 2009 ram lamb could be available,
send me a message for more details)

Windy Grange Brone
Mioget 2009 ram lamb (twin)
Great horns, dynamite fleece (~3"),
great confirmation, nice temperament, good confirmation.
He would be a great addition to any flock as their sire.

Windy Grange Bo
Fibre Works Isidor x Fibre Works Eureka
2009 ram lam White (twin)
Bo has a beautiful intermediate fleece,
good horns and confirmation!
If you are looking for a white sire, he's one of
two you can choose.

Fibre Works Isidor S25420
Fibre Works Finis X Fibre Works Signy
White ram
Beautiful intermediate fleece, proven flock sire.
Nice horns, great temperament.

Willow Gardens Rex Harrison S18040
Black/White Yuglet/Flecket
SheltrgPines Jacob Two Too x SheltrgPines Safiye
Great genetics, intermediate fleece, proven flock sire.
Good horns, good temperament.
Rex would be a great addition
to any flock!!

(shown with Fibre Works Indiana Jones S25421)

Windy Grange Biend
Single, Grey Katmoget
Fibre Works Indiana Jones x Nier Lakes 315405977 AI
This 2009 lamb ram is all that his father, Fibre Works Indiana Jones S25421, is!
He would be a great addition to any flock. Intermediate fleece,
great horns, good temperament, great confirmation!