Entering the Vortex

The near nation-wide "polar vortex" has hit Western New York, and we're ready (just in the nick of time!). Mike is out of town (Florida no less), but I really wanted to get the barn completely closed up for the predicted -30 to -40 degrees and 3 feet of snow over the next two days. All the animals fare the usual elements well with our open-door barn, but this is just too extreme.

So I put my father-in-law to work! Dave is a great farm hand, and I really appreciate him bundling up this afternoon and heading out to take care of sheep. I also really appreciate Jude (my mother-in-law) for staying warm inside with Kat so I could work!

He got the black plastic weather-proofing re-stretched, and then we hung some heavy tarps. I loaded the barn up with two full bales of hay so that tomorrow all I have to do is fill up the water buckets and get back in the house! A nice, fresh layer of straw went down, and the barn was ready.

However . . . . 

Some sheep aren't all that smart.

See the snow on their faces? See the open gate behind them? They simply refused to go inside. The goat just followed me back and forth, hence the distinct lack of snow.

Shetland sheep, in particular, are very difficult to direct. They don't herd. They follow. So I got their attention and walked in. However, the tarp was proving to be an insurmountable obstacle. 

Terrifying, isn't it?

This took forever, but they finally headed in.

And llamas are smarter. They'd been enjoying the barn the whole afternoon.

At this point, I tried to edge behind them to get to the gate and close it. Wasn't going to happen. They all turned, and ran out again. I finally left to go check the mail, then went through the pasture to the back of the barn. They were all in again, and I was able to close the gate from the outside.

Everyone was finally, permanently, in. Doesn't Starr (the llama to the left) look thrilled? "Who let the stupid sheep in?"

However, sweet little Violet had been munching away the whole time, happy as a piggy. Not all sheep are stupid.

Now that the barn is all snug and cozy, we're ready to wait out the storm. I think the older kids and I will watch "Day After Tomorrow" tonight. Seems appropriate!

The Clean-Up Crew

Yesterday, Morgan and I cleaned out the whole barn and spread fresh straw. I closed up the lambing pens so that they'd stay clean until needed.

But this morning, I noticed on our lambcam that our work was being inspected by some very strict professionals . . .

Barn Expansion Update

I'll skip the typical "I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted" line that so many of us bloggers find ourselves repeating time and again. It was a nutty summer, a busy Fall, and now we're moving into winter. I'll try to catch up with summer stories during the long winter months.

But for now . . . a look at our exansion. It's coming along and will be finished in time for the first real snow!

Review (what the barn looked like):

And now . . .

That was two weekends ago--since this photo, the front has been copletely covered with plywood, but the pine tree is still laying there. The other two trees will be coming inside for us to use as Christmas trees next month.

The best part about the barn is the house door to get in. It opens directly into the animals' bedding area. So when I go out to the barn for feeding/chores, this is what I see.

Starr welcoming me into her house! It's hilarious. And she loves looking out the door to see what's going on.

The inside of the barn still has an open back wall. For this winter, we're just going to put up heavy insulation lining back there because in the spring, we'll be expanding further down again. It was silly to put up a wall just to knock it back down.

Barn Raising

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've blogged. It's been an exciting month, too! I think one of the hindrances to my blogging is all the activity in my Ravelry group: Inspiration Fibers. We're a chatty bunch over there, and the blog has been neglected.

However, as we are preparing for the arrival of our sheep and llama, I want to make sure I share it with all of you!

On Mother's Day, I finalized selecting my sheep! We'll be getting three Shetland ewes: Sparkles, Emerald and Peridot. And one ram (he's a lamb right now, and unnamed). I'm getting them from my friend Jen Johnson; her farm is Whispering Pines. They'll be ready for pick up the first week of July, so we've been working our patooties off. Well, Mike is working really hard at least!

Here they are!

Sparkles

Peridot

Emerald:

Ram

We also have a llama coming from my friend Sue's farm, The Critter Ranch. Her name is Confetti, and is pregnant! We'll be having a baby llama and lambs next spring!

Confetti

We've decided to expand the barn on the side instead of trying to adapt the main building for sheep. Currently, there are no pens inside and no convenient doors to the field.

Here's the barn (and Hunter)--

The pine trees to the left will go so that I can see the sheep better. You can barely see the posts sticking up back there.

Mike rented a post-hole digger and set the post this past weekend.

The main posts have been set for the length of the barn, but we're going to do the expansion in three phases over the next three years. For this summer, only the first third will be finished off for the four sheep and llama.

AND, Mike got the permanent corner fence posts set in the field. Not a very exciting picture, but you can see them waaaay back there.

I'll keep you posted as more work is completed. Tonight Mike and Matt are off to get the fencing rolls. I think we'll be stretching the fencing tomorrow or Friday. Due to our recent bobcat attack on our chicken coup (I told you it's been an exciting month!), the sheep pastures and barn are going to be a fortress!