Two Pandas Playing

The pups are starting to develop personalities now that they can see. I caught two of them wrestling the other day. One would think they would like to get that walking thing down before they started horsing around. Or maybe even grow some teeth. But before anyone could develop balance, an uncontrollable nap took control and the games were over.

Not A Fun Trip

Skid has an ear infection. He had to visit the vet today. He thought it was going to be fun until they stuck the cone in his ear and then put the medicine down it. Now he has to have stuff in his ears twice a day for two weeks. The doctor is pretty sure he'll live. Skid is not so sure but a couple of new toys would go a long way. Oh, and maybe a cookie after each treatment.

A Sad Day For Some

Yesterday was weaning day. All but 10 of the youngest lambs were separated from their mother's. There was lots of loud bleating. Nobody was happyin either pen.Lad and Drift kept everything under control.And when some desperate mother's broke out to try and return to their babies at the barn, Laddie gently but firmly put them back.We put some cozy straw in the lean-to of the barn and it seemed to take the edge off the loss for the lambs as they started to play in it.But the best balm seemed to be food. You can't keep crying if your mouth is full.

Calgon Take Me Away!

Megan loves her pups but every once in a while a Mom needs a break. Our whelping box is big enough that while the pups are blind and deaf she can escape from them by just laying down on the other side. She can be only a few feet away from them but they won't know she's there. Yesterday, Megan was having some time to herself when I noticed one pup on a mission. He was definitely on his way towards Mom. All the other pups were still oblivious to her whereabouts. I wondered about that. How did he know where she was? I had a hunch so I picked him up and saw this Sorry, Megan, it looks like your days of hiding from the pups are over!

The New Kid

We held sheepherding lessons at our farm again this weekend. It was a little cold but some had been here before. They knew what to expect and put on their Carhart jacket and got ready to work.For others, it was their first visit.
This is Pixel. Isn't she cute? She's only 7 months old and everyone loves her.

Everyone except maybe Wicca. Wicca used to be the Queen Bee but ever since the baby came, Wicca's been second fiddle. "Pixel's so cute! Pixel's so smart!" It's starting to wear on Wicca. This time She didn't think she had it in her to work her sheep so Pixel got to try it out. And guess what? She was good at it! Wicca was demoted to watching through the fence. I don't think she was all that happy about it.

If I were you Pixel, I'd watch your back.

Ghost Family

People have been asking how our family of barn cats are doing. For a while I had no idea. When it's cold we rarely see them. The cat food we put out in our workshop continues to disappear so we take that as a sign that they are still around.
But whenever the sun shines, the cats come out. They often sit and watch us while we work dogs. I always get the feeling they are judging us. Perhaps we are doing this training thing all wrong and the cats know it. After being gone for a while, Ghost has returned to take responsibility for his family, but true to his name, I still can't get a good picture of him.

Eureka!

The first one came at 2AM. Once I convinced Megan that it wasn't an alien she took to motherhood right away. 5 more followed with a total of 3 boys and 3 girls.
She and I decided that since lots of dogs are having puppies right now, we didn't want to bore everyone with another blog showing picture after picture of black and white slugs. So we'll just give you a glimpse of them now and when their eyes open and they start looking like pups we'll post more. I guess that's all she's going to let you see.