We drove to Vernal over the weekend to pick up the last of my flock of Navajo-Churro sheep. It was a long day, with over 8 hours of driving, but lovely visits with the owners of Ovie Ranch and Matt's aunt who lives in town. We are fortunate to now have more 4-horn ewes and rams than we have 2-horns. All of our animals have beautiful wool - and we now have a full range of colors - black, silver/grey, brown, red, and white.
This new batch of lambs integrated more quickly (and thankfully, more quietly) than the lambs we brought home to add to the flock last weekend. We put the ewes and the lambs out to graze on Sunday morning. Our big ram, T'chin'dii, immediately bashed through a gate (which was also incidentally chained closed). We managed to keep everyone apart and he had to go in "time out" in the barn. They don't call them "rams" for nothing, and the more girls we get, the more anxious he is to be in with them. But he will have to be patient - we don't want lambs in the middle of winter!
On our way to Vernal, we drove through Wyoming, past the windmill "farms." The drive was beautiful as always. I love living in the Southwest; I can't imagine living anywhere else. Especially during the arid summer months when the four corners area is dry and hot, and the red rock formations look like giant wild castles against a turquoise sky.
We had a calf due on Saturday; just like human babies, they come when they are good and ready, which is usually when you are not ready. Last year, this cow was almost 5 days past her due date, so we won't get worried until we get past the end of this week.
I had great plans on Sunday to putter around the house, work on a rug in-progress, wash some of this year's churro wool, make cookies and relax. We ended up baling hay because the weather has been so hot that the hay is dry within just hours of cutting. I did "combat" house cleaning instead and moved birds around to accommodate the bobwhites that are brooding in the house. The most disappointing part - no cookies!
3 comments:
I can just imagine something woven with all that beautiful natural wool from your sheep. what is the advantage of having four horned ones?
Can't wait to see what you make from all the fiber!
You make the southwest seem almost bearable (but the heat is too much for me), and certainly beautiful.
My partner's family is in southern Idaho so we get to see the windmills and vistas you show and describe. It is really beautiful and the windmills give me hope for lots of clean energy in the near future.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you make with the wool.
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