Last week we sheared the llamas. They had not been shorn in so long it was almost a new experience for them. The "baby" had never been shorn. I gave the wool a good dip in bleach water to kill any bugs and eggs and then laid it out on fences, chicken netting and empty cages to dry. The llamas, visibly taken aback at being suddenly naked, kept coming over to look at their former coats. They seemed to be trying to figure out what on earth we crazy humans were planning to do with all that wool. 

 

Meanwhile, Mabel the Marvelous Dancing Jersey Milk Cow, has finally acquiesced to breeding and is once again with calf. I think she got wind of a little conversation I had with the butcher, but it seems to have worked. Now to feed her for the next 9 months until the calf gets here and she starts giving her rich, creamy milk again. Sigh.



The llamas have proceeded to soil their new coats by rolling in the dirt. I wonder if the neighbors will do a double take when they drive by and see them without all that fluffy hair. Now I just need to get some wool cards and parts for the spinning wheel. I've got four 30 gallon bags of llama wool to clean, sort and spin.

For updates and more adventures Around the Homestead stop by the blog:  http://mrsdshomestead.blogspot.com 

For the website and to visit the Homestead store stop by:  www.mrsdshomestead.com 

We welcomed a new baby to the farm yesterday morning, a cute little dun Dexter bull calf. It might have been a chilly 22 degrees when I saw him for the first time in the pasture, but he didn't let the chilly winter weather slow him down any. He was up and movin' with his mother, and looked to be a very good eater!

Due to his chilly morning birthday we've named him Pixie's Popsicle (after his mother, Pixie), and look forward to watching him grow. He makes calf #5 on the farm right now. What a fun time for babies!

Read more about my morning, and see more photos HERE.

Thanks for checking in on the farm and me!

As always, you are invited to read more about our life on the farm.

November brought several new additions to the farm. We keep a small herd of Dexter cattle, and four of our cows delivered calves in November. I thought I would introduce you to the new members of the herd!

Pixie Stix was the first calf to be born. A big, strong healthy dun! She shows lots of independence, and is always very curious about me and the camera.

Harry was the second calf to be born in November. He needed a little encouragement to find his mama's udder, but once he learned where 24/7 snacks could be found, he was good to go.

Princess delivered her calf third, and we were so happy to see that she delivered a heifer! All of Princess's other babies have been bulls, so for her to deliver a heifer was a wonderful surprise! Princess Grace (PG for short) is the biggest and heaviest of all the calves. She will grow into a beautiful cow, just like her mother.

The fourth calf to join the farm family in November was Riblet. He is most definitely the smallest of all the calves, but he seemed to have the most spunk, right from the beginning.

Welcome to the farm little ones!

All week at work, I was like a kid waiting for school to get out for the summer.

Finally, it’s the weekend.

First order of the day ~ Luna.

Our five-day old Irish Dexter calf.

(For more information on these adorable family cows, check out the GRIT article on Dexter cattle or the Purebred Dexter Cattle Association of North America.)

Good Mama Dixie.

Finally, temps above zero.

The sun is a welcome visitor to Russ-Stick Acres.

One huge snow cone awaits.

Happy, grinning, proud Papa.

Our registered Irish Dexter bull ~ Dexter’s Double Dippin’ Dudley the Studley.

Or Dudley.

Shiny, strong, healthy, curious Luna.

We waited 9 long months for you.

Luna enjoying the sun-drenched barn.

Dixie ~ life returns to normal.

Luna spending more time with older brother, D2.

“Are you ready for me yet, Boss?” Zip in the shadows.

Visitation over.

Rustic Russ escorts D2.

Back to some quality time with his father, Dudley.

Zip wonders if she will get to herd them anytime soon.

She can only hope.

And wait.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman