Round-up!
Denise >
A fortnight of fierce sunshine, cold dry north-easterlies, and watering the garden every evening. Then an abrupt change in the weather: a week of sunshine and showers … and we start mowing the grass.
That’s the grass lawns and paths here in the walled garden, of course. For the croft : well, we have sheep!
At long last there’s enough sunshine, warmth and moisture for grass to grow vigorously. In just a day or two, Eriskay has been transformed into a miniature Emerald Isle! Now the sheep don’t need to be left to roam freely around Eriskay, seeking out whatever forage they can find : now there’s enough in just one of our fields to feed them comfortably.
We created Field 3 – Bothy Field three or so years ago. Jonathan himself admits that he’d seriously underestimated the escapology skills of those pesky wild shearlings. They’re a law unto themselves!
Over the past three weeks and more, J has spent most mornings – and some afternoons and evenings, too – working on improving the fencing of Field 3 – Bothy Field – to correct it’s many shortcomings, and to upgrade it to fully lamb-proof. Last weekend, I spent an evening helping him insert the final additional posts and fix the wires to them – and then clear up the tools and return them to the store. It was a glorious evening, made all the better spent working together in such wonderful scenery!
That morning, J had persuaded about half the flock to take up residence in the upgraded field … and they had even been so sweet as to stay there all day – even though they could easily escape. But now, with the fencing completed, it was time for the rest of the flock to come in from the cold. J said he’d try the same trick the following morning ; but as it was such a lovely evening, why didn’t we take a round-about walk back to the store (and the van)? We set off down the hair-pin bends of the Old Road towards Haun … and who should we meet coming the other way?
It was Flo – with her twins, leading a column of all the still free-ranging sheep, up the Old Road towards Bothy Field. All we had to do was turn back to open again the gate we’d only just closed : J went ahead, calling them into the field. I waved my arms to deflect the sheep off the Old Road and through the gate. Clever Flo!
Job done – and what a perfect end to the day!
You have to love it when a plan comes together earlier than hoped!
You’ve got to love it when a plan not fully formed comes together!
Many years ago, we had such flocks and living on a rugged, rocky ridge as you do, I can surely understand the fencing difficulties. Making a fence “lamb proof” was always the goal and NEVER was achieved!!! The little ones always managed to return to mama, so all was well. The number of coyotes was much lower in those days, along with other possible predators, so it was ok. Loved the walk-about story!!!!!
J > It’s good to have some appreciation of how much work I have to put into the fencing! Most folk have absolutely no idea that the majority of the work in keeping sheep is the fencing!
I always felt that, actually, there was no way! LOL! Most of the farms around here have historically been cattle….beef or dairy. At the time we had sheep, one of our neighbors, also, had a large flock which made it easier when we had a need for a shearer.
How very thoughtful of your sheep! And what a beautiful spot you live in!
How very helpful of Flo !