Cooling Down - Finally!

Over 100 Degrees In The Shade!

Today things finally started to cool down at Wild Rose Farm.  Yesterday temperatures were over 100 here.  Yesterday we took a day trip to Maryland to visit family and temps hit 104 & 106 according to the truck during our afternoon drive home!  Of course before we left, we made sure that the sheep & dogs had plenty of water, but you still worry even though they have access to shade.  Funny that 88 degrees this afternoon seemed "cool".   We have some lambs that have been sold, but we didn't want to move them for the last week.  We had to avoid causing any heat stress & they'll go to a new farm this week. 

Who Me?

You Talking About Me? 

Today was "Donkey Day" at Wild Rose Farm.  The vet came to give Glenda her annual shots, so she was the center of attention.  First we put on her halter & led her to the barn paddock.  Then she got her shots and was admired by the equine vet ...... a good tempered, healthy donkey.  Next she went willingly over to the pasture where the new barn is being finished.   She quickly became a helper donkey, watching all of the action.  After anything of interest was supposedly put into the wagon & out of the way, Mr. WRF turned to see Glenda walking behind him carrying the red box of 16 penny nails!  A shout of "HEY!" and she put it down, amazingly not dropping or flinging it. That would have been a mess .......

The Enticing Box Of Nails - Off Limits To Donkeys!

The contents of the new barn had to be put under protective custody ...... mission accomplished by nailing a 2 x 4 across the doorway.  The picture below from this evening says it all.  It was enough to keep out a designing donkey!

Disappointed Donkey .......

So Hot For June!

Lambs In The Shade of a Round Bale!

Today is the last day of June and it felt like July or August.  Everyone except Glenda headed for whatever patch of shade that they could find this week.  It was around 100 degrees early in the week, but "only" in the low 90's this afternoon when these pictures were taken.   The sheep moved around a little as we placed fresh round bales out for them.  As soon as the bales were in place and the novelty wore off (!), this group of lambs settled down in the shade. 

Time For Some Water!

Another group of ewes & lambs headed for the water tank ..... they drink and then they stand around before deciding to run off for some shade.  We use a small stock tank off to the side so that the lambs can always reach water.  Then it's off to the shade of the maple trees below ......

Now Off To Some Shade .....

Of course, at this point, the patch of shade below is a little crowded and eventually a group will wander off and find a better spot along the bottom of the fenceline.  Sheep aren't always the smartest things!  :)

Rambouillet #405 - Not Quite In The Shade Yet!

What Wild Rose Farm really needs is some rain  ..... it's very dry & the water tanks are slowing down.  Yes, that's it ..... we need some rain to cool things off here.  We still have July & August coming!

While I Was Away .....

Site Prep Earlier In May

There has been a lot of business travel lately for your Wild Rose Farm scribe ....... Last week, while I was enjoying what turned out to be cooler weather in Houston (!) than in Western PA, our new building quickly took shape.  We have been posting pictures of the clearing, firewood, & cherrywood boards since last fall, so here's a look at the site prep & the pole building.

Poles Set & Framing Underway

Setting the poles & doing the framing only took a couple of days.  Then the trusses were delivered & set up the next day. 

Trusses Set & Braced

I'll be traveling again next week, but it will only take a day to put the finishing touches on the roof & this part of the job will be done.  We need to decide how to do some trim work & louvers ..... they're both functional & decorative.  I'll be looking for some inspiration in barn books this weekend.

Roofing With Drip Edge & Overhang

Pasture Scenes

Ewes & Lambs in the Front Paddock

There's not much going on right now at Wild Rose Farm ...... the ewes and lambs are out on pasture.  We brought them all up to the barn yesterday to look them over and do some de-worming.  Now is a critical time to keep an eye on the lambs & make sure that they are ok.  We have several ewe lambs already spoken for and we need to pick out some of the best ones to offer to our customers!   We've already decided to keep one x-bred ewe lamb & one Rambouillet ewe lamb that were born as triplets as replacements for our own flock.

"Trimming" Along The Stream Bank

Neighborhood Haymaking Goes On!

Right Across The Road From Wild Rose Farm!

It was yet another good week for haymaking around Wild Rose Farm.  We picked up more round bales and almost filled the barn this week.  Our neighboring farms have fields of hay that have just been baled and now this field directly across the road from us was cut this afternoon. 

An Ocean Of Hay .....

While right across the road, these WRF sheep moved over closer to the house to graze in the shade.  They had a brief moment of freedom today when "someone" forgot to close the gate to their pasture. Thank goodness the whole kennel started barking ...... usually that means someone is coming down the driveway, but this time it meant that the sheep were wandering up the driveway toward the barn!  A bucket of grain quickly enticed them back to their paddock.

U And Friends Grazing In The Shade.

Wild Rose Farm Rainbow!

Look Closely For The Rainbow!

What a change from the heat last weekend ..... the high temps were just barely into the 70's here on the weekend.  It was jacket weather in the morning.  We also got some much needed rain, but not as heavy as some communities in the area.  We got sprinkled on coming back from the field after moving the sheep, but the downpour later produced a faint rainbow.

After The Cloudburst ....

Looks Like A Good Year For Blueberries!

I've been noticing the wild black raspberries & blackberries lately.  If we get enough rain, there should be a good crop .... and here are our blueberry bushes.  Just two of them, but they are loaded.  Time to put a cover on them to save them from the birds!