October moments

Brownie

View from the Sitheans into Calgary Bay 

Stormy October skies 

and then a wonderful October sunset 

Bringing in the Herdwicks

New Blackface tups 

Henhouse with Caliach Point and Rum in the distance 

Sunset over Rum 

Moving the cows

Walter and Nyje

Sunset over the Shepherd's Hut

Sunset over the sea with Cairns of Coll and Canna in the distance 

Our egg layers 

Caliach Point 

Ready for work 

A trip down to Fionnphort.  First stop - Eas Fors. 

Pennyghael house call. (he was looking in the window at a man looking out at him)

A windy walk at Ardalanish.  Golden and Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Oyster catchers and Whooper swans.  On the way down we saw a Hen harrier, on the way back we saw a White tailed eagle. 

Sorting out the Herdwick hoggs over at the Ensay Fank. 

Foot treatment 

And lovely afternoon light on Loch na Keal 

 

February days - sheep work

 

Before the storm

The forecast is for a storm coming in tonight.  It has been grey and windy all day, but not wildly so.

We have had some dry and relatively calm weather.   It makes such a difference for Farmer when he is outside working.

The hill sheep are all still in the fields.  A new set of tups went out yesterday.  We do this every year - we put the first main lot of tups out for the first cycle (17 days) and then put the extras out for the second cycle.  This reduces the risk of ewes without lambs - if one of the first tups going out isn't fertile for some reason, the ewes have a second chance with the extra tup!

Not exactly clear blue skies, but bright and dry - no complaints.

On Sunday afternoon Farmer and I took the dogs for a run on the hill (as all the hill ewes are in the fields!). It was so very still and quiet.

I love looking at where we live from above.

My phone has just pinged with texts from Calmac, warning of ferry cancellations tomorrow on the Oban Craignure route and possible disruptions on the Lochaline Fishnish route.  Winter has arrived! 

Show day 2017

The weather has been mixed the past week or so, and we were anxiously watching XCWeather to see what Thursday was going to be like for the Salen Show!   Daughter was taking two of the Herdwicks to the show so we needed to know! 

Luckily Show Day dawned dry, whilst not overly sunny, it didn't rain and wasn't too hot for the animals.  

Herdwicks aren't primitive breeds like Hebrideans or Soay or Shetlands, and they aren't Blackface or Cheviot, so they end up in the Other Breeds class along with the Texels and the Suffolks!  There is a very strong flock of Texels along the coast from here, so we were pretty realistic about our chances.  Not to mention the fine Suffolks from Loch Frisa.   Anyway, what was that saying, its not about the winning its about the taking part?  

The Mull Slaughterhouse BBQ stall selling burgers was upwind of the sheep pens so all day we stood downwind of the amazing smell of frying onions!  They made a good brew as well.

My favourite tin shed was put into use, as the Poultry section.  Again our fine Wyandottes chose to moult so we couldn't show them.

Farmer helped some of the other competitors hold their animals in the different classes before and after ours. 

An appropriate hoodie for the show. 

Kyle the wonderful ice cream maker from Tobermory has bought a trike so she can attend the shows. What an excellent idea and it proved very popular!   There was a queue all day long. 

2 of our near neighbours were showing Highland cattle.   

And a friend of Daughter was showing a Mother and this was her calf who had to come along with her! 

We didn't enter any veg this year. Or eggs! 

Here we are coming in to the Other Breeds classes.  The handsome Jacobs tup from Loch Frisa against the Texels from Fanmore. 

Then finally it was our gimmers turn.  

Well done Daughter.  (She came home with a handful of rosettes!)

All in all, a great day.