Unlucky Adam

Last Saturday I noticed that Adam, my young Border Leicester tip, was not quite himself. He was unsettled, stopping to look around at his bottom every few steps - signs of the dreaded maggots.

Adam hasn't had much luck since he arrived - a scald in between his toes, orf that required tablets, and now maggots!

Rather than bring the electric clippers and the chemicals to him, I decided to bring Adam out into the yard for treatment. He was easily caught and I put one of my everyday cotton halters on him. Slowly but surely he walked across the yard. He did stop a few times but soon got going again. He didn't jump or panic. For a lamb who has never been on a halter before, I was very proud of him.

After I got his infestation sorted, and got him wormed and gave him a mineral bolus, I tried one of my homemade lamb halters on him. I thought he looked very handsome and we had a short modelling session.

Then, after a few tasty sheep nuts as a treat, I put him back with his friends. He's a happy boy now. And, hopefully, a luckier one.

A Close Shave

During the summer Teddy made a visit to the vet. His coat is naturally very dense and Teddy doesn't like me brushing him, so his bottom, tummy and hips had become badly matted. We went first to a dog groomer's but Teddy wasn't having it and became, as I suspected he would, anxious and snappy. The decision was made to take him to the vet. They were able to take him within twenty minutes and just a few hours later I got my Teddy back, clean shaven and a wee bit dopey from the lingering effects of the anaesthetic.

But my goodness, when those effects wore off, he was a different dog. While he hadn't been morose before, but you could tell he was much happier. There was a bounce to his step. Everyone who has met him since has reacted with shock when told that no, he's not a puppy, he is in fact nine-years-old.

A new Ted!

Contrast

With their lambs long weaned, and their attentions therefore no longer divided, the pet ewes have but one thing on their minds: food. As soon as they see me now, it's a mad dash to check whether I have anything of value in my pockets. Tilly is always the first to come running but Rosie is always second.

Poundland the Suffolk tip has joined the girls and Adam. He has grown into a huge boy since we got him as a lamb last year. The Suffolk is one of my favourite breeds (incidentally this applies to horses too) so I am hoping for some black-faced, chunky, floppy-eared babies next year.

Adam, meanwhile, is Poundland's opposite in almost every way. I fear he is just too small to father any babies this year, but I'm keeping him in with the flock on the off chance. By next year hopefully he'll be a strapping great lad.

I fancied some of these photos in black and white. I used to do quite a lot of black and white but in the last year or so I haven't bothered as much. I love colourful photos but a high contrast black and white photo can be great too.

Adam and Poundland look very well.

Rosie grazing. She has lovely eyes. Very bright and expressive.

Penny is a difficult sheep to photograph. To me she is beautiful but the camera doesn't flatter her. It's my hope to get a pretty photo of her before Christmas.

Rosie again. Without her lambs to worry about she has put on a lot of weight again. She's getting back to her usual self.

Flora in the long grass.

Poundland again. He's not a quiet sheep compared to the Texel tip we have, but he follows my girls as they run over to me and then stands a safe distance away, confused.

I don't often go in here as I want to avoid getting a headbutt from Mister Poundland here.

The Unicorn

Poor Caldwell. His horns were growing so nicely. We fed him, his sister and babysitter Esther their morning nuts and flakes when all of a sudden Caldwell had only the one horn. He either knocked it on something or caught it in the fence. Lambs' horns are very delicate and can easily fall off. He's a unicorn now.

Connie and Caldwell are still thick as thieves. Connie is the one who's in charge, though.

I noticed while I was editing these pictures that Caldwell has a little heart-shaped marking on his knee. It's very cute.

Late Summer Fog

When I woke up one morning to see that I couldn't see very much I dashed out to take some pictures. Fog always makes for an interesting quality to photos. Here's Maggie.

The sun started to gain some strength and it got a little brighter.

This is a lovely ewe. She's the one who broke in with my pets and stayed for a month or so.

This is one of our older ewes. She's still going strong.

Another old girl.

Morag hiding.

Luna.

I don't know what caused this ewe's wonky ear but she's always had it. Very cute.

A nice Kerry Hill.

Morag and a normal-sized ewe.