Earendel Fleeces place at the Royal Winter Fair

For those of you who are unfamilar with the
 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair; it has become the world’s largest indoor agricultural and international equestrian competition. and has been running since November 1922,
Quoting from their web site....

"The Royal draws more than 340,000 visitors to Toronto annually to see thousands of unique entries from elite Canadian and International breeders, growers and exhibitors, over 4,500 large and small animals, shows, activities, shopping, dining and – of course – The Royal Horse Show".

This is our first time entering our fleeces at a fair so why not start at the top.

There were dozens of entries from all over Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

  We are so delighted to annouce that our home bred Earendel Kinwulf's fleece placed 3rd and  his aunt
9 year old Cherrington Sarah placed 5th!

Their fleeces will be auctioned off Sunday Nov 14 at the fair!

Cherrington Sarah( Molly)

 Earendal Kinwulf

Giant puff balls

Every autumn they grow  in the front sheep pasture!
If you harvest them before they turn brown they are rather tasty!

Sunset yesterday

This was the view out the lane way towards the road and  below was the effect the light was having across the trees looking towards the barn.

 and then just a few minutes later....

Cherrington Brandy ( March 29,1997- Sept 1, 2010)

Our grand old lady was euthansied today.
She had developed a lower jaw tumour
She will be sadly missed by all of us here
She is survived  by her three daughters and one son, all of whom are here at the farm.

garden and humming bird

The front garden space is coming along nicely. I wanted to capture at least the essence of a medieval monastic pleasance. The garden borders the front veranda affording a calm place to sit.

The fountain was a wonderful find at a local re-use store

This is a small garden room, one side ( above) sun and the other shade

I prefer to plan gardens in as small rooms ( more manageable that way).



One recent visitor has been a Ruby Throated Humming bird who delights in the bergomot ( Bee Balm)

As with all gardens this is a work in progress and there is still so much still to do... summers are just too short here!

Talking Turkey

Isn't he handsome.... this is Lurch, positively the stupidest thing we have on the farm!

Meet Lurkey ( hiding behind her man!)
Except Lurkey doesn't think much of Lurch either and prefers the company of the chickens


Why is Lurch so dumb?

1. Can't figure out how to go through and open 10 foot wide gate, persists in bashing his head trying to get through the little gap between the post and the hinge.
2. Can't figure out how to get back through the 10 foot open gate.
3. Totally afraid of the Rooster who chases him away from Lurkey
4. Totally afraid of the sheep who chase him.
5. Tries to entice the wild Turkeys into the yard even though they keep beating him up.
6. Don't even ask about why he keeps trying to head bash the electric fence.

And this heritage breed is supposed to have more smarts that your regular white turkey... makes one really wonder.

Happy weekend!

Chaucer

Just so everyone knows Chaucer has been diagnosed with Lymphona.

The prognosis is lousy but sometimes things can go into remission with steroids.... I will try

Its spring but not here!

Two weeks ago I was in England for a lovely wedding. The weather was soft and foggy and by my standards brilliant. After four green starved months in the great white north the little snow drops were so beautiful to see.

And happy sheep out on pasture


I had a great time but now am a misery to live with I can't wait to see spring...!!!

You decide..... have we had enough of this!



and can we have some of this!

So not amused!

This is not the picture of a happy baa
This is a picture of Foote and he has had enough of playing in the snow and wants in the barn NOW!
In the background is Gwinnie ( white) and Brandy (moorit) who is this year age 13 years. Foote is her 3 year old son, one of twins.

Esme was even giving me nasty looks.

Happy Christmas to everyone

Hard to believe that another year has almost past here on the farm.

We moved here January 6,2005 but yet it seems like we have always lived here the farm has a pace and time of its own.

The Gibson family from Scotland built this house and farm coming here in 1853. The house was built later and is all dressed up this year to celebrate its 141st Christmas!

This year we even have a Christmas tree in the living room. The angel on top this tree was bought by my Grandparents in 1949. She is not the prettiest of angels but she sure has some history. I have photographs taken of this Christmas angel on top of trees from the 50's, and so until now this one. We truly are living with all the ghosts of Christmas's past here!

Both Al and I and of course all the wee beasties here at the farm would like to wish everyone Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Quailty time with the sheep

This is Mr. Biddlebump our June lamb, and his mom Gwinnie. They both love hugs. Mr BB also is very happy to curl up on your lap and snooze as he is doing here. They are wonderful therapy after a stressful day!

Pachio's Fleece

Here is a picture of Pachio's fleece,

Colour is actually white,

Check out the Curls, and crimp, he is also soft, and silky...

We will be breeding him to some of our Cherrington girls, and will post their names when we have decided which ones.

This will be the last time these ewes will be bred as they are getting on in years.

I can't think of a better combination of genetics and fleece quality than breeding them back into the Dailley line!

Stay Tuned!!!!

Presenting Dailley "Pachino"

Earendel Shetlands and Kalwa Taure Shetlands, are pleased to introduce our new ram from the Dailley flock.

Pachino is just over a year old. He has the classic Shetland conformation and fleece quality so consistent with his heritage.

He will be a beautiful additional to our selective breeding program.

Heartfelt thanks to Carol Precious for all her advice in helping us select him"!

'When one door closes another has opened.'

Cherrington Merlin May 21-2001 to Nov.16-2009

We count ourselves very fortunate to have been Merlin's caregivers for his last few months.

He was a grand gentleman who quickly learned that ours is a treat driven farm. Apples, cookies, warm mash twice a day , oh yes and a lovely girl to keep him company.

Merlin had a spinal cord injury that had left him partially disabled and though he was coping he was still living daily by grace.

A fortnight ago that all changed and Merlin was no longer able to get up at all. A decision was made to euthanize and despite knowing it was for the best I was still left in tears.

Merlin left us a lovely legacy. We are lucky to have 4 of his offspring and also his full sister Cherrington Sarah.

Never the less I still miss his deep bass Ba every time I open the treat box in the barn.

Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, with the permission of Richard II in order to defend the surrounding area from French invasion.
Vanessa, Phillip, Vasanti and I spent a lovely time exploring what truthfully has been called one of England's most beautiful castles..... Of course this summers foray back to England had to include some sheep.
These are black welsh mountain sheep, very handsome and looking a wee bit like our Foote and Grainney.
More pictures when I get a chance.......

After the Rain

There should be a rainbow... but if you look closely to the right of the first one is a second one ( almost hidden by the trees) here.

This is one of our back fields and part of the hay field as well. The hay is ready to be cut but the weather continues to be showery and well just plain English, while I hear from friends in England that the weather there is our normal hot and sultry June...
We need a week of dry warm weather to get the hay in so keep you fingers cross it will happen soon.

In the meantime, we are all adjusting to having Cherrington Merlin stay with us. He is a really good ram ( which is good since we have never had one here before) and has already picked up on when the treats are handed out. He is managing well and I am monitoring his condition carefully.

At long last!!!! The Cookie Monster!

After a really tough delivery and the sad loss of his twin sister.....

Welcome to the world, Mr.Biddlebump born Friday June 19 at 7:00pm

Biddlebump is the son of Cherrington Harry and Hopeful Gwendolyn.

He is precocious and already wandering off leaving poor Gwen. frantically looking for him.

He jumps into her hay, steals grass straight from her mouth and is into everything.

Poor MOM!

ANY DAY NOW !!!

Our little Gwinnie should be due this week. She has become totally obsessed with food and can't get enough, we think she is hatching a "Cookie Monster"!!!!!

Everything is ready and waiting and waiting and waiting.........

Spring

Welcome to the farm in Spring

This is my favorite time of the year, everything is green and smells so wonderful, its a good time of the year to be born and for that we are waiting on our Gwinnie.

Gwinnie is currently eating like a barracuda.....everything in sight. Two other of our girls may also be pregnant or then again just fat, we will have to see.

Some of our whethers even look a wee bit in the family way... umm Jolly, with a bit of winter insulation?

Here are just some of our girls spa-ing in the sun.... are we happy?!

Everyone loves to go out and cut loose especially after the rough winter we have had....

well maybe not everyone!

'Driving Miss Lady'

I think that my dear husband has found his equine niche in life and may never 'ride ' a horse again.
Thanks to some friends of ours who are members of the Percheron Horse Society, we were able to finally hitch and drive our Lady last Saturday. Lady hasn't been driven for the two years we have had her and who knows when before that, although I have been riding her.

She was extremely patient with us and our total inexperience in all this

Al started by ground driving her first, then the wagon was dragged out ( by us) to the field and she was hitched. We only drove her for about 15 minutes since she is rather out of condition.

I think even Lady had fun.