Sheep

We are settling into the routine of fall, and just as I write that I think how odd it is to say one is settling into a season of Nature when one lives a life embracing nature and being embraced by her. What other choice should we take? But I used to fight the seasons, letting angst about a future season taint the beauty of the present one.

Winter feed is home and stacked. With the majority of the lambs gone the flock is quiet again as they graze. Ewes have been sorted, with a group still to go for sale. Guardian dogs are busy with the increased Coyote activity.

The new Corriedales have taken their new haven on the prairie in stride. I find myself wondering what they figure about this place; the dry, nakedness of it compared to the humid, forested landscape they came from. Are they lost without their own flock or do they think of such things at all? They have a tighter fleece than my Corriedale ewes which at a distance gives them a grey appearance and makes them easy to spot among the other ewes. It will be a treat to handle that wool come shearing time.

I’m making my way through the batch of photos taken while on that move with the Aveley Ranch sheep flock which created so many memories for me. Here are a few more before I move on.

Years ago, at first decision to purchase sheep, I was keen on the Corriedale breed. Purchasing a sizeable flock of the grass based Corriedale’s I was after proved difficult so we made a different purchase and began to grow our flock with a terrific group of grass based cross bred ewes that have served us very, very well (this is how we got on to the Clun Forest breed). In 2014 I added a handful of purebred Corriedale ewes and a ram, and have slowly been building the Corriedale influence in our flock. Last year I attempted to purchase a group of Corriedale lambs but that did not pan out. This year it all came together.

In mid September we managed two days away to pay a visit to the Aveley Heritage Sheep Ranch https://aveleyranch.com/ This was a very fast trip there and back again but it was timed so that we could tag along on a lengthy move to take their flock to some late summer grazing ground across the river from the home place. The flock, and all its assorted working dogs and humans navigated forest roads, made its way through town, and crossed railroad tracks and tall bridges, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to photograph as we walked along. This is not the prairie and hence all the scenes with flock and dogs were richly new and novel.

There were many highlights on this very quick trip. Connecting with other grass based producers where the conversation starts with the land and the animals rather than with production and output is a nuance of this way of life I shall always treasure.

To spend a morning taking photographs was a little slice of holiday for sure.

To purchase and bring home a little flock of Aveley Corriedale lambs to join our own flock was the topper.

Back at home, there is a hefty amount of sheep work as these few new sheep come in and market lambs go out and per usual I am at a crossroads of emotion, which most days it seems I am barely able to contain. To visit the pasture and see the new ewe lambs amongst the flock gives me a fresh dollop of optimism and deepens my trust that our choices are still aligned with our personal values for land and animal. It is good to take stock on such things now and again.

I am stopping in to share a few photos but will be short on words today.

I have recently taken a deep exploration into black and white photography (this recent exploration can be viewed on my Instagram feed @woolstoneprairie ). With photography becoming a stronger presence in my life I’ve been sorting through what it means to Be a photographer, and beyond taking nice photos what might my type of photography look like?

I am not sure I have solid answers but I recognize I have long been a fan of soft color rather than brilliant, and of photos that convey mood. When I tried some black and whites I discovered the subjects in my back forty, the subjects I happen to like to photograph, are well suited for it. I also discovered that I really like what I see when the color is absent – in some way the mood begins to show itself.

As a result of trying some black and white photography I am seeing my subjects anew and after this many years of living this land and livestock life that’s not a bad thing at all.