spring – Plum Blossom Farm

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Carole Balala

Shearing Day 2015

before shearing all sheep are a bit anxious

Every shearing day is both stressful and exciting. The sheep get anxious so that makes me anxious. I have to remind myself that they always feel much better with their fleeces off. Once my shearer arrives I usually starts to relax since he’s so experienced and easy-going. Then one by one as the fleeces are tossed my way I can start to enjoy myself to see what the past year has grown. All the feed, care and energy from the year is in those fibers. It feels lovely to touch what I will have my hands in through several stages in the year to come.

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Carole Balala

Winter in California is spoiling me!

January and February have been so mild I feel guilty about what the East and Midwest have had to go through! The green grass is really taking off now and so many flowers are in bloom! First the daffodils popped out, then my plum trees started budding. Now the Camiellia bush is bursting, the redbuds have arrived and the Brodiaea have blanketed the hills.

I just cannot keep from photographing these beauties! On Instagram here.

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Carole Balala

At last- out to fresh pastures!

Joy! The sheep are able to do what they are born to do – graze! They fields have dried out enough that I have moved them into three of the four fields, moving rotationally so it’s easier on the land.

They are so happy and contented this time of year. The grass is cool and lush, the weather is in the 70s, they can come and go as they please. It is absolute bliss.

When they are stuck in the barnyard and they see me before the evening feeding they will all sing a chorus of “we are bored and hungry, please feed us now”. These days though there is this wonderful quiet due to happy sheep with full bellies. Pretty heavenly. Their feeling of peace is thankfully contagious.

Wish this could last forever but hot, dry days will be here before we know it. Better enjoy each moment of this season while it’s here…

Posted on March 11, 2014March 11, 2014 by Carole Balala

Grass really is Greener…

Finally the grass is growing to the point where I can let the sheep out to graze soon. Not soon enough for them though! Everyday now they are baaing to let me know they are ready to dive in to this years bounty. It must be torturous for them to stare through the fence at the pasture all day long while not able to get to it!

I hold them in till the ground has firmed up. If they go out when it’s muddy their hooves will tear up the ground and hurt the land and the vegetation. Good things come to those who wait I keep telling them- but their demanding baas are drowning me out. 🙂

Posted on May 10, 2013June 21, 2013 by Carole Balala

Summer, like Spring, came early this year

April brought 90+ degree weather here which usually doesn’t arrive until June. That heat and the lack of spring showers dried out the pastures early this year. The sheep were very dissapointed as was I to see the green grass go. Even worse this dry hot weather has increased the fire season in California which is always nerve-wracking.

Usually after the pastures are grazed we get more rain to help the grass grow a second, third, and fourth round so the sheep can continue to dine again and again. This year the hay will have to be fed out early.

Posted on April 17, 2013June 21, 2013 by Carole Balala

Shearing Day!

Always a stressful and exciting and stressful day for both me and the sheep comes every spring on shearing day. The sheep must be kept off food till they are done and packed tightly into stalls to await their turn. When I first got my Wensleydale’s I imagined that I would eventually shear them all myself. But since the first time I witnessed the hard work and finesse of a professional shearer I have since changed my tune. A good shearer is worth his weight in gold and I tip mine heavily to be sure he wants to come back next year!

shearing day april 2013 202 — Sheep waiting anxiously

carole skirting fleece — Look at this amazing fleece!

sheep in pasture — All done and happy to be in the green grass.

All the fleeces must have to be skirted before they are bagged to remove all the dirty bits and vegetation that has found it’s way into the fleece. This is a delightful time to see what has been growing all year and the results of months of energy. I had never seen the Karakuls shorn before and so it was fun to see what they looked like under that lofty coat! The photo of the gorgeous fleece shown above is from a shy sheep named Ferdinand. His fleece is large and absolutely unique. He is a Karakul, Romeny, Wensleydale cross and the attributes of each show up in his beautiful fiber!

Posted on March 4, 2013June 21, 2013 by Carole Balala

Plum Blossoms in Bloom!

Plum blossoms overlooking sheep pasture.

Plum blossoms are associated with strength as they are some of the first blooms of the year. They are a reminder of vitality, endurance through difficult times and the hope of renewal. They hold the promise of a nearby spring and the re-generation of life.
Plum Blossom Farm is blessed to have many wild, native plum tress around the property as well as a domestic tree which will deliver loads of sweet, juicy deep purple plums in a few months.

Plant life is starting to grow again

Posted on February 26, 2013June 21, 2013 by Carole Balala

February Feels Like An Early Spring!

Haggart and his Karakul family chomping away

Colorful Camelia

My friends try to remind me that it is common for Sonoma County to have spring-like Februarys and then fall back into the rainy season in March. Well it feels like that may happen again this year because we have had plenty off sunshine and warmth lately.

The flowers have started blooming and the clover has popped up. The sheep devour the tender new greens and munch with noisy abandon.

I saw that there is a storm headed our way next week so we will just enjoy these past few days of heaven before the mud returns.

Bayarma devours clover

So dainty and lovely!

Tag: spring