Fall Flock

Just returning from a rather long blog hiatus to share a slice of autumn morning with my flock.  In the seeming blur of summer and early fall, the lambs have grown and the flock has burgeoned to 100 - filling our pastures. When not changing sheep coats and checking fence lines, and filling water troughs, my summer days were hugely occupied by teaching fiber art classes and writing a book on hand dyeing.  I am now in the thick of fall sheep & wool festivals, which means many hours in the dye studio. Time outside with my sheep helps me stay grounded.

I was joined one morning recently by photographer friend, Ben Barnhart who captured some great images of my leicester girls heading out to pasture at first light. 

Each evening we bring the sheep into the secure paddocks close to the barns, for safety, which means each morning we let them out to graze. Since dawn is  their favorite grazing hour,  I try to see them out the gate as the morning light hits the fields.

Here the lambs tentatively step out into the west mowing.

Mother and daughter, Amy (right) and Amethyst (left) -  descendants of Cocoa, my very first ewe - against a brilliant autumn backdrop.

Fern and Allegrita share a patch of tall grass at the pasture's edge, with the Holyoke Range visible in the distance . . .

 as the rest of the gang fan out at the far side of the south pasture.

On the opposite side of the road: the Cormo grazing line up.

More to follow soon . . . .

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Copyright 2008 Barbara ParryFoxfire Fiber & Designs 

photography by Ben Barnhart

Comments

[Carole]

Those photos are fabulous. Lucky sheep.

[Barbara G.]

These are fabulous photographs, Barbara. Just seeing them helps me to feel grounded, too. Thank you for sharing them. It was good to see you at Rhinebeck. I don't know how you keep up such a pace!

Your spinning student, Barbara G.

[Manise]

Great photos Barb! I love the first light this time of year. It lights everything up esp the fall foliage. Your "girls" are beautiful!

[melissaknits]

So, so beautiful!

There is a farm across the street from me (literally, right across the street, 75 acres just waiting for love and - we're hoping - not development!!) and my desire to buy it (it just went on the market) and cover it with animals and food is painful at times.

[moiraeknittoo]

Oh those are lovely pictures! Thank you for sharing them.

[Kris]

Lovely - I so wish I was in a place to be able to have animals again!

[Kyra]

Thank you. Your post and photos are a breath of fresh air!

[Cheryl]

Those photos are fantastic! I always forget how beautiful western MA is.

[Urban Frugal]

I am a crocheter and enjoy reading your blog. Glad to see you have posted some new photos! I am a city gal but I love seeing the pictures of your well loved animals.

[Crazy For Yarn In Alabama]

Thank you so very much for sharing such beautiful photos and life on a sheep farm!!!

[Robin]

Such gorgeous pictures!! Such noble profiles! Thanks for sharing!

[Woolladyfelter]

Wonderful shots of your sheep. I saw your booth at Rheinbeck. You are one busy lady!

[Josée]

Beautiful pictures... I wish I was there! Thank you for sharing them.

[Jan]

I have really missed your posting and am again pleased to read about your colorful life. Your lovely photographs so beautifully capture bucolity in its most idyllic moments.

[Virginia]

Hooray hooray! A post a post!

I'm glad that all is well.

[Jean]

Barbara, I'm coming to your class at Webs in a couple of weeks so I stopped by your blog. What beautiful pictures! Excited to meet you and learn!

[Mary Lou]

I'm so glad to see that you are back blogging. I enjoy seeing all the photos of your lovely sheep.

[Sue]

Beautiful pictures! I always enjoy your posts! Welcome back.