Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Spring Rains

We've had a cool, wet spring here in Montana.  On average, we receive 13 inches of precipitation each year. In the month of May, we had 8 inches of rain! There has been a lot of flooding around us but we have been spared from major damage.

One day in late May we took a day trip to Yellowstone National Park. Upon returning home, we were surprised to find the driveway and part of the barnyard in a big mess. Evidently, a severe storm had blown through while we gone and it had dumped a large amount of rain in the hills above us. The runoff from the storm came rushing down toward our property. The culvert under the county road was unable to handle all the water. The water rushed along the ditch and road until it came to an opening ... our driveway!


The water rushed down our driveway displacing the gravel, washing out our French drain, and depositing debris along the way. Thankfully the water flowed off into the neighbor's pasture instead of flooding our house and barn.

As a result of the high volume of water, our culverts collapsed and many of them broke.

We are grateful the rain has diminshed and the temperatures started rising in mid-June. Earlier this month was the first time since October 2010  that the high temperature finally got up into the mid 70s.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Introducing Grace Valley Farms 2011 Cutest Lamb Contest

Each year at our farm, we select the cutest lamb! The lamb maintains the title for that specific year. In previous years, our family has selected the winner; however, last year we allowed our readers to vote on the cutest lamb! This year we will again open the contest to all who wish to vote. The contest will run June 11th through July 9th. It's okay to involve your friends and family in this contest for the cutest lamb! When the winner has been selected, we will announce him/her.
The five nominees for the 2011 Cutest Lamb Contest are listed below.


Eileen


Elizabeth


Enoch


Erwin


Exxon

The Last Spring Lamb

Charity was our last ewe of the spring to deliver her lamb. Her daughter, Evangeline, entered the world on the evening of May 17th. Evangeline's father is Foreman.

Evangeline weighed 14lbs. 14 oz. at birth. That weight  made her the heaviest Romney ewe lamb born on our farm. Evangeline topped the previous weight record holder Elsie, whose birth weight was 14 lbs.

Eve is Born !

This year Cinnamon gave birth to a white ewe lamb named Eve. Eve has many different sheep breeds in her lineage. She is 3/4 Romney, 1/8 Columbia, 1/16 Suffolk, and 1/16 Hampshire.

Eve weighed 12 lbs. 8 oz. at birth.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Spring Pastures

Spring has arrived at Grace Valley Farms!  The temperatures are rising and the green grass is shooting up!  Our sheep have been enjoying the new grass in the pasture. The 2011 lambs are growing nicely and getting plump on the fresh grass.

 

Dove

Dixie, Cathy, and Deena



Delores, Danielle, and Darla

Dale and her twin lambs, Elaina and Eliza Jane

Evan

Edward

Elizabeth

Elise

Elizabeth and her mother Bluebell

Evelyn


Eileen

Ephraim

Everett

Carmen

Emily

Enoch

Eileen and Eisenhower