Lone Star Shepherdess

07/21/2023

Really proud of my lambs this year! This is the first time I am keeping any replacement lambs. I’ll sell a few to my loyal customers, but most will stay.

It was a long day yesterday getting them all separated from their mothers and moved to the front pasture. The screaming was intolerable, but it is much better today.

Zeus is on duty, there have been reports of 2 big bobcats just across the street from where the lambs are.

Walter our Ram is also up there. But he will be going to his new home next month!

Happy Friday! Off to a dog trial this evening and tomorrow morning! 🙏🏻❤️

05/30/2023

He is just 2 months old. He will make someone a nice ram! He is built very nice! Weaning time soon!

05/27/2023

Check out this easy-to-understand chart from our friends over at the Wyoming Wool Initiative that details the process wool takes from the beginning of wool's journey, when it’s still on the sheep, to the time it winds up in your hands as a consumer.

05/03/2023

I love a good old Texas sunset, especially when it includes some of my favorite things!

04/10/2023

She is just the cutest little lamb! 1 more ewe to
Go for this lambing season!

04/08/2023

So true!!!

04/08/2023

I know it’s a cow butt, but I love the horns! It’s interesting how they are different shapes. ❤️.
A new fav.

04/03/2023

https://youtu.be/c2LDc0t6GlQ
There is a first time for everything.
So far everyone is doing well.

A first for me. This ewe lambed on 03/25/2023 and then again yesterday 04/02/2023. If I hadn't seen the lambs being born I would not believe it either. I ...

04/01/2023

Even with a broken leg you can’t keep me out of the barn! It is a beautiful day to be born! LOL

03/27/2023

3 healthy ewe lambs and another ewe in labor! So many blessings! Great start to the day!

03/26/2023

So nice when a first time ewe, lambs unassisted and gives you healthy twins! One Ram and one ewe lamb.

03/23/2023

A classic for this time of year

For all of you who are knee deep in sheep, lambs, straw, Lamlac, spray marker and dosing guns and running on creme eggs and relentless!

Sheep are suicidal,
Simply born to die,
In the most awkward places,
Legs pointing to the sky,

As lambs, they'll drown in buckets,
Or get suffocated by their mum,
You'll catch it drawing dying breaths,
As you haul the t**t up off her bum,

The sickly ones are living,
The healthy ones drop dead,
There's suddenly an outbreak,
Of watery mouth throughout the shed,

The lambers have escaped,
And got into the feed store,
So you are merrily sprinkling,
Bicarb back and fore,

There's far too many triplets,
The pet pen’s fit to burst,
And balling hungry lambies,
Haunt your nightmares first,

The vets have got no rubber rings,
Your wellies have sprung a leak,
There's a ewe who's pinching everything,
And you've had 6hrs sleep this week,

The townie cousin's have just appeared,
They really want to help you see,
In their new and shiny boilersuits,
And they're going to stay for tea,

Lambing is a tricky time,
And wee things send you wrong,
So just hold on tight to your wits,
Thank fudge the season isn't long!
©JB

03/23/2023

Long day at work, I was so tired 🥺. But once again my animals give me renewed energy! New life is so beautiful and hopeful! Welcome new baby!

Lambing 2023 has begun. So glad I waited
Until March.

02/12/2023

You’ll have to forgive my appearance, I have been a little under the weather. There are no sick days on the farm!

Moving my temporary pens to a more Permanent location. It’s about time it’s only been 3 years 😬🙄😂

We haven't had lambs since February of 2021, so my temporary pen was more like a permanent pen. But today we got the lambing pens moved to their permanent l...

01/27/2023

Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you will look back, and realize they were the big things.

Don’t take anything for granted. Things can change so quick.

01/25/2023

01/16/2023

There is just something about a red barn that I love. It needs some TLC, but I think it’s just beautiful!

12/31/2022

We attended the High roller Cattle Dog Trial today! We had a great time. It is Doc’s second Cattle trial. I was a nervous wreck! LOL.
I he did a great job but we ran out of time! Anyways I thought talked like to watch.

12/27/2022

We had a really great day on the farm today!! Chores done ✅, grocery shopping done ✅, I got all the dogs worked ✅!

The sheep were glad it warmed up today and
So were the dogs!

Usually I keep the barn blocked off when working the young dogs. Because the sheep want to run there all the time. It’s hard for the young dogs to manage it.
We had to take all my panels down to plow the pasture. Well I decided to not put the panels back up!

It’s time for Mo to learn about the barn and how to work around it & in it! At first he was a little confused but he managed to get the sheep and we kept them out of the barn!!
We worked on driving and cross driving today!
It was a successful today!

12/25/2022

I wish I had 10 more just like him. Zeus is the most loyal dog, a gentleman who takes excellent care of his sheep. We have a young pup that he is training, Ciri so that she can learn from the master how to do her job. I have peace of mind about the sheep, knowing these guys are on the job.

12/22/2022

Introducing, the Gossip Girls!

Left to right - Serena, Vanessa, Blair, and Jenny 💕

A little update from the breeder:

Everyone has gained weight and looks strong. Fate is an exceptionally attentive mother and continues to take great care of her babies. these girls are already so loved and they have been long awaited by not only myself but also some very happy ladies on my waitlist! Absolutely cannot wait to see who they are as they grow over the next several weeks! It will not be easy choosing who gets to stay that’s for sure! 🥰

12/20/2022

Puppy Spam! All little girls 💞. Everyone is healthy. My boy Doc is the sire and the mother lives in Missouri with a friend. They are all spoken for.

XOXO

11/03/2022

Push yourself because No one else is going to do it for you.

11/01/2022

Love is in the air! Lets hope for a large crop of lambs in the spring.

10/31/2022

Went to a friends house to work his sheep today! Then we came home and worked a few more things here at home.

We have trials the next 3 weekends! We are headed to Fredericksburg, Houston, & then Kansas! I am super excited about the trial in Kansas because I get to meet up with a couple of my friends, & make some new friends!

10/31/2022

Wool is cool!

Wool is a renewable fibre source!🐑🧶

Wool production produces very little carbon compared to alternative, man-made fibres and has a low fertiliser requirement as sheep naturally convert low quality pastures into useful fibre crops.

At the end of its useful life, wool can also be returned to the soil where it decomposes, releasing valuable nutrients into the ground. ♻️

British Wool Farm The Campaign for Wool

10/27/2022

Everyone is enjoying this wonderful day!!!

10/26/2022

I changed it to dog, instead of horse. 🐾

I hope your trainer doesn't give you what you want.

I DO hope your trainer gives you what you need, more importantly...what your dog needs.

There will always be someone willing to do it faster and flashier. There will always be someone willing to get you into the show ring on your time line instead of your dogs. There will always be someone who will tell you only the things you want to hear. For the right price, there will always be someone.

I don't want that kind of someone...not for me and not for you all either.

So, choose your someone carefully.

Choose someone who values their process enough that they can't be swayed from it by demands and dollars. They know where they've been, where they're going and all of the things they've learned between. They put your dog first and show you the value in work that is centered around what the dog needs. They are your biggest supporter while remaining honest and realistic about what it takes to achieve your goals. The only promise they make, is that your dog will get better...and you will too. You pay them but at the same time, who they are at their core can't be bought. They live their truth each day, honest and humble.

That type of someone is priceless...

- Unknown

10/25/2022

Another day.
Another opportunity…
to think better
to think bigger
to be better
to make better choices
to create a better tomorrow….

We had a great weekend with friends, training dogs. We have a few dog trials coming up in November then we have a break until December.

Doc is of course amazing, he is the man behind the scene’s and helps me make everything possible.

However, I have been using Mo more and more
With chores and it seems to be helping him mature, gain confidence and strength our bond.

One handler that came over this weekend mentioned that he works hard to make sure his dogs think they are “Superman” that they can do anything.

His dogs never doubt their ability he makes sure they are always right, that part of our conversation really stuck with me.

I have learned alot from my mistakes in life, I think when a dog is young being “right” is good but at some point you have to let them be “wrong” so you can fix it, am I wrong in my thinking?

Maybe I am taking what he was Implying out of context.. but I think mistakes are a critical part of learning for a dog and or a human.

I am not saying I would let my dogs endanger themselves, sheep, or me. If there is a perfect dog that never makes a mistake I’d like To meet it.

I have a dear friend that has amazing sheep for training young dogs. She has had them for years, if we were all so blessed to have these sheep maybe it would be possible to not let your dog make mistakes.

I Make mistakes everyday and I learn from them. My sheep aren’t perfect for training young dogs but we do the best we can with what we have. I am proud of Mo and my self for over coming our challenges with my sheep.

Mo and Doc are my Superdogs and I don’t doubt their abilities even though we have made mistakes along the way.

Anyway just my 2 cents.

Off to work dogs on this beautiful afternoon

10/21/2022

One of my sweet friends that is SO talented drew this cute picture of Doc as a shepherd and Mo a sheep for Halloween!!

10/19/2022

Don’t forget where you Started:
We get so wrapped up in perfection and trying to achieve our goals that we forget where we started. We forget that 5 years ago we couldn’t run a clean pattern. We forget that last year the horse you were on was a train wreck. We forget that two months ago you couldn’t walk into the pen without wanting to throw up. We often overlook our own progress by only focussing on the things we haven’t achieved yet. Remember where you started because it matters. Be proud of all that you have accomplished and the obstacles you have leaped over. Progress is a sign of growth. No matter how big or small, every step in the right direction counts. I know you have big dreams and goals. I know you want to achieve the unthinkable right now. But remember how you were last year and the goals that you set back then. Remember the feeling of achieving those goals and feeling on top of the world. Those small victories are what got you to where you are today. Those small goals are the reason you dream so big now. So when the dream seems so far away, take a step back and remember where you started. You’re closer to the dream now than you were ever before. Keep going and don’t give up.
-Kayla L.
Photo Credit: Underdog Mindset

10/14/2022

I started this with EB Raley on my first trip to the State Fair of Texas. I have done it every year since, y’all know I love to talk, and I love to talk about my dogs! Doc and Mo were ther stars of the show!

10/11/2022

10/10/2022

Keep going y’all!!!!

If you in the struggle keep going! never give up and one day every one will think your an overnight success!
-
Thank Russell Brunson for posting this!

10/09/2022

Did you know…
That a hen sits on eggs for 21 days keeping them turned and at the perfect temperate the entire time. She only leaves them for brief periods of time to eat and drink. They are the most selfless little creatures I have ever known.

The funny thing is that all The hens lay eggs and they just adopted the chicks when they hatch. It doesn’t matter if they are “her” eggs or not. They are just Amazing.

This hen is an incredible mother. She has hatched 6 babies and defends them to the fullest extreme I have ever seen. She was a rescue that came to us a few months ago. I am happy she came to us.
😍

10/03/2022

Out here, in the middle of nowhere, is the center of everything. It’s raising a family. It’s creating memories while working hard. Caring for the land and animals. Having faith when times are tough. And learning life lessons where the blacktop ends.

10/01/2022

Great articles by my friend.

Lacking stamina? Or lacking mind control .. September 30, 2022 Jennifer Ewers People often holler that dog lacks stamina.. yes plenty do; but also plenty don’t. Often times we confuse stamina with a hot mind (not a cold blooded animal) this mind is a warm blood.. a bit harder to handle, just ask t...