Meet Coco Chanel

Today is our wedding anniversary.   I got the greatest ever, so far, anniversary present.  She is a standard donkey.   She will guard my sheep.  I haven't had a predator problem, but it is better to be safe than sorry.   She is called Coco Chanel or Nell or Nelly for short.   She stands about shoulder height to me.   So far she is a docile young lady.   She lets me go into her enclosure and brush her, and we only met this morning.  She is five years old and has worked with sheep and cattle already.  She comes over to the fence when I approach.   She needs some training, but I think that is a good job for me.  I have so much to learn about donkeys because at this point.........I know nothing.    Let the learning begin!!

Nelly just after she got out of the trailer.

Colors of Kendall Petting Zoo

Four of the girl sheep, two ewes and their lambs, went out to do a little showcasing of their Shetland heritage.  They were part of a small petting zoo at the Colors of Kendall celebration in a small town near where we live.   It was a perfect October day, lots of sun, no wind, and mild temperatures.  They were excellent examples of their breed.  They were also forced to eat many animal crackers and subjected to much petting.   Such well behaved petting zoo sheep!  It was the first time I have done anything like that, and I would do it again.  The children enjoyed the sheep, and the adults asked many intelligent questions.   I also took a whole bunch of wool in various stages from a raw fleece to spun yarn and my spinning wheel.    A good time was had by all.

I took four of the girls who I think are the most friendly, but any of the nine girls could have qualified.  They also display four of the colors that I have, black, grey, shaela, and moorit plus two patterns, katmoget and spotted since Calla has four white feet, a white tip on her tail and white face.  I guess it is unusual to be proud of sheep, but I am proud of them.   They show off their breed very well.  This is my contribution to Shetland Wool Week in the UK.