Still Waters Farm

Separating Norman from “his” flock turned out to be more challenging than expected. He sure let me know how he felt about it. After a few days, we came to a mutual understanding…for now. #farming #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming

Not all the rams are happy about the separation and find a weak spot! Grandson Mica helps his Pawpaw work on the barn lot makeover. #farming #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming

We’re getting to the 25% mark on the second rotation in the pasture. Thankfully, the rains have continued at just the right times to keep the growth coming. The pasture remains fairly lush here in July. We’re now 7 full days and nights on pasture with no barn lot time while we remake the barn lot into a dry lot. Everyone is safe and rebounding from the excessive worm load. And…I break the news to Norman. #farming #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #deworming #rotationalgrazing

Our sweet Ducky is not well! 🥺 But her downturn alerted us to a major crisis that required immediate attention and a change to how we do things. #farming #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #worms #deworming #rotationalgrazing

Whew! It was a big work day for all of the sheep. Hoof trimming, de-worming, fly treatment, vaccines for a few, and the “great separation”—the boys have to leave the girls for a while. Hats off to my right hand. I couldn’t do it without Mawmaw. ❤️ And, the Lakeland system proves its worth again! 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑 #sheep #lambs #sheepfarming #farming #rams #ewes @LakelandGroup

The rotation continues going well and the pasture is producing lots of great forage. Sadly, we woke one morning to find Cocoa had passed. Turns out, she was MUCH older than we knew. #sheep #lambs #sheepfarming #farming #greenpastures #

So thankful for plentiful spring rains, beautiful gras and forage, and happy, healthy sheep! We’re about 1/4 of the way through our first rotation on the pasture and things are already looking good for the second rotation. #farming #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #greenpastures

Thankful the drought is over! And boy have we been getting the rain lately this spring. Several gully-washers have laid over our fence from the barn to the pasture across the creek. Repairs were necessary on treacherous footing. 😂 #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #farming #fencing

I’ve said it many times since the drought of 2022—spring can’t get here quick enough. Well, she’s here and we’re getting the fields ready for the sheep! #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #farming

Walk with me among the sheep as they quietly make their way around the last paddock in the woods. Enjoy the peacefulness, hear the birds, and the occasional bleat of mom and lamb. #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #farming #peaceful #joy #quiet

Though we are still reeling from the loss of Duchess, life goes on. And sometimes it goes on with laughter and play to offset the more somber episodes. We put the sheep back in the yard to do our spring mowing and we captured some very cute lamb play. TJ even snuck a kiss from Joline! 😘 😂 #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #farming

Farming is not always fun. Sometimes it challenges your will to persevere. Sometimes it forces you quickly into unexpected and devastating circumstances. Sometimes you have to do things you’d rather not do. And no one is there to make you do it. You have to muster the strength to do it yourself. And then you have to live with it. But it is these moments that make the joy of farming all the more joy. Just like life. #perseverance #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #farming

So, this literally happened this morning: “He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ The whole flock was upset this morning and out of sorts. It took us a bit to figure out the new lamb born yesterday was missing. They were ALL looking for him. 🥰 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬ #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming #farming

A mixed bag of farm coverage. We had 60 mph winds that ripped the roof off the hay ring, Trudy has her lamb to help the girls on their comeback in Lamb Bowl II, we haul more hay, and through it all we have a very, very special helper. #lambs #sheep #sheepfarming

Sometimes you start off with intentions for a certain path only to find your best planning could not prepare you for what your learn by doing. #sheep #sheepfarming #lambs

Working the lambs to get their weights, trim their hooves, and check their eyes along with some general chores. The sheep got a cheat day on pasture but I have them bread anyway. 🥰

Lambing season number two continues with four more lambs, and the girls are making a comeback. Ducky expands her domain to include the pasture. And we give our first assist to a ewe having trouble lambing. It’s been exciting! #sheep #sheepfarming #lambs #lambing #pastureraised #pasturedlamb #farming

This week we lost Precious, our three-legged ewe. She was a fighter. She was smart. She overcame so much in the short time we had with her, and in her final days she continued to show her determination and grit. We will miss her. #sheep #lambs #farming

Well, Ducky has done very well in the Villa de Still Waters. So well, in fact, it is time for her to graduate to joining the flock. It’s a bittersweet goodbye, but we love seeing her grow and do her thing. We also took a hit with the recent arctic blast of frigid temperatures and have to make some further adjustments as we compensate for the drought conditions.

A few days before Christmas, an Arctic blast brings frigid temps to the farm and all across the mid-South.

Several days of rain followed by lambing difficulties and our first losses of the season bring a melancholy air to the farm for a few days.