Blackberry fields Farm

Today was a sad day at BlackBerry Fields Farm. I made the difficult decision to let Velvet go. It became increasingly difficult for her to walk and graze. As shepherds we must make decisions based upon what is humane and not allow the sheep in our care to suffer pain. It is better not to wait until it’s a crisis. But it is still hard when the time comes even know you know it is the right decision.
Velvet and her twin Lacey were born to Lorelei 14 years ago. Lorelei was a rescue sheep we took in with a broken leg that mended badly without medical care. She walked on 3 legs and rested on the fourth knee. She gave us three lambs, a single ewe lamb and then twin ewe lambs.
She was a feisty brave little ewe that lived a long life. When her twins were born we decided not to breed her again since it was a lot of weight for a sheep on three legs.
Velvet was inky black and Lacey was snowy white. Lorelei took one look at Lacey and rejected her. She had never had a white lamb and thought it couldn’t be her’s!
Velvet though was nursed and mothered well and grew up to be one of our sweetest ewes. Her soft curls changed from inky black to a myriad of natural colors as she aged and she was always docile and enjoyed being cuddled.
These last three months she loved having Maisie’s lambs Marigold and Mango snuggle up to her on rainy days.
Now she has gone to join Lacey and Lorelei and the three of them walk and graze in a place without pain.
Forever in my heart.