It is now late in wintertime 2008,some time has passed, we can write about the passing of Fred and our beloved Hamish McBean.

The fellas were spending a lazy summer, being rotationally grazed around our larger pasture in the field where Camden Creek winds it's way through. We had noticed that there were flies that occasionally bothered the boys, but they had been rubbing their horns on some willow bushes and we assumed the flies were attracted to the sap. This turned out not to be the case, and by the time we realized that they had fly-strike, it was too late to save Hamish and Fred. We managed to save the younger rams, with much effort and support from Mr. Ray Fitzgerald(a retired sheep rancher from Texas). He gave us good advice and support and we appreciate his sharing his years of experience with us. It saved both Boramere and Bjorn from the same fate as their sires.

We had 40 sheep on this farm, but the loss of those two rams left a big emptiness in our flock and in our hearts. We grieved their loss tremendously. The saving grace for us is the foundation they laid for our flock and the boy rams they left behind, who look incredibly like their dads. We are thankful that they both came to our farm to live, and that we truly enjoyed them every day they lived. We have left their pictures on our site so you can see our "foundation" and as a tribute to what they contributed to our sheep family.

Fred
	Fred was purchased from Frelsi Farm in Limerick, Maine as a ram lamb. He was a small ram with a big attitude, a lovely fleece and a well-formed set of horns. We were worried at first that he was too short to breed our adult ewes...but he settled all six. He got used to us....we got used to him, and we enjoy him and his marvelous offspring.

Hamish McBean

Hamish McBean's name, and his arrival in New York State are stories unto themselves. He came from Tamara and Peter Burke's flock in Stowe, Vermont. Hamish is the Antonio Bandaras of Icelandic....a perfect pin-up poster of beauty and masculinity. We wanted color and Hamish infused our flock with his colorful fleece and wonderful personality. Hamish is the flock protector. He is not aggressive in any manner. He keeps the little rams from harm and although they play with him and annoyingly bother him, he never loses his patience with them. We are thankful for finding such a beautiful and good tempered ram. Hamish is a true gem.

Boramere

Boramere is a two year old twin ram with a beautiful gray moorit fleece. The tog deeper, reddish, brown and the thel is gorgeous soft gray. This spins to an incredible taupe color. His sire was Hamish and his Dam is our gray sheep May. His horns could be better set, but all-in-all this ram is the apple of our eye. (and my eye is on that fleece!) He has produced many beautiful offspring this year and last. He is quiet and peaceful and is built somewhat like Hamish.

Oscar

Oscar is one of our original sheep. He is a moorit wether and was purchased from Meadow Sweet Farm, the Golding Family in Saxon's River, Vermont. He is a rascally sheep that is wild as the wind. His poorly-timed antics and facial expressions keep us cussing sometimes, but mostly he makes us laugh. His claim to fame is that he can clear fences and other barriers, (including people) with his gazelle-like ability to jump. You can see in the picture he is trying to hide, but just can't help that 'ole curiosity factor. He has a dense fleece that is easily spun into beautiful moorit-colored skeins.

Bjorn
	Bjorn is a handsome, white ram(even if his knees are a bit dirty). He is the product of Spanky and Fred. Bjorn is a proven ram as we used him in our breeding program the past two years to improve fleece. He has a powerful build, thick, wide-set horns and a very nice, quiet disposition. His lambs have had excellent conformation and beautiful fleece.