The Four Winds Farm flock
June 2006 found us bringing a pickup truck with 5 Jacob ewes from Meridian Jacobs to our new home in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California. We had a significant learning curve ahead of us...
We bought our first breeding ram from Oregon and began lambing our second year. The goal being to have enough wool for Lorraine to work with as well as share, we maintain a flock of 10-15 ewes, 2 breeding rams, and a few wethers. Every Jacob sheep is an individual, with distinct traits. We have found that the mothers pass on aspects of their personalities to their lambs :)
Enjoy the stories of our current flock!
Ewes
Four Winds Zuzu With her oddly-configured four horns, Zuzu is usually the first ewe visitors to the farm notice. Friendly, even with strangers, she has used her charm to her advantage, demanding (and getting) a handful of hay through the back door of the sheep shed before the flock is let out each day. Her curiosity, inherited from her mother, Aiyana, often leads the flock to investigate anything novel in the pasture: turkeys, squirrels, a wheelbarrow. |
Meridian Chenoa One of our original ewes, Chenoa, has an unusual coloring, what is known as a “chocolate lilac.” Much of her white fleece has a more primitive character than our other sheep; however, her colored wool is soft and gorgeous. She has an easy-going personality and always gives beautifully-marked, sweet lambs. Four years ago, she produced triplets! We still have one of her offspring, Erika, who is black and white, unlike her mom. |
Four Winds Erika
With her striking, black "boots," Erika is a stately two-horned ewe. Her fleece is magnificent and her personality calm and sweet, though she does get spooked by visitors. She is easy to spot in the crowd or at a distance, with her distinctive markings.
Four Winds Aura
Our smallest in stature, Aura is big in personality. She is now the friendliest of our ewes, wanting attention whenever we go near the sheep. Sporting gorgeous, lilac fleece, she is a keeper!
Four Winds Oona
Oona, a four-horned black and white ewe is our exception to the rule of like mother-like daughter. Unlike her exceptionally calm and sweet mother, Nara, Oona was skittish and wary of us for a long time. Having her first, twin lambs in March of 2018 altered her personality and made her more approachable. Beautiful fleece!
Four Winds Twyla
Twyla was born dancing, hence we chose to name her after Twyla Tharp. Like the dancer Twyla, she is unusual. Look closely and you'll see she has five horns! She loves attention and is one of our friendliest ewes.
Four Winds Oodle
Oodle's horns make her look like a creature out of a Dr. Suess book. She is spunky and small. Her lovely fleece has beautiful, black locks to work with.
Four Winds Dazzle
Dazzle has a very doe-like face and gorgeous lilac fleece. She is currently my friendliest ewe, demanding head rubs whenever I am out with the sheep.
Wethers
Domino
Domino is our "gentle giant." A very large wether, he functions to protect the ewes and to run interference if any of them or the lambs get too aggressive. His fleece is probably the best of the entire flock: soft, long-stapled, bright whites and lovely greys. He especially likes noogies and lullabies.
Disco
Disco is a four-horned lilac and white wether who is friendly and respectful. He and his twin, Reggae, were awarded their dance names because their mom was Lindyhop. I love that in this picture, Disco is actually doing a dance move! Disco and Reggae spent a couple of years on another ranch, as friendly weedeaters. It is a pleasure to welcome them back to Four Winds, to have their sweet dispositions and beautiful fleece to work with again.
Mojo
What a spunky and sweet wether! He is much quieter than his mom, Ariel, but he craves as much attention as she does. Mojo is currently serving as buddy to our only ram, Zephyr. Mojo and his twin sister, Aura, are currently our calmest sheep and especially enjoy the lullabies sung to them when being put into the sheep shed for the night. Mojo’s lilac fleece is sparsely spotted, which is the primary reason he did not remain a ram. His mostly white fleece is bright, and wonderful to dye.
What a spunky and sweet wether! He is much quieter than his mom, Ariel, but he craves as much attention as she does. Mojo is currently serving as buddy to our only ram, Zephyr. Mojo and his twin sister, Aura, are currently our calmest sheep and especially enjoy the lullabies sung to them when being put into the sheep shed for the night. Mojo’s lilac fleece is sparsely spotted, which is the primary reason he did not remain a ram. His mostly white fleece is bright, and wonderful to dye.
Reggae
Reggae needed a dance name, like his mom Lindyhop, is named for his syncopated, crossed horns and suave movements. A jovial wether, he has gorgeous, lilac fleece and an amazing appetite for hay. He gets along with whichever other sheep are housed with him, and hangs close to his twin, Disco.
Tucker
Tucker is a stately, four-horned lilac and white wether who is not particularly friendly . Like his mom, Tehya, he has a healthy respect, and possible disdain for humans. But his fleece is exquisite and he gets along fine with his wether buddies, Disco and Reggae. All three spent a couple of years on another ranch, as friendly weedeaters. It is a pleasure to welcome him back to Four Winds, to have Tucker’s beautiful fleece to work with again.
gone, but still in our hearts...
Rolling Hills Noah
Noah, our first flock sire, came from a farm in Oregon where he was just one of the many boys. After coming to Four Winds Farm, he savored the glory of being our first and main breeding ram for several years. He was chosen for his lustrous fleece, great horn set, and mild disposition. He was quite the gentleman when he was with the ladies, letting them eat first and not bossing them around too much. However, he did not hesitate when back with the ram group to let them know who’s boss. Imagine the sound of those horns butting into another set at full speed! Noah’s offspring have also displayed beautiful fleece characteristics and wonderful Jacob markings. (died 1/7/15--blog post 1/8/15) |
Blackjack
Blackjack was the 21st in our flock of Jacob sheep, hence his name. Born to one of our original 5 ewes, he is what is known as a “lilac,” having spots of grey wool and white, as contrasted with his black and white sire and dam. As a wether, he served many years as a companion to our breeding ram. Although no longer a ram, he had a confident and calm personality around rams. And us. His beautiful two horns spiral like a bighorn sheep. His was the first “baa” each pre-dawn, reminding me to get outside with the hay! Sadly, a bear killed him in October of 2016.
Yahtzee
Yahtzee, Domino's twin, went through a lot of trials and tribulations on Four Winds Farm. The worst of his many vet visits was to set a broken leg that he received while using a fence to escape the shearer. We now wish we had let him remain a ram, but was a mellow wether with gorgeous fleece. His fleece was often the first to sell, but sometimes I hung on to it so I got to spin some magic!Unfortunately, Yahtzee turned quite aggressive in his last years.
Yahtzee, Domino's twin, went through a lot of trials and tribulations on Four Winds Farm. The worst of his many vet visits was to set a broken leg that he received while using a fence to escape the shearer. We now wish we had let him remain a ram, but was a mellow wether with gorgeous fleece. His fleece was often the first to sell, but sometimes I hung on to it so I got to spin some magic!Unfortunately, Yahtzee turned quite aggressive in his last years.
Four Winds Shyla
A two-horned black and white Jacob, Shyla was the third born of triplets. We worried at first that her sisters might prevent her from getting her due milk, but she proved to be assertive enough to thrive. Rambunctious as a lamb, she also would seek affection and even lay her head in my lap when I would sit in the pasture. Shyla listened for her name when I sang a lullaby to the sheep when putting them in the shed for the night. Her single-sided face marking made her easy to spot. A devoted mother of several beautiful lambs, we treasured her at the farm. A bear took her in October of 2016.
A two-horned black and white Jacob, Shyla was the third born of triplets. We worried at first that her sisters might prevent her from getting her due milk, but she proved to be assertive enough to thrive. Rambunctious as a lamb, she also would seek affection and even lay her head in my lap when I would sit in the pasture. Shyla listened for her name when I sang a lullaby to the sheep when putting them in the shed for the night. Her single-sided face marking made her easy to spot. A devoted mother of several beautiful lambs, we treasured her at the farm. A bear took her in October of 2016.
Meridian Sherpa
Sherpa was added as a young lamb to our flock in 2012. He was a lovely lilac, with particularly soft fleece, and sired six ram lambs and one ewe. Like Noah, he had an even temperament; those horns would be scary if he didn't! He did enjoy bashing the water bucket, though, to let us know if it is empty. Sherpa didn't survive a brutal bashing by another ram; we lost him in November 2016.
The following ewes succumbed to the bitter cold of the 2018 late winter. Old age combined with pregnancy complications.
Four Winds Ayita
Our first-born lamb on Four Winds Farm, in 2007, Ayita had a calm but intensely curious demeanor (like other lambs from her mother, Aiyana). She produced some lovely, strong ram lambs (Jolt shown here).
Her name means “first to dance” and she was agile and a heel-kicker early on, though we had worried that she was pretty tiny at birth. She was the first to notice when we were outside or had visitors, letting us know with her gentle nicker that we should be attending to her needs!
Meridian Nara
Nara was one of our original ewes. Her disposition was the sweetest and calmest of the entire flock, and she passed these traits on to her offspring. She especially enjoyed the lullabies we sing to the sheep when putting them in the shed for the night. When we were in the pasture, Nara would be the one to come up to us for noogies. She was also the smallest of the ewes, but carried a beautiful, hefty fleece of pure black and soft white. When using her fleece or yarn, I feel the return of affection we give her; picture the pools of her thoughtful eyes and her sweet soul.
Nara was one of our original ewes. Her disposition was the sweetest and calmest of the entire flock, and she passed these traits on to her offspring. She especially enjoyed the lullabies we sing to the sheep when putting them in the shed for the night. When we were in the pasture, Nara would be the one to come up to us for noogies. She was also the smallest of the ewes, but carried a beautiful, hefty fleece of pure black and soft white. When using her fleece or yarn, I feel the return of affection we give her; picture the pools of her thoughtful eyes and her sweet soul.
Meridian Tehya
Tehya, was the first lamb ewe chosen to start our flock from Meridian Jacobs. She was a beautifully-fleeced lilac; in fact, she had the best fleece of all of our sheep. In her later years, she became quite friendly and sweet, but she began as the most wary of humans of all of our first five. Her offspring, with the exception of Domino and one ewe lamb, retained flighty personalities. She produced twins every breeding year and protected them fiercely.
Tehya, was the first lamb ewe chosen to start our flock from Meridian Jacobs. She was a beautifully-fleeced lilac; in fact, she had the best fleece of all of our sheep. In her later years, she became quite friendly and sweet, but she began as the most wary of humans of all of our first five. Her offspring, with the exception of Domino and one ewe lamb, retained flighty personalities. She produced twins every breeding year and protected them fiercely.
Four Winds Ariel
Ariel surpassed her mom, Aiyana: her “baa” at dawn was the wakeup call at Four Winds Farm. Her distinctive voice let us know that the sheep were ready to be let out of the sheep shed and fed. And she was LOUD. Her 2017 twin lambs, Mojo and Aura (Aura pictured with her), are taking on her qualities. Ariel had a soft, lovely lilac fleece and a gentle personality, despite the morning assertiveness.
Meridian Aiyana
Aiyana’s “baa” at dawn was always the wakeup call at Four Winds Farm. Her distinctive voice let us know that the sheep were ready to be let out of the sheep shed and fed. She was the self-appointed matriarch of the flock for 14 years. Assertively curious about tools and anything we were doing in the pasture, if a wheelbarrow had tipped over or a shovel had been knocked down, it was usually her or one of her offspring, who inherited her personality. Aiyana had a beautiful lilac fleece and was one of our 5 original ewes at the farm. She liked a good head rub and to be sung to in the evening.