Welcoming my new black sheep to the farm!
As you know, I love my farm animals and I'm always tempted to add more to my menagerie. Recently, my friend, Dr. Brent Ridge, asked me if I might like to adopt a pair of Black Welsh Sheep, as he was acquiring some for his farm, as well. Brent and his partner, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, bought a farm in New York State called Beekman 1802, where they raise assorted livestock. Brent and Josh also have a television show on Planet Green called "The Fabulous Beekman Boys." I took Brent up on his offer and he and Josh delivered two adorable little black sheep to my farm. Have a look.
By the way, we will be having a contest on naming these little beauties. More to follow.
1 I was a bit surprised that Brent and Josh showed up with a film crew from their show, 'The Fabulous Beekman Boys.'
2 With good editing skills, almost anything can become a TV segment.
3 Livestock is usually transported in an appropriate trailer. I'm not sure I would like to ride in this minivan.
4 Sheep refreshment for the drive
5 Of course the sheep were presented to me with bows!
6 I loved these babies immediately.
7 We decided to pick up the newcomers and take them into the stable.
8 These barn swallows carefully observed their new 'roommates.'
9 A very serious sound guy
10 Carlos and Fernando thought the sheep were great.
11 Brent provided enough grain until we made it to the feed store.
12 Little by little, the stalls in the stable are being filled with occupants.
13 Even on my days off, it's hard for me to avoid the camera.
14 Shooting a segment with Josh
15 We've made a temporary pen for the sheep outdoors near the stable.
16 Stacked bales of hay provide shade and security.
17 The very sweet male
18 And the charming female
19 This little ram will grow an impressive set of horns. When mature, he will weigh between 132-143 pounds.
20 The average weight of a mature ewe is about 100 pounds.
21 These sheep provide a completely black, dense, and durable fleece.
22 I think this couple is adjusting very nicely to their new surroundings.
Wow! What a pair.. the sheep that is! So cute.. they should be a great new addition to the farm! http://www.meandmartha.net I would have severely scolded those two for showing up like that, if they didn't give you a heads up about the cameras. Not sure that show will last anyway. Count thier blessings they have a little help from you.
Dan Viger
Hollis center, Maine
Hollis 5 Corners
Posted by: Dan Viger | June 28th, 2010 at 12:16 am
This is a lovely blog that Laura Plimpton, my writer/sister and Eliad Laskin, my techie guy, put together while I am traveling in Europe and Turkey.
The Black Welsh sheep are becoming more popular because of their black wool and sweet temperaments.
I hope to find another ram, unrelated, to breed to my ewe next year. Anyone have one near Bedford-katonah?
Posted by: Martha | June 28th, 2010 at 3:43 am
I love the new black sheep of your family! They are so cute! Hope to see more pics of them around your farm in the future. =-D
Posted by: ClassiclyAmber | June 28th, 2010 at 8:31 am
This is the first time I saw a black sheep and its cute...Sooo cute...
Posted by: Vermont Wedding | June 28th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Are the black sheep you are referring to in the title the four legged antimal ones or the two legged ones who did not tell you in advance about the filming?
Posted by: Diane Martin | June 28th, 2010 at 9:21 am
The sheep are adorable and I hope they bring much joy to the farm. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: KLBrown | June 28th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Martha, what are your plans for the sheep? I'm envisioning all the wool that they will produce, which will be lovely knitted into scarves, sweaters and more. I'll have to show my son this blog post..."Baa baa black sheep" is one of his favorite nursery rhymes. He'll enjoy the pictures!
Best,
Amanda
Posted by: Amanda @ TMI | June 28th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Hi Martha, Laura & Eliad,
Thanks for introducing us to the new members of the farm which are very cute and no doubt will provide a new learning experience for you. I haven't seen the Beekman Boys yet but maybe Planet Green will be available to us when the guy comes Thursday to upgrade our service. As long as I get the Hallmark Channel, which we do anyway, then I'll be happy!
~
Not trying to get a head start on naming your sheep but Perfect and Sorta, instead of Serta Perfect came to mind, if one happens to be perfect and the other just sorta! Okay, time for more coffee. Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 28th, 2010 at 10:10 am
What lovely fence that you imported from Canada.
Is it split rail white cedar? Go Beekman Boys.
Posted by: ann | June 28th, 2010 at 11:17 am
I love your new babies. Just what I need here to mow my lawn.They are adorable. You really made a wonderful home for them too.
I watch the Beekman boys every week. It's wonderful!!!They are such nice guys and make a great couple. They always have me laughing Plus, I learn a lot from the show.
Does your barn really smell like lemons? LOL
Hugs,
Granno
Posted by: Granno | June 28th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Cute Factor: Complete 10!
Posted by: Debra | June 28th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Brent and Josh had told me about this special delivery but left out the part about the hay loft on wheels. Very funny! I'm sure the sheep will settle in beautifully. Congratulations, by the way, on the Emmy Award! Very well-deserved!
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | June 28th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Good Luck, it is said you need to have 5 sheep to develop a herding mentality and be called a flock. The ram is nice but I think I would prefer all females and borrow a ram. They do become dangerous.
Posted by: Margie | June 28th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Martha, Those black welsh mountain sheep are just beautiful. I am so happy to see you pondering thoughts of a few sheep on the farm. I believe the sight of sheep grazing is as lovely as your horses in the paddock. Now you need some wee terriers bouncing along. I think Gruffud and Gwyneth would be lovely names for your pair.
Posted by: Pam from Indiana | June 28th, 2010 at 11:36 am
This post made me smile. I'm the black sheep of my family. I even designed my blog to feature the adorable little black ewe! Love this.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Melanie | June 28th, 2010 at 11:57 am
So beautiful - can't wait to see the future segment. What do Francesca and Sharkey think?
Posted by: ryepye | June 28th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Congratulations on your new additions! They are beautiful. Now, you know you're going to have to get sheep dogs!!
Posted by: Bonnie | June 28th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
You were very gracious considering this seemed like more of a promotional sneak attack (for Josh's book and show) than a gift.
Posted by: Chuck | June 28th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I love your new "black sheep" and also The Fabulous Beekman Boys on Planet Green-think the show gives good publicity for that part of the country! Have a great summer all your wonderful animals!
Posted by: Marilyn in TX | June 28th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I love your black sheep! I had a stuffed black lamb as a child (my "teddy bear") so I am partial to them..... Hope you do at least one project inspired by them.
Posted by: Christine | June 28th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Re: the little Welsh sheep - I would go with Rhys (Reese) for the male - meaning "enthusiasm" - you want him to be enthusiastic about procreating! And, I would name the little ewe Rhiannon (Rhi for short) meaning "great queen." She will be the queen of your flock. Best of luck.
Posted by: Amy Bassett | June 28th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
These babies are real cuties and getting the royal treatment from you on the way to the stable. I see your website offers 25 ways to celebrate July 4th w/ your pet. Nice. Anyone who is interested in seeing the great boots Martha wore at Toronto's annual Canada Blooms can see it on my word press blog shoe story. I see you have on another great pair of boots in this blog post. Thanks Martha. See you in Toronto!
Posted by: http://twitter.com/geotravel | June 28th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
my mom loves your magazines. it would be wonderfull if u have some published in spanish like everyday food. I'll buy her an unlimited subscription.
Posted by: nikki | June 28th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Hi Martha, I love those black sheep now you can spin their wool. Will you ever get any alpacas? I think they would be a nice addition to all of your animals. JoAnn
Posted by: JoAnn | June 28th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Oh they are SOOOO cute! I love the little female. I just want to hug them.
Posted by: Mike Bell | June 28th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Hi Martha, What a fun blog! Those young Black Welsh sheep are soooo cute and I can hardly wait to see how the dogs will react to them!!! Laura and Eliad sure did a great job of putting this great blog together for us to enjoy and enjoy we do!! I love how your stable is getting fuller and the great outdoor pen for those cuties! These photos are so much fun to look at over and over! How nice that Dr. Brent and Josh brought those beautiful sheep to you. I love watching their special show-The Fabulous Beekman Boys! Love all of the tweets and tweet pix from you and Kevin about your Turkey trip!! Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 28th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Did you ever visit Kelmscott Farm in Lincolnville, Maine? It was an organization that worked on conserving rare breeds of farm animals. It was a beautiful farm with a great mission and a fantastic variety of animals. I believe it has closed as a Google search revealed it to be on the market. I hope you had a chance to visit this place.
Posted by: Hilary Benson | June 28th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
I just watched their show last night. Very interesting and entertaining! Love those little black sheep.
Posted by: Susan R. | June 28th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I LOVE THE BEEKMAN BOYS AND THEIR FARM,HOWEVER I LOVED TURKEY HILL FOR YEARS AND WATCHED YOU WIH IT! NOW IM ENJOYING WATCHING YOU WITH THIS FARM!! GO MARTHA!!!
Posted by: MINA | June 28th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Martha,
I would name the ram "Beau" and the girl "Peep". Little "Beau" and "Peep" are just what your farm needed. I wish someone would send me to live on your farm. Hum. That gives me an idea... (I sound like Sharkey, your dog.) You just may find a big, fat, someone in a sheepsuit outside your gate! Your animals are so lucky to live on your farm.
Posted by: Lee | June 29th, 2010 at 12:47 am
They are absolutely perfect!
Posted by: Adriana | June 29th, 2010 at 1:33 am
Every family has at least one black sheep...except for Martha...now she has two!!
Posted by: sherey | June 29th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Very nice! I love sheep.
Posted by: Darcy | June 29th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
So very sweet Martha. I do like Lee's names for them "Beau" and "Peep." Can't wait to find out what Francesca, Sharkey, and GK have to say about their new friends.
Posted by: Sonya W. | June 30th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
What a wonderful addition to your farm! The little sheep are so cute and their coats are beautiful. Will you learn to shear??
Posted by: Libbygirl | June 30th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Oh how adorable. On my way to drive to the Capitol public service for Senator Byrd. I will think of some names during my drive to DC from Philadelphia and back. Oh so adorable. Can't wait to see more photos and the details of the naming contest.
Posted by: E. Teresa Touey | July 1st, 2010 at 7:49 am
They are fantastic little sheep Martha! So much fun to have farm animals. They each have their own personalities and easily become part of the family. A welcome addition to any farm! Hope you are having a wonderful time getting to know your newest members!
Posted by: Kim G. | July 1st, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Hooray for the Beekman Boys!
The sheep are beautiful, and you are such a gracious hostess to give these gentlemen and their crew some of your time. Everyone needs a little help along the way, and you were kind to accomodate an old friend and former employee.
I love their show, and I'm looking forward to watching the three of you interact!
Posted by: Rachel Q. | July 1st, 2010 at 7:17 pm
They are soooo cute! I love sheep and hopefully one day I will be able to have a small farm of my own! Make sure to keep us posted on your sheep.
Posted by: Georgia Nasios | July 2nd, 2010 at 9:19 am
Your new black sheep are the most fortunate sheep in America! I am sure, with your heart for animals, you will enjoy them and take exceptionally good care of those little babies.
Posted by: JoAnn | July 6th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Martha-are these lambs registered?They should be with the American Black Welsh mountain sheep assn.They are a heritage breed.You can join by sending in dues.
Jerry Jones Club President
Posted by: m g jones | July 21st, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Enjoy your new sheep! They are wonderful critters, and their wool is fun to work with. I utilize mine for cottage industry - I spin the yarn here and have local ladies knit them into hats. They have been very popular in the art town of Berkeley Springs WV.
Note - Black Welsh Mountain sheep SHOULD NOT be docked. In fact, they cannot be registered in the UK as such.
Check in with Oogie McGuire of Desert Weyr for some great breeding stock!
Andrea at A Rare Breed, LLC,
and board member American Black Welsh Mountain Association
Posted by: Andrea | July 21st, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I want a t-shirt with that sound guy's saying LOL. The sheep are truly beautiful. Can't wait to watch them grow up.
Posted by: AuntChristine | July 29th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Brent and Josh are great and the fellow up in Maine who critisized their show should actually watch it!! Of course Martha is great too
And how great it was that Josh & Brent brought them to her.
Posted by: judith Laferriere | March 11th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Dear Martha,
Like you were at the beginning of starting your, much-loved, Martha Stewart brand, I am attempting to start a woman owned business on our farm. Seeing your black sheep inspired me to write to you. We began our herd of sheep and goats last summer and are seeking funding to renovate our stable from which we plan to operate the Mashallah Halal slaughterhouse. We will be sacrificing the animals in the Halal method and providing our product to the local Muslim community and a others who appreciate our method of sacrificing animals for the sustenance of humans. I would appreciate any guidance you can provide.
Thank you,
Cynthia R. Crooks,
703-220-7900
Posted by: Cynthia | March 18th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
I just saw the Beekman Boys! I paused on the barn three times, nice! I am so happy when I see people return to the rare heritage breeds.
Good for you Cynthia! That's a good market to get into, its a rare thing to find custom processed food such as Halal. I am a female farmer too. I am a preservationist of the heritage Beltsville White Turkey, a left over from the 1950's meat production era that nearly went extinct. It's probably the last broad breasted type turkey to be healthy, hardy, breeds naturally and is not a hybrid. I hope to see this bird come back to heritage turkey farms everywhere one day.
Posted by: Sadie | April 1st, 2011 at 1:51 pm