Bluestem Springs Farm

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Bluestem Springs Farm Bluestem Springs Farm raises grass-fed sheep in east central Illinois. Sharing the everyday joys and challenges of caring for animals and the land.

09/25/2026

My morning bird-feeding routine has been pretty quiet lately. The feeders are staying full, and even the blue jays that used to holler at me every morning for their peanuts have disappeared. I suspect the hawks hanging around the farm have everyone keeping a low profile.

I still went out to check the feeders this morning, and when I glanced across the pasture fence, there were three does standing out in the pasture.

Not the morning visitors I went looking for, but a pretty nice greeting just the same. One of those little farm moments that makes you stop for a minute and enjoy where you are.

09/24/2026

Bella is officially getting started under saddle, and I’m really happy with how she’s coming along.

Jamie has put so much emphasis on groundwork first, and I think you can really see the payoff now. Bella is only three, but she has become such a calm, sensible young horse. In this video, Jamie is trotting her around in just a rope halter.

We’re also starting to ask for a little canter. After she’s trotted for a while, I’ll go out into the middle of the ring and help her understand what we’re asking for. Just a few short stretches for now.

I go out a few times a week and help with her training, which has been a lot of fun and a great learning experience for me too.

She still has a little bit of girth sensitivity, although it has improved quite a bit, and we’ll have the chiropractor back out soon. But overall, she just seems to have her head on straight. For a three-year-old just getting started, that is awfully nice to see.

09/22/2026

Cloud got a little road trip to Covington, Indiana today so the vet could take a look at her foot.

The good news is that I was on the right track. I had already trimmed away the damaged hoof wall, kept her confined, and was treating the pain and inflammation. He trimmed a little more and showed me what he was seeing. There is no swelling, drainage, or obvious sign of infection. There may be a very small abscess between her toes, so I may try an Epsom salt soak, and I’ll continue the Banamine for the next few days and keep watching her closely.

He also pointed out that the original damage may have happened quite a while ago because there is already some new hoof growth underneath it. Some of the damaged wall will probably continue to die away as the new hoof grows in.

I’m still learning, so sometimes I need the reassurance of having the vet look at something and make sure I’m doing the right thing. I especially appreciate that he takes the time to teach me what he’s seeing and what to look for next time.

Cloud was an absolute sweetheart through all of it. While we waited for the vet, I just sat on the trailer floor with her and kept her company. This gentle girl raised two of her triplets this year and has earned some extra attention and care.

For now, she’ll be taking it easy in her pen while that foot heals.

09/21/2026

It’s been almost six weeks since I said goodbye to Biscuit.

Her stall plaque has stayed right where it has always been. I got Bella’s stall plaque, so it’s time to take down Biscuit’s and put up Bella’s.

It feels like another little goodbye, but also a new beginning.

Biscuit was part of my life for 23 years, and no new horse will ever take her place. But life on the farm keeps moving forward, and now this stall belongs to a young horse with her whole story still ahead of her.

Goodbye, Biscuit’s stall. Hello, Bella’s.

09/20/2026

Eclipse got access to a fresh patch of grass today and wasted no time taking advantage of it.

We body condition scored the flock yesterday, and Eclipse was the only one who scored a 4, which means somewhat overweight. Apparently life as a wether, with no babies to raise and nothing much expected of you, agrees with him.

He’s hanging out with Red, our ram. The two boys are separated from all the ewes until breeding starts in November, so for now they’re just eating grass and enjoying the good life.

Today was a sheep working day.Connie, Grant and I ran everybody through the chute to get weights, check body condition a...
09/19/2026

Today was a sheep working day.

Connie, Grant and I ran everybody through the chute to get weights, check body condition and check FAMACHA scores, which tell us how anemic a sheep may be from parasites.

The good news was that the flock looked pretty darn good. Most of the FAMACHA scores were 1s and 2s, and the 24 lambs we weighed averaged just over 72 pounds.

This is why I keep records. A sheep can look thin through the sides and still have better condition than you think when you actually put your hands on the spine and loin. Several of the sheep I had been concerned about have gained weight and improved since earlier this summer.

And, of course, sheep working day always brings something unexpected. Cloud had torn part of her hoof, so Grant got recruited to hold her while I trimmed away the loose part and sprayed it.

And yes, the black gloves were intentional. I learned earlier this week that blue hoof spray also does an excellent job of turning your hands blue.

09/18/2026

The chickens are growing up! They’re about 17 weeks old now, and still no eggs, but hopefully we’re getting close.

I named the big black, white and green one Bertha because I was sure she was just a very big hen. Lately, though, I’ve been hearing what sounds like a truly ridiculous attempt at crowing in the mornings. So Bertha may actually be Bert.

For now, the jury is still out, but I’m starting to have my suspicions.

09/16/2026

My game camera caught these two coyotes running through the farm, just south of my house and not far from where the sheep were grazing.

A few days later, I put fencing through this very spot.

Good reminder of why I have Osage out there with the sheep. She has good woven wire, hot wire and electric netting helping her do her job, so I have never felt she needed another livestock guardian dog. The fencing does most of the work of keeping predators out, and Osage is there in case anything decides to try a little harder.

Still, seeing two coyotes this close to the sheep makes me especially glad she is out there.

09/15/2026

The deer aren’t that afraid when I’m on a horse. This doe and fawn didn’t bound away far.

09/12/2026

Potomac is celebrating 150 years today!

I went into town for some of the history talks and loved listening to some of the longtime residents tell stories about when Potomac was a bustling little town with grocery stores, a pool hall and all kinds of businesses.

Potomac was originally called Marysville, named for the wives of two of its early founders, who were both named Mary. The artesian wells eventually became such a part of the town’s identity that Potomac was known as “The Artesian Village,” and the high school teams were the Artesians.

At one time there were hundreds of artesian wells around the community. One historic well reportedly shot water 32 feet into the air, and another was powerful enough to run a water wheel used for churning butter and making cheese.

A unique history for a little town. And kind of fun to think that 150 years later, artesian water is still flowing out of the ground here at my farm.

Happy 150th, Potomac!

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Potomac, IL
61865

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