Category Archive: sheep
I grabbed some minutes here and there this week and then an hour to finish the spool soufflé flimsy, which measures 62 x 68″. I’d love to get it quilted before the end of the month, but that will take some real time, which I may or may not get.
The wee ones take much of my time, but they are also a lot of fun and the diapers make it possible for them to have more freedom to follow us around. This photo was when they had full tummies and were tired.Snow day and Esther
Looks like winter has arrived today with a lovely snow day. The forecast is for more this week. The biggest problem with snow is when one has to go out into it several times a day. However, it is beautiful.
Queen Esther arrived wearing a lovely white crown. She is posing with her mother Estelle behind her. She gives us the count of 5 ewe lambs with 3 ram lambs.
Here are the two being raised in the house, complete with Mickey Mouse diapers. They love following us around, but when tired, quickly go back to their bed.
One variety of tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower, and cabbage are up enough to transplant into individual pots. I forgot to buy beets, so they aren’t started. And I want to get some other tomatoes going. It’s all a matter of time and space. I planted snow peas and sweet peas today. Fortunately as soon as they are up, the cold snap should be over and they can go into the hoop house to grow.
Lambs, lambs, lambs
12.05 this morning I received a text from the neighbor. “triplets” in my sleepiness, it took a minute then I responded with “in the barn?”. Her response: “in the pasture” We had just sheared anyone bagging up, so what was this. We thought she was 3-4 weeks away. Time to drag myself out of bed and up to the barn. Neighbor is a night owl and a shepherd. She usually gets home from her barn in the wee hours of the morning, however, she was early this morning and was taking her garbage out for pick up when she heard a wee little “baa”.
One of our older mothers had preemies and they were at death’s door in the 24 degree weather. She bundled them and took them to the barn from where she texted me. We did not believe the one salvageable and another was a question. The larger male, we thought we could save. They were so cold and rag doll-like that I took the smallest and put inside my coat next to my nightie and just held him there while she dried off the other two and we managed a plan. 
We took them first to her house where she has a border collie who has raised several new lambs plus an electric blanket to keep them warm. Shee licked them all over like a mother and then between us we had enough ingredients to come up with an emergency formula for colostrum. The smallest one, was much warmer now but still very floppy. Each was given some milk and then we brought them over to our house where we have more room and wouldn’t be stumbling over the babies. So every hour for the first day, they get fed. (I’m tired). Then the second day, we can start lengthening that out. At 5 this morning, I felt the biggest one would be okay with mom. I took him up to the barn and she was so happy and was taking care of him, but still no milk. So the plan has been that he is large enough to get him formula every 2 hours and the smaller ones are still on an hourly basis. All three are now standing and walking around, and sucking on their own. So though something could still go wrong, we are feeling good about having 2 white boys and one colored ewe alive.
At noon, when I went up to feed the little boy, I saw that the ewe we expected to go first was in labor and only one foot was presented. I immediately texted the neighbor who came over (she has been working with sheep for many years). She came and righted the little one, so she could be born. And the second one slipped right out about 10 minutes later. There are now 3 new ewe lambs and 2 ram lambs. Happy Valentines Day
If I miss a post or two, it is these many feedings taking their toll on my time and energy. (and we are expecting another birth in the next 2-4 days.
New family
This new family joined us this morning. Mom was not expected to birth this early
therefore, did not get sheared on Sunday. My friend is taking off the excess wool so that the babies can more easily nurse. Another boy and another girl. I almost think they should have Valentine type names. I am getting very good at 1/2 naps. We are now at 3 hour intervals between feedings day and night. It does remind me of the sleepless nights when our children were babies.
Catching my breath and cleaning
20 bags of fleeces to go through. It was so fun to view each of them under the sun bleached tips as they were sheared. Today, I’m catching my breath, taking the day more slowly, and cleaning up. The fleeces are nearly all at the house now (warmer here), the garbage has been taken care of and the stalls are also cleaner with fresh hay for all to eat.
I thought we might have a birth, but that is probably waiting until I am fast asleep, though I prefer to be there in case of trouble. It’s difficult to tell when babies are coming and if I wait up – well you know about the “watched pot”. My friend was sure that one of her ewes was going to pop each day for 2 weeks as she was so big, but in the meantime two of her other ewes not as big decided to deliver some surprises. One just doesn’t know until it happens.
Feb 2018 Shearing day
Feb 2018 Shearing day set up and ready to go
I know we did more than 20 sheep, but I don’t know how many and don’t have enough energy to count the fleeces. So tomorrow…….
Pierre is so good at shearing them, that many just lay there very relaxed so he can get on with their spa day. (this one may birth in the next day or two)
In contrast, this is one with the vet. Just to make life interesting, this girl had a prolapsed vagina. If not treated immediately, it meant death. So the vet (in green shirt) came out, put everything back inside her and we hope for the best. This was not fun for anyone because she had to be held upside down to shove this large ball of protrusion back inside her body. It is stitched in to hold it hopefully until the baby arrives and then she will not be bred again. She is a good family pet prospect as she has beautiful wool and will be useful for that.
The spools quilt is together and ready for borders. It seems this week has been fast and furious. Last night I finished getting everything into Quicken so I can pull up categories for taxes. I showed it to DH so he could assemble what he needs for the part he does. I found a couple mistakes which I will repair and then it is ready for my visit with the tax man. We have added the farm this year as a business so I don’t really know which numbers he will want. But they are all there and that is a huge relief.
Wool is fiber and an adventure. Today we skirted (meaning picked weeds, and other etc out of the fleeces and 
Beau must stand on his back feet to chew this polyester cord, so the board will slip and he can get through. He is a challenge. Maybe a wider board will do the trick.
When we got up this morning, we were 20 years older, than we are tonight. At breakfast, I decided we were not getting enough done and DH was doing nothing other than the gym and the dishes and napping. Well, that’s because he retired without hobbies. So using the phrase “mind over matter”, I told him, he is now 64 and that’s how he gets to act and think. WOW! I should have come up with this earlier. He actually did act younger. And since he is 20 years younger, I also am. So the greenhouse beds are all weeded.
I still need to clean the weeds near the entrance. I brought in a load of the cabbage leaves we love for our cooked greens
I washed them and stemmed them, then he cut and cooked them, freezing some.
Mary came over today and we enjoyed catching up on each others lives. We started by having a fast food lunch and came back to knitting for me and crocheting for her while we chatted. As you can see, I got a very few rows knitted on my next pair of socks, but start, I did.