Category Archive: Life
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.
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 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.
Yes, I was so busy that I forgot to take photos of the wool as we went along, so, they will come as we skirt it and get it ready for sale. There are several that will be going to the fair as they are simply gorgeous.
I’ll be hitting the hay early tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll wash sheep coats so they can be put back on and then bring the fleeces into the house for skirting and photos to advertise them.
Spools quilt together
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.
The sheep shearing man is scheduled for Sunday and that will be an all day job. If you are close and want to stop by and watch, you are welcome. I was told to be ready by 8.30 AM. I think we are doing about 30 sheep.
I mentioned to you earlier this week that we decided to drop 20 years from our ages. The really ridiculous thing is that we have both have had more energy. It really seems silly, but we are trying to believe it and act accordingly and I love that more is getting done. We are also more tired at the end of the day and sleeping better. Try it and tell me how it goes for you.
Have a peaceful and restful day tomorrow.
Wool is fiber
Wool is fiber and an adventure. Today we skirted (meaning picked weeds, and other etc out of the fleeces and 
then took myriad photos to advertise them. We put 3 on line and sold 2 of them immediately. This process takes a lot of time. We also did 2 of the neighbors fleeces.
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.
Mind over matter
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.
The barn stalls are cleaned, 3 primroses were planted and a load of laundry is done, plus a half hour of sewing. After a snack, I sat down to catch up on the computer (where I dozed off for a few minutes) and he took a short nap. It is amazing how much we can get done when we drop 20 years off our age!
A very few rows
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.
Of course, we had to check in on the sheep and feed them. Last year, one of the mothers produced a pair of twin lambs when Mary came to see them. No one produced today. However, the coyotes are certainly close by and letting us all know how hungry they are for lamb.
Slow and steady progress
Progress is slow and steady on this Spool Quilt. However, today, I was able to add a trip to the gym, cleaning in the barn, a casserole for tomorrow’s lunch, and several phone calls with the stem cell doctor’s office.
We now have an appointment mid month to go and learn if/how they can be of help. It is a medical Doctor who is working with FDA and one’s own stem cells and Parkinson’s. While I’m trying not to get my hopes up to high, I’m praying it will be helpful. We live in an interesting age where “Knowledge increases, men run to and fro”
Shabbat Shalom to each of you
Spool soufflé row 1
Spool Souffle’ row 1 is together. Most of the day was spent researching stem cell for Parkinson’s. One has to dig and make many calls to learn much. And that means much time on the phone. So I’m linking up to Elm Street Quilts in the hope that I can get this done as my “OMG” for February http://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2018/02/one-monthly-goal-february-goal-setting.html
Then a neighbor who doesn’t understand sewing machinery, called this afternoon and has a bridesmaid’s dress that needed to be shortened 2″ by this evening. Wasn’t going to happen here. Her comment “you do have a serger as JoAnn’s said that how to do it”. Yes and without time, how does that happen? She’s a lovely woman and I hate to disappoint her, but I need more time than that to get a full dress and overskirt hemmed and I’m not really good with the rolled hem.
New year mystery quilt finished
The New Year mystery quilt is totally finished at 42 x 60″ for a lap quilt. I’m linking up to Elm Street OMG http://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2018/01/one-monthly-goal-january-finish-link-up.html
If January is any example, this year will be a much slower year than the last two years. It’s not that I don’t work, but I’m trying to get some barn cleaning done daily, instead of waiting until it gets too deep and really hurts to get it done. Plus it seems as if some of my drive has gone without me. I need to catch up and get that back.
My fingers get so cold when working outside that I purchased these heated gloves from Amazon. There is a place in the cuff to put batteries which will heat the fingers. I was so happy with them for about an hour as they actually were warm. After an hour, the batteries died. I really need gloves that will keep my fingers warm for longer than that so will do more research. But while they worked, they were wonderful. Today I cleaned stalls for more than 2 hours and it is important to have warm fingers. Otherwise, they hurt too much when I come in.