And the 2nd thing...

 This is Adelaide, my Finn ewe. I love this girl. Her wool is so nice and silky. She's just turning 3 and has never lambed until  last Saturday morning. I knew she was pregnant, just not sure when she was going to lamb. She chose a really cold wet morning. And she just had those 2 ewe lambs right out on the dirty wet ground, in the middle of all the other sheep and lambs. And just left them apparently.

That's the morning that I just took my time to go outside too. I even had a cup of coffee, which I never do. I had looked out and saw all the sheep, so just assumed everything was ok. Well, it wasn't.

When I did go out and get all the feed ready, I got out there and put the feed in the feeder for them. That's when I saw the poor little lambs, laying on the ground. Still sopping wet. The little black lamb was already dead. Nothing I could do for her. I ran inside to get towels, went back out and put both lambs in a stall. Then looked for a mother. It was Adelaide. So grabbed her and got her in the stall with them.

I got the other lamb dried as much as I could. But she was so cold. Even her little mouth was freezing cold. So I just took her inside to get her warmed up. I sat by the wood heater and rubbed her and tried to get her to suck on the bottle of colostrum I had milked from Adelaide. She couldn't even do that. Plus she was shaking. Like convulsions or seizures. It was horrible.

I had a small tube that I tried to use to tube her. But it was too flexible and I couldn't get it down far enough. So had to go to Ace Hardware in town. I left her in front of the heater, covered up. I just knew she's be dead when I got back. And I got some colostrum from the co-op too.

Got home and she was still alive. I mixed up the colostrum and put what I had from her mother in it. Got it all sterilized and put that new tube right on down her throat. I think by then she was warm and hungry, because it went right down where I thought it should be. I put some milk in the syringe and down it went. And within a few minutes, that little girl was up and sucking on a bottle! Just like that. I was amazed at the transformation in her, once she got some good warm milk in her little belly.

And she's been a happy healthy little piggy lamb ever since!

I put her back outside later with Adelaide. She knew the lamb was hers, but she just wouldn't get her to nurse. I kept trying, and she would lick her and was nice to her, but it just wasn't there for her. That mother instinct. And still, when I bring her outside, Adelaide stays right with her. But no nursing.

And of course the little lamb follows me now.

So I have 3 sweet little bottle lambs. All ewes. All full Finn. I will be keeping all of them. I'll probably sell Adelaide and Amarillo now. I have been supplementing the Tappitt Brothers with a bottle a few times a day as well. I named this little gal Carabella. She is 5 days younger than Campbelle and Cameron, but twice as big.  I went ahead and docked her tail a few nights ago along with the other 2 and 3 more outside.  And they are all doing fine now. A few days ago, she weighed 7 pounds.

I hope I don't have to tube feed a lamb again. I hope these next 2 ewes will be good mothers and take care of their lambs. They are Katahdin mix ewes and they all have been good mothers so far, I am just waiting on these 2 and we're done. Tonight is supposed to be in the 20's. I so hope they have them today or wait a few more days. But I am thinking tomorrow morning. That's when most of the lambs have been born, early morning. We shall see.

2014 gardens underway!!

It has been amazing here the past week. No rain. March wind drying things up.

So I got outside. I got 2 wheelbarrows of really good alpaca poop that's been composting out back. And 2 barrows full of compost me and the chickens have been working on. And several bags of leaves that mom gave me and have been sitting along the driveway for way too long. All that went on just a few long wide rows. I worked it in real good. Got collards, kale and lettuce planted already!

I really love this tiller. Tiny got it going for me last week, so it was ready to go with just one pull. Great tiller.

I got about 3/4 of this garden tilled. I'll be doing 2 more garden spots as this one fills up. I am ready for a good gardening and market year this year. After the bad one last year, I am all set to get started and make this a good market garden. I just hope we don't get flooded like last year. I need to make a trench up in the yard above the garden. Maybe divert the little creeks that come from the back of the property.

When we first moved here almost 10 years ago, this garden was nothing bur red clay. It was awful. I have been adding compost, leaves, animal manures and whatever else I can find to add to it. It actually looks almost like brown soil now. Still hard in some places where I haven't been tilling. But I plan on using this whole garden this year.

I am so thankful for such beautiful weather here. I was looking at some blogs up North and they still have several feet of snow on the ground. I can't even imagine. We are in the 70'2 here. But in a few days, we'll be back down in the 20's at night. I'll have to cover blueberry bushes.

Are there any other market gardeners out there? What's going on in your gardens right now? Or are you just dreaming of when you can get to it?

The first thing I've never done before.

 It had been a little more than half an hour since April had the ewe lamb and nothing was going on. And she had these 2 water bags hanging out. She wasn't pushing or sitting, just concerned with the little ewe lamb.


I was getting a bit worried by then. It just felt like something was wrong. So I just went on in and felt around. I have never done this before so didn't know what all I was feeling. At first I felt little round things. Of course I thought testicles. But no, it wasn't. I finally did feel some feet, but no head. When I pulled and got them out I saw they were the back feet. April was contracting then and pushing. So I pulled when she pushed. I pulled downward toward her back legs and out he came. He was alive! I was so thankful. I got his little head all dried off and let her do the rest. She seemed good after that.

And he's up and headed to the milk with his big sister.

These 2 guys are so cute. Both pure white and full Katahdin. I won't have to dock their tails! The ram has a little brown spot on his side and his ears stand up. The ewe lamb's ears hang down and she looks like a little rabbit.

I names the ewe Cheney and the ram Chandler. They are both doing great. Got their CDT shots this morning along with 7 other lambs. All are out enjoying this beautiful day.

I'll post about that 2nd thing later. I am out in the garden, tilling and getting ready to plant some kale, collards and lettuce. And getting beds ready for onions and radishes. It's supposed to be in the 70's the next few days, but the end of the week we are in for some freezing nights. I have 2 more ewes to lamb and I trying to get them have their lambs today. It's not working yet. But they've had 18 lambs so far.

I did 2 things I have never done before.

The first thing is a little later in the story.

This is April. On Friday about 11:30, I noticed her up front in the pasture and she had a water bubble. It was time, finally! So I grabbed some towels and some coffee and headed out there. It was a beautiful day to have some lambs!

She would walk around. Then sit down.

Then she'd get back up. The chickens came out to help her.

Then some sheep came out. They had been having their mid-morning siesta.

I grabbed some blocks and sat down. Had some chicken company.

Then she started pushing. I saw some feet and a nose, so I knew it would be just a few minutes and she'd have a lamb. She did this a few times, then she'd get back up. Then down she'd go again. It was nearly 12.

Finally, the cutest little white lamb was here. Looked like her momma. # 28, a ewe lamb. I helped April dry off her face and let her do the rest.

She was up within a few minutes, looking for some milk. April was huge, like a dairy goat. She went back there and found the udder and had some colostrum. Then this happened. Some of you will know what this is.

And this is where the first of the things I have never done before happened in about 20 minutes or so. I'm going to finish this post tomorrow. I am tired y'all!

Ah hah moments.

 Sometimes I don't like farming.

 Sometimes I wonder what I am doing here.

Sometimes I don't really like my animals at all.

Sometimes I just want to sell everything, move to town, live a life of abandon. Go out and party every night like I used to. Have no responsibilities. Not even a dog.

This winter has not been fun for me. I won't lie and say that it's been a breeze. It has not! It's been really nasty, wet, muddy, snow, sleet, ice, freezing cold, rain all the time it seems.

I know I am not the only one who is going through this too. I read your blogs and Face Book posts. I know. We are all just plain ole sick and tired of Old Man Winter and all his crap, right?

I'll tell you what I've been really hating the most about farming for me. Feeding time. I just absolutely HATE it. I dread going out there in the mornings. They are the worst. It's when I feed the sheep, goats and alpacas their feed and bread. Have you ever been literally plowed down by 20 sheep, who weigh at least 150 pounds each? Have you ever tried to walk with feed buckets in each hand with 20 sheep on all sides, trying to get to that precious yummy feed? And then have you ever tried to bend over with those feed buckets, because you can't put them down, and clean out poop from all the feed bowls, while 20 ravenous, seemingly starving sheep, WANT THEIR FOOD RIGHT NOW?! Oh my gosh, I just could not do it one more time.

And the goats are just as bad. And I only have 4 of those. But ALL 4 are huge and can do just as much damage as 20 sheep. And OH SO greedy, those sheep and goats. They all think that the other goat's food, which came out of the SAME bucket, is better than what they have! So they go round and round and round. The sheep do the same thing. It's crazy!

So, yesterday, while I was having my 8,978th major melt down, I had an ah hah moment. It's amazing when I have these. I immediately felt so much better and I didn't even have it yet.

I went to the Co-op and bought an 8' feeding trough for the sheep. Now WHY have I not ever done this yet? WHY? My husband went to get it in the truck for me later. It was here when I got home. And he even put a rope on it so I could pull it around. I know. He's a pretty good husband.

So this is how it went this morning. It was rough getting to the trough, but by golly, I poured that feed in there and they all gathered round and started eating and it was QUIET! Alleluia, it worked!!!!!!! I still have some of those green feeders that hook over things that I put some feed in too, that are in the stalls. So they aren't all here in this picture. And Amarillo is still in her stall with her 2 ram lambs. But it was SO nice.

And I gathered up all the bigger black plastic feeder bowls, took them inside and washed them out for the goats to use. Because, goodness knows,a goat is finicky about stuff like that.

 
There are all 4 goats, each with their very own feed bowls. Happy. That didn't last but a few minutes. Til they all realized there was feed in ALL those bowls. So they had to play musical feed bowls. Silly goats.

Anyway, all this to say that I am feeling totally refreshed and ready for a new start. It's a beautiful sunny day, supposed to be in the 60's! The quads are all doing great. Although, I am bottle feeding the 2 girls and had brought them inside. I did take them out to see their brothers, Click and Clack, and their momma. Just to see what she'd do.

This is when I first put the girls down. She sniffed them.

The ran to the corner and called the boys. You can see the difference in size of the black lamb to the right. He is twice the size of the other 3.  So here is Amarillo with her 2 boys with the girls in the front.

I decided to leave the girls in there but wanted them protected. So put up this little fence in the corner for them. They can see the others, but Amarillo can't hurt them if she decides to freak out on them. The black ewe I named Cameron. She weighs 3 1/2 pounds. The little brown ewe is Campbelle. She weighs just 3 pounds. But they drink a small bottle about every 2-3 hours now. They are doing amazingly well for how I found them 2 days ago, all trampled and cold and wet. I am surprised they have all lived and are doing so good. So I'll leave the girls out here with them and still bottle feed them. I want them to be a part of the flock. But they are SO small, I want them to be a lot bigger before they actually go out in the pasture with the other sheep and lambs. One swift roll-over and that could be it for these little tiny guys.

 I named the boys Click (the smallest) and Clack, after the Tappit brothers that come on NPR on Saturdays and talk all things cars. My husband loves those guys.

So, this is where I am right now. Much better. And I won't sell ALL the animals, just some of them later. I do have too many sheep for this place. Just to figure out who is going to be hard. I have an idea of some that I know I could sell and be ok about.

I hope you all are having a good weather day too, where ever you all are!

Clay

This is really hard to write a post about the death of a little 2 day old ram lamb. I have a good friend right now who has been fighting cancer for a few years. And she is near the end. It's not something that's easy to deal with, whether it's a helpless little new born animal or a grown woman. Death just sucks. I can't think of any other way to put it. It just sucks. My best friend died almost 3 years ago. My step dad died the end of May last year. I just heard today that a friend I grew up with found out she has lung cancer. Now my friend Libby. It's all around us. Everyone has someone they love who has died. And we will too. It's just life. That's all.  And it's sad. And we miss these people so much.

I have never seen anyone die. I don't think I could deal with that. When my friend Kathy was in the hospital, dying, her whole family and most of her closest friends, were there with her. We were there in the ER room. We all walked with the guys who were taking her to a private room. There were a lot of people following that bed. But I could not stay there in that room, talking to all the other people there, and watch my best friend just die. But that's what people here in the South do. I had to leave. I'm not from the South. I just could not bear to be there when she left this world. And she did, about 3 the next morning. Her daughter called and I couldn't even answer the phone. I just knew she was gone. And I don't think I have missed anyone as much as I miss her.

So Clay and his brother were born Thursday morning. I wasn't there to help Darla clean them off. I like to be there to help them get their little faces cleaned off. So what happened I think is that he got fluids in his little lungs. And there could have been other things wrong with him as well. I will never know. He wouldn't have lived this long in the wild. Or if I hadn't done all I did for him.

I brought him in yesterday and gave him milk. Rubbed the bottom of his feet with alcohol to bring his high fever down. Nothing seemed to help. I was surprised this morning that he was still breathing. He was very weak. I had some things that needed to be done. When I got home, he was near the end. I could tell. I just picked him up and held him real close to my chest. I guess for probably an hour or so. I didn't know it could take so long. It was so sad. And hard to do. I cried. Not only for him, but for all the people I've lost. And he died. I took him outside to Darla so she could say goodbye to him. She knew he was gone.

I don't think he would have been a healthy lamb if he had made it. And so I am ok with this because I know he would have had a hard time. This is a working farm and things like this happen. I have never lost a baby lamb or goat kid. I have 8 healthy lambs out there right now with more to come. It could happen again. I don't know. I certainly hope it doesn't. It just really sucks.

More meds. And more tail docking.

I just went out to check on the new ram lambs. I put up a heat lamp in their stall. They were laying together under the heat with Darla near them.

They both sound bad. I came back in and got some Combi-Penn-48, some plain yogurt and some more Nutri-Drench. Gave them all that and they both went to nurse. Darla is not pushing either one of them away. She sniffs them and cleans them while they are at the udder. So I don't know. I'll see in the morning if any of this worked. They are both so darn sweet and pitiful. Why does this have to happen to such brand new life?

As I was leaving, I told all the ewes that have not had lambs yet, that they are NOT allowed to have any more lambs til it warms up again. No more lambs! It's just too cold!

A also gave Claire, Cadie, Clark and Charlotte their CDT shots about noon today. Then got the hubby to hold them this evening so I could band their little tails. They all did rather well. But I still hate this part of lambing. Not fun at all.

Cole and Clay

They are not feeling very well right now. When I went to check on them a few hours ago, Clay, the smallest lamb, was wheezy and weak. Cole was a little wheezy but not as bad. He seems to be stronger and bigger and has more energy.

So I called a friend who has sheep to see what she'd do. I was going to give them both shots of antibiotic but wanted to make sure first. She said she'd do it. Plus some sheep Nutri Drench and some colostrum in a bottle. So I did all that.

When I went out about an hour later to put up plastic in their stall, Clay was up and peeing. A good sign? He must be nursing because he didn't drink much from the bottle. His little sweater was all wet before so I took it off him.

As soon as I put that plastic up, it started getting warm in there. I was going to put up a heat light later too. But the plastic helped a lot with knocking the wind off them. Oh my goodness, I hate when animals get sick. I can usually help them as much as I can, but if something else is wrong, then it's out of my hands. I have never lost a lamb or goat kid, but it could happen. I know so many people who have. When my favorite ewe Lucinda died a few years ago, it was horrible. I had done all I knew to do for her, but it wasn't enough. I learned later of some things I could have done and she would be alive today. But I learn as I go around here. But when Abby died last February, I cried so much it hurt. Literally hurt. I loved the goat.

On a farm though, there is always the chance of death. It's part of life on a farm. It sucks, but it does happen. I have had chickens to die, but that's not the same at all to me as a 4 legged creature. I butcher chickens. But a furry wooly little lamb or goat kid? I don't know if I can handle it. But I will. I have to. I'll do all I can for the little guys. The rest is up to them and their momma. But please say a little lamb prayer for the little sweeties. Thanks so much.

And next year, no lambs til April or May. It's just TOO cold right now.

#'s 21 and 22...

I woke up early this morning. Looked out the window and saw a jet black lamb right outside the stall door. I figured it was Darla's, so got dressed and ran out there to check on them. All the others were outside soaking up some sunshine after the freezing cold night. I think it might have gotten down to about 20 or so. All water was frozen and so was the ground.

I looked in the 1st stall and there was another little tiny lamb in there. So she had twins! Both rams!

This is the bigger lamb, so I am thinking he was born first. He was dryer. So he's # 21. His name is Cole.

And his little brother Clay, # 22. He was a little weak and laying down. I had brought a towel, so wiped him down and held him a few minutes to warm him up. They both were not shivering at all.  But I could tell Cole had already been nursing. But this little guy needed a little help. I held him up to the teat and he got a little bit. But he was very weak.

I did go warm up a bottle of colostrum for him. He took a little bit. It must have helped him, because he's been up and nursing really good since.

I took off the black shirt-sweaters that Clark and Cadie were wearing and washed them and put them on the new little guys. When I went to grab Cadie, Annabelle got spooked and ran right over little Cash. When he got up, he was holding his left front leg up. I almost cried. I thought his little leg had gotten broken. But I think he'll be ok. He's the sweet little ram that I'm thinking about keeping. I'm going to make another post about Cash today. He and his mother Leelah are so sweet.

So far, out of 5 ewes, they have had 3 sets of twins and 3 singles. So far, the rams are ahead. Which is ok, since I want more sausage! That stuff is SO good.

I know for sure there are 3 more ewes to lamb yet, with a possible 2 more.

# 20...

This morning, first thing during feeding, Leelah had a long string of goo and was in the middle stall. It wasn't long before this big guy was out and up and ready to eat! Just a single ram lamb. Leelah has only had single lambs in 3 years now. They are big lambs though. Blossom from last year is way bigger than the other ewes from last year.

It was cold this morning and he was just a shiverin'! So he burrowed down in this hay. Smart boy! And this hen decided it looked like a good idea so she sat down there and made a nice little nest. She stayed they a long time. Leelah must have stepped on the egg later, because it was broken.

                                                                       Isn't he so cute!

Later, Leelah had him outside in the sun. He was already running and jumping and having so much fun. I love his color. He's brown and cream colored. I can see a little heart on his side in this picture. He looks like he's mostly wool, so I may be keeping him for the Finn ewes.

His name is Cash. Sounds like a good name for him. He's the 7th lamb born so far here. I know there are 5 more ewes to lamb yet. With a few more maybe's. So we're not done with lamb pictures yet folks!

Meet #'s 17, 18 and 19...

This morning, after feeding all the animals, I looked out the front window and saw something small by Gracie way up in the front pasture. So out I went to see what was going on.


Gracie had one lamb already and was cleaning him off. I went to get a towel to help her. I could see some feet coming out so I knew there was another lamb soon. She came just a few minutes later. I got her head all dried off and let Gracie do the rest.

                                               So this is #17, a ram lamb. I named him Clark.

                                                     And his little sister, # 18, Cadie.

Years ago we had the best preacher. I just loved his family. His wife's name is Marquita and they had a daughter and twins. A boy and girl named Clark and Cadie. So I said when we had  another set of twins I'd name them after those twins. And here they are!

Then a few minutes later, after having gone back inside for a few minutes, I looked out and saw this little black and white lamb with Biatrix, way up front by the fence. So ran back out there and sure enough, she had this little sweetie. # 18, a little tiny ewe lamb. Her name is Claire.

What's so funny is that Biatrix is Gracie's daughter from last year. So Gracie is a Grand mother now. I know, Biatrix is only just a year old. I had not planned on such young mothers. But she's a good size and already a good mother. I think Bridget is bred too. She's the same age as Biatrix.

So we've had a busy morning here at Outback Farm. I had to call my mom and cancel our day out together because I wanted to be here in case there were more lambs. And of course, no more yet.

I have always had early morning or daytime lambs here so far. I have never had to go out all night to do night time checks. Never had any at night. They go anywhere from about 6 a.m. to about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. But that could all change. Ya just never know with sheep!

So far: 2 sets of twins, a ram and ewe each and 2 single ewe lambs. The ewes are ahead so far. I'd like tto have more rams please, ladies!

Anyone else having babies?

Meet # 16:

 Charlotte Belle. A single ewe lamb from Fiona. I kept waiting and waiting for her to have a few more lambs, but nothing. And she still hasn't passed the afterbirth. I hope nothing is wrong. She had a really long yellow goo before having the lamb. And she was covered in yellow that looked like meconium. I cleaned her off as best as I could.

And you can see where she went as fast as she could get there! Straight to the milk. And she didn't fool around either.

I am kind of glad Fiona didn't have more because she's the one who had Bonnie and Bridget last year. And didn't want poor little Bonnie. I had to go get matching sweaters for them and had a time getting Fiona to stop trying to kill Bonnie. She finally did kind of accept her but would only let her nurse from the back end. So I guess Fiona does better with one baby. She's so pretty too.

So I hope they have lambs like every few days because both stalls are full right now. But then, I'd love to have them all here and done. I am SO allergic to lambs! My eyes are so red and puffy and my nose is all stuffy and I'm sneezing. It's horrible when all I want to do is love on these sweet babies.

Family

 Sunday, we had most of the family here for lunch. Son-in-law Jason and middle grand daughter Coryn weren't here. But we had lots of fun. It was a beautiful day and we sat outside. I even got to do some knitting.


This is Kansas, meeting little Cassidy for the first time. Aren't they both adorable?

I gave Chloe some honeysuckle vines for the alpacas. Of course only Misha would eat it. He's so sweet.

I have wanted this lone pecan tree cut down for years now. It's right there in the garden and cuts off all the morning sun so nothing will grow in half the garden. It's down now. I was taking a break while hubby rested, to write some here. I'm piling up all the branches to burn later and stacking the wood right near the trunk. We'll let it sit there til next year. I'm fine with that. Then we'll burn the brush pile in a few weeks. I am so glad it's down. It never really had but a few pecans on it ever. This way the whole garden will be in sunlight now.

 

And see that big cedar tree back there? It needs to go as well because it blocks the afternoon sun. And it's a stinkin' cedar tree. They're all over and I have apple trees.

I put the sheep back over in this pasture. I'm getting another round bale delivered today. Darla loves this back scratcher! They all take a turn here when they first come back over here. I guess I need to make one in the other pasture for them.  She is huge! When are they going to have lambs???

  And I banded the little lamb's tails last night. It sure was nice having help holding them this time. I had my husband stand at the gate and I was going to bring the lambs to him to hold. Well, he did the first one and when I got back with the 2nd lamb, he was gone.  I had to go all the way to the house to get him. He didn't know there were 2! Silly man.

But they are both fine this morning and out playing in the sunshine with all the big sheep. Just waiting on more lambs to play with.

Better get back out there. I hear the chain saw a hummin'!

Peek-a-boo, y'all!

Near disaster

This baby is so sweet. And I feel awful right now. It was cold so I told my husband I wanted a fire tonight. I had gone out and got some small wood. Then went back out about 10 minutes later. I heard the strangest noise coming from up front where the lambs were. So I ran back in the house to grab a flashlight. Ran out there because I heard that horrible loud wail. I just knew something was awfully wrong.

Earlier this evening, I had put a pallet up across the entrance to the stall where Adele had the lambs. The hens could get in and out to lay eggs. Well, I  guess little Cassidy had gotten outside and Adele tried to get to her and knocked the pallet over. On top of her. That poor little new born baby lamb was laying out in the wet hay under that heavy pallet for who know how long. Til I heard her when I went outside to get wood.

I can't even imagine. If I had waited to go check on them before I went to bed later, she would surely have been dead. Oh, I am so upset. Makes me so sad to even think about her under that heavy pallet, smooshed and cold and her momma couldn't do a thing for her.

I just got the pallet off her and she was laying there all flat as a darn pancake. I picked her up and wrapped her in my shirt and rubbed her all over. She was so pitiful. And Adele and the ram lamb were in the other stall, just standing there calling to her. It was the most awful sound I have ever heard. And I hope I never hear it again.

I hope she'll be ok. I set her down and she walked to Adele and nursed. I waited to see how she did. Then came back out later to check on her. Adele got up and both lambs nursed real good. I never want to go through this again. I feel horrible. I am sure she'll be fine. Maybe it might have just happened before I went outside. I hope so anyway. Please say a little lamby prayer for the sweet little thing.





And this little guy. He and his sister are not identical twins for sure. I noticed this morning that the ewe lamb is real kinky and the wool is close to her skin. His is real fluffy and hairy like.

I was thinking he could be Bilbo's lamb. But just now it hit me that I got him Oct. 27th. 4 months ago. Ok, I already told y'all I hate math. But this is bad.

Adele's mother is Katahdin so she is half Katahdin and the rest wool breeds. So that's how he looks like a hair breed. Sometimes it takes me awhile but the light comes on.


And he is like twice as big as his sister too.

Just another day on the farm. And we did get that fire going. It's cold outside.

Meet...

The 1st lambs at Outback Farm for 2014!

                                                    From Adele Belle, twins! Her first.

                                                           #14, a ram lamb. Isn't he cute?
               

                                                             And # 15, a little ewe lamb! She looks like her momma, doesn't she? Looks like she's thinking about something.

She must of just had them around 7 this morning. The little ewe lamb was still a little wet. Adele is doing great so far. I had taken all the other sheep back next door and she was baaaaing like crazy. So April, Leelah and Gracie were all standing at the gate and I let them back over with Adele so she wouldn't freak out being alone. And of course they all promptly went in and ate all her hay for her. What great friends and mother.

Those 3 ewes should be lambing any time as well, so I'll leave them all over there for now.

These lambs are 95% Finn, so I'll have to dock tails in a few days. I went to the co-op this morning to get lots of bands. So I'm ready for all these little woolie lambs.

So here we go! Let the lambing begin!

Knitting again

My mom signed me up for a knitting class with a group at her church. It's at a home not too far from me. There are 7 of us, counting the girl teaching the class. I had taken a few knitting classes before and kind of know the basic casting on and knit stitch. But I forget between classes. So I thought I might learn a little more here as it's a 10 week class. The first project is a prayer shawl. We just cast on between 50-60 and go from there, just a knit stitch. Pretty boring when I'm doing this alone, but with others it's fun. Because all of the others are beginners. And I am the only one using these needles. Everyone else likes the round needles. I don't like them because there's no place to put the needle to wrap the yarn. I am not comfortable using them. I use my leg to hold the right needle when I wrap the yarn around. Anyway, I know I'll have to use the round needles to make hats, which I have made a few already. I will get the hang of it I'm sure. So we are all knitting at our own pace and when we get done with this project, we will move on to a hat I hope. Anyway, it's fun to be knitting again.

I hope to be learning to spin all this wool I am washing and carding. I'll be shearing again soon and will have at least 7 fleeces to do.

No lambs yet. When I went out to feed this morning, Adele was the farthest. I didn't think she was going to make it over to the feed pans. She is really slow and laying down a lot. They all are the past few days. But she's really slow. I hope she'll be ok. I wish they'd come on with these lambs. I stayed home to keep an eye on them while my husband goes to the wound care doctor. He's been so sick with whatever is going around. He was fine last week. Then I think it was Thursday evening, he went down fast. I mean, fine one minute, deathly ill the next. He was in bed for days. He's finally feeling a bit better, but not out of the woods yet. There are a lot of people with this, whatever it is.

I hope everyone is out of the snow and having some nice weather. It's been so nice and warm here, we let the fire go out and have open windows! We are in for some nasty storms though for later tonight. Tornado warnings for middle Tn. which we are very close to.

Have a great day y'all!