Tuesday drive

This was taken at high noon in Croydon.

The trees looked like they had Christmas lights on them.

It was an incredible blessing to be delivering mail at that time.

As my daughter says

It is 4 wheel drive, not 4 wheel stop.

I came upon this on my way home Thursday from New London. I did not think the roads were slippery. But, I guess if you have snow, speed and nasty frost heaves...this is what happens. I hope they are ok.

This was a first for us

I managed to get to bed by 8 pm Friday night and to sleep pretty quick, only to be awakened at 10:30 by a screaming lamb. Thoroughly annoyed I got up to put the lost lamb back with its mother, (they keep rolling under the gate) only to find out that Cassidy had a 2nd lamb 7 hours after the first. Well, there went my sleep for the rest of the night... I now know why I could not get one of the nipples open. At least the little ram was able to get some much needed colostrum. But, I still could not fall asleep wondering if he was going to make it.

And, yes, we are positive it is hers as she was in the lambing pen all by herself!

Went to a lambing clinic Saturday. No matter how long one has been at this, there is always something new to learn. Or in our case, share. But we did learn about dystocia up close. This site has good some great pictures, but the good and the bad...

Sunday we planned on going to church, our monthly spinning meeting and then dinner with friends. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans... God has other plans for us. Ewenice presented us with twins. But, we did not know who the lambs belonged to because they were in general population when we got out to feed and with everyone yelling for food at once, no one was paying attention to the pair. But, once fed we figured it out. The rest of the day was not the way it was meant to go either, but that is ok.

Now, just for the last 7 ewes to wait until after daylight to lamb or Thursday...

TTFN and here is to hoping and praying for a sleep-filled night!!

Today we had our 20th lamb born. There are still 8 ewes to go. I just pray they don't decided to go all at once...

Tomorrow we head to a lambing clinic. Do we need it? Probably not, but there is always something to be learned in any kind of farming. And it is nice to be able to comiserate with our shepherds at this time of the year.

The camera battery is charging. Hopefully I will remember to take pictures. And then to try to get them all uploaded.

One thing at a time. (o;

TTFN

More lambs...

As soon as Google lets me I will post more pictures.

Since 8 pm last we've had 6 more lambs. Cheyenne gave us at black ewe at 8 pm, Gert gave us a black ram at 3 am, Heifer gave us twin black lambs at 4 am, and Mabel gave us one of each (white) at 1 pm.
Gert doesn't want to nurse, so she is tethered to the gate and I have been milking her into a water bottle and feeding her boy every 2-4 hours. Mabel gave birth outside in the middle of the snow storm... Good thing I heard her on the baby monitor. Cheyenne and Heifer are doing fine, as are their kids. I just don't know what Heifer's kids are yet... I'll check later when we feed.

TTFN

Ladies in waiting

                                                The oldest lambs are growing quickly!

                                                    Mabel should be going anytime.

                                           Can I just adopt you instead of birthing my own?

                                     Ewenice has a bare butt. Mabel is losing it on her sides.

                                                             A lot of heavy ewes.

                                                          Olivia, looking depressed

                                                                    April

                                                   Lillian, in front, and Susan

The last oak next to the new garden is down!!

               Even though the big oaks are down, there are still 10+ acres of trees to come down.

 This is what is next for the other new garden. We get plenty of morning light, but not afternoon light.
Getting cut up for firewood. Notice Maxmillian coming to see what he humans are up to.

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi


Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

And where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal light.



--St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Farm update

We've had 3 more lambs born this past week. 2 rams and 1 ewe. Her name will be Faith, as I have faith that we can make a name for ourselves with Registered Horned Dorsets. We tagged the 5 and banded their tails. At this time, they are making a 'puppy pile' under the light in the creep.

We've put the 5 heaviest /closest ewes in the lambing pen. Those poor things are so close... We are listening carefully for that sound of labor.

No pictures at this time. They are still in the camera and I am too tired to load them into the computer. So...I am off to the recliner, a good movie, dinner and a lap warmer. Hopefully to bed early to get in at least a couple hour nap before all 'heck' breaks loose in the barn.

Hmm...maybe dinner will be delayed. Someone is making noises. Off to the barn.

TTFN

What have we been up to the last few days...

We had 2 ewes lamb one night after another. This brings us to 4 ewes lambing 5 lambs (2 ewe, 3 ram) in 7 days. We are both working, and shearing has started up. We've not had time to shear our own yet!

                                     
                                     
                                      
                                                          A newly born ram lamb.

                                                        Tina & Ruth with their children.

                         Cloud is looking on from the boys pen wondering 'What are those little things?'

                                                     One of many very pregnant ewes.

                                            Cornelius. Father to all the lambs born so far.

                                      I am so very lucky to be married to this wonderful man!!

                                                    Candace and her new ram lamb.

                                               Gracie and Faith and a no name ram lamb.

          Faith will be registered soon. She will be going to the NH Sheep & Wool May 14 & 15, 2011   

                                           Hey! It is safe in here. No one can mess with us!

Hmmm!

What do you think?

Lambing has begun for 2011

Christina. Born Tuesday, 2/15. Mother Tina, father Cornelius. Will be one of our new registered ewes.

                                           Lillian and Cheyenne waiting their turn to lamb.

                                      What's going on Mom? Tina is giving you a little sister.

                                                          Ruth and her newborn son.

                                                                     Aren't I adorable?

The groundhog needs a shovel - Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

The groundhog needs a shovel - Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

Recovering from work and snowstorms

Sometimes people are so mean!! Read the comments at the end of the newspaper article here-

http://www.theunionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=When+storms+stymie+Granite+State+deliveries&articleId=6f5337d4-eb51-4e33-ba61-3075cc3c03fb

We tried our best to deliver your mail! But, when roads aren't plowed and are impassable, or the snow plow driver plows in your mailbox, you will need to wait. Or pick up your mail at the Post Office.


I am enjoying a day off from work. It is Martin Luther King day and it means that the PO is closed for the day. That just means that the mail volume is going to be incredible tomorrow and we are in for 6 more inches of snow PLUS freezing rain! Double whammy!! I am seriously hoping I don't get called in tomorrow, but if I do I will make the best of it and try to get you your mail...

TTFN. Off to skirt fleeces and hopefully get some on the blog later!

Happy 1-1-11

 No New Years resolutions for me, except to try to enjoy each and every day to its fullest, and to appreciate those around me more.