February 7

It’s a girl!

January 26 we had our first lamb of the season born on a Sunday afternoon.  

Mom is Goldie One Ear, one of our oldest ewes.  Mom and Lamb seem to be doing well until monday evening, just as the sun was setting when I saw Jasper the houdini pup playing with the lamb like it was his personal toy.

The next day, we put Jasper into the barn to give the Mom and Baby a rest.  We started giving mom some extra feed, minerals and a mixture of molasses with stinging nettle tea to help with Anemia problems, increase the immune system and help her to increase her milk production. (Stinging nettle tea is great for everyone.  I have been drinking it the last few weeks myself.)  Everyone seemed to be doing well; even with the -17 degree temps last week. 

We continue to keep extra bales of our freshest hay near the shelter area to help as wind breaks and give the sheep a chance to eat the hay when the ground is covered with snow and ice.

Monday morning this week with at least 7 inches of snow on the ground all of my help were stranded by the weather and I am not steady enough on my feet yet, after this knee replacement to go out into the field without a chaperone.

By 5 pm I made it to the barn to feed the chickens, check on the cows and guinea fowl, then prepared food for the sheep and the two pyrenees.  Scott came in just as I was going to the field. 

We made it to the field but the baby lamb was nowhere to be found.  Feeding the adult sheep and the dogs as a distraction I found the lamb resting in the hay in the lean to shelter.

It was weak, thin and limping a bit in the back right leg.

I called my Sheep expert, Celeste Taylor who came straight over with her medicine bag and expertise.  She examined both Mom and Baby and acknowledged the Mom has limited milk production and the baby maybe showing signs of hunger and muscle weakness.  We put a warming jacket on the baby, gave it a dose of selenium, some B vitamins and a supplemental bottle.  Mom got a drenching of molasses and Stinging nettle tea. 

Tuesday morning Jasper, who had been allowed back in the field over the weekend, was taken back to the barn.  HE had quit playing with the lamb, but seem to be focused on herding them, almost to the point of stalking, as Mom and Lamb would try to have some quiet time.  I am sure that was not helping things.

Baby Lamb and Mom have really done well the rest of the week. The bottle supplement and warming coat seem to be helping also.

It seems like a really long winter already, esp being pretty much confined to the house with the knee replacement.

Scott has been great with extra chores and keeping me in ice for the knee.  Gratefully his employees gave him the box set of the BBC/PBS series “Doc Martin” and we are almost up to the fourth season…enjoying the sunny countryside of Cornwall, England and a General Practitioner that has horrid bedside manner.

 JJ spent a few days helping me when I got out of the hospital and we started the HBO Series “Game of Thrones.” I read the five book series starting the end of August, and at least have a clue to what is going on in this complex show.

I am looking forward to getting back to the Farmers Market on Saturday.  Missing the month of January recovering from the knee replacement has been great but I miss seeing all my friends and Customers.  Gratefully I have progressed well enough to get driving privileges at 24 days post op, as to the usual six weeks.

For the Market we have a few bulbs we have started that will be available for sale, as well as some pots of Arugula, cilantro and parsley for your kitchen to have fresh herbs at home. 

Our meat products are limited and are at half price at this time as we will be butchering again in a few weeks and need some freezer space.  We have some beef, lamb and mutton all sealed and frozen.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!   Judy

PS: To all the Artists out there we will be resuming our Painting classes and Lunch in March on Thursdays.  Jeff Risner has agreed to teach again. We have a cook and the green House is already set up with Tables for Rainy days and/or warmth as needed.  We are just waiting for the ice and snow to clear as well as the final work completed on our farm improvement project.  I will have more information as soon as possible.  J