November

November

Another month has whizzed by and things are slowing down in the fields.  We are still cutting Kale, have some chard, spinach, turnips, kohlrabi, parsley, potatoes, apples and pears.  The cider sold out even after starting to ferment.  The 25 new chicks from last spring are starting to lay plenty of eggs, up to 2 dozen a day.

We took a young lamb ram to butcher this week and will have some lamb roasts, chops and ground lamb next week at the Farmers Market.

The Guinea fowl hatched out a few weeks ago and we have gone from six chicks to two.  We are keeping them in the Barn to protect them from predators and have only lost one in the last two weeks. 

The garlic will be planted this week for next year.  We are cleaning up the garden beds esp. around the blueberries, red raspberries and asparagus that should be producing enough to sell next spring.

The weather changed before we could gather any honey this fall so we will continue to feed the two hives (a water and sugar mix) to give the bees energy to continue to make honey for the winter.

We had a small scare last week as Jasper the new pup was limping around (as he continues to find ways to get out of the field) and one of our older ewes was limping terribly also.

I took Jasper to the vet and he was given a clean bill of health so we put him back in the field. 

We were afraid the Ewe had foot rot that had extended up her leg.  We have been checking them all regularly and a few had to be treated with topical Copper Sulfate for the infection.  Sometimes the infection can become contagious and the entire flock needs to be put down.

Gratefully the Ewe’s feet were fine.  Rocky is just getting a bit rambunctious as the girls are in Estrus at this time and he is getting a bit rough with them all…. as well as protecting them from the new pup!   Within a few days everyone was walking and running with out any issues and I can relax.

The main projects for me these months are to look for receipts for tax purposes. I finally hired a bookkeeper…. I know my limits and organization is not one of them anymore.

The other project is to finally get started on the Federal grant we received to replace a large part of our perimeter fencing.  Dan and I, with some additional help pulled out the older perimeter fencing last weekend. We should have the first phase completed by Thanksgiving.  New Cedar posts and four inch square Tencel fencing, complying with organic standards to help us when we apply for Organic Certification in coming years.

Hope everyone out there is well and enjoying the season!   Best wishes from the Farm.   J

October 4, 2013

Wow the growing season is nearly over and the leaves are starting to turn to another golden Autumn. 

The Apple trees that the Keifer Famly Planted over 40 years ago have been feeding us, the cows and the sheep for the last few months.   We made Applesauce early in the season from the Lodi Transparent Apples and this week went after the golden Delicious, red Delicious and a couple other “Mystery” Types.

We picked 24 bushels on sunday afternoon and took them to be pressed on Monday giving us 93 Gallons of fresh Cider.  Scott’s first comment was that we “will be brushing our teeth with it!”   Hopefully it will not come to that and we will be able to sell all of it.

By the end of the Month we hope to be harvesting our Honey also.  I am not sure if we will have enough to sell. The bee growers worldwide are having challenges. We were in Ireland in August and one farmer told me they have lost two thirds of their bee population in the County Wicklow area.

The Guinea fowl is setting on more eggs.  We are hoping to capture this new batch and save them from the predators that got the last chicks.

September 19, 2013…. Remembering.

Where has the summer gone?  Last week was 9/11 anniversaries again.  It is one of those dates that seem to have most Americans deep in thought. Remembering.  The day of the twin towers going down. I think on a personal note even before living on a small farm hours away from New York City and the Pentagon in D. C., it was when the plane went down in the field in Pennsylvania that made me the most frightened. That was what made the threat real.  That was when I feared for my children and families, not just gaping at the horror stories and pictures from the radio and television.  That was close to my life.

So much has happened to the world and to my family since.  We go on and live our lives, but will be forever changed. For me each day has become a gift. I try to take a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise and sunsets.  I try to linger at the antics of the sheep, dogs and even goofy chickens that escape from the coop.

The summer has been long and emotionally exhausting.  The end of June we had the vet out to check one of the bull calves we purchased in March.  He just was not gaining weight.  He was pronounced healthy without any infection or other health problems.  The lambs looked good also.  A few days later around July 4 we started to lose lambs.  It was the heat.  We lost three in a ten-day period.  The youngest and the weakest; it made sense but was still hard.  Then the temperature changed and we lost an ewe.  I was so confused. I started calling other local sheep farmers.  There are so many reasons sheep die.  One of my neighbors, who have at least 200 sheep to my 12, had the same issue.  When the weather changed he lost some also.  He had an autopsy (Necropsy) and it was Pneumonia secondary to the weather change.  Otherwise our counts are good and they are still healthy.

We bought a new Ram, now named Rocky…. Compare the horns to the Rocky Shoe and Boots Logo! :)  In Nelsonville.  He is a two-year-old Jacob Breed.  Hopefully we will have more lambs in the spring.  We have changed our feeding habits and the sheep are getting a daily supply of mineral with a small amount of grain to encourage them to eat it!  When we worm them on a more regular basis we give them a solution of Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic, which is recommended to help their body immune systems.

In August I was able to show my Quilts and some of my digital artwork at the Athens County Library with a great response.  I appreciate all the wonderful comments and support.  The family took a long awaited vacation to the Jenkinson homestead in Ireland.  A tour took us from Shannon to Dublin, and then we went to the English lord's home now a bed and breakfast.  The Bel Air Hotel and Equestrian Center, Ashford, Ireland is the birthplace of Scott’s Great- Great- Great- Great Grandmother, who was born in the late 1700’s.  It is in the small village of Ashford, near Wicklow, now owned and run by William Freeman and his sisters.

Home now we are preparing for winter even though the first day of fall is this weekend. The barn is full of over 200 bales of straw from the field next door, which will take care of our bedding for the chickens and mulching for next spring plantings.  We brought in 26, 4 by 4-round bales of our own pesticide/ herbicide free hay to feed the sheep and cattle on this winter. 

We are still digging potatoes, the apples (Red and yellow delicious), and pears and coming on fast.  We are one of the few farm stands with summer zucchini, and have a collection of six different sweet and some (hot/spicy) peppers.  The tomatoes (Mostly Roma paste varieties) are ready, as well as the basil, lemon balm, parsley.  The spinach and kale are being picked.  And we are almost finished with the various green and red beans. 

The construction work is almost complete.  The 500-gallon propane tank for the cook stove in kitchen and back up generator is going in this week.  The roof, opaque polyurethane is ready to go on the 1000 sq foot heated green house. 

Tuesdays from 10-12 Until the end of October  we are hosting  painting Plein Air painting classes being taught by Jeff Risner for a small fee of $15.  If you would like to come and stay for lunch, lunch will be available for a small fee also.  Just RSVP with me  (740-541-4190)  or Jeff.

We are trying to be at the Wednesday markets.  If I am not there Kelly Gambil my farm hand will.  Dan Gillespie and I should be at most Saturday markets.  Currently we are harvesting Lots and lots of Peppers,Tomatillos, tomatoes, eggplants, fresh potatoes, Kale, Chard, Spinach, Okra, and still have eggs, lamb and beef. See you there! 

Remembering

September 19, 2013…. Remembering.

Where has the summer gone?  Last week was 9/11 anniversaries again.  It is one of those dates that seem to have most Americans deep in thought. Remembering.  The day of the twin towers going down. I think on a personal note even before living on a small farm hours away from New York City and the Pentagon in D. C., it was when the plane went down in the field in Pennsylvania that made me the most frightened. That was what made the threat real.  That was when I feared for my children and families, not just gaping at the horror stories and pictures/stories from the radio and television.  That was close to my life.

So much has happened to the world and to my family since.  We go on and live our lives, but will be forever changed. For me each day has become a gift. I try to take a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise and sunsets.  I try to linger at the antics of the sheep, dogs and even goofy chickens that escape from the coop.

The summer has been long and emotionally exhausting.  The end of June we had the vet out to check one of the bull calves we purchased in March.  He just was not gaining weight.  He was pronounced healthy without any infection or other health problems.  The lambs looked good also.  A few days later around July 4 we started to lose lambs.  It was the heat.  We lost three in a ten-day period.  The youngest and the weakest; it made sense but was still hard.  Then the temperature changed and we lost an ewe.  I was so confused. I started calling other local sheep farmers.  There are so many reasons sheep die.  One of my neighbors, who have at least 200 sheep to my 12, had the same issue.  When the weather changed he lost some also.  He had an autopsy (Necropsy) and it was Pneumonia secondary to the weather change.  Otherwise our counts are good and the rest are are still healthy.

We bought a new Ram, now named Rocky…. Compare the horns to the Rocky Shoe and Boots Logo! :)  In Nelsonville.  He is a two-year-old Jacob Breed.  Hopefully we will have more lambs in the spring.  We have changed our feeding habits and the sheep are getting a daily supply of mineral with a small amount of grain to encourage them to eat it!  When we worm them on a more regular basis we give them a solution of Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic, which is recommended to help their body immune systems.

In August I was able to show my Quilts and some of my digital artwork at the Athens County Library with a great response.  I appreciate all the wonderful comments and support.  The family took a long awaited vacation to the Jenkinson homestead in Ireland.  A tour took us from Shannon to Dublin, and then we went to the English lord's home now a bed and breakfast.  The Bel Air Hotel and Equestrian Center, Ashford, Ireland is the birthplace of Scott’s Great- Great- Great- Great Grandmother, who was born in the late 1700’s.  It is in the small village of Ashford, near Wicklow, now owned and run by William Freeman and his sisters.

Home now we are preparing for winter even though the first day of fall is this weekend. The barn is full of over 200 bales of straw from the field next door, which will take care of our bedding for the chickens and mulching for next spring plantings.  We brought in 26, 4 by 4-round bales of our own pesticide/ herbicide free hay to feed the sheep and cattle on this winter. 

We are still digging potatoes, the apples (Red and yellow delicious), and pears and coming on fast.  We are one of the few farm stands with summer zucchini, and have a collection of six different sweet and some (hot/spicy) peppers. Lots of Peppers! The tomatoes (Mostly Roma paste varieties) are ready, as well as the basil, lemon balm, parsley.  The spinach, Chard and kale are being picked.  And we are almost finished with the various green and red beans. 

The construction work is almost complete.  The 500-gallon propane tank for the cook stove in kitchen and back up generator is going in this week.  The roof, opaque polyurethane is ready to go on the 1000 sq foot heated green house. 

Tuesdays from 10-12 we are hosting 2 hour painting Plein Air painting classes being taught by Jeff Risner for a small fee of $15.  If you would like to come and stay for lunch, lunch will be available for a small fee also.  Just RSVP with me  (740-541-4190)  or Jeff.

August 12, 2013: A week on the farm!

August 11, 2013 In the last week so many things have happened….Saturday evening we acquired a new puppy. 

A five-month-old Pyrenees, which we named Jasper!  

Jade at age 4 is already showing symptoms of arthritis. We take our daily Glucosamine together!  I thought she might need the help and Scott was worried she did not have anyone but sheep to play with. 

Sunday mornings I usually do the chores and give my crew the day off.  I had started cooking a pot of black beans and left them on the stove to simmer while I went to the barn.  I fed the chickens and sheep, did some maintenance cleaning stalls etc and brought Jade to the dog yard near the house to meet the new puppy.  Jade started barking wildly at the backfield alerting me that two of the young bulls were in the garden. 

I came in to grab my ear protection and phone, to head into the field with the mower…. I use it as an all terrain vehicle sometimes….

The house was full of smoke. I had burnt the beans…. The smoke was overwhelming and it is a wonder the alarms had not gone off!!

I pulled the beans from the stove and went after the bulls.  I am still in awe at how they managed to get to the garden.  They are not that big yet but managed to cross two fences and two closed gates…. gratefully all the animals are like pets and they know I am the one with grain.  I use it to get them to follow me…

(Farming is like being a Mom!  Put sweets in front of the animals and they will follow me anywhere! )

The afternoon was spent with visiting family and dinner at the new Lake Hope Lodge! 

Monday is another day I have been doing the chores and giving my crew off.  Our workweek usually goes from Tuesday to Saturday.  Without interruptions I try to get paper work done, and then get to town for a few errands.  This was the week of the county fair and I made it to hear a great lecture on soil conservation from a Fairfield County farmer, David Brandt.  I got some great ideas from the lecture to start implementing on the farm.  I am going to be planting winter crops that add the nutrients back into the soil while cutting back on the compaction of the clay, which is the main ingredient of southeast Ohio soils.

Scott had a late day at work and I headed to the pond to do some brush hogging with the tractor to try to figure out the trail of the bulls.  No luck to find out how they got out of the pasture but I did slide the tractor into the pond.

Not only do I love my farm for the animals, views and wildlife.  I have great neighbors.  I called Larry across the road to see if he was home.  All he had to do was walk to his front porch and assess the situation!  He came over in his truck and decided to call in more help.  Rich who used to live across the road dropped everything to come help.  They have the equipment and the experience to make it seem easy.  They also assured me that I was the third person recently that they had hauled out of ponds!  I guess I am good company.

Tuesday the full work crew came in and we did our usual workday.  Picking for Wednesday market, check on animals, etc. We have two portable solar electric fences that we use to manage the fields.  We got them straightened out and then had a visit from the Agriculture Department that is giving us a grant for new fencing.  We walked the perimeters with him to get final numbers to finally get started on bids.

Wednesday was market day. We are trying to get to the Markets on Wednesday as the produce is finally coming in.  The rains held off until we made it home then the skies opened up. We all were rushing trying to get the end of the day chores done and animals in the barns, etc.  I try to have the workers off the property during major storms, as I am fearful of lightning strikes. 

Kelly one of my new workers, who grew up on this farm tells of the barn being hit by a tornado at one point and her father being struck by lightning as he stood inside during a storm.  I try to run a safe job site.

Thursday morning Daniel and I headed to Loudonville, Ohio with the truck fora new ram.  I purchased the flock last year from a farmer that passed away.  He was mixing the breeds for a variety of reasons…. health and meat taste.  We butchered for the first time last fall and have had so many compliments on the meat I want to continue.  My final note from him was that he wanted a Jacob Ram for the next generation.  This is an older and rarer breed.  Not too many people in the area have them. 

We made it through Columbus and got off of 71North in time for a major rainfall. Large trucks and most cars were pulled to the side of the road, flash flooding and hydroplaning was a major issue at this point.    We finally made it through and on to our destination to find a detour on the last leg.  As we followed the detour we got lost for nearly an hour.  To make matters worse…. in the middle of Ohio in that areas where there is no satellite service rendering phones useless for calling for directions.

Somehow we got to the farm, purchased and loaded the ram and headed home realizing if we had ignored the detour sign we would have been there an hour earlier! 

Rushing home was tricky.  I have a show of some of my art work hanging at the Athens Home Street library and I was due at 5:30 for an artist reception.  Gratefully arranged by Lana Galloway, an amazing textile artist in her own right.She arranges shows by local artists on a monthly basis.  With Quilt National going on I managed to get my work in all three venues this month. I made it only two minutes late.  The works are in the main library area, the two cases as you go into the stacks and more in the small meeting room. 

Thank you to all my friends that came out that night to see my work and me.

They will be up until August 29!

Friday was a humid, constant misty rain. Most of the employees came in for a short day and left early after preparing for Saturday market.  I took one of the dogs for a flea bath, and then took a specimen from the sheep to the vet by the back roads.  Angel Ridge to South Canaanville Road is beautiful any time of year.  This morning is was amazing.  I saw no less that three pairs of wild turkeys in the fields and crossing the roads, a Pileated woodpecker just missed my windshield, more young white tails than I could count and several box turtles crossing the road. Being able to see such an abundance of wildlife in the mid-late morning was such a gift.  It cheers my heart in so many ways.

The house still smells like smoke.  I missed the market on Saturday to attend a funeral…and will be missing a few more in the next couple weeks due to some other family commitments but my crew will be there. 

Current Vegetables being picked include:

Okra

Fingerling potatoes

Corn

Onions

Peppers

Green beans

Cherry tomatoes

Lemon Balm

Basil

Mint

Long Chinese Red beans

Garlic

We also are starting weekly painting class:

Introduction to Plein Air Painting

Weekly painting instruction by Jeff Risner

Tuesday Mornings, 10-12, $15

Per class September 3- November 12

Location 4283 Marshfield Road, Athens, Ohio 45701 (12 miles out of Athens)

Jenkinson Farm and Garden, is a working farm and participants are encouraged to stay after class and paint through out day.

Contact Judy Jenkinson 740-541-4190, judyljenkinson@me.com for further information and to RSVP for this program

Another busy week!

June 10, 2013:  Another busy week!

Somehow it seems like spring rather than almost summer.  With a late frost Memorial Weekend and plenty of rain this year we are still trying to get the plants in the ground.

Last week we had our first class in our new facility. Last week we had our first class in our new facility. The class was organized by Live Healthy Appalachia and consisted of 7 new graduates of the CHIP program (Complete Health Improvement Plan).

The theme was "Plant Strong Summer Cooking" and Mary Chleboun led the group in learning how to alter their favorite summer recipes to be non-dairy, sugar-free and egg free.  They made their own condiments… mayonnaise, catsup and barbeque sauce and used those condiments in the dinner and in making potato salad .  They ate grilled portabello mushrooms, veggie burgers, vegan baked beans, potato salad, strawberry sorbet and more. Everyone seemed to have a really good time.

We are still waiting on the kitchen sink and the stove to be hooked up to the propane tank but we got by with a gas grill and a couple buckets doing dishes.

I was feeding the animals this morning and checking out the potatoes we got them in late but they look great. About the time I found an area that the ground has started to wash out down the hill, I realized it had taken several potato plants with it.  Then whoosh the skies opened up again.   Then this afternoon the same thing happened in the same area.  I did get one row of potatoes weeded but have to get back tomorrow when it dries out with some straw.  I have always heard if the sun shines onto the green potato directly it is not good.  In the meantime I can confirm one of those “old wives tales” which says if you plant your potatoes in June you will not have potato bugs.   So far that is true!

Still trying to get the rest of onions, brussel sprouts, broccoli, eggplant, squash, cucumbers and pumpkins in the ground. 

The bees were inspected last week.  No mites but still short a couple queen bees.  I was told I could combine two of my hives so will be ordering a new queen and then putting a couple hives together.  Hopefully we will have a couple batches of honey to share this year.

Friday I took Jade, the Pyrenees to the vet.  She is limping again.  There is concern about an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in her back right knee.  Gratefully her antiflamatories are working and the limping is decreased.  I did find out that we have to now treat our pets, especially dogs for Lyme disease.   Another Pyrenees was found nearby and was nearly lame and covered with tics.  The vet treated him and cared for him and he recovered, but I cannot imagine watching one of my animals going lame.

Friday night Scott and I finished picking and pitting the cherries from the cherry tree.  I promise to get some cherry trees to add to my small orchard in the making.

We selfishly enjoyed two pies and have made 12 jars of homemade jam.  There is something about sitting on the porch and watching a sunset with your livestock grazing in the distance that just slows you down from all the rush, rush, rush of day to day.

Saturday was busy.  The Athens Farmers Market is in its full capacity for the season and after three years I finally have a permanent spot.  If your looking at the mall I will be directly below the entrance to Dunham’s and Kiser’s Barbeque.

After unpacking from the Market we went on a farm visit to the local Snowville Creamery.  They are hormone free and have the best products (in my opinion) and are local.  We have our second bunch of their young bulls, which we are raising for the beef.  I like the fact that they are so organic in the treatment of their cattle such that the bulls we get have no hormones in utero and this time we got them so young  (24 to 48 hours old) that only a couple required any antibiotics during the first few days.  The bulls are a couple months old now and we took one down to their open house for a hand on petting zoo for the children. 

See you at the Athens Farmer's Market on Saturday!  

Thankfully it is May!

May 17, 2013

Wow it’s May!

This past couple months has been an emotional roller coaster on the farm.  We are committed to compassionate humane treatment of our animals but in spite of heroic efforts we have lost a few…a couple ewes and a few small lambs.  At the end of lambing we have a total of 19 now, 8 ewes and 11 lambs all born since January.

Miss Celia (See previous Blog) is doing well and is quite active.  She is still being bottle fed twice a day and is quite the jumper.  Watch this video!

We have 6 bull calves thanks to the Dix Family farm that are one of the Snowville Creamery Dairy farms (if I have my facts straight).

We have 27 new month old chicks in the far pen of the barn.

And still have the 30 plus hens still laying regularly.

The guinea fowl that usually hang out together are now going three in one.  I

am constantly looking around for a possible nest.  But so far am coming up with nothing.  I guess they will surprise us if there is really a hidden cache of eggs somewhere.

The Luna Moths are out now and I find them all over in the mornings as their wings dry out from the dew.   It is always a cheerful site.

The weather has started to cooperate a bit and we are slowly getting a few crops into the ground.  Tomatillos, Eggplants, Green Beans, Peas, corn, and potatoes are in so far. The Blueberries and Asparagus should be ready next year but are looking great.  The garlic and red raspberries are weeded and should be ready in a few weeks.

The three hives seem to be doing well after losing the bees in one of the hives this winter.  There are so many causes for the death of bees we are just grateful for new queens and a chance to keep up.  I constantly feel overwhelmed with so much to learn. It is a complex science that keeps changing.

Gratefully the frost has stayed minimal and the fruit trees look loaded…with only two peach, and pear trees we will try to get what we can to market but I have to admit they are my favorite.  Lots of apples will be on the way from our older trees.

Last weekend I skipped the Athens Farmer’s Market when went to New Brunswick Canada to support Scott in his bucket list of running half marathons in each of the Canadian Provinces.  Two down and a few more to go!  We gratefully had his cousin Tom Culver with us and got a chance to visit Fredericton Farmer Market.  Seeing fiddle heads and lobsters for sale at a farmers market was quite the treat.

See you Saturday at the Athens Farmers Market, 10-1.

March came in like a lamb....and the lambs came!

March 11, 2013

March came in like a lamb….

And then the lambs started coming! 

Winters in southeast Ohio are almost always dark, dreary and down right depressing.  This year has been about the same. 

For some insane reason I found this was the perfect time to have some much needed surgery on a major problem with my shoulder.  By the time I had severe pain from holding a book, hand writing (thus many missed Christmas Greetings), typing on the computer with more than one finger and even using a remote I could not put it off much longer.  Gratefully the rotator cuff was only “Frayed” and not torn, but my dear surgeon does think I have “lousy joints”  = arthritis/bone spurs.  Yeah for old age!   Recovery has gone well except now I am dealing with headaches from compensating with different muscles.  There is nothing like 24-hour headaches for days and days.  To add to the fun were winter cold symptoms and the secondary symptoms, enough about my aches.  If you haven’t heard from me for a while be grateful, constant pain can make me cranky!  I am getting better.

In the meantime since our first lamb ever, Miss Venus was born January 14!  (see earlier blog).Then we had a set of twins three weeks ago Sunday, February 10.   The Mom went into labor around 9 a.m. Amanda, Dan and I have been reading up and were watching carefully.  She separated herself from the flock and definitely seemed in distress. She had planted herself at the top of the far field so I had to climb the back fence to get a good view to check her out.  I prefer my staff not climb the fence and with a bum shoulder it was not my preferred route but the shortest one…

About Noon the first lamb was born.  It is pure black with a small gray patch on the forehead.  About an hour later the second was born.  It has a white face and patch on its head, with a long all white tail.  By the third time I got to the back fence to take some photos Daddy Ram definitely was upset.  He came up to the fence where I was standing and with running starts just head buts the fence in front of me.  Think of a football fullback  (with similar thick necks!)

These two have been named Skunked and Lightning.  To add to the drama Miss Jade, the Pyrenees that lives in the field with them had been skunked on Friday evening.  We knew when it happened as the skunk must have hidden under the front porch around 9 p.m. Ugh.  The smell came wafting through the cracks of the front doors and windows in the middle of our usual Friday movie night.

By the end of the day (February 10) we were celebrating the birth of our first twins with a cocktail…. when I noticed the entire flock heading to the barn, sans Blackie (one of the original orphan lambs that has bonded with Jade).  Jade was running the perimeter of the far fence line barking her danger signal to the flock.  Indeed on the far North Fence line that is in the process of being clear-cut by the neighbors was two dogs and two men, hauling scrap metal that had been in the wooded area they had cleared.  Then the most amazing thing happened.  Not only was Jade barking up and down the fencerow, but also behind her with the same spirit and fearlessness was Blackie… Baa Baa Baaing at the dogs and men.  I am starting to think she thinks she is part dog.

By the time I checked the barn the flock had taken the protective position of putting the new borns in the barn with Mom, then had One Ear and her lamb, Venus, closest to the barn opening and the rest of the ewes and rams around the perimeter for protection.

Then came March.  Friday March 1 late morning I checked the barn to see if we had any more deliveries (we have several more pregnant ewes).  I found the barn empty except for one mother and a newborn still with the placenta.  I called Amanda out and we watched the Mom clean the new baby, it is all black with a white star on its forehead.  Then Amanda gasped and we realize another was on the way.  This is a first year Mom and we did not think she had twins.  Within minutes four hooves were presenting them selves from the Mom and then she slid out a beautiful all white lambs.  Within seconds it was shaking itself awake and trying to stand up.  I have some video but they are a bit blurry.  We were congratulating ourselves.  Numbers 4 and 5 are here.  I think we are calling them Chocolate and Vanilla.

Saturday Dan and Amanda worked the market for me.  Immediately after they left I found the Mom and twins born on Friday upset.  All the sheep are in the barn and the babies are on the opposite side of the fence than the Mom.  I wanted to help but then there is the issue of the protective Ram.  I am re-learning my mothering skills with pre-schoolers, “diversions.” I put several Scoops of feed in the barn to get the flock to stay in the barn then sneaked into the field to grab the babies.  The theory is good.

About the time I get through the second gate and grab the youngsters the Ram realizes my bluff.  He heads full steam at me and with little time I gently drop the lambs into the mud in front of the Mom and head to the nearest gate for protection.  Gratefully I feel calmer behind the gate and the Ram does not see me as further danger.  He leads the flock back to the feed and fresh hay in the barn.  Gratefully I get myself out of the barnyard to safety.

Sunday  (March 3) I usually do the chores myself.  Mid afternoon I went out to close up the barn and call it an early day.  JJ usually comes out for dinner and brings his dog; Nova and we all catch up on the week.

The chores are minimal: gathering eggs (we are up to a couple dozen eggs a day), feeding and watering the chickens again, closing up the coop then doing another head count on the lambs.   I find what I thought was the black twin and its Mom in the field close to the barn but cannot find the white one.  Usually the twins and new borns stay close to their own Mom for many days. I did a thorough search of the field and found the Mom, with her white and black two-day-old twins by the tractor plow in the field, when I realized we have another new baby the same coloring of the black one born on Friday, all black in color with a little white on top of its head (#6).

After double-checking the placement of the ram, gratefully in the far field I head through the stall to get a closer look at the new baby only to hear a faint cry from the corner.  There was a small cinnamon brown baby (#7) alone in the barn.  I picked it up and took it out to the barnyard to see if the Mom would hear it cry and come in.  It did. Gratefully I closed the doors to the barn to work with the Mom to feed the baby.

By that time Scott had wandered to the barn to check out the excitement.  To our horror the Mom sniffed the baby and twice with a couple steps gave it a strong head butt.  I grabbed it up in my arms and called Amanda on the phone for advice and moral support.

Within minutes she was in the barn with us.  We held the Mom and was able to get the baby to nurse, knowing the earliest milk, colostrums is so important for it’s antibodies and growth.  After a few minutes nursing we stepped back to see if now the Mom would accept it.  No.  She backed up and again head butted the little one.

The next option was trying to milk the new Mom.  I held her head while Amanda milked her and we saved the milk to a clean jar Scott had brought in.  About that time we realized the Mom did not have much milk to give and was probably rejecting the smaller lamb, to provide for the larger stronger one. 

The next plan was to bring all the new Moms into the barn to milk.  Easier said than done.  Where the ewes go, so comes the Ram.  We got them all in except for one and pushed the Ram out the door.  (Actually I watched as Amanda grabbed and pushed him out!)  Then the milking started.  One by one she chose a Mom, I held the head she milked one side then the other (utter).   Then she went out to the barnyard to the last Mom.  The Ram was not happy. Scott saw the Ram in action at this point and got into the barnyard to help protect Amanda while she got the last of the milk.

At this point we all headed to the house for a break to feed the new baby.  We had started the flock in April of last year with twin one-week-old orphans and had extra formula.  We also had a couple of nipples that fit on recycled clean plastic bottles.  Heating the milk Amanda had collected we fed the newborn and wrapped her in rags by the fire. 

By that time JJ was here for dinner.  And we sat down to our “Lamb stew”.  Boy did I pick a bad day to try a new recipe.  It was quite tasty but believe me, eating lamb and saving a lamb all in one afternoon does make you think a bit.

Spot, my beagle -Chihuahua, who is afraid of nothing, began to shake as if in fear at the first sight of the newborn.  Since he can sneak into the field fences he has been big man on the farm nipping at the heels of the bulls and steers, and playing with the lambs.  I think he got too close to the new babies in the field.  He shook for an hour that night.

After dinner Amanda and I headed back to the barn to try a second milking and she took the lamb home for the night for the frequent feedings.  Dan has taken it home the last two nights and it is thriving.  And even Spot is relishing in having a lamb friend his own size. 

Now we have a Mom that we think might be having triplets. She is huge, and has struggled to walk for days.  She has pretty much collapsed in the barn and is being hand fed.  In the last few days she has not been off of her feet but is alert, eating and the babies seem to be continuing to thrive. The last couple mornings I have found her floundering on her back, and have been able to get her upright on fresh straw. At time she is grinding her teeth.  After chatting with a couple vets we have diagnosed Toxemia (Reference: http://www.merckvetmanual.com), which is different than toxemia in humans but just as deadly.  (Think about the untimely death of dear Miss Sylvia after the birth of her daughter on the latest series of Downton Abby!)The first night we found her down I gave her a few ounces of straight corn syrup by instruction of the vet and Amanda obtained a stronger nutritional solution in the morning.  We have been administering a concentrated food supplement, anti inflammatory, and also additional supplements. She is still alert and eating and if all goes well we may have more lambs in a few days…. If not.

At this point we are not hopeful that she will get back on her feet.  We want to keep her as comfortable as possible as long as we can.  If the babies are born we will be bottle-feeding them also, if she can not.

We want to be as humane as possible to our animals. It only makes sense. It is the least we can do.

Nature and life are not always happy times.  We get the good with the bad.  We must be grateful for the good when we have it!

At this time we have 10 Ewes, 7 baby lambs, and two rams.   Spring is coming!

We may be hand feeding half dozen young steers in the coming weeks.

I will keep you informed!  See you all at the market on Saturday!  In April we will be back outside with all the other venders.   

Hugs.    J