BB (aka Black Beauty) and Her Newborn Twin Girls Very Early this Morning
During the winter our sheep eat organic homegrown hay supplemented with natural grains—usually oats and alfalfa pellets tossed with some dried molasses (yes, that would be livestock candy), along with kelp, a calcium mineral mix, garlic and onion powder, and diatomaceous earth which is a natural wormer.
It's especially important for pregnant ewes to have grain during the last six weeks of their five month gestation period because as the growing babies inside them become bigger, the ewes' four stomachs become smaller, and it's physically impossible for them to ingest all the calories they need from hay alone.
We feed grain in the late afternoon or early evening because I once read that will promote daylight births. So far this year it isn't working. For the second night in a row, I went down to the barn at 2am to do a preg check and found a new set of twins, this time BB's. I didn't get back to sleep until around 5:30, but mother and those stylish black babies are doing just fine.
Current lamb count: 9. Number of ewe lambs: 7 (!)
© 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the back in black foodie farm blog where we're always grateful when a ewe gives birth to twins all by herself without any problems, but we still can't help wondering why they don't have them at one in the afternoon instead of one in the morning.
Annette (Cary's other mother) and her newborn twins
In keeping with the old saying, March on the farm came in like a lion and out like a two three lambs. Tuesday evening while Joe and I were maneuvering poor old (and heavy!) Sweet Pea—my beloved pet wether who is unable to get up and walk anymore—into the barn for the night, Annette had two lambs lickety split.
Chocolate Chip Biscotti's newborn girl
When we went down to make sure the three of them were resting comfortably in their bonding suite before going to bed a few hours later, a quick check of the rest of the prego flock revealed that Chocolate Chip Biscotti had just given birth to a beautiful black girl out in the barnyard—with the cutest little pink nose.
She also has one inverted eyelid, which causes irritation and tearing, and I'm trying to fix it by simply pulling it into place several times a day, rather than resorting to a more complicated procedure. It's worked for me before, so I'm hopeful.
Wednesday morning Amy had twins, and last night sometime between the 10pm check and a 2am check, one of the two still unnamed Katahdin ewes we bought last year from our sheep shearer had twin girls way out in the barnyard.
At 3:30 this morning I finally crawled back into bed, reassured that the three of them were safe and sound in a bonding suite, and while only one of the lambs had nursed, both had drunk a little colostrum from a small syringe that I'd miraculously been able to milk out of not-real-friendly mama.
This morning both lambs were up and seemingly full of energy, but for some reason mama has decided that she only had one lamb, not two, and keeps knocking away the other one every time it gets near her and tries to nurse. Talk about a heartbreaking (and frustrating) sight.
If things don't improve soon, my plan is to see if I can trick the next new mother who has a single lamb into thinking she actually had twins by rubbing the birthing fluid from the newborn baby on the rejected lamb and hoping the mother will accept her—and the lamb (who has already imprinted on her birth mother) will also be amenable to the plan.
If that doesn't work, I'll bring the rejected baby up on a bottle—but unlike Cary (who is doing great by the way), I don't think she'll be let into the living room!
Of course the Nanny Bear is always ready to assist.
Oh, baby baby. And so it begins!
Current lamb count: 7. Ewe lambs: 5. Ram lambs: 2. Hours of sleep one of us has had in the last two nights: There are certain things it's just better not to count this time of year.
Can't wait for more baby pictures?
Lambing Season 2006 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2007 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2008 Part 1
Lambing Season 2008 Part 2
More Sheep Stories & Photos
Farm Stories & Farm Life Tidbits
© FarmgirlFare.com, the bouncing baby foodie farm blog where this is the first year we bred—in an attempt to build up some parasite resistance—our mostly Suffolk ewes with a Kathadin hair sheep ram (you don't shear this breed's coarse, furry 'hair') and the resulting little hair balls, as I've fondly started calling them, are cute as can be but look so different than what we're used to! (Chocolate Chip Biscotti's black lamb above was bred with a Suffolk ram so she's 100% wool sheep.)
But It's a Little Embearrassing
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the lovesick foodie farm blog where we believe in a well-rounded diet for all, which meant that a quick chest freezer cleanout yesterday yielded a Tex Mex breakfast of leftover nacho pie for Bear and the big girls (picky beagle Robin doesn't do ethnic cuisine, especially if it contains tomatoes and cilantro) that was greeted with confused sniffs at first but was happily inhaled seconds later.
That's Our Crazy Daisy
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the four-footed foodie farm blog where there's a certain time each afternoon when as you're walking around the farm while you work, it quickly becomes obvious that just about everyone else except you is sound asleep. And they say animals aren't as smart as humans.
There Are Usually Dogs (At Least That's How It Works Around This Farm)
Calling All Owners of Rescued and Adopted Dogs: Your Pet Could Be One of the 2009 Faces of Love!
How can you not love somebody who proudly calls herself a 'crazy dog lady?' That would be my dear friend and talented artist, Leigh Jackson, who says in her bio, "I found the loves of my life—except my husband—at animal shelters." Leigh's affordable modern dog portraits, which wonderfully capture the unique spirit of each beloved animal, are in hundreds of dog-loving homes worldwide (including many Hollywood celebrities') and have been featured in such publications as Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and the Miami Herald.
Leigh's latest project is called Faces of Love, and you're invited to submit photos of your dog for consideration (with no obligation to purchase a portrait). "I am looking to paint all the wonderful rescued and adopted dogs out there: big, small, furry and not so furry," explains Leigh. She wants to share their stories, too, like Jak's, who is pictured below. He's a "foster dog extraordinaire" who "has raised upward of 50 kittens and helped rehabilitated 5 injured dogs. . . and even helped raise a baby squirrel."
Ten percent of purchases from this year-long project, which includes paintings, prints, a 2010 calendar, and a compilation book, will be donated to A Place to Bark Animal Rescue, Bernie Berlin's amazing sanctuary in Tennessee. I've written about Bernie and her tireless efforts to save hundreds of unwanted dogs and puppies from certain death before. She is a true inspiration, and I thank all of you who have generously made donations to A Place to Bark. You can learn more about Leigh's 2009 Faces of Love project here, and you can see the dogs she's already painted—along with the photos that she painted them from—here. I know many of you have welcomed rescued and adopted animals into your lives, and I hope you'll let me know if your dog becomes one of the 2009 Faces of Love!
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the laid back furry foodie farm blog where even if the dogs are sitting right on top of the flowers (which is what Bear happens to be doing in this photo), we still wouldn't trade them for the world. And besides, at least the dogs don't eat the the flowers like some of the critters around here do.
But Not Quite (taken spring 2007 and forgotten until now)
Welcome Country Living Magazine Readers!
So many wonderful things have happened as a result of starting Farmgirl Fare nearly four years ago, but being featured in a magazine I've loved for more than 20 years is definitely one of the best!
I was thrilled when pet expert, author, and awesome dog rescuer Julia Szabo e-mailed me last fall to say that I was going to be the subject of her March Country Living column, and I had a great time talking with her on the phone about life on the farm with all of my critters (don't you just love the word critters?).
I suppose that technically our conversations were interviews, but I don't think I've ever laughed so much during one. Julia is a dog-loving hoot who swore me to secrecy over just how many rescued canines she shares her New York City apartment with. (Hint: it's more than five.)
I'm a little late getting this welcome announcement up since the March issue has already been out for weeks, but I suppose I could say that I was simply waiting for the online version of "Loving Livestock"—which can be found here—to be published. And yes, it's complete with a photo of very camera shy me.
For those of you who have been kindly asking about everybody's favorite hen (or at least that's what she thinks she is) Whitey the Chicken, please know that at a rather amazing nine years old she is still doing just fine—but if you thought she was full of herself before, you should see her now that she and her baby chicks are national magazine superstars. Who knew such a tiny bird could have such an enormous ego. (She was actually pushing for the main photo in the story to be of her.)
It's been so much fun hearing from new readers who came to visit after seeing the article as well as those of you who saw the story and realized that you already knew me. Some of you even recognized the donkeys! A big thanks to Julia and to all of your for your continued support. We wouldn't be here without you.
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the Country Living loving foodie farm blog where we're almost but not quite into lambing season, but if you can't wait until next month to see more adorable bouncing babies, you'll find lots of links to little lambies here.
Don't They Just Look Thrilled?
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the hot and cold foodie farm blog where the weather can make up its mixed up mind any old time. Twelve degrees two mornings ago and a balmy 70 this afternoon. The daffodils even poked up!
Big Snowstorm
Want an even bigger snowstorm?
You'll find links to lots more snowy farm photos here and here.
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the still white foodie farm blog where 12-year-old, semi-retired Robin now spends most of each winter curled up next to the woodstove, but she hasn't neglected all of her farmly duties—especially the ones that include ferociously fending off those crazy wayward donkeys.
Happy Dance
Happy Dance Recovery
I'm writing a cookbook! I already said that, didn't I? You'll have to forgive me. I don't think it's all completely sunk in yet, even though I've been working on it every day for the past couple of months (which have flown by way too quickly). I'm still getting used to the idea that I have an agent.
Anyway, the book is all about making the most of your seasonal bounty, whether it comes from your garden, a CSA subscription, the farmers' market, pick-your-own farms, or is dropped off on your doorstep by an undercover, overburdened neighbor when you're not at home. It's going to be published in spring 2010 and will cover canning, freezing, drying, and storing, along with my favorite ways to savor everything fresh—all using my Less Fuss, More Flavor methods and recipes. Of course there'll be plenty of growing tips and gardening talk, too.
It's exciting, it's fun, it's slightly terrifying, and it's big—which is why I'm hoping you'll help. Or, as my esteemed editor so eloquently put it, "Tell them you're writing this big-ass book and start soliciting input as soon as possible."
So what I'm going to do is start posting random questions, hopefully every day or two, over on my kitchen garden blog. They'll vary from wide open to quite specific, and will be for both gardeners and non-gardening foodies. Short replies, longwinded answers, and links to your own blog posts about the subject in question will all be welcome in the comments section of each post.
The first question is already up. I know many of you are gardeners (yay!), and I want to know more about your garden: How big is it, and how much food does it produce?
Thanks in advance for your help with this, and a huge thanks to all of you for the amazing support you've given me and Farmgirl Fare since I created it nearly four years ago. You've changed my life in so many ways and mean more to me than I can say. Thank you.
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the busy foodie farm blog where things are going to get even crazier around here what with looming book deadlines and all, and although I'll still be posting recipes and photos on a regular basis (Meyer Lemon Scones or Confetti Egg Salad, anyone?), I figured I'd better (at least for now) take the 'daily' out of the Daily Dose of Cute series. My original plan was to actually post a Daily Dose of Cute every day, but for now they'll have to continue to be as they have been, more like every few days—though it's not for a lack of cuteness around here! Oh, and in case you're wondering, that pretty green grass didn't suddenly sprout up in the middle of February—these photos were taken last spring, but I was saving them for a really happy moment. This one definitely qualifies.
It Was Nice to Have You Here
Try Not to Step on the Dog
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the finally defrosted foodie farm blog where the flurry of snow photos will be stopping soon, right after we share a couple more of the favorites that have piled up—and then it's on to some new Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes. In the meantime, it sure was nice to spend the afternoon out and about after 14 days of being iced in—but after 15 stops in the pouring rain while driving the battered old farm truck (because the battery was dead as a doornail on the newer truck), it was even nicer to be safely back home on the farm.
She's Definitely More of a Sheep Dog (or a Sleep Dog) than a Sleet Dog
We won! Marta may not be smiling, but the rest of us are jumping for joy because Farmgirl Fare was voted Best Rural Food Blog in the 2008 Food Blog Awards! Many thanks to the judges, the Well Fed Network, and to all of you who voted for us. And a big congratulations to the other four finalists in the rural category: Chez Lou Lou, Whiteley Creek, (not so) Urban Hennery, and Lucullian Delights.
You'll find links to all the 2008 Food Blog Award winners here, and if you haven't already, be sure to check out the finalists in each category, too. Some of my favorite blogs were finalists but didn't win, including Karina's Kitchen, Organic to Be, Food Blogga, Simply Recipes, The Perfect Pantry, and Andrea's Recipes, which is home to Grow Your Own, the twice-a-month food blogging event that celebrates the dishes we create from foods we’ve grown, raised, foraged, or hunted ourselves.'
Thanks again for taking the time to vote—we couldn't have done it without you.
© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning foodie farm blog where this photo of Marta just cracks me up. And for those of you who have been so kindly asking how Cary is doing, that's her standing just behind Marta—and looking almost as thrilled about the weather.
