That's Silly Wendy's Little Girl, But That's Not Silly Wendy
So who got stuck with babysitting duty?
Skinny Chip! (I told you my pet wethers aren't useless.)
Click here to see how her spots have already faded.
Lamb Report: Number of extremely soggy, rain-soaked sheep: 65. Number of lambs who need eartags today because I'm already starting to forget who is who: 19. (The two born yesterday are too small--their tiny ears would sag down from the weight of the tag which, I unfortunately know from experience, looks pitiful). Number of eartags on hand: Not Enough. Oops. Current Lamb Count: 21.
Spotted In The Front Yard
There are something like 16 different kinds of turtles and tortoises in Missouri, and this is the time of year they pop out from wherever they've been hiding and start heading down the rural highways. I find these creatures absolutely fascinating, and I often cannot help myself--I pick them up to examine them more closely, turning them over and over, admiring and tapping on their gorgeous shells, trying to get them to poke their heads back out, and yes, probably making them quite nauseous in the process. My favorite thing about them? The way the 'door' on their shells always makes a soft "whooosh" as it closes up tight. Sheer mechanical brilliance.
Lately I've felt like doing just that--crawling into my shell and hiding for a while (and not just because of losing the three baby lambs). But after being overwhelmed by all of your wonderful comments and emails over the past few days, I have a feeling that isn't going to happen. I would no doubt receive payback a thousand fold for all those poor turtles I just can't leave alone. I can hear your incessant tap tap tapping on my impenetrable shell already. So not to worry. I'll keep my head out. And really, think of how much I would miss if I didn't.
Besides, my garden desperately needs me right now. While I try my best not to mess with Mother Nature, I must confess that I do quite a bit of Turtle Relocation this time of year. Because you see, every single turtle out there is making a beeline toward my strawberry bed. I kid you not. These historically slow moving creatures know how to run. Read this if you don't believe me.
Current Lamb Count: 21. Annette had a set of tiny twins this morning. One boy, one girl. So far so good. Heading back down there now.
Six Inches Of Rain In A Week Means The Return Of Our Wet Weather Creek (It's one of my favorite things about the farm.)
Life keeps going.
The garden keeps growing.
The water keeps flowing.
And I am standing in my rubber boots in the middle of it all.
Which means the only thing I know for sure is that my feet are clean & dry.
I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I may have even figured some stuff out. I will write more soon. In the meantime, I continue to puzzle over something:
How in the world did so many incredibly kind and caring people stumble upon me and my tumbled together farm in the middle of nowhere? Thank you for you.
Current Lamb Count: 19. Number of confirmed armadillo kills by Bad Ass Beagle: 2. (Five buzzards in the swing tree tipped me off to the location of the latest victim.)
Bruisie's Baby Girl: 4/22/06 to 5/2/06
Lamb Report: I thought the nightmare was over. It is not. Bruisie's baby girl disappeared without a trace in the night, despite all of our precautions. (Click here and here if you'd like to see the previously posted photos of her.) That makes three ewe lambs lost to a predator since April 12th. And it always seems to be the favorites. The ones who nibble on your chin when you pick them up because they half imprinted on you while you spent hours caring for them as struggling newborns. She was the softest lamb I have ever held in my life.
I have lived on a farm with animals for the past 12 years. And while we are often surrounded by incredible beauty and wondrous joy, I am more than accustomed to waking up to tragedy and loss. But it just doesn't feel right to celebrate and show off these tiny, adorable lambs and then have to tell you of their demise. Or to put up photos of something else and act like everything is fine. Because it isn't. Bruisie can't stop crying for her baby and neither can I. Current Lamb Count: 19.
I think I am going to have to take a little break from blogging.
Abstract Farm CrapLamb Report: After two days of rainy, forced captivity, everyone leaped through the barn gate and out onto the bright green grass like they'd been shot from a cannon--except And Posh who is still staying at The Bonding Suite Inn with her baby girl. Earlier Donkey Doodle Dandy was in there keeping her company (he sure looks bigger in the barn). Then a little while ago I found 2 mothers and 11 lambs in the barn--looks like somebody was stuck with Nursery Duty. Current Lamb Count: 20. Number of times it took me to come up with the correct count before I would let the stir-crazy, impatient, tightly packed (and very wet) woollies out of the barn this morning: 5.
Robin Is Busted Nesting In My New Garden Bed
(She is totally faking sleep--as if that would make her invisible or something. But each time the camera clicked, she opened up her eyes and looked at me.)
Lamb Report: Racing to get out of the house today, so naturally when I did a lamb count this morning I came up with an extra. And Posh, another first time mother, was cleaning up her brand new baby girl. Both are doing fine. I, on the other hand, am soaking wet and running late, late, late. I believe I once mentioned that I'm never on time for anything. And speaking of that post, it sure would be nice to come home to a Chocolate Emergency Cake tonight. Maybe Molly Doodlebug will bake one for me while I'm gone. (What was that thud? Did you just fall off your chair laughing?) Current Lamb Count: 20. Number of gallons of rain one sheep can soak up in their wool and then transfer onto one farmgirl while she wrestles said sheep during the Welcome To Milking Motherhood Dance: Feels like about five.
Weekend Dog & Donkey Blogging photo will hopefully be up tonight!
Snugglebunny's Twin Girls Eat Together & Sleep TogetherLamb Report: Rained out. It's been raining all night and is showing no sign of letting up anytime soon. Since I'm not in the mood to spend the day slogging through the wet grass reuniting babies and mothers, I rustled up some hay and declared A Day In The Barn (sans Non-Stop Classic Rock). Current Lamb Count: 19. Number of sheep who hate me today (even though I turned off the radio): Every Single One Of Them. Number of soaking wet donkeys who could have slept in their hut: 1.
Baa Bonus: For those of you who can't get enough lamb pics, click here to see how Bruisie's baby girl spent the second half of her first day of freedom yesterday.
Snugglebunny's Twin Girls Always Stay Together
Lamb Report: Mad or mist? It was 38 degreesF this morning and very, very damp. When I got down to the barn, the sheep were all steaming. Current Lamb Count: 19. Number of unhappy mothers stuck in Bonding Suite Prison for one more day: 1. Number of times yesterday I counted sheep and delivered lambs to wayward munching mothers: Too many to count. (Good exercise, though.)
Color Coordinated In The Garden
Lamb Report: Not much going on when I did a 4am check this morning--just a bunch of wide awake sheep chewing their cuds in time with the tunes and daydreaming about another day at the all-you-can-eat salad bar buffet. When I let them out of the barn today, they were all heading full tilt toward the front field within seconds. The three mothers staying at the Bonding Suite Inn are antsy to get back out with the rest of the flock. Yesterday I picked them a bunch of really lush clover from the garden, and they were happy--for the three seconds it took them to inhale it. Current Lamb Count: 19. Number Of Possible New Predator Killings: 1 (bad ass beagle covered in dried blood yet again this morning). Go, Robin, Go!
Green, Green, Green!
Lamb Report: Things are looking up. At 3am I went down to the barn to give Bruisie's spotted baby a bottle, and she got up and helped herself to mother's milk instead. This is the first time I've seen her do that since she was born on Saturday. Yes! She is back to dancing and is quickly making up for lost meals. She also has a new friend in the bonding suite next door--Auntie R. had a big baby boy this morning. Current Lamb Count: 19. Number Of Lady Sheep Still Expecting (for those of you who are wondering when this Lamb Report stuff is going to end already): 5 (not including any more surprise pregnancies).
Answers to all your Munching Mowing Machine questions from Monday are up! Click here. And thanks for your patience.
Sheep Freedom Day 3: Slight Overindulgence
Lamb Report: This whole coyote-deterrent-radio-blasting-in-the-barn thing can actually be rather amusing. Last night, after I sucessfully locked all the reluctant sheep up for the night, I turned around and found Martha and her twins calmly ambling down the driveway toward me. Bum-mer. This meant I would have to re-open the gate, thus giving the prisoners a chance to escape. So what happened? Bear herded Martha & Co. the wrong way and they fled, one devious little sheep sneaked out and made a run for it, somebody started yelling (who--me?), and a time out was declared. So I go back down later, somehow get everybody (for real this time) locked up, and as I slam the latch into the gate, The Clash starts blasting from the radio: You've just got to let me know—should I stay or should I go? Stay! You can't make this stuff up. Current Lamb Count: 18.
Answers to all your Monday Munching Mowing Machine questions are up! Click here.
Sheep Freedom Day 2 Begins. . .
And Ends
It's all about the food. And fortunately a fantastic thunder/wind/hail/rainstorm dropped an inch of much needed rain on the farm last night, which means today the grass is growing even faster than everyone can eat it.
Lamb Report: I guess when Serena (who is Bruisie's mother) tried to run through the side of the barn rather than let us catch her up on Saturday, her baby decided that it might be just a wee bit safer out in the real world. So yesterday (while we were gone, of course), she came out to have a looksee. Mother and daughter are doing fine and are ensconced at the Bonding Suite Inn next door to Bruisie and her spotted darling.
Darling isn't doing much dancing, and we're having some trouble, but I'm hoping Serena will tell her daughter (whose full name is, appropriately, "Bruiser"--did I mention our heads collided on Saturday and hers is definitely harder?) a few things--like the fact that if you nuzzle Baby too hard with your nose, Baby tips over and cannnot get up. And that nursing is a very good thing.
I know they can't all be easy. But I definitely think we should have done what we did when we named Serena--come up with the most calm sounding name that we could! Current Lamb Count: 18.
And She's Up!
And She's Down For A Rest Between Songs
Lamb Report: Well, it's been a rather exciting 24 hours sheep-wise on the farm. After we spent a couple of crazy hours working them (this involves catching up 50 sheep that in no way want to be caught up), we opened the barn gate and declared the start of Sheep Freedom Day 2006. Woohoo! There was plenty of leaping and jumping for joy and devouring of the bright green grass.
Bruisie got so excited she went back in the barn and had a baby girl. For a first time mother only one year old (another surprise pregnancy), she did great. We did have a little trouble with some of the mommy hormones kicking in (like the milking ones), as all Bruisie wanted to do was lick that baby clean--and she spent all night doing it. This is the softest lamb I have ever felt in my life. Meanwhile, baby was having trouble getting up on those long back legs, but after assistance with the milk bar this morning, she was not only up and walking on her own, but after a few minutes I swear she was dancing to the Sunday Morning Blues on the radio. Then, as you can see, it was time for a rest.
Current Lamb Count: 17. Number of surprise guests in Bruisie's bonding suite last night: 1. (Click here to see who it was.) Number of ecstatic participants in Sheep Freedom Day 2006: 50. Number of sheep wondering why Sheep Freedom Day Two has them confined in a tiny (but very lush) pen attached to the barn (because we'll be off farm again today): 0 at the moment, 50 once they mow down all the grass in a few hours.
Patchy Cat Chilling Out To Non-Stop Classic Rock
Oh, you knew it had to be him, didn't you? The blasting radio is literally about two feet from his head. Like I said, at least somebody is enjoying the "coyote away" music.
Attention Cat Lovers! This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #46!
See fun feline photos & discover yummy new food blogs. Visit my pal Clare & her crazy Cat Kiri at Eat Stuff in Australia for all the links to this week's kitties. For more friendly felines, catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats each Sunday night. And the weekly Friday Ark boards everything from cats to cocoons.
Lamb Love
Lamb Report: Apparently every night is Alice Cooper night on Non-Stop Classic Rock radio. While we were feeding hay yesterday evening he played "a serious amount of Led Zeppelin." As we headed to the barn for a midnight check, Joe said, "I think the music is working better at scaring off the coyotes than the giant spotlights shining onto the hillside--I don't even want to come down here." There is at least one diehard rocker who is enjoying what is (despite numerous attempts to prove otherwise) the only music station that will come in on the ancient, scary barn radio. Check back later to find out who it is. Current Lamb Count: 16. Number of sheep more than ready to be sprung on spring grass today: 50.
It's Always So Nice To Come Home
Lamb Report: Had unexpected overnight off-farm delay, which means sheep were subjected to 38 hours of Non-Stop Classic Rock confinement. Everyone survived, though I'm pretty sure I overheard such phrases as "torturous," "totally unacceptable," and "borderline feedlot conditions" when I went to free them out into the barnyard upon our homecoming late this morning. I have the distinct feeling I may never be able to lure them into the barn again. Current Lamb Count: 16. Number of mothers-to-be who thankfully kept legs crossed in my absence: 7. Number of farm mysteries to solve: 1 (bad ass beagle once again covered with dried blood but so far no corpse in sight.) Number of farmgirls thankful everyone is okay: 1.
Sometimes There Simply Aren't Words
Lamb Report: Um, apparently Alice Cooper Night isn't only on Tuesdays. And if this morning's disapproving discourse was any indication, I now have a pretty good idea that Dan (who prefers to sleep up against the barn gate, which is located about two feet from the radio) is not a Non-Stop Classic Rock kind of donkey. Today I will be off the farm until well after dark, so I have decided that the sheep must spend the day locked in the barn with the music on. I cringe at the thought of the flak from the flock I'll no doubt receive upon my return. Current Lamb Count: 16. Decibel Level Of Morning Donkey Rant: Off the charts.
Pssst! My new kitchen garden blog isn't just for gardeners. Two new recipes posted yesterday. Click here and here if you'd like a little taste.
Watercress Thrives In The Spring Runoff
Click here to see how it grows.
Lamb Report: Everybody A-okay. Well, as okay as you can be after Alice Cooper Night on Non-Stop Classic Rock Radio. These lambs will probably grow up and be unable to sleep unless Jimi Hendrix is jamming in the background. We're just about out of hay. (We would have run out weeks ago if it weren't for the peanut butter waffles and apple fritters.) The Green Grass Feast is merely days away. Current Lamb Count: 16.
Spots On The Glass? I Don't See Those Kinds Of Things.
Lamb Report: At 4am, I ambled down to the barn to find bright lights, Non-Stop Classic Rock, and 50 totally wide awake sheep. Little pangs of guilt. They are used to sleeping out under the starry sky, listening to nothing but the soothing sounds of nature. And now this. I mean, I was only down there because I couldn't sleep--and that was in the dark and silent house. I have, of course, explained to them that it is all for their own safety. I told them of rowdy urban teenagers and the perils of apartment living. (But not one word about the trampoline--that's all we need.) Oh, and it seems that I Gallop On was right. Just received ebay confirmation for 50 pairs of dark sunglasses, 16 of them size XXSmall. Current Lamb Count: 16. Current Number Of Cranky, Sleep Deprived (but soon to be very cool looking) Sheep: 50.
It's Monday Washday!
Lamb Report:
As soon as it was dark last night, a pack of coyotes out near the hayfield burst into song. If these creatures didn't pose such a threat to my sheep, I do believe I would find their nighttime serenades rather pleasant. As it was, though, the dogs went crazy barking at them, and I, well, I did what one can do when they are miles from anywhere and anyone--I raised my head up high, took a deep breath, and let out a long, loud howl. That shut them up.
But as I mentioned previously, coyotes aren't the only danger lurking in the darkness. I thought the all night barkathon was for the coyotes' benefit, but this morning I found a murdered armadillo just a few feet from the barnyard—and one bad ass beagle covered with dried blood.
Current Lamb Count: 16. Known Dog Victories Over Menacing Predators: 1. And no, I don't think the armadillo got the lambs, but they're destructive, awful creatures, especially in the garden. Plus the dogs despise them.
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Easter Greetings To You
There was no way I could stop with just one photo. Click here to see my time lapse tulips.
Lamb Report: Stadium lights cancelled due to rain. Radio set to mixed inspirational music until late night check revealed singing had changed to shouting about "spending your entire life fighting the devil." Next station was talking about being "covered with the blood of the lamb" (which would have no doubt lured the coyotes right into the barn). Finally settled on the only music station that would come in loud and clear (because you should have heard the ruckus yesterday during the news): Non-Stop Classic Rock.
All your suggestions regarding what to play in the barn are cracking me up. Am thinking books on tape might not be a bad idea. Maybe when I'm finished listening to Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix, I'll share it with the sheep. I bet the lambs would love it.
Oh, and yesterday afternoon Liselotte (yes, that Liselotte from the infamous Name That Sheep Contest) had a healthy baby boy. (Click here to see the photo Liselotte the person posted on her Danish blog.) That makes 9 lambs born in 9 days. Current Lamb Count: 16. Mothers-To-Be To Go (barring any more surprise "B" lamb births): 7.
Curled Up TightThe next best thing to sleeping by the woodstove? Sleeping in the woodbox! But now that we're well into spring, it's time to close this lid until fall. Don't worry--I'll make sure The Doodle Monster isn't in it.
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