Georgiana's lamb

Georgiana lambed today in the rain. The lamb was quite vigorous and was already up and nursing before the afterbirth had even passed. If you look carefully (not for the squeamish) you'll see the afterbirth starting to make its way out. Sheep usually eat all or part of it. Research has shown that eating the afterbirth helps tone the uterus and the lamb's nursing helps expel the afterbirth. Georgiana has always had singles; they're always very big and she's very protective. Georgiana was sold to us as one of three Jacobs (the other two were Eliza and Harryo). Georgiana is polled which indicates some cross breeding in her past, not uncommon with Jacobs.

Parsley's twins

Parsley was lambing when I went out to check the sheep this morning. She already had one lamb on the ground and was working on her second one. By the time I came back around she had twins, a ewe and a ram, and was busy cleaning them up. Parsley always has very independent lambs. So much so that one wonders if they're ever with her long enough to nurse but they always thrive. Her ewe twins from last year, Peppermint and Patty normally do not stay together very much but since the lambing this morning, they're inseparable.

Griselda, Rue and Harriet

More lambs this morning . . . that ram sure was busy! All three of these are two years old and first time mothers. Griselda's mother Georgiana (named after the Duchess of Devonshire) has always been an excellent mother and Griselda has taken after her. She is 'cooing' after her little lamb non-stop. Rue's mother, Rosemary who has her own brood this year, always gives us twins and has a very particular look, which she has passed on to all of her daughters, a little severe and other worldly but we love her anyway. Harriet's mother Harryo (named after one of the Duchess of Devonshire's daughter) is a fiercely protective mother and already has twins of her own this year. Harryo and her daughters have a dignity and carriage that surpass any sheep on the farm.

Griselda and her lamb

Rue (Jacob ewe) resting after her confinement

Harriet (Jacob ewe) making sure no harm comes to her new charge

Sage and Ella

Sage and Ella lambed yesterday afternoon. Sage had twins but one didn't make it. Sage routinely has problems with her lambs and I need to keep a close eye on this one. Two years ago she had a single ewe but didn't have enough milk. As a result the ewe became weak and eventually I supplemented its feed with goat milk twice a day. She made it and is now a beautiful ewe with an especially springy and soft fleece. Last year Sage had twins; one was stillborn and Sage wouldn't stop cleaning it off even after a seemingly robust and healthy ram was born. She left the ram in the amniotic sack where it most likely drowned. This year she did better but I still need to keep a close watch on the little guy.

This is Ella's first lamb and she seems to have taken to motherhood. Her mother, Eliza has always lambed singles but they've been big, healthy and beautiful.

Sage (Jacob ewe)

Ella (Jacob ewe)

Happy Easter

We recently had some friends over to make Easter Eggs. I admit it's been since my childhood that I've done anything like this and it was worth the wait! The eggs below are a style of Ukrainian Easter Egg made using a wax resist method, in other words, Easter Eggs for adults. The final product is beautiful. We enjoyed it so much we're considering offering a class next year if our talented mentor is willing to teach it . . .

A sample of eggs our friend brought with her.

The work table and some eggs in process.

Some of our finished eggs!

What's Easter without lamb? Our matronly ewe, Rosemary, would have none of it so she made sure we woke up to twin ram lambs this morning.

Spring Lambs

We weren't planning on lambs this year but sometimes accidents do happen, especially when there's a wind storm, a downed fence and an available ram to breech the gap. Our first lambs of the season were born on April 1, which, taking everything into consideration is quite appropriate. Since the parentage is uncertain, all lambs this year will find their way to the freezer in due time. Until then, they sure are cute! What's spring without lambs running through the pasture?

Harryo (a Jacob ewe) and her twin ram/ewe lambs

The gang getting their first taste of spring pasture

Penelope (a Shetland ewe) and Parsley (a Jacob ewe) exchanging hellos with Eliza (a Jacob ewe) munching contentedly in the background