What to do when you get the run around...

These little ones are not so innocent as they appear inside this fence. As with everything which is wont to run amok, the morning started very normally. Breakfast for the babies, feed the pesky peacocks and prepare a place for the sheep in the alternative pastures.

The mothers have moved into these pastures very readily for years and love to go to them for the wonderfully available scratching posts the old, gnarly apple trees afford them. The babies have been there before AND went well but I did not factor in one important thing: They are growing more independent!

As usual, the ewes followed me very readily, making the big turn and arriving in the designated pasture uneventfully. The lambs arrived at the pasture and made a big U-turn and went exploring. Unfortunately for me, they are seven and I am one. They went back up the yard, around the back of the house, back down beside the pasture, all with me in hot pursuit. The ewes were getting very agitated so I made the executive decision to release all of them and try again.

Hmmm, where will this take me? All went well, the ewes collected up their off-spring and away they went, luckily toward and into another pasture. Those lambs were not to be denied their day out and about, however! Away they went, AGAIN. Ugh! Away I went after them, through the garden, around the garage, up on the barn bank drive, circle behind the house and back up behind the barn again. Had enough yet? I had. I stopped, and decided again to change my strategy. Hey you babies, follow me this time. It worked! They followed me to close to the desired pasture, did a few more token walk-abouts and went in. Finally, the fence closed and electrified, I get to ponder the series of events.

I believe those lambs were tired of the unsettled life they had on the "lam" and were ready to be caught. What to do when you get the run around? Chase, then stop, regroup and make a plan and give them a reason to come to you. Doesn't that almost sound like what happens to us during times we are being given the run around? I guess the most important thing is to figure out the "hook". If we think long and hard enough, there is likely a hook, if we are perceptive enough to find it. Here's to thinking and being perceptive of the chase!

The first day outside.

What day is it anyway?

Life became a blur over recent weeks with the advent of lambing. Right out of the gate we had problems which gave me a sense of foreboding for the remaining ewes. The first ewe to go delivered twins which did not survive. It was a sad outcome and moved us into the unfortunate position of needing to separate her for feeding due to her reduced requirements. I held out hope that another would soon deliver triples (which she had done every year) and that would allow us an attempt at putting one of them on the other mother.

I hadn't really thought much that another would step up soon but the next night, 3:30 a.m. to be exact, I awoke and decided I would sleep better if I went and checked on action, or inaction, in the barn. Walking toward the barn I heard too much noise to be normal, baa baa baa. As I entered, all are standing looking at me, looking in and walking around. Hmmm. I walked in further and heard the characteristic mumbles the ewes do when talking to their newborns. Happily, there is LouLou with twins. One up and walking, the other in the process of being cleaned, not yet able to stand. They looked good and healthy, YES! I was hopeful but there are no more. Too bad. But let's not be greedy, two healthy lambs is a wonderful thing.

Ken and I went ahead and did the necessary doctoring and put the three of them in their own small pen, called a "jug" for reasons I don't know, to let them get acquainted without other smells or distractions. They need to know each other by smell and it makes it easier for the little ones to feed. By the time we were finished with everything, it was after 5:00. Just enough time to catch a little more sleep before we needed to get up and get ready for work! I was right, I did sleep better for having checked on things in the barn. We both fell right back to sleep, zzzzzzz.

The rest fell in line and we finished with lambing in a little over a week. A few assorted difficulties but there are 7 lambs from the 4 ewes that had live births. They are good for some laughs and I always learn a little more about what can go right as well as wrong in the process. A couple of the last lambs developed coughs. My goal of not needing the vet went by the wayside. I did get to pick his brain after her got us started with medication that seems to have nipped the pneumonia bug. I asked him about the first ewe's labor and delivery. He suspects there may have been an infection of some sort and the lambs were delivered because they had died. I don't know either but, as usual, I have learned there are some things which we cannot control and this was one of them.

Some of life's greatest lessons come from our failures. They are not enjoyable but we are all better from them if we put them in perspective and learn from them. Life and loss are lessons for the ages. Yawn, time for a rest.

A laugh out loud day.

An ordinary, go to work day evolved into a better than anticipated experience quite innocently. The regular schedule of get up, do chores and get ready for work had been the rule of the day. It was an unremarkable drive to work until it happened. Nothing big, really, but it changed the whole tone of the day.

It was snowy and cold, like every day this winter, and as I drove a commotion caught my eye off to the right. A couple dogs were running with wild abandon playing tag around a row of fir trees. They'd circle, run between trees, jump, turn, advance and retreat all the while barking and yipping. Their sport made me laugh out loud. All of a sudden my day had been changed for the better.

I found the day was improved for the duration of work, made a bit brighter by the aforementioned scene. Later in the day, the barn cats brought me another laugh out loud. I had entered the barn and found Kitty chasing a feather, catching it, and rolling and tossing it again and again.

I have never monitored how many times I laugh out loud in a day when there is no one around. I suspect it isn't all that often but now I know why we keep these animals around. The opportunity to spontaneously laugh seemed to color the remainder of the day for the better.

This day made me think about how great it is to have humor show up in unexpected ways. Here's wishing you a laugh out loud day.

Oops, this is not Kitty, it is Zorro. That is a story for another day.

A good reason to go out on a "bad" day.

This particular "bad" day was gorgeous, but exceedingly cold at below zero.

The radio which awoke us that morning made me want to stay in bed. Eight degrees below zero was enough to make me welcome a warm bed. Unfortunately, that was not an option when the animals, having weathered a very cold night, needed their morning grub. Oh well.

Up and about, I got through the getting ready routine and headed out the door. This particular day had one wonderful attribute - no wind! True it was still bitterly cold and the sun was trying to lift itself over the horizon, but it was clear and beautiful with the hoar frost clinging to... everything. I needed pictures.

I spent the next 20 minutes taking pictures of bushes, fences, the chicken house, etc. I had to stop at times to put my gloves back on because my hands couldn't take the cold. I was also afraid the camera would freeze. It didn't and I got over it. It was a memorable day and I got my reward for needing to drag myself out and about on my appointed rounds.

Somehow the day seems better for having spent the time out in the wonder of the extreme world with the beauty that is there for all to see but consumed by few. I'm thankful.

I will share more of the pics, maybe when summer is here and we're all complaining about how hot it is. Enjoy every day's beauty.

The countdown has begun

Anticipation. That is what comes to mind thinking about the next few weeks. I need to begin the process of preparation for the lambs we are expecting. What does one need to do?

First of all, I have gone through all the lambing supplies making sure medications and milk replacer ( which I hope we don't need) are up to date, have an adequate supply of veterinary supplies for injections for vaccines and emergency supplies, too. I do not like to play doctor but it is necessary or the cost of keeping these animals could become prohibitive.

I think I have the supplies up to date. Tomorrow I need to update the ewe's for their vaccinations so the lambs will benefit from the booster. I may call it quits at that since more handling is harder on the ewes as time goes on.

The estimated arrival time will be near the beginning of the second week of March. That's when the more frequent barn checks begin and the anticipation of action are in the forefront of thought with each check-up.

Dressed for the weather.

BRRRRRR! You know it's cold when the storm door is frosted. Chores still need to be done but it takes some preparation, O.K., lots of preparation. Carhart bib pants, pacs keep my feet toasty warm, a scarf or "turtle" from the jumble in the closet, my hat and a fleece followed by the my favorite long barn coat. No wonder extra time is required for winter chores! Once outside, though, you know how well you've done dressing by how warm you stay.

I step outside and the wind hits my face like a slap, painful. This -12 deg. day with a 10+ mph wind requires total skin coverage. Hmmm.... not cold but keep the skin covered. Thank goodness it isn't like this all the time. The dogs don't seem to mind so much, like the sheep, especially if they get access to the barn. No layers for them!

Water for the birds is a fight because I need to carry water for them and break the water in their bowl before putting in the warm water. Their perch seems adequate, too. I've read that if the perch is not broad enough for them to sit on their feet at night, their toes may freeze off. Their toes all appear normal and they are moving about normally. Good. We leave a night on at night so that they may get downfrom their perches and eat to keep warm.

No loitering in any pen, building or barn, it is way too cold for that on a day like today. Keep warm everyone.