I’m sorry, I know it’s called the “almost daily diary” but over the past few days it seems like it transformed into the annual diary. I’m happy to say, I have been really busy !! And I’m even happier to say that I’m one step closer to not being broken any more. Thank you to everyone who has kept us in their thoughts and prayers, it feels great to be on the home run !
It has been a busy time here at the ranch too, Bandit our matriarch ewe surprised us by quietly and efficiently delivering a set of tiny white ram lambs. Clearly Rodney the ram was not tardy in his “duties” and equally clearly Bandit was more than happy to be “available”. The big black and white ewe’s lambs arrived several days earlier than our calculations had accounted for but, safely tucked up in a claiming pen both are doing well and Bandit’s milky bar is apparently permanently open.
Yesterday “almost family” /woofer Quatre came to the rescue ( again !) I had to be in Tacoma for an appointment and Greg was home alone….sheep ready to pop, calves and kids to bottle feed, goat to milk and lots of poopy stalls to clean out. It was great to see that big red truck park up in the barnyard. Typically, Mother Nature wasn’t done yet,…. when Greg thought it was safe to leave and rescue me from the city, number 7 ewe very unfairly decided to test Quatre’s knowledge and fortitude ! An un-natural first birth of a necrotic embryo lamb left our almost resident “ranch foreman” scratching her head even more so when it was quickly followed by a healthy and hearty little coloured lamb with no apparent adverse effects for its mom. Thank you Quatre ! Number 7 and her little “Patches” are also safely installed in a claiming pen where they can bond and momma can get stabbed every evening with an antibiotic shot. All the other ewes are immanent to lamb and all we can do is watch and wait.
Song and Cody the goat kids are growing like weeds and getting cuter by the day. As they grow upwards and outwards....their voices get louder and more strident. When those kids are hungry they make sure we are listening !!!
Goliath Sampson and Delilah are also thriving, one bottle is no longer enough to content the hungry calves and a wheelbarrow is now required to transport the multiple bottles. It is good to watch them running and bucking around the pasture, their frailty seems to be a distant memory and attitude is growing as fast or possibly faster than they are !
Gertie is still clearly thinking that she is a horse and has transferred her affections to Charm the golden palomino but Valentine her ardent suitor hasn’t given up yet ! When the horses are taken out to the pasture they are joyfully and noisily welcomed by Gertie the Canadian goose, watched closely by Valentine who has not yet allowed himself to have an identity crisis. The two have been spotted serenely swimming side by side around the glassy pond and apparently canoodling under the old cedar tree. Hopes are high for a goosey relationship working out and chicks hatching on the island pond this Springtime.
Well, got to go, I have banana bread burning in the oven. It is a permanent mystery to me how one minute it isn’t cooked and the next it’s burnt. DOH !!! Take care, keep safe, M
It has been a busy time here at the ranch too, Bandit our matriarch ewe surprised us by quietly and efficiently delivering a set of tiny white ram lambs. Clearly Rodney the ram was not tardy in his “duties” and equally clearly Bandit was more than happy to be “available”. The big black and white ewe’s lambs arrived several days earlier than our calculations had accounted for but, safely tucked up in a claiming pen both are doing well and Bandit’s milky bar is apparently permanently open.
Yesterday “almost family” /woofer Quatre came to the rescue ( again !) I had to be in Tacoma for an appointment and Greg was home alone….sheep ready to pop, calves and kids to bottle feed, goat to milk and lots of poopy stalls to clean out. It was great to see that big red truck park up in the barnyard. Typically, Mother Nature wasn’t done yet,…. when Greg thought it was safe to leave and rescue me from the city, number 7 ewe very unfairly decided to test Quatre’s knowledge and fortitude ! An un-natural first birth of a necrotic embryo lamb left our almost resident “ranch foreman” scratching her head even more so when it was quickly followed by a healthy and hearty little coloured lamb with no apparent adverse effects for its mom. Thank you Quatre ! Number 7 and her little “Patches” are also safely installed in a claiming pen where they can bond and momma can get stabbed every evening with an antibiotic shot. All the other ewes are immanent to lamb and all we can do is watch and wait.
Song and Cody the goat kids are growing like weeds and getting cuter by the day. As they grow upwards and outwards....their voices get louder and more strident. When those kids are hungry they make sure we are listening !!!
Goliath Sampson and Delilah are also thriving, one bottle is no longer enough to content the hungry calves and a wheelbarrow is now required to transport the multiple bottles. It is good to watch them running and bucking around the pasture, their frailty seems to be a distant memory and attitude is growing as fast or possibly faster than they are !
Gertie is still clearly thinking that she is a horse and has transferred her affections to Charm the golden palomino but Valentine her ardent suitor hasn’t given up yet ! When the horses are taken out to the pasture they are joyfully and noisily welcomed by Gertie the Canadian goose, watched closely by Valentine who has not yet allowed himself to have an identity crisis. The two have been spotted serenely swimming side by side around the glassy pond and apparently canoodling under the old cedar tree. Hopes are high for a goosey relationship working out and chicks hatching on the island pond this Springtime.
Well, got to go, I have banana bread burning in the oven. It is a permanent mystery to me how one minute it isn’t cooked and the next it’s burnt. DOH !!! Take care, keep safe, M
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