January 2nd dawned bright and cold but rain is close by on the forecast….lots of rain and more wind. When the wind blows hard around here the wind chimes out on the deck don’t just play the “Wedding March”, they play Mozart’s concerto No 21 and the Requiem. When the wind blows, we run for candles….the odds are the electric power will be cut. We count fences flattened and in the morning as the sun rises, we count treetops fallen or snapped off. Ahhh the joys of living on the farm…but we wouldn’t change it.
Our little flock of ewes are rounding out nicely, little stick legs under rotund bodies, the formation eating team are due to birth in early Spring. Typically twins and triplets will arrive on an almost daily basis. Rodney the ram clearly hasn’t been idle and once his little offspring appear, the sheep barn will be anarchy and confusion. Those little critters bounce around like little woolly balls on Springs…they form gangs and joyfully terrorize their frantic moms. Under, over, on top of…those poor startled ewes are used as trampolines or ever open milky bars. It’s a fun time on the ranch.
Yesterday two youngsters came by to collect eggs. From the house I saw them swinging their blue shopping bag, idling away the minutes by the farm gate. I’m not sure who spotted who first, it was clearly a close call. People mean attention carrots and best of all,…. people mean, if you are really lucky a neck scratch. Lamb Chop was first to the fence line and, being Lamb Chop would be happy to sell his soul for a treat but if there is none forthcoming that tubby little man will be happy just to visit. Whilst Lamb Chop was canoodling with his new friends, little Hol-ley was distracted, her attention had been taken by a minor skirmish on the pond. Gertie the confused Canadian goose had temporarily taken a little time out from pretending to be a Shire horse. Her beau, big Shire gelding Quest was contentedly grazing nearby and, keeping him in sight she had taken time out to swim. Bad move…..Edgar the eagle was lurking and a quick free dinner was on his mind. Gertie has become accustomed to Edga’rs fly by’s and for a few moments the water on the pond frothed with beating wings and aggressive bird calls. Gertie’s frantic exit from the pond and back to sanctuary under Quest’s belly confirmed that Edgar would have to look elsewhere for lunch Unfortunately for the hungry bird, the chicken pens are no longer a fast food take away, the chicken pens were made eagle/owl proof in the Summer. Order having been restored on the other side of the road, Hol-ley the calf noticed that her partner in crime and pasture mate was attracting all the attention and with a buck a skip and another hearty buck the calf headed across the pasture to share Lamb Chop’s moment. Poor lamb, once in the attention/people zone there was no room for two prima donnas and with a hefty toss of her head under her former friends woolly tummy, Lamb Chop, in orbit was no longer competition.
Well, time to sign off and see if I can find some mischief to get into. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, we really appreciate your love and support.
Take care, keep safe, M
Our little flock of ewes are rounding out nicely, little stick legs under rotund bodies, the formation eating team are due to birth in early Spring. Typically twins and triplets will arrive on an almost daily basis. Rodney the ram clearly hasn’t been idle and once his little offspring appear, the sheep barn will be anarchy and confusion. Those little critters bounce around like little woolly balls on Springs…they form gangs and joyfully terrorize their frantic moms. Under, over, on top of…those poor startled ewes are used as trampolines or ever open milky bars. It’s a fun time on the ranch.
Yesterday two youngsters came by to collect eggs. From the house I saw them swinging their blue shopping bag, idling away the minutes by the farm gate. I’m not sure who spotted who first, it was clearly a close call. People mean attention carrots and best of all,…. people mean, if you are really lucky a neck scratch. Lamb Chop was first to the fence line and, being Lamb Chop would be happy to sell his soul for a treat but if there is none forthcoming that tubby little man will be happy just to visit. Whilst Lamb Chop was canoodling with his new friends, little Hol-ley was distracted, her attention had been taken by a minor skirmish on the pond. Gertie the confused Canadian goose had temporarily taken a little time out from pretending to be a Shire horse. Her beau, big Shire gelding Quest was contentedly grazing nearby and, keeping him in sight she had taken time out to swim. Bad move…..Edgar the eagle was lurking and a quick free dinner was on his mind. Gertie has become accustomed to Edga’rs fly by’s and for a few moments the water on the pond frothed with beating wings and aggressive bird calls. Gertie’s frantic exit from the pond and back to sanctuary under Quest’s belly confirmed that Edgar would have to look elsewhere for lunch Unfortunately for the hungry bird, the chicken pens are no longer a fast food take away, the chicken pens were made eagle/owl proof in the Summer. Order having been restored on the other side of the road, Hol-ley the calf noticed that her partner in crime and pasture mate was attracting all the attention and with a buck a skip and another hearty buck the calf headed across the pasture to share Lamb Chop’s moment. Poor lamb, once in the attention/people zone there was no room for two prima donnas and with a hefty toss of her head under her former friends woolly tummy, Lamb Chop, in orbit was no longer competition.
Well, time to sign off and see if I can find some mischief to get into. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, we really appreciate your love and support.
Take care, keep safe, M
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