This morning, Chloe—our bottle-fed ewe—gave birth to a very large, very spotted, very cute ram-lamb.
Chloe was one of our very first bottle-fed lambs and we had a lot of nervous anxiety the first year she was due to lamb, but we never should have doubted in her natural ability. She is an excellent mother. Last year she was the last to lamb (a beautiful ewe-lamb named Penny), this year she is the first.
Now all I want to do is sit out in the pasture taking pictures. Can you blame me?
Stumpie, our devious ewe.
Stumpie, perhaps not the most majestic name but fitting none the less, is one of the original three ewes at the farm. She’s the most intelligent and tricky. She has made numerous, spectacular escapes that have given her quite a name (and respect) at Lazy Willow. Back when the flock was more wild, moving them to a new pasture was a BIG deal that called for soberness of mind and steeliness of eye. But with just one breach, she’d have the pack leaping over the fence, racing loops around the farm with Ben speeding after them in flip-flops while they nipped at passing cabbages and blackberries. But after study and patience, I have discovered Stumpie’s ultimate weakness: Apples. She will go anywhere—go up to anyone, even Ben, her favorite adversary—for a sweet, juicy apple.
I have one dog. He’s an 8 lb, grey, toy poodle with 180 lbs of personality.
Meet Andy.
About two/three weeks ago, we got fifteen baby guineas (or as I like to call them, raptors). We got them for the farm, in hopes that they will help with our squash bug issue. We also wanted them to be somewhat tame, so we fixed up a large tub in the family room with bedding, food, water, and heat lamp, to help them get accustomed to our voices and to being handled.
During this time, Andy took it as his sole duty to protect. Whenever we entered the house, Andy would race down the hallway, first thing, and check on the babies. If any one of us said, “Where are the guineas, Andy?” he would dash to their side. He even growled at one of the cats when she sauntered a little too close.
And now that we have moved the guineas to the farm, Andy speeds to their enclosed coop, just to make sure that everything is a-okay.
