Spring Lambs and silly Sheep

We have three new lambs!

MaryLou
(Daughter of Virginia)

MaryLou was our first lamb of the season, 

and her birth was the first clue that her mother was pregnant. 

She was knobby-kneed and a little pathetic...but has filled out very well.

Ruthie...the next Mama to give birth

Ruthie and her baby...

Obed...the Son of Boaz and Ruth!

Eli- son of Dolly (about a month old)
He is solid white, our lamb without blemish.

One of my favorite things about having sheep is the multitudes of opportunities to watch them be silly...

Eli-caught eating their jungle gym
(a stack of three hay bales  used by the sheep for climbing and  snacking!)

Dolly says..."I'm soooo itchy"

 The thick, woollier hair (grown for warmth in the winter) is shed, or rubbed off in the spring.

"Yes, that's the spot!"

Sheep Spa
Mama Sheep let out to graze...soaking up the sun!

Miss Molly

Miss Molly was a very special lamb. She had brain problems, and quite possibly inner ear issues, but we loved her dearly while she was ours! She was born in the lambing barn of Modesto Junior College, and we had the privilege of caring for her for about two months. 

Molly improved drastically after coming to our farm. Her first day she stumbled and fell if there was any kind of uneven ground, and she would run  head-first into the fences and chicken house. When confused Molly would walk along the fence of the sheep yard, rubbing her left shoulder against the fence, and always in left-hand circles. 

After a few weeks of daily walks with Daddy, Molly grew to be quite competent, and even bold in her exploration of the farm. She would graze in the front fields with the horses, wander about the lawn with the chickens and learned to stop before she ran into walls and fences. Her wool was grey all the way to her skin, and was so very, very soft and thick.

Tragically, Molly was let out to graze one afternoon and fell into the pond, where she was found a week and a half later.

Miss Molly was very loved, and will be missed.

Another Baby...

We on the farm welcome another lamb to the flock, for Mother Dearest's beloved 

Sophia gave birth to a curly-haired boy we named Boaz.

He has the cutest face, super soft ears, 

and when tired will drop wherever he is and fall asleep!

Sweet Baby!

More Babies...

Twin brown lambs were born on Monday night...Giddeon and Carolena.

The entire day was an adventure with visiting family, cooking, baking, clean up, and a visit from a friend. The friend is the daughter of one of Mother Dearest's great friends from the past, who was visiting our church on Sunday. Her daughter, Kiri, is studying animal husbandry, and currently focusing on sheep. Kiri came in time to assist Mother Dearest in purchasing the necessary diet for the nursing mothers, to trim hooves and to check to make sure that there were only two lambs to be born. She was then assigned to be a part of the tasting party, to make sure that the fresh pumpkin pies were of good quality! They were!

Thank you Lord for your timing!!

Welcome to the World...

                        

                                                                ...Sweet babies...

Isabel quietly watching over Virginia, Dolly and Amos

 The triplets, Amos, Dolly and Virginia, are so incredibly tiny, friendly, and amazingly adorable! Isabel, who is a might skittish around people, quietly steps back to make room for the two-legged creatures standing about in wonderment. I am delighted by everything that they do: their walk, the way that they fold their legs under themselves to rest, and especially the way that they gambol toward me to be petted and held!!

Miss Dolly

Home Sweet Farm

My family lives on a small farm in a place I like to refer to as the middle of nowhere. It is close enough to civilization for running errands to be a manageable chore and still be quiet. I love living in the country, surrounded by the glorious colors of creation (which this morning was covered in frost, but even that was lovely).

On this farm we have some...alfalfa, horses, chickens (who lay colored eggs), sheep, a kitty, lab dogs (and their puppies when appropriate), cows, and a large vegetable garden (e-i-e-i-o).
Life is full on the farm!

beautiful colored eggs from the hen house

Happy Cows

sunflower from front yard

Henry and Sophia with some of Mother Dearest's girls

alfalfa field

one of the bridges that Daddy built to cross the slough

Home sweet farm is a wonderful place to be!!