Last weekend here in Massachusetts we skipped the end of spring and went directly to summer. Three days of 80 degree plus temperatures has brought leaves to the trees, flowers to my magnolia, greener pastures for my flock, and scads of black flies and mosquitoes. They are a pestilence, tormenting the poor sheep. We've place fans everywhere in the dairy to keep the mothers and lambs comfortable during the mid-day heat. First thing in the morning, right after breakfast the lambs are most frisky. Sometimes the ewes frolic too. I took this clip on Monday, so you can watch the
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We're in a bit of a trough again activity-wise. No new arrivals since Mystic's lambs over a week ago. Still waiting for the Zuni-lambs to arrive. Every year we have a lamb lag at some point in the season. It's a drag right now with the end tantalizingly close. Zuni's lambs will undoubtedly arrive when ready. I was checking her out on Friday, taking her temp to make sure she's fine, and I felt one of her lambs kick good and hard. In the meantime here's a smattering of notes on the rest of the crew. Mystic's milk is beginning
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The lambs weren't quite sure what to think this morning as they ventured out into the yard for the first time. It was all noise and confusion as they got their bearings. Perhaps they'll be less tentative tomorrow. Here's a few moments from morning chores with Holly and the gang.  
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Sometimes bottle lambs are the result of a ewe who, for whatever reason, just isn't cut out for motherhood. Take Helena, my polka-dotted ewe who's been shirking her maternal duties since the day her twins were born last week. No longer confined to a stanchion or a lambing pen, Helena and her twins are out and about in the common space. The black ram can nurse whenever he chooses. But poor Blaze, the little white ewe-ling, has to be watchful and jump in whenever her mom isn't looking. She's quite cunning and is getting good at nursing from behind. And
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Yesterday morning Mystic's twins arrived after breakfast. Healthy lambs, but alas, her milk supply is pitifully inadequate. I borrowed from Helena to feed both lambs at birth and have been sneaking them bottle snacks to keep them going until Mystic's milk is established. Which only leaves Zuni – poor girl is the only one without babes in the barn right now. Hopefully she won't have much longer to wait.  The lambs had many visitors today. It was a lovely  afternoon for spinning, knitting and tons of lamb ogling with Manise, Marcy, Diane D., Diane E., Bonnie and Laurie.  We watched napping
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We're in the homestretch here, with just two ewes, Mystic and Zuni, left to deliver. I'm so happy, completely exhausted, but drawing new energy now that there's an end in sight.  As many of you know, I rely on the baby monitor on my bedside stand which serves as my ear in the barn. I fall asleep to the banter of 23 new lambs conversing with their mothers. Each morning I wake to soft rustle of lambs scampering at first light. It's getting harder to tell the sound of a playful lamb dancing in the straw from the sound of
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As you can see, the oldest lambs are exploring all dining options.
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Today I am reminded that sometimes the work of sheep midwifery is nothing compared to the work that follows the arrival of lambs. I'm multitasking at the moment, typing this post from the barn as I keep watch over three sets of mothers with their youngsters. In pen #1 is Helena who birthed twins at 2 a.m. today. Uncomplicated delivery, healthy lambs (one white ewe, one black ram), agile and hungry. All seemed fine when I headed back to the house at 3 a.m. Pen #2 holds Cassandra and her brand new twins. She went into labor at about 3:15
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Sending wishes for a wonderful day.
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This weekend we've gone from the tip of the iceberg to the tipping point with half the ewes having delivered. Here's the latest: Verbena (the only 3 year old in the group) delivered a set of triplets right after breakfast this morning. No wonder she was as big as a school bus. Her delivery presented me with my first malpresentation (otherwise known as dystocia). Lambie number one, a large ewe, presented nose first, front legs back, which is only really dangerous if no one is around to help. I rolled up my sleeves and sent lambie back to the womb
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