Guess who's finally in labor? No, not Crackerjack. At last Zuni looks like she's in the early stages of labor.  We'll stay close to the barn to be with her throughout the afternoon. Zuni's sticking to Crackerjack like glue. Funny how the ewes instinctively seek the llama's protective presence at birthing.  I'm not sighing with relief just yet – will fill you in on a few things that have made the last few days particularly challenging, once I've caught my breath – but I'm so glad she's delivering before I head out to NH Sheep and Wool Festival this coming
Read More

At last, my very own stack of copies of my very first book, Teach Yourself Visually Hand-Dyeing (Wiley Publishing) has arrived.  When I last saw my book last winter it was in its final editorial stage, a fat sheath of black and white copies held together by a giant clip, scribbled all over with the red ink of my last round of revisions. It was really exciting when the UPS man arrived (like the stork), delivering my very first copies to me. And on Monday I'll have a stash of copies hot off the press to share at upcoming events
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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.  
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More

As you can see, the oldest lambs are exploring all dining options.
Read More

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
Read More