A Bedroom Lamb | Foxfire Fiber & Designs

Helena's lambs arrived just after midnight, a ewe-ling followed by a ram. I didn't hear or see the ewe-ling' arrival; looked like she had just dropped when I heard a sound that woke me (over the baby monitor). She never made it onto her feet before getting the shivers, so badly that I ended up bringing her inside with me for the night. Her brother is doing fine but I still can't get this little ewe to latch onto her mom or even onto a bottle. We're keeping her going with stomach tubing at the moment. She's here with me in the living room at the moment since Helena isn't keen to take her back. I know there's a cardinal rule of shepherds about bringing lambs into the house – one I manage to break each year at the height of the season when a lamb is weak and chilled and I know it won't survive the night outdoors, and I need just a little sleep (please!). We'll see how it goes.

Papaya delivered a ram lamb just after dinner last night. For a yearling first-time mom, she deserves a gold star. Her udder is gorgeous: tight, good teat placement and tons of colostrum. She's brilliant and I'm so grateful for that at the moment.

More later. Hold a good thought for this little gal.