Okay, so spring 2013 is off to a less-than-ideal start. This was the view from our front door this morning. Mike's been busy clearing 12 inches of heavy wet snow from the driveway so we can get to the barn. Here's to brighter, warmer days ahead.Wishing you all a happy spring.
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More wild flowers have arrived. On Thursday Crimson birthed adorable twins. We've named the ram lamb Bluebell (Blue for short) and the ewe-ling Buttercup, after her grandmother, Buttercup, one of our very first Cormos from Alice Field's flock at Foxhill Farm. As you may remember, Buttercup passed away last year. Crimson is a good mother, but her milk is slow to come in. It's weird because her udder is as big as a bowling ball, but there's very little coming out of the spigots. The lambs really have to work at it and then seem to give up. I've tried hot
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Big day – our first lambs are on the ground! Java delivered a pretty pair of ewe lambs late this afternoon. Thanks, everyone for voting on a theme for naming this year's lambs. Since Wild Flowers received the most votes in our poll for naming the lambs, all lambs will be named for wild flowers this year. Aren't we lucky, we get to start with girls? Would you like to suggest names for our first lambs? Leave a comment here. And check back here to stay posted on our new arrivals..
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Note: The survey poll that was at the bottom of this post is not working. To vote, leave your choice in the comments. Thanks!Our lambs are coming soon! In this year of an earlier-than-usual spring, our lambs are arriving later than usual. We expect our first lamblings to debut near the end of April. We need to choose a theme for naming this year's lambs-to-be. Would you like to help? Last year you voted for "Apple Names" and they were so cute – Pippin, Macintosh, Braeburn. In other years we've used Greek mythology, herbs & spices, U.S. towns, fashion
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Although the grass is very wet, it is not rip-roaring raining today. The sky is brightening for the first time in a week as I type this post. ahhh. The lambs are shoulder deep in grass and loving it. Every week we rotate them to a fresh pasture. It's their first tour of grazing. The immediate world beyond their big barn still brand new and infinitely worthy of investigation. I stopped mid chores yesterday to watch them explore the foundation of a long-gone silo at the south end of the barn. Once they had thoroughly inspected the loose stones and
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Spring is gaining slowly here. The trees are finally leafing out on the upper Patten. At the center of the farm (a drop in elevation of about 600') things are perceptibly further along. Warmer temperatures are elusive. Plenty of wind. The pastures are greening up nevertheless. I have strong feeling that cooler spring is healthy for the lambs. We put them out in pasture every morning. Although they can return to the barn at any time, they mostly stay out all day. I know because I spy on them. The moms graze lustily. The lambs nap in the warm pockets
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Yesterday brought four new arrivals – and one unwelcome guest. After the exciting entrance of Donatella's twin ewe-lings, Java quietly delivered a sweet ram lamb while I was at dinner. I found him resting in the straw beside her. After ushering them into a lambing jug she delivered a second sturdy ram lamb. I don't have pics to post yet, but please join me in welcoming our new apples: Braeburn & Baldwin. While all eyes were on the barn yesterday, our bird feeders at home were attacked by a bear. Tree limbs ripped from trees. Feeders in pieces on the
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Today I'm picking up a tradition I started at this time last year. Each Sunday I'll share a slice of Sunday morning at the farm with you. This is Chanel and her little apples, MacIntosh and Duchess. Enjoy and happy Sunday.
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Keeping dry – waiting for the shearer. Our week got off to a funky start. In the northeast we celebrated spring's arrival with a touch of winter: four inches of snow that's gone slushy since the temperatures are now just above freezing. Because we plan to shear the balance of the flock on Friday, this gave me a headache. Before the snow started at 9 Monday morning, Mike and I scrambled to get four dozen sheep and two llamas under cover before their wool got soggy. The sheep were the easy part. A pan of grain was all we needed
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Apples is by far the most popular of our suggested lamb name themes for this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you for voting. It was a lot of fun to watch. We are looking forward to a bushel of new lambs, in less than two weeks from now. I'm thinking of all the fun name possibilties: MacIntosh, Gala, Macoun, Braeburn . . . If you would like to suggest an apple variety to name one of our lambs-to-be, please leave a comment here. My days have gone from busy to busier in a hurry. Immediately after shearing, we've shipped
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