Tresor's Triplet Story (Lambing Keeps Me Humble)

Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17

Since the first lamb was born here in spring 1995, each year has it's surprises. Mostly, I've learned I don't know much. I'm wrong about how many lambs a ewe is carrying. I'm wrong about what colors they will be. I'm wrong about who will deliver in what order. I've even been wrong about who was getting lambs. (That's a story in itself.) It keeps a shepherd humble.
Tresor comes from a long line of wonderful ewes. Her many great-grandmother Laurel came here in 1994 from the Navajo Sheep Project when it was still at USU. Tresor was a tiny triplet with 2 bigger brothers. This is her third lambing. After 2 years of twinning, this year she produced 3 lovely healthy lambs.

Left to Right - Ram Trumpet, Ewe Tympani, Ram Trombone

 First born ram lamb, Trumpet arrived about 10:30 PM Friday evening. Slightly larger ram, Trombone was second and arrived about 12:30 AM Saturday morning. Then I went to the house and to bed. I was quite surprised when I went to the barn Saturday  at daylight to find a third lamb, a ewe, Tympani. She's every bit as nice as her brothers. The boys have white on their faces. Tympani has just a few white hairs on top of her head.  They're such a lively bunch. I hope to add a video of them for you to watch.

Bella and Calliope (Lambing Started a Bit Early)

Thursday, March 15 

Fiona gets to watch over the yearlings, until birthing is over.

 I came home from work to discover Bella in labor. I wasn't quite prepared, so I had to hustle. The donkey and yearlings were sent to the lower pasture for the present. 

Bella kindly held off till I got things squared away.

A rare photo of this pair looking at the camera. They're very shy.

The barn is for expectant and new moms right now. Bella doesn't take kindly to me. Most photos of her with pretty daughter, Calliope, will likely be taken with them on the run.

Take note of the bellies of the ewes yet to deliver. Poor things!


Calliope's a nice sturdy lamb. She's black with a bit of white on her head, ears and under her tail. Without a sibling to share Mama's milk, she'll grow quickly.

March has been most pleasant. Both of them went to pasture for a few hours on Saturday.

P.S. Our name theme this year is musical instruments.

Lambing ETA - 74 hours (I hope)

Six expectant Navajo-Churro ewes, 3 yearling ewes and guard donkey, Fiona, enjoying the warm March temperatures.
 

My lambing vacation is 74 hours out. I have asked the sheep to wait until I can be here with them. Sometimes they co-operate with me, sometimes they don't. This is for sure, spring has arrived early here in south central PA.
I hope winter doesn't return now that lambing is this close. We had very little winter. Robins, bluebirds and red-wing blackbirds all made early appearances. Spring peepers have been singing their songs here for a couple weeks now. Crocuses, daffodils and forsythia are all bursting forth early.
The six expectant ewes have rounded nicely. The lack of snow has allowed them daily exercise to pasture. As I was cleaning the donkey's stable the other day, our new pup, Hayley, ran toward the sheep. Fiona, our guard donkey, wouldn't allow her access to the sheep. YAY! Fiona put herself between Hayley and the ewes! How did she know to do that? She never guarded before coming here but she knows what to do.

Hayley enjoying her morning romp in the pasture.

Hayley is now eight months old and fifty pounds. She was spayed last month. She can stop growing anytime now. We thought a girl dog may be easier to raise than a boy but that certainly hasn't proven out. She's boxer through and through. Gotta love her but she can surely test my patience.

Gus and Woodrow watch birds from the front door.

Gus and Woodrow are wanting to be outside in the nice spring weather. Guard the doors.
I planted onions this morning and ought to go get peas for planting quick before it rains.

P.S. Open Barn is Saturday, April 7 (the day before Easter) 10 AM till 3 PM  Hope to see you.
WEAR OLD CLOTHES

Record Setting October Snowfall / Power Outage

Oct 25, 2011

We were having a lovely October. Then it happened... the record setting October snowfall and power outage. Because of the heavy snow and the trees still dressed in their autumn finery, branches felled power lines throughout the area. We were without electricity from Saturday at 2 P.M. through Monday at 2 P.M.

Oct 30, 2011

Hayley didn't like the wet snow falling on her back but later decided playing in the snow was great fun.

Brad and I carved a Hayley pumpkin. Brad carved a spider pumpkin, too.

Of Sun Dogs and Puppies

I often see sun dogs in the evening. We have a great view of the west sky from our place. This afternoon I noticed these sun dogs rather high in the sky. We've had a week of lovely clear fall weather. Now the rain is moving in for the next couple days.

Two weeks ago we got a new boxer puppy. A girl this time. Her name is Hayley. I love her a lot but she thinks my dining room is her potty. Something's got to give. She's 12 weeks old today.

BR finally got weather suitable for painting the barn. He worked at it all weekend long. Nice going, Mr. C!

Hey, Blogosphere, I didn't forget you.

Summer's dry, hot weather has passed. As we are nearing Autumn here on the Guitner Road, the rain has arrived. Remnants of Hurricane Lee brought nearly a foot of rain last week.
We had a new occurrence - water in our basement. I had bragged to a co-worker at the beginning of  our rainy week that in 25 years, we had never had water in our basement. Sept. ninth's deluge changed that. We spent last weekend drying out. We vacuumed 200 gallons out, then turned on the fans and dehumidifier.

The sheep got sheared Wednesday evening. There was a thunderstorm going on outside but all the sheep were dry in the barn. YAY! Dan (our shearer) will soon wrap up his fortieth shearing season.
I have wavered between breeding sheep and not breeding sheep for 2012 lambs. Here's the latest on that: I will breed 6 ewes to Blue this fall.

The cooler weather and shortening days have Blue thinking of the upcoming breeding season. As I watched Blue pacing the fence line admiring the ewes, I was reminded of a Johnny Cash song.

I apologize if the donkey may make you think of Hannibal Lecter. Fiona's wearing a grazing muzzle for her own good. She loves grazing, so to keep her from foundering on the lush grasses she is muzzled. This muzzle allows her to eat and drink at will. It just makes eating more difficult for her. 

This month will mark a year she's been with the sheep. They all continue to progress in cultural understanding. Fiona and I are on friendlier terms, too. I took the banner photo yesterday when I saw her laying beside the sheep in the pasture. I hadn't seen it before. When your belly is full and the temps are warm, take an outdoor nap. Mm-mm - good.

The banner photo reminds me of a Sesame Street spot: One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others.
I see three possible answers: 1) one donkey  2) one standing sheep  3) one white sheep

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I'm Downsizing but the Sheep Are Moving On UP

Two groups of sheep left here in the past week.
The first group, six yearling ewes and stunning Mick, a ram, moved east of Scranton, PA. The ewes are 6 of the 7 sheep in the banner photo. The dark ewe in the center back and the donkey are still here with me. The second group to leave here has also moved north and east of here. They are about an hour from NYC. That group is composed of 8 of this year's ewe lambs. I received this photo of them grazing upon arrival at their new home yesterday.Yes, there are 8 sheep in this photo. Shy Cinderella is well hidden behind spotted Minnie on the right.Thank you, Susan for allowing me to share the photo you took of the young ewes at their new home yesterday.
To the new owners: I hope you will enjoy these lovely animals as much as I have. May they bring you peace and delight.