Goat afternoon treat!

Padraig and Ciaran always look forward to the weekend, when we go grocery shopping and clean out the refrigerator. Our ruminant garbage disposals had:

carrot greens, cabbage, apples and crusts from the boys PB & J!

They beg at our back porch door. Their nostril breath fogs up the glass! Who can resist them? Not this gal!

They are equally trying hard to eat as fast as they can and get in the house!

Ciaran had no patience with me trying to snap a picture of the apples before giving them to him!

Little boy goats are very much like little boy humans...inpatient!

Sunday

With a weekend full of little people birthday parties, sports, laundry, dishes, school events, singing in church, family visits, emptying garbage bins (full of used Kleenex from my previous plague days) and cleaning toilets, all while keeping the children healthy, happy, clean, busy, fed and from fighting each other...I often wonder when is there time to just enjoy living on the farm. 

Because besides the above, the stove top, microwave and fridge could all use a deep clean, or at least a wipe down...and the entryway is wet, muddy and full of hay specks for the farm. And do the boys nails need to be trimmed?

Are we insane to try and maintain a farm, albeit a little one, while we both work and parent full time?

Yes...and no.

J and I often "divide and conquer". He stays home with the boys while I attend a school meeting. I take the boys to a party and then hit the grocery store while he mucks out the barn and does all the other farm chores.  

Divide and conquer...that just sounds wrong and unhealthy! We are wannabe farmers, not military commanders.

Yesterday, I tried to talk JJ into going to a basketball competition in town. It sounded fun...and was free! Double win! JJ didn't want to go...even after I told him how fun it will be and how his friends would be there. He said he didn't want to go again...and I said OK. This "OK" did not just happen overnight but after years of parenting my oldest (and now, finally, coming to the realization that, after a busy week, sometimes he just wants to stay home.)

As a busy bee/social butterfly, I love events, parties, gatherings. You name it, I'll go (unless it involves being cold...I don't do cold!) And JJ does too, but just not all the time. Funny the things our children teach us...that is OK to slow down, it's OK to say "no" and it's OK to not do every opportunity that comes your way.

Later in the day, I looked out our kitchen window and saw JJ, fully decked in snow gear, quietly sitting on the tree swing, surrounded by barren corn fields and snow. No noise but the wind, no one around but the sheep and goats in the distant pasture.

JJ knew he needed a bit of peace and time outside, instead of noise, runny around, lots of people, competition and fluorescent lights.

I'm by no means a perfect parent, but I'm am trying to listen more carefully (and kindly) to what my family members tell me (or show me) they need.

Almost four years ago, I found the below quote by John Muir. I put it on this blog as I wanted it to be a quide for us, while we try and live a slower life. Maybe we have gotten a bit off track, or maybe this is a more "busy" season of our life. Regardless, it's never a bad idea to check your family's pulse to see how healthy you are and what you may need!

"Everybody needs beauty...places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike."

A cup of tea

Nothing better for a healing throat than a cuppa! Decaf, black tea with a hint of honey, from my in laws back yard bees!

Your Friday Farm Update

Last night in the nursery! Only the mamas, lambs and hens are allowed in the barn!

Skye is still very little but seems to be nursing ALL the time! She looks stronger and we know, as evident by her milk mustache, that she is getting some milk from her mama. We are still giving her a supplemental feeding each day!

Last Friday, mid-day, I noticed this little boy wasn't up and walking well. By the time Farmer J got home from work, the situation was no better and we called the vet. In less than 15 minutes, a vet from our country vet clinic was to our farm. He thinks our lamb sprained his rear, left leg. He gave the lamb a shot of ibuprofen and left three more shots for J to administer over the weekend.  Today, a week later, he is doing much better...but still has a slight limp. J is wondering if his hip is dislocated. I'm always quick to ask J if the vet should come out and give us his professional opinion. 

This little guy is so tame and LOVES to be pet and scratched!

Winter quote part 2

Winter Quote from Anne of Green Gables

"She had a good sleep that night and awakened in the morning to find herself and the world transformed. It had snowed softly and thickly all through the hours of darkness and the beautiful whiteness, glittering in the frosty sunshine, looked like a mantle of charity cast over all the mistakes and humiliations of the past."

 

In the last few days, we've had snow, freezing rain, sun and fog.  Welcome to winter in the Midwest.  I've been absent from my daily blogging for the last few days, and will keep this entry quite short, as I've been down and out with a horrific cold!  And a cold of the worst kind, one which needs no drugs but just time, rest, fluids and more rest.  I'm proud that I kept the children bathed, fed and safe.  They have been happy as pigs in mud because they got more "screen time" as their typically technology minimalist mama kept falling asleep on the couch when they were watching a movie!  I've been able to work and make sure the animals are fed and watered... but that is pretty much it. 

 

Tomorrow, you can expect a lamb update-- things are going well-- and not, yet another, quote on winter!

 

Stay healthy!

 

 

 

 

Winter

Lamb update

Skye and Saoirse! 

Skye is nursing but I'm not sure how much milk she is getting. I just tried bottle feeding her! I'm hoping she got an ounce. She is still so skinny but she's up on her feet, trying to nurse and is making some urine--so those are all good signs!

I tried to see if I could milk Una, to check if she is producing milk but there were two problems: one, I don't know how to milk a sheep and two, Una didn't appreciate being my Guinea pig.  

Little boy lamb is one week old today and looking very strong! He was even out of the nursery a bit today, when the sun was out!

All lambs are now tucked into the barn for nighttime. Farmer J will try another bottle feeding for Skye around 10. Then we will weigh her to make sure she isn't losing any weight...and hopefully gaining some ounces 

Skye is doing better!

Skye

Farmer J is worried that Skye is not thriving. He thinks she is not nursing well. 

J went to the local farm store to get a lamb bottle. Can we hand milk Una and put that milk in her bottle? I'd rather do that than give her the lamb version of formula.  But then again, I've never hand milked a sheep! I know it's possible as I've eaten sheeps milk cheese.  

Hmmmmm...

Stay tuned and say a little prayer for baby girl, Skye!  

We have had this happen once before, years ago. Beatrix had twins and we weren't sure they were getting enough milk.  The lambs refused the bottle and found another alternative...they started nursing on Aoife! 

Ps: Little boy (a week old tomorrow) and Saoirse are doing great!

Peace in the farmhouse

All kittens are now best furry friends forever!

Still cold...

It's still cold outside, so cold the snot in your nose immediately freezes upon hitting the artic air! Why do we live in this climate? Where did my good friend, El Niño run off to? 

On the way to dropping off the boys to school this morning, the car said the temperature outside was negative 7 degrees.  Early this morning, Farmer J was off to the big city for work.  Luckily for me, he doesn't have a night class tonight, so I'm hoping I don't have to do the pm farm chores.  Fingers crossed.  

Things I do on cold days:

- only park my car in sunny parking spots

- wear my hat everywhere, including indoors

- appreciate the fact that farmer J starts and warms up the car for me whenever he can

- be thankful for my car seat warmer and that the bathrooms in our new house get toasty warm (the bathrooms in our old farmhouse were always so cold, especially the toilet seat, which was brutal!) 

- bake, bake and bake! The oven warms up the kitchen and the time baking with my boys warms up my soul

I'll leave you with our latest picture of the lamb nursery!

Left birthing pen: lamb Skye with mama Una

Right birthing pen: lamb Saoirse with mama Beatrix

Center: lamb little boy with mama Jane

Hoping for warm-er weather but thankful for a healthy farm family (furry, wooly, feathered and human!) 

PS: the heat lamps not only warm the lambs but have tricked the hens brains into thinking the days are longer...and we are now getting some eggs! 

Yet another lamb

It's another baby girl. Una had a daughter within the last hour!

Meet Skye (named after the Isle of Skye off Scotland). 

Una is proving to be a great first time mama! Here she is licking her daughter dry (which seems odd but is works)! 

I also checked on Saoirse, who was all warm under her heat lamp, right next to her mama, Beatrix!

Our first lamb born this winter (to Jane), our only boy so far, is already nursing like a champ and hopping around inside the shed.  Come March and April, we will have quite the crew of baby lambs frolicking in the pasture.

We are still wondering if Aoife is pregnant. She typically has twins! She was still nursing her spring lambs when Duncan arrived to the farm, so she may not be pregnant or pregnant, but not due for a bit longer!  Who knows!

We're so thankful for three healthy lambs and mamas.  Our Tunis ewes are rockstars at birthing without any need for human intervention, even first time Mamas Una and Jane.

Duncan, our ram, is also proving to be quite a stud!

Looking to the not too distant future, we will need to pasture Duncan separate from Skye and Saoirse (his daughters)! I think we'll keep him alone for a bit to give all the ewes a much deserved break. More fences! Always more pasture and fencing needs. 

Cold

It's really cold outside on the farm.  The temperature is negative one degrees.  Thankfully, the sun is out.  That always makes things better.

Farming in the freezing cold weather is hard.  The animal's water freezes in the buckets; its painful, heavy and wet to carry the buckets of frozen, and then swishing, water, to and from the house and the shed.

One benefit of below freezing weather, the animal's poop is frozen, so your boots don't get dirty!  

Farmers always need to be optimistic!

And get this... Sunset today at 4:49...we've gained nine minutes since the last time I checked on when our hot, bright orb heads off to sleep!

The Nursery

Jane with her little boy and Beatrix with her daughter, Saoirse!

Me, Bea and Saoirse! Burrrrrrrr! 

ANOTHER baby lamb!

Beatrix had a baby girl last night! Mama and baby are doing great!  And guess what...

It's a GIRL!   Beatrix has had three girls so far on our farm!  Bea is a great mama and the oldest ewe...6 years old! We thought she was too old to get pregnant again!  Guess we were wrong! 

Meet Saoirse! 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=znCXvlhYV-Y

(If you want to know how to pronounce this beautiful, Irish name that means "Freedom.")

Pickle and I were getting ready to head out to a birthday party when Farmer J walked in the house and said, "It's a girl...born on the coldest night of the year!"

I now wonder if Jane or Aoife will be next!

Stay tuned!  

14 day yoga challenge

Anyone want to join me? I just did day 1 and it felt great. All you need is 45 minutes and a yoga mat.  The instructor is my favorite and I love that they provide yoga lessons for free and for the masses. Donations are accepted, as well.

https://www.doyogawithme.com/14-day-yoga-challenge

After a long week,

of J being back to work, JJ and I back in piano, Pickle's never ending tummy ache, a surprise lamb, a new kitten, winter weather and not winning the powerball... we are all a bit tired this cold, Friday night.

One of the highlights of this week, when your oldest son writes you a love note using his finger and some sugar in a cookie sheet! 

We are not billionaires...but we are rich in love! 

Surprise...it's a boy!

 

Duncan, our ram man, likes to poke his head through our garage window, as soon as he hears the garage door start to open.  He "knows" that I'm home and will likely feed him.  You see, the animals food trough is just on the other side of this window and the hay and chow is kept in the garage (until that beautiful day that we have a regular sized barn). Today, like most days, I get out of my car (all decked out in my professional work clothes, mind you) and try to feed my ruminants some hay and chow without getting too messy.  While all the ruminants are "baaaaaaing" at me, my human offspring are trying to get out of the car and into the house, while wrestling with seatbelts, car seats, their backpacks, snow gear bags and lunch boxes. 

 

I look through the (farm animal drive up) window to see all the usual suspect (goats, ram, ewes, chickens) and then I see something else out of the corner of my eye.  Is that a baby lamb? What?  It's not spring!  It's January.  Isn't it? I rub my eyes, like people do in the movies when they are shocked by what they are seeing, and look again.  Yep, that's a baby lamb, red umbilical cord hanging and everything!

 

Jane- our two year old Ewe (Aoife's daughter and one of our first lambs born on our first farm) and Duncan, our ram man, are the proud parents to this baby!

I immediately go into the farm version of "Call the Midwife" and rush into the house to get my boots on (I'm wearing cute, ankle boots not fit for a farmyard).  I don't take the time to change my clothes.  I yell to the boys to feed the ram lots of grain so I can get into the farmyard and assess the situation without fear of being rammed by Duncan.  As soon as the coast is clear, I head into the pasture and snap these pictures below.

 

 

I now know, of course, that it isn't spring and we have our first "winter lamb."  I also know that the sun goes down early in the winter and farmer J isn't expected home for some time.   I spring into action.  When the sun goes down, so does my light and the heat source for this new baby.  Luckily, Jane had her baby on a perfectly warm (for January) and sunny day, with very little wind. 

 

I got the lamb and mother safely in the birthing pen, turned on the heat lamp and got the new mama lots of fresh water, chow and hay.  I assessed the lamb and saw that he was a boy.  Another boy.  Our last four lambs have been boys.  Shoot- I already had my girl lamb name picked out and everything.  Well, there is always hope that Una is pregnant too.  And, really, at this time, I wasn't sure that Jane wouldn't have another baby.  Twins are not uncommon for sheep, but typically, first time mamas have a single baby- which is kind of mother nature.  And the good news for Jane- only one lamb.

The lamb looked good.  He was standing up well, trying to nurse and appeared pretty darn healthy. 

 

 

Jane, his mama, had already licked him pretty dry.  Parts of his back and ears were still wet from his recent trip from womb to world. 

 

My only concern was that the lamb had yet to nurse.  As we, the bad farmers, were not quite expecting this baby to come this early, Jane was quite wooly near her udder/tits.  The lamb was having a hard time finding her milk source.  I tried to help the mama/baby out but I'm not a sheep lactation consultant.  At this point, I figured I would leave them alone for a bit... after I took a few pictures! 

 

Soon, Farmer J was home.  Thank God!  He snapped this picture of me showing Duncan his baby boy.  He seemed interested... at least for a few seconds. 

 

Proud daddy Duncan!  Farmers always like it when they know their ram has done his job!

 

I've held every lamb born on our farm, within minutes of them safely entering into this world.  No exception with this little guy.  He is our 8th lamb born into our farm family.  We have had 3 female lambs (Jane, Una and Lily) and five boys.  This guy is number five.  I held Jane as a baby... and am now holding Jane's baby. 

 

He is also the biggest lamb!  Duncan is huge, so we are not shocked that this guy is so tall.  With J's arrival, I headed back into the house and he took over.  He trimmed up Jane's wool around her udder to help the lamb find his milk.  Jane's milk was in and, hopefully, the baby will start nursing and getting the nutrients he needs.  To date, we have never had to bottle feed a baby lamb as our sheep have always been great nursing mamas!

 

One last check before bed.  He fell asleep in my arms, under the warmth of the heat lamp.  I didn't stay too long, as Jane was getting a little upset I had her baby. Rightfully so! She is already proving herself to be a great mama!  I also needed to return to the role of mama to my human boys and get inside to do the typical Thursday night bedtime tasks. 

 

Sweet dreams little guy.