Life on the Farm

I grew up on a farm in Iowa, so there is much fondness of the farm life for me.  I am grateful that my kids have the opportunity of being a part of the "farm life."  I never really felt like our place was like the farm, though, but there have definitely been moments that I found my inner "farm girl" coming out here on our place!

Take last week, for instance, well, and the week before that..... and the week before that too!  One of our old friends brought down his prized last 8 ewes to our place to have them taken care of for an indefinite period of time.  Our friend is slowing down and is not able to take care of things as he once has.  He is a true shepard and has had many sheep in his life!  We have had sheep from time to time and have had lambs, but found that they are a bit complicated and time consuming!!  However, we were more than happy to help our friend because we didn't think it would be any trouble, or problem to keep the ewes fed at our place!

That was before I knew any possibility of the ewes being pregnant!  That was before I knew he would be bringing EIGHT ewes to our orchard, which is not quite big enough to keep up with that many!  There could have possibly been a bit of lack of communication between my hubby and I after he talked with our friend who had the sheep!!
  
Needless to say, the ewes all found their way to the sweet green grass and the fruit laden trees in our orchard.  It was a win-win situation right?!  The ewes were happy, our friend was happy they would be taken care of, and I was happy that I wouldn't have to mow the orchard, right?!  Yes,.... for a while.  Then, the ewes started eating all the fruit off the trees and the grass was getting close to bare in the orchard!  Thank goodness for extra space at our place, because one day I decided I was moving them down by the river and they could still be happy because they could still find some thing (I think) to eat!  One little problem, I still had no clue that these ewes could possibly start lambing!!

Just a couple days after moving them out of the orchard, Treva was mowing down by the ewes new location and noticed something very small and black that appeared to be a baby..... LAMB?!!  Yep, it was, much to our surprise!  So, the baby and mamma were moved back to the orchard for safety and supervision because now we are talking of animals that once were low-maintenance soon turned into very high-maintenance!  Much to our dismay, after probably 4-5 days after the lamb was born, we noticed the mother was not well.  She would not get up, which proved to be a problem because then the sweet black lamb could not nurse.  Time to bring out the baby bottles.  Unfortunately, after trying to help the ewe get well (didn't know what was wrong with her) and our friend coming to take a look at her, she died, leaving her lamb without a mother.  

It was interesting the timing of this, because we were then dealing with Eden's grieving and Cade thought maybe it would help her to take care of this lamb who needed a mother, but I wonder if this actually triggered some fears for her.  First off, no one likes losing an animal!  I hate it!!  Next, the lamb was without a mother, feelings that Eden could relate to at one time!  Anyway, the feedings began to take place around the clock, every 2 hours for sweet Lambsie, including night time, which I thankfully had help from Treva!!  

Then, this week another ewe lambed!  Once again, I found my inner country girl and walked out into the pasture and found not just one lamb, but two!  I was thinking, "Oh, great!"  because I could just imagine having to bottle feed two more!!  One of the lambs had JUST been born, so slimy and all, I wrapped them both in my arms and carried them to the orchard while the mother ewe pushed on me the whole way!  Thank goodness I can say that momma and babies are still doing good today (fingers crossed)!

first momma and Lambsie before coming to the orchard

Katreese with Lambsie and her momma was SICK!

morning bottle feeding for Lambsie

morning light coming in through the window

bottle feeding time

Lambsie - a blackie

Eden never has really took to the
lamb, you can tell in this pict
 she isn't too sure about her!

Katreese takes a turn.

Ryder puppy

Eden likes to help bottle feed though

The second ewe with her babies.

my two babies - what a funny picture!!

     One another note, it has been an interesting experience having Lambsie and Ryder together.  Ryder wants to play with her, but he can't!  It has been a good "training opportunity" to make sure Ryder does not play with her, but they lay close to one another and follow each other!!  One day when I was going to move sprinklers, I had to laugh because on one side of me was Ryder and the other side was Lambsie trailing along!  It is a lot like having two more babies!