Taking the air

The triplets got to come outside today and take a little fresh air. (Doesn't mom look a little beleaguered?) So timid in the beginning, it didn't take them long to start jumping and running around (always keeping mom close by). The two girls seem to be the most daring, while the other played the mama's boy today.

They all seemed fascinated by the little strip of shade made by a tree trunk. One by one, they tried to place themselves just so to take advantage of it. This little girl got it just right the first time, but then only managed to get her head in the right place the next time she visited the tree.

All this fresh air will make for three tired little lambs. I'm betting they will all sleep soundly tonight!

Look who's back

Saturday afternoon, Mike put up the Purple Martin house and we were all set to keep an eye out for the scouts. Usually, several days before the main group flies in, there are two scouts who show up, I suppose to be sure their home is still where they left it last fall. When the house goes up in the spring, the openings into each little compartment are sealed over with duct tape to prevent other species of birds from moving in. Once we see the scouts, we remove the tape and wait for the pairs to show up and claim their nesting compartment.

The shearer was here on Sunday afternoon to do the yearlings and we were very busy in the barn for most of the afternoon. Imagine our surprise, when we were walking to the house afterwards, to see 3 pair of Martins circling the birdhouse. We don't know if we missed the scouts this year because the house wasn't up yet, or if they all just came together. Last year they didn't arrive until April 18th. Anyway, down came the house and the tape was removed. Within moments of the house going back up, the birds had moved in. This morning the take-offs and landings were non-stop and it's obvious there is some serious nest building going on. Though the weather has been erratic (77 degrees on Sunday, 29 on Tuesday), I'm hoping the Martins are a sure sign that spring is really here.

Ta-daah!

At long last, we have begun. Here's the first of the 2009 lamb crop! They arrived this morning, starting around 9:00am (so thoughtful, these ewes of mine, to wait until I was awake!). The ewe also had triplets last year, but since I had announced to the whole flock that I'd rather everyone just have healthy twins this year, I was sure they would all respect my wishes! Everyone seems strong and healthy (took this picture about an hour after they were all born--sorry about the poor lighting), one black ewe lamb, one white ewe lamb, and one black ram lamb. They are basking in the glow of the heat lamp. Now let's hope mom is up to the job of feeding them all, without my help.

Not yet....

That's right. No lambs yet. I sure wish these ewes would just get on with it already! But,looking at them, I know they wish it even more.

This has been a busy week, so far and it doesn't look as though it will ease up. Monday was shearing day at Lindy's (Seldom Scene Farm) and she graciously allowed me to bring my little gang of alpaca boys and Strawberry and Pippi. Lindy had about 90 alpacas to do and she had a long, long day of it. She uses a team of specialists and they are so efficient and fast, I had to scramble to get the "blanket" of fleece I wanted from each of my animals picked up and bagged before the shearers were on to the next animal. (The blanket is the fleece from around the middle of their bodies--generally the leg wool is not kept.) And, even better, they trimmed toenails and even Strawberry's teeth, while they were at it! I'm sure Lindy will have a great post on all this when she gets a chance. The above picture is of the boys waiting their turn and then here's the after. Such a difference. (And those impossibly skinny necks!)

And look at Strawberry and Pippi. Can you believe the markings on Pippi and how big she looks now? I hadn't intended to shear Pippi this time, but she has a habit of reclining under the hay feeder while her mother eats and so her coat was already trashed. Oh well, maybe next year.

Shearing for the yearlings should happen this weekend and then we will be finished with that for a while. It always feels so good to get shearing behind me. Then I can re-focus. Next on the list---the garden.