Wednesday 21 September 2011

6.01 am

It's not quite daylight yet, though I can hear the roosters in the village doing their round robin - uh, chicken - crows. I'm relieved to report that both lambs are well.

Eudora laid up in the middle of the field with the babies pressed tight into her. She was there when I checked at 11pm and seemingly every hour after that. All the other ewes were scattered about, as if on sentry duty. In fact during one check I saw two older ewes stood up and watching the perimeter. Maybe sheep have their own security system in-built by nature. Just in case, I slept with the window open so I could hear any problems, and the gun was near me so I could deal with a problem swiftly. Everyone needs backup.

Everyone also needs sleep, though I was happy to give up mine to ensure the day-old lambs got theirs. I'm going to have a cup of tea and knit while the sun comes up, and wait to see what other deliveries the stork might have in store today.

I will leave you with one more video, some cute to go with your morning tea or coffee - lamb taking her first steps yesterday.

10 comments:

Colette said...

Oh Jenny, I am so pleased for you xx

On a Wing and a Whim said...

Wonderful news! I hope you get some sleep today, too.

Copper + Cream said...

So precious! What kind of sheep do you have?

Copper + Cream said...

So precious! What kind of sheep are these?

Jen said...

PC - Come on over and get your dose of squidgy lamb if you like!

Noel - It's a breed called Polled Dorsets, derived from an historic, local type of sheep. They're good mothers and good doers (get fat on grass and not much else needed)

Copper + Cream said...

Thanks! I'm in the process of getting sheep and I am always interested in what kinds of sheep people have. I raised hampshire growing up and I currently have scottish blackface, but they are REALLY hard to find in California. I had some friends who raised dorsets growing up, but theirs didn't look like yours. (I like the way yours look :) Is there a difference between a dorset and a polled dorset? I love reading your blog and thanks so much for the quick reply. :)

Darlene said...

So glad that the babies made it throught the night! I hope all the other births go well!

Paula said...

For an American, you are sounding mighty British!

I'm glad to read that they're doing well, and hope the rest of the lambing goes as well or better.

My only problem with the cute baby pictures is that it makes eating lamb more difficult....

Dog Hair in my Coffee said...

oh my gosh, just too darn cute. Thanks for letting us know all was well when you got up. Hope things continue to go as well. And I hope you get some good sleep soon. If not, switch out the tea for some extra strong coffee! Kisses to the baby sheeps and their mamas.

Tamar@StarvingofftheLand said...

Congratulations to you -- two ewes!