After daybreak the weather deteriorated from rain to snow pretty quickly.
It was a wet snow that clung to vertical surfaces, even windows. My stained glass suncatcher lamb looked like she was lost in a blizzard.
The sheep in the barn are all happy as can be. They are eating nice alfalfa, not huffing and puffing from full fleece and have nice clean bedding. We finished cleaning the last section of pens yesterday. Spreading the dirty bedding will have to happen later (a "soon" later) as there wasn't time to take load after load out and still get the area cleaned in a day. The litter from the barn is stashed in the feed bunk for now. We cleaned the ram barn a couple of weeks ago and had no place but the great outdoors to put it. We've jokingly named the pile Mt. Crap-sta. Anyway, the ewes are happy and just waiting for the lambs to start arriving. First due date is the 23rd.
Kelsey, left, and I think Ginny on the right.
Moorits Ginger, Copper and Tiffany
Gem. This will be her last year as a mom. Then she can retire!
A group shot of expectant moms. They aren't really this crowded. It's an odd illusion and the perspective of distance is whacked.
How many lambs are YOU carrying??
"I'll be a mom for the first time. Just one would be fine with me."
We're so happy we've provided a secure barn for the sheep. Tonight, viewed from just inside the back door, it looks like this:
It's a little hard to see just how thick the air is with blowing snow until the end when you can make out the fenceline. Crappy weather but not lambing yet. I'll take it. Good news all depends on your view. Maybe it would look even better upside down!
There is nothing like a nice, warm, secure barn - for their care and your peace of mind! You have some beautiful sheep... We got more ice than snow, but the wind was the issue. I always sleep better knowing that everyone is tucked in.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed hearing the sheep in the video.
ReplyDeleteI use to raise Bengal cats , your kitty looks a lot like a Bengal.
I loved listening to the sheep and the wind
ReplyDeleteglad you have them all safe and warm
can you believe this winter!
That group of expectant ewes looks like mum's at a maternity clinic! I love your cat and its upside down take on the world. Do wrap up warmly: that weather looks brrr. Greetings. Jo
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see all the new lamb pictures ......... white ewe looks like triplets for sure.
ReplyDeleteJust a little note:
ReplyDeleteAs a fiber-obsessed "city" dweller (if you can slap the city label on a rural WI town with 650 residents known for a working sheep farm in the exact middle geographically) who has spent limited time with livestock, I just adore reading what you write. Trying to convince my husband that we would really benefit from a pair of wethers of a mini breed with quality fleece - he is somewhat onboard with not having to mow the lawn anymore. :)
Looks like you're having the kind of weather we had here in the U.K. last March. Thankfully we seem to be getting normal spring weather at the moment so no more lashing rain, gale force winds and floods! Hope your weather cheers up soon ready for all those lovely lambs you'll be getting!
ReplyDelete