surprise

the ground is finally dry and the sun is out.  we've had a couple of days with high winds, but things seem to be calming.  a taste of spring is finally here.

we had a surprise on friday night.  as i drove home from work, james called to say that becky had a lamb.  whaaat?  little becky (who we assumed was infertile)?  after cleaning up in the back, james had decided to spend some time with the lambs in the sheep shed at dusk.  as he neared the shed, he could hear a lamb bleating.  then he saw becky moving close to a tiny lamb, laying in a feeder.  he realized that it must be hers and ran for a flashlight.  in her third year, becky finally delivered.

we've spend most of the weekend keeping an eye on both of them.  dr. martin was scheduled to visit on saturday morning to give the rams and lambs some shots, which was good timing for him to check out the new arrival.  mom and her lamb, maggie (at last, a girl!) seemed healthy, though maggie may be alittle underweight.  becky's been coughing more than usual, which is normal since she's been under stress, but we need to make sure she doesn't succumb to a respiratory infection.  we weighed maggie this morning, using an old t-shirt as a sling that hooked onto a hanging scale.  she's about five and a half pounds.  i guess it shouldn't be a surprise that she's small, since her mom is petite.  we'll need to make sure she gains enough weight as the days pass.  we finally let becky out of the shed with her lamb, who seems to stop every few feet for a nap.  becky calls to her, and seems to be staying close to her, which is a relief.

james finished the bantam "palace" last week, and the birds are enjoying their new home.  it's huge, with hanging waterers and feeders every couple of feet down the length of the pen. stephanie (the blind hen) and her companion hen, angel, are finally on the ground, in a pen within the pen.  at night, they're carried into a cage inside the coop, to protect them as they sleep.  the birds seem quieter now that they're further away from the rest of the chickens.  a couple of the roosters were sparring on their first day in the pen - tiny zeke and his grandson, zach, who's the largest roo.  zeke bloodied zach's comb and wattles, and chased him into the coop.  amazing that the smallest bird can intimidate the largest (i guess it's all about the attitude).  after that battle, all seems calm,  we've had a few friends stop by this weekend, to see the new lamb and the "palace", and all are impressed by james' handiwork.

pattie is aready planting some seeds this week, which makes me wonder if i should start some seedlings soon.  we're supposed to have a warm week.  the past couple of years we've had a warm snap in march, followed by a cold streak, which really confuses all of the plants.  maybe i'll wait until april.