It's a Girl!!!

And she has a twin sister!

I'm so thrilled! It seemed as if we were destined to have nothing but ram lambs, forever! I kept turning them over, just to re-check. I'd forgotten what little girls looked like. And black fleeces too!! Can't wait to be able to spin the wool. The second lamb presented backwards and I was all alone but fortunately I had no problem delivering her. 

They're almost as big as the little boy, whose now a week and a half old. He's thrilled to bits to have some playmates and keeps bouncing around wanting them to join in.

Anyway, these are the last lambs for this ewe. She's getting old and this was a very tough pregnancy for her. It was obvious that the lambs were taking all of her resources  and there were times I thought she was going into pregnancy toxemia as her legs kept going out from under her and she would have great difficulty getting back on her feet. I kept giving her Ketogel in the hope that it would keep her on an even keel and I think it helped. She's been my best mother sheep. I do hope these two have inherited her maternal instinct. 

It's been a long two months of waking up every few hours and I'm so glad it's over!  Last night was the first full nights sleep. It was wonderful!

First Lamb of the Year

At last, We have the first lamb of 2016! This is also the first lamb for this little ewe, Maisie May. She was in labor when I went out to feed them this morning.

I was a bit worried when I saw the lamb presenting with just the head and only one front foot. You should see a nose and two little hooves. Kind of like they're diving into the world. I tried to find the other foot and couldn't. I think the leg was tucked way back. I sent Josh across the road to get the neighbor. She's had lots of experience in birthing farm animals and I'd promised to call on her if there were any complications. Anyway, just as Josh was over there knocking on her door, Maisie May really went to work and popped the lamb right out!

 She's being a good Mum but we are going out there every couple of hours to hold her still while the baby gets a good drink. Her udder is tucked up really high and he was having a difficult time finding the teat. Heck, I had a difficult time finding the teat! But he's doing ok and gaining strength steadily.

We bred the ewes to a Jacob ram so this little fellow is a Scottish Black face/Jacob cross. We did the same last year and I really like the fleeces of this cross. Not too soft but not as coarse as the pure SB.

I wish Ken could have been here. He'd just left to visit family in North Carolina.

Hoping the other ewe has her lambs during the day. She's looking very close but no sign of labor yet. We're praying for girls. Last year, all our lambs were boys, and now this one!

Hand Carved Ex Libris Stamps

If you like rats or foxes, here are a couple of ex libris stamps I carved this week.

You can find these and some other bookplate and library stamps over in the Ex Libris section at my Etsy Shop.