OK, I'm starting to fall off the blog wagon. I miss having the feedback that I used to receive from sending e-mails to you all. Well, not really feedback, but a "hey, great to hear from you, we are fine!" or something like that. How to fix that?
What has happened here since 5/9? Well, the visiting dog killed a total of five chickens before going away. That leaves five chickens and one rooster. One of the chickens is setting on at least 12 eggs. So you don't have to check the internet, it takes approximately 21 days for eggs to hatch so we are waiting. We are only getting one egg a day from the other chickens. I need to leave the chickens locked in for a day to find out if there are more that are capable of laying.
Wednesday school's topic was Lewis and Clark - for the 2nd week. I can see why it took 2 weeks to review, that was a really long trip! We also had a surprise birthday party for the teacher. That evening, our two older kids had their church youth club meeting. The topic was edible wild plants. I tried fried cattails and boiled cattails. Lots of fiber there, not much taste so the fried were better with a little butter and salt and pepper (in case you were wondering). I sure am glad pizza was ordered for the final course.
Thursday I was gone most of the day and the rain came down all day. When it came time to bring the sheep in for the night the creek in their pasture had swollen and the sheep couldn't be convinced to use the little footbridge. Mark and I chased those evil beasts for 30 minutes. Finally Matthew came riding up on the pony, Ginger. He looked like the Lone Ranger - without the mask and the white horse. Yeah, and his legs were dangling, he was riding bareback and had just tied a piece of twine onto the pony's halter to use as reins. I guess the comparison just isn't there. Anyway - Matthew and his equine mount assisted in herding the evil beasts back across the creek and towards the barn. We hooked up two heat lamps for the cold, wet babies. By the time we got to the house I was soaked up to my knees from wading back and forth across the creek at locations other than where the bridge is located. I also had the lovely odor of wet, dirty sheep all over. Needless to say, the first stop was for a shower with lots of soap.
I missed the alumni weekend at my high school. Last year it was 20 years since graduation and I had a marvelous time. I think at 20 years after high school you are who you are - no pretending any more. Ten years was weird. I was nursing baby (who had been born 4 weeks prior) and trying to hide that fact from boys/men who were not allowed to acknowledge (in high school) that girls had breasts. I'm digressing badly - anyway, I missed the weekend. A big hello to all of you from the class of '84. I had a great time last year - my best friend from high school (CK) and I caught up just as if we had seen each other the day before. I found it to be a lot of fun to talk to people you knew (then) and be able to hold a conversation without all of the teenage angst/insecurity/pecking order that comes with high school. Well, nearly everyone in our class had overcome that - all except two individuals, one of which was our class president who told the class liason (when she called to encourage him to join us) "I'm past all of that" or something to that effect. Idiot - obviously he isn't out of the angst/insecurity/pecking order or else he is bald and fat. Anyway......
On Sunday Alyssa attended a birthday party for two children. It was held at the children's museum. There were so many children there (just for the party) - it was insane. I heard the number 27, but was hoping it wasn't true. We all went to the library after the party just to let our head clear from all of the noise pollution.
The kids have finished most of their schoolwork so we are coasting now. Oh, it feels good, but I've already started scanning the used lists for books for next year. Right now I'm scoping for a Saxon 76 math book.
We are off to Wednesday school tomorrow. The last class is next week - Matthew graduates from 8th grade that evening. I'm feeling quite old suddenly. I will attempt to recapture that youthful feeling on 5/31. The final event of the year is a field trip that includes mini golf and go-carts. Alyssa isn't old enough to run the cart alone so I have to drive for her! I love zipping around the track at top speed.
Happy week to you!
5/17/2005
5/09/2005
Update & Happy Mother's Day
#10 (the prolapse mom) had her baby on 5/4. She had a little girl all by herself, no assistance needed.
Happy Mother's Day one day late. I didn't know how much my Mother meant to me until I became a mother and learned what total unconditional love is like. That said, here is how we spend Mother's Day at our house:
We worked on cleaning my husband's part of the barn. We had to work around a hen who decided to set in one corner. A dog came running by the patio doors. A pretty black and white female border collie with a collar. Called the sheriff, no lost dogs. Called the local radio station and no return calls yet. The kids thought she was great (she can shake with both paws), until she killed a rooster. Now the dog has been chained to the dog house. I have called the postmaster (she knows everyone) to see who has a black and white border collie that might have run last night during the storm. She is going to put up a sign at the post office and we are going to show the mailman when he comes with the mail today. We also tagged, castrated and docked tails on the remainder of the lambs- that was before breakfast. 26 lambs this year - unless one more mother surprises me with a baby. I think we are done though.
It's a rainy Monday here, but no one is complaining as it was very dry. The farmers were seeding like crazy trying to beat the rain. We have let the sheep out into the big pasture and the electric fence seems to be holding.
Let's see other news - our youngest has a loose tooth. Just a few weeks left of school. I need to order ITBS (assessment) tests for the two oldest. That's all for today!
Enjoy your day!
Happy Mother's Day one day late. I didn't know how much my Mother meant to me until I became a mother and learned what total unconditional love is like. That said, here is how we spend Mother's Day at our house:
We worked on cleaning my husband's part of the barn. We had to work around a hen who decided to set in one corner. A dog came running by the patio doors. A pretty black and white female border collie with a collar. Called the sheriff, no lost dogs. Called the local radio station and no return calls yet. The kids thought she was great (she can shake with both paws), until she killed a rooster. Now the dog has been chained to the dog house. I have called the postmaster (she knows everyone) to see who has a black and white border collie that might have run last night during the storm. She is going to put up a sign at the post office and we are going to show the mailman when he comes with the mail today. We also tagged, castrated and docked tails on the remainder of the lambs- that was before breakfast. 26 lambs this year - unless one more mother surprises me with a baby. I think we are done though.
It's a rainy Monday here, but no one is complaining as it was very dry. The farmers were seeding like crazy trying to beat the rain. We have let the sheep out into the big pasture and the electric fence seems to be holding.
Let's see other news - our youngest has a loose tooth. Just a few weeks left of school. I need to order ITBS (assessment) tests for the two oldest. That's all for today!
Enjoy your day!
5/02/2005
Happy May Day!
I'm writing this in retrospect about yesterday because had I written yesterday my post would have been full of $%^?*@!$. Not the image of the kinder, gentler shepherdess/rancher/mother/homemaker/blah, blah that I want to portray to you, the lovely reader. SO, I delayed my comments by a day.
I had yesterday all planned. We had left the youngest child with my parents on Saturday night. The two older children had a function near Minneapolis and my husband's role was that of chauffer. Where did that leave me? Sitting at home ALONE waiting for lambs to be born, feeding Sophie her bottle, eating bonbons (don't have any), reading books, warming my feet by the fire, etc.
The morning started off beautifully. Mark and the kids got off at 4:30AM (they had to be at their commitment at 9:00). I heard them rumbling about, but chose to mumble a farewell from my warm bed. I leisurely got up at 7:30 and took a bottle out to Sophie and freed the sheep from their warm, (smelly) barn. [Before I go any further I need to describe the state of the farm for you. We have several pastures (grassy areas where animals stay for you non-farm folk) that are fenced separately, but can be joined together by opening gates (you do know what gates are, don't you?).] Continuing....it was a little chilly, however, the water in the water trough wasn't frozen so it couldn't be that cold, could it? Before I had finished the task of letting the pony out, freeing the chickens (and yelling at them for only producing one egg - whoops, kinder, gentler) the sheep had jumped the fence, had crossed the yard and were heading across the road!!! The babies had not accompanied their mothers in this delinquency, so there are 25 lambs running up and down the fence on the inside and 21 big sheep heading for greener pastures. OH, I was so angry. [Please note that I am losing the perspective I had hoped 24 hours would give.]
I started yelling for the bad animals to come back. No response, not even a glance in my direction. Now I had to strategize. I couldn't just open the gate - the babies would all run out and they are even harder to corral than their mothers. No, can't do that. I had hoped to maintain that warm fuzzy sleepy feeling and jump back into my still-warm bed. Not happening.
Here is the plan - tie the pony. If she gets away, I'm throwing in the towel and getting out the gun (to use the animals - don't write or call about suicidal thoughts and how to help them, I'm not that dumb). Done. Now move the babies into the upper pasture (the one with the better/good fence). They don't move easily. Their mothers can be motivated by grain, not so with the little ones - all 25. Finally done.
Now to get the 21 evil beasts [deep breath] back. I tried the grain trick. Oh yeah, here they come, but then the remember that they are mothers and stop at the fence to encourage their children to join them in their delinquency. Not happening.
Did I mention that herding sheep happens best with multiple individuals, strategically placed? Did I have any help other than the barn cats who were looking at me like I am crazy? NO?!!
After having to get out the whip (no, don't call the ASPCA - I didn't use it on them, I think it just made me feel better) and running back and forth many times I got them all in. Everyone except Vashti (aka spawn of Satan). She kept running past the open gate (with me hot on her heels) - Steve, you may be able to whup me in a marathon, but I'm sure I've got you on the sprint. I can turn on a dime (or a pile of XXXX) and move like the wind.
Long story made a bit shorter [I can feel more gray hair forming as relive yesterday]. I finally fashioned a run to get Vashti through the invisible gate. I'm sweating, irritated and nasty at this point.
The sheep were put on hay and water. I drag myself back into the house, burst through the door to the telephone ringing and my husband sweetly asking, "where have you been?" I look at the clock - TWO HOURS of my reading, napping, bonbon time have gone by.
Well, the diet for the evil animals remains the same - hay and water. My father purchased an electric fencer charger and accessories yesterday. I'm checking the internet to see how many volts we can run through the wire before the wool burns or the sheep drops dead. We're going to go just under that amount.
Did I mention that I was doing all of this in beautiful May weather - NOT. It was sleeting, hailing, snowing and doing all of the horrifying winter weather ND can throw our way.
Don't ask about my day - the bed was cold, I had not purchased bonbons...
Happy May to you, lovely reader.
I had yesterday all planned. We had left the youngest child with my parents on Saturday night. The two older children had a function near Minneapolis and my husband's role was that of chauffer. Where did that leave me? Sitting at home ALONE waiting for lambs to be born, feeding Sophie her bottle, eating bonbons (don't have any), reading books, warming my feet by the fire, etc.
The morning started off beautifully. Mark and the kids got off at 4:30AM (they had to be at their commitment at 9:00). I heard them rumbling about, but chose to mumble a farewell from my warm bed. I leisurely got up at 7:30 and took a bottle out to Sophie and freed the sheep from their warm, (smelly) barn. [Before I go any further I need to describe the state of the farm for you. We have several pastures (grassy areas where animals stay for you non-farm folk) that are fenced separately, but can be joined together by opening gates (you do know what gates are, don't you?).] Continuing....it was a little chilly, however, the water in the water trough wasn't frozen so it couldn't be that cold, could it? Before I had finished the task of letting the pony out, freeing the chickens (and yelling at them for only producing one egg - whoops, kinder, gentler) the sheep had jumped the fence, had crossed the yard and were heading across the road!!! The babies had not accompanied their mothers in this delinquency, so there are 25 lambs running up and down the fence on the inside and 21 big sheep heading for greener pastures. OH, I was so angry. [Please note that I am losing the perspective I had hoped 24 hours would give.]
I started yelling for the bad animals to come back. No response, not even a glance in my direction. Now I had to strategize. I couldn't just open the gate - the babies would all run out and they are even harder to corral than their mothers. No, can't do that. I had hoped to maintain that warm fuzzy sleepy feeling and jump back into my still-warm bed. Not happening.
Here is the plan - tie the pony. If she gets away, I'm throwing in the towel and getting out the gun (to use the animals - don't write or call about suicidal thoughts and how to help them, I'm not that dumb). Done. Now move the babies into the upper pasture (the one with the better/good fence). They don't move easily. Their mothers can be motivated by grain, not so with the little ones - all 25. Finally done.
Now to get the 21 evil beasts [deep breath] back. I tried the grain trick. Oh yeah, here they come, but then the remember that they are mothers and stop at the fence to encourage their children to join them in their delinquency. Not happening.
Did I mention that herding sheep happens best with multiple individuals, strategically placed? Did I have any help other than the barn cats who were looking at me like I am crazy? NO?!!
After having to get out the whip (no, don't call the ASPCA - I didn't use it on them, I think it just made me feel better) and running back and forth many times I got them all in. Everyone except Vashti (aka spawn of Satan). She kept running past the open gate (with me hot on her heels) - Steve, you may be able to whup me in a marathon, but I'm sure I've got you on the sprint. I can turn on a dime (or a pile of XXXX) and move like the wind.
Long story made a bit shorter [I can feel more gray hair forming as relive yesterday]. I finally fashioned a run to get Vashti through the invisible gate. I'm sweating, irritated and nasty at this point.
The sheep were put on hay and water. I drag myself back into the house, burst through the door to the telephone ringing and my husband sweetly asking, "where have you been?" I look at the clock - TWO HOURS of my reading, napping, bonbon time have gone by.
Well, the diet for the evil animals remains the same - hay and water. My father purchased an electric fencer charger and accessories yesterday. I'm checking the internet to see how many volts we can run through the wire before the wool burns or the sheep drops dead. We're going to go just under that amount.
Did I mention that I was doing all of this in beautiful May weather - NOT. It was sleeting, hailing, snowing and doing all of the horrifying winter weather ND can throw our way.
Don't ask about my day - the bed was cold, I had not purchased bonbons...
Happy May to you, lovely reader.
4/29/2005
TWO MORE
My favorite husband and I found two more lambs last night about 10:30. #13 had a boy and a girl. Brr, it was so cold. We put them in a pen that had a heat lamp over it. You could see the steam coming off of the still-wet lambs. I checked on them about 11:30 and they were up on their feet. This morning they look great!
Katelyn is going to a horse sale today. She has $70 in her purse, but has been warned not to buy a horse as she will have to ride it home.
Katelyn is going to a horse sale today. She has $70 in her purse, but has been warned not to buy a horse as she will have to ride it home.
4/28/2005
BACK TO THE FARM
Now that I'm not longer going to receive good healthcare if I need to be hospitalized....Wait - let me expound for one more minute on the importance of nurses. Don't have nurses week - don't offer them a day of beauty and an "atta-boy" card (my own special term) - instead, pay them well. My husband is a float nurse and does not receive any additional compensation for his incredible ability to walk onto one of ten different units (sometimes two in a day) and give awesome patient care. Pay those nurses well and they won't be asking for the once-a-year recognition of nurses week/day. Will they?
OK - back to the farm.
Polka Dot had two boys this morning and Mary had two boys this morning as well. That brings the total lamb count to 23 with three sheep left to deliver (if they all "took").
Into the fray.
OK - back to the farm.
Polka Dot had two boys this morning and Mary had two boys this morning as well. That brings the total lamb count to 23 with three sheep left to deliver (if they all "took").
Into the fray.
Nurses Day/Week/Year
OK, I've got to do it. Some kind soul commented re: secretaries day/week/year. He/She is a nurse and loves nurses week. Nurses week is highly over-rated. WAIT - keep reading. My husband is a nurse. I laugh when I think about how he might have fit into the whole nurses week scenario at the hospital where I used to work. Why laughing? Well, the highlight of the week was when nurses were chosen from each unit for "a day of beauty" when one of the education classrooms was transformed into a salon for the day. My six foot something, handsome husband probably wouldn't have been on of the honorees (although quite deserving to be recognized for his skill as a nurse). AND, the secretaries were called upon to serve the mostly delightful nurses (some not so nice) THREE meals. Yes, we ran our little high heels off while serving the nurses breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some ladies could have pulled away from the trough a little sooner - do they make scrubs that big?! (and it didn't hurt some secretaries to keep moving either).
I AM NOT SAYING THAT NURSES ARE NOT IMPORTANT! I live with a nurse - I know how hard he works. My brother is a nurse. I have a sister-in-law who is a nurse. All great care-givers and wonderful people. I also know that without the housekeepers, food service personnel, pharmacists, plant operations staff, telephone operators, yes - even adminstration, the whole place just wouldn't go right. I have to remind my nurse about that occasionally. Because he is the one who does the most patient care sometimes it is hard to remember that they are just a spoke in the big wheel of providing healthcare (a very important spoke - but just one of many).
Now, how many of you are still with me?
I AM NOT SAYING THAT NURSES ARE NOT IMPORTANT! I live with a nurse - I know how hard he works. My brother is a nurse. I have a sister-in-law who is a nurse. All great care-givers and wonderful people. I also know that without the housekeepers, food service personnel, pharmacists, plant operations staff, telephone operators, yes - even adminstration, the whole place just wouldn't go right. I have to remind my nurse about that occasionally. Because he is the one who does the most patient care sometimes it is hard to remember that they are just a spoke in the big wheel of providing healthcare (a very important spoke - but just one of many).
Now, how many of you are still with me?
4/27/2005
More Babies
Diary post:
4/27/05
#23 (one of Polka Dot's daughters) - 2 boys
Mark handled this one alone. Great job honey!
17 babies total thus far. Five more sheep to go.
4/27/05
#23 (one of Polka Dot's daughters) - 2 boys
Mark handled this one alone. Great job honey!
17 babies total thus far. Five more sheep to go.
Secretaries Day/Week
Day/week, whatever. I used to be a secretary (and to be immodest - a darn good one at that) and I never liked secretaries day/administrative assistant's week - or whatever the politically correct term is right now. It was obviously a "hallmark holiday." Whoa - does that sound ungrateful? I don't mean for it to sound that way.
But here's the scenario. Unless you wrote it on the calendar, there is one guy/girl in the office remembered to get his/her secretary something (and their spouse reminded them). The other employers look like schmucks if they don't get something so they jump on the phone to the local florist and have something (whatever you have, please) delivered. Boss - "Hey, did you schedule lunch for us?" Secretary - "No, why? Your first available lunch date is sometime next month." Boss - "Schedule a lunch out for us." Secretary - "Oh yeah, I'll get right on that one."
Lest I sound incredibly horrible as I recall the beautiful arrangements/cards/lunches that I received for many years - I want to assure you, my wonderful reader - that I appreciate the sentiment/guilt or whatever compelled the various individuals to acknowledge my daily efforts. However, I especially appreciated the comments that came in July/September or whenever I had done a great job on a complicated project or when I had handled a particularly difficult situation with a customer.
Off the soap box. Did you get the point?!
But here's the scenario. Unless you wrote it on the calendar, there is one guy/girl in the office remembered to get his/her secretary something (and their spouse reminded them). The other employers look like schmucks if they don't get something so they jump on the phone to the local florist and have something (whatever you have, please) delivered. Boss - "Hey, did you schedule lunch for us?" Secretary - "No, why? Your first available lunch date is sometime next month." Boss - "Schedule a lunch out for us." Secretary - "Oh yeah, I'll get right on that one."
Lest I sound incredibly horrible as I recall the beautiful arrangements/cards/lunches that I received for many years - I want to assure you, my wonderful reader - that I appreciate the sentiment/guilt or whatever compelled the various individuals to acknowledge my daily efforts. However, I especially appreciated the comments that came in July/September or whenever I had done a great job on a complicated project or when I had handled a particularly difficult situation with a customer.
Off the soap box. Did you get the point?!
4/26/2005
School Stuff
Have I told you about the cool math program that our 1st grader is doing this year? I'm trying a program recommended by my primary care physician (The only prescription I walked out of the Drs. office with last year was a couple of homeschooling recommendations - part of being a healthy 30-something female. He was raised in South Africa and his wife homeschooled their children.). Dr. H. recommended Singapore Math. It seemed too easy - two small paperback textbooks and two workbooks per year. Wow - great stuff. She is already doing multiplication and division, adding and subtracting two digit numbers. I have told the two oldest kids they better watch out - if their first grade sister is already working on multiplication and division, algebra can't be too far off.
We are studying early American history this year. Our main textbooks have been a series by Joy Hakim - The History of Us. Why weren't my history books like these? I am actually excited about the history program (so are the kids). For example, Ms. Hakim doesn't try to cover every battle of the Civil War, but explains motives, personalities and just makes the subject a whole lot more interesting. Next year we are stepping back into Ancient History. I sure wish I could find an author who has the same style that covers history through the reformation in the same manner.
Matthew's pediatrician is very supportive of homeschooling. Every year at physical time Dr. B. gives Matthew a prescription of books to read. He always asks Matthew about the time period he is interested in or what genre he has been reading lately and makes some excellent suggestions.
I'm a bit lost - mixing Drs. and homeschooling in the same post. Odd how that has come about. Well, we read about Mr. Bowditch today and learned how a self-educated person single-handedly reformed how oceans were navigated. Carry on.
I'm off to give the sheep a before-bed-check. Last night I was surprised with two little boy lambs. I can always tell, when entering the barn (before I can see the sheep) whether a new lamb has arrived. The mother sheep is always "talking" to her baby and the baby is usually replying in a higher pitched voice than the older lambs. OK, enough delay, out into the cold. Good night.
We are studying early American history this year. Our main textbooks have been a series by Joy Hakim - The History of Us. Why weren't my history books like these? I am actually excited about the history program (so are the kids). For example, Ms. Hakim doesn't try to cover every battle of the Civil War, but explains motives, personalities and just makes the subject a whole lot more interesting. Next year we are stepping back into Ancient History. I sure wish I could find an author who has the same style that covers history through the reformation in the same manner.
Matthew's pediatrician is very supportive of homeschooling. Every year at physical time Dr. B. gives Matthew a prescription of books to read. He always asks Matthew about the time period he is interested in or what genre he has been reading lately and makes some excellent suggestions.
I'm a bit lost - mixing Drs. and homeschooling in the same post. Odd how that has come about. Well, we read about Mr. Bowditch today and learned how a self-educated person single-handedly reformed how oceans were navigated. Carry on.
I'm off to give the sheep a before-bed-check. Last night I was surprised with two little boy lambs. I can always tell, when entering the barn (before I can see the sheep) whether a new lamb has arrived. The mother sheep is always "talking" to her baby and the baby is usually replying in a higher pitched voice than the older lambs. OK, enough delay, out into the cold. Good night.
Sheep/lamb update
Yes, I'm tired. Yes, I realize it's been 10 days since I've written. I've probably lost all of you that were reading, but I just write to write anyway. I'll check through my sheep log book and give you the up to the minute scoop.
The night of 4/15/05 - Jezebel (#16) chose to stay outside - not sure where as I checked the pasture several times, although in the dark with a flashlight. The next morning I found her standing outside the barn with THREE babies. One looked so very cold, lambs hunch up trying to conserve heat. I tucked the littlest one inside my coat (she was no bigger than a large house cat) and took the other two, with Jezebel following close behind, to the barn. The little one was brought to the house and laid in a box on the oven door. Katelyn went outside and with her dad and brother holding the sheep, managed to milk some colostrum for #3 baby. What to do with the baby as we were heading to church? Well, she came too with a container of Mom's milk and some lamb milk replacer. Sophie was promptly named and was the big hit. She was photographed, held and bathed in the sunshine.
We invited 15 (or so) friends to come out to the farm to enjoy the lovely afternoon. Everyone came and we had a great time. Two little boys chased the chickens - and actually caught one. The chickens just started laying again (two days ago) after the trauma. Rides were given on the pony, lambs were caught, woodticks crawled - a good time was had by all.
Also born overnight on 4/15 - Annie (#11) had a very large boy lamb - promptly named Goliath.
4/17 - #22 had three lambs, 2 girls and a boy. Katelyn's friend Katherine was visiting so she got to name them. Sara, Hagar and Abraham.
#8 also had a baby girl that day. She needed her udder sheared so Mark, Matthew and I held her in quite an undignified position while shearing. Baby is doing well.
We tried to graft Sophie back on her mother, who had forgotten that she had 3 lambs. Lovely. We tried every trick in the sheep book, but no luck. Well, we got Jezebel to the point where she was no longer knocking Sophie over. At least she could sleep in the barn.
On 4/21 we tagged, docked tails and castrated the boy lambs. Roll call is/was:
#11 (Annie) - #24 boy (Goliath)
#22 - #25 girl (Hagar), #26 boy (Abraham), #27 girl (Sara)
#15 - #28 boy, #29 girl
#8 - #30 girl
#16 (Jezebel) - #31 girl (Samatha), #32 boy (Samson), Sophie - no tag because her ears are too small
#20 - #33 girl, #35 boy
4/24
#9 - 2 girls
#1 (Vashti) - 1 girl
#5 appeared to be in labor, but nothing resulted
4/25
#12 - 2 boys
Sophie is stealing milk from the other mothers in addition to getting a bottle 4x a day. She shares her bottle with Abraham (the smallest from the other set of triplets).
The sheep are outside on a new pasture with lots of grass, but it is so very cold here. In the morning the temps are not above the freezing point. We are keeping a very close eye on the sheep as a baby born outside on a day like today would not do well for very long.
Tomorrow is Wednesday school. The theme is James and Dolley Madison. A group photo is to be taken first thing in the morning (before clothes are dirty and hair is mussed).
On Sunday, Mark and Matthew did the brakes on my car. Mark is test driving it today.
The kids are doing school work. I need to jump back in and read some history to them.
Hapy day to each of you!
The night of 4/15/05 - Jezebel (#16) chose to stay outside - not sure where as I checked the pasture several times, although in the dark with a flashlight. The next morning I found her standing outside the barn with THREE babies. One looked so very cold, lambs hunch up trying to conserve heat. I tucked the littlest one inside my coat (she was no bigger than a large house cat) and took the other two, with Jezebel following close behind, to the barn. The little one was brought to the house and laid in a box on the oven door. Katelyn went outside and with her dad and brother holding the sheep, managed to milk some colostrum for #3 baby. What to do with the baby as we were heading to church? Well, she came too with a container of Mom's milk and some lamb milk replacer. Sophie was promptly named and was the big hit. She was photographed, held and bathed in the sunshine.
We invited 15 (or so) friends to come out to the farm to enjoy the lovely afternoon. Everyone came and we had a great time. Two little boys chased the chickens - and actually caught one. The chickens just started laying again (two days ago) after the trauma. Rides were given on the pony, lambs were caught, woodticks crawled - a good time was had by all.
Also born overnight on 4/15 - Annie (#11) had a very large boy lamb - promptly named Goliath.
4/17 - #22 had three lambs, 2 girls and a boy. Katelyn's friend Katherine was visiting so she got to name them. Sara, Hagar and Abraham.
#8 also had a baby girl that day. She needed her udder sheared so Mark, Matthew and I held her in quite an undignified position while shearing. Baby is doing well.
We tried to graft Sophie back on her mother, who had forgotten that she had 3 lambs. Lovely. We tried every trick in the sheep book, but no luck. Well, we got Jezebel to the point where she was no longer knocking Sophie over. At least she could sleep in the barn.
On 4/21 we tagged, docked tails and castrated the boy lambs. Roll call is/was:
#11 (Annie) - #24 boy (Goliath)
#22 - #25 girl (Hagar), #26 boy (Abraham), #27 girl (Sara)
#15 - #28 boy, #29 girl
#8 - #30 girl
#16 (Jezebel) - #31 girl (Samatha), #32 boy (Samson), Sophie - no tag because her ears are too small
#20 - #33 girl, #35 boy
4/24
#9 - 2 girls
#1 (Vashti) - 1 girl
#5 appeared to be in labor, but nothing resulted
4/25
#12 - 2 boys
Sophie is stealing milk from the other mothers in addition to getting a bottle 4x a day. She shares her bottle with Abraham (the smallest from the other set of triplets).
The sheep are outside on a new pasture with lots of grass, but it is so very cold here. In the morning the temps are not above the freezing point. We are keeping a very close eye on the sheep as a baby born outside on a day like today would not do well for very long.
Tomorrow is Wednesday school. The theme is James and Dolley Madison. A group photo is to be taken first thing in the morning (before clothes are dirty and hair is mussed).
On Sunday, Mark and Matthew did the brakes on my car. Mark is test driving it today.
The kids are doing school work. I need to jump back in and read some history to them.
Hapy day to each of you!
4/15/2005
Due Date
No, I'm actually not referring to income taxes. I sent off our state return today- we owed a little bit of $ and I was going to keep it in the account until the last moment!! BUT, the due date I am writing about is the sheep due date. According to the calendar, today should be the first day of the birthing season. Obviously #20 didn't read the calendar. Neither did #15. She had two lambs, a boy and girl on Tuesday night. We found her and her babies when we went out to check on #10 and her prolapse.
It's a good thing Mark came out to assist as I hadn't tied #10 up quite tight enough so Mark, Matthew and I worked on the harness until about midnight. Mission accomplished. There haven't been any more problems.
Wednesday school was about spies. The kids had fun (and learned as well). They baked notes in cornbread, Matthew gave his report on Francis Marion (aka the Swamp Fox), did more learning (I'm not sure what as I was on kitchen clean-up and hanging out with other mothers), played outside and went to gymnastics.
This weekend is supposed to be beautiful. The weather guys are saying something about 80 degrees on Sunday - YES!
Well, happy weekend to each of you. I will write more as more babies appear.
It's a good thing Mark came out to assist as I hadn't tied #10 up quite tight enough so Mark, Matthew and I worked on the harness until about midnight. Mission accomplished. There haven't been any more problems.
Wednesday school was about spies. The kids had fun (and learned as well). They baked notes in cornbread, Matthew gave his report on Francis Marion (aka the Swamp Fox), did more learning (I'm not sure what as I was on kitchen clean-up and hanging out with other mothers), played outside and went to gymnastics.
This weekend is supposed to be beautiful. The weather guys are saying something about 80 degrees on Sunday - YES!
Well, happy weekend to each of you. I will write more as more babies appear.
4/12/2005
Baby update
Well, no baby - but we just fixed (I hope it is fixed) a prolapsed uterus on #10. She was looking uncomfortable yesterday, but we were hoping she was in the 1st stage of labor. No go. The kids came running to tell me she was prolapsing. To make it even more exciting - it has been raining for two days (the farmers are so excited). Remember the wet wool? Try stinky wet woolly sheep. How did we fix it?? Well, you start with a really long piece of twine. Center it behind the neck, cross over underneath on the chest, into the "armpits" of the front legs, cross over the back again, into the "armpits" on the back legs, straight up either side of the behind and tie off to the cross on the back. Now you need some shorter pieces of twine to basically truss the sheep up like a turkey, without using a needle. That is an option too, but I'm just not willing to try that. I need to see it done first.
OK, now you know the technique. It's not quite that easy. FIRST you need to replace the organ that is protruding. Well, actually first you need to clean off her insides that are sticking out. Warm water poured over, clean rag to gently rub as needed. Elevate the hindquarters - on a straw bale or two. Replace the organ - truss the sheep up and viola! Oh, that sounds so easy - not so. It took all 3 kids and me to get this done (the nurse husband is at work - he did it last year). Time lapsed - about an hour. The sheep didn't understand that we wanted to help her (I don't blame her - it sure didn't seem like it) so she was not very helpful. Matthew and Katelyn held her and assisted with manipulation of the hindquarters. Alyssa was the assistant who held the flashlight, twine, scissors, warm water, rubber gloves. I worked on the business end. I won't share all gory details with you, but I think you get the picture.
We have all bathed/scrubbed/disinfected and Matthew just came in from checking her - all is still well. NOW we have to be HOME when she lambs to cut the twine. I hear a sheep can lamb between the twine, but I closed her up pretty good - Mark may need to adjust my work when he gets home.
More later.
OK, now you know the technique. It's not quite that easy. FIRST you need to replace the organ that is protruding. Well, actually first you need to clean off her insides that are sticking out. Warm water poured over, clean rag to gently rub as needed. Elevate the hindquarters - on a straw bale or two. Replace the organ - truss the sheep up and viola! Oh, that sounds so easy - not so. It took all 3 kids and me to get this done (the nurse husband is at work - he did it last year). Time lapsed - about an hour. The sheep didn't understand that we wanted to help her (I don't blame her - it sure didn't seem like it) so she was not very helpful. Matthew and Katelyn held her and assisted with manipulation of the hindquarters. Alyssa was the assistant who held the flashlight, twine, scissors, warm water, rubber gloves. I worked on the business end. I won't share all gory details with you, but I think you get the picture.
We have all bathed/scrubbed/disinfected and Matthew just came in from checking her - all is still well. NOW we have to be HOME when she lambs to cut the twine. I hear a sheep can lamb between the twine, but I closed her up pretty good - Mark may need to adjust my work when he gets home.
More later.
4/11/2005
And so it goes...
First - if you live in a rural area (both of you), don't you just despise the internet access? Ours was down for nearly a week. I was in the midst of a very fascinating description for you of our week when, poof, the whole thing went down. I won't bother to recreate the amazing information that was lost. I'll start from here.
Spring has come to our house! The snow is nearly all gone, it's been 70 degrees and today it is raining. Our first lambs were born yesterday. #20 had a boy and a girl. She had them out in the pasture without any assistance. When Mark found them they (the babies) were both on their feet and nursing. I checked the sheep early this morning and no one mentioned being in early labor. Hopefully they won't have them outside in the rain - although sheep are quite dumb that way.
Alyssa attended a lovely birthday party yesterday. She is feeling a bit superior to the honorees - a five year old boy and a four year old girl. Some things were a bit "babyish" (the ultimate put down at our house!). Overall she had a good time, but maturity seems to be affecting her.
The week ahead includes orthodontist and dental appointments for the kids. That is always my big opportunity to catch up on magazine reading. Fortunately both offices do a good job of keeping their subscriptions current - it's the little things that count for me! All trips that use gasoline are being rationed at our house. Trips to "town" are scheduled with military-like precision - mapped out make the best use of time and gasoline. If I didn't like my car so much I would consider heading back to horse and buggy days. Grass is free and the cracked corn is $5 for a 50 lb. bag.
Matthew is scheduled to present an essay on Francis Marion to "Wednesday school." Katelyn dressed up like, and presented information on, Martha Washington last week. Matthew and Katelyn also attended a church-sponsored choral music camp for 3 days last week. They had a great time. The remainder of the family went down to Hutchinson (MN) for the concert. The kids did an outstanding job presenting the music they had learned.
Let's see - exciting news. I saw a moose next to 94 last Sunday morning! I was shocked and tried to record the moment with the camera in my cell phone - she was standing in a brown field and I wasn't foolish enough to get out of the car to get closer so the picture was a brown blob on a field of brown. Everyone at home had to take my word for it.
I need to go and let the sheep out. I know they will want to stand outside in the rain. I hate the smell of wet sheep (think about your favorite wool garment when wet!) - well, I guess they need to eat.
Spring has come to our house! The snow is nearly all gone, it's been 70 degrees and today it is raining. Our first lambs were born yesterday. #20 had a boy and a girl. She had them out in the pasture without any assistance. When Mark found them they (the babies) were both on their feet and nursing. I checked the sheep early this morning and no one mentioned being in early labor. Hopefully they won't have them outside in the rain - although sheep are quite dumb that way.
Alyssa attended a lovely birthday party yesterday. She is feeling a bit superior to the honorees - a five year old boy and a four year old girl. Some things were a bit "babyish" (the ultimate put down at our house!). Overall she had a good time, but maturity seems to be affecting her.
The week ahead includes orthodontist and dental appointments for the kids. That is always my big opportunity to catch up on magazine reading. Fortunately both offices do a good job of keeping their subscriptions current - it's the little things that count for me! All trips that use gasoline are being rationed at our house. Trips to "town" are scheduled with military-like precision - mapped out make the best use of time and gasoline. If I didn't like my car so much I would consider heading back to horse and buggy days. Grass is free and the cracked corn is $5 for a 50 lb. bag.
Matthew is scheduled to present an essay on Francis Marion to "Wednesday school." Katelyn dressed up like, and presented information on, Martha Washington last week. Matthew and Katelyn also attended a church-sponsored choral music camp for 3 days last week. They had a great time. The remainder of the family went down to Hutchinson (MN) for the concert. The kids did an outstanding job presenting the music they had learned.
Let's see - exciting news. I saw a moose next to 94 last Sunday morning! I was shocked and tried to record the moment with the camera in my cell phone - she was standing in a brown field and I wasn't foolish enough to get out of the car to get closer so the picture was a brown blob on a field of brown. Everyone at home had to take my word for it.
I need to go and let the sheep out. I know they will want to stand outside in the rain. I hate the smell of wet sheep (think about your favorite wool garment when wet!) - well, I guess they need to eat.
4/01/2005
HAPPY APRIL!
It's been a crazy week here (do all of my posts start that way?). First of all, the sheep didn't come over last Sunday (for Easter). Our fences needed more than a bit of attention so the girls are waiting. This Sunday is the target date - they are great with child/lamb so they need to be moved very soon. I need to get an electric fence charger as I want to run a single strand of electric fence around the top of the fence. Ginger, the guard pony, likes to bend the fence down while stretching for that grass that is, of course, greener on the other side. She was single-handedly (or four hoofedly) responsible for the rapid deterioration of the fence last summer.
Several chickens have joined us - thus far they are sharing 3 eggs a day - awesome! Dad didn't bring Mark's rooster - aka his nemesis. Last summer, one rooster was determined to wake Mark up by crowing under our window - at 3AM. Obviously the rooster had an identity crisis as it tried to be nocturnal.
The weather has been great. I have to keep myself from grumbling over it ONLY being 40 degrees some days. Repeat to myself - 40 was warm two weeks ago, 40 was warm two weeks ago....I have hung laundry on the clothesline so it definitely warming. Nothing smells as good as sheets straight off the line, warm with sunshine.
On Monday the kids and I went on a great field homeschool field trip at NDSU in Fargo. The subject of the study was the circulatory system. Here is a fairly good overview of what we did:
1)We had gross anatomy. The girls were cutting up pigs hearts and poking about on cows lungs. Matthew stood back and didn't really want to touch anything (even with gloves on, of course!).
2)We studied the microcirculatory system by looking at the capillary exchange on drugged frogs under the microscope. The skin is so thin at one point on the frog we could see the exchange taking place. We also looked at the heart beating in a fertilized egg (cracked open and under the microscope) that was only 3 days into incubation.
3)Then we made blood slides in hematology and looked at red and white blood cells of sheep and cows.
4)We studied immunology next and learned about blood typing - but I wasn't listening very closely during this part :)
5)The kids learned how to take blood pressure.
6)We then reviewed blood chemistry.
Doesn't that make you tired just listening? I was exhausted when we were done - it went from 10A-3P.
Mark and Matthew took a quick run (and I mean quick) to Michigan. They were picking up a car that my brother Richard and his wife, Cindy, are giving to Matthew - could his smile be any bigger?? The guys took the train on Tuesday, stayed for the morning on Wednesday in MI and went on to IL to see Mark's family. The visit was short and the men got home at 2AM this morning. It is apparent that Matthew was overtired as I found him sleepwalking around 3AM. He was crashing around in the girls room and woke them up. He then proceeded downstairs and was sick. I think he had some caffeine on the way home - and is totally unaccustomed to that.
The kids studied Valley Forge on Wednesday at K4K (Matthew missed it). The teacher was trying to get them to realize how much the soldiers went through the first winter there so she had them take off their shoes and walk outside, around the building, through the snow and then sit around a campfire trying to warm themselves (don't worry, no one is sick). Then they went inside, dipped their feet into red paint and walked across newspaper leaving "bloody" footprints. The mothers then washed the kids feet. The gang then made hardtack and went on to an art project. Lunch was delayed by 30 minutes so the kids were REALLY hungry and actually ate some of the hardtack while they waited for their food. The afternoon was time for more cerebral learning, but they still went outside and learned to march with "Baron Von Stueben" counting out the cadence in German. We finished up with gymnastics. Wow! Next week Katelyn makes an appearance as Martha Washington.
I picked up some work reviewing and revising policies and procedures for an organization in Fargo/Moorhead. Mostly it's typing, but it does require some thought. I appreciate the chance to put some $ in the bank account.
I took some time to put away most of the snowpants and extra mittens/hats/scarves. Mark says it will be my fault if we get an April blizzard!
Next week we send the two oldest children off for a music camp - Weds-Sat. Alyssa will be bored silly without someone to hang out with so I have booked her for a field trip to learn about spinning wool and a haircut. We can spend some good mother/daughter time together.
That's all for now! Happy weekend to you. Don't forget to change your clocks.
Several chickens have joined us - thus far they are sharing 3 eggs a day - awesome! Dad didn't bring Mark's rooster - aka his nemesis. Last summer, one rooster was determined to wake Mark up by crowing under our window - at 3AM. Obviously the rooster had an identity crisis as it tried to be nocturnal.
The weather has been great. I have to keep myself from grumbling over it ONLY being 40 degrees some days. Repeat to myself - 40 was warm two weeks ago, 40 was warm two weeks ago....I have hung laundry on the clothesline so it definitely warming. Nothing smells as good as sheets straight off the line, warm with sunshine.
On Monday the kids and I went on a great field homeschool field trip at NDSU in Fargo. The subject of the study was the circulatory system. Here is a fairly good overview of what we did:
1)We had gross anatomy. The girls were cutting up pigs hearts and poking about on cows lungs. Matthew stood back and didn't really want to touch anything (even with gloves on, of course!).
2)We studied the microcirculatory system by looking at the capillary exchange on drugged frogs under the microscope. The skin is so thin at one point on the frog we could see the exchange taking place. We also looked at the heart beating in a fertilized egg (cracked open and under the microscope) that was only 3 days into incubation.
3)Then we made blood slides in hematology and looked at red and white blood cells of sheep and cows.
4)We studied immunology next and learned about blood typing - but I wasn't listening very closely during this part :)
5)The kids learned how to take blood pressure.
6)We then reviewed blood chemistry.
Doesn't that make you tired just listening? I was exhausted when we were done - it went from 10A-3P.
Mark and Matthew took a quick run (and I mean quick) to Michigan. They were picking up a car that my brother Richard and his wife, Cindy, are giving to Matthew - could his smile be any bigger?? The guys took the train on Tuesday, stayed for the morning on Wednesday in MI and went on to IL to see Mark's family. The visit was short and the men got home at 2AM this morning. It is apparent that Matthew was overtired as I found him sleepwalking around 3AM. He was crashing around in the girls room and woke them up. He then proceeded downstairs and was sick. I think he had some caffeine on the way home - and is totally unaccustomed to that.
The kids studied Valley Forge on Wednesday at K4K (Matthew missed it). The teacher was trying to get them to realize how much the soldiers went through the first winter there so she had them take off their shoes and walk outside, around the building, through the snow and then sit around a campfire trying to warm themselves (don't worry, no one is sick). Then they went inside, dipped their feet into red paint and walked across newspaper leaving "bloody" footprints. The mothers then washed the kids feet. The gang then made hardtack and went on to an art project. Lunch was delayed by 30 minutes so the kids were REALLY hungry and actually ate some of the hardtack while they waited for their food. The afternoon was time for more cerebral learning, but they still went outside and learned to march with "Baron Von Stueben" counting out the cadence in German. We finished up with gymnastics. Wow! Next week Katelyn makes an appearance as Martha Washington.
I picked up some work reviewing and revising policies and procedures for an organization in Fargo/Moorhead. Mostly it's typing, but it does require some thought. I appreciate the chance to put some $ in the bank account.
I took some time to put away most of the snowpants and extra mittens/hats/scarves. Mark says it will be my fault if we get an April blizzard!
Next week we send the two oldest children off for a music camp - Weds-Sat. Alyssa will be bored silly without someone to hang out with so I have booked her for a field trip to learn about spinning wool and a haircut. We can spend some good mother/daughter time together.
That's all for now! Happy weekend to you. Don't forget to change your clocks.
3/22/2005
Dog, dog, going to the dogs
It's time to start looking for a puppy. We want it to be warm enough that the puppy can start out sleeping in the barn. We want it to be an outside dog first and get to come in the house when it is cold outside. My Dad has been calling me every Friday for a few weeks with the puppy give-aways in the paper. We want a lab/something mix. Hopefully it will be good with sheep. Hopefully it won't chew everything in it's path (as Charlie did). We haven't actually gone to view any puppies yet because I know the kids will want to take away the first one that they pick up. Oh, I miss Charlie.
Exercise?
I think it is week one (again) of the exercise program. I know, the books all say that exercise should come first on your schedule, but life keeps happening! I have a friend who is training for various marathons, triathalons - he trains several hours every day. Obviously he is no longer working full time, the kids are out of the house, etc.
One day at a time. Off to treadmill and then weight lift.
One day at a time. Off to treadmill and then weight lift.
Wool
I've been learning a lot about wool and the process of creating something from it after it's off the sheep. I've read about skirting a fleece, making a skirting table, washing and carding the wool and spinning it. Now to decide how much to invest in the various processes.
I talked to one of the ladies who owns a company called "The Woolly Girls." It was quite amazing that I found her. I couldn't find a listing in the telephone book so I called another shop in Langdon, ND. One of 'the girls' was shopping in that store at the time I called so we had a conversation about wool and processing.
I wish I had a lot more knowledge and a little more equipment (other than the raw wool). Mark isn't sure about this venture, but has offered to make a skirting table for me so that I can get some of the wool processed. I think I will send a fleece or two out for processing this year and then look at either buying coats for the sheep or making some coats to protect the wool. The wool obviously stays cleaner and needs less handling after shearing. I have read that it is possible to was the wool in the washing machine, but we just bought our machine last year and I'm not willing to give it up in case the experiment goes bad!
Stay tuned for updates!
I talked to one of the ladies who owns a company called "The Woolly Girls." It was quite amazing that I found her. I couldn't find a listing in the telephone book so I called another shop in Langdon, ND. One of 'the girls' was shopping in that store at the time I called so we had a conversation about wool and processing.
I wish I had a lot more knowledge and a little more equipment (other than the raw wool). Mark isn't sure about this venture, but has offered to make a skirting table for me so that I can get some of the wool processed. I think I will send a fleece or two out for processing this year and then look at either buying coats for the sheep or making some coats to protect the wool. The wool obviously stays cleaner and needs less handling after shearing. I have read that it is possible to was the wool in the washing machine, but we just bought our machine last year and I'm not willing to give it up in case the experiment goes bad!
Stay tuned for updates!
Preparation Time
We are preparing for the sheep's arrival on Easter Sunday. It is supposed to be warm so transition day will be more pleasant than a day when snow is predicted. We need to set up the lambing pens as there are 15 "girls" scheduled to deliver. We also need to check the fence - there are some sagging areas. Serious consideration is being given to adding an electrified wire around the top of the current fence. Ginger, the pony, is also coming along for protection from coyotes. Since we don't have a dog, we have to take the threat of coyotes quite seriously. I need to check our stash of colustrum, antibiotics, stomach tube, rubber nipples, etc. I guess we should also get the scissors out as we aren't having the girls shorn before delivery. We have to clip wool tags from around the udder so the lambs get the right thing when they go to nurse! Mark needs to put the pump back in the outside well. We need to buy feed. Lots and lots to do.
Off-call
Ok, I'm officially "off-call" for the baby event. My friend had a 9 lb. 4 oz. baby girl yesterday. I remain a hospital girl even after being a part of the home birth. I arrived at their house about 3AM and the baby was born by 7AM. Mom had lots of back labor and was in agony for most of the four hours. Well, Mom and baby are doing well. The three older siblings are excited about their little sister. Congratulations.
3/18/2005
Woody the Sheep
Here is the story of Woody, the sheep.
Every fall we cull the lambs, removing the male lambs. They "go away," probably to someone's freezer. Last fall Katelyn insisted that we had missed a male, but we could not find him so we believed we had all females. Winter came and went - the sheep were bred. Some were obviously great with child, but others had not "taken." One was a sheep that was very fleet of foot and an excellent jumper. She jumped like a deer, clearing every fence. To eliminate the problem, we put a dog collar on her, attached a piece of chain to the collar and attached a long piece of 2x4 wood to the chain. This provided enough of an obstacle that jumping was rather difficult. The sheep was then christened "Woody."
Lambing came and went. Woody did not have a lamb.
The sheep shearer came. The kids and I were on hand to assist with the process. Basically the procedure goes like this - all sheep are herded into the barn. The kids (Matthew and Katelyn) catch a ewe and drag her over the shearer. He then shears her like cutting a coat off, not like a boy's haircut. Following the shearing the fleece is gathered up and put into a bag (Alyssa's job). Katelyn also stood on hand to spray a disinfectant on the sheep where they get cut because the clippers are very sharp and there is usually a nick here and there.
We started with the first sheep. All went well. The second sheep caught was Woody. I removed her collar (with chain and wood) and turned her over to the shearer. The shearer starts on the underside (the belly) and works up to the neck. Well, the first cut was made and "OH NO, WOODY IS A BOY!" To quote Katelyn, "he shaved Woody's pee-er off!!!" Then, to add insult to injury, Katelyn began spraying disinfectant on the wounded area. Poor Woody. Grandpa was informed that Katelyn had, indeed, been correct about there being one male lamb left and how we had made this discovery.
Woody (the name not at all reflecting his male status, but rather the board around his neck) limped for about a week recovering from the trauma. He then proceeded to jump the fences with the board and chain. Perhaps showing us that no matter we would do, we couldn't keep him down! After about three weeks of this, Woody was sold to a neighbor of my Mom and Dad's. I guess he tastes quite good, but I just can't bring myself to accept the dinner invitation.
Every fall we cull the lambs, removing the male lambs. They "go away," probably to someone's freezer. Last fall Katelyn insisted that we had missed a male, but we could not find him so we believed we had all females. Winter came and went - the sheep were bred. Some were obviously great with child, but others had not "taken." One was a sheep that was very fleet of foot and an excellent jumper. She jumped like a deer, clearing every fence. To eliminate the problem, we put a dog collar on her, attached a piece of chain to the collar and attached a long piece of 2x4 wood to the chain. This provided enough of an obstacle that jumping was rather difficult. The sheep was then christened "Woody."
Lambing came and went. Woody did not have a lamb.
The sheep shearer came. The kids and I were on hand to assist with the process. Basically the procedure goes like this - all sheep are herded into the barn. The kids (Matthew and Katelyn) catch a ewe and drag her over the shearer. He then shears her like cutting a coat off, not like a boy's haircut. Following the shearing the fleece is gathered up and put into a bag (Alyssa's job). Katelyn also stood on hand to spray a disinfectant on the sheep where they get cut because the clippers are very sharp and there is usually a nick here and there.
We started with the first sheep. All went well. The second sheep caught was Woody. I removed her collar (with chain and wood) and turned her over to the shearer. The shearer starts on the underside (the belly) and works up to the neck. Well, the first cut was made and "OH NO, WOODY IS A BOY!" To quote Katelyn, "he shaved Woody's pee-er off!!!" Then, to add insult to injury, Katelyn began spraying disinfectant on the wounded area. Poor Woody. Grandpa was informed that Katelyn had, indeed, been correct about there being one male lamb left and how we had made this discovery.
Woody (the name not at all reflecting his male status, but rather the board around his neck) limped for about a week recovering from the trauma. He then proceeded to jump the fences with the board and chain. Perhaps showing us that no matter we would do, we couldn't keep him down! After about three weeks of this, Woody was sold to a neighbor of my Mom and Dad's. I guess he tastes quite good, but I just can't bring myself to accept the dinner invitation.
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