Minnie's baby

Meet High Ridge Mulberry.   I missed his birth by about an hour, but he and his mom did just fine without me.   (Happy me!)   He is bigger than Calla Lily, and I am not quite sure what color he is since he looks gray, but has some longer wool that is brownish.   He is also an OK Acres Casey son and has little chocolate chips for horns just like his dad.    I think he is one handsome dude!  He wasn't feeling photogenic just now, and Minnie kept blocking my view of him.   I will have to get a better picture of him later.

There are just two other ewes due real soon.    They both look like they might have twins.   We will see.

Calla Lily and Coco are in the background.    Calla is quite the little jumper already.    

More good news soon, I hope.

Coco's babe

It was a dark and storm night and barely getting light this morning when Coco had her little lamb.    Coco is a first time mother, and she had a quick uneventful birth.   The baby is a throw back to Nancy Krohn's sheep.    The grandmother was bred by Nancy.    The father is OK Acres Casey.   She is a flashy little ewe lamb who will probably be named High Ridge Calla Lily.   

Our first lamb was a still born ewe out of another first time mom.    There is no explanation for that heart break.

As you can see, the heat lamp is on, and I will labor to keep them warm in this totally horrible weather.  I am just so pleased that this birth has gone so well so far.   I will be checking them constantly even though the weather makes me want to stay in the house and read a book or spin or knit. 

More lamb news to follow in a short time because the other three are getting close to lambing.    I pray that their birthing is as uneventful as Coco's was. 

Finally something pleasant to report...........

The good thing is that today was shearing day.   This is seven of the girls with their winter coats still keeping them warm in the six inches of snow we had on Sunday night.

 This is all of the girls in the same snow.

 And another picture of six of them.

This is a very immodest picture of Coco.    At least Brian covered up here lovely little blossoming bag.    The other good news is that all five of my girls are pregnant.   Yahoo!!!   It is very difficult to tell if a sheep is pregnant when they are in full coat.    You can only tell for sure as they start to "bag up", and it is hard to tell that when they are standing and just starting.    When Brian turned them over, it was obvious.    I have been "feeling them up" for about two weeks, and it wasn't a sure thing for any of them.

This is Brian, my new shearer.    He got all five of the pregnant ewes sheared and also the two boys today.    He will come back next Wednesday and do the other four ewes.   I am fine with that.  

He is not fast, but he is gentle with the sheep.    The not fast part is why I changed shearers.    I need someone who shows that he is making sure the fleece is in the best condition it can be when it comes off the sheep.    The fleece is all important to someone who has sheep so that their wool can be used.  My fleeces do not get thrown on a truck in a big bundle.    They stay with me until someone buys them, or I create something out of them after they have been washed and carded and spun and knitted.

I will get off my sheep soapbox and tell you---- I am one, crazy, happy, old woman tonight!!!!