31 March 2011

The first lambs.

As always the first job this morning was to go across and check the sheep. On entering the field I noticed straight away that there was something going down because one of the ewes was right over at the other end of the field on her own. Sheep very rarely venture off by themselves so when you see one away from the rest it’s a good sign something needs checking out so I went off to investigate. As I got closer I could see that she had a couple of lambs with her and this was the reason for her being away by herself. They hadn’t been born long but seemed to be doing okay, both were up and trying to suckle which is the main thing with lambs. That first drop of milk sets them up for life.




For the most part the rest of the day has been spent planting five of the new trees. It may not seem like I have been very productive taking all day to plant five trees but I like to do them well as they are going to be there for a long time. I also had to go and get some stakes for them. I was hoping to get away without staking them but in the end I decided it wasn’t worth omitting. So we got them in, staked, mulched and tidied up around them so that’s another job taken care of.
On leaving tonight I actually felt quite pleased with the way things are at the moment. I never allow myself to feel contented with the way things are, I like to look for the faults but tonight I couldn’t help feeling pleased when I stopped for a minute to look around. The only real blot on the landscape are the darn Chafer grubs which I can’t do much about until May at the earliest.

12 comments:

Sage said...

What pretty sheep! What kind are they? We don't have that many black ones in the US.

Sara said...

Oh, thanks for sharing the photos of the baby sheep. So, cute.

Anonymous said...

Twin lambs...so precious! We had a goat when I was a child who had twin kids! They were so funny...kicking and prancing and jumping up in the air. We'd laugh til we cried!

I believe you have a right now and again to bask in the feeling of a job well done! And you're right best to stake the trees...sure as you don't something will happen and you'll wish you had.

I'm going to have to look up Chafer grubs...I'm not familiar with them.

Anonymous said...

I looked up the Chafer grubs...I see why you're not happy. We had grubs or grub worms that looked very similar to the Chafer...I'm sure they were just a USA version...the chickens loved them and when we dug them up we'd throw them to the chickens.

Jimmy said...

"never content"...isn't that the way of a gardener. He always sees the weeds long before he notices the blooms.

Great post! Love the sheep!!

Amy Wood said...

Awww, the lambs are so cute! They look only interested in their mamma! :) Thanks for sharing!

ellen abbott said...

Oh I do the same thing. always see what didn't get done instead of admiring what did get done.

thanks for visiting.

Kimmie said...

sweet babies...thanks for sharing them (oh how my kids would like to have such little ones to care for...but I digress)

sorry about the grubs (which throws me back to thinking about those awful potato beetles of my childhood!)

May will soon be upon us...pray for me, as it is snowing again in my part of the world. So far an inch is stuck to my *wanting to be green* grass. *we heard 6-12" but I am believing in the power of PRAYER!

Kimmie
mama to 8
one homemade and 7 adopted

cottage garden farmer said...

Iknow what you mean about not being content with the way things are in the garden, it's all too easy to see only the things that you haven't got round to rather than appreciate the results of all your hard work. i have to make a real effort not to do it. Gorgeous lambs, I so wish I had room for a couple of ewes...

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

i think five trees to plant is a lot! that is work for sure! just found you and i am looking forward in following your interesting posts!

Lou Harmon said...

I would say five trees planted well in a day is a good days work. :)

What kind of sheep are they....?

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Rob,
I had to comment on this seond back post, because I couldn't resist seeing the lambs! Darling they are too!! Planting trees and looking at newborn lambs, a good way to spend a day in my book!!
I'd be tempted to keep a bay leaf tree too:-)
Enjoy your weekend.
Bella