Random Ramblings...

Last weekend it was 80 degrees and we had tornadoes. 

Today, it is snowing. 

But there will be NO PICTURES  of that.

It is Spring.

The grass is slowly  turning green.

Speaking of slow...

The "Alice Watch" is under way.

It's been so warm that some of the girls are starting to roo!

Dream actually seemed to enjoy me gently 'plucking' the loose wool from her back and shoulder.

Everyone's just hanging out.

Relaxing.

And getting fat.

I start Physical Therapy on Monday.

I'm NOT looking forward to that!

I need to sell the Piggles.

Has anyone ever had a "Stereotactic-guided Core Needle  (breast) Biopsy"?  It appears that I need to have one.  I'm not as concerned about the actual procedure as I am about discomfort afterwards.  The material the doctor sent me home with makes it sound like I'm going to be pretty sore for up to several weeks! 

Like I haven't had enough pain already...

DREAM says...

"We'll get you through it, Mom."

You always do, Dreamer. 

You always do.

Wordless Wednesday...

The Lull Between Storms...

The Midwest has been wracked by violent storms over the past three weeks and the Bluff Country is no exception. 

As I was walking out to check on the ewes and lambs the other day, I saw this awesome sky "above my big barn".  It looked like streaks emanating from the roof of the barn.  It lasted for at least a half hour. 

Very eiree!

Then the sun broke out and everything was enveloped in a golden glow.

I turned the expecting ewes out onto fresh pasture...

Not that they NEED any more to eat!

;-)

DREAM says...

"Check this out!  Mom says that in this picture, I don't even look pregnant!  She seems to think that Zest is going to have her babies first and then Godiva.   I wonder how she knows this stuff...?"

Trust me, when it comes to who's going to lamb and when, I don't know much of anything!  But Zest does look like she's the closest, followed closely by Godiva.  I'd say we've got maybe a week to go.  And, yes,  I was amazed at how trim Dream looked in that photo!  It's some kind of fluke of angle and/or light though...she definitely looks VERY pregnant!

We're getting close, in the Bluff Country!

After...

The same ewes

as in the previous post:

Well, not quite!
 Dream was not in the previous post, but Zest (left) and Angel (white) were.

I'm not sure how Dream snuck into this photo.

Here's Zest after  shearing:

The third ewe in the "Before" post was

Destiny:

Of course, that  is NOT Destiny!

I don't know what's gotten into Dream.

THIS:

is Destiny.

I love that photograph of Alice's beautiful daughter!

Dazzle was in the previous post as well...

That's my friend, Jean, visiting Dazzle after shearing.

Oh, oh.  I think I might know what the problem is.

DREAM says...

"I have absolutely nothing to say!"

(..."try leaving ME out of another post"...)

Is it Even Possible???

How could it possibly be that my babies are already
THREE WEEKS OLD?

It seems like just last week that Dazzle surprised me
 with her precious daughter

"Dixie Cup"

Dixie is a bit of a diva and doesn't believe that she needs to cuddle and snuggle with humans.  No lap lamb, this one!  Not yet, anyway...

The day after Dixie was born, Alice once again gave me triplets.

Since Alice is the "Queen" of my flock, a good friend of mine suggested the triplets should be given royal names.  Hence:

"Duchess"

"Duke" and "Princess" (right)

The triplets will all be Musket (like Alice) and are quite friendly.  They especially like to chew on my fingers!

Chance took the "pizazz factor" up a notch with her twin, ewe lambs

"Lucky Charm" (HST) and "Serendipity"

Now, Charmer really knows how to snuggle!  Wouldn't you know, these two are already sold.

The last of the girls in the first group to lamb was Dilemma.  She  presented me with twin, HST, ram lambs.  Beautiful boys!

Pink nosed "Chrome"

and his dashing brother "Shine"

As I'm aging, I find that my eyes are not as good as they once were.  Look closely at the above photo of Chrome.  See the branch that appears to be coming out of his head?

When I was taking the pictures and looking through the viewfinder, I didn't notice it at first.  I think it was when I snapped this photo that I noticed it:

I kid you NOT ~ I thought he had impaled  himself and was most likely dead!

It was only when I put my camera down and walked up to him that I realized that Chrome was lying on a downed branch and the fork in the branch was behind his head.

Whew!

I do believe that Destiny will be the next to go.

It looks like she may be having triplets!  She IS Alice's daugthter so that would not be a surprise.  Of course, I have no idea when she's due.

Perhaps I'll have a better idea after shearing, this Saturday...

Fresh Pasture...

Sable oversees the move to the side pasture

I always like to turn my girls out onto fresh pasture the last few weeks before lambing begins.  I feel it provides them with the very best nutrition to carry them and their unborn lambs through the final weeks of pregnancy.  That plus the grass is getting long and I don't want to have to mow it!

The lush, green grass is fairly bursting with nutrition

The nineth (and final!) "Alice Watch" will commence the first week of May.  She should lamb around the end of May.  I will keep one lamb and Alice will not be bred again.  She's earned her retirement! 

 I entered "Alice Watch" in the search box on this blog and it brought up a list of all the posts where we talked about waiting for Alice to lamb.  I didn't go through them all but apparently, there are FIVE pages of Alice Watch posts!

Alice's beautiful, Shaela daughter "Destiny"

DREAM says...

"I'm not having MY babies until  the end of JUNE! 

 I'll help you keep an eye on Alice, Mom..."

Thanks Dreamer.  I knew I could count on you!