Here We Go...

On 25th January, still noticing new damage caused by Storm Éowyn, which blew through the previous day, Astrid kicked off 2025's lambing with twin boys. She had them all by herself and was already licking them when I spotted her. We got the new family into a pen and left them to it.

Astrid took to motherhood very well. The boys are almost identical, apart from a spot on the back leg of one of them. They're called Henry and Herbie (he has the spot). If I can't see the spot, I can't tell you who it is! This is one of them.

Primrose and Frida lambed the following morning, but it was a full week before Fern was ready. She had a difficult lambing, and unfortunately one of her twin girls only lived for a few minutes afterwards. The smaller lamb, coming backwards, we were able to save. This is Heather.

Meanwhile, the other ewes and lambs were enjoying the shelter of the shed. The wind picked up and we lost some of the shed roof on the Sunday after Storm Éowyn. Thankfully someone came and got that fixed for us the following day.

Frida, the poor thing, had a single, dead, ewe lamb. We're not sure why it died. It looked fine. But these things can happen sometimes. She was upset for a couple of days and I kept her in with the others until I was sure she was alright.

Here's (checks leg) Henry. I think.

Primrose, the only of the four who had any previous lambing experience, had a huge single ewe. I've called her Hyacinth.

The boys again. Henry with Herbie in the background (I'm sure this time).

The mums are kept busy - those lambs don't stay still!

So, overall, not the most successful start to lambing, but at least the pets are done. Now just over 200 or so to deal with come March! Easy peasy!

Wordless Wednesday #157: Matching Set

Fly and Poppy in the Yard

Dad was away, picking up a new hose for the loader, so Fly, Poppy and I had a wee photoshoot around the tractor. At the same time, I was trying to get started on one of my resolutions for 2025, to clicker train the dogs. Fly was scared of clicking noise and hid under the tractor.

Poppy didn't mind the clicker, although thanks to Fly's unusual phobia, we didn't get much practise in.

 

Usually Fly is the one lying down in the middle of a photoshoot.

We moved to the Potato Field, just off the yard, to take advantage of that sunset light.

I'm not sure what caught their attention here.

Lovely Fly.

The Big Freeze

As is often the case, January offered up the coldest days of winter. I was out with my camera as much as I could during a week when the temperature rarely went above 0°C. My first visit was to the pets.

They were very relaxed on this morning. Here's Dot.

Esther.

Petal and Bella.

Titch.

Millie.

Tilly.

Occasionally, Tilly will start posing for the camera. It's very cute.

Penny.

Patricia.

Petal.

Vera and Dot.

Ginnie.

Vera.

Ginnie and Nora.

Ginnie.

I went up the hill with Poppy straight after to get a few photos of the mountains covered in snow.

In the afternoon it was Blue Belle's turn.

Watching the ewe lambs.

Munching too, of course.

Some posing thanks to my secret weapon (horse noise videos).

Posing at the gate.

The light on the way back to Blue Belle's field was lovely.

Home sweet home.

I was returning to the yard when I got distracted by the pet sheep.

The following morning I was out again. The pets were on the trail.

Rosie was in the lead.

Esther and Patricia.

Petal, Nora, Dot and Vera.

Rosie.

Esther.

Rosie.

It was the turn of Poppy and Susan next. It was so cold, I just stuck to the yard this time. Thankfully I managed not to slip on any ice.

The girls were much more interested in playing than posing.

Um... excuse me?

Thank you.

 

You can go off and play now, thank you, Susan.