Friday, April 17, 2009

Coming up for Air ... or Down for the Third Time?

I know some of you have more sheep than we do, and more lambs in a short period of time - Theresa, for one. We've had 21 lambs in the last 3 1/2 days, including the third set of triplets and a set of quads! I haven't really kept track (other than writing them down) of who's got what, who're possible keepers and who's for sale. There WILL BE Shetlands and % Gotlands for sale! There are still at least 6 ewes left to go.


In addition to lambing, we are bottle feeding a couple of kittens every 6 hours (down from every 4 hours) I found in our hay and straw hauling horse trailer, this morning took delivery of 102 Colored Range chicks, are (supposed to be) helping at the Shepherds' Extravaganza through Sunday, are trying to get the garden in, on top of the rest of the usual chores.


The individual sheep are gestating 3 to 6 days longer than previous years, and that's thrown our whole schedule off. No one appears to be in labor at this time, so I actually might get more than 4 hours of sleep tonight. Yeaaaa!


We got to see Joey + Rory in concert tonight at the Puyallup Spring Fair/Shepherds' Extravaganza. Joey + Rory were finalists from the TV show Can You Duet, and Rory is a very successful Country songwriter with hits including Blake Shelton's number 1 "Some Beach" and one of my favorites, the as yet unreleased "Welcome Home". It was a fun mix of serious and lighthearted songs, including one about Granny in her 'Daisy Dukes', their version of Free Bird, and their hit "Cheater, Cheater". Dave got his CD signed and we got to talk briefly with them (as did many! other fans). If you get a chance to hear them, do it!

(image from http://www.myspace.com/joeyandrory)



As an aside, while searching for information on the songs Rory's written, I found out that he co-produced Blaine Larsen's first album, as well as co-writing Blaine's single "How Do You Get That Lonely?" Blaine is a local boy, and another of my (and my mom's) favorite artists.

Okay - break time's over! Back to barn checks, feeding and BED!

- Franna

5 comments:

Nancy K. said...

Good Lord, Franna!!
21 lambs in 3 days? 3 sets of triplets and a set of QUADS?? That doesn't even sound like fun....

Hang in there! You're almost done and what a blast you'll have this summer watching all those babies grow.

Michelle said...

If you're planting a garden, sounds like you're settling in there for the growing season, at least. What's the new timeline for ERN? Since you'll be farther away when you move there, later is better. ;-)

Donna said...

That is an incredible amount of sheep in a short period of time. And I am whining about feeding a runt goat kid and barn checks- that is nothing. Still hoping our sheep will lamb someday!

Gone2theDawgs said...

WOW! Have you been busy!! I can't wait to hear about your Shetland lambs!! :)

Kathy said...

My, my...you do sound busy! As we didn't breed last fall, I've had the luxury of living vicariously through others with lambing this year. :)
But I think Lois might have you beat for the number of lambs in two days...

I do hope you and Dave are able to come up for a breath and a good meal now and then.

Hugs from the SW