Wow, eggs!

They say not to count the eggs in your basket, but today I did and for the first time, all 14 chickens laid an egg! Everyday it's a different number, but today they all did, wow!

Cold Frame Planted!

Our Cold Frame is finally planted with an assortment of lettuce, mesculin, spinach and other green leafy vegetables.

I worked on the soil all winter with a chicken and alpaca manure combination, as well as some fine compost.
Each row is marked with it's appropriate vegetable. Now we just wait for them to grow...

Lamb tails and the unmentionable...

Today was tail and testicle day here on the farm! Using the proper tool (in the picture to the left), "The Band Castrator" , we went to work. The tool actually opens expanding the very small elastic band...

 which we open, guide the tail into and then close it onto the tail. The rubber band closes off the circulation to the tail and in a few days will fall off. It seems cruel but a sheep with a tail is a dirty mess. The fecal matter will build up atracting flies, maggots and infection.

Here are "Roses" two girls right after and they had a fit. They scooted, dropped to the ground and kicked. "Belle's" boys did fine. We actually did their tails on Thursday and they didn't even flinch, and today we did their testicles and still they act like it's nothing!

 This little girl pictured to the right, actually dropped to the ground and began to kick, contorted her body and looked like she was having a seizure! Poor baby lamb, but in the future it will be the best thing we ever did for her!

Greenhouse Miracles

Finally some sun! We have had days of rain and clouds here in Connecticut and today we have sun and no clouds! It's enough to keep you in the dumps and not to forget the sinus pressure from these horrible wet, rainy days. The sun is shining on the greenhouse so I went up to take a peek...

Inside I have planted everything from 7 kinds of basil to impatiens for the flower gardens to pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, you name it! The counters are lined with growing trays but we have had no sun so I wasn't even sure if anything has grown.

The Bay plants and Rosemary that I over wintered in the house are doing well. They are thriving and loving it out there, despite all the rain and clouds...

and then when I lifted the top off of one of the mini greenhouses, there they were, the little sproutlings of basil emerging from the peat pot! I was so excited, success! Houston we have a working greenhouse after all!

Lamb's Day Out!

When I got home from work this afternoon, I decided to offer "Rose" and the "girls" the opportunity to go outside. So with great trepidation, "Rose" followed as I took them out one by one. In the two pictures to the left, "Roses" girls are on the left and "Belles" boys are on the right. Look at the difference! They are only 5 days apart and look at how much the boys have grown! 
 In the picture to the right, one of "Belles" boys, look at his little jacket that I made for him! Both boys have torn them. They play so hard, I saw one take a running start and ram himself right into the fence! Ouch!

In this picture is one of "Belles" boys saying high to his big sister "Lily". I suppose he is saying "Wow, I'm going to look like you someday!" I just love the Olde English "Babydoll" Southdown breed so much and am so honored to be breeding them and having the chance to experience them...well back to life and getting somethings done around here!

Rose's lambs arrive!

 Rose's lambs finally arrived today safe and sound, after the threat of prolapse and worrying about her, all is well! We arrived home this afternoon after attending an awards ceremony in which I got an award, big surprise, my mom ended up in the hospital. So the day was a bit crazy. When we got home Rose had a showing, it was time!

 So we locked her into the stall and watched up at the house via the "lamb cam". She paced, she dug and then she laid down and pushed and pushed and out popped the first little black ewe.

So I rushed down there to clean her up and clear her mouth and as I was doing that I heard a "plop" and looked over and the second lamb was born laying there in her sack because "Rose" was too busy cleaning the first one. I grabbed the second one, cleared her mouth and took a look, another ewe!

"Rose" is so attentive, in the picture to the right she is cleaning the second one, the first one is behind her, you can make out just a small spot behind "Rose". They are both healthy, strong and arrived safe. "Rose" is also fine, no prolapse, over all not a bad day. As for my mom, she will be o.k. in a few days, thank goodness...

First planting in the Greenhouse!

Well today I decided to take a break from laundry, lambing, bill paying, order fulfilling and go up to the greenhouse and get started. In the picture to the left are some seed starter trays I got at a local store.

 I laid out all my seeds that I have been picking up here and there, trying to stay as organic as possible. I even saved some seed from last year and dried them and am giving them a shot. I divided the vegetable, herb and flower seed packets and put them into groupings.

I marked popsicle sticks with what was planted as well as dated them so I knew exactly when I planted them. Here in the picture to the left I did herbs, lemon, cinnamon, sweet, and purple basils. Also sage and oregano as well.

I watered it really well and put the top that was provided to make a nice humid atomosphere to get them started. This year I am even going to grow my own flowers. At night time there is a heating lamp for the chickens to keep the greenhouse warm. I can't wait to see what pops up first!