April 16, 2021
We had such a late start to lambing season, I was seriously worried that there was something wrong with our ram, or perhaps that his proclivities lay elsewhere, but now with 20 lambs “on the ground,” I'm no longer worried - just very tired...
So far, the ewes are doing well and most of the lambs are thriving. We brought home one lamb, and will probably bring home another, in order to give them extra milk and attention - this compared to last year's 10 bottle fed lambs and 6 very sick ewes. Happily, all of my worrying about a repeat of our 2020 “lambing season from hell,” seems to have been for naught.
After a long seven month “Covid separation” we had our two year old grandson back for the weekend (his parents tagged along as well) and we met our five month old granddaughter for the very first time.
I was curious to see how much Akiva would remember of his three month stay with us at the beginning of the pandemic. He not only remembered all of our animals but he remembered the car rides to various farms each week to pick up produce for our home deliveries. Last spring he would nap in the car and when we arrived at our destination, he'd wake up, look around, and announce simply, but clearly, either “cows!” or “no cows” depending on the farm. Now he's able to articulate fairly complete sentences like “ Okay! let's go in car and see cows, now.” He can also fluently carry on a running commentary while collecting eggs “ one brown one, one I broke one, one white one...”
Shortly after he was born I asked his mom “What happens if he grows up to be a city kid I really can't relate to?” She replied with out hesitation “He won't if you have anything to do with it.”
I believe she may be right, for if nothing else, we will always have chickens, pigs, sheep and of course the cows in common - and many steadfast, lifelong friendships have bonded over a whole lot less.