Spring, Finally.

crowded house

The weather has finally shifted into Spring Mode. A week ago today, we had a good old fashioned nor'easter and even though we all knew it would melt quickly, the fact that it was howling and snowing sideways on the first day of April was mother nature's way of tricking us all in Maine. Up in the mountains they got over a foot, but we got away with just about 6" and then it turned to sleet, freezing rain and then just good old rain. The sheep stayed in all day and kept dry. Hard not to notice how crowded the barn is these days on the rare occasion that everyone is inside of it at the same time. They manage nicely.

Bella, the good momma

This weekend is supposed to be sunny and warm, so it will be nice to be outside working in the yard and maybe even getting into the garden beds a little. One bed of garlic is coming up beautifully, but I think I may have lost a whole other one. There are tulips starting to pop up from beneath the layer of leaf mulch that I put down in November, and pulling away that dusty brown covering to reveal all that new growth is always one of my favorite spring chores. And, after such a long and difficult winter nothing I am doing outside feels much like a chore. Rather it's a pleasure. Having a little pup dancing around my rake and diving in piles of leaves makes it even more like fun.

Henry

the new boy

Henry joined the menagerie at The Salty Ewe on Wednesday. He is a lab mix from Indiana. Puppy love.

Henry.

He's doing beautifully with house training - no slips yet! First meeting of sheep was hilarious. Cats still not too sure, but they'll all work it out. His little personality is huge already; Henry is a joy.

scissor teeth

Elusive Spring

The sun is out but we're not reaching forty degrees this weekend in Maine. Spring is as elusive as ever. Saw some crocus popping up yesterday on my way to get some hay, and the robins are back. Heard a lone goose the other night (wondered if his air controller had fallen asleep). There are baby animals everywhere and the days are getting longer - all signs of the season. But the air feels like winter.

The lambs soaking up spring sun

The lambs love soaking in the sun and sleeping outside together, either in pairs or all in a pile together...sometimes next to or on top of their moms. The small pen that was Bill's has made a perfect area for them to run around in and yet stay safe. They're growing quickly and will move out to the big field in late April. After Easter and Passover.

standing still...a rarity

And, an explanation on the "ready or not" post for anyone who wondered what prompted the post. This blogging is a creative outlet for me but also a constant balancing act around what's public and what's private. When I try to meld the two, it's not always successful. So, the post was my response to my experience of almost adopting a puppy. After crazy excitement and preparation for a pup I had bought from a rescue group came extreme sadness and disappointment. I never did pick her up; the pup died. I am waiting for a refund. Her name was Spring. 

Ready or Not

the sometimes salty shepherd

Life just knocks you for a loop sometimes. Things happen that take your breath away, make you steady yourself or sit down if you're fortunate enough to be left standing. I think the younger you are the more resilient in so many ways, mostly because of ignorance I suppose. What they say about ignorance being bliss is so true...
Taking those life hits time after time will definitely build resilience in us adults, but in other ways we become more deeply affected by them. We try to connect the dots of our lives and gain perspective; we actually connect a few of them when we're lucky and move forward with a more peaceful gait. Losing your balance and reeling from the unexpected blows is all a part of the game. Regaining the balance is the trick.
As the lambs begin to play with one another, backing up gently and putting their little heads down, trying the head-butting thing, it's impossible not to laugh and relax. Life has a rhythm that is its own, and we're just along for the proverbial ride. Seasons come and seasons go. Some seasons never get to be.
That's just the way it is.
So, the sometimes salty shepherd is working on embracing the new life on the farm and letting be what will be. Happy Spring.

Spring Snow

After a few days of sun and relative warmth, we're having snow on the second day of spring. Poor man's fertilizer is what I remember my grandmothers calling snow this late in the winter. I'll take it, but only because the ground is still visible and green is beginning to push up from the dirt. My garlic is up. Only an inch or two, but the straight little rows look a lot better than last spring - hopefully whatever got into the garlic bed has left the neighborhood.

Bella and her babies

The lambs are all well and moms are fine, too. I've let them all out into the small pen while at home over the weekend, and it's great to see them bouncing and bounding everywhere. The only way I can tell them apart is because they stick close to their respective mothers, and so until they get their tags in a week or so, I have no idea who's who. This isn't helped by the fact that I still have no names for Callie's twins - there's something to be said for knowing the names even if you can't tell one from another.

After the ear nibbling

Springing Forward

Mercy and Grace

Feels like yesterday (but long ago) that I wrote about Falling Back and daylight savings time. The loss of an hour on Sunday has made morning chores more chore-like since it's now still dark at 6:30 AM. As I write, the early morning sky is breaking open and shades of lighter blues and grays are appearing behind the dark rain clouds. Darker than usual. Watching the light slowly increase on these mornings is one of the best parts of the time change, and it also usually signals the return of the birds. Soon, there will be a chorus of chirping birds ushering in the sunrises here.

Yesterday the lambs and their moms were placed in a large pen together, and when left alone to work it out, they did. It makes me anxious when one of the ewes head checks a lamb that's not hers - sometimes up against the barn wall - and it's not always easy to stay back and let what's happening just happen. And yet that's what a good shepherd would do.

Lessons from lambing continue to surface. Since bringing lambs up to the house at night isn't an option, and my house is feeling too empty without Beate, it's time to bring a new beast home. Spring is coming.

Shepherd's Nirvana

Callie did indeed have her lambs on Thursday night. Two more ewe lambs, both black.

Shepherd's Nirvana is what I heard someone call it once - when your lambing season is short and easy with a majority of ewe lambs; Bella and Callie lambed within five days of one another and with the exception of one of Callie's lambs being huge and a little stuck, all has gone beautifully. Quite something having two sets of black ewes, too. I feel very blessed.

Bella with Mercy and Grace

Callie and still to be named twins

Nate came over yesterday and docked the tails for me - something I have still not been able to stomach doing on my own. They didn't make a peep and were bouncing around within minutes.