Shiver Is Cold and So Are We
For a little ewe lamb that was born on a 40 degree morning, Shiver is handling the negative temperatures of her first week of life quite well (with the help of a heat lamp). We, on the other hand, are pretty chilly!
This morning we were scheduled to round up six market lambs and load them onto a trailer to head to the butcher tomorrow. These tasks are always rather sad, though inevitable, and we never look forward to them. But today was especially bitter since it was snowing, windy and not quite 10 degrees. Plus, we were chasing sheep around on a slick of ice that developed after the weekend thaw turned into a deep freeze. Shannon threw himself on half the animals, tackling them football-style. I tried to use a bit more finesse and trap them in corners, but ended up taking a blinding head-butt, losing my glasses and dropping out of the chase altogether. To make it worse, the snow is accumulating and we’ll have to cancel our appointment to our far-away butcher until the weather clears.
We had to do the same in November when our hogs were scheduled to take their final trip. A braver farmer might head into a storm with stock, as the butcher informs me we’re the only people who’ve canceled appointments for weather this year. But the age of our trailer combined with our experience pulling equipment is a daunting equation. Ah, the joys of winter on the homestead. Thankfully, these are our last animals to be harvested for the year, so when we eventually return from the butcher we can park that empty trailer and forget about it until spring.
mary pettengell said,
December 22, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Petals and Pansy are two very spoiled lambies…...Shiver is quite cute….....:) Mary
kriss said,
December 23, 2008 @ 9:09 am
Mary, hi!
I was just thinking about you! I’m sure they are very very happy there. If you ever want an adorable black runt, I still have Loki and he is the most adorable, tiny little guy! Pansy made our Christmas card this year, I want to send it to you!
K
Jodi Bubenzer said,
December 23, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Hi, Kriss. Merry Christmas to all of you. I’m wondering if you are around through this holiday week and we’ll come to get Amelie. I was thinking over the weekend, if we don’t get another blizzard. Is she still in the same pasture? If so, should be pretty easy to get her into the truck. Let’s touch base after Christmas and work on a time for the great goat return!
Jodi
Shakespeare is the king of the barn and is spoiled rotten. He gets his “own” bucket of feed and rule of the hay mow….it’ll be interesting when Amelie comes home.
Shelley Ryan said,
December 29, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Hi Kriss,
Thanks for the card and the 20% off coupon. I would be interested in hearing back from you regarding lamb orders and prices. Don’t know if it’s too late but would interested in learning more about ordering half a lamb.
Thanks,
Shelley Ryan
mary pettengell said,
January 20, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
I’d love to see it, she’s quite wooly now. I’m glad you still have Loki, I’ll think about him, my address is p.o. box 247 Mineral Point, if you want to send the card… I was going to e-mail sooner but I thought you’ld be busy until the snow flew.. when do you think I need to bring them down to be sheared? April? I don’t think they will fit so neatly in the back of my jeep anymore…:)