First came lambing. And then the kidding began.

Today I feel normal again for the first time in about a month. It has been about two weeks since our final ewe lambed.  A few days later our goats began kidding. No kidding. Lambing followed by kidding is like taking a time out from the world where you live and instead you become a member of the flock or herd.  You live in the barn. Flashlight visits down the road to the barn at midnight, followed by a couple of hours of watching the mothers lamb or kid. Then tending to all:  helping with nursing, clearing nostrils, needles, bringing warm molasses water to help mom regain her energy after perhaps a set of triplets or more are born.  You re-enter the house, the smells still abound you. A quick look at the clock reminds you that you will hear the alarm ring in maybe 3-4 hours. Back to the barn to bottle feed weaker lambs, check for more babies on the way, a quick cup of java and off to work you go… weeks later-we are catching up on sleep now, cooking , cleaning, and enjoying the sunshine.

Isn’t she beautiful?

All of our Finnsheep lambs and Nubian kids are running and playing and gaining independence.  And so are we. We are now in full swing, dyeing fiber, blending beautiful spinning batts, and making batch after batch of our soaps.  But, we still hang out in the barns, still a few bottles to be brought, and lots of snuggles and kisses and many smiles and laughs as we lose time watching them all run and hop and race.

Isn’t he handsome?