Around the "farm"...

Actually, I took these photos a few weeks ago and didn't get a chance to post them. At the moment we are experiencing hot westerly winds frequently and have had very little rain. The paddocks are dry and crispy and we really need some rain soon.

I harvested 2.5kg of beetroot and pickled and bottled it. We have been loving it with salad for lunch and I'm hoping the new crop grows quickly as we are charging through the bottles I made!

The apple and pear trees were flowering and now have fruit growing. They were here when we came so I have no idea what variety they are or when I should expect them to be fruiting.

We have five new chicks- supposedly Black Australorps but in reality a cross breed by the look of the mix of feathers they have. They have grown so much since I took these photos. We deliberately bought large, heavy birds this time, so that any that turn out to be roosters will be good for dinner. 

Our lambs have also grown.  They have gotten out a few times lately and caused trouble trying to catch them, so I have been thinking how plump and juicy they are looking! But...we are keeping these ewe lambs as our new breeding stock, so no roast lamb yet. It turned out that the other ewe we bought was not actually in lamb (just fat!!) which is disappointing. If she doesn't lamb next season she will have to go.

 We got rid of the other rooster, who was a bit cranky, so now Shadow rules the roost. He is an Ancona, and most handsome!

Hope your garden is growing well, and your animals thriving! My thoughts are with all those whose homes, gardens and animals have been affected by the NSW bushfires.

Newborns

On Wednesday afternoon we fed the animals as usual. All of them come around bleating, neighing and clucking their expectations of a good feed; it's a great habit as they come to me and I can check their well-being. 

I noticed that one of the ewes, Mary, had a very enlarged udder and a rather swollen-looking rear end.  After the feed I kept watching her and noticed that she wandered off by herself, lay down and then got up again. We weren't expecting lambs for another few weeks but didn't really know for sure. Since we've seen foxes here the last few mornings I quickly got the kids to help move the sheep to a safer paddock closer to the house, and then we waited. And checked her, and waited, and checked.

At 10pm I went out and shone the flashlight and saw Mary's eyes shining back...and then two little sets of eyes shining back near her feet! So exciting, our first lambs.

One was a lot weaker than the other, and the following morning it was sitting off by itself, shivering in the cold, while the other lamb and Mary had wandered off.  I got the little one up, which woke it and reminded Mary she had another little lamb to care for.  We have kept doing this over the last 36 hours and the little one has gained strength.

The lambs are so fragile, on their long spindly legs, seemingly holding onto life with such a frail grasp.  

They are both ewes, so our girls have campaigned for us to keep them both rather than eat either of them. Little Woolly and Daisy, I have to say that I'm inclined to agree :)