Christmas Has Come Early at the 'Farm'

Well it sure feels like it! The weather has been beautiful and warm and we have finally got someone in to do the fencing in the house paddock.
Here is the temporary fence we had for a few years, but the hoggets could easily jump or push their way through, so it had to go.

Here is the new fence in approximately the same area:

The view from the deck and living areas of the house - no batons!

And even a new fence to divide up the area (2 paddocks from one):

We have had posts driven into the ground near the barn so that small yards and loading ramp can be built - that way I will be able to drench and other things with the sheep. But, that is not going to happen overnight and I am really happy with having new fences, gates and paddocks!

It Hasn't All Been About a Lamb!

I know it looks like I have been playing with the lamb, but honestly! I've been busy with other things.
Firstly, in the morning I have been gardening - yes! shock! horror! the g word. This means that lambie and dog can help - or watch. All my hanging baskets are re-vegetated, and strawberries and tomatoes are potted up. Yesterday we fixed up the fence where the sheep had broken a bit in their effort to commute between paddocks - well, they are smart, but just can't physically manage the gate latch!
I have also managed a small amount of sewing. Zonta have a craft fundraising evening this Friday night, so I have made these table runners to add to the pile of quilts I would LOVE to sell!

I have also made this pattern up in New Zealand fabrics, but haven't got around to quilting it yet. I love how easy it is to change the look with so few fabrics

A Giveaway to Visit

Fellow quilter and 'bag lady', Helen, aka Aunt Henny, in Australia is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers! She has made 2 beautiful bags with fat quarters she won on Quilting Bloggers weekly themed quilt contest a wee while ago. Even if you are not currently one of her followers, you can register as a new follower, because she 2 draws (1st for the first 100 followers and another for the 2nd 100 followers).

How Smart Is This?

What do you think she's up to?

Yep! Got it figured that she can beat Mum and can feed herself!

and not yet 3 weeks old.

Some Time for Cuddles!

Sarah came home at the weekend - she needed some cuddle-time with the dog and the lamb (as you do).
This is a favourite cuddle-time photo:

mutual enjoyment, I think!
Now for some walking training:

We also docked and vaccinated the lambs using Beauty as an 'enticer'. We think she helped calm the mothers and lambs - certainly she was OK being with the flock. So, out of 10 lambs we only have 3 females - not a good ratio.

An Update on the Lil' Beauty

I have been asked for an update on Lil' Beauty, so here we have her at 2 weeks:

17 inches high at 2 weeks

and here she is greeting me in the morning - jumping up to see out of her 'pen':

She is experiencing her first rain tonight, so hopefully there is enough shelter under the trees!

Caring For the Animals

It can be really hard, because you have live stock and then there's dead stock. I lost the little lamb in the last post, but I managed to get some very good care for her mother, who is now doing well. The mother, Rosie, had mastitis so was unable to care for her twins and probably didn't give them any colostrum. That doesn't bode well for any newborn.
It's been a long hard weekend, but we now have 10 lambs which include 3.5 sets of twins. One of the ewes couldn't deliver her 2nd twin so Derrick now has his assisted delivery certificate (a breach stillborn lamb), mother is still marginal. Here is her surviving daughter which I am bottle feeding:

On Saturday morning I found that Lila (a neighbour's Dorper ewe which visited with her twin boys, and has stayed for almost 12 months) had delivered twin males, and again one is black and the other is white:

Lila and her new 'boys'

Only a couple of ewes left to lamb. Hopefully the weather will be a little more settled for a few more days.