Posted in critters, happiness, Life, Memories, nature, photos, tagged happiness, lambs, Life, Memories, nature, newborn lambs, sheep on January 26, 2009|
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In years gone by I’d spent many a winters night sleeping in the barn. I was reminded of this last night with our frigid temperatures again. It’s a peculiar place for a New Englander to sleep in January, I know. But in January and February it’s lambing season.
There’s something about raising sheep that has a lasting effect on a person. Maybe it’s the constant ‘baa-baa’ in the lambing sheds or the smell of orphaned lambs behind the wood stove.. or perhaps watching the miracle of a four minute old lamb stand on all four for the first time, while Mamma ewe nudges her newborn to udder.
Now I lay me down to sleep, exhausted by the doggone sheep– my only wish is that I might, cause them not to lamb at night. I wouldn’t mind the occassional few, but sometimes it’s been more than a few. Back to bed and then up again, at two o’clock and 4 AM.. We stand there watching nature do the work, praying there won’t be any glitches–a leg turned back, or even worse, a lamb that’s come –in reverse. But once they’ve lambed, we so glad to see..that their efforts haven’t ended in tragedy. For me there is no emotion so sublime as a lamb and ewe that’s doing just fine. This is a shot of 5 minute old Tobey being weighed in at 4AM.. he looks as sleepy as I felt!

Newborn Tobey
When we had our farm I was often asked why I raised sheep. My answer was always the same.. mostly for the gratification gained in the barn at three AM.. from the birth of another baby lamb.. How can you even explain, or even show? I guess only a sheperd will ever know!
Did you ever wonder why sheep don’t shrink in the sun when they are wet after a rain? 😀
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