New Beds

In the eternal quest for less lawn l have been digging up grass to extend some flower beds. My aim is to fill them with Delphiniums, Lupins and Foxgloves this Summer. (the last one won't be hard as they grow like weeds here!)

So at the moment the garden is one big muddy mess.....

With lots of back breaking turf lifting.....

And even MORE rock picking! For goodness sakes.....how many rocks can a small patch of lawn HAVE underneath it????

The cat thinks l'm mad........

I can but dream...........

 

 

 

Happy Kids!

A nice sight to see after the weekend's drama! A warm sunny Winters day.....................

And frolicking lambs out on the grass

Not the little breech baby. He is still a tiny bit too young and his Mum still has him tucked away under the trees. These are LaLa's twins.......

Incredible to think these little boys leaping around are the same spindly weak little things from only two days ago!

And two week old little LJ thrilled to bits she has play friends now!

Lamb life is good!

Lamb Dramas!

Well ...not a fun filled few days! Not for me anyway! Too much stress and too much drama for my liking. First off was LaLa going into labour late Thursday afternoon. We put her in the barn as it's been a shocking few days weatherwise with a day of non settling snow and then another day of constant rain and wind. Not good days to drop lambs.......so LaLa decided she would!
Too many hours later  into the process with nothing really happening l decided that although we knew nothing, she needed help. Her waters had broken and text book speak says the lamb should be out within 20 minutes to half an hour max. When nothing happened and she didn't seem to be even trying l am sitting there trawling through Google on my iPhone trying to find more information on what is right and what is wrong. l found ONE site that said it's ok to leave for an hour...............phew............wait another half hour.........nothing. No lamb , no straining, LaLa not even  really trying...........Google ,Google Google....................Another 15 mins go by...how long do you wait?? How long is a piece of string??? Very nerve wracking indeed. We finally decided after possibly too long that she needed help ..... in sheer terror l washed my hands, got the buckets and towels ,poured over photos and more Sheep sites and off l went!
It was easy to find two little feet and a big head ............then l had to pull! Oh my god.....how?? What if you pull their joints too hard?? Pull their head out of whack?? Oh dear...it was not fun. But I guess it's been happening for thousands of years and somehow l managed to get this little wee thing out and onto the ground. It was breathing and after clearing it's airways it was ok. Wow!!
Ten minutes later out pops half a head...........Twins. This one we decided to leave to get out itself. It had come that far it can bloody come out the rest of the way!!! But after what seemed like eternity it still wasn't making progress and then its little tongue lolled out the side of its mouth....... THAT didn't look right!!! Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....................IS that ok????? IS that normal??? How long do you leave a lamb being born with just its nose poking out ???
We decided to intervene.......and off l went again. Easier this time as its head was right there. This time a quieter teeny skinny little thing slid out..........Towel dry, give to Mum, sit and watch for a while then leave them alone. By then we really were not sure how strong this little fellow was. He really was so very small and weak................with a rolled over back foot that he couldn't walk on.
All this drama was watched by the way by the whole clan including little LJ who settled down with front row seats....

Next morning and they were both still alive!!! The little one was shivering a bit so he got wrapped up in a blanket which helped. He is so tiny! The first one is a lot stronger and heartier ....

Warmer now!

AND his little bung foot came good!

Cuddling up to a mineral block!

Soooooooooooooooooo that was one...................the next day in the afternoon it was Fingals turn. She tottered off to a quiet corner of the paddock and began the long process of churning out her lamb! l watched from afar with binoculars as l refused to get drawn into THIS one unless l HAD to! AND I DID!!! ................................Her waters broke and after about half and hour l wandered over to see how she was getting on.........and there's a tail...............JUST A TAIL?????????? Oh my god..... that's a breech birth! HOW DO I DO THAT??????? GOOGLE.?????????.................................I NEED YOU!!!!!!!!!!
I rang Geoff but he was miles away.so l rang good old Dad who lives much closer........Why?? l don't know really! l just think l needed someone else there!!! Possibly to hold the ewe? Possibly for moral support? Possibly to read my Google page to me out loud as l tried to figure out what on earth to do???
So off l run for more hand scrubbing, more hot water. ......more towels..............rush back and there's two hocks and a tail...............l wasn't sure of the urgency in a situation like this but l thought as the ewe was lying down and not going anywhere l should try anything before the Calvary arrived....So l poked ,prodded, twisted and ...whatever ........l have no idea!....and before l knew it there's a big lamb......totally lifeless and limp in my lap.....and l am soaked.......dripping with blood and ....whatever !  l cleared its airways and gently (as per Google!) swung him around until that amazing moment when l heard a little gasp for breath and finally signs of movement and life. Amazing!!!
Dad then arrived just as the little one began to stir and we stood and watch the miracle of a new saved life right in front of our eyes.

Looks like a little Gremlin!!

Up and at 'em about 10 minutes after birth!

Then safe and warm for the night in the barn.....

One more ewe to lamb.................fingers crossed THIS one will be easier!!

Goodbye Girls!

Well the  girls have gone back to Sydney. We have had a crazy exhausting fun filled week. The kids just loved it and so did we. l think this little Madam was very sad to leave....

We packed a lot into the few days they were here....

They worked.....

And they didn't work!!!

They dressed appropriately..............

And they dressed inappropriately!!

Geoff made them bows from Willow branches.....which they loved!

We ate too much..........

And we partied hard......

We stayed up too late............

Took a lot of Selfies..........with Lilli!

(((((((Some pictures just cannot BE explained...............))))))

They didn't have enough hands to pat everybody!

But big enough arms to cuddle this gorgeous little thing.....

They named the lamb for us. LJ for Louise Junior!

And  l named my Potager Garden after them both!

They posed with live animals..........

And they posed with pretend animals!

They explored..........

And they played.....

Now they have gone.........even the cat misses them!! l found her curled up amongst the toys in the toy box....

Till next time girls! xx

 

Kids for a Week!

This week we have two nieces down from Sydney for a holiday! Not the best time to come to Tassie as it is cold and very muddy but they love it  here and have plenty to entertain them inside and out. Today was particularly wet and miserable so out came the earring making boxes and away they went!

 Looking like she really knew what she was doing!!!

l was quite impressed!

Not a bad result for first earrings made ever .....with absolutely NO instruction from me!

And some beautiful earrings made for their Mum too!

And me!!