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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Brief Updates and a Contest

Well, the state of the world is as follows:

1)  All house lambs are doing very well.  Everybody is drinking lots of milk, having crazy little episodes of running around and chasing each other, and generally behaving in a very lamby sort of way.  Excellent.  There are three house lambs now because on Sunday morning we found Leslie's ram lamb very cold and non-responsive, not to mention limp and lifeless.  I quickly milked out half of Leslie's udder.  She is the ewe with the huge udder and the teats too low to the ground.  Although her ewe lamb had learned to suckle from her by going on her knees, the ram lamb had not learned.  We had tried to teach him but he just was not getting it.  Anyway, it took about 6 hours to bring the ram lamb back to the world of the living and he was still weak and wobbly for about 36 hours.  Here he is being warmed under a towel with a hair dryer blowing warm air under it.

He is being bottle fed his mother's milk as often as possible.  As I type this, he is running around the home office being goofy.  He's much better now!

2)  The goats have had their CD-T shots.  They are due April 6, 7, 13 and 18.  They all have the beginning of udder development.  Stay tuned for pygora, nigora, and mini-Kinder (that's a mini-Nubian/angora cross) goat kids in April!

3)  Had a chicken hatch this week.  27 little fluffers are chirping and burping in the brooder.  This year, a mix of Ameraucana cross chicks, Welsummers, and a few random breeds from a batch of mixed eggs that I bought on eggbid.com.  Here's a black Java chick!  (and yes, my nail polish is a mess)

4)  Sheep Names, and a Contest!
I finally decided on some names for this year's lambs.
Alystyne's twin ewe girls born on Monday, March 1, are Amethyst (in the house) and Aurora (with Mom).
Sloan's ewe lamb born on Tuesday, March 2, is the tiny house lamb and she is named Tululu (thanks to a friend of mine from work who was granted naming rights!) although she tends to be named Tula when we are talking to her.
Corsica's black ewe lamb born on Thursday, March 3, is named Branwyn.  That is a Celtic/Gaelic/Welsh name meaning "beautiful raven," which is highly appropriate since she is jet black in colour.  She is a gorgeous lamb.
Leslie's ram lamb born on Friday, March 4, is named Bond.  Kelly named him that because he is a survivor, and because he is destined to impress the ladies.

Here are the three house lambs - left to right, Amethyst, Bond and Tula.

The Contest!!
Now, Leslie's second lamb is this gorgeous black ewe lamb with a silver saddle.

I am struggling for names on this girl.  She is really striking and I would like to name her something elegant, maybe mysterious, maybe with a bit of a Celtic or Gaelic flair.
I'm not naming her something like Blackie or Bessie.  I want something a little bit unique, a little bit different.  She was nearly named Midnight Mint.  To be clear, I'm not very fond of "human" type names for my sheep.  The ewes on my farm that have been named by me include the named lambs I listed above, as well as:  Marshmallow, Lollipop, Clipper, Calypso, Bramble, Pennyroyal and Penguin.  Also I named Luna the goat and a few chickens, including Sketch, Squiggle, Speckle, Henny Penny,  Grub, and Worm.

So, the contest rules are:
1)  You must have commented on this blog before, or be a regular reader that I am aware of, in order to submit a qualifying name entry.
2)  You may suggest up to 3 names.
3)  I will be the one who chooses the winning entry.  Even if I am not 100% sold on any of the entries, there will still be a winner, and I might modify their entry if I so choose.
4)  There will be a prize for the winning entry, consisting of your choice of the following:

  • a needle felted sheep made by me  :-)
  • 4 oz of roving from my farm, either brown llama/sheep blend or dark grey sheep blend (both have a little bit of vm but it spins out easily)
  • a handmade knitting needle/crochet hook wrap/roll, made by me  :-)
  • "Living with Chickens" by Jay Rossier - a very useful and interesting chicken book.
I will select the entry a week from today, on Tuesday March 16.  
Looking forward to some creative ideas!

30 comments:

Unknown said...

limerick...........thats what she should be named, its a city in the republic of ireland in the south.

nodoit said...

Silver Lining


ELECTRA: Goddess of Clouds with a Silver Lining

Moneta Goddess of prosperity.

although I like Electra the best!

Michelle said...

Okay, here are my three suggestions. Since you named her brother Bond, I'm going with Bond girls - Xenia (Onatopp), Vesper Lynd, and Halle Berry (her "Bond girl" name was Giacinta "Jinx" Johnson, but I like Halle Berry better :-).

Erica P. said...

I don't know if I've ever commented on this blog before (I follow so many), but I am a follower listed on your google follow list.

Here are my suggestions:
1. Onyx
2. Twilight
3. Kieran (Irish Gaelic for "little black haired one" pronounced Kih-rahn, since you mentioned wanting something Celtic/Gaelic)

Hope you can find a good name for the cutey. I'm partial to Twilight right now.

Joyce said...

Blackberry Pearl

Opal

Quartz

I can't help it.. she reminds me of a black pearl.. a fresh water pearl! That swirly silver..

ZipTyAcres said...

1st choice:
Elom
a tribal ewe name meaning "god loves me" or "loved by god"

2nd choice
pecora
meaning ‘sheep’

Fran

stace41971 said...

Oh! I like Limerick! Great suggestion :)

ZipTyAcres said...

Niamh — (NEE-av) from Old Irish Niam "luster, sheen, brightness, radiance, brilliance".

Last one.. thats my three.. and oh I could just go on and on...

Melodie said...

Well, I thought of Raven or Wildwood Flower,because there is an old folk song by that name that goes ..Oh, I'll twine and I'll mingle my raven black hair, with the roses so red and lilies so fair...

But I think Gerald the Goat's pick of Limerick is very good too!

thecrazysheeplady said...

First, I love your background!

Okay, as far as names, I only have one. Whilst. The story behind that is Saint Tim just bought a new machine at work. It was made in England and he was laughing about having to translate the instructions for his employees. Hey, it's been a slow week... ;-)

IsobelleGoLightly said...

I have three names to add to the contest! 1) Olwyn 2) Dorcha (which means dark) and 3) Ronat or Ronatta (seal).

Of course you could always go for the old stand by of Boudicea, queen of the Celts! hee hee

Anonymous said...

I love the name Fiona -- it just makes me think of green hills and blue skies. Girl how do you have time for school & work!! Your home is a lively place!!

sunset pines farm said...

How fun!
How about Branden(celtic name meaning little raven);
Artan(celtic name meaning little bear-she looks like a miniature black bear!);
Braeden-celtic for "from the dark valley";
and I have to give you one more, Aisling-means a dream, or a vision.

Somerhill said...

Darcy is Irish for "Dark One"

Carol B. said...

Silvia. Because her saddle region will become a silver grey color.

Adryteje said...

Hi!...well I suggest three Quechuas (the language of the Inca civilization, presently spoken in North of my country,Argentina). names :
- Suyay (means Hope)
- Misky (means Sweet)
- Kusy (means Happyness)
I don´t kow if the names are so elegant or mysterious, but I really like the meanings and I think they are easy to pronounce.
Hugs,

Mom L said...

Claire, I can't think! All I've come up with is my first thought at seeing her picture - Dahlia, as in the Black Dahlia.

Nancy in Iowa

Brenda Lelli said...

Hi Claire,
Leslie and her siblings were named after the Clans & Tartans,(ie.. Leslie, Lindsey, Stewart) as then were her progeny while she produced here.
There are lots of clan & tartan finders on the internet, and just as an example for a name, 'Black Watch'.

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

Devyn - little dark one
[ syll. de-vyn, dev-yn

Shaeline - admirable, [ syll.
sh-ael-ine ] The girl name Shaeline is pronounced -SHah-LayN- †.

Rhiannon - [ syll. (r)hian-non, rh-iann-on ] The girl name Rhiannon is pronounced R-iyAAN-ahN †. Rhiannon's language of origin is Celtic and it is used largely in the Welsh language. The name is of the meaning 'nymph, goddess'. Derived from rigantona meaning 'great queen'
**********************
Songwriter - Stevie Nicks

Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night
And wouldn't you love to love her?
Takes through the sky like a bird in flight
And who will be her lover?

All your life you've never seen a woman
Taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you Heaven?
Will you ever win?

She is like a cat in the dark
And then she is the darkness
She rules her life like a fine skylark
And when the sky is starless

WeekendFarmer said...

Nargis - (Persian) - Daffodil
Sitara - (Urdu) - Star; (swahili) - covering
Hana - (Papanese) - Flower
Snow - you know it : )

ADK Goat Club said...

I suggest Dixie, Corsica, or Eden. Why? Just cause they sound good!

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Just wanted to say that things are really getting excited on your farm...lambs, goats, chicks or all types and colors. Spring seems to have arrived there.

I love seeing pics of the lambs. They are too sweet!


~Lisa

Chai Chai said...

Not sure if I have commented here before or not, but I am a regular reader.

I thought maybe "Nefertiri" would fit her, because that particular Egyptian Princess is often portrayed as having raven black hair - like the wee little lamb in the picture. It really is an exotic sounding name.

Spinners End Farm said...

The Morrigan is the celtic raven goddess (her coat reminds me of the shine on a ravens feathers); sometimes also credited to Morgan Le Fay King Arthurs sister. I also like Rhiannon.

I'm not sure if I've posted before either...but do regularly follow your blog! Good luck with the house lambs...what lovely chaos!

Sherry

said...

Cinderella - after Ella who slept in the fireplace and was covered in cinders, grew up to be princess. Known for her beauty, grace, and kindness to all...

Obsidian - the black volcanic rock which is sharp and shiny

Nyx - Greex Primordial goddess of the night and mother to all personified gods and goddesses. She is being of exceptional power and beauty.

My Life Under the Bus said...

Ok how about.....

Viola
Larke
Cassius, Cassie

It's four but 2 are ALMOST the same : )

(Pick me ) ( subliminal message) LOL

Callie Brady said...

Donella - dark haired elfin girl - celtic

http://www.fairiesworld.com/fairy-names.shtml

Have fun! There are lots of names there.

Those lambs in diapers are too cute!

Guzzisue said...

briagha scottish gaelic for beautiful :-)
or maise meaning beauty

taylorgirl6 said...

Aislinn (pronounced ASH-ling), or Grainne (GRAWN-yuh) would be perfect. They're both undeniably Irish (I should know), and they both fit her oh so well.

Candy said...

Liath. Grey in gaelic, pronounced "lee ah".