Flurry's Lamb

I was very relieved that Flurry the Icelandic sheep had her lamb on Sunday - a beautiful ewe lamb weighing in at 10 lbs.  I had to start class again on Monday at 9 am, so I really didn't want her holding out until this week.   Flurry is a first-time mother, so she is not at all sure about this whole "taking care of baby" thing.  At first, she did lick her lamb clean and paid attention to her, but once she was up and trying to nurse, Flurry decided that she was not at all interested in that part of the responsibility.  She began to head-butt the lamb away.  I had to get into the pen and hold on to Flurry while her lamb nursed.  Fortunately, she doesn't seem to have a problem with that procedure, so now I can simply enter the lambing pen and stand there while the lamb nurses.  If I leave, Flurry resumes the head-butting behaviour.  It's rather annoying for me because it means extra time out of my day, and in addition, it means I need to keep Flurry and her lamb inside the barn until she is nearly weaned, because out in the field, I doubt that I can get close enough to do any good.  Flurry is usually a skittish sheep.  Still, I shouldn't complain because her lamb is absolutely gorgeous.

She has an incredible fleece with white, black, grey, and touches of cinnamon throughout.  She has solid black rear legs and a solid black tail.  Her front legs are lighter with the fawn colour around the knees.

The front of her fleece shows more of the blue-faced Leicester crimp like her father...

...but the back of her fleece is more Icelandic in character.  I'm sure it will be a wonderful spinning fleece.

Now, if I can just get Flurry to be more agreeable to nursing, all will be well!

Lucky Nickel continues to do well and is enjoying time spent outside in the daytime, but she still comes in at night because the other goats don't really want her near them.  Poor girl!

The front garden is coming along really well now and I'm pleased with the choices I made in allium bulbs (wonderfully deer resistant).  The new ginkgo tree is also looking healthy.

On the weekend, we spent many hours installing new fencing on the lower 3 acres to expand the sheep pasture area.  Although it's not ready yet, the fencing is going in well and I'm really pleased with the woven wire fence I chose from Premier Fencing.  It's sturdy and easy to work with.

I managed to escape being damaged by the thorny locust trees...

...but I did manage to get a nasty gash in my leg from some barbed wire left behind by the previous owner of the land.  This necessitated a sudden trip to the doctor on Monday for a tetanus booster, since I hadn't had one in 8 years, and when you have a nasty injury with something rusty, they recommend a booster ahead of the 10-year normal schedule.  Good thing I have so much free time in my day for doctor visits!  HA!!!