It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. Very sadly, Miss Marshmallow the sheep passed away recently of injuries sustained in a coyote attack. Although she initially survived the attack and was under veterinary care, she tragically succumbed to her injuries after about a week. She was well tended by the sweet daughters of the family where she went to live, who fed her grass that they picked themselves. She is buried in their garden and will always be fondly remembered by them, and by me, and hopefully many of you readers who remember her story.
It had originally been my intent to bring Marshmallow to Canada with me, along with Lucky Nickel. At the last minute, I changed my mind and decided to bring Kenzie the lamb, whom I felt was more likely to need extra care. As you know, Kenzie didn't survive her required spaying operation to get her across the border. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but I am really internally conflicted over whether I did the right thing. I can't change the outcome and must live with my choices.
Marshmallow was born June 18, 2009. She was one of quadruplets and was abandoned by her mother, so I brought her into the house and raised her as my first bottle baby.
I'd never had to do that before and was unsure about what I should do, but I read a lot of information and did my best, and Marshmallow thrived. She taught me how to bottle feed and diaper a lamb!
She was a little explorer, particularly interested in yarn and spinning fibre!
She liked to sleep under my desk while I was studying.
She also liked to sleep in my bed, when she got old enough to jump up into it!
She liked to sleep on the dog's bed too.
She grew big and strong, until she outgrew her diapers!
Eventually, she moved outside and lived with the other sheep. She was always a bit small - I guess she was considered a bit of a "runt" of the litter, but she got along fine with the other sheep and she became more independent and "sheepy" minded.
I last saw her on a visit to her new farm in March of this year before I left for Canada, where she was happily living in a pasture with the other sheep from my flock and with my former llama Dolly - she was with friends. The coyote problem is widespread in Iowa, and there are no guarantees. Even with the presence of a llama, two lambs were killed and numerous sheep injured. It may be that the llama prevented Marshmallow from being killed at the time, but her injuries were too severe for her to recover.
Sleep well, sweet Marshmallow. May Mother Earth take you softly into her gentle arms and love you as I did, and may you run free in the great pasture.
