Today on the Farm

Surprise! This one wasn’t as much of a surprise as the lamb in December was. But I still didn’t expect it this morning.

New Jacob lamb

Columbine is a yearling ewe that I was in with Barrett and I don’t remember if ever saw her marked by him. When we did ultrasounds for the flock, it was determined that, if pregnant, Columbine wasn’t far enough along to be able to tell. So pregnancy wasn’t confirmed one way or another. I had been trying to keep track of Columbine since lambing ended on March 19, but then I sort of forgot about her. I’m glad this lamb seems just fine—she’s a little thing at only 5 pounds.

I failed on photos for most of the day. We had or second Spinners Day Out since the pandemic began (the first being last week) and 8 or 9 people showed up. it was fun to take everyone to the barn to see the new lamb.

Flannel bush flower

Later in the day I made a point of taking photos. I am surprised to see the flannel bush blooming becauseit already bloomed once this year. It bloomed unusually early in January.

Orange blossoms

This orange tree is covered with blossoms and it smells great when you walk near it.

Oranges on the tree.

I’m always fascinated that the tree can be covered with blossoms and also be full of fruit.

I took Ginny for a walk across the road but before we got there I saw this. There are three lambs on the wrong side of the fence.

Border collie helping to move lambs.

I had forgotten about the bad spot where the ditch drains under the fence. There is a place that is eroded and there is an old pallet and a piece of hog fence to block the hole. It wasn’t blocked well enough though. Ginny and I walked these lambs back and forth until two of them went back through the fence. The third lamb turned the corner onto the main road. She was panicked and continued to run up and down the fenceline and darted out into the road a few times. Eventually Dan saw what was happening and came out. Between the three of us (Ginny, Dan, and me) he was able to catch the lamb and take her back to the barn.

Irrigation canal.

I continued my walk with Ginny. The irrigation ditches are full now, over a month earlier than usual because of drought conditions.

View looking south to Mt. Diablo.

This is the view looking south. That is Mt. Diablo right in the center on the horizon.

View looking south to Mt. Diablo.

Here is what that view is like if I zoom to 5x.

Dan and barn cat

I got back and went t the garage to find Dan He was hiding out in G2-upper level with his barn cat, Tippy.

Jacob ewe and new lamb

This is the evening view of this morning’s lamb.

Lambs playing on hill.

Dan restacked the manure pile today and that provides great fun for the lambs.

Jacob lambs and sunset

They were glad to play well into the evening.