Update

The creeping crud that is going around has landed here. We have all been sick and not been doing much except the bare necessities for keeping this place going.

The ewes were due around February 8th and Butterscotch, Loretta, and Greta have been in the lambing jugs since then. I didn't expect any lambs until at least the 10th so we were on Defcon 1 lamb watch (every couple of hours in the daytime). I have been fortunate that my ewes lamb during the day. I read somewhere that if they are fed their grain in the morning they will lamb in the daytime. Works here! Saturday afternoon I could tell Scotch was in labor so I bumped her up to Defcon 2 for the afternoon. Then she quit! We had concert tickets in ANC for Saturday night so I crossed my fingers and told her to wait until Sunday and we went to town. No lambs when we returned.

Sunday morning was beautiful and cold. The warmer (25-30*) temps disappeared and we were back to single digits. Scotch was on Defcon 2 watch (on the hour, every hour) and showing definite signs of labor. We got caught up in some movie and I missed the hour check. I pushed it to the half hour and when I went out to the barn there were two babies, wet but cleaned off and nursing! Briar and I took them in the house for inspection. A boy and a girl, 10 pounds and 11 pounds. I love this momma. She is the oldest and most experienced of my ewes and is a wonderful momma.

Briar and I keep all our ewe lambs as breeding stock since we have a verified scrapie free flock. Our girls are all named according to a theme. The first year we had two ewes. Briar named them for Heart - Ann and Nancy. Next year it was Beatles girls - Lucy, Penny, Rita, and Rigby. This year it will be the Doctor's companions - Pond, Martha, Donna, and Rose (if we have that many). So this one is Pond.

Not much going on with the horses. We have been riding in the arena on Sunday mornings. It has been great to work on stuff that we think about in the summer but don't take the time to do.

We still have 4-6" of snow on the trails and where we haven't plowed. The trails are in really good shape and I know what the footing is like under all that snow. If it would get to above freezing we could go for a trail ride.

I lurk around on lots of blogs and it's good to see that you guys are still hanging in there. Spring will be here soon!

I apologise.....

for sending all the snow to America. These trees no longer have any snow on them. The snow is melting off the barn roof and has filled two 75 gallon stock tanks. The temperature at 11 pm is 38*. Yesterday Briar wanted to wear shorts and a t-shirt to the store. The horses and dogs are beginning to shed.

We talked about how cool it would be to ship the sleds down and ride in the wonderful snow that everyone else is dealing with. I'd LOVE to get 2 feet of snow in one day.

The marmot didn't see his shadow so I hope we have an early spring. Early for us though will be May. Long after America has flowers blooming in the garden, our ground will still be frozen. Outside plants don't get put out until Memorial Day.

So when you look at the snow you have down there be thankful that it will be gone in a week and remember those of us who live in Tundra Country and will not see green grass for at least 4 more months!