She would bash me for this shot! Not long Daisy Girl.
My two big fat pregnant cows.
March is breathing down my neck and since it does not look like Sheila is going to respond to the hormone treatment. She has been keeping herself busy cleaning out the pens. One of her jobs is to keep the straw turned over and aired. We have to get ready for calves. Usually it is a lot warmer in March.
But this year it is going to be very cold for the calving. So Sheila and the chooks are busy getting the pens roughed up, so I can clean them out in preparation for indoor calving (3 down 2 to go) . I just throw some candy corn around and Sheila and the chickens rough everything up then John and I come in with forks and tractors and scoop it all out. I must take a shot of the compost heaps for you. They are mammoth. Excellent.
I am a bit worried about Mama. She eats a little then stands back. I moved the sheep across to the Salad Bar Paddock (part of getting the barn ready for calves) and she was so slow. 
I have given her a drench. And now they are in a nice sunny field with shelter in the RatHouse. But she worries me. We love Mama.
Good morning. Minty and Tilly are in fine fettle though. Which is good as it looks like we are still below freezing for at least another couple of weeks. God help us.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “If Daisy had a Stick and a Thumb”
You need sun…warmth and sun…COME ON SPRING!!! Steady spring…winter, winter go away!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://handcraftedbyus.wordpress.com
I know, I know and we are plummeting again with another storm and snow on the way by the weekend.. c
The dyer’s garden is a splendid idea. I always think of you when I water the lemon grass each day, plus its next to a precious oak seedling. Now that I know the oak is on an endangered list I try to plant an acorn each time I see one on the tree.
We had our first fog of the year yesterday and everyone I met on my way to College was very excited………maybe autumn is not so far away. I hope so, the last five months have been so hot. Always happy to share some sunshine of course.
I just checked that book out on Amazon, it looks real interesting.
Yes, let’s hope for warmer temps soon especially since so many animals expecting!
I will sending “warm weather” vibes your way, in hopes they reach you all before it’s time to give birth.
And I love the term “fine fettle.” Reminds me of my Great Aunt Ruth. 🙂
I’ve never heard of a dyer’s garden! I learn so much every single day, Cecilia, not to mention all about animal husbandry. I think fettle must be from the Irish. I’ve known that word all my life.
At this point, I think we could all use a couple warm days. I’m not asking for 70˚ days but a couple sunny 40˚ days would surely boost morale — and I bet Mama would be better for it, too. It was reported this morning that Alaska has had the warmest winter is years, about 15˚ above average. I didn’t listen to where we stood. Some things are better left unsaid. 🙂
Have a great afternoon, Celi!
John, here in Wi. the weather guys are crowing about breaking the record for the coldest longest stretch or some such. It’s quite annoying that they find it so exciting!
It can’t be long now. I hope spring leaps out of hiding for you, and beats the calves to it.
So do I Juliet because I feel like I am running headlong into a wall.. c
I thought of you when I saw the Nat’l weather service showing another couple of weeks of very cold weather were in store for you. It just seems you can’t get a break with any stretch of decent weather. Hard to believe that March is about to arrive. Maybe Mama is just tired of the long Winter too. Since she is at the age when sheep’s teeth start to breakdown, she may be wanting to eat away from the others because she can’t compete with how much more quickly they can chew. I wonder if she is grieving the loss of Meadow. I think even a sheep can tell when life as they know it has changed or one of their group is missing. If she is about 6 yrs. old, then she is about to peak. I always heard that, in general, sheep live about as long as dogs, so 10-12 is the average lifespan.
With Daisey’s due date approaching are you going to buy a warming coat for the calf or make one yourself? I have seen them online at Jeffers for about $20 & eBay has a similar coat for $15. A lot of people take an old sweatshirt with the calves front legs going into the sleeves and a couple of loops attached to the hem edge. These loops slip over the rear legs to keep the shirt from riding up. If the calf is a boy make sure to cut an accommodation hole in the fabric so the shirt doesn’t get soaked when he pees.
Another resource for Dryer Garden’s is Gold Mountain Herb Farm.com. They offer lots of info. on designing a dryer garden and also discuss bees as they relate to growing a Dryer garden. A great free resource.
So happy that Marcel is making such good progress. He is now my computer background and the sweetest photo ever. I have never seen a lamb with such long legs. He almost looks like he is wearing a lambs version of stilts.
Good morning. Yes i do have coats for the calves, just in case it is still cold and tomorrow I hope to build the little calf hot house, once again just in case. Marcel is doing well but so far his digestive system is still giving him trouble. But even so he is putting on weight and leaps and bounces around the house.. a very active little lamb! c
Oh Celi ~ methinks you would have an easier time bringing up human quintuplets!!! Actually Daisy and Queenie look fine to me – remember how heavy it felt just before 🙂 ? And theirs are bigger 😀 !! I think Sheila is very clever: so beloved and admired she will always be Miss Sheila and not Mrs Pork Chops!! A dyer’s garden sounds wonderful to me!! And is it not interesting to compare languages: whatever we think American English and English/Australian/New Zealand/S African ‘versions’ have A LOT of differences. ‘Fettle’ is a very common word Down Under . . .
Dear Celi, I saw your comment on Linda’s blog… I had wondered how you could keep going – it’s been such a long slog for you, my heart is with you, you’re so brave and uncomplaining, but it must be hard. Roll on a break-through in the weather… and your visit to NZ next spring here, much love Valerie
Had to laugh at your title and then the explanation!