The little new family were out and about around the house today.

Edna was unsure to start with but once she got her Little One walking along with her, all was fine and they had breakfast.

I let Madge join them and she wasn’t that nice to either her new sister or her mother, butting them both.  Contact will have to supervised, I think, for a while.

Edna took Little One off to explore.  I will admit I am more than slightly worried about the size of Edna’s udder but it has been like this for a while and seems to be working fine so hopefully supply and demand will regulate it.

The Boyzens were in an adjacent field and fascinated.

So of course, they both had to go to the higest place they could find.  My poor nerves.

And Madge watched.

Little One is a darling little sheeple.

She is already imitating Edna, which I find fascinating to watch.  Edna has a deep growly baa for her baby and she is communicating with her all the time.

Seeing them together makes me realise just how much Lambie, ‘Bert and ‘Ster missed out by not having a proper mother.

When I think about Lambie and his refusal to eat much, stand up, walk, or think even, I am amazed he is still here, to be perfectly honest.

I left them together en famille for the morning but then Madge wanted to join the boys so she went back into the field. It started to rain and Edna took Little One to keep warm in their shed.

She is a very good mother. One hint of a little high-pitched bleat and she runs back to her.

And our hearts have been captured.

How could we resist?

Yoohoo – she’s here!

I had been checking all morning – my alarm set for every hour.  By lunchtime, nothing but Edna had sent everyone away to another field, including Madge who didn’t put up a fight or seem to mind.  She was also pawing the ground and getting up and sitting down.

My alarm went off just as I had eaten my last bite and off I trekked to the furthest point of the field to find the new addition to our family

It started to rain so we made the decision to take the little family nearer the house. I led Edna and Daisy carried she-who-has-no-name.

We were slightly concerned that little lamb had not found the milk-bar but after some sage advice from a neighbour, we left them to it for a few hours.

I am now happy to report that little lamb has got the plot.  Phew – the worry is immense, I can tell you.

So, that’s one hurdle over.  I will let Edna introduce her baby to Madge tomorrow, I think.  She is suprisingly calm and unstressed about not being her Mum.  When separated she usually shouts her head off.

And I think I am in love!  (little lamb is already trying out her legs – she does small bounces – and comes up to talk – oh my heart! ❤️)

In answer to your first question, the answer is nope, nada, nuffink, not a dicky bird though Edna keeps taking herself off and then Madge shouts for her to come back and being a good mum, she does.

On a different note, I saw a lovely clump of dog-violets today on my daily walk.

And yesterday we saw some Whooper swans (apparently a rare breeding bird for the UK – I did not know this) on the loch as we drove to see the Icelandic mares.

All the horses and ponies are fine and enjoying the slightly warmer weather, losing their coats.  Hair is everywhere.

In other news, I am still making sheep-that-no-one-wants.  I put them in groups this afternoon.

And added the next line.

And the next.

I think, if I count correctly, I have made 25.

And then I made another one.

It is my therapy.  Most days, after lunch, I walk BeAnne in a field and then we go to my shed.  BeAnne has a good sleep and I make a sheep listening to something good like a podcast or  radio play or an audiobook.

When Her Maj wakes up and tells me she wants to go inside, we then go and check the sheep – ie walk down the hill and back up again, which means she is hungry for her tea.

It may seem very boring but that’s how we are rolling in our Shire these days.  It is enough excitement for me.  Now all we need is for this lamb to appear……

Still no lamb.  Every morning I ask OH, when he feeds the ducks and chucks, if there is an extra little lambie around and the answer is always no.

We are all waiting.

I think Edna has changed shape now.

Things have slipped downwards and she walks with a distinct waddle, holding her tail slightly outwards.

I check her every ruddy minute. Oh the worry, I can tell you. Despite my best efforts to keep the Girlzens around the house, Edna wants to be with her “flock” and so I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that it is better for her to be calm and happy and where she wants to be rather than cooped up and agitated.

And, of course, she insists on resting, sitting, and probably giving birth, beside the stream.  My greatest fear.

We have had a discussion about this and she assured me all will be fine.  I tell myself (as does the family) that Edna is an old and experienced ewe so she knows what she is doing.

Madge is possible evidence of this theory (doesn’t she look good now?)

The Boyzens are about.  ‘Bert told me he was fat and not about to give birth.

He did say that with a lovely smile.

Lambie refused to talk.  He was bissy stuffing his face.

And ‘Ster continues his mission of just looking gorgeous all the time.  It’s 24/7.

And so we wait and check and wait and check ad infinitum.

I almost put money that today was the day but, so far, it isn’t.

I will keep you posted.

 

 

 

 

 

I took my big camera into the Minion field today.

First up was Waffle who was doing his leg-in-each-corner impression.  Well, at least he wasn’t swimming around the water buckets.  It makes a nice change.

I asked him if he was a Reformed Character.  He remained mysteriously silent.

And then it was Newt’s turn.  He was nearby.

And it was most odd, but I found next to him a tiny strip of paper.  So I picked it up and read it.

Is this Newt’s fortune cookie, or a motivational message he keeps with him for times of uncertainty (possibly due to his lack of height or his rescue history)?  Who knows and who gave it to him?

Sóley was in the distance.  She suits the landscape.

Next up, Silver.  Always beautiful.  It’s the eyes and his expression.

Albie – maybe Newt was looking after his “motivational message”?  It could easily be his.  He has low self-esteem issues at times, when things change. He hates change.

Tiddles – looking particularly grubby – it is raining on and off.

Storm was pulling a face – of course, he was!

Lilja gave me her full-on stare of seriousness.

Another one far away – Fivla.  She had just had her TurmerAid so she didn’t need to talk.

And lastly Vitamin who, although is looking greyer, she is one of those old ladies who is 100% on the ball, going to have the last biscuit and would elbow you out of the queue for the bus!

And so we left them to it still wondering who owns the piece of paper. Most odd.