So much has happened in these last 24 hours…..

Yesterday evening, I had an inkling that something was up.  Maggie had taken herself away.

So I watched and waited.

Nothing.

Maggie was wandering – her gait was very lateral and her overall shape had suddenly changed.

I read somewhere that sheep won’t eat 24 hours before they give birth – this is not true.

Maggie ate some tea plus a couple of pieces of Kitkat (the dark chocolate version) that I had about my person.

She walked, she dug, she walked.  Sometimes she lay down.

I was surprised to find ‘Bert in Maggie’s field for a while (what a guy) and then he went off to rejoin his friends (probably realised he should go “tout suite”).

After supper, I went back out and waited.  I even texted Daisy to come out and then told her not to bother. Luckily Daisy ignored my last request and arrived.

And we watched (at a good distance) while everything happened.  It was fascinating.  Nature at her finest.

Maggie would have dig, lie down, have a contraction, then stand up and smell the area and lie down again.

As we were keeping a good distance, we could only see what was going on via the long camera lens.  We were looking for movement of the lamb when it was born so we knew it was alive.

The arrival.  Clever Maggie.

Once on the ground, Maggie immediately stood up and started licking her new arrival clean and dry.  She was very thorough and the little lamb had no choice.

Within minutes, Lamb was trying to get up, with varying degrees of success.

Et voilà! 10 minutes later.

Maggie is a wonderful Mum.  She knows what to do.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines we were being watched.  Maggie was safe in her field and no one dared try to go in. She needs peace and quiet.  Taktur also knew something was going on.

The next day – I went out with Maggie’s breakfast.  She loves her food and I want her to get into a good post-baby routine.  She is still very thin. It’s all gone into the lamb in utero these past few weeks.

First contact.

And we are 99% sure Lamb is a he.

He has the cutest little white cap on the top of his head.

Interestingly, Maggie ate his poo. There was nothing left. She wanted no evidence of his existence anywhere.

A friend saw him and said “wow, that’s one good lamb”. I agree.

And he is bold.

I have been in the field three times (I wanted to go more but stopped myself).

Lamb is very brave and confident.  He is learning to bounce too – be still my beating heart.

Maggie is always watching but is good about me being there.  Animal Crackers help.

And his name?  Harry Lamblin.

So welcome to Harry. I am already in love.

Today I took a brush with me as well as some mane/tail detangler and went to work on the Minions.

I only brushed those that volunteered (ie, I couldn’t be bothered to catch or tie anyone up). Manes and tails with a bit of sweep around the body.

First up was Albie.  He loves being brushed. It’s his Thing.  He would stand there all day just being brushed. Utter bliss.

Ditto Waffle who seemed always to be there, waiting and he put up his face to the sun while I brushed tirelessly (and kissed the nosey).

Fivla was given a good going over too.  Her mane fell out in huge trails; lots of dead winter stuff to coming and she was much lighter afterwards.

Half of Silver – only half because he walked off and I refused to go trailing after him.

So I turned my attentions on Newt, who had been waiting fairly patiently (he was trying to eat the conditioning spray bottle that I thought I had hung in a safe place).

And then lastly Storm because he was standing by himself and couldn’t decide if he wanted to be brushed or not, so I convinced him he did and I think he was quite grateful afterwards.

The rest had wandered off.

After the brushing marathon (why, oh why, are they all so small? my poor back), I awarded myself a sit-down with anyone who wanted to come and talk to me.

Newt, Storm and Albie arrived and I dutifully hugged and then, more by accident, started pulling out Newt’s belly fur.  He was in heaven with this.  I had hit the spot.

There was very soon a significant pile (hoping Newt’s belly isn’t now bald – I couldn’t see – it just came out very easily in my hands, honest guv!)

I left all the fur for the birds.  There was piles of it.

Floss and I went to see the Old Men this afternoon.  We took BeAnne, obviously on a lead as a) it’s lambing and b) she is blind as a bat.  Floss took carrots. I carried my big camera.

We (as in Daisy – I kept saying I would do it and then forgetting!) moved the three horses over to Clothie, my five acre croft, a few days ago.

Once safely in the field, we released BeAnne. These days she is too fat to escape through the fence and she knows this croft very well.  Keeping a slight eye on her, we left her to enjoy herself.

Meanwhile, the horses quickly sussed that Floss had carrots.

She was not leaving their sight.

I had asked her to walk right into the centre of the field to keep them away from BeAnne.

While I trust these horses 100% with Her Maj, she can’t see them very well and accidents can happen.

Anywho, there was enthusiasm and Iacs even trotted with happiness, throwing in a small buck which I totally failed to capture.

Klængur preferred the more sedate approach of “you may bring the carrots to me”, so of course Flossie did and everyone got their fair share.

BeAnne had a lovely potter around.

If I say it once, I will say it again – that coat is a ruddy godsend!

Klængur looked wonderful against the grey sky.  I have missed riding him much more than I thought I would.  He will get his shoes back on the middle of this month when the farrier comes.  We took them off because of the nasty injury he gave himself.

I am really looking forward to going out for our rides.  I miss the fun and I think he does too.

Little Maggie is now spending her time away from the flock – there was a brief moment when she joined them down in the field (my heart lept with happiness) but now she spends all her time by herself, and sometimes comfortable with the horses.

We let her do this, not forcing her to be with the others, if that is her choice. To keep her calm and happy is all that she needs plus at least four meals a day!

The vet visited us yesterday (‘Bert and ‘Madge are lame plus a BeAnne check up as well as Lambie’s wool-eating thing) and in his words “she is due any day now”.

Today, Maggie said she wanted to be with her hill-sheep friends and we were torn as to letting her go or not.  In the end I decided on not.  At least if she is here, if she gets into any trouble, we can quickly call for help.  The others are steering well clear, so perhaps they know something too.  The hill sheep are popping out their lambs while we drive past so we are all on Maggie Watch.

In other news, the primroses are coming out in their masses.

And Lambie was officially diagnosed as having a “behavioural problem”. Typical Lambie. I give up.

I know I don’t work at an actual money-making job but occasionally it is lovely to have a day off from my life.

So, Daisy, Floss and I (with masks on and hand sanitiser at every step) went to town.  Floss had an appointment, so we used this as our excuse.

First we “did the Street”.

I popped into the Jamieson’s wool shop where my Heartfelt sheeple abide in their field and checked on their progress.  Apparently the little ones are very popular so I shall keep making them.  The croft house was cute (not mine) too.

We had a delicious lunch – my treat for all the hard work and help this winter.  They’ve both been brilliant in all weathers, never failing or giving up.

And while Floss was at her appointment, Daisy and I continued our saunter in the afternoon sun.  We saw Tommy, a local celebrity, who was sunning himself in the window of SpecSavers.

He is such a dude and everyone loves him.

He even has his own Facebook page. I always think he looks tiny compared with one huge Monster we know and love.

We supported our local shops as much as was financially possible and then wended our way home.

Sometimes it is good to have a day off from everything and everyone.  I don’t realise the stress we are all constantly under with Her Maj until we leave it behind for a few hours.  Meanwhile, BeAnne had a fabulous time with OH and Monster who attended to her every whim, and even went on a little walk together accompanied by a horse (Efstur, of course!)