Winter again, abduction and introduction, work ahead

After several days in the seventies and low eighties we had to prepare for a freeze last night. Although the precipitation forecasts are wrong more than they are right, the prediction on temperatures seems to be pretty accurate. It is a good thing we took the time to cover what needed protection because the temperature did get down to freezing. It was not too difficult to believe since the temperatures dropped through the day with a morning temperature of sixty degrees falling through the day to right at forty degrees by late afternoon. Some areas where I have people reporting to me got an ice storm followed by snow. We got no moisture – only cold winds. (I asked Mama if she was glad she had not put away her winter cloths yet. She was.)

Mama had made arrangements for the sheep sellers to meet me at work yesterday and they showed up at the appointed time. The ewe lamb they brought was in a dog crate in the back of their van. All the kids were with the mom and all of them were happy to have the lamb out of the vehicle. If sheep can scream, that is what she was doing. I guess she thought she was being abducted. The kids asked if I could give them a set of earplugs for the next time they had to do this.

When we got the little ewe into the back of the truck – it has a topper on it so we use it to transport small animals – she continued her protest. In fact, all the way to the farm I could hear her bellowing. That, in and of itself, is quite impressive considering the volume of the normal road noise in that truck. Shorty was glad for the company. The ewe, Emma, was not deterred from her protests by the playful antics of our young ram. Hopefully, she will settle into the farm routine. I am sure Mama will have her spoiled in short order.

Since the weather was so cool all of the kids had on coats. I could not help noticing that they were small on some of the bigger kids. Mama and I had just been to a local farm store which was having a pretty good sale on winter clothing so I suggested they go and check out the deals there. They texted Mama later that evening that they had bought four new coats from the 75% off rack and were thrilled that I had sent them to that store. It worked out pretty good all around – except for the new ewe.

When we unloaded the ewe she was still screaming which sparked the interest of the dogs –all four of them. Dodger tried his best to get a taste of the new arrival. He is a “tasty, feely” kind of dog. The big dogs got their turn to smell her – she loved that, not – and Rosie got the chance to show off her “What is it? What’s happening?” bark. Emma checked out Shorty right away to see if any milk was available. That did not work out very well for her. We fed them their normal evening meal and made sure Shorty did not beat Emma out of the trough, then we left them alone for the night. Mama will give me the updates later this morning.

Everybody should be weaned by the time Grandpa and Grandma get back to the farm. I do not know if Grandpa is ready but Mama tells me that Grandma is. With the men working all day, every day she is left completely alone most of the time. That does not suit her at all. At least on the farm Mama is nearby even if Grandpa is out for the entire day. When we get the apartment done, she may feel more alone since Mama will be in the apartment rather than the mobile home, but she will still be pretty close.

We are getting back to the West Virginia model of the kids putting a trailer behind the mom and dad’s trailer. Hopefully, it is temporary. Time will tell as I work to rebuild the farm house and build Mama and me a more permanent home on the farm. First I have to build the shop, the calf barn, the horse and sheep barn, and the pig building.

There will be no shortage of projects for the next several years.