"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Thursday, March 30, 2017

It's Spring ~So Much To Do !

The most difficult thing about our new home is deciding how to spend our precious time when there are so many things to do, to see, and to enjoy right here on 'Laughing Dove Farm'. Should I take a walk in the woods with our dogs ? ( Picture above was taken on a path in our woods.) Should I work on my spinning, weaving, gardens, scrapbooking, writing, or maybe my husband and I should go camping. But hey, fishing season is almost here and the boat needs to be readied ... I have a few good books tucked away to read, some quilt squares cut out and ready to sew. I know, I'll sit on the back deck and watch the birds, the deer, my sheep and maybe catch a nap in the sun.
 Why do we call our new home 'Laughing Dove Farm' ? We love doves ! We've kept white doves for over 2 decades now and left doves in our dovecote at Cedar Pond for the new family to enjoy , but also brought 3 pairs of doves with us here to our new home. Our doves are the offspring of the many generations of doves from Cedar Pond. Plus, there are wild doves all around us and anyone who listens to doves can hear the distinctive laughing- like sounds they make. ( Picture above is of wild doves perched in trees here at our new home.)
 The chicks I ordered from a hatchery arrived in the mail last week. I bought some chicks that should grow up to lay blue eggs and am very excited about my future laying flock , but not as excited as our youngest grandson is about them. I spend a lot of time tending my new chicks, and also tending the mature laying flock of 8 we brought with us from Cedar Pond.
 I had my sheep sheared the first weekend in March while there was still snow and ice everywhere. My new sheep shearer is a tiny woman who also is a mom of 2 little ones and has a flock of sheep of her own.
 Here are my naked sheep, most of them ewes who were still expecting lambs when I took this picture. Within days after the 16 ewes ( female sheep) were sheared they began having their lambs. Every night during this time of the year, no matter how cold and miserable it is outside, I do regular check ups in the barn to see how the ladies are faring, if any new lambs have been born, and tend to what they need at this stage of their pregnancy. Mostly they need deep bedding, and a lot of drinking water, plus a safe place to have their lambs undisturbed by the other sheep or predators.

One of the joys of new lambs is sharing them with grandchildren. Here is a picture of two of our granddaughters ~sisters holding sister lambs.
 We still have snow in our woods, in the fields, and in the surrounding hills, but it is spring and all you need to be reminded of the season is look out onto my fields and see little lambs running, jumping, and playing !
 We have 19 new lambs. All lambs were born alive and healthy, and their mamas are healthy too. That is such a blessing to not be taken for granted when I consider how many sheep I have now (way too many !). My flock doubled with lambing season.
 Have I mentioned we have a lot of wild turkeys here too ? We've counted at least 40. They roost in our woods at night. During the day they range from our woods to the neighbors' on either side of us. They're pretty predictable, we can almost set our clocks by their trek back into the woods at night. Until I moved here and began to observe wild turkeys from our living room windows every day, I did not realize how far and how high wild turkeys can fly, and also how smart they are. ( Picture is of wild turkeys in our field.)
Wild turkeys between our sheep pen and our bee yard. They wander into our hay barn and all around the sheep pens and pasture too.
The hills across the gravel road from our house are still wearing winter snow, but the sunshine and warm rains are melting the snow quickly and next week we're supposed to have warmer , drier weather. I kind of like the rain and the snow and am not concerned about it sticking around longer than it is supposed to. The hot weather will be here soon and by September I know I'll be wishing for the rain and snow again.

" There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven ~ " Ecclesiastes 3:1

17 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a wonderful and interesting post about your life at your new farm. Loved seeing all of your new lambs. The wild turkeys are amazing.

We are having beautiful weather down here in s.e. FL. I am trying to get things done outdoors before the heat and humidity of summer begin.

Happy Spring dear Kathy ~ FlowerLady

Deb said...

Loved this post, Kathy. You are one busy lady. Oh, the lambs...how precious are they and so lucky to be born on your farm. The 'sister' pic is adorable.And new chicks...."welcome" to all. I think after all I see is going on there you deserve a nap on the porch.
A little piece of heaven...

Karen said...

I love reading about your farm animals, especially the little lambs. Happy that all are doing well.

Texastracking said...

So many choices! glad you have plenty of just you and Jim activities in there - one of the many blessings of retirement is you design your days - well you and your critters! Beautiful bounty of lambs and grandkids - so happy for y'all

A.K.W. said...

Nice pictures! I remember lambing and kidding season but we don't have to do that anymore.

Amy

Anonymous said...

Lots to keep you busy for sure. I was wondering how the flooding out your way might have effected you. Looks like you might be high and dry which is nice. We drove past so many fields under water along hiway 395 and in Colville. Happy to see that things seem fine on your property.

Henny Penny said...

I love your posts! You have so many fun and interesting projects to choose from. Your grandchildren must love visiting. The sheep are beautiful...even the older ones. I somehow missed your last post until now. Your home is absolutely beautiful.

Theresa said...

It's a wonderful life, that's what I think:) Love the animals and THE VIEW is awesome! Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!

Leigh said...

I love it! Such a glorious place to live. Your photos are great.

Connie said...

Lovely post, Kathy. While reading this, I could hear the lyrics from Jim Croce's song, "Time in a Bottle," in my head.

"There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them."

I'm glad to hear all is going well for your lambs and the mama sheep.

Laurie said...

Kathy, what a wonderfull new home you and Jim now have on the east side of our state. Some day would love to visit you.Will enjoy your blog until then! Laurie Dodsworth

Eggs In My Pocket said...

How good it is to see you blogging and how wonderful your new "nest" seems to be! Such a lovely place........and your sheep are always so beautiful! Cant wait to see those blue eggs!

Bee Lady said...

Oh my gosh you are busy! I think I'd have to sit back with one of those books and think about what to do first!

Cindy

Deborah Montgomery said...

You certainly are busy! But with lots of wonderful things. I love the name of your new place. Congratulations on the birth of all those new lambs. What a wonderful place for you and for your family. Those grandchildren have an enviable experience, with all the small creatures and the wide open outdoors to enjoy! xo Deborah

Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm said...

Each season brings its own list of chores but there's an excitement to Spring that's usually not felt with other seasons. Perhaps it's the awakening of earth after a long sleep but whatever it is, it's most welcome. Around here, I feel the morning doves and their soft voices are always a blessing.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Oh my goodness, your new farm is just wonderful! (But a lot of work, I am sure!) Love seeing all the sweet doves, lambs, turkeys and of course, those sweet grandchildren! So glad to hear the lambing season went well and that you are getting some warmer weather. Spring is such a happy time, but so much to do. Take care. xx Karen

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