We are resting after a very busy weekend. The rest of our ewes have lambed out. I'm not completely surprised. The action was sporadic this year and I suspected that our last momma's would birth in sync with the full moon. The last lamb born, Crispin, is snuggling here with his mom, Java.
Our final tally this year is 13 lambs: 6 rams, 7 ewes. Part of what I love most about the end of birthing time is the sense of relief that all lambs have made it safely into the world. This year I'm blessed with ewes who are all excellent mothers, even the first-timers. Gorgeous full udders. No bottle lambs. And no more sleepless nights!
And now for the names, in order of birth: Pippin, MacIntosh, Duchess, Pink Lady, Jonathan, Gala, Paula Red, Braeburn, Baldwin, Keswick, Spy, Fuji, and Crispin. Not a bad apple in the bunch!
I'll post more pics and videos after I've rested a bit but I wanted to share our exciting news.
We're celebrating the end of a successful birthing season with a special give-way:
4 skeins of Cormo Silk Alpaca yarn in the colorway: BlueBird.
To enter our drawing, please share this post with a friend or two (or blog, Ravelry, FB, or Tweet it). And please leave a comment here about what you love most about this time of year. Be sure to leave your email address where it asks you for it so I can contact you if you win.
You have until April 30 to enter. I will announce our drawing winner here on May Day (5/1/11).
Thanks for sharing our good news!
So glad everyone has arrived safely--have been waiting anxiously for the news.
One of the best things about this time of the year is waiting for the lamb race videos and knowing that we are coming up to visit you and all the "sheepies" soon.
I forward your posts to many of my knitting friend and even to my husband (who fell in love with Mistral las year.)
Posted by: Carol | April 20, 2011 at 12:48 PM
What I love most about this time of year is the spring flowers and the flowering shrubs and trees. But the past few springs have certainly been made even more enjoyable by seeing the pictures of all of your new lambs. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on a successful birthing season!
Posted by: sue | April 20, 2011 at 12:58 PM
What's best about this time of year? Birth - it is such a wonderful fact of nature which gives us hope & joy. I especially like the photos and birth stories of your lambs. And this year I get to celebrate the baptism of my new great-niece on Easter Sunday.
I'm forwarding your post to my fibre-loving friends.
Posted by: Doreen | April 20, 2011 at 01:14 PM
I love being able to get back on the golf course after the winter even though it means putting my knitting projects on hold.
Enjoy your lamb pictures.
Barb from Chicago, Ill
Posted by: Barb B | April 20, 2011 at 01:19 PM
I passed this post (and all your posts about lambs) along to my friends who are having a difficult spring—pictures of adorable baby animals are a great mood-booster.
My favourite part of the year is watching the days get longer. I used to live in northern Alberta where the change was quite dramatic. Less dramatic where I live now, but I still cherish daylight at 7pm after it's been dark in the afternoon for the whole winter.
Posted by: Rebecca | April 20, 2011 at 01:38 PM
The sense of anticipation is so heightened this time of year. Snow melting, birds arriving, the first green shoots. Love it all!
Posted by: Shelley | April 20, 2011 at 01:41 PM
What I like best this time of year is the utter cuteness of baby lambs! (And ok, other critters too, but mostly? Lambs.)
Posted by: Sara | April 20, 2011 at 01:42 PM
I'm glad the radio silence was just the birthing frenzy and happy all are here and healthy. Yay to no bottle lambs as cute as they have been in the past.
Spring is one of my favorite seasons. I love how a gray spring day provides a beautiful backdrop for all of the spring color out there now- esp the the yellows of daffodils and forsythia. OH and of course all of the Spring Sheep and Woolies just around the corner!
Posting to FB too.
Posted by: Manise | April 20, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Spring is almost a non event in Florida. We go from glorious winter weather to hot summer. My favorite time of spring for the last two years (since I found your blog) is lambing time. I can't tell you what a breath of fresh air it is to us city folks, following your adventures as a shepherdess.
I share all your blogs with my knitting friends and my sister and will continue to do so.
LOVE the names. All the new apples are adorable.
Posted by: Cyndy Landers | April 20, 2011 at 02:04 PM
Such a great time of year. Love the "new" green. So glad the birthing went well with no catastrophes, everyone behaving.
Love all your photos.
Posted by: Sue | April 20, 2011 at 02:06 PM
I love the new green buds against the blue sky and the arrival of the hummingbirds. Among a long list of other things.
Posted by: TeresaC | April 20, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Passed along a link on Facebook - at this point, random people at church ask me about your sheep. :) So glad everyone made it a-okay and the apple names are just perfect. I'm also glad that you had such a good cohort of mamas this year - no carpet replacement!
Posted by: Kristy | April 20, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Barb, I am so happy everyone has arrived safely and now you can rest. I will post your giveaway on my blog today. By the way gardenias are my favorite thing about this time of year. The smell is amazing.
Have a wonderful day,
Meredith
Posted by: Meredith | April 20, 2011 at 02:39 PM
What I love about spring is everything. My birthday is the first day of spring. I love the greening up of the landscape and the first flowers and the gradual warming and spring skiing and spring bike rides and gardening.
Posted by: Kenamit | April 20, 2011 at 02:51 PM
This time of year is literally a breath of fresh air. I love seeing your new lamb pictures and usually go to a local farm to see the annual sheep-shearing. It's what I always pick to do for my birthday.
Marcy
Posted by: Marcy | April 20, 2011 at 03:15 PM
I love being able to pull my bike out of storage and go on morning rides again. I'll pass this page on to friends on FB.
Posted by: Teresa | April 20, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Congratulations on your crop of little "apples". May flowers not withstanding, I love the incessant rain (NOT!)!
Posted by: Cindy in Happy Valley | April 20, 2011 at 04:25 PM
Congratulations on making it through another lambing season! Love the names!
Well, I would say (like Meredith) that I enjoy gardenias, but I don't have any - just memories of when my mom had them on the deck. I do love lily of the valley and lilacs though - the smell of all the flowers blooming is one of my favorite things. Being outside and enjoying the nice weather is another favorite. Sometimes I can enjoy both just by walking around my neighborhood.
Posted by: Rachel | April 20, 2011 at 04:30 PM
By visiting your blog, I get to fantasize about having sheep of my own. Thanks so much for brightening my day with lambs and mommas.
Posted by: Barbara Cook | April 20, 2011 at 05:09 PM
What an absolutely sweet face. My middle school students enjoy reading about your adventures and love the videos with the lambs. Mistral is still a favorite.
I have no idea how you manage do get all you do done, but I'm sure glad you share with us.
Thank you.
Smiles
Posted by: Cheryl | April 20, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Spring for me is weeks on end of flowers in the garden followed by wildflowers in the hills.
I'll be linking to my blog: http://lorisweek.blogspot.com/
Thanks for sharing the lambie journeys!
Posted by: Dee | April 20, 2011 at 05:58 PM
I shared this on facebook!
Posted by: Julie | April 20, 2011 at 06:04 PM
My favorite thing about spring is how bright the forsythia and daffodils look against a steely gray (April showers!)sky - as if the yellow is cheering us on to hang in until the warm sun shines again.
Little lambs of all types arrive in the spring: my grandson was born today! (no apple name though - LOL)
Posted by: Kathy A | April 20, 2011 at 06:20 PM
This time of year.....it's seeing all the shades of green -- who knew there were so many.
I'm one of the lucky ones with pictures from past farm visits to post on my blog to entice others to join the fun.
Posted by: Joan | April 20, 2011 at 06:39 PM
What wonderful news: all lambs safe and sound. And no bottle babies!
Even though we have had very little of it, I love getting a chance to start working in the garden. It's been so rainy and cold, but I did get a new vegetable bed ready for planting. Now it if would just warm up enough to plant it!
Posted by: Susan | April 20, 2011 at 06:40 PM