Lambs in Turtlenecks

These cute little critters were born Tuesday morning. They were early I think....both weighing in under 10 pounds. Neither of them would nurse or stand up, they were a bit hypothermic. (Our climate isn't too cold, they are just too small) So, we (and I mean Rachel when I say we!) had to learn to tube feed these babies. She has now done the procedure about 7 times, and may have to do it a few more times yet...The larger of the two finally made it to his feet around midnight last night, and the other is now standing quite unstably - but at least on his feet. We were given the facts about their unlikely survival - I don't think anyone expected them to live thru the night -, so we keep tending them and hoping. They seem to be improving, but are still not able to keep warm or nurse.  We found this sweater at our local goodwill and cut the sleeves off to make a covering for them (the suggestion of a fellow sheep person - one MUCH more experienced than us)

We will enjoy them for as long as we get to. Snuggling and bottle feeding (attempting it anyhow) is a pleasure.

This is only the 2nd year we have had the privilege of lambing. We have another ewe that will hopefully wait a bit longer to give birth! It is a fun experience even if we end up shedding some tears. 

Make it Monday

  

Well, though this is supposed to be a "TaDa" today...I did not quite finish the project. I still need to make the cording and pom poms that go at the top of the slippers.  It is a bit of a disappointment that I somehow managed to make these two slippers not matching....they did not felt the same and one is quite a bit...roomier than the other...I may try to remedy the situation, but as soon as I get the cording and pom poms finished this project will go on the back burner for a bit. (Ah...well, famous last words....I also would like to try to apply a "slip proofing" on the bottom of each of the slippers I have made....will let you know if that happens and how I like the product I chose.)

We (my girls and I) all really like this pattern - the error is definately mine, not the pattern (as the first pair I made came out just fine!)

Make it Monday

I'm linking up with Kirsteen for her Make it Monday! .....

For Christmas, I made Rachel this cute pair of slippers...When you make them, they are very, VERY big....before they are felted.  After the felting, they are snug and warm. I wanted to include a picture of an already finished pair....but my Make it Monday project is in progress....

 

I have one slipper made for Sarah, and the other started. I won't felt them until they are both completed....but as it is, I can stick both of my feet in the one...and rather feel like a monopod from C.S. Lewis' "Voyage of the  Dawn Treader"

Hopefully, next week, both will be completed and felted....

A New New Year's Tradition

Our children had a grand scheme...

 ....to host a regency era ball....in our living room....w/ about 50 people....

It all came to be.

 Here are some of the pictures that were a result of that evening....January 1, 2012.

There were definately little people involved...very cute little people....at least a dozen people whose ages are in the single digits! Our littles all learned the dances beforehand....well, basically learned the dances....

Lots of dancing (I use the term loosely, but I will say that nobody was injured, and by the end of the evening, we rather looked the part!)

Though I think it will be a new New Year's tradition, I don't think it will be limited to that single day! I hear mutterings of a summer time shindig in the makings! You can look up these fun dances on youtube...and do them with your family, too! They are very fun!

May the Lord bless you all in the New Year! as you seek to follow Him!

An 8 Year Old Man

Zachary turned 8 on Sunday. He likes anything that has to do w/ cowboys. His sister Rachel found this jacket, hat, and nice pair of jeans at our local GoodWill. Have you such a handsome 8 year old in your life?

His sister, Grace, went shopping w/ Rachel...and found these great gifts..a new red bandana, and a wallet...with money already in it!

A couple of months ago...this sweet Madeline....

heard Z say that he really wanted a mama deer...he already had the baby...so, she checked her savings and hired herself out for odd jobs w/ her older siblings, collected the necessary amount of money, and had Sarah take her to the local farm store to make her purchase. She had it wrapped and under her bed for 2 months. 

It is a busy time of year...this post is 2 days late....I told Z that we would have a cowboy get together next month!

Happy Birthday Z!

I would also like to mention that today is my husband's 49th birthday!

Hope my 8 year old man grows up to be just like his daddy!

Happy Birthday, Gregg!

Apples to AppleCider

We had the opportunity to buy apples.....

Lots of apples....actually each of these bins holds 900 pounds of apples.

Two of the bins are ours......and the plan was to use one of them to make....

CIDER!

Ah..the anticipation of that first gallon!.....

We had a little friendly competition...teams seeing how quickly they could grind and press a gallon of cider....from start to finish...these strapping young men held the lead at 6 minutes and 24 seconds...

the competition was intense...

even scary...

Such a fun time!!

Even the mamas made a decent showing (that'd be 7min 7sec)

But this handsome fella single handedly thumped us all! He finished his gallon in 5 minutes and 50 seconds.....

No, no....not finished drinking his gallon....I mean he actually grinded apples and pressed his gallon in that time!

We made about 30 gallons (two different pressing events!) The apples cost us about 10 cents a pound..the press was rented for 1.5 days for $60....

The fun we had was priceless!

Some of our happenings...in pictures...

On Thanksgiving morning, it is our family's tradition to decorate gingerbread houses. We make 5 of them and have two children decorating each house.

This tradition was started to give little people a project while mama was busy in the kitchen....the older children still participate, ,pairing up w/ one of their younger siblings. Its a very sweet tradition!

Here is Sarah's post on our Thanksgiving!

On the weekend we get our Christmas tree...this is usually done on Saturday...but this year got postponed until Monday...the weather was immensely better on Monday, and we all came home dry and happy (which would not have been the case if we'd gotten it on the weekend!).

 Z assures me he was in the picture...on the other side of the tree....Can you see Z? He's between Rachel and Benjamin.

Here is Emily's post on our Christmas Tree tradition. You'll recognize the pictures!

Hope you are enjoying the blessings that this season brings to mind (at least in our homes, eh?)!