Jenny Miracle: Lambing Update

The other day - Tuesday - we had a bit of a problem.

Actually, we had several problems, but this one is the more interesting.

A sheep expecting twins was having some serious trouble. A tangle of arms and legs coming out at the same time, confusion ... enough info! Once we got the first one out (it was dead), we started on the second one. We totally expected this one to be dead to but.......... it wasn't

Instead, this is what came out:

Yup, it was black. Coal black. From the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. Now, this may not be unusual in some places, or breeds, but I've never seen the like. Uncle hasn't seen the like. It's a genetic freak. It just doesn't happen to pure Blackfaces. We called it Jenny Miracle. I provided the Jenny (as in genetic freak) and my more soft-hearted aunt called her miracle, cos she wasn't meant to be alive.

And in other lambing news:

 

 This is the other major trouble we had on Tuesday. This pic was taken when he was less than 24 hours old. The massive horns and big shoulders meant we had to call the vet to take him out. He is from the exact same stock as Jenny on the mother's side and has the same father. Like I said, she's a strange 'un!

This one.......... is perfectly ok. I thought I'd better show her to you so you know that not all the sheep have problems. Most actually do give birth without our help

PS I take it back. Just been out helping take a lamb from a sheep. SOME give birth naturally! The rest take pleasure in starting their labour in the worst weather, at the worst times. Sometimes I wonder why we bother ............ but then, we had Lamb Curry last night, and all of a sudden I realise it's worth all the effort.

Spring. And Assorted Other

OK, so I have not been posting much this last wee while.

Well, I haven't been posting at all.

Sorry about that, but normal service is resumed, as of now. I hope.

Ahhhh, so much to talk about. In my life this last few weeks:

Spring: It's in the air. Pity the weather didn't get the memo. Ah well, we don't live here for the climate!

The Communions: We have a communion weekend twice a year in each congregation of our denomination. I'll do a longer post on the Scottish Communions soon, but they are awesome, and I was at two of them in the last four weeks. One of them was our own, and I went forward, or professed faith, at them. They were special.

University: Between the two Communion weekends and a few days of illness, I fell a bit behind in my Law work, so some frantic work took place over the last few weeks. I'm glad to report that I'm all caught up now. (Disclaimer: I accept all liability for the state of the desk. Just in case mum reads this!)

LAMBING: Yup, it's that time of year again. The daffodils are blooming, the sun is....... well, it's still hidden most of the time - like now. But, the lambing goes on regardless. (pics to follow)

I think myself they choose the worst, most awkward days to be born.... when my uncle is at work, it's raining, blowing a gale, and I'm the only one around.

The first lambs were born early last week, four or fives days overdue. That doesn't sound like much, but it is for sheep. They were twins, and, despite me making a general mess of our kitchen, one of them didn't make it. (NB, mum was away, which was why I could have them in the kitchen!) The other one is, I'm glad to report, doing well. So far, it's been pretty good, only one fatality (this morning, at six. What, I hear you ask, were you doing up at that time? All will be explained.)

JACKSON!!: Yup, we now have a puppy. He's a pure bred Labrador, and he's kinda cute. We got him from a place called Dunmore, in Argyll. He's very good, which is just as well, since I drew the get-up-in-the-morning-at-six straw, but it's worth it!

That's it for today. I'll keep y'all posted on the lambing and Jackson in general (pardon the pun).

The Beach

A while ago, I posted photos of the machair, and promised to post some of the beach.

So, at long last, here they are.

See that finger of land in this photo and the next? I'll tell you a story about it later.

 The wind was blowing against the waves today, so it creates that spray.

The land on the other side of the beach is where I took my first photo-just to put things in perspective.

The beauty and majesty of God's creation never ceases to amaze me!

The Machair

It is beautiful outside today. The sun is shining, the breeze is soft and you can smell Spring in the air. I even saw a lamb.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the lamb, but I do have some photos of the machair. And some of the beach, but I'll keep them for later. 

A quick geography lesson. The machair is the expanse of land between the village crofts and the beach. It's sandy soil, but it grows plenty of grass and anyone with a croft in the village can put their animals on it to graze. It's home to plenty of game (well, a gazzilion rabbits), and I like it.

That's the lower part of the machair.

The stone.... thing is a fank. Lotsa gates and fences and walls for sorting/holding the sheep

The fence between the upper machair of my village and the next village's machair

 Muran grass (marram in English) grass. It covers a good area of the machair.

In the spring and summer, the machair is covered in a blanket of yellow and pink and red and purple flowers, but at this time of year, it's green. And kinda brown, with some straw-y yellow thrown in.  


I'm so glad I don't live in a city, far from open spaces and greenery. I love this island!