Winter in Slow Gear

Winter on the farm is in slow gear. We feed and water the animals, check on any problems, watch the ladies grow bigger around the middle. Spring looks to be busy. We could have anywhere from 6-14 lambs and 2-4 kids. Most of the time is spent feeding the wood stoves and staying warm. Temps have been seasonal for us. Lows 5-10 and highs 20-25 degrees. This cold has been harder on the southern states. Maine is prepared for snow and we have the proper equipment to move it, sand and salt the roads. In 1989 Jacksonville, Florida had freezing temps and snow. Cars were sliding into each other and backwards on the I-95 overpasses. Hopefully, temps will return to their norms, and the orange and strawberry crops survive the freeze. We have had a big birthday. Teddy turned 20. He is no longer a teen. He is the last of the kids and now he is a man. Sometimes. He requested a Red Velvet cake and Alex made a great one. Sorry, but the candles just keep growing each year Teddy.

We always pick on him when he gets shoes. Do you know how difficult it is to find size 16 sneakers? Only one word, Internet.

It is a big joke and he doesn't mind. We even laugh about fitting a family of 4 into the shoe box.

The sheep don't mind the cold temps. They have a nice layer of wool to keep them warm. They enjoy hanging out under the trees. Several of the saplings are missing their bark. Not much in the way of grass.

We pulled the hay feeder out of the shelter to give them more room inside. They spend most of their day eating. The ram wars have ended and everyone seems to be getting along well now.

Even the cats spend most of their time indoors. Timba is the Orange Tabby and Beau is the Maine Coon.

No these aren't sweet little kitty cats. They are killers. They can hear the cat food can open from upstairs and hit the counter in the kitchen in less than 2 seconds. Don't get in their way, you could loose some digits.

The pups spend alot of their time outdoors. They don't mind the cold temps. We watch them closely to prevent any hypothermia. They love to wrestle in the snow. However......

Once inside they go crazy. We have issues. Behavior issues. Yes, they are puppies and no they do not mind very well. We don't like to crate them when inside. At this time, they have destroyed every toy they have. It is time to visit the store again for another supply of chewies and toys. We have enrolled the girls in obedience class starting tomorrow morning. Soon they will be model pups, well behaved, no more nipping and pulling on clothes. Childhood has come to an end Emma and Lucy. After all, we don't want incorrigible children.

I have images of two pups wiping out the class, knocking over the teacher, turning the whole class into barking chaos. I hope they don't get kicked out of school. That would be so embarrassing. Do they have boarding school for dogs? Can we send them out for a couple of weeks and have them come back model pups? No.... Okay we get to go to school too. Keep the cold at bay. Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Kelly