THE SNOW HAS STARTED - AND IT'S STILL COMING DOWN...

 But not to worry, the guys at the Feed Mill told us that it won't last - it will melt - and be a muddy mess - too early for this heavy of a snowstorm......We picked up a lot of feed for the animals just in case we couldn't get out....

Before the predicted storm, we also drove into town where our Victorian home is located- to check on the house, grab a few things and also pick up some supplies and groceries.  We have a pretty big pile of split firewood at the cabin - so we knew would be good for a few days. Batteries for the flashlights and gasoline for the skid loader. We were told that our electric might go out - our cabin is the only one on this line - so we are probably not the first place that the linemen come out to fix.  We do need to be ready - and we are.  I can cook and boil water on top of the woodstove - kind of like camping out in your home.  

 I put extra hay in the coop and in the boxes, extra food, some greens, plugged in the electric bucket of water and ran the long extension cord from the shop to the coop.  I did the same thing in the machine shed for the peacocks.  So, everyone will be protected from the wind and snow and have plenty to eat and drink.  The llamas and sheep almost lay out in the snow.  Their fleeces are so thick that they don't even notice. I fluffed up the hay in the lean to for the lambs and their mama's. We filled all of the bird feeders to the top and threw seed around on the workhorses and boards that were set up on our deck for the work that my husband is doing in the cabin.  

Noticed that one of the twin lambs was laying off by itself - not a good sign.  So, I picked her up and she was kind of skinny - so she is coming with me into the cabin to be bottle fed.  Sometimes twins are too much for a younger ewe.  That's why we a close watch on the moms and the lambs.  Those first few days are the most important.  The lambs need to be cleaned and dried and up on their feet so that they can nurse.  My husband searched the trailer for the lamb replacer, and we emptied a pop bottle and fortunately we had kept nipples from previous feedings.  

The little one wrapped up in a blanket inside of the cabin with us - loves her warm bottle.  She hits it hard just like she does her mom's bag of milk.  Almost knocks it out of your hand.  They stand and nurse and their little tails wag wildly. She made herself at home pretty quickly and even took over one of the dog beds.   

   

All of the rest of the twins were well taken care of by their mama's.  They are something else - it never ceases to amaze me what mama animals will do for their young. We now have six sets of twins with possibly a few more to come.  It's hard to tell if they are pregnant - they have such heavy fleeces in the winter.  We will shear them in the spring and get onto a better breeding schedule after this season when we are not preoccupied with packing/moving, etc.  

So, with everyone ready for the predicted snow, I wished them all well - told them we'd be out to check on them and headed for the cabin.  My husband had a big fire burning in the woodstove and a pot of water boiling for some hot tea - Bless His Heart...He was bottle feeding our lamb - and as always, we are so grateful for all and for our beautiful new life in the UP....