Wednesday, March 08, 2017

I'm a spring peeper!

We don't have these amphibians in Oregon, but my pregnant ewes think I do a pretty fair imitation. ;-)

Yes, it's that time of year when I rack up hours looking at "racks," stare obsessively at bellies, take note of tail position, and ponder the pinkness of, erm, private parts. Lambing time approacheth!


Since I never witnessed a breeding I only have dates of exposure, which leaves a window big enough for a barge.  :-/  Sarai and Vienna were with Blake first, then they went back to their respective quarters and I put Bree and Babette in with Nightcap. The first two ewes are obviously pregnant (but not impending); the maiden girls are showing no evidence yet.

How about a contest! Four ewes; four lambing dates. The person who comes closest to guessing the dates of the blessed events will win . . . something. (Hey, I may have two full months left to decide!) Enter your four dates in the comments below, and hopefully I will be able to call the contest by Mother's Day.
Vienna and her youngest daughter, Babette

In other news, this:

This is our new favorite dessert. The recipe came from here, but I tweaked it to make it healthier – or at least not as bad for us; heh.  ;-)

That's it for now from . . .

19 comments:

Debbie said...

This time round will definitely be 'the waiting game" for lamb arrivals.

I'm pondering dates.

Great photos.

Susan said...

I'm terrible at pondering dates, but I'm pondering. OMG, that dessert looks divine! (I had to laugh, because I first thought that you were out chirping/ribbiting at the sheep...)

Debbie said...

Now who could have imagined..lambing calculators online..... just put in a date(s) and here are my guesses:

Sarai April 27th
Vienna May 6th
Bree June 2nd
Babette June 10th


ewephoria

Michelle said...

Debbie, I'm going to tell you to guess again and not count your first guesses. Here's a big hint for everyone: Everyone should be done by Mother's Day. ;-)

Jean said...

Here are my best guesses:
Sarai - 3/18
Vienna - 3/22
Bree - 4/11
Babette - 4/20

Love the look of that dessert - will have to try it soon!

DianeOart said...

I'm bad at guessing...
Sarai - 3/27
Vienna - 3/28
Bree - 4/7
Babette - 4/8
and good luck for beautiful lambies :)

Retired Knitter said...

Ok so I did miss this post. Here are my guesses:

Sarai 4/19
Vienna 3/19
Bree 4/19
Babette 4/19

Why all the 4/19s? That is my birthday. So many bad things happen around my birthday that I am hoping to counter that trend with the birth of some lambs!!!!

Since I can't offer an educated guess and I never win ANYTHING, I don't hold out much hope but it was fun to participate.

Cheers!!

Debbie said...

Thanks Michelle.

Here goes:

Sarai Mar 31st
Vienna April 3rd
Bree Apr 28th
Babette May 1st

Sharon said...

Sarai 4/22
Vienna 4/25
Bree 4/29 seems they really like to birth on Sabbath
Babette 5/4

Claire MW said...

I'm not very good at guessing games, especially with sheep, but here are my guesses. My main hope is for healthy, happy lambs!
Vienna 3/21
Sarai 3/28
Bree 4/12
Babette 4/24
Happy lambing, ewes!
That cake looks scrumptious. I've bookmarked the site because I think we'd enjoy that.

Tina J said...

My best guesses based on my research through your past blog posts. Did you do that on purpose?! :)

Sarai 3/21
Vienna 3/18
Babette 4/22
Bree 4/19

Mama Pea said...

Oops, I goofed and put my guesses on your more recent "reminder" post.

Michelle said...

Helen, I'm moving your comment over here so I don't miss it in the final calculations:

Well heck. May 1, May 11, April 20 and April 1.

Hope all goes smoothly. Helen
helendotmatheyhyphenhornathotmaildotcom

Michelle said...

That's okay, Mama Pea; I'm moving it over here for you:

Oh, dear. I know so little about sheep . . . how 'bout April 2, April 16, April 30 and May 5.

Michelle said...

Nine of you have put your name in the pot, so I'll make a spreadsheet to figure out whose guesses, totaled, were most accurate.

Now to think up a prize! Who would wear a handknit hat, headband, or fingerless mitts? Who would rather have an 8x10 print of one of my photos? Still thinking here....

Michelle said...

Debbie, I just hope they "wait" or "hurry up" so they lamb when I am home, not traveling!

I might do that, too, Susan. ;-)

Those online lambing calculators are right handy, Debbie! I use 'em, too.

Jean, I'll need a way to contact you if you win, so send me your email addy.

Thanks for playing, Diane; this year is a guessing game for EVERYone!

Well, you deserve to have some GOOD things happen on your birthday, RK! I'll go whisper to the ladies....

I can't imagine a nicer Sabbath blessing than that; can you, Sharon?

Claire, you forgot to wish for EWE lambs. ;-)

Being a researcher or a regular reader has its advantages, Tina. ;-)

Thanks, Helen; we are also hoping there are no repeats of Sarai's traumatic lambing last Spring.

I think you NEED a sheep or two, Mama Pea; grow your own DIY yarn!

Mokihana said...

I'm going to throw my guesses into the hat, though I'm sure I'll be way off...

Sarai: April 12
Vienna: May 18
Bree: June 5
Babette: June 18

Cissy Foster said...

Here are the dates I chose...winner or not....hope all have healthy lambs!

Sarai 3/21
Vienna 3/22
Bree 4/13
Babette 4/14

Tina J said...

I think fingerless mitts would be cool!