. . . . . And so spring springs, as ever

There's something about lambs  .....

No.2 ewe, on the left here, gave me some sleepless nights.  For weeks she was globular, with an udder like a football.  But she had just the one lamb, this morning, large and fit, and both are healthy.



 
This not-so-little mite was no.1, born three days ago, and is getting deeply curious about his human carers already.








And here are the first twins.  Their spotty knees are the genetic inheritance from their mum; her breed is mostly Ryeland, a medieval breed based locally, between Hereford, Ross on Wye and Monmouth, and developed to make the most of the local red soil which lacks some minerals.  We've always found they do well here; should I go back to that breed after my trial of primitive Hebridean sheep?  My major problem with the Hebs is their colour - black - impossible to find under a hedge on a dark night.  I hadn't thought of that.

But don't forget the veg garden! It's still claggy and water-bound, but now is time to start sowing - broad beans in the tunnel, and tomatoes, celeriac, chillis, and more in the greenhouse.  The ground would be warming now if it weren't so wet.