norseofcourse's journal - spring and show update

luvmypets - so sorry about Mammy's udder issue - I hope someone answers in your other thread, I haven't had something like that happen so I don't know either. Best thoughts for her and the lamb...

thanks we think its like over full r her teats are sore.

luvmypets you may want to start a new thread with your situation, more people will be likely to see it and help, I think it would fit in the 'emergencies, injuries and cures' section...

Still waiting on Brosa to lamb. I'm figuring she didn't come into heat when I first put the ram in, till she was darn good and ready! lol. She's doing fine, eating well, not getting too fat, and still liking me despite the fact that every time I see her I lift up her tail and take a look at her hind end. She also *loves* back massages

I got some fencework done and enlarged the paddock the mini mare is in, and she is quite happy about that. Next, I've been working on clearing brush so I can fence in a larger area for the sheep. I'm more than halfway done, but there's some big areas of multiflora rose to clear yet. Some of the brush I'm cutting down and taking to the sheep so they can eat the leaves off it, they love that! There's old downed branches hidden in the grass and vines on the ground, and lots of poison ivy too, so some of it's slow going. I hope to get it done soon though - the sheep need more pasture, and that area hasn't been grazed yet, so they'll be able to help me clear it all out and get a bunch of food at the same time

I started a bunch of tomato seeds awhile back, mostly heirlooms. This weather hasn't been great for seedlings. Some of them are doing well, others are lagging behind. I hope this is a good year for tomatoes. My asparagus is coming up, and I've picked some spears and eaten them raw, yum! The bed's not big enough yet to get much. The rhubarb on the other hand is doing great! I may even pick some soon, and I hope to freeze some this year, and maybe try making some jam. My strawberry plant made it through the winter, and there's a bunch of runners, so maybe I'll get some berries this year, too.

I am very glad that spring is here and things are growing, and the weather is warming up, but it also means my to-do list is getting longer and longer...

Still waiting on Diana over here too!!

-You've been a busy bee! I'd work more outside but the pollen over here is KILLING me
The Dogwood trees are starting to bloom here an oh man... they're fun and pretty but DANG

RAW ASPARAGUS SPEARS ARE THE BEST.
Especially homegrown asparagus spears because they are just so much better
(I envy you right now) heehee

Could you post a picture of Brosa?
I know I've asked this before but I really want to compare her to Diana.


(UNLESS BROSA HAS LAMBED ALREADY?)

Parsnip...pollen kills me too...we're getting to the end of it...hoping yours does soon too!!!

Watching and waiting for Brosa and Diana!

I am still waiting!!

We've had some bad storms here lately, so I haven't been on the computer much. Luckily our power hasn't gone out, although the lights flickered during one storm. It's made things a muddy mess, and I've not been able to get much clearing done for the new fencelines I need to put in. And the poison ivy is starting to grow...

@Parsnip - I got some pictures of Brosa earlier this evening. She looks more pregnant lying down than she does standing up.


And, of course, the all important hind end shot! LOL


I've been looking back through all my other pictures, and was beginning to think that for mine, the most telling sign seemed to be a 'looseness' of the lips of the vulva, which Brosa isn't showing in the above picture yet. *However*, while Brosa had a good appetite at this evening's feeding, she also began to pass a bit of yellowish mucous again, which she hasn't done for awhile - and she was holding her tail out, which isn't typical for her. And she walked out of the barn after she ate, stood for a minute or two, then went back in. Normally, she starts right in on eating hay after they've polished off their pellets and corn. Now, she may not be as hungry because I let them into Elding's pasture this evening and they've been munching away in there - but with the other signs, it's got my radar up. I'll be going out to check on her in just a bit.

Look at that face
She's adorable!

Looks like a beach ball when she's laying down lol
(maybe twins?)

Diana's lady parts aren't quite as puffy, but are a bit darker in color.
Her bits are loose as can be honestly, when she lays down everything hangs open :/

Keep us updated on Brosa!
I'm so excited!!

@Parsnip - thanks Brosa's my little girl... I made a lot more of a pet out of her than you're supposed to, but I figured it will help make it easier to milk her, since she's ok with me handling her all over.

Thursday night turned out to be a false alarm - Brosa passed some mucous twice, kept lifting up her tail and seemed to be having little contractions (I resisted the urge to time them, lol), walked out of the barn away from everyone for a couple minutes before walking back in, and even pawed the ground a little bit. I set the alarm and checked on her every couple of hours... and the only thing that happened was I didn't get much sleep.

Twins would be so cute, but Brosa's a first-timer, so I'll be quite happy with just one, especially since I want to do some milking.

This weather continues to be crazy. By this time last year Gracie had completely shedded out, and this year she's barely started. None of them have really shed out much yet, the furthest along is Elding, and he's only been losing his undercoat so far. But maybe they know something, because tonight and tomorrow night it's supposed to get down to 34, with frost warnings!