{Warning: Just a wee bit of healthy blood ahead.}
I was finishing up some work yesterday morning when I heard the thundering stampede of mud boots, farm boots, and bare feet coming from the paddock headed to the door closest to my studio. "Mama, Mama, Mama, Emily is having her baby!!!!"
The farmer we got Emily from had told us that if we fed her a little bit of grain every morning at the same time, it was quite likely that one morning, she'd eat it, find a quiet spot and start labor within the hour. Oh, those old farmers. They know a thing or two, because that's just what she did. When I got out to her, the lamb had clearly dropped, and she was busy with the work of labor.
We readied the lambing pen, and I grabbed the first aid supplies, the sheep manual, my camera and some knitting (Midwife Essentials, yes?), and sat myself a safe, but close enough distance away to sit by. Surely, she didn't need our help, and in fact Shetlands are quite known for their independent birthing. But goodness, who could pass up the opportunity to watch a birth? Not me, ever, but especially for this first sheep birth of ours. And so - with her approval, I did just that. Quietly watched with a shutter click here and there.
A few yards back, on the other side of the fence, was the peanut gallery. Quietly (as quietly as they could) watching and checking in over the next couple of hours.
One of course, never left....and eventually tiptoed her way to my side.
Until early afternoon, when at last Emily's work was done. We watched her clean this lamb up, and nudge it on its way until it was standing and nursing within minutes. Oh so easy peasy and beautiful.
And just as soon as she got that lamb on its way to upright and eating, another joined them! Can we just pause right here in the storytelling and give Emily her props? Standing up and nursing one while cleaning the afterbirth off the second? She is a rock star. And birth is amazing.
I know not all births go so smoothly, and so for that reason especially, I am so grateful that this one did. We kind of needed ourselves a farming success this week, I dare say. But to be able to see it all happen? Oh what a sweet bonus and blessing that was for us all.
Once Emily was surely 'done', we moved them to the lambing pen where they'll spend some days bonding with each other and safe from others. We checked them all out, helped a bit with the cleanup, and said our gentle hellos under the watchful eye of Emily.
Without too much objection, I made the Executive (aka Mama) decision that the lady who spins the wool, and knits the sweaters gets to name the sheep from which it all comes. And so let me introduce you to Emily's daughters...
This is Charlotte.
....and her little sister Anne.
Yes, they are the Brontës.
Welcome to the farm, girls. We're so glad you're here!
