Sheep Show

Lambing season and all the excitement involved finally ended after we had twenty little ones, with the not-so-grand finale of teensy-tiny Andy and his normal-sized twin sister.  Andy wound up moving into our house with Elsa, the bottle-baby already living in the kitchen these last few weeks.  So, it's diapers and bottles as far as the eye can see.  The smallest lamb we've ever had, Andy's clothes are the size of a Kleenex.  He's grown some since, but arrived not much larger than a big potato.  

 http://www.wcax.com/story/28179154/mivt-warm-coats-for-cold-baby-lambs  

The news story Gina did on my lamb jackets got a lot of media attention, even though the coats were something that just seemed rather necessary and practical what with the brutal temps we've had this winter.  Coldest on record, I believe.  Anyhow, folks were acting like I've just NOW invented animal clothing and we got the front page of the paper, a couple radio spots and dozens of emails from fans.  Pretty ridiculous, but fun.

  Before Andy came, Elsa was rising to local stardom with requests to visit nursing homes, schools, shut-ins and girl scout troops, now she's got a little brother tagging along, who may soon be making the rounds solo as Elsa is growing larger by the day and I worry she'll be accidentally kicking out people's oxygen tubes before long with her crazy gymnastic antics.  

Other than the 3AM feedings and the constant diaper changes, raising sheep in the house isn't much different than having dogs.  In fact, they all get along quite well.  And the kids aren't terribly phased by lambs cavorting around their games and they automatically pick them up for a cuddle during family movies.

(My original jacket pattern, cut out of some of Ira's outgrown PJ bottoms.)

Lambs are not only allowed into our area's Chinese restaurant, but are welcomed and adored.  It's the Year of the Sheep, after all.  

Elsa loves the long hallways in schools and hospitals, she runs at top speed and then skids to a stop with some high kicks and jumps before reversing direction, to the delight of her audiences.

Washing lambs with Woolite, not only amusing, but actually advised for house-lambs, as it's gentle and won't muss with their natural oils as much as other soaps might.

Gentle men are the only gentlemen.

So, that's the news from The Hill.  Sheep, sheep and more sheep.  (We've also been battling a beautiful Great Horned Owl who is determined to eat all our ducks, but that's another story.)  Spring is on the way for sure.  Stay tuned for the heaven of a Vermont Springtime!  XXOO  Love and lamb kisses.  

Sheep Date

Life got you down?  Bring a lamb into a nursing home. 

Surprise!

John's birthday yesterday, and out in the barn he discovered an early lamb!  In fact, it looks like ALL the lambs will be coming soon, due to a little ram mix-up back in the fall.  Ewes go into heat with cold spells, so it's best to separate the flock in the fall, if you don't want winter lambs, but we had several unexpected cold snaps this year before we moved the rams out which, as you can see, was enough!  With the temps being what they are, we got busy and created cozy wardrobes for the newcomers.  Our old lamb coats hadn't been used in many years since we are normally a bit better with our family planning, and the fabric was pretty worn out, so I found a pattern on-line and made a batch of flannel ones.  (You really haven't lived until you've dressed a newborn lamb in a plaid jacket.)  The boys named this baby 'Johnny Mozart' in honor of two cool guys' birthdays and life will be rather hectic for the next month or so as lambing commences!          

Baby Ballet

Teaching a session of childrens' dance in a cafeteria is not ideal, but living in the sticks as we do, parents prefer it to having to drive an hour for dance classes!  My lovely Russian friend, Yuliya, has been begging me to start teaching ballet and creative movement again ever since she gave birth to two dance-loving daughters a few years ago, and as incentive, did all the work securing the space, signing up families and advertising for me.  Obviously, she's a better salesperson than I am because these classes are PACKED and well organized, I just have to show up and do my thing!  These little people are so sweet and earnest and have no idea that it's funny to be doing plies on a salad bar instead of a real barre.  Life.  Full of improvisations and all the better for it.     

Ice Castle

Last year we went during the day, which was incredible in itself, but THIS winter we went at night to see it lit.  Stunning.  A team from out west creates four of these around the country and two are close enough for us to drive to in just an hour and a half.  Magic.

Ski Runners

When you and your aging father sign on to teach skiing and snowboarding every Friday to Central VT children under 12, you might be crazy.  When you sign up to run the whole program for your town on top of that, you are probably certifiable.  When you try to host a radio show before you load the kids onto the bus and locate 5683309179355 pieces of lost gear, you are clearly too far gone to be labeled.  In the reoccurring theme of overextending my life, this fits in nicely.  But we aren't doing so badly after all: only one trip to the hospital, three equipment SNAFUs and somewhat less crying than expected.  And had we not taken the job, this opportunity would be lost for our local school kids due to a shortage of instructors.  It's nice to be needed.  Especially for a skill that I'd all but forgotten I had!  We've rounded up some wonderful parent volunteers that keep tabs on the little ones warming up their toes in the lodge and several on-mountain helpers that lend a hand wherever needed.  The program could surely use some fine tuning, but is still a pretty great thing for area kids who might not have the chance to ski much otherwise.  So, even if I have a hard time getting to sleep at night when I'm try to remember everything I'm supposed to be remembering, I'm happy.  This is fun!  (Occasional missing mittens, pants-wetting and ambulance rides aside.)
  

Glass Blowers In The Making

One of my favorite kinds of gifts to give (or receive!) is some sort of experience, a trip, a class: something that doesn't clutter up your house, but adds a lasting memory.  My friend Janet is an amazing glassblower and before the holiday, I remembered that she occasionally teaches kids...she and I struck a deal and one of the boys' Christmas gifts was a lesson.  (I have a feeling we are hooked now and will have to go back for more!)  They both made two pieces and were ecstatic and proud.  Janet is probably the most patient human alive and kept Ira from setting anything on fire or burning himself, which is impressive in itself, (I was a little nervous about him in particular, since he has dubious focus when excited and we were going in to a space with a zillion potential dangers) but Janet is so calm and organized that she's able to supervise and direct very clearly and simply, enabling kids to actually create the pieces themselves, yet remain completely safe only inches away from her competent hands.  I spent some time in a hot shop years ago, before children, helping with set-up when they were overloaded with orders for the holidays and I'd forgotten how hypnotic it is, seeing a solid become a molten liquid and then cooling again.  Anyhow, this gift was a wild success and I'm so, so, so glad we did it!  Thank you Janet!