We are just at the start of the lambing season, which for the sheep my husband looks after, officially starts on 14th February this year. This is the date when the lambs should start to be born, ready to be the first Spring lambs to market. Harsh, but if we didn't eat them, then it would be unlikely that sheep would be in our landscape at all.
We have already started asking when we can have another orphan lamb to raise. My husband is dead set against the idea, but I hope between the three of us, we can wear him down!
You may remember that last year we were lucky enough to have Dave. He really was a special sheep and we re-homed him, rather than let him continue down the road for which he should have been destined. These photos are from last May and June, when Dave was living with his new and motley flock.
This Dave, looking really quite stout.
This one is a Southdown - they always look like little old men to me.
Waiting not very patiently for a bottle.
Dave had an enormous appetite and could drain a bottle of milk in seconds.
An idyllic place to live out your days.
Sadly, shortly after these pictures were taken, Dave developed some sort of problem with his intestines and he died. Given his greedy nature, we have a suspicion he ate himself into an early grave.
Dave, gone.
