Sigh. It's a hard time of the year on the sheep front here at Struan Farm. Farmer John "drafted" lambs a few days ago, picking those fat, early lambs to go off. He also has taken all of the lambs, including my pets, to his farm down the road.
He and hubby John had had a conversation about the pets, and John was designated to speak to me about it all to make sure I was okay with them going off. I was given the option of keeping one or two around, but the ones I would have wanted to keep because of their personalities (Alfie and Trixie) just didn't make sense, even to me. You see everyone tiptoes around Karen when it comes to her lambs, they know I'm emotionally attached. The approach being taken gives me some distance, since this way I don't know who goes off when, and who might be staying to lamb the next season. This way John also won't have Karen sobbing at the dinner table. I'm just quietly sad, missing them. I do know dear Alfie and Romeo will be first in the queue (the rams/wethers always go first) with Trixie and her lame leg not too far behind. John also raised the issue of "ethic cleansing" with Farmer John, telling him it would be okay to get rid of my brown faced ewe lambs to help purify his breeding line once again. I'm not sure why he felt he had to go there, and am feeling somewhat betrayed on that score--those brown faces tend to be my favourites.
So we have been left with the ewes baaing away for their missing lambs most of the day and night. Fortunately no farmstay guests that first night!
I'd warned mums Rosie, Ruby, Pip, Pepper and Cookie that something bad was about to happen that day. I had a chance to say goodbye to Alfie, Trixie and TimTam, and watched the dogs round up the other seven from the house paddock after they made a last minute run for it. They stayed as a tight mob, which made me smile.
This afternoon I went out and found Rosie, gave her an apple. Cookie also came up for a pat.
We all agreed we'd try to feel a bit better, miss those lambs a bit less, tomorrow.
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