And then there were three more….

Flowers for church on Easter Day

Flowers for church on Easter Day

Easter has departed for another year, leaving behind the most obscene amount of chocolate that I have ever seen.  Spoilt rotten by so many, Primrose and Poppy seem to have a chocolate Everest stashed in the cupboard.  CUE the serious choc-induced madness at church on Easter Day, resulting in Poppy screaming most of the way through the first few hymns and then half of the sermon.  With disapproving glances from some villagers, I made a point of praying for a large gin and tonic when the vicar asked us to call to mind any matters private and personal that could be offered up during the prayers.  Perhaps I should remember to put a hip flask in my handbag for such occasions…?

Still spring in the village is a fantastic sight to behold and everywhere we look there are signs of rejuvenation all around.  Wild garlic in the hedgerows, the crazy cawing of rooks and their babies can be overheard in the trees all around us and we even spied some baby deer from afar up near the woods.  With so many baby animals about, several trips have been made to the local lambing sheds to see the sheep equivalent of a maternity unit.  Truly marvellous to behold.

Lambing shed

Then, dear Reader, there was the little matter of the tiny pitter patter of tiny feet here at Margot and  Jerry HQ.  The arrival of some new members of the fold…or should I say flock?  Our latest additions: 3 little lambs.  Yes, dear Reader, Margot has turned Bo Peep and is now a newbie shepherdess with a flock number and Animal Health on speed dial.  Jerry is most unamused.  As far as he is concerned, every time he returns to the house after a long day at work, there seems to be another waif or stray that has turned up looking for shelter.  It all started with a kitten as a wedding present……now we seem to have 2 cats, 1 puppy, 4 hens and in the last few days, 3 sheep.  He may have a point.

In the back of Jerry's pride and joy.

In the back of Jerry’s pride and joy.

I present to you, our 3 little orphans – 2 Romney crosses (1 girl, 1 boy) and 1 Suffolk cross (another boy).  Technically, we own 1 1/2 sheep out of 3 as we are starting out on our sheep adventure with a truly darling couple in the village who, despite thinking me quite mad and busy enough already, said that they would be up for the challenge of raising the lambs too.  So with bottles at the ready, sterilising to be done and round the clock feeding, we have our work cut out.  The farmer who sold them to us I think thought that we were more than a bit bonkers to be honest.  All advice from a lovely shepherdess on Twitter named Claire (@ShropshireCraft) went out the window as I saw the little black face of the Suffolk cross and had to have him, even though he was one of the scrawniest looking lambs in the pen.  I then bombarded the farmer with questions until he said “They really aren’t that complicated you know, sheep.”  I didn’t like to tell him that I’d bought three sheep books, consulted with sheep farmers on Twitter and had engaged the advisory services of a lovely local shepherdess who runs the most Rolls Royce of sheep farms that I am sure has ever existed.  With straw bedded down in the back of Jerry’s pride and joy Lanny (about the only time that thing has ever seen the likes of anything agricultural in the back I’m sure), we lifted the lamby young’uns in, carted them off home and here they are……..

Lamb 1, Lamb 2 and lamb 3.  No names, dear Reader....

Lamb 1, lamb 2 and lamb 3. No names, dear Reader….

I cannot tell you how excited Poppy, Primrose and I have been.  Jerry has categorically said that they are nothing to do with him.  However, he has been so very helpful converting his shed as their new home until they can be left out on pasture all day and night.  With round the clock bottle feeding needed, I can hardly blame him for reserving judgement on them.  It’s like having a newborn all over again, except triplets!  Jolly hard work but ever so lovely.  I think that Jerry is probably worried about what he might find living with us next, dear Reader……..well Farmer Margot does have a bit of ring to it, doesn’t it?!

20 thoughts on “And then there were three more….

  1. Life After London

    I love that you are embracing country living with such aplomb. I was raised with lambs and piglets, ducks, geese, ponies and chickens – most of which came into the house for meal times! I can only tell you feeding lambs before school is one of my happiest memories. You are giving your children an amazing start in life!

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Well….Jerry took some persuading and to be honest, he’s still not convinced about these sheep. xx

      Reply
    1. admin Post author

      They really are very cute. Jerry can only imagine them being sweet as the centrepiece to a Sunday roast at the moment though. He is entirely focused on the end goal! Us girls are enjoying their cute phase!

      Reply
  2. suzanne3childrenandit

    Oh my goodness, I am jealous! Don’t envy the ’round the clock feeding’ but these little darlings are super cute! Loving the pic of them in the back of Jerry’s car….a step up from a dog lol! Congrats new mummy, looking forward to hearing how you are getting on 🙂

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Definitely a step up from the dog in the back! Wondering if I can fit a calf in there…..the farmer’s just rung to ask me if I want a calf as he has one spare! x

      Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Jerry can only see chops! The girls and I think that they are simply marvellous. You are lovely for coming over to comment xx

      Reply
  3. mrscarlielee

    Oh! Little loves! And I think you’re very sensible to go with no names. My eldest daughter did her first lambing season this year and since then, neither Elle nor I have been able to eat them. I’ve banned her from working with pigs…

    More pictures please!

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Oh no! Hope I don’t put the girls off eating this lot. Jerry is already worried we are becoming too attached to the little black one as he is much scrawnier than the other two. xxxx

      Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Ooh thanks so much for coming over to read. We left the Big Smoke eight months ago after over a decade of urban living. I can honestly say that I don’t miss it one bit…..apart from a bit frothy latte occasionally!

      Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Any time! Happy to throw my kaftan into the mix to help you out. Slightly worried that if this has all happened in just eight months, when we reach a year, I may be living a life out of My Family and Other Animals!

      Reply
    1. admin Post author

      We are loving every minute of it too. Has been my countryside dream for a long time – thanks for coming over x

      Reply

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