Myra!

Let me tell you about Myra. We got her 3 years ago as a lamb. We were just starting with sheep & this was our first year breeding. We had K3's show lamb & we needed a companion for her when we put the ram out with all the other ewes to be breed. We went to this farm that had 100 sheep. We caught these two little ewes & K3 picked Myra. We thought she should get the other one because it was bigger. She was insistent she wanted Myra. When we got in the truck she told us why: she had looked them both over & the other one had a dirty butt & she had learned in 4-H that was an indicator of worms. Guess we couldn't argue with that! Smart girl!

Myra is still on the tiny side. She is our smallest ewe. Myra is also wild, and had to catch. Last year was her first year lambing. She was huge! When she did lamb it was a nightmare. It took both Mark & I to get that lamb out & by then it was dead. The second one was also difficult coming out but that one lived. Poor Myra, I don't know how she didn't tear but she was so swollen & bruised for weeks.

So, here we go again. She is huge! This time I know her due date.
It was Saturday, but  No lambs. On Friday, I started getting up once a night to check on her. I am worried we are going to have a repeat of last year, and if no one is around to help her, then we might lose them all.
Sunday, No lambs....
Monday, No lambs....
Tuesday, No lambs.... but last night (Tues) she seemed different at night chores, Then she was laying down when I checked her @ 10 when I was going to bed. She looked very uncomfortable. I watched her & saw one of the lambs kick & it was right in her backbone & her whole backside shook. This is it! I set my alarm & go out at 12. Still no lambs, no water bag, but she is still laying down, Set alarm again  for 2. NOTHING! Now, she is standing up chewing her cud. Get up @ 6....no lambs, check her at 8 ....no lambs.

I am so worried , tired, and REALLY hoping she has them Today!!!

Here is Myra on Friday!

Here she is even BIGGER last night!

Ready & Waiting

Our day starts out with a cup of coffee & checking the ten day forecast on the laptop. Mark is patiently waiting for tapping weather. Sugaring is his favorite time of year, closely followed by haying. I also look forward to sugaring. Gathering sap from the buckets is my favorite part. Fun times in the sugar shack with family and friends is defiantly something to look forward to. Here's what we've been doing to get ready....

New arch installed - check

Wood stacked & ready - check

More wood (cause there is never enough)- check

Jars ready & waiting - check

Bring on the warm days & freezing nights, cause Simonds Sugar Shack is READY!!!

Drum roll please!!

Well, I said that I would keep you updated on the latest & greatest Triple K Farm news.
 We have partnered with Four Pillars Farm, also located in Whiting, to offer a variety of CSA options. Four Pillars is providing a vegetable & cheese share.I am super excited to say we will be offering a pasture raised meat CSA, and pasture raised poultry CSA. I could not figure out how to post our flyer, but wanted you to see how sharp it turned out!

If anyone is interested in seeing our flyer or purchasing a share please e-mail me at triplekfarm@gmail.com.
That's it for now, but there's more in the near future.........

What to do when its 13 degrees!

Here we are...it's 13 degrees outside & we are cutting firewood! Hey, it's quality time together:) 

Mark's Job!

My Job!

Bunny Blog

 Please meet the newest members of Triple K Farm (drum roll...) Oreo & Thumper!

They are 5 month old lion head bunnies. Oreo is a sweet, and friendly guy. He likes to sit quietly in your lap while being petted. Thumper is a little  more shy. Once, he is in your lap he does like to be petted, but he is always on alert...ready to flee if something should scare him. If we let him loose he does like to investigate. They really like carrots & last night we fed them a pile of hay, which they devoured. They are good boys!

OREO

                                                                     

THUMPER

Morning Surprise!

I went out to do morning chores and look where I found Bailey! Somehow she manged to climb in the feeder. Great! Just what I needed to deal with before work. I assessed the situation, then called for back up. Mark! He came home & had to remove boards to back her out. Silly cow!

 As for the chicks or teenagers, as we call them,we have moved them into the big coop with the layers.The first few days they all huddled in the corner, but now they are mingling nicely. Picture in the next few days....

Sheep are getting big & fat. Lambies soon! They are a little cool, now that they are naked, but they stay inside & lay close together, snuggling sheepies.

As for the piggies, they are PIGS! All they want to do is eat, but that's OK ,we want them big & fat come March.

That's the latest here at Triple K!

I'm back!...and here to stay!

It's been like....2 months since I have blogged. Sorry, all I have is the boring excuse of being busy.Let me fill you in on Triple K Farm news. This promises to be a big year for us, we have a lot in the works right now, and I will do my best to keep you posted.

First, we got a new sugaring arch 2x6 & Mark guarantees me that this will allow us to have a life during sugaring...me, I am not convinced, but time will tell. Mark has been working the last two weekends to install it. He & his right hand sugar man (Tony) are laying the fire brick as I write this. Last weekend K3, myself , and K1's boyfriend split sugar wood both weekend afternoons. Then I came down with the flu...that put me out most of the week.

This morning started out fast & furious. Chores, clean barns, and loaded recycling, this was before 9 am! Then the shearer came & sheared all the girls, did their feet, and they received their CDT shots.I know it seems cruel to take all their wool mid winter, but there is a logical reason. We are expecting lambs in the beginning of February. Without their wool, I can monitor their progress easier. I can actually find their udders (and so can their lambs!), watch them grow, and sometimes feel the babies move (super cool!).

Before....

During.....

and after....