"Jack"

Our newest addition made his appearance on October 22, 2010.  He tipped the scales at a healthy 8 lbs and is a delight :)  He is appropriately named "Jack" (his name was inspired by the "Jack"-o-lantern since his birthday is so close to Halloween!)

It's funny how a new lamb will make your walk to the barn seem a little shorter and your step a little quicker.  There is nothing like knowing there is a new, little fuzzy body to "ooh and ahh" over.  If you're lucky, the very protective mama will even allow you a short cuddle with her little darling :)

As noted in a previous post, Jack was very unexpected.  I certainly thought there would be no new babies till January.  And while I'm delighted by his arrival, it also fills me with a little sadness.  In counting back the months I realized Jack's sire had to be Stone Axe, our flock patriarch.  Unfortunately Stone Axe had to be culled back in the summer due to his age and a host of other factors.

Stone Axe was a surly, old boy.  My husband will be the first to tell you that you didn't want to turn your back on him, or you would get an unwelcome surprise.  While I was afraid of him, I couldn't help but admire how he cared for "his flock".  He was quick to end a dispute between his ladies.  "Teenage" rams were quickly put in their place lest they forget that he was in charge.  And yet it was amazing to see how gentle this giant could be with a tiny lamb, gently nudging them towards their mama when they strayed into his path.

Stone Axe had seen more of the United States in his 6 years of life than I have seen in my 44.  He was born in San Angelo, TX.  In June 2004, he was sold to a new owner in Niangua, MO.  Another new owner in January 2007 brought another move to York Springs, PA.  His final stop was our farm in April of 2010.

In 23 years of farming, I've never learned to like culling an animal.  If an animal leaves our farm, it was always my preference that they would go to another farm to live a long and happy life.  However, that is not a farmer's reality.  Tough decisions must be made.  You try to make them quickly and not to think about them too much.  And then along comes a little guy like "Jack", that brings it all into sharp clarity...all those feelings that you try not to "feel" in the midst of making those decisions suddenly overwhelm you.  And you grieve, and second-guess, and ultimately you re-affirm that you made the right decisions.

Farming is not an easy life.  One day you may lose a cow that you've set up nights with trying to keep alive.  Another day you're greeted with the unexpected joy of twin calves (or lambs! :)   The emotional rollercoaster ride is unparalleled by anything else I've ever know, but the joys far out-weigh the sorrows.  I guess that's why I couldn't imagine any other life :)