Our first surprise was waiting in the garage for us, when we returned from our two and a half month sailing holiday in mid July. It was a newly born calf , with an infection in the navel due to a premature birth. For the first week Rowena nursed Beebo inside by the stove, using a stomach tube to feed him, as he couldn't even lift his head, let alone suck milk from a bottle. Then when he was able to suck and maintain his body temperature he could go outside, with bottles of milk.That meant a lot less work, as it is much more time consuming than a baby, and that is saying something.....
It is very difficult to get a calf which has been separated from it's mother, back to suckling from her, but Rowena is very proud of the fact that she did it through lots of patience and love, and co-operation from Socks, the mum.
Beebo also had a wound on his chest which was aggravated by Socks licking it and causing it to bleed. So Beebo sported bandages and a T shirt or sweat shirt in an attempt to protect the wound. And it worked. By then he needed the wound dressed, and being checked on daily. Whenever we moved the cows, we took Beebo on the farmbike, as he could only walk a few steps, whereas the other calves born weeks after him were running and jumping about.
Then other surprises arrived....these ones we anticipated more, but they were a surprise in that they were a result of the neighbour's bull jumping the fence months ago. So while we had only planned for the one calf from Francie, Moonshine , who was born in April, we now have 5!! All the others are healthy and happy, beautiful calves.
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Although the season started slowly in November we have been very busy ever since. In December we even managed to get to the West Coast and Rowena celebrated "53". Being 53 years old, and being born in 1953. So she went cave rafting in Charleston and now recommends it to all. A wonderful adventure, but not too challenging.
Our Christmas tree was brightened up with lovely hand made Christmas cards from Japan. A group of children coming in March to study English sent us cards with photos of themselves....they were so lovely we decided to decorate the tree with them.
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I enjoyed very much! Thank you for everything. 15_Dec_06
Aya wove this beatuful scarf for her crieation!
Another addition was angels
made from wool....Emiko and Rowena tried making them with carded wool
and found them great fun. Emiko was on her second visit here: last time
she wove a wall hanging.
The woolcrafts are going well, with Rowena having to sell samples, as
she cannot keep up with the demand for hats, scarves, socks and jerseys,
made from our beloved Gotland sheep and alpacas Mystery and Felichios.
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We are now planning for our winter holiday.....a holiday with a difference. In Max's yacht Sunshine, we intend to sail to Vanuatu, for three months! Max of course has been around the world in her, plus some, but for Rowena it is the first off-shore sailing, and a big thrill. Another friend Sam will be coming with us. So there are lots of preparations to be done.
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Our animals are all happy and have enjoyed the abundant grass which the cold and wet summer provided. Our fruit trees have done brilliantly, and we are storing apples, and have experimented with drying fruit for the first time. Many plums were bottled, and jam....apple rhubarb and ginger, and elderberry and apple....filling the kitchen with delicious smells and wonderful looking jars on the shelves.
Only now in Late February, has the weather given us a few bright days.
As always many interesting guests have visited, and we thoroughly enjoy their company.
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Norio made Soba noodles.
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Her name is Moonlight.
There were a couple of false alarms, so we both spent a few hours each on the hillside under the light of the full moon, keeping Francie company. This morning ( Good Friday of Easter) at 7 in the morning we both shot out of bed when we heard her bellow. Grabbing up a rope and bucket etc, we found Francie half way up the slope at the back of the house, with a beautiful calf just born. She licked it all over and we held our breath while it tottered to standing, and gave its first wavery moo.
Because Francie couldn't get to the water trough, until the calf was strong enough to follow her, I took her buckets of water which she guzzled down in a few seconds. Now they are both at the top of the slope, in the shade of the pine trees, and near enough to the troughs for Francie to get a drink when she needs it.