LED Floodlights

I remember the lambing shed that we used to have on the farm. Poorly lit, it used to be a nightmare to do the checks at night, dad had a big blue torch that we used to use and a few bulbs dotted here and there. 

Things have moved on a lot in resent years. These LED rechargeable floodlights are a real game changer for somewhere without power. 

 A couple of these would light up any shed and they seem to last for ages. The only disadvantage is that when they run low on charge they suddenly turn themselves off that can come as a big of a shock when you're not expecting it. 

The magnetic base on them works amazingly as well, the picture above shows one light pointing upwards, plenty for me to work by. 

Anyone else use a rechargeable flood light?

Pictures With Blinkers

The picture below is a great example of looking at a photo and not knowing what is going on in the rest of the scene. 

Two happy girls sat on a bag of corn watching what's going on.

Just out of shot is their dad and granddad dragging a dead sheep out of the shed while they watch onwards!

You can't buy an upbringing like this!

Homestead Outlaws?

I watched a video this morning from one of my favourite YouTube Channels American Homestead (Just so you know I had the name of my place years before).

The video is on "Homestead Outlaws" in America and the things that you can do that can class yourself as an outlaw all in the name of self sufficiency, a good video to watch if you've got the time. 

The rules over here in the UK are quite different but there are still many things we can do, either knowingly or not, to be classed as outside the law. In fact after watching this video I'd say that we have many minor rules that make less sense over here and are pretty easy to break.

Some of the rules that are things like feeding your chickens or pigs kitchen scraps and animal paperwork rules, home meat slaughter and butchery, to name just a few.

Oh course we've never broken a single rule over here (*cough *cough), but what rule annoys you the most where you live? Do you think there is too much regulation in these modern times?

The Egg And I

Look a non sheep post!

I'm fairly sure I'm going to be pretty late to the party with this one but I picked up Betty Macdonald's book "The Egg And I" from the library the other day and I thought it was brilliant.

It always amazes me that I can read a book written in the forties and it not feel dated. 

This book made me properly laugh out loud with all her tales of life in rural North West America, living without power or running water. The antidotes about the Kettles and their other neighbours are brilliant and she writes in a way that makes you hear their voices and I should imagine the beginning of the stereotypical "redneck". 

I just can't believe I'd never heard about her before. Apparently they've made films about it and there's even fan websites on-line. 

Here is a great quote to give a taste of how she writes:

"The rooster ... doesn't give a damn if you take every egg in the place and play handball. He doesn't care if the chicken house is knee-deep in weasels and blood. He just flicks a speck from his lapel and continues to stroll around, stepping daintily over the lifeless but still warm body of a former mistress, his lustful eye appraising the leg and breast of another conquest"

 Who else has read her books and why have I only just found out about them!?!

I'm always keen for recommendations for books if anyone has any, just leave me a comment (I'm a bit of a book worm when I get the chance).

Sheep Prolapse

Ah the joys of spring, 

Crisp mornings, 

The warm afternoons, 

The lambs bleating, 

The sheep trying to push her own insides out. 

Makes you glad to be alive.

It's the second sheep to prolapse now so I'm a little worried. They don't seem too fat so I'm not sure what's causing it really. I managed to push it all back inside her, let her have a good wee (as they can't when it's all pushed out) and fix a harness on to her.

The harness or trusses give the ewe some extra support and help to keep things where they should be, although it can still pop out now and again. The one in the picture above had damaged her insides slightly (or reed as we call it) so I'll keep a close eye on her now and make sure she gets any medicine she needs. 

The lambs keep turning up though we've had another double and two more singles so far. Pretty poor average (two lambs a sheep would be perfect). But all healthy and happy and lambed themselves so that's all that matters.