Raithen's Journal

So you'll get the picspam today!

I WANTED to post this with the keywords post yesterday: ( this is how we ushered in the new year )

and for jenlev ( some of the quail in our barn )

and ( a JJ portrait )

( Miss Mew is STILL our cat, and guarding her food (which is in the manger just behind her) )

and finally, ( Miss Indy )

A beautiful soaking rain today, which will green things up nicely and which I can't complain about: it is still mild and in a semi-arid climate, one should never ever complain about rain.

And 2 years ago today, I woke up to a mare squirting milk all over her legs. I fed her, because Mom had a broken arm. And we mused that the baby JJ (she already had a name, even though we didn't know her sex - I'd been calling her Juno Junior in utero for months, and when we were discussing possible barn names, Dad suggested JJ ;) would likely make an appearance soon. That night, I checked Juno at 8:45 PM, and made sure she was comfortable in her sheltered 12x24' pipe pen foaling stall. All was calm, so I went over to my neighbor D's place to watch The West Wing, as was a weekly habit. After the show ended, D and I were talking about Juno and the squirting milk and he was saying that it didn't necessarily mean she would deliver soon.

At which point, I glanced out the window to see Dad RUNNING over -- I said to D "FOAL!" and I jammed my feet into my boots (I'm sure I didn't tie them). I don't remember the trip back through the gates to the barn -- I think I must have teleported. I DO remember arriving to see the last of baby JJ pushed out of the womb.

Apparently at 10PM, Mom checked the close circuit camera to Juno's stall, and Juno was lying on her side, stiff as a board - Mom thought she was dead, yelled "problem at the barn!" to Dad and they raced out. After realizing Juno was ok - just in the final stages of labor, Dad came running to get me, as they knew how important being there was.

And so, JJ arrived, and Juno loved her and licked her, and I imprinted her, and Shaughnessy (in the stall next door) was jealous and bopped me on the head as I walked past and let herself out of her stall to see better. And then Juno wouldn't allow JJ to nurse, even though JJ was feisty and strong and kept trying, and a long night ensued, culminating in a vet visit and tranqs and pain meds because Juno had Too. Much. Milk. for comfort. And JJ got colostrom, and by the end of the day, Juno was allowing her to nurse. And so arrived Juno's Grand Legacy, my sweetie!

Happy Birthday, JJ!!
( baby picture! )

( Gigantic JJ and Sleepy Shaughns and brand new lambs! )

Ok, out to check on the little boy born this morning, to make sure he is getting FOOD! And to make sure there are no new lambs on the ground. I love this time of year. It is crazy busy, but So. Much. Fun. ;).