Little girls and lambs

Here is Yoda, the perpetrator. Nancy said that this is his Lyle Lovett look, must have wooed all the girls with this.

Yesterday was another day spent with granddaughters. I've been doing a lot more of that lately. It is my commitment to actually take time for important things, to enjoy my "retirement" years, and not to work every single minute, as I am wont to do. (love that phrase, "wont to do")
Anyway, my friend Sheila was having a sheep shearing day at her farm, and she lives 20 miles over hill and dale, so I promised the girls we would go. And they have been asking about it all week.
One thing in particular made this a very appealing event......little lambs. Ten of them.



Which is a story in itself. Sheila may tell this story on her blog, someday, but since she is swamped with life at this point, and she hasn't blogged in weeks......... and I am learning to take it slower, I will tell you about it here. It is a pretty funny story.
Two years ago, she had this little black lamb, and she had to bottle feed him. I didn't know this, but sometimes ewes just don't make great mothers, and his wasn't. So Sheila and Nancy bottle fed him, kept him in the house.......he was SO tiny. And when she came to the studio, or anywhere she could bring him, she did. With diapers on him. He would wander around the studio, tripping over things, baa-ing loudly in every room. They called him Yoda.
Well, he did grow up, he still isn't very big, but he thrived.
And last year, when the shearer came, he tied his testicles. Apparently, if they tie them, the cords die, and they are thus neutered.
But last autumn, Nancy looked out the window one fine day, and noticed that little Yoda was trying to be amorous with sheep that were twice his size.
So they called the vet, who came and said that one testicle did look somewhat suspicious, but she still thought that the probability was very, very miniscule. But just to be on the safe side, they gave the "morning after pill" to one ewe that pregnancy would be disastrous for.
They still didn't really think anything of this. Until several weeks ago. And it became very apparent that one ewe was producing milk, getting ready to give birth. Sheila called me in a panic. She told me all the reasons she had decided last year NOT to have lambs every spring, that the sheep themselves were enough work in her life.
Then another sheep's udder started to fill, and another.
And another.
Yup, Yoda, little Yoda, got them all. Everyone who could get pregnant, except the one they gave the pill to, had a little lamb.
Which is why Ava and Gabby were so excited to go to Sheila's yesterday.
We had a great day. The weather was outstanding, warm and sunny, calm. The shearer, Fred, who has been doing this for 40+ years came about noon. The girls had a wonderful time, as only little girls can on a spring day outside on the farm. Everyone started calling Gabby the "sheep whisperer". It amazed me, and pleased me, very much, that they were so contented, without toys, without any concern whatever for sheep manure, or getting dirty.
Proof positive that kids are kids, they don't need computers, electronics, game boys, or any of that stuff 24/7. They are happiest when they are making up stuff of their own, in a world that is interesting all by itself.