Comic - and other

Comic - and other - relief

Today dawned sunny - a bit more snow on the ground and all the slush turned to ice - but sunny. I wasn't expecting that and didn't realize how much I needed it after yesterday's winter storm and lambing worries. The lambing worries were all for naught, of course, but were soon replaced with lamb worries. Tiny little Bloom (shoot; I still haven't weighed them!) wasn't as energetic and go-getting as her bigger brother Bittersweet, who found the faucet quickly and often. I watched her bump around for quite awhile before deciding I'd feel better knowing she had some warm colostrum in her tummy, but even when I got a teat in her mouth she didn't suck all that eagerly. I assisted a couple more times last evening with even less success, so finally gave her a few cc's of NutriDrench and went to bed. I have to admit I was bracing myself for the worst when I went down to do chores this morning. The twins were curled up in the straw under the heat lamp, heads up at my approach (first good sign). Bittersweet hopped up and stretched; Bloom took her sweet time but finally got up and stretched as well (second good sign). Then I rejoiced as she toddled over and latched on for a good long breakfast!

I know, I know, it's silly to worry about Shetlands; they are such a tough and hardy breed. It's just that this precocious dude -

set the bar very high for vigor this year. And it's amazing how huge he looks compared to the twins even though he's just two days older. Yes, he's a singleton, but out of a very petite first-time mother.

Would you like brown, pale, or speckled?