SageHill Ranch Journal

[Ridgetop]

Same here. It may sound funny to hear us calling a number or sweet talking one, but it saves time. My grandkids sometimes name them. Having them be white makes it easier to point to any sheep when they ask "Where is my beeyootiful Rainbow Fairy?" The numbers are necessary for registration and referring to them by number makes it easier for paperwork and recognition.

 

[SageHill]

Happy happy morning here we got another new one. So that's 3 lambs this month. Two this week.
Two ewe lambs and a ram lamb.
The ram lamb is small. I'm not sure if it's his markings or if I see him as being "slow". I supplemented last night ~2 oz and this morning about 1 oz. It's not like he doesn't move around - he does, and he did go out into the pasture with the flock. Does a little lamb bounce around, then hangs around mom and/or lays down. All things seem normal - eating, eliminating, he will call for mom - but not much. The ewe, Stripe is a good mom doing all the mom stuff - stand for feeding, nuzzling and all. I'll keep a watch - could just be he's small and maybe a little slow.
The new lamb is cute - aren't they all. She's all white, no name so far. She's good sized, mama is doing great.
Here she is

Yesterday I put a big dent in the tomato pile! I made ketchup. A first for me
to make. It tuned out AWESOME. Oh lordy I could eat it with a spoon it's so good. I pulled the
recipe out of the USDA Home Canning book. I halved the recipe because I didn't have enough other stuff
to make a full recipe. I ended up with 8 half pints - ohhhh soooo good. I haven't canned for a couple years, forgot how much fun it was. Even if this took half the day or so.
With any good luck I may have 1 or 2 more ewes to lamb - but I think it will be awhile if they do. Time will tell.
PS -- Smile is still the cutest lamb ever - I actually am charging the battery for my real camera <GASP>! There may be pics -- damn wish we had greenery, it's the brown time of year.

 

[Mini Horses]

WHERE IS NEW LAMB PICTURE????

you're breaking the rules .... I'm surprised Obi let you out with no camera, surely he's watching it like the others.

Aha...posting together

 

[Mini Horses]

That's a lovely lamb...really large, too. Love how adoringly mom is looking at her . She looks to be a very nice ewe, sizeable -- hasn't missed a meal

 

[SageHill]

WHERE IS NEW LAMB PICTURE????

you're breaking the rules .... I'm surprised Obi let you out with no camera, surely he's watching it like the others.

Aha...posting together

HA --

 

[Baymule]

Congratulations on the beautiful ewe lamb!

@Mini Horses did not take her patience pill this morning!

 

[SageHill]

Warning - foto flood -- Smile (2 weeks old today) and the ram lamb born Tues/Wed

Why is she so darned cute?? It might just be me, but she's got personality.
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He's small -- cute markings - his markings make his expression ?soft?
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And the obligatory playing in the aisle. New lamb is with her mama.

 

[Ridgetop]

Obi's whiskery face cracks me up. I keep expecting his face to be smooth and all those whiskers make me smile.

When making catsup or fruit butters, here is a good trick so you don't have to stand over the hot stove stirring as it cooks down. After bring everything to a boil and making the ingredient are all cooked together pour the liquid into a large baking pan (9x13) at 275-300 degrees. Stir every half hour until it has cooked down and is thick. It will take several hours but you don't have to stand around stirring it and you can get on with more canning or prep while it is in the oven. once it is the consistency you want, pour the hot mixture into canning jars and follow canning directions. Usually, hot water bath is enough for fruit butters and catsup since the acid:sugar ratio doesn't need pressure canning.

 

[farmerjan]

Also, freeze the tomatoes first... when they thaw, alot of the liquid (water) will pour off and you can save it for soups or something... but the tomatoes will also cook down alot faster because there is not so much "water" in them... and I use the crock pot/slow cooker for things that need to be cooked down... they don't burn/scorch that way.

 

[SageHill]

@Ridgetop & @farmerjan - thanks for those tips!! I'll put them to good use.
When I was searching around for a recipe I was looking for one that I wouldn't have to peel the tomatoes. I knew better - that when canning the peels should be removed and I did, but what I also found was save the skins, pop them in an oven to dry out then throw them in a blender to powder-ize them and use that to season salads and such.