The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Mammyshaz on March 09, 2013, 09:30:53 pm

Title: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: Mammyshaz on March 09, 2013, 09:30:53 pm
Only for two days... But the experience was fantastic and the farmeress and her OH could not have been more welcoming.
I shadowed both for two days over a very busy period and being a townie who hasn't ever came up close and personal with livestock, their patience was second to none!
From early mornings through to late evenings the days were busy checking sheep and cows and pigs. The weather was not kind but I felt reasonably prepared.. Alas, in those hills you are never prepared enough... Lesson learned  :eyelashes:
Despite the business, I was taken everywhere and got a real sense of how a farming life is.

But there were several dozy townie moments I really cannot believe I could think such stupid things   ::)....

A sheep check on quads was to encounter a steep drop so 'stay in low gear'.Well we arrived at The Drop, stopped and  :o Down there!! 90o of sheer drop.   My face was a picture.
And so was hers when she realised I thought we were actually going to ride down it.  :roflanim:
 The drop framed  the beautiful view she had gone out of her way to show me,  we had already gone down the little metre of steep drop she had warned me of. 

On arrival yesterday morning farmer got a quad and trailer and pointed me in the direction of ewe and two
newborns. 'pop her in the trailer with them and bring them back'.
Who?! ME!  :o. Well,  this dozy townie tried to work out how the hell she was going to lift a ewe almost her height and twice her weight into a trailer as high as her shoulders  ??? 
After studying my shocked face, farmer showed me the trailer tail drops and if I place her lambs in then ewe will follow.

Glad to say it went exactly as he said it would  :relief:

There were other unbelievably townie happenings over the two days but I'll not embarrass myself anymore.

Well I thoroughly enjoyed myself, learned lots, oohhed and aahhhhed  over the youngsters and made friends with little Dot  :love:  got totally in the way, made work take twice as long as normal, and gave them no peace.
I dont know whether its their pity on me for thinking i could possibly consider such a lifestyle or their glutton for punishment but can  you believe farmeress and farmer have agreed to have me again next week  :excited:

Thank you so, so much. You know whom you are  ;)   :-*





Title: Re: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: SteveHants on March 09, 2013, 10:07:09 pm

After studying my shocked face, farmer showed me the trailer tail drops and if I place her lambs in then ewe will follow.......



Sometimes...  ;D
Title: Re: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: Mammyshaz on March 09, 2013, 10:11:10 pm
 He assured me SHE would. The sign of a good farmer who knows the nature of his girls  ;)
 


An extra emotio jumped in. Now erased
Title: Re: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: SallyintNorth on March 10, 2013, 01:17:32 am
Townies who want to learn we have any amount of time for  :-*

And you are already being a big help :thumbsup:

We missed you today  ;)

(And yes I am still laughing at your thinking we were quadding down the cliff into the gorge :roflanim:)

And I am so sorry I didn't realise how cold you were getting on the first day  :o  We have any amount of fleeces and jumpers we could have swamped you in :hug:.  Next time you're uncomfortable please just say!
Title: Re: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: sokel on March 10, 2013, 07:49:56 am
Sounds like you had a good time  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: Rosemary on March 10, 2013, 09:04:20 am
Fab place, fab people  :love:
Title: Re: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: SallyintNorth on March 10, 2013, 10:40:15 am
Fab place, fab people  :love:
Right back atcha, hun  :-*
Title: Re: Finally got my feet onto a farm
Post by: Bionic on March 10, 2013, 10:44:11 am
Mammyshaz, sounds as if you had a great time. Well done Sally  :thumbsup: