Babies!

A few weeks ago, I visited Wimpole Farms which is about an hour from here in Cambridgeshire.  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the animals in the working farm - petting goats, getting licked by cows and hearing the familiar sounds of ducks and geese.  While I was there, I noticed that the farm advertised for  a lambing time in March.  I took note of that because well, who can resist the opportunity to see some lambs up close and personal?

A few years ago, my mom and I took part in a Woman's Lambing weekend at the Heifer Ranch in Arkansas.  It is probably one of my favorite memories.  Mom and I watched as new born kids took their first steps and we watched a sheep give birth to twin lambs while the sheep dog stood close by barking off anyone who dared to get too close.  We bottle fed the kids who climbed all over us and helped to clean up the lambs umbilical cords and put numbers on them so that they would not get separated from their mothers.  I got to hold and cuddle kids and lambs that were just days old, and to do all this with my mom by my side was truly heartwarming.

I didn't have my mom with me to go see the lambs, but I was thrilled when two dear friends, Charlotte and Gemma said they'd love to go as well.  It was the first day for "Lambing Time," so I was a bit nervous that perhaps there wouldn't be any, but as we were purchasing our tickets, the volunteers told us there were all sorts of babies to see!

Upon first entry into the barn, we saw four kids only days old.  Two were napping, one was milking from his mom and one was trying to leap onto anything in sight.  We saw chicks who followed our fingers back and forth along the glass to their cage.  The piglets, bright pink, made snorting and squeaking noises while scrounging for food.  Staying in character as the famous "Donkey" of Winnie the Pooh, the pair of donkeys looked utterly depressed and stayed just out of reach to avoid any attention.

Napping Kids

Playing with the chicks

Then, we went into the special lamb tent where moms and their brand new babies were in their own individual pens.  In this way, the moms and babies get to bond without the worry of what other sheep might do to them.  I had already let out my fair share of "awwws," but the lamb tent just about took all of the ones that I had.  They were just beautiful!  Some were white, some were brown, some were jet black.  Their lanky legs looked so awkward as they tried to walk on their brand new legs.  They nuzzled close to their moms who seemed to enjoy the snuggle time.  Although I was not able to touch them, one of the handlers held a two-day old up close to us so that we could get a good look at him.  It was hard to resist the urge to cuddle the little creatures!

I reluctantly left the lamb tent only to discover more beautiful sheep whom I assume will be delivering any day now, along with cows of all shapes and sizes.  We visited some more goats and got to pet some rabbits before a stop in the big barn.  When I went to the barn several weeks ago, I stayed in this big barn for quite some time visiting with two young calves.  Those two calves were still there and had only grown a little.  They had not outgrown the desire for some attention though and were eager for a good scratching and enjoyed licking some salt off my hands.

Charlotte, giving milking a go

Gemma, driving the tractor

It was only the start to a great day, of which I'll tell you more about tomorrow, but I couldn't have been happier being able to see so many baby animals, so many signs of a spring on the verge of appearing!