January came complete with winter snows and we were reduced to walking the dogs and planning for spring. To relieve the boredom, I finally painted the interior of the house changing it from the original peach colour, the previous owners had, to a green which we prefer.
February was uneventful taking us into March and lambing season. We had 4 ewes and 3 rams born and one stillborn. All the ewes had twins except for two ewes who did not conceive this year.
Our only black lamb went to a new flock as a breeding ram and in exchange I purchased two black ewes. This will allow me to increase the number of black lambs we will produce in 2021.
March also brought the pandemic changing how we all live our daily lives. The farm is truly a blessing as our normal farm activates continued unchanged. A field was tilled and reseeded. The garden was planted and tended. The animals had to be fed and tended to daily. The dogs had to be walked and puppies were born and raised.
We experienced our roads and highways with no traffic on them and the shock of large grocery stores with empty shelves for the first time in my life. My father died in April, a year after my mother but this time we, as a family, were unable to come together and mourn our loss.
My major farm project for the year, after putting it off for more years that I care to mention, was installing underground power and water to all the barns and coop. For ten years water has been delivered by garden hoses and power by extension cords. I picked the week that my brother came over for a visit to rent a trencher and proceeded to dig up 300 to 400 feet of ground. In three days all the lines were put in, four animal watering stations were installed and a new yard light was functioning. The one thing I failed to do was photograph the project while it was underway.
The other excitement this year (really slow year) was our Damson tree produced the first real crop of fruit. I first tasted my mother-in-law's Damson jam when I lived in Newfoundland and it became one of my all-time favorite jams. Marva's father brought out 12 Damson seedlings from Newfoundland years ago. From the 12 originals, 2 have survived deer, drought and goats growing into mature trees.
The other excitement this year (really slow year) was our Damson tree produced the first real crop of fruit. I first tasted my mother-in-law's Damson jam when I lived in Newfoundland and it became one of my all-time favorite jams. Marva's father brought out 12 Damson seedlings from Newfoundland years ago. From the 12 originals, 2 have survived deer, drought and goats growing into mature trees.
While recognizing our blessings, I must admit the Covid19 thing has become really old. We miss seeing getting together family & friends and sharing what we have with each other. As we look forward to 2021 we hope that family visits and travel will soon be back on the menu.