'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Saturday 11 September 2010

Lamb 4


Well, sadly, Lamb has died. Without her mother's colostrum in the first day of life, and the rain yesterday, the odds were always against her, but I did my best. I really thought she had a good chance the way she was drinking last night and this morning. I tried to make sure she didn't get too much too quickly, and she had the dog's heated pad to keep her warm. Perhaps I should have made sure she couldn't get out of her box. She may have slept some of the night on the lino ... perhaps if I'd put the dog-coat on her ... I could have slept on the stretcher in the kitchen, then I would have heard if she'd got up ...

Well, it's all academic now anyway.

Funny how one gets attached to little critter-babies so easily.


6 comments:

  1. I knew I shouldn't have read this post......so sad :o(

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  2. Ahhh a shame. But several shepherds have told me that sheep always have a death wish and it's always a struggle to keep them alive. I would have felt just like you do though!

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  3. Ah, that's sad. But you did your best and the lamb had some warmth and comfort in its short life.

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  4. Oh dear. For all my male realism I too have felt a real pang of sadness. It never really occurred to me that you wouldn't succeed.

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  5. I missed a few days and got the whole lamb story at once. I didn't like the ending. Now what? I bury my cats in the back yard, but what do you do with a lamb? Probably have to dig a larger hole.

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  6. Thanks everyone. Lamb is buried under the lemon tree with Pippin and Mikey and the chook.

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