Spring Is In The Air

If there is one sure sign that Spring is on its way - it's lambing season. While many lambs are now coming on the scene in the last remnants of winter the cutest ones are coming along now. What a truly rural adventure to be around for lambing. Well, hard to escape when you live on the doorstep of a farm and are surrounded by sheep, sheep and more sheep.

But, it wasn't here that I got to snap the little cuties in their very early days - it was on my sister's vineyard. Within three days two sets of twins were born and I wanted to capture them while the mothers were still close to their little ones and the lambs wandered around like proverbial sheep!!!!

Aren't they just the cutest little fellows. Apparently the first set are called Bo and Peep. Not PC to tell you the names of the second set as it really refers to their future.

What we all find amazing about any of these and other animals born onto the land is that they come out knowing EXACTLY what to do. They stand, drink, sleep and sit with no lengthy lessons from Mum. So what's with our kids. Years of training and we still don't get it right.

Let's not finish the astonishment with the innate understanding of the newborns. How about Mum? No screaming for help, no drugs, no 'supporters' - just the biggest poop she's ever done and look what came out. Apparently the ewes about to give birth quietly separate themselves from the others and wait for Nature to take her course. On the other hand, when it's out turn to bring new life into the country we all know that we are the ONLY person that has ever given birth and ever will - so, treat me with all the attention I deserve and don't mess with me because it could be dangerous.

THE BEST......beautiful babies, well behaved and doting mothers just getting on with it.

THE WORST.....not being able to get close enough to really capture the natural beauty. Let me tell you no-one messes with a new mother sheep.

I'M LEARNING.....that we could learn alot about no fuss birth and parenting from these supposed stupid animals. Only thing I don't want to learn is how to eat the placenta afterwards. Yukk - puts a whole new spin on sausages.