Living in the Alps means that we have a fair bit of snow and I suppose that by now everyone should be used to it.

But when we had almost 30 inches in 24 hours even the dogs were at a loss.

Then the unimaginable happened. Roads coudn’t be cleared fast enough, barn roofs collapsed (not ours) and schools and offices were closed.

And then there was only one thing left to do…get out there and shovel.

And believe it or not the kids actually argued over who got to go first..

A farm, like all firms needs a good manager. Someone who’s not afraid to take charge.

Someone dependable, who is passionate about their work.

Someone who has eyes everywhere and doesn’t mind the over-time.

Someone who’s not afraid of responsability

and who gets on well with the personnel.

Meet Elfie, second-in-command and queen of the sheep barn.

Not all our new arrivals are woolly. This little chap was born a couple of weeks ago and apparently is set to become the next hunting dog extraordinaire.

As an Ariegeois bloodhound, the onerous and delicate task of accompanying the various hunters on the farm rests squarely upon his shoulders.

I don’t think he has quite yet understood the burdern of his responsabilities, but I suppose he has until the Autumn to get used to the idea…

and maybe by then, he’ll manage to keep those eyes open.

The sheep barn has been transformed into an emergency maternity ward, with the lambs going through the same routine as any other baby. When they are born, they have their umbilical cord disinfected..

and if their mother doesn’t have enough milk..

then they are given a bottle by a loving hand.

There is (almost) around the clock surveillance…

And should a problem arise..

…you can always count on another experienced member of staff to give their valued opinion.

If you’re ever at a loss about what to do in 22 inches of snow, then here’s some advice:

Step 1: Climb onto garden table

Step 2:  Lauch yourself off

Step 3: Repeat all afternoon

Have a good weekend!

When this little fellow was born my husband immediately christened him Pocket lamb, or Agneau de Poche as the French like to say. He weighed in at about a kilo

- which I suppose makes him the equivalent of a box of sugar on legs.

I don’t know what it is about lambing that always draws me back to this blog.

Something seems to pull me up to the sheep barn around this time every year and then drags me back down to the computer.

There doesn’t seem to be any getting away from it.

So no promises for a blogging come-back, but maybe a few posts about some very cute new arrivals.

There’s still plenty of action going on inside the sheep barn at the moment. We now have about 220 lambs (and counting) and of course their 270 mothers.

Which keeps my husband and the dogs busy for most of the day and evening.

But should they feel like some light entertainment, they need only step outside to watch the latest developments in downhill skiing. Yet another 7 inches of snow has turned the field into the perfect piste and the kids ski until they’ve had enough of walking back up (we haven’t got round to putting in a chair-lift yet).

I suppose if one day we decide that there is no future in sheep farming, we can always open a ski resort. Or maybe some sort of tourist activity along the lines of  ‘skiing à la ferme’.

Any takers?

I’ve often wondered who has the most fun in the snow – the dogs or the children. A couple of weeks ago we had about 15 inches and while the kids went sledging in the fields the dogs managed to get some play time in too.

The snow stuck to their rear ends in big bobbles and made them heavy enough for invitations to weight watchers.

But there was no way that a bit of ice was going to slow them down.

Dora, our 6 month old Border Collier was understandably hesitant at her first foray into Artic conditions.

but that lasted all of twenty seconds.

And by the end of the afternoon, it wasn’t only the dogs and kids who had developed a taste for the powdery stuff..

Have a good weekend everyone!

Well hello there!

I know, it’s been a while. No excuses, except to say that I haven’t been able to make blogging a priority recently. Thanks to all of those who have written, or commented about my lack of posts – you are very patient my friends!

It’s that time of year again when my farmer goes on a long holiday in the sheep barn with 270 other females. His midwife skills are as much in demand as ever.

This time I’ll keep you posted. I promise.

Or at least I’ll try