Cooks Corner

I did it again, or maybe I didn’t do it

I  got three more lambs. I keep saying I am done, but I know better and so does everyone that knows me: I can’t resist raising bum lambs. I raised one last fall and it went to a great home, and now I have three more to raise. They are, of course, a total cuteness overload. 

Two of them are from one ewe that sadly died just a few days after giving birth. The other one, the “midget,” is one of a set of twins from a first time ewe that just didn’t have enough milk for two. They are all bucks, or rams, or boys, whichever your preference is. The little one is about half the size of the other two and gave me a scare Monday night. 

They were all doing so well, they were taking bottles well and nursing strong, being active and alert, but then on Monday afternoon I noticed that Tiny was a little lethargic and when I fed them, he didn’t want to nurse. A little later, when I checked, he was out flat, which is not a good thing. He seemed a little cold and, given I left the windows in the house open while I went for a haircut, I thought maybe he got chilled. I placed him on a heating pad and he was soon warm again, but still showed no interest in eating — in fact, not a lot of interest in life. Since lambs can die for seemingly no reason, I was very concerned by then. I built a pen for the two bigger ones, who really needed more space and moved the playpen into the living room for Tiny. 

After watching for a bit, I decided that he was likely constipated, so out came my phone and I started looking for advice on what to do with a constipated lamb. There are some things that can help resolve it, but for immediate relief an enema is the top suggestion — great!!!!!

I have never given anything an enema, much less a tiny lamb. Well, thank goodness for Google. I looked it up and found not only written instructions (which I prefer), but several videos, too, so I took the plunge and mixed up some warm, soapy water and used a bubble syringe (that I can guarantee that Rick will never use to wash out his ears again) and, with more than a little trepidation, I inserted and gently pushed…. When I released, stuck poop came out like a machine gun. The lamb rested a while longer and then was asking for food. 

He is still alive this Tuesday morning. I am optimistic, although cautiously so, that maybe he is going to be all right. He was hungry this morning and continues to be hungry, so I guess things are moving normally now, but only time will tell. 

Harvest Sandwich Special

1 ½ cup process cheese cubes

½ cup light cream

6 slices process cheese

6 slices toast

6 tomato slices

6 poached eggs 

6 slices cooked bacon, or could use ham

Put Cheese cubes and cream in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly to blend. Keep it hot. Lay thin cheese slices on toast and brown to brown lightly, top with tomato and then with hot egg. pour on cheese sauce; add bacon. Serve at once.