The rest of the story.

Yesterday, had to go to L.R. for a meeting and got back home about 3:00.  Quickly changed clothes to go out and check on everyone before planning to curl up on the couch for the afternoon.  I was really tired. . . didn't sleep well, trying to find Kay on that mountain all night.  Got out to the pasture where the sheep were grazing and noticed one that was in, can you guess?  Labor.  This time I saw the hooves and tongue sticking out, but nothing much was happening.  Waited for a short time then called Ann, the vet and owner of the sheep.  When she got here, we tried and tried to herd them closer to the house so that we might possibly get the one having a baby into the yard to catch and "pull" the baby.  Finally, Ann suggested that I get a bucket with some grain to entice them.

Got the bucket with grain at the house and by that time, the goats realized what I was doing and they love grain.  Couldn't get out the yard gate because they were mobbing me, but finally got them in the yard and I got out.  The next hurdle was getting past the cows, who by then realized why the goats were so excited.  They also love grain and know what it comes in, so when they saw me they came running.  It's a little more disconcerting when six much larger animals want what you are carrying, but I fended them off and got out to where the sheep were.  

Ann said to hit and rattle the bucket so they would know that I had grain for them.  She said that only the older ones would know what it was, but let me tell you -- sheep talk!  One little bucket -- over 75 sheep that obviously love grain.  I was thinking, easy for you to say, I'm the one holding the bucket!  As soon as they realized what was up, they started heading toward me and I was walking away, gingerly, trying to stay in front of them.  Then I saw him.  Cisco the ram.  Let me say that Cisco has a bit of an attitude if you get too close to him or one of his favorite ewes and you never are quite sure which ones are his favorites.   

Well, things were getting a little dicey and Ann called out for me to drop some grain on the ground to slow them down and just as I turned around to pour some out, Cisco, with his head down was coming at me.  The timing was perfect . . . his head went right in to the bucket.  I couldn't decide who was most fortunate, Cisco, now with a big pile of grain at his feet, or me, being saved by the bucket.

Ann and I tried the rest of the afternoon to catch the ewe.  If you can imagine the two of us following a ewe running around with the baby sticking out, up and down hills and in and out of brush.  Ann said she would get tired and then we could catch her, but we were the ones getting exhausted.  Finally, Ann decided to come back later that evening when the sheep usually go into the barn.  She said the lamb was surely dead by then anyway.  I came in to fix dinner and kept watching her up on the hill still trying to push the baby out.  Then I noticed that she got very still and I thought she must be either exhausted or dead, so I went up to check on her.  She was very tired and I was able to walk her down to the barn and called Ann to come back out.

While I held the ewe down, Ann pulled the baby lamb out and laid it on the ground.  I was still holding her down while Ann went to wash off her hands and get the ewe an aspirin.  Then, under my arm I saw movement.  The little thing's head was swollen from being stuck en route for at least four hours, but it was still alive.  We couldn't believe it.  Nice to have a happy ending isn't it.