The Day We Brought Annabelle Home

Feb
16

It started with an angry rooster.
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They are rooster-less at the sheep farm and I was happy to supply from our overabundance. Couldn’t be Spartacus, of course. Couldn’t be the black and white one we call the mean one. 52 likes the mean one. I almost like the mean one because he’s so mean, he’s interesting. Couldn’t be Floppy, of the flopped-over comb. That one is Morgan’s favorite. So it fell to the big pretty brown one to make the move.

I caught him on the first try and shoved him in the cat carrier. Just call me the Rooster Whisperer.

We drove him through town. I was kinda hoping he’d crow in front of the courthouse, but he just quietly fumed in his cat carrier.
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We arrived at the sheep farm to find Annabelle fresh from her shower, smelling like shampoo and ready for her blow-dry.
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While Annabelle completed her spa treatments, the still-angry rooster disembarked from the cat carrier and a Rhode Island Red hen embarked for her own journey in trade back to our farm.
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The Suffolk ram said his goodbyes to the little red hen by the truck.
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(Above, our new hen.)

The last time we saw our rooster, he was parading about on a hillside with the legion of hens at the sheep farm. Having discovered he had arrived at rooster heaven in the land of all hens, he forgot about being angry. And me. He forgot all about me. That fast. To think, I hatched him from an egg…… And that’s the thanks I get. (SOB)

After a briefing in the bottle feeding schedule and other assorted necessities, Annabelle was loaded up in yet another cat carrier.
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She complained at first when the truck started moving, then she got quiet. I let her suck on my finger a little bit, but she really wanted a bottle. I unloaded her on our big front porch and fed her right away, to comfort her and to make her feel at home, and because she bit my finger.
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She pulled so hard when she started sucking the bottle, I dropped it. I didn’t expect her to pull so hard. I keep a firm grip on it now.

Then Annabelle met the Giant Puppy.
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It was love at first sight for Coco.

Annabelle’s reaction was calm. I love that about sheep. They are so laidback. The goats can get annoyed with the Giant Puppy sometimes. The Giant Puppy is a little too exuberant for them. Annabelle just carried on, exploring the porch. She didn’t even mind when Coco tried to get her bottle. (We didn’t let that happen. My, but Coco would like to drink her bottle, let me tell you.)

Then Annabelle checked out the goat yard from her position high above it.
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I took her to meet Clover in person.
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I took her inside the goat yard and everybody sniffed everybody else’s bottoms and deemed one another satisfactory.

Next Annabelle met the chickens.
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She saw one she recognized.
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This is the little red hen we brought home from the sheep farm. There was quite a bit of kafluffling the first day as the little red hen found out what it was like to share quarters with roosters. She laid an egg for me right away. I’m going to have her hold workshops to teach the other hens what to do. I love her already.

Then baby Annabelle came back to the porch. I’m not ready to leave her with the goats yet. She’s so little and Clover is so…..Clover. So unpredictable, so superior, so bossy. Annabelle got too near her (empty!) food dish and Clover chased her around the dog house in the night pen. (I hate to think of what would have happened if there had been a cookie involved.) I think I’d better let Annabelle put a few more pounds on her before I leave her to Clover’s devices.

And I like having Annabelle closeby where I can check on her. Step outside to see her. Look out the window. When I go onto the porch, Annabelle jumps up and scampers to me, throws herself in my arms. From the porch, she can survey the farm and the goats and the chickens and dream of the day she is a big sheep and can chase Clover around the dog house. Sometimes I let her come inside and I rock her. (She snores a little bit.)

We’ve discussed wardrobe.
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Annabelle is very interested in fashion.

On the porch, Coco keeps her company. I’m letting Coco sleep on the porch with her, and stay with her a good bit of the day, too. They have become fast friends and naptime buddies. The Giant Puppy generously shares her porch blankets with her little lamb love.
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And my, oh my……..
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WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT FACE?!

Comments

  1. claycath says:

    I want an Annabelle too! She is just too adorable for words!I love that pic of her and Coco sleeping. :sheep:

  2. Nancy Straka says:

    Such a sweetie! :sheep: I fell instantly love, now all I need to do is talk the hubby into some lambs. I have chickens :duck: already. He’ll say no of course. He wants driving mules.

    Not sure if we would like goats milk. I would love to try some. Have to find it somewhere. I remember my grandma driving out to a farm in Hobart getting goat’s milk and eggs. It was fun going to the country from the city.

    Nosy Nancy here.

  3. Sheila Z says:

    Annabelle is cute, but I think of all your farm animals Coco is my favorite. She reminds me of a farm dog I had many years ago named Ginger. She would sleep with calves the same way Coco is sleeping with that lamb. On a really cold night(the 20 below zero kind where the pipes freeze) the barn cats (at least 20) would all curl up on top of Ginger and I would find them the next morning like that. Ginger would just lift her head among the giant heap of fur and grin at me. She wouldn’t move, the look she gave me said, “Shhh, Cats are sleeping. Would you mind starting the milking without out me while we wait for breakfast in bed this morning, it’s kinda cold out there.”

  4. Runningtrails says:

    Annabelle is just adorable! That’s such a cute picture of them sleeping together. Love that Coco!

  5. Traci Best says:

    Oh MERCY she is precious! I would get nothing done at all with her to entertain me! What a doll!
    Traci

  6. CindyP says:

    Annabelle’s just adorable!! She’s going to fit right into your farm… and I’m sure she will be a lover of cookies!

  7. Jan @ Greensboro Daily Photo says:

    How fun to have a new animal on the farm!

    In the 8th photo down, it looks like Annabelle’s tail is not yet docked. Will it get docked?

    Jan
    Greensboro Daily Photo

  8. Suzanne McMinn says:

    Yes, she still has her tail, but it will be docked!

  9. Kathryn says:

    Oh, that face! What a lovely way to start my day.

  10. tillie says:

    100% precious…welcome home annabelle!

  11. CATRAY44 says:

    Thank you, once again, for making my day!

  12. Becky says:

    Such a cute story about bringing Annabelle home.
    Now I want one. Darnit.

  13. Suzanne says:

    She’s so sweet. Enjoy while she’s little.

  14. Snapper119 says:

    That napping picture is TOO MUCH! :sheep:

  15. DragonLady says:

    I could look at Annabelle and Coco pictures all day. However, I must get to work at my real job in order to earn “cookie money” for my crew at home. Have a great week everyone!

  16. Mental P Mama says:

    I want a lamb. Seriously. :sheep:

  17. cgReno says:

    For certain, this just became one of my favorite posts. Annabelle and giant puppy are the best! Of course, giant puppy with anyone, or anything works for me…….i love giant puppy.

  18. MissyinWV says:

    Precious, Precious…I love it!!! Congradulation’s on the addition to your farm family. :sheep:

  19. sam says:

    Annabelle and Coco make a beautiful pair. When does she get her tail docked?

  20. kay says:

    I knew lambs were cute but I had no idea how cute! I’ve been totally caught up in blogs sharing the lamb love. Starting my day with a smile on my face thanks to sweet Annabelle!

  21. Suzette says:

    I think the cuteness is going to do me in! How I LOVE the bond between Annabelle and Coco. How fun!

  22. Whitney says:

    The giant puppy/wee lamb nap picture forced me out of lurking….SO, SO SWEET.

  23. Treasia/TruckersWife says:

    She is just the cutest little thing. To cute for words. I love that last picture, she almost looks like she’s smiling for it.

  24. rebyj says:

    I ADORE reading your blog. I was raised on a farm and now I’m stuck in the city where you’d be lynched if you had a chicken in the yard. So your posts bring back good memories. Your new baby is a doll.
    My elderly parents still have a 40 acre farm with goats, chickens , turkeys and guineas. The guineas were purchased for the goats to keep the tick population down. Works like a charm!

  25. Vera says:

    Annabelle is so cute, but I love the chickens.

  26. Amy says:

    Welcome to the farm, Annabelle!

  27. Nancy in Atlanta says:

    Such beauty! LOVE Coco and Annabelle sleeping together – Coco has taken her right into his heart! I’m sure the new hen laid an egg to show she was happy to be in her new home with lots of boys around. And I agree with Treasia – Annabelle is definitely smiling in the last photo. :happyflower:

  28. Melissa says:

    If wool shrinks when it gets wet, do sheep shrink when you bathe them? I know they do not, but still, a Seinfeld moment here.

  29. Suz in the Tules says:

    :sheep: :sheep: My kids and I raised a ‘bummer’ lamb. We kept her on the service porch in the middle of a very cold winter. EVERYONE loved her, dogs, cats, kids and …me. Whenever she cried, all the dogs would go running to see what was wrong. I bought some baby diapers to put on her and she became a Nintendo lamb. The kids would play computer games with her snoozing on their laps. What sweet little creatures they are. :sheepjump: :sheepjump:
    Suz in the Tules

  30. Carol says:

    Oh my gosh – I’m in love with baby annie the lambie! The cuteness is overflowing this morning!

  31. cndymkr says:

    I’m in love. She is so adorable and sweet looking.

  32. trish says:

    She is a doll. But the most important thing is your new hen LAID AN EGG!!! amazing :hungry: I love the workshop idea.

  33. Leah says:

    I love her!Coco has another to love a protect…so sweet. :heart:

  34. Cece says:

    What sweet, sweet pictures. She is completely adorable.

    Cece

  35. Sue says:

    Just WAY too much cute, woolly-baby adorableness in one day, I can’t cope!!!

  36. Linda says:

    She is just the sweetest thing. I would be rocking her all the time. These pics made my day. Thank You Oh I had no idea they had such long tails before being docked.

  37. Jackie says:

    Awww! That last picture made my heart into a gooey puddle!

  38. Kim says:

    I love this post!! Congrats on your new family additions!!

  39. Tammy says:

    Okay, Annabelle has got to be the sweetest little lambie alive! I want one, but then they grow up…

  40. Dessa says:

    OMG!!! If I lived closer to you, you might have to keep Annabelle under lock & key cuz I don’t know if I could help myself from stealing her away. She. is. ADORABLE!!!! I just want to bury my nose in her neck wool! I can hardly stand it!

  41. Suzy says:

    I recently started following your blog and I am so happy I did. Now I get to watch Annabelle grow up! Of course it might be nice if she stayed a lamb forever. Such a cute she is. Love the pic of her an Coco sleeping on the porch. Thanks for sharing!

  42. Gizmo says:

    Her BATH?!?!? Did I read that correctly??? :sheepjump:

    She’s adorable! When you band her tail, place the band at the bottom of the “V”. This leaves it a little longer, to help reduce the risk of prolapse. :sheep:

  43. UlrikeDG says:

    My 5 year old just added “sheep and lamb” to the list of things she wants for her birthday next month.

  44. amateisgal says:

    She is completely and utterly adorable!!!

  45. catslady says:

    Is the tail docking a cleanliness thing??

    Sheila, I wake up with 4 cats on me lol.

    I love nurturing little animals. I wish I could foster but I get too darned attached. My last little stray kitten didn’t make it even with vet care and was very traumatic.

    Annabelle is just the sweetest thing ever!!!!

  46. Darlene says:

    Love your post!! They are all such sweeties and my very favorite is always the one you post about that day, lol (Cause they are all my favorites:)

    It’s going to be such fun watchin little “Bell” grow up and Clover’s reaction. Maybe “Bell” will chase Clover around the dog house!

    Wouldn’t it be great (for us!!) if you would post three times a day.

  47. Susan says:

    Annabelle is gorgeous! :sheep: And Coco is a wonderful lambsitter! :heart:

  48. Lucy says:

    I just love those pictures of that little wooly person. Lambs are adorable. Especially that one. I want to hold her. I love sheep.

  49. PetalzAndFinz says:

    I see she is already accessorizing! Our goats were bottle babies when we got them and regularly pulled their bottles out of my hand.
    ~Jenny~

  50. Cindy says:

    I’m in love with Annabelle…..You have the most photogenic animals!

  51. Sheila says:

    Annabelle is adorable. We pass a sheep farm all the time, we always look for babies. One of my very worse childhood memories is being chased by a very mean rooster. I must have been about 5, I can still remember running as fast as I could looking behind me to see how close the rooster was. I hated that bird.

  52. Dessa says:

    Hello again…not sure if you would like to participate or not but I just tagged you and your blog in the Nightstand Tag. Go here to check it out if you are interested: https://awitchesway.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-have-been-nightstand-taggedand-i.html If not that is cool too.

  53. Karen says:

    :sheep: Good morning farm friends and critters….Annabelle is too precious for words! I am in love with her so much. Move over Clover and babies. LOL The Giant Puppy really loves her if she is sharing blankies and all with Annabelle now. How wonderful and sweet they all are! I think since Coco could not have a baby yet, and was rencently in heat….she may think that Annabelle is HER baby now. Love it! Thanks for a great morning of pics and sharing with us.

  54. Kim W says:

    Regarding those last 2 pics … YOU’RE KILLING ME!!! Those are 2 of the CUTEST PICS EVER!!!!!!!!!!! How can you keep from kissing that precious little face?! :sheepjump: :sheep: :snoopy:

  55. Sarah S. says:

    Oh I love the picture of them both flaked out on the porch, So sweet! :sheep:

  56. Suzy says:

    The more I read,the more I want to live on a farm! Annabelle is so precious. I’m glad she has taking a likin’ to Coco.

  57. Donna says:

    Is that not the sweetest baby angel face you have ever seen on a lamb????Ohhhhh and Coco – precious giant puppy has adopted her..I love the pictures!!!!! :snoopy:

  58. Angelina says:

    If this story is going to end eventually in Annabelle being butchered I’m going to go into a decline.

    My very favorite part of the story is Coco and Annabelle sleeping together. Damn that is unbelievably cute I almost cried.

  59. Miss Mae says:

    What a beautiful doll she is! 🙂

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