Two new wooly cute additions arrived in the last couple of days on our farm. Selma and Maisie, our milk sheep, had their lambs, and all is well. Every year, it is such a delight to have these little creatures arrive, with their legs still all wobbley and their skin in folds because they are so tiny, and their incredibly curly hair.
And it also means that soon, we will have wonderful fresh sheeps milk again, and cheese, and yoghurt....

What wonderful spring weather we had for this year's St. Patrick's Day! Henry manouvered me in the trap safely through all festive traffic around Kealkil to spend a quiet couple of hours in the sun by the river, whilst I went to investigate up into the village, where the parade took place. This year's parade was special though - with actress Maureen O'Hara, now 90 years old, as a guest of honour! People were delighted to have her around, especially when she talked about her last guest-of-honour invitation being the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York! Apart from this very special guest, many interesting, funny, creative and entertaining floats swept the street of Kealkil, and even two horses took part, although one was artistically wooven out of willow...

Our job in the Mealagh valley continues, and slowly but surely the trees are coming down.
Today, our work was slowed down for a while by Henry's puzzlement over a small temporary bridge which had been made out of rough cut logs so that he could cross a boggy ditch to get to the felled logs. Henry was very suspicious, as only last week he had broken through the carpet of branches, leaves and grass in the same area into the soggy part of the otherwise rather dry ditch - he had disappeared in front of my eyes up to his belly, and understandably was in a bit of a panic to get out and away.
So it is only reasonable of him today to look at the bridge with last week's unpleasant experience in mind and have second thoughts about approaching work on the other side of that ditch! After a few reluctant approaches to the bridge and a definite 'no' from Henry, we kept busy pulling logs already near the path. But when the others had their tea break, Henry and I had another few good looks at the bridge, and after a long time of one hoof forward and one back, Henry gathered his courage and crossed over, and there was no problem afterwards! Having been edgy and anxious all afternoon before he mastered the bridge, he now was clearly relieved to have done it and proud of himself - and got a late tea break eating the ivy off the wood stacked already in the yard!