Ok, so last year didn’t go so well.  I get it, we were rookie shepherds.  We weren’t prepared, had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.  On some level, we deserved it.  But this year?  This year I’m begging for mercy.

Please don’t kill any of our ewes mid-labor.  No lambs too big to be birthed.  I’d even rather avoid having to perform any olympic obstetrics, regardless of their ultimately positive outcome.  No no.  Just let me come home from work only to find a newly born lamb happily nursing from its mama.

It’s not that I’ve earned this, or that I’m any more prepared this year vs last, other than a season’s experience and some time to think about what we’d do differently.  Quite the opposite.  I’m effectively a single farmer this year, unless all the lambs decide to be born on Sundays, Tuesdays or Monday evenings when Will is actually home.  I can’t catch a sheep by myself, let alone assist with labor.  I’m not that strong, and I’m not that skilled.  And I just kinda don’t want to.

I just want happy, healthy lambs and happy, healthy mamas munching on grass with no assistance from me.  Is that too much to ask?  That nature does what nature is supposed to do?  (Not that I’m accusing you of not doing your jobs, you guys are great!  Hurray for the Lambing Gods!)

I am happy to make the appropriate sacrifice, provided you let me know what that might be, it doesn’t involve killing anything, isn’t too expensive or heavy, and won’t be too much of an eyesore.  Or smell bad.  Basically, I can write you a “please have mercy” card, as I don’t think Hallmark makes those.

Lamb Watch 2012 officially starts Thursday, 4/12.