Atlanta - Sept. '10

Click here to view these pictures larger

Horne Creek Farm...and a New Special Friend!

We planned on a relaxing, somewhat educational day with the kids today since the weather was going to be nice. We decided to go to Horne Creek Farm (http://www.nchistoricsites.org/horne/horne.htm) to see how people lived in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Here are a few pictures (story continues below).







Well, when we visited the barn, we found three new lambs had been born. One was about three weeks old, while the other two were less than one day old. The mother was neglecting one of the two lambs in favor of the other. We're not sure if the one lamb had eaten since its birth, and it had not been cleaned off after it was born. I don't think the lamb would have survived had someone not intervened.

So...we decided to ask the folks who maintain the farm if we could take the lamb to our house to try to nurse it back to health. They had been trying to find some local farmers who would take it in, but no one was able. So instead of studying, Jobe has been trying to get our little lamb to eat (and has finally been successful!). Miriam named the lamb Biddy Betty after the sheep in the book "Mountain Born" by Elizabeth Yates. Ironically, Miriam had just finished reading that book about a week ago. We're hoping she survives, but we have prepared the kids just in case...

Pictures below include (in order) Biddy in her stall, Biddy's sibling and mother, Daddy and the man at Horne Creek trying to get Biddy to nurse from her mother before we leave, Daddy taking about an hour to get Biddy to drink 2 oz. of colostrum, and the kids with Biddy.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that...

Greetings. We would like to begin by wishing a belated "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" to all of our family and friends we were not able to see over the holidays.

There are a couple of recent developments in our household that have increased the level of excitement. First, Jobe only has 4 weeks of school remaining! We are all excited to be finishing with this part of the journey. Second, we had about 8" of snow on the ground just a few days before Christmas. We were able to sled and do other snow activities for several days. There are still a few patches of snow hanging around due to the fact that for about three weeks it's been colder than an Eskimo's butt sitting on a Port-A-John while ice fishing in Alaska (nice visual there, right?).

Which brings me to #3...we got a Wii for Christmas. Because the kids can only tolerate freezing temperatures for so long, we've been forced to spend less time outdoors and more time inside. Needless to say, the Wii came at the right time. Suzanne and Miriam are master bowlers. Nathanael and Jobe are the golfers. Caleb has a shooting game he really likes. Joshua's favorite game? Boxing.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as Jobe prepares to take his licensing exam, interviews for jobs, and as we begin to look for a new home once Jobe finishes school. Thanks and take care.

The West Family