It's hard not to project
As shepherds we think we know what’s best for our sheep. The benefit of years watching and learning from these creatures has helped me realize that most of the time, they do know best and don't need our interference. If we’ll listen to them and not try to “project” our human interpretation, we can see that. Sure, we have to get involved from time to time but I’ve found if we trust their instincts and get out of their way, they’ll often take care of things.
Like the ewe that insists on having her lamb in the woods, we let her. Is it the safest? Probably not but that’s what she wants to do. It makes it harder on us once she’s had the lamb to get them to safety but I believe allowing them to have those moments and make those decisions gives us a more mutually respectful relationship.
I’m sure there’s a shepherd or two out there ranting at me right now, “we must be able to manage them and that requires some degree of doing things in spite of their natural instincts.” Like I said, I realize there are times we need to step in and I realize my way isn’t going to align with most others…it’s just my desire to let them be as true to their natural ways as I can. I might pay for it with a little extra effort on my part but I believe I gain by raising sheep that are in touch with their intuitive ways.
The other day I was rehashing a decision to want to keep one of our older ewes back from breeding. She has given us plenty of beautiful babies. She deserves to rest, I thought. So, I did just that. She went to spend her time grazing in green pastures with the teenagers. What a glorious gift, or was it?
Well, to shorten what could be a very long tale, Willow, that’s her name, ended up pregnant anyway. How? We’ll never be 100% sure. Through a fence? Could be, but boys were not in adjoining fences except for short stints while moving sheep? Could she be that fast? One of our lambs might have been more mature then we thought? Like i said, we’ll never know for sure.
A funny thing happened on that day I realized she was with lamb, as I walked away from her pasture something beckoned me to look back. There went Willow trotting away from me and kicking up her heels.
She was mighty happy.
It’s as if she was saying to me, I love being a mom! You don’t get to decide.
I believe I had just been reminded, we’re not necessarily smarter then mother nature!
Shearing Day was not a washout!
Rain or shine, farm chores must go on and sometimes, in spite of the conditions, something wonderful happens.
There are certain farm chores that come with the territory. On a sheep farm one annual task we have is shearing. Most folks shear their sheep annually although some of our sheep need it twice a year.. A great deal of our farms success depends on the wool our sheep provide so it’s an important date on our calendar.
Regardless, the shearing must be done.
Several years ago we decided to make an event of it and include the public. That’s it, we’ll invite folks that have never had the opportunity to see sheep loose their winter coats. Some folks have never even seen a sheep before. As the annual event has progressed it has turned into quite a big ordeal. Hundreds of folks each year come to the farm to see, learn and enjoy the farm setting.
This year will go down as one we’ll NEVER forget.
Shearing for us always takes place in late February or early March. We plan as far out on the calendar as we can but generally cannot set the date too far in advance because setting that date depends on a few things out of our control. Number ONE, we’re dependent on the shearer. As you might imagine, shearers are not easy to come by. When you find one you like you do your best to work closely with them and develop a relationship you both can depend on. Once you get your shearer to agree to a date all the event planning begins. We cater lunch and offer other activities for folks once they get here. How do we know how many people to plan for? Well we don’t really. We generally go by the previous years attendance and add a buffer. So, we order food ahead. We plan help. We commit to a band. Yes a band; there is something special about sitting on a blanket looking out over a pastoral setting, listening to some musicians pickin’ away.
OK, check, check and check. Everything is in order.
The last thing we’re dependent on is the weather. Yup. Counting on the weather is like tossing a coin in the air. Mother Nature is going to do her thing regardless of how much time, money and effort you’ve invested. Once you’ve set the date (as far in advance as you can for obvious reasons) there is no turning back. We’ve all seen a next days weather forecast change or even sun when Al Roker said rain!
Well 2019 shouldn’t have been a total surprise what with the onslaught of rain we’d had. Weeks before and leading up to the day…the rain did not let up. From the first day the extended 10 day weather forecast is posted on television and smartphones, I am tuning in. First thing each morning even before coffee I am reviewing every weather outlet to see the latest predictions. Thursday, before this years event, they had predicted rain all day. THE SUN CAME OUT! Me, the eternal optimism kept imaging Saturday would be the same. Under my breath I also muttered, “it is going to be what it’s going to be”. I knew we’d have to deal with it.
The caterer called giving us the option to cancel or reduce our quantities. A few of the band members came by to say it was OK if we wanted to cancel. Alas, the event had been advertised and the shearer was coming…THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
Saturday began with more rain then I had seen any day that week, POURING! Even if it stopped before the gates opened we’d have mud galore.
How should we prepare? Would people even come?
Although the attendance was certainly down we had some real troopers out here! No one seemed bothered. Most were fully aware what to expect from the weather. Some learned their water resistant clothing wasn’t as water proof as they thought!. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves! Everyone understood I couldn’t ‘warm’ it up or move the puddles.
We sheared, we ate, we got wet and shivered a bit together and somehow, in the midst of all the rain and mud I so enjoyed the day with way more folks then I’d anticipated. In many ways, I didn’t realize it was raining until I removed my wet clothes!
I had several memorable interactions.
The interaction I most wanted to share is the young girl and her parents who together had been discovering the world of knitting. They had decided, to buy some wool and take it through the process of washing, carding, spinning and finally knitting. They were picking a freshly shorn fleece to buy and I encouraged them while here to pick a sheep and really connect the wool to the source. The family was able to deliberately pick a sheep that attracted her. They were able to pet the sheep and watch the sheep get shorn. With a tear in she and her mother’s eye they shared with me how that experience touched them! They will always connect with that finished handmade piece in a way that cannot be matched! I learned of the girls grandmother in Switzerland that would be so happy to hear their experience.
I will never forget that experience and I will never forget them!
Win, loose or draw with the days finance report…it doesn’t seem to matter after a day like this!
The life of a sheep!
The connection between a shepherd and her sheep
Gabby
I was in the barn the other day and our eyes locked on each other.
My mind raced back over our years together. I was amazed at the many facets of this pretty gals life here on the farm.
The daughter of Willow, another of our very photographed and storied gals here on the farm. Gabby was born several years ago. A real beauty of a lamb! Shiny black and long strong legs with a very happy bounce that took her about the barn and pastures. One day during barn chores I noticed her mother, Willow, seeming to talk to me, she kept baaing at me and standing in one place. I followed her cue and found Gabby, clearly not feeling well. Her wonderful momma kept nudging her with her nose. Gabby didn’t have the strength to even nurse her mother, which of course was her life blood. Long story short, we almost lost Gabby. After weeks of constant attention and TLC she survived and was soon romping again about the pastures.
As a shepherd you become especially connected to sheep you’ve spent such heart rending time with. Anyways, I always noted a sort of smile on this little girls face (she’ll always be a little girl to me).
The first 18 months of her life she got to enjoy just the frolic! Then at her almost 2nd year of life she had a baby of her own but poor Gabby freaked! Her instinct, so viable in the Navajo breed , brought her to a wooded area to have her lamb. She gave birth with ease. As she stood over her newborn trying to put two and two together my husband John spotted her and went to check on her. She saw him coming. A little freaked already, his approach was just too much and she bolted, never to accept her little girl again. We tried and tried but to no avail.
Some farms/shepherds might decide it is time to move her along I felt I couldn’t. One might say the situation was contributory. To our wonderful surprise the next year Gabby raised a beautiful healthy lamb!
As we share this moments glance my human self is sure she too reflects back over our many emotional moments together.
Silly human!
Cucumbers Galore
A garden offers so many wonders. Whether growing a patio tomato or the whole produce department, you know the feeling.... sitting down to eat the bounty from your plot of earth, big or small. There is nothing like biting into something that you nurtured day after day to it's maturity. Sharing the gardens riches with friends is another of the garden perks. Pickles, preserves or baked goods made from what I've grown and nurtured are a true gift of love... to give and receive.
One vegetable that I adore growing is the good old cucumber. That good old cucumber gives us pickles, dill or sweet, whole or sliced and relish. How about soups; gazpacho and chilled cucumber with yogurt, YUM! How about some raita served with grilled unleavened bread? I could eat that duo for every meal! As kids I remember eating marinated cucumber and mayo sandwiches! Last but not least, how about that ever popular, never a southern summer table without, bowl of sliced cucumbers with a bit of dill, a pinch of sugar and vinegar?
Because there are so many things a person can make with cucumbers, size doesn't really matter BUT if pickling is your intent, it can be tricky harvesting cucumbers. Since the very best pickles are made from cuc's right off the vine you want to be able to pick enough of the same size all at one time. Unless you have quite a few cucumber plants it's not likely you'll find the quantity needed in one picking. When a few cucumbers are ready to be picked the others are still coming. That is why I love this DILL Pickle recipe from a previous blog post...all you need is enough cucumbers to fill one quart jar at a time.
Alas, you invariably end up with some cucumbers that sit on the vine too long. And, as those of you who've grown them before know, there is always that one hidden cuc you discover that has been growing for goodness knows how long. Yikes! A great option for those cucumbers is my Cinnamon Pickles from a previous post
This ongoing struggle with my cucumber harvest has probably been the source of my love of them today. I do not like to waste anything so no matter the size or shape; I had to create! I'm loving a pantry full of edibles for my table, gifts of love for family and friends and what better then a homemade gift for a host/hostess.... straight from your kitchen!
Today, I'm talking relish!
This was my first attempt and I can't say enough about the ease and results. One thing that did jump out at me was the color of the results...why wasn't my relish green? I now know they add blue dye to relish, EEK...no need, just change your expectation...it is so worth the small effort.
I adapted this recipe from Genius Kitchen
Tangy Pickle Relish
makes 6-7 1/2 pint jars
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 lbs cucumbers , peeled and seeds removed
- 2 -3 sweet onions
- 1⁄4 cup pickling salt
- 3 cups white vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 5-6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons dill seeds
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 2 teaspoons celery seeds
- 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric
- red pepper flakes to taste
DIRECTIONS
- Finely chop cucumbers and onions. I use a food processor and do smaller batches to be sure not too fine. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt, stir well. Let stand for 1 hour.
- Drain mixture in a colander, rinse under cold water and drain again, pressing out any excess moisture.
- In a large pot, bring vinegar, sugar, garlic, dill seed, mustard seed, celery seed, and pepper flakes to a boil.
- Add cucumber mixture, bring to a boil again, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat, add the turmeric and mix well.
- Pour into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Seal with lids and rings. Process in boiling water bath in canner for 10 minutes.
Mother Nature's Lessons
It is with a heavy heart I say good bye to my beloved Ares. Of all the happenings on a farm, dealing with death and loss is the most difficult. It happens often in a farmers world. We are careful to watch over the sheep, chickens, and llamas but sometimes you just don't know what might happen. Often it's a predator but sometimes they just go down with some unusual affliction. Very often, it's sometime before your vet can get there and you have to do the best you can. From the raccoon eating chickens, the snake stealing eggs and eating chicks, the buzzards coming in on your lambs or the parasites that take the weakest sheep...each death is sad.
Some just hurt worse then others.
This boy got me.
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September 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Back to basics with sheep healthcare Sep 10, 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Mac and Cheese Bites Sep 10, 2024
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August 2024
- Aug 12, 2024 Tales of a female farmer Aug 12, 2024
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July 2024
- Jul 12, 2024 Caring for sheep hides Jul 12, 2024
- Jul 11, 2024 Cucumber Lemonade Jul 11, 2024
- Jul 1, 2024 Cucumber Gazpacho Jul 1, 2024
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May 2024
- May 23, 2024 Almonds, Sweet and Spicy May 23, 2024
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January 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 Sheep fencing gone wrong… Jan 17, 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 In the beginning :Tales from the shepherd Jan 17, 2024
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April 2023
- Apr 3, 2023 The journey to vegetarian, or not? Apr 3, 2023
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March 2023
- Mar 20, 2023 Making sense of scents, or not... Mar 20, 2023
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February 2023
- Feb 26, 2023 Lamb Sliders Feb 26, 2023
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March 2022
- Mar 15, 2022 HOW TO BE THE BEST SHEPHERD: Lessons from a sheep Mar 15, 2022
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January 2022
- Jan 17, 2022 Lamb Bone Broth /Stock Jan 17, 2022
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April 2021
- Apr 26, 2021 Farming through Covid Apr 26, 2021
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June 2020
- Jun 19, 2020 Turning 60 Jun 19, 2020
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January 2020
- Jan 12, 2020 wool dryer ball transparency Jan 12, 2020
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September 2019
- Sep 10, 2019 It's hard not to project Sep 10, 2019
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June 2019
- Jun 21, 2019 Weaning, a whole new meaning Jun 21, 2019
- Jun 17, 2019 Strawberry Balsamic Basil Pops Jun 17, 2019
- Jun 10, 2019 Collard Salad Jun 10, 2019
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February 2019
- Feb 28, 2019 Shearing Day was not a washout! Feb 28, 2019
- Feb 5, 2019 The life of a sheep! Feb 5, 2019
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January 2019
- Jan 25, 2019 Lamb Liver Paté Jan 25, 2019
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August 2018
- Aug 23, 2018 Pokeweed, Friend or Foe? Aug 23, 2018
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July 2018
- Jul 20, 2018 Cucumbers Galore Jul 20, 2018
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September 2016
- Sep 5, 2016 Mother Nature's Lessons Sep 5, 2016
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August 2016
- Aug 23, 2016 Walking the Walk Aug 23, 2016
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July 2015
- Jul 2, 2015 To Wean or not to Wean Jul 2, 2015
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February 2015
- Feb 1, 2015 Sustainability & Our Precious Soil Feb 1, 2015
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July 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Lasagna Jul 24, 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Squares Jul 24, 2014
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June 2014
- Jun 2, 2014 Sustainability...What's it all about! Jun 2, 2014
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May 2014
- May 29, 2014 What I know now.... May 29, 2014
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April 2014
- Apr 4, 2014 Is the boss the farmer or the sheep? Apr 4, 2014
- Apr 3, 2014 Felted Chicks Apr 3, 2014
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January 2014
- Jan 28, 2014 Lamb Ribs Jan 28, 2014
- Jan 26, 2014 DIY Wool Dryer Balls Jan 26, 2014
- Jan 15, 2014 Let the New Year Begin Jan 15, 2014
- Jan 13, 2014 DIY Heat Jan 13, 2014
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October 2013
- Oct 30, 2013 WHOLEsome Food: EGGS Oct 30, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Cinnamon Pickles Oct 7, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Dog Biscuits Oct 7, 2013
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September 2013
- Sep 18, 2013 Peaches, Peaches everywhere Sep 18, 2013
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August 2013
- Aug 14, 2013 The Spider and the Butterfly Aug 14, 2013
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July 2013
- Jul 30, 2013 They don't wear galoshes Jul 30, 2013
- Jul 21, 2013 Blackberry Lime Jam Jul 21, 2013
- Jul 11, 2013 Lamb Sliders Jul 11, 2013
- Jul 9, 2013 Our Little Orchard Jul 9, 2013
- Jul 2, 2013 The Hay Bale Fiasco Jul 2, 2013
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May 2013
- May 17, 2013 My Secret Place May 17, 2013
- May 2, 2013 April. Did I miss it? May 2, 2013
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March 2013
- Mar 28, 2013 Prada to Carhart Mar 28, 2013
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February 2013
- Feb 21, 2013 Puttin Up the Fence Feb 21, 2013
- Feb 7, 2013 Lovely Cup of Chai Feb 7, 2013
- Feb 5, 2013 Looking for Llama's Feb 5, 2013
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January 2013
- Jan 29, 2013 Winter Garden Jan 29, 2013
- Jan 24, 2013 The rams are back in their pasture Jan 24, 2013
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September 2012
- Sep 7, 2012 Pickles! Sep 7, 2012
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June 2012
- Jun 13, 2012 Morning Gifts Jun 13, 2012
- Jun 5, 2012 Finding the Words Jun 5, 2012
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April 2012
- Apr 13, 2012 The girls and a few token boys! Apr 13, 2012
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March 2012
- Mar 30, 2012 Flavor! Mar 30, 2012
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October 2011
- Oct 9, 2011 Hay. A little three letter word that packs a PUNCH! Oct 9, 2011
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July 2011
- Jul 22, 2011 The Glorious Tomato Jul 22, 2011
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February 2011
- Feb 10, 2011 Shearing Day 2011 Feb 10, 2011
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November 2010
- Nov 30, 2010 This farm gives me Goose Bumps Nov 30, 2010
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July 2010
- Jul 23, 2010 Another aHaa Moment in Farming Jul 23, 2010
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February 2010
- Feb 24, 2010 Farmers Wearing Lace? Feb 24, 2010
- Feb 16, 2010 Girls with no Coats Feb 16, 2010
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January 2010
- Jan 4, 2010 Midnite on the farm Jan 4, 2010
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April 2009
- Apr 22, 2009 Hard Day on the Farm Apr 22, 2009
- Apr 15, 2009 Lamb Meatballs Apr 15, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Spring Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Roasted Coffee Marinated Leg of Lamb Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 13, 2009 In the Beginning Apr 13, 2009