A Friday ritual.
A single photo – no words – capturing a single moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment to pause, savor and remember.
Participating with the SouleMama blog
{this moment}
Good Fences
Breeding groups are finally all set up, and we are depending on our good fences to keep the rams on their best behavior. We still have some hoof trimming to accomplish with Aragorn’s ladies but we’ve got the breeding harness on him in the meantime.
We were blessed with a gofer full of unsaleable pumpkins by our friends at Vested Heirs Farm. They provide some bright spots in the somewhat dreary pasture, and the flock is definitely enjoying the late autumn treat.
Joining The Run*A*Round Ranch Report for Good Fences
Happy Thanksgiving!
Messenger
by Mary Oliver
My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.
Puppy Update
The puppies were four weeks old yesterday. They have begun to eat a little solid food and are becoming very active.They all display good livestock guardian instincts, such as barking when someone comes in the barn door.
Both parents are working livestock guardians and provide protection to our flock.
Belladonna is a registered Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese
Samson is a purebred Komondor
The puppies were wormed at three weeks. We do not have an available date yet as we are taking things slowly, watching closely to provide for the family’s growing needs.
There are two females and four males. Some of the puppies will be available to farm approved homes at $350
Sunday Muse
“Yet one smile more, departing, distant sun!
One mellow smile through the soft vapory air,
Ere, o’er the frozen earth, the loud winds run,
Or snows are sifted o’er the meadows bare.
One smile on the brown hills and naked trees,
And the dark rocks whose summer wreaths are cast,
And the blue gentian-flower, that, in the breeze,
Nods lonely, of her beauteous race the last.
Yet a few sunny days, in which the bee
Shall murmur by the hedge that skirts the way,
The cricket chirp upon the russet lea,
And man delight to linger in thy ray.
Yet one rich smile, and we will try to bear
The piercing winter frost, and winds, and darkened air.”
– William Cullen Bryant, Autum
Weekly Top Shot
Most of the leaves have disappeared during this week of wind and rain, but last Sunday the hills were still filled with glorious color. Here our old barn is peeking through the beautiful autumn hillside leaves.
joining Weekly Top Shot with The View From Right Here
Good Fences
Had a little time to give the proud papa some attention on Sunday. Really enjoyed walking the perimeter fence line with my man, Sam.
Puppy Pillows
The puppies are getting fat and sassy… slowly beginning to try to walk. They look like tiny little tanks, trying to lift their bellies off the ground far enough to get around. They are beginning to yip and yap a little also. Still, their favorite activity is sleeping… snuggling, cuddling, using each other as little puppy pillows… all in their sweet little puppy piles.
Honestly, we could spend the entire day just watching them.
{this moment}
A Friday ritual.
A single photo – no words – capturing a single moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment to pause, savor and remember.
Participating with the SouleMama blog
Shearing
Saturday was shearing day, and we have been blessed with a beautiful crop of fleeces. With the fleece off it will be easier to keep an eye on the lambs’ conditions in between our scheduled scoring days. Saturday was chilly, damp and foggy, but the sun came out for just a little bit on Sunday. Despite all the rain, the leaves have hung in there and fall has been just beautiful.
