Remembering

September 19, 2013…. Remembering.

Where has the summer gone?  Last week was 9/11 anniversaries again.  It is one of those dates that seem to have most Americans deep in thought. Remembering.  The day of the twin towers going down. I think on a personal note even before living on a small farm hours away from New York City and the Pentagon in D. C., it was when the plane went down in the field in Pennsylvania that made me the most frightened. That was what made the threat real.  That was when I feared for my children and families, not just gaping at the horror stories and pictures/stories from the radio and television.  That was close to my life.

So much has happened to the world and to my family since.  We go on and live our lives, but will be forever changed. For me each day has become a gift. I try to take a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise and sunsets.  I try to linger at the antics of the sheep, dogs and even goofy chickens that escape from the coop.

The summer has been long and emotionally exhausting.  The end of June we had the vet out to check one of the bull calves we purchased in March.  He just was not gaining weight.  He was pronounced healthy without any infection or other health problems.  The lambs looked good also.  A few days later around July 4 we started to lose lambs.  It was the heat.  We lost three in a ten-day period.  The youngest and the weakest; it made sense but was still hard.  Then the temperature changed and we lost an ewe.  I was so confused. I started calling other local sheep farmers.  There are so many reasons sheep die.  One of my neighbors, who have at least 200 sheep to my 12, had the same issue.  When the weather changed he lost some also.  He had an autopsy (Necropsy) and it was Pneumonia secondary to the weather change.  Otherwise our counts are good and the rest are are still healthy.

We bought a new Ram, now named Rocky…. Compare the horns to the Rocky Shoe and Boots Logo! :)  In Nelsonville.  He is a two-year-old Jacob Breed.  Hopefully we will have more lambs in the spring.  We have changed our feeding habits and the sheep are getting a daily supply of mineral with a small amount of grain to encourage them to eat it!  When we worm them on a more regular basis we give them a solution of Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic, which is recommended to help their body immune systems.

In August I was able to show my Quilts and some of my digital artwork at the Athens County Library with a great response.  I appreciate all the wonderful comments and support.  The family took a long awaited vacation to the Jenkinson homestead in Ireland.  A tour took us from Shannon to Dublin, and then we went to the English lord's home now a bed and breakfast.  The Bel Air Hotel and Equestrian Center, Ashford, Ireland is the birthplace of Scott’s Great- Great- Great- Great Grandmother, who was born in the late 1700’s.  It is in the small village of Ashford, near Wicklow, now owned and run by William Freeman and his sisters.

Home now we are preparing for winter even though the first day of fall is this weekend. The barn is full of over 200 bales of straw from the field next door, which will take care of our bedding for the chickens and mulching for next spring plantings.  We brought in 26, 4 by 4-round bales of our own pesticide/ herbicide free hay to feed the sheep and cattle on this winter. 

We are still digging potatoes, the apples (Red and yellow delicious), and pears and coming on fast.  We are one of the few farm stands with summer zucchini, and have a collection of six different sweet and some (hot/spicy) peppers. Lots of Peppers! The tomatoes (Mostly Roma paste varieties) are ready, as well as the basil, lemon balm, parsley.  The spinach, Chard and kale are being picked.  And we are almost finished with the various green and red beans. 

The construction work is almost complete.  The 500-gallon propane tank for the cook stove in kitchen and back up generator is going in this week.  The roof, opaque polyurethane is ready to go on the 1000 sq foot heated green house. 

Tuesdays from 10-12 we are hosting 2 hour painting Plein Air painting classes being taught by Jeff Risner for a small fee of $15.  If you would like to come and stay for lunch, lunch will be available for a small fee also.  Just RSVP with me  (740-541-4190)  or Jeff.