When I was in my 20s anytime we would drive past a sheep
farm I would squeal, "Sheeeeeeeepppp!" and press my face to the car
window. Pete would just shake his head looking sensible and wearing a "tsk, tsk"
expression. (Or alternately the "Come-on-baby-you-can't-be-serious" face.)
He knew.
It wasn't time.
But there was something I knew, too: that someday it would be time.
But oh, how I wanted them. Right then. Right away. How could I possibly wait?
That was almost 20 years ago.
A
local friend heard I was getting sheep and asked me why. "Cattle are so
much easier. If you need meat there are better ways to get it than by
keeping sheep. I mean, I know they give wool and all but really. You
don't want sheep."
Actually, I do. I really really do.
Cattle? No thanks. No cows for me. Not now anyway.
Looking back to this decades-long desire, I'm not sure what the appeal was originally. It wasn't practical, I'll tell you that. (Seeing that I was a non-knitting vegetarian at the time.)
It must have been their peaceful, gentle beauty. Because really, that's just about enough.
And now I'm almost 40. It's been almost half of my life since I fell in love with sheep.
And for my 40th birthday present next month I'm buying myself sheep. My first ever small flock of sheep.
And this time Pete is on board.
Oh my goodness. These sheep. They have run off with my heart, that much I know.
We're starting with just two ewes and their babies, plus two other ewes without young. Most are coming from our friend Kathryn who happens to own our fabulous local yarn shop.
The ewes and their lambs that will come home with us are pictured below.
Oh, yes.
And now when I squeal "Sheeeeeep!" as we pass by a farm, Pete just smiles and shakes his head a little. Not because it isn't time, but more because I'm a dork.
Because yes. Finally - it is time.
Congratulations on your growing farm!! Enjoy the adorable sheep!!
How exciting! I’ve always wanted a small flock of my own sheep. So far it just hasn’t been the right time for us. Congratulations! I can’t wait to read more about them over the coming years:)
How great for you Rachel! I am almost 48 and after decades of wishing to do so we are finally moving to the country. 50 is the new 40 I am told.
How wonderful! We are so excited to help your dreams come true! And thanks for the plug! …we need to talk advertising soon.
Eeeep!! I am so excited for uou! The kids must be so looking forward to their new friends coming too! I’m looking forward to hearing their names, and reading about the stories that always come along with farm animals! Can you seriously even believe this is finally your life now!? So happy for you 🙂
I also squeal each time I see sheeeeeeepies! I also think it is their graceful, peaceful beauty.
someday.
😉
Congratulations on a dream come true. I love sheep too! I too hope someday to have a few sheep of my own, but until then I have a neighbor who has sheep I can visit and knit sweaters from their wool.
Congratulations on getting a dream realized….even if it took decades.:)
And, early Happy 40th Birthday!
The ewes look so wonderfully wooly…..I have a thing for crimp. So, I too must be a dork.
What breed?
Congratulations! I’m Kathryn’s aunt (yes, Lisa’s sister) and have been following your blog for some time. I just love those sheep! My kids and I pass by a flock of sheep every day on the way to school and they never fail to excite us all. Have fun!
So very exciting!! I can’t wait to follow along on your journey. We have sheep on our two year plan right now and watching your adventure will keep my dreams alive 🙂
Thank you!
Maybe some day, Rachel…
You got your house! Congratulations, Michelle.
I pinch myself everyday. Especially days like today. Sun shining down!
Someday…
How perfect!
Thanks Beth. The crimp! You’ve seen my freaky crimped cat, right? He’s too much. As for the breed, like most sheep they are a blend. The one with the less wooly face is part border leicester and a splash of merino, the one with the more wooly face is a corriedale blend. We’re hoping to pick up either a merino or corriedale ram for future lambing seasons…
Hi Sara! I love your family! Thanks for reaching out.
Two years will be here in a snap.
Yes! Let’s talk soon.
Lovely that your dreams are slowly all becoming reality. DH’s family had a few sheep when he was a child he remembers them with great fondness. When they moved they sold the sheep and their mark (green splodge of paint on back) and the mark was worth more than the sheep!
Sheeeep!!! They are so cute, I have a (currently irrational) longing for sheep as well. Good for you! I am sure you will enjoy them!
So darn excited for you! I feel that way about goats. One day…. I can’t wait for an update when they arrive!
I also have always yelled “sheep” every time I see them. And I am one step behind you! Just moved to the country, and know they will join us, just not sure when. I am so excited for you!!
Well if you’re a dork then I have been too for 40 years or more. I would shout “lambies”…….now like you we have our small holding and we are awaiting the arrival of llama babies……you will be dusting off your spinning wheel in a few weeks too!!
Congratulations on your lfestyle and philosophy.
I am so happy for you that you are finally realizing your dream. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a birthday. Congratulations!
Oh they’re wonderful! I wish I could have sheep. Someday, maybe, but we don’t have the space in this home, in this city. (Although I’ve heard a rumor that a few blocks away someone has a goat!)
Happy (early) birthday; I can’t think of a better present for yourself. xo
Oh my goodness, Rachel. How can I put this? I trust these new friends will only be used for wool? Otherwise, trust me you shouldn’t name them. I leave that in your capable hands :). They’re wonderfull!
Hi Anel! I was waiting for someone to ask me that. 🙂 After many years as a vegetarian I finally found health as a meat eater once more. My criteria for meat has always been ethically produced (small organic farms or wild meats like venison and fish) and moving to the farm means that work is coming home to us, literally. We plan to keep the females and the males will be killed and will feed our family. After a long family discussion last weekend we decided that one of my children would be uncomfortable with naming the animals that will become our food. So only the girls will have names. Regardless they will be treated with love and respect during their time here on the farm. Thanks for asking!
Guerrilla goat farming! That’s pretty rad.
Yay! Sheep! I hope to one day have a farm with sheep. 🙂
Hi Rachel. Wow, I hope that will work for you guys. I’m not familiar with your breed, but usually ewes are tastier than rams. At least that will keep you from eating too much meat! ;). I have grown up on farms and have even hunted my own springbok gazelle for food. It’s always been emotional for me, not SO much for my brothers (cowboys don’t cry, I guess). But my motto remains: if I would like to eat some meat, I should be willing to kill the animal (or witness it being killed). Love your new farm!
Oh, yes. When I started to eat meat again (after most of a decade without) I told Pete that I needed to kill it myself. I thought that was a vital piece of the process that I did not want to shy away from. So I killed one small fish, then sat on the bottom of our fishing boat and cried my eyes out for nearly an hour. But these are the consequences of our choices. We should have the courage to understand them and face them, or perhaps make different choices. Thanks for this dialogue.
Rachel Wolf
Owner and Founder, LuSa Organics
http://www.lusaorganics.com
rachel@lusaorganics.com
blogging at http://www.lusaorganics.typepad.com
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