Looking back on the last year we have so much to be grateful
for. Ranching together for one thing! Spring started with baby animals galore:
25 Speckled Sussex chicks, 5 English Shepherd puppies (one never left!), 3
American Milking Devon calves, and a few bunnies. It was quite a springing! ~ We
were excited to be invited by the Washington State University extension office
to present a rabbit workshop at their local livestock production seminar. ~ We
had the pleasure of heartwarming visits from family far away! ~ Reconstructing
the fallen bridge has been slow due to unusually wet weather and other
setbacks. Priorities can change in the blink of an eye out here. ~ We started
building our cabin! ~ The late fall arrival of a small spinner’s flock of
Shetland sheep- you should see their stunningly beautiful fleece. ~ And we’ve
made so many good friends in our new hometown!
Summer stayed late, and winter arrived late but it’s here
for the duration. Last Sunday night over a foot of powdery snow fell. So far
this winter we’ve received close to 3 feet, but 2 of that melted during the
above-average warm Nov/Dec. With overnight temperatures predicted to drop far below 0 for the next couple days, now it’s a matter of making sure we all keep warm enough. It's been strange weather!
2013 promises to be unlike any other year in many ways. What
changes are you personally excited about? We look forward to concentrating on
growing more food as we install the vegetable and herb gardens as well as a
small berry patch; the cabin will be completed… we can hardly wait to move in; preserving some of the harvest;
learning to work with our first crop of wool; and being creative in doing more
with less.
One thing is certain… the year will fly by as usual!
