Eight Laws of Health

Over the last few months I’ve been writing about the naturopathic Eight Laws of Health – nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, air, rest, and trust (acronym NEWSTART) - as they relate to animals, focusing especially on dogs and cats. 

These Laws are the foundation of Natural Rearing which we practice on the Ranch. Each post offers a basic overview of one Law at a time, sort of a primer on animal naturopathy.

Visit our English Shepherd blog to read all the posts!

The Ick

This has been a terrible winter for illnesses! And not just us… so many people in the county have experienced similar scenario to ours.

First, I got what’s been termed the “respiratory flu” that comes with loads of congestion and a cough. It took 2 weeks to start noticing improvement, but the cough lingered for another 2 weeks.

Then Tom came down with a nasty head cold that turned into a sinus infection, lingering for 2 weeks.

That same head cold then hit me squarely in the face and proceeded to settle into a respiratory infection.

Ick! We are sick and tired of being sick and tired!!!! Thank goodness for colloidal silver, though. We got rid of both infections without having to resort to immune system destroying antibiotics.

Now we’re concentrating on building up our bodies with herbs, sunshine, and healthy food. It helps too that spring is coming early this year!

Winter White

 As a young person, fun in the snow was the main attraction of the winter season I so loved. Adults said to me “just wait until you have to drive in or shovel it.” Some people don’t like winter because they think everything looks dead and ugly. Others consider snow an unmentionable word.

Even with their relative inconveniences I deeply appreciate and enjoy all the seasons. Fall is probably my favorite with its golden light, rich colors, crisp air, and fragrant ripe apples! Winter is next, even though I am an adult who has to deal with the hardships it brings.

To me winter is when the earth is at rest, simply sleeping under its cozy white blanket of snow. My mind’s eye envisions seeds and plant life underneath regenerated by their slumber just waiting for it to warm up so as to spring back to life!

I love how this white blanket softens the edges of our landscape and covers over a multitude of imperfections. I still enjoy playing in the snow or just watching the dogs gleefully plow and submarine through it! I love watching snowflakes float gently earthward like so many down feathers, landing as soft as a whisper, fascinated by the thought that each delicate crystal that has ever fallen since time began is unique from any other. I love the giant shimmering icicles that form along the roofs edge. I love how even on a cloudy day that pure white blanket reflects light and seems to brighten life. I love nights when the snow is awash in silvery moonlight. I love the glorious blue-sky days when practically blinded by the sun’s reflection on the sparkling surface, but oh how good it feels on the eyes! I love how quiet and peaceful the world around seems as the snow muffles sound.

As spring steadily approaches, I think how I will miss the snowy white blanket, but also how I will revel in the beauties of new life springing forth in their characteristic noisy fashion!

They Fly By

 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!

Go With the Flow!

Winter has been rather warm with weird weather, same as everywhere. We have snow but the ground underneath is barely frozen. That means it is possible to get stuck in the snow and mud at the same time!

We're keeping busy with everyday life. Priorities change rather quick out here, so neither the cabin nor bridge are finished. Go with the flow, is our motto!

We added a small spinners flock of Shetland sheep. I look forward to learning to spin with their gorgeous fleece!

Chirp, chirp

If it were the time of year for crickets to be chirping, we could insert the sound here. Things have been slow due to weather, lots of rain, especially for this time of year. Hay to bring in, animals to care for, etc. You know... life!

New Blogs

A couple of our other blogs have a new location...  on Blogspot of course! 

You’ll find the same newsy content, weekly posts (hopefully), and a lot more beautiful photos of our English Shepherd farmdogs and life around the Ranch.

Be sure to leave comments, offer ideas, and ask questions!!

We hope you’ll visit often!

 Our other blogs:

http://highlandglennES.blogspot.com/

http://HGRanch2011.blogspot.com/