FARM NEWS

Our farm is waking up from the dormancy of Winter. The trees are blooming, buds are popping, the grass is greener and I know Spring has arrived. I let the dogs out early in the morning and I am comforted by the song birds loudly singing to me as they always do every early Spring.  Spring is here but yet I feel somewhat of a silence in my spirit. I've started this blog post over and over in my head. So many messages to answer and hoping to do it in this space. I want my words to be right. It's easy to say be positive and find your happiness but we know many are not really feeling that way and I want to be sensitive to all. Almost feeling guilty, if you will, that my world still remains in my bubble and yet we know many are suffering. Yes I miss my family terribly but I am not suffering as many are. I see a common thread on social media ~ kindness matters ~ small things matter ~ isolation brings on reflection.  It's so true, last week we received a few cards that comforted us and made us feel extra special. A priest I used to work with wrote to thank me for always making him laugh. A childhood friend sent a card. Kindness matters ~ phone calls, letters, notes, reaching out, lights on, clapping ~ kindness matters.

 

With a heavy heart we decided to cancel events for the remainder of the year. We planned a fun farm day with the shearing of the sheep, our county agent here, our large animal vet here and a farm educational guest speaker. I spent the day today cancelling all the farm tours and lavender workshop that was scheduled. We were thrilled how many we had but...  Janice's workshops will remain on pause. We are committed to the health and safety of all our customers and we are grateful for all your support and love ~ always.

 

Being on the farm hasn't changed much. We know what time it is because we have animals to feed and put to bed at certain times. We are in the process of making our shop a shop/studio/workshop for me. Janice still has her workshop space in the Walker House.

We will be opening by appointment as we have farm items to offer but perhaps you will be stepping around the items I have foraged, a spinning wheel, loom, wool area and the meeting place of our new formed Shepherdess get together. We have a new lavender patch up top and so far it likes it there. So hopefully next year you can come pick your own lavender! Still there is fun on the horizon.

 

Starting this Thursday we are trying something new with the candles. You can schedule to come for a "porch pick up."

We will have a table on the shop porch filled with candles and you can pick what you like and take them with you. We appreciate you schedule your pick up time by messaging us on Facebook,

texting or calling 724-304-1271.

We will be scheduling by the hour. Please wear a mask.

The first one will be May 7 - May 10

Thursday through Sunday

They make great Mother's Day Gifts! We will not be mailing any.

Some of the labels will have Twisted Thistle on them because we were commissioned by them to make candles but then they had to close. We have a nice variety. We will have a farm stand this summer ...but one thing at a time.

 

I believe that life is a gift and I am grateful for the time given here.

 

Stay well friends and stay in touch!

         Love to all,

                                         Dave and Audrey Ann

 

 

 



Where Did January Go?

 

Where did January go? It flew for me. The weather in Western Pa. was not overly snowy ~ sort of rainy and windy. I love to hear the rain and wind against the glass outside my window ~ maybe that's odd. It's probably my Irish blood ~ rainy and windy are normal for them.  In the winter I use to judge the snow on weather it would be easy to get to work or not. Now that I am retired I judge it if it's easy to get to the barn or not. It's always easy to get to the barn so I always love the snow. I never want to rush the seasons. I love all of them. For me ~ there is something special about each one of them.

I knew someone that died in January ~ suddenly ~ unexpectedly. I knew her since she was a little girl ~ us playing together in the neighborhood. Pictured is me about the age I met her. Dave said it put me in a funk but I didn't think so ~ he said I was too quiet for a few days ~ so maybe it did. I kept thinking everyday is a gift ~ and thinking about home and heaven.

I hosted a shepherdess gathering in January. I made my Cherry Almond Scones and made up another recipe ~ Bacon Cheese Scones. I'll make them one more time then share the recipe. We had other friends that stopped by in January ~ we love company!

We went to a friend's house who has bought antiques from us and wanted to share how she styled her things. It's so fun to see what happens to the antiques once they leave our shop. She is teaching me the craft of rug braiding. I love learning new crafts.

Those that remember way back when we opened the shop ~ I use to sew & sew & sew. I started sewing again along with my fiber arts. I've really been enjoying this. So many ideas swirling in my head!

There is so much shop news but more on that next month. We've been in the candle making mode and thankful for all the shops that carry our candles. My friend Janice (The Garden Shed in Cabot) and I have been working on dates for workshops. Also many dates are booked for Farm Tours and we are thrilled about that. We love to share our farm. I have been living my last year's word ~ "sharing" ~ and it's been fun. I'm on Instagram and sharing a lot there. In between posts I share in "stories" but I'm not good at sharing when I'm with my family. I try to keep a balance with social media. It's a place where I've met so many other gals that raise sheep. We plan to meet in May at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival ~ I'm looking forward to that. I love sharing about my old fashioned ways ~ the youth have a movement about this and it's called

 "slow living"

That's a good thing!!!

In the winter on the farm we watch the ground, watch the weather, watch how much hay the sheep are eating. We just bought hay that should last till Spring. We are fortunate that we buy our hay 1.5 miles down the road. I love to help unload. It's good exercise.

...and we have had a little set back on the farm. We had a handsome fellow coming for date week (actually scandalous) because he was having date week with all the gals ~ wink ~ wink ~

We have another farm bringing their gals too.

However I wanted to check all my girls for parasites and Genevieve has some. She was treated, cleared and then got another parasite. We NEVER had these problems before and that's for another post but I want Genevieve clear before Oakley comes to visit. I don't oppose breeding out of season because we have before and never had problems. Until then please say a little prayer that Genevieve is clear for her next test and Oakley comes to visit!! wink ~ wink

 

Love to you all and grateful for this life I love,     Audrey Ann

 

 

 

 



 



12 Days of Christmas

The Kings have arrived so it's safe to say we can all put the Christmas decorations away. At least that's how it was in my home growing up. Christmas came and went and I always say some Christmas's are better than others...no matter where you're at in life.  This past Christmas was so special for me.

 I received my yearly secret Santa gift.  It's from my brother (it's a secret) and usually a nun themed gift. I collect nun things. He always finds me something different and makes me feel special. (I'm the baby.)

 

 Lots of extra sheep decorations went up this year!

 I didn't get all the cookies done I wanted to bake. I cut my list in half and still didn't get them all baked. I did try a new cookie recipe thou. I made Linzer cookies for the first time. I used the King Arthur Flour recipe. There are so many Linzer recipes. I would like to try a different one and compare. I'll do that in February.

 Of course I made pies and I always put out my mom's Lefton sleigh and reindeer. I still hear her telling me to be very careful with the reindeer because they are so fragile.

 

  

 I received some awesome homemade gifts!  

I received this sheep ornament along with a few other gifts. They were a big surprise from a friend that lives far away.

Surprises are fun!!!  She makes everyone feel so special!!!

 It was so special to watch the grands interact with each other.

The older ones helping the little ones. Santa brought a share gift for the little ones. I think I heard grandpa say it needs a garage with the tractor Santa brought them a few years back.

 You can't see my other gifts.

My daughter moved back home from Oregon and I truly consider that a gift.  I was able to be with my brother and sister another year on Christmas day. As the years go by and our families grow things change but I felt I was gifted another year with them. I can't imagine Christmas without our laughing, sometimes tears (probably tears because one year I put two huge turkeys in the oven and they were taking VERY long to bake!) spinach balls, turkey dinner, and pitchers of Brandy Alexander's (that my dad started making a million years ago) on Christmas. This Christmas my brother made a special toast to my dad...it's those toasts to the ones that aren't here that always brings me tears. A huge gift was that this Christmas we had all three children home. That hasn't happened in years and it was a huge gift to me...I kept pinching myself through out the day.  And the Lord gave me another gift that's too precious and too private to share but one that truly was a "God thing"...if you know what I mean. I usually don't do a Christmas blog until after the fact. I love the space in-between Christmas and New Years. I love the time to meditate and hang on to the gifts in the

                    12 days of Christmas ~ and beyond.

 

Love to all,    Audrey Ann