| Farm Life is Good! |
| Sept. 08 Fall seemed to blow in on the hurricane winds this week and it is welcomed here. As I perused through fall farm pictures from 2007 I realized how blessed we've been in the last 365 days and how hopeful we are for the future. The first blessing came with our 2007-08 kid crop. As the babies "dropped" (were born) one after another we realized we were on a "roll"; all girls! When all was said and done we had a beautiful bunch of prissy little doelings to enjoy. There ended up being only 2 handsome bucklings for the year both of which have wonderful homes. Autumn breeding has begun and I wonder if I could be as fortunate next year. Speaking of breeding; that reminds me of the wonderful young buck purchased from a very special couple in Tennessee. The folks at Iron Gate Ranch were extremely knowledgeable and helpful not to mention that they are just "nice folks" to meet. Our new boy, Monte is, at 6 months of age, standing even with one of our 2 year old bucks. If his sire, Sonny Boy, is any indication of what he might turn out like, then we will be quite pleased with him. He is a beauty as he is. Anyone who knows us, is aware that our sheep project had been put on hold due to lack of adequate fencing. Babydoll Southdown Sheep was our breed of choice which we reluctantly sold a year or so ago with hopes of bringing them back when our pastures were extended. Since our sheep were sold, we regularly had calls and emails requesting info. on availability of our babydolls and I sadly would inform that we had none to offer. With August came a very different kind of call from some very special folks that changed the face of our farm for the better. When I looked at the caller I.D. that day and saw "Memphis Zoo" it sure didn't register?? I almost didn't pick up but when I did I found a lady from the zoo calling in search of a replacement ram for their flock on exhibit in Tennessee. If it had seemed hard to tell folks calling for babydolls that we had none to offer, it was now a MONUMENTAL chore to tell the Memphis Zoo that I had none to sell. But, I did offer to help in their search which provided me a delightful journey that led me to Diggins, MO, Benton, KY, Henderson, TN and on to Memphis to the very farm exhibit needing a ram. As I searched for a ram for the zoo, I couldn't help but want one for myself! Hadn't I waited long enough to bring babydolls back to the farm? I decided that a ram lamb somewhere in the vicinity of Paducah, KY would be nice for the zoo as now I was planning to pick up and deliver the zoo's ram and I wanted to arrange it in such a way that I could visit my mother in Paducah. As I perused the many wonderful babydoll sites here in cyberland I happened upon "My Little Sheep" farm in MO where I found the little ram I had been looking for. A business trip to Branson, MO with my husband provided the ride that I needed to get my lamb and before I knew it I had bought, picked up and was enjoying the first of my new flock ....we named him Rigby. Now, onto the zoo's business. The farm that I discovered in Benton, KY was a lovely place tucked behind a pretty white house just off of the highway. Kentuckians are wonderful people and I hit it off with the farm's owner right away. She had an abundace of gorgeous ram lambs this season and was happy to send one of her bundles of white wool to the Memphis Zoo. After all tests were done and all was clear, we arrived at the farm to pick the best ram of the crop. But, gosh, they were all so handsome...maybe we could fit one more into the back of our van for ourselves! So, that is where our second purchase was made and a second member of our flock was found. Now it was on to Memphis to deliver their lamb. The trip to Memphis was topped off with a tour of the zoo by the new friend we'd made, Gail, who generously showed us around and lastly gave us a peak at the farm exhibit where the babydolls and many other domestic animals reside. What a lovely place all in red barns and white fences! I highly recommend seeing it if you ever find yourself in Memphis, TN. Backing up a smidge, the trip to Memphis brought to mind a farm called Iron Gate Ranch which is where I had been eying, on their website, the tremendous looking myotonic goat stock that was being produced there. Could we make a trip all the way from Arkansas to Kentucky and back to Memphis without driving the extra 90 minutes to see the beauties there? I think not! So, off we went with an extra pet carrier and cash in our pocket. We were thrilled with what we saw and heard and happily loaded up our new treasure, Monte, a larger sized myotonic buckling. Phew! What a story! Isn't hobby farming fun? We always look back at the end of a year and reminisce about the people, places and animals we meet along the way. There have been many more not mentioned and I didn't even begin to describe My Little Sheep Farm in MO where the beautifully ancient looking herd of Babydoll Southdown Sheep grace the hills, pastures, and vineyard there. They looked like jewels moving daintily in the green grasses there. Yes, dramatic, but true! ;) Lasty, I must mention a meeting we had this month with a very nice woman reporter from Ozark Farm and Neighbor publication. Although, an article had been printed in the previous publication on Bending Tree Ranch and the myotonics and meat goats there, they were asking to also do an article about our little farm. We were pleased to oblige and will look forward to reading about Four Oaks Farm in their next issue. I can't possibly tell about Carol at Fair Meadow Farm in Hawkins, TX where we purchased our first working farm collie this Sept. Sammy will have to be introduced at a later time. Chewing the Cud isn't usually so "newsy" a place but some stories just have to be told. Thank you for sharing in them with us. Happy Farming! Rhonda Home Page |
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