The first sheep I acquired as an adult was, Daisy, a three month old lamb who had been born at a very small birth weight of 2.9 lbs. Just to put this into perspective, the average weight for a newborn lamb is usually 10 lbs. Daisy’s previous owners were meat producers who had raised Daisy on the bottle, had gotten attached, and realized at three months and weighing only 20 lbs, that he would never make weight for slaughter. Added to this, Daisy was supposedly blind and a ewe. I fell in love and thought this would be a nice little ewe to start back into shepherding, but Daisy was full of surprises.
Daisy had never grazed on fresh grass before, being grain and hay fed only, but after a month on our pasture it was obvious that Daisy could see, and could be quite lively. However, Daisy did sometimes faint. When this happened we consulted our local vet, who did a thorough first examination. The vet “confirmed” that Daisy was in fact a Ewe and that there were “no horns in that head.” However, another month on, Daisy developed horns (more appropriately named scurs) and extra body parts, including, testes, and a misplaced penis. We sought further care at a larger livestock hospital, where it was determined that Daisy’s lungs were scarred from having lived with smokers for three months, and that he was definitely never female, or a hermaphrodite, but a full fledged ram that had just been born too prematurely to develop fully.
With a ram on our hands, gears shifted a bit. Having been around bulls, cocks, and other male farm animals, this was not welcome news. Moreover, Daisy’s name didn’t seem to fit a ram anymore, but we had called him Daisy for so long, that we couldn’t imagine calling him anything else. I later reconciled myself to this strange gender bent name after remembering that Dickens’s David Copperfield was called Daisy by his schoolmate Steerforth.
These days, though, Daisy is more often referred to as Doodles, because he is always doodling about, getting into mischief, or trying to whack us with his horns. Shepherd’s crooks are useful for more than just herding the flock! Often these hickory canes have saved a shin or femur from attack. Doodles loves his people, but for him, whacking is fun, and it is vitally important to remember the old adage, “never turn your back on a ram.”
January 6, 2022
Repurposing old storage containers and celebrating with a 12th Night feast.
April 21, 2021
Crazy weather, the greenhouse is packed and flourishing, Easter happiness, and waiting for the arrival of new baby chicks.
February 17, 2021
Wrapping up the holidays, jumping into a painting project, and cleaning the house from top to bottom.
November 19, 2020
For years I would sit and stare at my house and wonder why it didn’t have that colonial feel that... View Article
November 18, 2020
Seed starting begins again, just before the busy holiday season gets into full swing.
November 9, 2020
November begins with cool weather and blustery days. The seasons change and Harry enjoys the days.
November 2, 2020
Once again the coop needs some attention and some much needed safety additions. My joints just can't take the bend to feeders anymore!
October 31, 2020
Rushing to finish a big job never helps, but some last minute trim ideas make a big difference, and all in time for Halloween
October 20, 2020
When it rains it pours. Both the weather and the power tools conspire to keep the porch from being repaired.
October 19, 2020
A hearty one pot soup for all the leftovers or just in anticipation of Thanksgiving
October 12, 2020
Cool days give a taste of fall weather. I spend some time in the greenhouse and muse over the animals enjoying the day
October 5, 2020
Spring bulbs arrive for next year and Harry discovers a toad
September 28, 2020
I begin the porch project with some early painting and decorate for the season
September 21, 2020
Non-native problems continue but I tarry on with the season all the same.
September 14, 2020
Anniversaries can never just run smoothly, can they?
September 7, 2020
I start looking towards the holidays with an old fashioned recipe, and I look backwards as I transplant some wildflowers
September 1, 2020
The old yew bushes are removed to make way for a porch face-lift, and I attend to some inside repairs
August 24, 2020
Some late season planting, ordering bulbs for the coming year, and tackling a new antique project
August 17, 2020
Where has time gone? Visiting a familiar old house that has gone to ruin.
July 3, 2020
The weather has switched to summer heat and it is searing. Time for the garden to explode with weeds and produce.
June 27, 2020
It's my birthday again. Strawberries are in season, and I spend some time hauling rocks . . . again.
June 20, 2020
I do some late season gardening and try some greener products again, this time, with sheep milk
June 13, 2020
The garden has been giving us a preview of what is to come, and the weather gives us a taste of storms ahead
June 6, 2020
The package saga continues, and some early summer sounds kick into high gear
May 16, 2020
Mother's Day arrives, and amidst enjoying my homemade tea room I deliver some lovelies straight from the greenhouse
May 9, 2020
The wildflowers are here. I begin planting the last bits of my spring order and gift an instant garden to my sister
May 2, 2020
Warm weather comes a bit early for us, but my toad friends are back for another year of bugs
April 25, 2020
More deliveries as Covid continues. Each day is full, and only the inconvenience of a few missing packages affects the Little Corner
April 18, 2020
As we all adjust to Covid, Harry helps the Easter Bunny and delivers a bit of springtime cheer to family
April 11, 2020
We tackle the window project and find a few surprises, meanwhile my tattersall rugs arrive in time to give the house a lift for spring
April 4, 2020
We begin ripping out the old windows in preparation for the new installation, meanwhile spring burst forth all around us
March 28, 2020
Some fruit trees arrive, including some very old varieties, and I do a massive replant in the new section. Time to make that little forest grow.
March 22, 2020
We experience a strange St. Patrick's Day as the first Covid birthday gets underway, and the fencing project finally comes to a completion
March 15, 2020
While the country seems to be poised for a lockdown, we keep plugging away at the fence, and work in a little landscaping too
March 7, 2020
The fence project continues, while we have a quick birthday for Doodles and a little bit of cherry pie to celebrate the day
February 22, 2020
We start the task of fencing in the whole of our 5 acres, and with the weather shifting between snow and warmth there is a lot of mud
February 15, 2020
I get creative with trying to solve an old puzzle -- just what did that old baker use to make such perfectly sweet red icing?
February 8, 2020
Our great prognosticator has predicted an early spring, and we begin preparations for the new parcel
January 31, 2020
A new phase of the Little Corner begins with the beginning of a wildlife habitat and expanded sheep field
January 25, 2020
It is already time to think about the garden and time to think about getting cuttings from my salvaged fall pots
January 19, 2020
Our snow for 2020 looks like it is going to remain a bit spotty, but Harry still gets some time to play, and I tackle cutting the petunia trees
January 13, 2020
I begin the New Year with spring cleaning, a repair inventory, and some Moses Eaton styled floor cloths
January 6, 2020
This year the flower color palette for the Vienna New Year’s Day concert was in shades of pink and yellow. ... View Article
December 31, 2019
I end a busy 2019 sharing my best wishes to everyone and a wish for the 'quiet life'
December 25, 2019
The season marches forward with Christmas bakes, and I try a few experiments on some old favorites
December 7, 2019
With Christmas on its way, I take a look at the 400+ seedlings in the basement, and Harry helps . . . or so he thinks.
November 30, 2019
I substitute an old favorite in our rarely altered traditional meal, and my family and I head to the tree farm again
November 24, 2019
My daughter's birthday inspires some unicorn decorations and the sky seems to join in the fun
November 17, 2019
After so much heat, and still so much green hanging on the trees, an early snow surprises us all
November 9, 2019
I get my husband to make a late season alteration to our coop, which will hopefully help my bones this winter
October 31, 2019
I make some last minute adjustments to the yard, just in time to catch the last of the warm weather
October 20, 2019
The frost finally shows up and autumn activities accelerate to match the change in weather
October 6, 2019
When we should be thinking of hot drinks, the weather keeps summer barreling into fall, which makes late season gardening miserable
September 30, 2019
As we wind down the year towards the fall season, another repair presents itself, this time our refrigerator
September 22, 2019
Following a recipe mishap years ago, I attempt use up some of our pear bounty and make a tasty chutney
April 21, 2021
Crazy weather, the greenhouse is packed and flourishing, Easter happiness, and waiting for the arrival of new baby chicks.
February 17, 2021
Wrapping up the holidays, jumping into a painting project, and cleaning the house from top to bottom.
November 19, 2020
For years I would sit and stare at my house and wonder why it didn’t have that colonial feel that... View Article
November 18, 2020
Seed starting begins again, just before the busy holiday season gets into full swing.
November 9, 2020
November begins with cool weather and blustery days. The seasons change and Harry enjoys the days.
November 2, 2020
Once again the coop needs some attention and some much needed safety additions. My joints just can't take the bend to feeders anymore!
October 31, 2020
Rushing to finish a big job never helps, but some last minute trim ideas make a big difference, and all in time for Halloween
October 20, 2020
When it rains it pours. Both the weather and the power tools conspire to keep the porch from being repaired.
October 19, 2020
A hearty one pot soup for all the leftovers or just in anticipation of Thanksgiving
October 12, 2020
Cool days give a taste of fall weather. I spend some time in the greenhouse and muse over the animals enjoying the day
October 5, 2020
Spring bulbs arrive for next year and Harry discovers a toad
September 28, 2020
I begin the porch project with some early painting and decorate for the season
September 21, 2020
Non-native problems continue but I tarry on with the season all the same.
September 14, 2020
Anniversaries can never just run smoothly, can they?
September 7, 2020
I start looking towards the holidays with an old fashioned recipe, and I look backwards as I transplant some wildflowers
September 1, 2020
The old yew bushes are removed to make way for a porch face-lift, and I attend to some inside repairs
August 24, 2020
Some late season planting, ordering bulbs for the coming year, and tackling a new antique project
August 17, 2020
Where has time gone? Visiting a familiar old house that has gone to ruin.
July 3, 2020
The weather has switched to summer heat and it is searing. Time for the garden to explode with weeds and produce.
June 27, 2020
It's my birthday again. Strawberries are in season, and I spend some time hauling rocks . . . again.
June 20, 2020
I do some late season gardening and try some greener products again, this time, with sheep milk
June 13, 2020
The garden has been giving us a preview of what is to come, and the weather gives us a taste of storms ahead
June 6, 2020
The package saga continues, and some early summer sounds kick into high gear
May 16, 2020
Mother's Day arrives, and amidst enjoying my homemade tea room I deliver some lovelies straight from the greenhouse
May 9, 2020
The wildflowers are here. I begin planting the last bits of my spring order and gift an instant garden to my sister
May 2, 2020
Warm weather comes a bit early for us, but my toad friends are back for another year of bugs
April 25, 2020
More deliveries as Covid continues. Each day is full, and only the inconvenience of a few missing packages affects the Little Corner
April 18, 2020
As we all adjust to Covid, Harry helps the Easter Bunny and delivers a bit of springtime cheer to family
April 11, 2020
We tackle the window project and find a few surprises, meanwhile my tattersall rugs arrive in time to give the house a lift for spring
April 4, 2020
We begin ripping out the old windows in preparation for the new installation, meanwhile spring burst forth all around us
March 28, 2020
Some fruit trees arrive, including some very old varieties, and I do a massive replant in the new section. Time to make that little forest grow.
March 22, 2020
We experience a strange St. Patrick's Day as the first Covid birthday gets underway, and the fencing project finally comes to a completion
March 15, 2020
While the country seems to be poised for a lockdown, we keep plugging away at the fence, and work in a little landscaping too
March 7, 2020
The fence project continues, while we have a quick birthday for Doodles and a little bit of cherry pie to celebrate the day
February 22, 2020
We start the task of fencing in the whole of our 5 acres, and with the weather shifting between snow and warmth there is a lot of mud
February 15, 2020
I get creative with trying to solve an old puzzle -- just what did that old baker use to make such perfectly sweet red icing?
February 8, 2020
Our great prognosticator has predicted an early spring, and we begin preparations for the new parcel
January 31, 2020
A new phase of the Little Corner begins with the beginning of a wildlife habitat and expanded sheep field
January 25, 2020
It is already time to think about the garden and time to think about getting cuttings from my salvaged fall pots
January 19, 2020
Our snow for 2020 looks like it is going to remain a bit spotty, but Harry still gets some time to play, and I tackle cutting the petunia trees
January 13, 2020
I begin the New Year with spring cleaning, a repair inventory, and some Moses Eaton styled floor cloths
January 6, 2020
This year the flower color palette for the Vienna New Year’s Day concert was in shades of pink and yellow. ... View Article
December 31, 2019
I end a busy 2019 sharing my best wishes to everyone and a wish for the 'quiet life'
December 25, 2019
The season marches forward with Christmas bakes, and I try a few experiments on some old favorites
December 7, 2019
With Christmas on its way, I take a look at the 400+ seedlings in the basement, and Harry helps . . . or so he thinks.
November 30, 2019
I substitute an old favorite in our rarely altered traditional meal, and my family and I head to the tree farm again
November 24, 2019
My daughter's birthday inspires some unicorn decorations and the sky seems to join in the fun
November 17, 2019
After so much heat, and still so much green hanging on the trees, an early snow surprises us all
November 9, 2019
I get my husband to make a late season alteration to our coop, which will hopefully help my bones this winter
October 31, 2019
I make some last minute adjustments to the yard, just in time to catch the last of the warm weather
October 20, 2019
The frost finally shows up and autumn activities accelerate to match the change in weather
October 6, 2019
When we should be thinking of hot drinks, the weather keeps summer barreling into fall, which makes late season gardening miserable
September 30, 2019
As we wind down the year towards the fall season, another repair presents itself, this time our refrigerator
September 22, 2019
Following a recipe mishap years ago, I attempt use up some of our pear bounty and make a tasty chutney
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