Up until today, I had never even thought of eating pumpkin leaves. Yes, leaves. Of course, I have grown squash and pumpkins most of my life, and waited impatiently for those big orbs to ripen so I could make pies and stews and one of my favourites, curried ginger and squash soup. But I did not eat the leaves. 
Pumpkin leaves are prickly. Anyone who has grown pumpkin or squash knows it is best handled with long sleeves and gloves, for even though the prickles are small, they are very scratchy and pointed. But when the pumpkin leaves are cooked, the texture is very much like any green, such as collards or kale or beet tops. The prickles disappear. That is similar to stinging nettles, which was a first forage food for me this year too. They were delicious sauteed in butter and garlic, with a little salt and pepper, and no sting! 
I picked both young and mature pumpkin leaves, because I was trimming the runners so no more fruits would develop and the plant could send its energy and nutrients to the fruits already on the vines. The animals leave the leaves alone, likely due to the prickles, but I gave them the vines. The goats ate them, of course. They can even eat stinging nettles and Canada Thistles!
The pumpkin leaves were washed well in warm water and then cut into bits. That was accomplished by taking the largest leaf and laying the rest on it, then rolling the whole thing up. I sliced through the roll and voila! the leaves were cut exactly right. Today, I just did a simple dish with them, cooking the cut leaves with buckwheat. The buckwheat cooked before the leaves, because the only one I had was a cereal, similar to instant oats, though still in chunks. I let it sit for a while, but the pumpkin and squash leaves could have cooked a bit longer. All I added was a dollop, a large one at that,  of some butter, salt and pepper. 
It is really good! Next time, I will pre boil the leaves slightly before adding the buckwheat, and possibly sautee some onion and garlic to add as well. Tonight I served the buckwheat and pumpkin leaf dish with 24 hour stove top roast goose and scrumptious gravy. I already ate the coleslaw I made because I was starving waiting for the delciousness to be ready. Tomorrow, I am going to cook carrot tops. 
I had been doing some research on edible plants and learned that pumpkin and squash leaves are regularly eaten in other countries. There is a pumpkin leaf and rice roll I would like to try, maybe adding a little of the farm's own smoked pork to the rice and some Asian spices and flavours. I do not have green onions, but the chives are still going strong, so some chopped parsley, carrot tops, chives and of course, garlic (did I mention I love garlic?) will be included in those rolls. Carrot tops have more nutrition than the roots. Pumpkin leaves are right up there too! I am considering drying some and shredding them for inclusion in winter soups and stews. 
So, how about it? Would you eat pumpkin or squash leaves? 

My dear sweet orphan lambs, except Gina, the Icelandic, are penned separately within the ewe pen so I could keep an eye on them and whilst doing so, tame them so they are comfortable and easy with me. Next will be to halter them. Three of the lambs are purebred Shetlands, one is Icelandic, one is Cotswold and one is Jacob. These lambs were selected to stay on the farm for their very fine fleece and their mother's natures and abilities as well as hardiness. Thus far, I am so very pleased with the little angels. 
At first I would catch a lamb and sit her on my knee, stroking her head and fleece, and speak softly to her. This went on for three weeks. She would slowly sink into my embrace, close their little eyes and sigh deeply. My heart would hold them dear for a few minutes and then they would be set down, but not freed. Standing close to me was a little difficult for them at first, though as time passed, they also relaxed enough that bolting was not the first choice. 
Then I brought some tasty treats, alfalfa, new grass, weeds and dandelions, and held it for them. The Shetlands were already comfortable enough that they came immediately. Gina, the Icelandic did not come at all. I caught her and held her again and it was as though she suddenly realized she was safe, and she gave in to her instincts and became my friend. The next day all of the lambs came to me running! 
They will still require more work, and haltering will be a process, but then the lambs will remain tame and calm for the rest of our lives. They will be easy to shear, easy to milk, yes milk, and their lambs should also have no fear of me because their mothers will be so calm. Although this process will take a couple of months and twice daily visits, the results will last a lifetime for me, or rather the rest of my shepherd career. 
Sitting peacefully among nature, holding a lamb, stroking its fleece and listening to its heart beating, has to be one of the most tranquil events one could behold, and I get to do this daily. I am so blessed here on the Fat Ewe Farm. I wish you were here to share this joy!

How busy those gregarious little swallows are, swooping down to grasp a mouthful of the right mud, dedicating their endeavours to building their nests, then lining them with the soft breast feathers to cushion their young. Both the male and female, she in her drabs and he in his coral breasted finery, join in the labour of love, preparing to raise their brood with the dedication of any good parent. And they both guard the nest with their lives, fiercely swooping down on any bird large or small to come near and on me too. 
I was watching the birds build a nest on my house, on the east side where the morning sun comes, but just enough under the eave to have shelter and shade. Not wanting the swallow mess that comes with the nest, I dutifully hosed it down and with sheer determination, the mated pair of majestic swallows again rebuilt it. I left it then. Swallows are becoming endangered, forced out of their habitats by sparrows and other nasty birds. Perhaps they needed to be on my house for their own protection. So be it. 
And then I got thinking more about my house and my farm. When I came to this forsaken land in 2011, I was devastated. No consideration had been given to a population of like minded individuals. I simply assumed that people would be the same wherever I landed and I was so very wrong. I felt as though I stepped 25 years back in time where though the people were good people, they simply had gotten lost in the way of progressive thinking and country music. Country music! Oxymoron, for music is NOT that twangy horrible sound. My plan was for ten years to allow myself to learn to become self sustainable and thus far, I have. There are more things to learn, but just after the swallow incident, I pondered staying here. Staying HERE? 
Well, I do not really socialize, except a little at work and a little through social media when the folks come to visit the farm . Some have become friends of sorts, not the type one could call on in an emergency, but acquaintances that share some of the same values. That is so nice. 
Those swallows are what made me reconsider my ten year plan. I have worked incessantly to create this paradise for myself and for my family, should they choose to reside or visit with me. My little farm house suffered a sewer back up earlier this summer and as a result, finally I will have my hobby workshop down there. See? Good comes out of adversity! And the steel building is going up and will be completed shortly. At last a place to park my skid steer in the winter and to work iin the sheltered warmth of the woodstove! There will be some stalls for animals too, if the need arises to house any in the dead of winter, plus a wide space to shear out of the weather! 
So much of that adversity had to happen. How would I have grown? The flood in the basement last year at the bed and breakfast house resulted in the necessity of sorting through the nonessential 'stuff' that had been brought with in my move 5 years previously. At last I must do something with the boxes that had not been opened since coming here. Again, adversity was my friend. 
So, now I have a beautiful farm with animals I adore and know by name and the sounds of their voices. My dogs, my wonderful big fluffy dogs can live here in peace, all 7 of them. If I leave in a few years, rehoming older dogs may be near to impossible and would I give up my friends? I simply could not! The apple trees are starting to produce nicely and next year the cherries and Gogi berries should also be available. My heart is full of pride of ownership here and bursting with love for my animals and my land, though I know the land does not really belong to me or anyone else. Walking through the forest, breathing in that smell of the black poplar trees, sweet and green and fragrant is my favourite  summer pastime. Such joy! 
The swallows showed me that the nest they built with love is worth keeping, is worth defending and worth their diligent efforts. I see that now and I have made the decision to stay! Here, right here on the Fat Ewe Farm, I will be until I am too old to manage. I felt like a huge weight lifted from my shoulders upon making this decision, for starting again somewhere new was not really what I wanted to do. 
And this is it! The swallow, the farm , the dogs and me! I hope you have a huge smile for me now. I am content and happy here. I have made my nest.