The first babies born on the Fat Ewe Farm. Intrinsically, from deep within my soul, I have always known about the Earth. Pesticides and herbicides were the rage when I was growing up and promised to make our lives easier and our gardens more productive, but, somehow, it made no sense that they could selectively kill some bugs and not others, while doing nothing to us. So, I chose to never use them. Then Round Up came on the scene, a chemical that was inert, so it was said, killing the weeds, but not the plants we wanted to grow. Again, this did not make sense to me and I banned all chemical interventions from my garden and my life. I cleaned with borax and washing soda, baking soda and vinegar for the most part, and sewed many of my own clothes and all of the clothes my children wore for many years. Baby food did not come from jars, rather, it was real food that I prepared lovingly, much of it home grown, and mashed and pureed for the children. They had home made bread and baking and learned a little about gardening too, though none seemed to take an interest in growing things as I did. For some reason, being in the garden, enveloped my soul and revitalized my energy.
I do not remember life without a dog or a garden, actually. All things were naturally grown and raised and loved with thanks given for the bounty as we partook of the delicious foods. Canning was also part of harvesting the garden, though in the busy years, when I had older children, was a single parent and worked full time at three jobs, it was on the back burner.
Now, retired and farming, my life is once again full of the joy of working in harmony with nature, the Earth and its bounty and the pleasure of my animals, of which, if you count the birds, are over a hundred. Sadly, I suffer from arthritic scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that is debilitating and painful. Yesterday my back went into spasm and rendered me unable to move. Yet, my son is home from camp, and offered to do the chores for me. Thankful for his presence and that he is willing, I gladly accepted and retired to the house to recuperate, which will take a few days of being still. I made some garlic, ginger, turmeric and honey tea and will continue to drink this concoction for days to combat the inflammation. In the meantime, my heart and soul remain outside, where they sing with the breeze and sway with the trees, play with the dogs and fly with the chickens (yes, my chickens can fly). And despite the terrible pain, this day, I am filled with gratitude just to be alive and breathing. Really, I am. Thank you Creator for this life, a most perfect one, thank you.
I do not remember life without a dog or a garden, actually. All things were naturally grown and raised and loved with thanks given for the bounty as we partook of the delicious foods. Canning was also part of harvesting the garden, though in the busy years, when I had older children, was a single parent and worked full time at three jobs, it was on the back burner.
Now, retired and farming, my life is once again full of the joy of working in harmony with nature, the Earth and its bounty and the pleasure of my animals, of which, if you count the birds, are over a hundred. Sadly, I suffer from arthritic scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that is debilitating and painful. Yesterday my back went into spasm and rendered me unable to move. Yet, my son is home from camp, and offered to do the chores for me. Thankful for his presence and that he is willing, I gladly accepted and retired to the house to recuperate, which will take a few days of being still. I made some garlic, ginger, turmeric and honey tea and will continue to drink this concoction for days to combat the inflammation. In the meantime, my heart and soul remain outside, where they sing with the breeze and sway with the trees, play with the dogs and fly with the chickens (yes, my chickens can fly). And despite the terrible pain, this day, I am filled with gratitude just to be alive and breathing. Really, I am. Thank you Creator for this life, a most perfect one, thank you.
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