Another one always opens.
Does it break my heart to sell my beautiful flock of Shetland sheep?
You BET it does!
Is it easy for me to leave my beautiful valley and give up the lifestyle and the animals that I've grown to love and have given me such joy over the years?
Hell no!
("Bluff Country Destiny" and four of her offspring)
Many of my sheep have spent their whole lives here. It tears my heart out to think about sending them on to new homes.
The one thing that makes it bearable is the knowledge that my girls are all going to be with sheep they've grown up with. My ewes are going in three main groups. So, no one will be the 'lone newcomer' in a flock. Some are rejoining others that left last year or the year before, but all will be with other Bluff Country Shetlands.
Best of all...
Dream,
Zaria
and Alice...
Will all be together and CLOSE by because my dear friend, Jean, has purchased all three of them so that they remain together and I will be able to visit them as often as I want! I don't think I could have done this otherwise!
SO...
My house/farm is for sale. My flock is all but sold. I'm actually looking forward to moving back into town and being close to my kids and grand kids again! I'm going to go watch baseball games, and track meets and karate practice ~ not to mention daily walks with my handsome son and beautiful Princesss! I can't imagine what it will be like to not have to work my butt off, from the time I get up in the morning, until I fall asleep, exhausted, at night. But I'm gonna find out!
DREAM says:
"Mom's wonderful sister, Penny, has been SO much help in taking care of Mom and of us, while Mom was sick. Now, she's putting on a fund raiser to help Mom get money to help pay for fixing up the house and moving! Since Mom was sick, she didn't qualify for unemployment and things are mighty tight around here! If you like Pampered Chef (what ever THAT is!) stuff, check out this link: BLUFF COUNTRY FUNDRAISER . If that link doesn't work, try this: http://www.pamperedchef.biz/goodcooking4u?page=host-search-results&showId=3150795
Bluff Country Shetlands is the 'organization' and Mom gets 25% (cash) of all sales! If someone would like to donate, but doesn't want to buy anything, they can send cash donations to:
Bluff Country Fundraiser
Nancy Krohn
%Eastwood Bank
108 E Cedar St,
Houston, MN 55943
In memo please put Bluff Country fundraiser
"Mom feels kind of silly posting a link to a fundraiser for herself, but Penny said that Mom should "Just shut up and do it!"
The link will also be in the sidebar of this blog...
So happy to hear that Dreamer, Alice and Zaria will be close by for visits. Looking forward to seeing you Sunday
ReplyDeleteJean- MM
I am really happy your flock won't be completely separated, you found good homes for them, and especially happy you will be able to visit Dream, Alice and Zaria regularly. It must be heartbreaking still. I wish you the best in this transition time.
ReplyDeleteI know this was a hard decision, Nancy; but the bright side, as you say, is that you will be closer to family.
ReplyDelete*hugs* and God Bless. ♥
Will you keep this blog? Or start a new one, or just say 'Adios and vaya con dios'? ;)
Take care! :)
My plan is to continue "A Shepherd's Voice". I figure "Once a shepherd, always a shepherd"! Besides, I've still got kazillions of pictures that I never posted plus several months of preparing for the move (I still have to SELL this place!) and even more lambs due! I've got three ewes that look like they'll lamb in the next week or so, so there will be more BABY PICTURES as well!
ReplyDeleteThen, I'm hoping to share my adventure as I move, set up a new home and experience living in town for the first time in over a decade. It's a small town so no "Urban Shepherd" for me. ;-) And of course, most importantly of all, I'll still be visiting with Dream, Alice and Destiny and taking pictures of my beautiful ladies on their BIG new farm!
I hope you'll join me...
I am glad things are working out for you and that they are going to good homes. I knows its gotta be tough. Praying for you through this time of changes!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for the parts that inevitably make you sad, and I can't blame you for them. But I'm glad for the joy you've found for so many years, the joy you're going to discover with your family so near, and the next big adventure. I've always been a fan of adventures :)
ReplyDeleteYou will always have your memories and nothing stays the same forever. That's the hardest part - moving on in life.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you will still be able to visit with your sheep and so sorry that this part of your life is ending.
I know you will enjoy seeing more of your family.
Like one of your sheep, I will continue to follow you wherever you go Nancy.
Blessings, Star
Well, Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what to say. My heart goes out to you in this huge lifestyle change and the loss of your sheep. My first thought was that I hoped your special girls would find a new home where you could visit, so I was relieved to hear that was going to happen. It is going to be a time of enormous adjustment and I hope that you do continue this blog--I for one am interested in whatever you decide to do, as I know it will be interesting--besides you are 'blog family'. Anyway, just know that you are in thoughts and prayers and take care.
Tammy
Hey - and now it will be easier for you to go visit your sheep friends all over the country and play with our sheep too :-D.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you, Nancy. I've lived vicariously through your blog--wishing that I could have a spinner's flock of sheep. I'm glad that you'll be able to visit your sheep. What about your doggies? I hope they're staying with you.
ReplyDeleteDiane L./Bloomington,IN
Nancy, I missed yesterday's post so went back to read the news. I know how hard this must be for you, but you definitely have a bright attitude regarding your future in town, closer to family! I've never had to sell a farm and beloved animals, but 2 years ago I was purging my belongings, selling and donating stuff, giving things away to friends and family, as I packed for the move from Atlanta to my current small, rural town in Iowa. I came here because my daughter and SIL had moved here and asked me to come out and live near them. My grandson was born that Nov., which was in a horrid winter, one of the hardest they'd had here in a long time. With a new baby and job uncertainty, they decided it was best to move back to Georgia. I didn't have the money to move again, so I'm still here. But I love this town of under 3000 people! New adventures are always good for many reasons! I think I'll have to sign this "Anonymous" as Blogger is giving me a hard time - I sign in and it accepts that for a couple of blogs, then my handle goes away!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for all the sales, packing, and goodbyes....
Nancy in Iowa
I hope you'll keep making the soap and etc. And I hope that things go well and smoothly, and we soon see you parading around town, enjoying yourself and your lovely kids. You deserve a bit of R&R, after the last few years!! I know endings are hard, even good ones - but I think you are right, and in the end this will be a good beginning, as well. Thank goodness for Jean, though - I know you and Dream couldn't be without each other entirely!!
ReplyDeletexoxoxoxoxoxox
I'm posting this here, since it looks like you haven't updated the chicken blog in a while......
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad, but as others have said, you have the right attitude - looking forward.
OK, no sheep in town, but what about the chickens? You've worked so hard on your MFs and others. Can you keep them in town there? I have a couple....in a townhouse! Have your chickies been sold, and the equipment, incubator(s), any cages, etc. too? I haven't seen you on BYC selling anything, so that was my guess.
I hope it all goes well for you, and that you are very happy in your future.