Ranch Life

Black Sheep

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DSC_9170p.jpgWednesday morning we woke up to a surprise. Brad said, “One of the ewes gave birth to a Border Collie last night!”. So the kiddos and I quickly dressed, normally a 30-45 minute affair but miraculously we were out the door in less than 5 and headed to the barn…to find a black sheep or rather a spotted sheep.

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The “Black Sheep” is an idiom used to describe an odd or unconventional member of the family and so this little guy is the odd one out. Jacob quickly looked to see if he was a ram lamb, knowing boys are likely sold. But how can you not fall in love with this odd looking creature that bares resemblance to Ripp.

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The ram and ewe were white. His twin is white. White is preferentially selected for the ease of dying the wool. But sometimes recessive genetics just have to do what they do and you end up with a black sheep, or spotted sheep, or white sheep with a black spot, etc.

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He ventured out of the jugs today to meet the rest of the flock. More so than with any other lamb, the rest of the group quickly ran over to check this odd creature out. They stomped and sniffed, armed to defend themselves against something that is novel or different. Nature has conditioned them to guard against that which may be a threat but with a moment of investigation they quickly accepted the novel one as one of their own.

“Go and love someone exactly as they are. And then watch how they quickly transform into the greatest, truest version of themselves. When one feels seen and appreciated in their own essence, one is instantly empowered.”  Wes Angelozzi

Lessons from the Sheep Barn

-Jessie

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Motherhood, Ranch Life

I’d Rather Clean the Barn

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It is no surprise to friends and family that house keeping is not my favorite activity. I look over at the toys strewn across the floor, which seem to have multiplied over the course of the day. The floor is like a mine field that with one wrong step will result in a broken ankle. The wash machine, a relic Craigslist find, is chugging along doing its best to keep up with the constant work requested of it today. I have unenthusiastically did dishes, laundry, scrubbed floors, tidied, sorted, repeated. My dream in life is a housekeeper but our location prevents that.

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I would rather clean the barn and always have. In my college years, I worked at my university’s sheep unit. During my freshmen year, there were big changes and big emotions as there are for many of the fledgling birds leaving the nest. It was my place to find “home” and myself. I’d return from the barn aglow, eyes bright, and cheeks with pink flush brighter than any strawberry hued blush would provide. I loved the barn, being with the animals, the fresh clean air awakening me, my breath faster and harder, and my muscle feeling the burn of a day’s labor.

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There is an appreciation for your efforts. As I spread the new straw the lambs investigate, sniff and chomp, their mamas looking on content to chew their cud. They buck, kick, and frolic thru the new golden straw more grateful than any of my kiddos are with fresh underwear or a clean plate.

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And so it continues that my house is rarely BH&G ready and I need at least 24 hours notice before visits- unless you are in my inner circle of friends or family.  I would rather spend all day, any day cleaning the barn. You are invited to my barn any time!

-Jessie

 

Pet Care, Ranch Life

How to Name a Puppy

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As a veterinarian, I meet a lot of pets and so have lots of inspiration for naming…simple names, complicated names, funny names, names with sentiment.

There are the pet’s names inspired by looks…the Cocoas, Shadows, Reds.  Then the classics…Buddy, Max, Rover. Cats seem to demand the most creative names, maybe because they demand a title not a meager simple name so we see Prince Meowiwether the Third or Professor Snitchy. Owners seem to find inspiration from pop culture or Disney very commonly. You can tell when a Disney movie was popular based on the age of the 100s of pets named after the main characters. We might still see the rare geriatric Simba but we meet plenty of Elsas.

When we acquired our new little working Australian Shepherd puppy the task of finding a suitable name came front and center. Some families know the name of their new creature long before he comes home (as was the case for our human boy’s names) but in our house we must get to know the little furry creature- know his quirks, character, his purpose in this new life. We have a menagerie so naming is a common task. The job of naming of our most recent cats fell to a toddler learning his colors so we have “Black Cat/Penelope”, “Gray”, “Orange Cat”. We went thru a time of naming pets after up and coming children’s names. When we changed Roscoe’s name from Worthy, we departed that path as I felt no mother I knew would name their child Roscoe.

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Now naming a cow dog has its own rules. One syllable is best and it has to be a strong name. It is a “Call Name” and when it erupts from one’s lips it will elicit this little bundle of fur to fly across the barn or pasture, tongue flopping, eager to please his master’s next request. When this name is said everyone must know that this isn’t the name of a lap dog or mere bird dog, but the name of a cow/sheep working dog. His vocation will be know with the simple utterance of his name.

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So began the list of names and the requests for input. Many fine and suitable names came forth. For the first 24 hours, the little puppy was known as Jett. But his master didn’t feel this name was strong enough or suitable. Ripp was deemed a more suitable name for the little fluffy dog. But not to be said as “R-ip” but strongly and with intention “Ri-hipp”.

Jacob has struggled with the pronunciation of “Rs” so for the first part of the day it was “W-hip” and for myself I can’t stop singing “Rip, Rip It Off” to the annoyance of the master who found the most perfect name.

So meet Ripp, the 10 week old Australian Shepherd working dog, with a strong and suitable cow dog name!

Ripp (rip):

Noun: Old English: topographic name for someone who lived by a strip of woodland.

Verb:

  1. Move forcefully and rapidly
  2. Tear or pull quickly or forcibly away from someone or something.

 

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