The sacrificial shepherd?!
You'd think she gave birth to these new lives herself.
"It is getting easier, lambing season. I have no regrets even though my eyes have insane bags and my body is as bloated as deer on the side of the road."
"The money I have right now needs to go to other places more urgent right now, or I would build a lambing barn."
...but I'm still going to breed. Its not due to ignorance...it's reckless carelessness.
Heartless.
I could be prepared but I'd rather buy beer.
That's what I read.
I had same reaction, and was mightily turned off at all the words devoted to her martyr-like, hill-traipsing, wildly exhausted efforts bringing forth the lamb bounty. Such a selfless, determined, exhausted - but loving it! - midwife is "this farmer" on her Hill, imagine capital h.
ReplyDeleteAll the while, of course, trying to disguise her pride in her tough grit by pairing the complaining with rapturous blather about the preciousness of this bounty she has brought forth.
The literary trick in these paeans of reportage is to include many a glancing reference to all the ways she might have, but for this or that, not lost "a babe", while waxing poetic, in great detail, of the efforts put forth. Be sure to (kinda, seem to) accept responsibility by mentioning stuff about bad timing, etc..those darn if-onlys..an oft-heard form of jW humble brag.
Suggestions rec'd with her usual, gee, I would if I only could, but funds have limits, they can't stretch all the way to Mars, folks.
How many years has she been playing at animal husbandry while staunchly "unable" to improve her iffy infrastructure - due to competing needs?
How about the suggestion of not providing sufficient lambing quarters because they are heritage livestock.
DeleteHello...these are DOMESTICATED animals within a fence. Their needs must be provided for. They aren't wild animals able go anywhere to innately find the best lambing location.
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DeleteAgree. Do it right or don't do it at all. For the price of a cattle panel from TSC she could fashion a pen or close off the door to her shed. Or get pallets for free. Options abound.
ReplyDeleteWhen you can't afford basic supplies to prevent livestock loss, you can't afford to farm. Ridiculous.
Yep
DeleteGosh free boxes from the post office would make a pen in a pinch! haha... she wants the drama, face it.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry I ever ran into her books yrs ago. She has brought out more profoundly distasteful feelings in me than anyone I have ever "met".
ReplyDeleteJust read her tweet about some cartoon characters and my instant, strong reaction was: Ick, my thoughts exactly - just how I feel about you, sister!!
Wish I could simply stay away from her garbage; her posts are an unhealthy addiction, bad for my b.p. and feelings of being a decent person, not into hate and judgement.
If she thinks that many lambs is hard, she should give up any ideas she may have on having an actual human baby....would make lambing look like a gentle stroll in the park. All the actual sheep farmers I know would be rolling around laughing at her lambing posts.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a dime for every time I thought that!
DeleteTrust me, we are. She's the laughing stock in our circles.
Delete