Tuesday Tunes: The Glamorous Life?

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This post is dedicated to our beautiful and resilient sheep:  Violet, Hamish, Clover, Rosebud, Fern, Ivy, Heather, Olive, Button, and Daisy.

The glamorous life? Not quite. Farm life definitely isn’t glamorous, but that’s okay.  It’s fulfilling.  And, it means everything to us. Farmguy and I enjoy interacting with all of our sentient, intelligent, and sweet animals. We also love that each one of them has his or her own individual personality: friendly, talkative, piggy, aloof, curious, or playful.  Our sheep, chickens, dogs, and cats enrich our lives immeasurably.  Simply stated, Green Hill Farm is a source of joy.

Sometimes we think we know how much something means to us; however, we may not fully realize until we’re faced with not having it anymore.  This brings me to last week.  Everything was routine as usual, until Tuesday.  I was feeding the sheep their afternoon scoop of grain, when I noticed Violet acting disoriented and not approaching the troughs.  She was moving slowly and had an odd, wide-eyed look about her.  I knew immediately that something was amiss, especially because our sheep NEVER turn down grain.  I went straight into the house and looked through our reference books on sheep.  I searched for her symptoms of disorientation and anorexia, and to my horror, listeria showed up as a choice.  For those of you who may not be familiar with sheep illnesses, listeria is very bad.  It’s a bacteria that lives in the soil and can sometimes be found in contaminated food.  It’s most easily contracted in the winter and spring months due to wet conditions. It basically acts as meningitis, and once a sheep starts showing symptoms, they are usually gone within 24-48 hours.  It’s also contagious to other sheep.

My concern quickly turned to worry as I telephoned my local veterinarian….and then to panic, when the receptionist informed me there were no appointments available for 36 hours.  I accepted the first thing she offered, hung up, and took a deep breath.  I called Farmguy at work and explained what was happening.  We talked for a minute, and he assured me that everything would probably be okay, suggesting that maybe Violet had a respiratory infection.  I didn’t disagree, but I doubted it was a respiratory infection secondary to her odd behavior.  Plus, I hadn’t heard her sneezing.  I walked back down to the pasture.  Although everyone but Violet ate the grain, they all seemed to be a little off—just standing and staring.  Prey animals, such as sheep, are stoic–never showing fragility or illness until they’re about ready to expire.  This is because they don’t want to attract predators.  I searched their faces, concentrating on every little nuance to see if I could observe any tiny change in appearance or behavior.  As I stood there, a sense of helplessness washed over me.

When Dr. Knapp, the veterinarian, arrived a day and a half later, Violet was looking even more unsteady and wild-eyed.  She wasn’t eating, and she wasn’t with the rest of the flock.  (As prey animals, sheep flock together to look bigger. You don’t normally see one sheep hanging out by itself, unless it’s not well.)  Dr. Knapp evaluated Violet, and although it was difficult to be 100% sure, she agreed that the issue could be listeria, due to some of the neurological signs–weird eye movement, uneven facial expression, and unsteadiness.  Violet also had a high temperature of 104.6 F.—normal range for sheep is 101-103.

I was upset about losing one of our sheep, but the thought quickly flew through my mind that we could lose more.  I asked Dr. Knapp if she could come back the next day, when Farmguy would be home to help.  I wanted to take the temperatures of the rest of the sheep and preventatively treat any having high fevers with antibiotics.  She agreed that this would be a good course of action.

So, on Friday, Dr. Knapp returned to Green Hill Farm and took the temperatures of all of our sheep as well as administered antibiotics to the five exhibiting temperatures above 103.  At this point, Half of our flock was showing possible signs of illness.  Before leaving, Dr. Knapp and her assistant filled syringes with antibiotics for Farmguy and me to administer to the sheep over the next three days. Fortunately, we had decent weather and a long weekend ahead.

I was beside myself.  Concern about our sheep seemed miles away now.  Instead, concern had been replaced with despair.  Our beautiful, Black Face sheep are the image I see in my mind’s eye when I envision Green Hill Farm.  They’re the first sight and sound I experience when I walk outside: a sweet, woolly face standing at the gate, hoping for a little grain. Or, a distant “Baaah” of hello.  I felt sick to my stomach, and my heart ached.  After going around and around in my mind and feeling numb, I stopped.  I was powerless to know the outcome of this situation, but I knew we were going to do everything we could to save these sheep. I let go of my despair, and instead, carefully embraced hope and my faith that everything would be all right.

On Saturday, using a rectal thermometer, Farmguy and I diligently took and recorded the temperatures of ten, beloved sheep as well as administered antibiotics and anti- inflammatories.  The sheep’s temperatures were within the normal range for the most part. We were especially concerned with Violet as well as Sweet Hamish as both were exhibiting high temperatures on Friday.  Farmguy and I repeated this routine on Sunday, and again on Monday.  Thankfully, each day our efforts were met with good news.  The temperatures were coming down, appetites were increasing, and our sheep were beginning to act more like themselves.

Here’s the thing:  I really enjoy travel and everything associated with it. It’s wonderful to experience different countries and cultures.  But, I’ve noticed that whenever I’m away, my heart is always at home.  I never fully realized how much our sheep—and our farm meant to me, until I thought I may lose some part of it.  So, if I had to choose, I would choose farm life over the glamorous life….every time.  It’s not because I don’t enjoy travel and everything exciting and enriching about it, because I do.  It’s just that I love our animals and farm more.  And, in the words of Prince, who wrote lyrics for  “The Glamorous Life,” —-without love, it ain’t much.

 

A whole lotta gratitude and much love to Farmguy for always being by my side…in all seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Photography, Reflections on Farm Life, Sheep Keeping, Tuesday Tunes

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58 Comments »

  2. That’s a terrific story, Tonya and my heart was in my throat as I was reading it, praying that each of them would be okay.
    You’re right about so many things here..how we sometimes don’t fully appreciate people and our surroundings until there is the risk of not having them there. Travel is a great experience with so many wonderful benefits but coming home and being where your heart truly lives and loves, well, there isn’t anything else like it.
    Thank God everything turned out as it did and thank you for sharing your experience with us and showing us how much work and love goes into your farm. It certainly isn’t easy but the love you receive in return is priceless😊

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  8. I am so happy to hear that your sheep are on the road to recovery now, Tonya. You and Farmguy are a wonderful team and always work hard to ensure your animals are happy and healthy, and it seems to have paid off 🙂 ❤❤❤❤

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    • I’m fortunate that Farmguy shares my love for and dedication to our animals, because in a situation like this one, teamwork is important. We’re both elated that our sheep seem to be feeling better. Thank you so much, Judy. 🙂 ❤xo

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  11. In times of crisis, we always are directed to those things which mean the most. And there is indeed something glamorous about a life that includes so much compassion for your farm animal family. I was worried for you, but really enjoyed this post. Glad it is working out for all of them. Priorities….they matter. Good for you, Tonya. ❤️

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  15. Gah, I was on the verge of tears about some sheep I’ve never met! Glamour has never appealed to me, sheep always have. Always. Mercy, I’m glad they’re okay 🙂 Home is where the heart is, and your home is full of heart. ❤

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  16. Oh my gosh Tonya, what a dreadful feeling that must have been! I am so sorry you were so distraught, and it is very evident that you love your woolly kids. I am so thankful for you that the sheep are turning the corner. Sending love and hugs!! xoxo

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  17. This post touched me on so many levels … first of all I couldn’t bear the thought that you would lose any of your sheep … your love for them oozes out of your posts and I know without knowing you how much they mean to you. But it reached another stitch of me too. The one that gets to travel a lot and knows that home can be with me all the time but that when I find that place, the place my love and I will settle as our forever home in a short while that I will ache for it when I leave it. And that will be in no small part due to the animals we will keep that rely on us and that love us in that unblinking unerring way that we, as humans, sadly lose touch with too easily. Bon courage and may you not have to suffer a repeat of such a drama with your flock 🙏🏼

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  19. This is such a beautifully moving post, Tonya. You captured the spirit of your life at Green Hill Farm perfectly, and as someone who didn’t grow up in that life it really opened my eyes to the beauty of each and every creature in your care. I hope your sheep are feeling better every day.

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  21. Listeria!! Oh my goodness Tonya how scary! I’m so glad to hear that everyone is ok and doing better. Poor Violet may just need a few extra scoops of grain. You are so right Tonya sure the glamorous life can be fun, but truly there is nothing like coming home and being with your family and furry friends.

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  23. It might not be glamorous but it’s fulfilling, hardworking and responsible. I’m so glad the sheep are okay! I could just imagine the dread you must have felt. All well to your farm, new dog and all human and animal life on it!

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  24. Really enjoyed your blog — we farm in much the same way in Wales, on the west of the UK. We have 21 breading ewes and people think I’m insane when I talk about their clever non-verbal (and verbal) communication, their sensory acuteness and their incredible social behaviour. It’s good to find I’m not alone!

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  25. I came back and realized I had not read this or had not replied. I am so glad that you were able to take care of the sheep and the vet was able to get this turned around. Violet’s current loss is very sad. . . Hugs and kisses, Robin 💐

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