I’ve always loved the late actor James (Jimmy) Stewart. I first discovered him in one of the many Alfred Hitchcock films in which he appeared. But, my favorite Jimmy Stewart film of all time is still the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful life. Most people are familiar with Stewart’s work, but if you’re not, I hope you’ll enjoy this beautiful and moving tribute he wrote to his beloved dog, Beau.
As someone who has worked with children who have a diagnosis of autism, I was especially moved and inspired by Blake Henkel’s story. Blake is a young man from High Point, North Carolina. While he has limited communication due to an autism diagnosis, he expresses himself beautifully and powerfully through his artwork. Not only does Blake Henkel enjoy painting, but he is also a prolific and successful artist. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen to his story, appreciate his lovely, vibrant art…and be inspired. 🙂 See Henkel’s story in this edition of Roy’s Folks. The link is below. http://myfox8.com/2018/01/24/local-man-with-autism-a-prolific-painter/
Sheep Thrills Italian Non-Vintage Red Blend and 2016 Pinot Grigio A couple of weeks ago, I was grocery shopping at our local Kroger when I spotted these whimsical wine labels featuring sheep attached to parachutes with the name, Sheep Thrills. Although I didn’t know anything about the brand of wine, the bottles were too cute to pass up, so I bought […]
Farmgirl with Hamish and Rosebud “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” ~Dr. Seuss Most of the windows of our 200-year-old house afford a scenic view of the pastures and our beloved sheep. Often, during the day, I will pause for a moment to look out on our little flock, either grazing or lying serenely in a field. It’s a simple pleasure that creates gratitude and lifts my spirit. Sheep typically flock together, especially since they’re prey animals. So, each time I cast an eye over the pastures, I always count to make sure I see all ten of them: Clover, Hamish, Rosebud, Heather, Button, Fern, Olive, Daisy, Ivy, and Violet. Sadly, from now on, I will only count nine of our wonderful woollies. After a decade of loving care and interaction with these beautiful and amazing creatures, we will have to say goodbye to one of them tomorrow. Violet’s front legs have become arthritic, and late last week, she injured one of them and can no longer bear weight on it. The veterinarian visited and said there was nothing to be done to repair the leg. So, we’ve kept Violet comfortable in the hospital pen, administering pain medication for the last few days until we can both be home to humanely say goodbye and have assistance burying her. We are heartbroken. To many, Violet is just a sheep; however, to us, she’s much more. She’s a […]
It was such a beautiful day today on Green Hill Farm—blue skies and 60 something degree temperatures. I took every opportunity to be outdoors, spending extra time in the garden while Dash and Bizou ran around and played. And, I even decided to give the sheep and chickens extra treats…just so I could spend time with them on this blissfully […]
Clover and The Crew “This land pulses with life. It breathes in me; it breathes around me; it breathes in spite of me. When I walk on this land, I am walking on the heartbeat of the past and the future. And that’s only one of the reasons I am a farmer.” ~Brenda Sutton Rose
I love farm animals. So, you won’t be surprised to learn that I also appreciate artwork that features these sweet creatures. Over the years, I’ve collected a number of beautiful, whimsical, and funky pieces from local artists. These lovely works of art never fail to bring cheer and a smile every time I see them. I hope they’ll make you […]
Hamish and Ivy, our two piggiest sheep. There’s nothing our sheep love more than grain. One sheep in particular thinks about it All. The. Time. That, of course, would be Hamish—our Scottish Blackface sheep with the white face. Because Hamish was bottle-fed as a lamb, he’s very comfortable interacting with us. He especially enjoys baaahing loudly whenever he […]
A big thank you to Scott (Farmguy) for capturing this beautiful sunrise on his way to work this morning. “Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.” ~William Wordsworth
One of the greatest joys of Green Hill Farm is observing and interacting with the animals who live here. There’s nothing I love more than sitting on the porch in the evenings and watching the chickens running around chasing bugs or the sheep grazing in the pasture. It’s simply the most satisfying and peaceful feeling. Here are a few pictures […]
My name is Tonya, and I grew up on a 300-acre farm in rural Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years. After graduating from college, receiving my master’s degree in speech and language pathology, and living and working in a small city for six years, I decided to return to the place of my childhood. Here, in this rural area, on this patch of green, where for four generations my family has farmed, gardened, and lived, I, too wanted to be a part of this continuity. As a fourth generation farmgirl, I have many interests that not only include, but also go beyond the basics of farming, gardening, sheep and chicken-keeping. It is all of this and more that I plan on sharing in this blog.
fourth generation farmgirl 