Hannah is 8 years old!

My Hannah Margaret is 8 years old today. She is beautiful, sensuous, willowy and has the most gorgeous, buttery skin. When I last visited her in Las Vegas where she lives, she was reading herself to sleep with a book on Greek and Roman mythology. Hannah came to my wedding, on December 19, 1998. She was my favorite guest. I loved how she voiced her opinion of the service, and was actually sorry her mother, Annie, rushed her out of the sanctuary. She wore the cutest little dress. The best wedding picture is the one with Hannah in it. I adore her and wish I could spend more time with her. I know I immersed myself in sheep partially because of the pain of living so far away from my grandchildren. The flock keeps me busy, physically and emotionally. But I think of Hannah and her brother, Luke, every day. We see each other twice a year, hardly enough time to provide them with the grandmotherly experience I want to give them. They love the farm animals, especially the chickens. I can't wait to show them the new farm...

We are moving...

Friday was my last day of school. Mixed emotions...all those years of school, knocking myself out to get that AA, BA and MA in six years. Late nights, dark parking lots, icy roads, deadlines. Kids left alone, housekeeping not done, no socializing. Resumes, interviews, uncertainty. Finally a decent job in an upscale "J-Crew" high school. Earning tenure, finally feeling secure, good pay. And I walked away to move to my little farm in a beautiful valley in central New York. Sheep kind of "happened to me" and now they are a way of life. It is not only the sheep, it is my angora goats, my llamas, the fiber they give me and the company they provide me with. It is working outside in all kinds of weather...coming back in after doing chores in freezing rain, warming by the fire. I spent last year in five windowless classrooms all day long. I felt sorry for myself and the students.

M-o-v-e is a four letter word for a reason! It's horrible! Chaos rules my life ordinarily, but picking it all up and organizing it is a daunting task. My youngest son is home from the Army until July 8 and is helping me makes trips to the farm every other day. We load up the pick-up and the trailer, unload, try to make a little fun out of the day by taking a walk, ride to a nearby site, etc., then travel home. Gas is ridiculous. $100 for a round trip. Working at home seems to make more sense all the time...

I am still here...

Whew! what a spring. Too much to tell. Many lambs and goat kids born. Sorrow and loss. The hideous attack on my flock April 11. And now the move to Brookfield, leaving the pain behind. School is almost over and I have resigned my job to start a new life in Central New York. Did I really do that? I left my tenured position at a classy, upscale J-Crew high school to forge a life on the frontier? Yep, I did it. It reminds me of reading geneology lists of my mother's family in the early 1800's - beside many names there was the notation, "Gone to Texas." Well, I have "Gone to New York."

I know why m-o-v-e is a four letter word. There are not too many things more stressful. I believe it is a positive move, but a logistic nightmare with all the animals. I have no house to live in, but lots of shelter with a trailer, a barn, a pole barn tractor shed, and a 10 foot dome tent donated by my dear friend, Jan. I will raise as much of my own food as possible, work like crazy to make my usual farm and craft products to sell, pick up more shows and possibly a farmer's market.

This blog will be a good way to report the progress of my move/new farm to my family and friends.

I will leave you with my Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival blue ribbon picture, "Guardian Angel."