Thistle Cove Farm

Home & Homestead Living

Christmas Week

by Sandra Bennett
Farm· TCF

 
 ~ American Curly horses, waiting for breakfast ~

 I’ve not ventured off the farm since the snow storm but the needs of the animals will always make me go. The horses and sheep both needed minerals and anyone who knows me knows I’m keen on minerals. I firmly believe good food, good water and minerals make the fleece as well as the sheep. The horses look much better when they, too, have adequate minerals.

~ waiting for breakfast ~
~ Polly and Sally, Merino twins ~
Polly and Sally are Merino twins who are pigs in sheep’s clothing. These big girls EAT and will knock me down if I’m not paying attention. Yes, they were bottle babies and have never gotten over being held and fed and still firmly believe it’s their due. As you might expect, this is Not A Good Thing. Just
imagine, sheep are about knee high and, when rambunctious, are perfectly capable of taking out a knee. At their very worst, they are capable of butting someone to the ground and then killing them; it’s been known to happen. BTW, the sheep don’t really look wonky; I think that’s due to my making the photos smaller so the page will load more quickly.
~ Abbie, Sam, Sadie ~
It tough, having to perform one’s toilette when the snow is belly deep and there’s an audience. Perhaps now the dogs know what it’s like for me…ya think? -smile- Having dogs is like having children; I’ve always got an audience, I’m never alone and someone always wants to poke their nose in and ask, “watcha doing? Even so, it’s still not as bad as needing to go when I’m caught at the barn. There’s nothing like taking a quick wee and having a horse’s nose investigate. OH MY!
~ Morris Knob ~
~ earth home of my heart ~
Coming home, we round the curve on Rt. 91 and see Home. There aren’t many times I fail to, at the very least, slow down…but mostly I stop…just so I can glimpse home. It always quickens my spirit, catches my breath and makes me count my blessings; God is so gracious and kind to us.
The homestead is just smaller than thirty acres; all that’s left over from a pre-Revolutionary War land grant multi-thousand acre farm. The full story to be told later, after Christmas, but, for now, just know it’s home.
~ in the midst of the snowstorm ~
Each day I check the round bales of hay to make sure the horses still have plenty to eat. The dogs and I take the Ranger and even in the deep snow, in four-wheel drive, I’m able to go where I need to go. Coming back from the lower pasture, I stopped to take this picture. It shows the starkness of the area but it also shows the beauty of home.


“Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.”       ~ Henry Van Dyke ~


“Home is the one place in all this world where hearts are sure of each other.  It is the place of confidence.  It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communications of full and confiding hearts.  It is the spot where expressions of tenderness gush out without any sensation of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule.”                     ~ Frederick W. Robertson ~

“I had rather be on my farm than emperor of the world.”  ~ George Washington ~



Merry Christmas, until next time,


Blessings ~ home ~ Thistle Cove Farm ~ sheep ~ horses ~ dogs ~ minerals ~ home ~

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Comments

  1. KathyB. says

    Your home appears to be the embodiment of the ideal so many hold up as "home" and it is such a blessing to read about you and from you that the hearts of the dwellers of Thistle Cove are hospitable and truly God-loving and God-serving people…makes me know that if I am ever in your neck of the woods I feel I can give you a phone call and say " hey, I am in the area and i will be coming over for a cuppa…" and know if you're home you'll say " the kettle's on, we're waiting"!

    Merry Christmas to you both!

    Reply

  3. Bejeweled says

    Look at all your snow!! Oh my goodness. I think our home is simply beautiful .. in any season.

    I was chuckling a bit at your sheep comments. I never thought about sheep being aggressive enough to take out a knee or kill someone….forgive me for being such a city girl?

    Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas filled with love, laughter, warmth, and all things wonderful!!!

    Reply

  4. Tiffany Teske says

    You have a beautiful home, Sandra! Thank you for sharing it. And for the lovely quotes. Merry Christmas to you! And once you are done celebrating, will you contact me about roving… for felt making… do you sell it? Hugs T

    Reply

  9. My Farmhouse Kitchen says

    The photographs are beautiful….
    It has been such a pleasure to get to know you this year…your blog is just wonderful…looking forward to more in the New Year…

    Sending you and all the animals at Thistle Cove Farm Christmas Blessings and Love,

    Kary and Buddy
    xxx

    Reply

Comment Policy

Thank you for visiting Thistle Cove Farm; may God bless you, yours and the work of your hands and heart. My goal is to respond, here, to your comments although it may take a while. Anonymous comments negative, rude or detrimental in nature will be removed.