Thank you is something I don’t say to ya’ll enough. In the past few weeks Erin, Patrick and I have been completely overwhelmed by the support that our readers and shareholders have given us during the past three weeks. We have been on the receiving end of so many happy emails, supportive blog comments, prayers, positive thoughts, well wishes and brownies.
Mansie, Lisa, Lauria and so many others have stayed up with me late into the night, entertaining me into forgetting my lack of sleep. Rona’s relentlessly positive blog comments never fail to bring a smile to my face. Debbie and her mom have shouted from the rooftops about each new baby.
Our friend Grace brought over a complete roast beef dinner of Friday and then stayed to let Erin take a nap and helped deliver two new baby goats. Our dear friend Dom came by yesterday with enough meatballs and sauce to feed a neighborhood. Laurie and Dan drove up from New Jersey today with a lasagna, a loaf of bread and a big stack of flyers that Dan designed for our shearing day party.
Heidi came up from NYC yesterday and spent the night so that Erin and I could get our first full nights sleep in 10 days. Jean is coming over tomorrow to do the same.
Overwhelmed. That’s how I feel. Overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness you’ve all shown us. I am more proud to be part of this community than I can possibly express. I also feel a bit sorry for farmers whose farms aren’t open, who don’t have a fan club, a cheerleading squad. Sharing our lives with you has made me a better shepherd.
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.
{ 28 comments }
Thank you so much for sharing all this with us!
You’re the bomb, Susie – If someday my farm is 1/10th as super cool, loving, joyful and fun as yours, I’ll be one happy shepherd. What a great mentor you are.
Awww. *group hug*
And thank YOU for giving us this community to be a part of! I think it’s so cool that all of us, no matter how far-flung we may be, can see all of “our” new babies and really feel like we’re a part of this whole thing even though we may not be close enough to be there in person. It’s a wonderful thing.
I just want to add my gratitude to everything that Susan has said. I try to tell people all the time, the “support” part of the CSA is not just about the dollars and dimes that keep our animals fed. It’s about the emails, the blog comments, the brownies, the hugs, the helping hands – and the knowledge that there really is a community of people out there who care about these creatures and rooting for us all the time. Thank you all – we truly couldn’t do the work we love without you. – Erin
During the past few weeks I have completely fallen in love with these babies, their mommas, people I have never met and land far away from Oklahoma (but seems somehow a part of my soul). Watching these little goats come into the world with all of you has been an absolute joy.
I have a friend who has been touring Germany. On Friday (as all the new babies were being born!) he walked the path where once stood the Berlin Wall and made comments along the way through Facebook as he digested the meaning of it all. For me it was baby goats to posted wall notes and back again. Crying and laughing and then laughing and crying all over again as I digested the meaning of all of it for me!
Both of these things seem so far removed from each other but, bottom line for me – We have the freedom and the obligation to live life to it’s fullest and should every single day!!! Part of my full life now includes a whole lot of beautiful goats, Susie’s life and farm, and all of you. I hope to someday thank some of them person for letting me watch and be a part of such an intimate part of their lives.
Thanks so much for fillling me up!
Any little thing we can do to help!
Thank YOU for being such an awesome shepherd! without you, we wouldn’t have anyone to talk to ourselves when we stay up late into the night. We’d be staring at the dark!
I so wish that I didn’t live four hours away. I’d gladly bring y’all some food and sleep time in exchange for cuddling some kids!
Susan – Erin – Patrick …. it’s our pleasure to support you guys any way we can. We love you all and can’t wait to see you guys in a few weeks. Especially the babies. One, or two who are imminent
Hi Susan, speaking as one of those other farmers, I think that most of us had absolutely no idea that there were other people, like your blog community, who wanted to share in what we do. Perhaps this is another reason for the demise of the family farm–so few farmers feel that anyone supports or even cares a bit about what they are doing. Nor are many of us technologically adept enough to figure out how to do this so that we can share our farming experience with those who are out of the area (for example, my son just attended sheep shearing school, but I have no idea how to post the photos I took)(heck, just posting to someone’s blog is a new skill set for me)(but I am pretty darned good at pulling a stuck lamb or tubing feeding a weak lamb–just depends on what you have learned). You have the right combination of technical skills, warm heart, creativity and a willingness to share to introduce this new idea–a farm with a community of supporters, many of whom are on-line. But I think your example shows that there are people out there who do care and who support and are willing to encourage small, sustainable farmers, for which this shepherd in Idaho is both surprised and grateful to know. Sorry for the long comment.
It was a privilege and a honor.
I certainly appreciate your words of thanks to us who are part of the lives of the goats and you online, but the thanks definitely goes to you. You are so talented and loving which shows on the Lambcam. Even though I have helped hundreds of babies enter this world as an obstetric nurse, I was a totally rapt viewer watching the babies being born. You do a superb job! Living in Boston, I look forward to visiting the farm on Martha’s Vineyard. It is the first thing on my list of things to do this summer.
If goats could type, they would say the same to YOU! They had YOU to stay up all night with them, untangle kidlet legs, bring them supper in bed, etc. It takes a village.
Dear All, It was such a pleasure to be in your company yesterday and to be able to see and hold those darling babies. I am sooooo awed in wonderment on how you handle everything so well. You show genuine tenderness and caring for the nannies, doelings and bucklings. AND, I am thoroughly in love with Arno!!!!.
I am off on a trip to Greece (I know, I know, I have a few screws loose) but can’t wait to come and visit again.
Elsa (Dom’s friend)
Jan, don’t apologize because your comment meant the world to me.
Thank you for letting us come over today and sharing your farm with us. Maddie loved playing with the goats and chickens and I loved snuggling the kids.
We look forward to coming back for Shearing day.
Thank you Susie for opening up the nursery so we can experience the happiness of little baby goats and their proud mama’s and caregivers. You will certainly be blessed for all your work and love you have put into raising these wonderful animals.
you know there would be even more help if some of us lived closer! glad to hear those who can assist are! We apreciate you all keeping us so well informed and involved as you do on line!
Susie – I had a great time with ya’ll yesterday. I’m happy that I was able to give you a little something while you tend to your flock.
See ya soon!
Thank you for allowing us to share in this community and learn so much! We were thrilled to be able to visit with you both and the mommies and the babies. We love the LamCam!
Thank you so much for all the updates and all the hard work! I can’t believe how much you guys are all out there running around keeping up with all those goats and kids. I don’t know that I’ve appreciated the amount of work that goes into lambing and kidding until this spring watching you all.
wow.
xoxoxoxo…
love
rona
It’s been fabulous – here’s to the next kidding season!
Wow Susan.. you are so welcome.Its a privelege to support you even over the wires and miles. I wish I could be there to offer more support to the farm. You, Erin, and Patrick are all such caring souls. These goats and sheep are fortunate to be under your wings. I hope all of our support just helps to energize you even more and then at the end of the day offer community comfort. Thanks for this open farm. It really has made a difference in my days and attitudes. xo Louise
Like everyone else I have to say THANK YOU for sharing this incredible experience with all of us! You are doing all of the hard work but allowing the rest of us to share in this amazing adventure. I can’t tell you how much joy you have brought me in the past week alone. Can’t wait to come to MVI someday (soon I hope) and see everyone (two-legged and four-legged) in person!
I feel like we, the aunties, are the ones who have been so blessed . . . thank you all for your incredible dedication to what you do. I love being an auntie and bragging about all our beautiful kiddos to my friends. I had a jewelry party last week and had my laptop in the middle of the room so everyone could watch on the lambcam, look at the pictures, and read the blog. Everyone agrees it’s an incredible journey. Thank YOU!!!
Thanks much to you for sharing your life with us! I’m glad you have friends close by who can help out. I’ll be sending the positive thoughts long distance.
Proud to be an Auntie of your herd. The late nights have been fun and an eye opener. I’ve learned so much about being a shepherd and about kidding by staying up and talking and googling with you. Thank you for letting us into your virtual goat/sheep pen via lambcam.
Shearing day! shearing day!! Must plan and choose an outfit! When is shearing day please???
Yes, I am going to look onthe rest of the site now, its probably there…