2023 Reflections

With the coming of a New Year I always reflect on the year. This year was like a rollercoaster ride, ups, downs and some wild twists. Each year brings a few surprises and this year was not different.

I started working a job not associated with the sheep farm in order to bring in a little extra income to do improvements to our home. The sheep make enough profit to pay for their feed and care, as well as the feed and care of our horses, and some repairs or improvements to the farm. We do not own enough lamb producing ewes to have income to cover all our expenses and desired improvements. My husband has always worked a job providing the finances for the home, and our needs.

Working outside of the sheep farm, meant I had to stay with a more strict time management program. We purchased a new small tractor to help with some of the barn cleanings and other jobs that the big tractor was too large to do. We were making improvements, building terraces and changing the internal layout of some barns.

We had big plans and hopes of attending the Dorper National Sheep Show in Duncan, OK. There was excitement of showing in our first Dorper Sheep show and selling some of our sheep. Four days before the show I received an urgent phone call from my son. His wife was having a mental breakdown, and they needed someone to take their three little children while she received help. I met him halfway between their home and ours and picked up my three grandchildren ages 10 months, 2 years and 3 years old. All having a difficult time with the situation and the two youngest ones did not really know who I was. The morning I went to pick up the grandchildren, I quit my job. Now I was full time Granny.

The grandchildren brought a large twisty turn to our lives. We talked about the sheep show, and we really needed to attend as it was important for the sheep business. The show was both up and down. I was not able to show any of the sheep, nor able to help or see my husband show any of the sheep. I was caring for upset children whose lives had been turned upside down as well.

The second day was the sale of the sheep that were shown. This was a much better time with the children. I was able to see one of the ewes sale, and she brought a really good price. The sheep sold well. An up day for us as we came home with a little more than we expected.

The summer was a great time with the grandchildren. We learned each other and they fell in love with the sheep. Even the youngest child was in love with the sheep and enjoyed being in the wagon as we did chores, petting the nose of the sheep who gathered around the wagon.

After six months, my daughter-in-law was better, had built a support network around her and was ready to have the children return home. It was a sad day and a happy day. Sad as we would really miss the little ones around our home. Happy because their mother was able to be their mom. The children love their mom and missed her very much. Their parents visited three times during their stay with us. I became very good at video calls.

I returned to my job. Things seemed to be going good. Then November arrived, and my husband was dismissed from his contract job. Now we were down to my meager income which is not enough for all the household bills. He decided to start getting the Social Security as he was eligible for full benefits. Still a significant loss of prior income, but with some major budget adjustments, we could survive.

At the end of the year, the sheep have done well. We have increased our number of producing ewes increasing the amount of income earned. I am working steady at my job. Learning new positions in the store. I have been training to be a meat cutter, and almost complete with my training. I will be starting to be trained as a receiving manager, so to work position when the receiving manager has to take time off. My husband is still looking for work with some promising prospects. He has also enjoyed being able to do more with the sheep.

This year had many twists, turns, ups and downs, but overall it was not a bad year on the sheep farm.

Granny