This summer we cleared a stand of red pines from our farm. The pines were planted in the 1970’s in a reforesting effort that swept across the state of Vermont, leaving patches of tall trees across the hillsides. Our trees had been neglected through the years. They stand spindly, and tall. On several occasions, we had talked with foresters about … Read More
How to Drive Sheep driving involves the dog working on its own, pushing the sheep or cattle away from the handler, sometimes for considerable distances…It has a great number of uses and although driving has a reputation for being difficult to teach because a dog’s natural reaction is to bring the stock to the handler rather than push them away… … Read More
I’ve been an empty nester for 2 years now. I homeschooled all three of my children and have launched them all into the world. My son, the youngest, is a junior in college. This time of year, I get a pit in the bottom of my stomach, knowing that the house will soon be empty again. Once the children are … Read More
Last week, winter raged with wind and snow, making fences grow shorter and hay feeders disappear. The distant mountains were white on white and the snow plow left a swirl of snow behind it. Friends and relatives sent messages that read, “I know you’ll be glad when spring arrives.” or “Stay inside where it is warm.” They do not understand … Read More
She gave her daddy a boomerang for Christmas, a photograph of herself with a little smirky smile taped to the front of it. “Sorry,” she said as he opened his gift. After being away for 4 1/2 years, seeking knowledge and seeing a different part of the world, she came back – the boomerang child. She wants to experience Vermont … Read More
