Visiting Duncan

Several months back, during a brief interlude from the pain and fatigue of my years' worth of surgeries, my husband invited me to go feed a baby lamb.  The little fellow's mom had not taken to him so his owners, Fabian and Robin Bernal, were bottle-feeding him.  

Ian, as Ian is known to do, was sensitive to my lagging spirit and knew that getting out of doors would be healthy for my body and that getting to feed a cute, little lamb would be healthy for my spirit.

And, he was right.

After an hour-long preparation (it took me that long to get ready) for the trip, we finally seated ourselves for the short journey to Colibri Sheep Farm here in Scott County.

"Duncan" was everything I could have hoped for….lively, quick, jumping up and down…he was a delight to behold and an ever-remembered-with-laughter bold bundle of joy to feed.

Robin had had to feed him a little prior to our arriving so by the time we got there, he was still "bouncy" but a little more settled so I could handle him.  They fed him from a homemade bottle right there on their living room on the floor where he took turns drinking and frolicking.

Medicine to the soul it was….

Duncan's little bleating's were precious to hear and his little trips to feed from the bottle were some of the cutest animal moments I have experienced…

It was joyful

So, when Ian got word from Fabian that Duncan was going to "leave" the farm in this month, of course I said I wanted to go to visit him before he left.  So, we did.

Now, it’s a sad but hard truth that owners of sheep farms will likely, eventually, take their once-small lambs-turned sheep to "the market".  It's a fact of life I learned early while living on my parent's cattle farm, and one I understood clearly, from Duncan's owners.

It is the circle of life.

So, it was with that knowledge tucked in my pocket that I headed out with camera to take some pictures of Duncan and his friends…

No, he didn't remember me.  Yes, he had grown from a cute little lamb into a handsome sheep.

No, he didn't come when I called his name but yes, he was fond enough to his owner to give Fabian a kiss.

What I love about Fabian and Robin and their Colibri Sheep farm is their careful attention to their farm animals.  They understand the nature of their business, and yet, they have a genuine care and love for the animals they raise.  Ian and I are confident that theirs will be a sheep farm which, as it grows and matures, will be around for a long time.  Their blending of their personal expertise with their personal dreams is a great combination and we look forward to watching them grow and expand providing quality lamb to those who would hope to enjoy.

There is just something about a little lamb which does the heart good….

Blessings,

Lesa