When we were growing up, we had a tradition of always taking a summer family vacation. Each year was different. Sometimes it was really extravagant. Sometimes not so much. But it was always memorable. Those were some of my favorite times as a family.
One year we packed up and got in our van and went on a road trip. For four weeks. We drove across the mid-west and saw ALL sorts of really cool places! One place we stopped at was Chimney Rock on the Oregon Trail. My parents found this organization, which hosts wagon trail camp-outs.
See our camp site? See the clouds looming in the back ground? That led to us being out in the most spectacular electric storm I have ever experienced (still to this day). It was terrifyingly amazing!
They even had the Pony Express bring us our mail!
Yes, that is me in 90's high tops, an aqua jacket and matching glasses.
And yes, that's my Dad with a mullet surfer's long haircut.
My sister is the cool one in the middle.
Uh huh. Good memories.
But wait! Don't go away! Since we're on a goat-ish kick, from our weekend in Salida, I thought I'd share with you (via my mom) about a place where you can go lambing. (That means helping lambs be born.) Ok, I have no idea what that has to do with goats. But there are some really cute pictures of lambs! You're welcome! And thanks, Mom!
Women’s Lambing Week – Arkansas, Heifer International
by Kathy (Renee's mom)
Women’s Lambing Week at Heifer International was like going to summer camp for a week. There were lots of planned activities and opportunities – and all of them were optional. My goal was to see something being born. Not only did I get to watch nine births of lambs that week, I also got to hold some of the newborn lambs while they were getting ear tags and being painted with their mother’s ID number. I helped with farm chores when I felt like it. I learned some things about sustainable farming. I soaked up the calm. Me, who always has a book or a knitting project to fill up spare moments, spent 5-6 hours just waiting for a ewe to deliver. And I was totally content. Sometimes other women were there waiting, too; sometimes not. Part of the time they were off milking goats, making cheese, carding wool, having lunch, or seeing the “international village” on the grounds. Me, I just waited, completely patient. To any woman who hasn’t been to Heifer Ranch, I recommend the experience. Did you know that each sheep’s voice is distinct? And that a ewe knows its own lambs’ voices?
Just like people have different voices and you know who’s talking from the sound of their voice, sheep do too. The lambs would call for their mamas, and the mamas would call for their lambs. There’s a Bible verse about “I am the shepherd. My sheep hear my voice and know my voice.” The lambs and the ewes know each other’s voices. I loved listening to them.
Women’s Lambing Week and Weekends are in March; it’s not too early to sign up. You can click here to find out more!
-Kathy