tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-299752542012-01-22T20:15:46.521-05:00Sheltering Pines is 36 acres out of an original 80 acre family farm located in Allegan Michigan. I raise Shetland sheep - all colors/markings/patterns. I started raising Shetlands in 1996 with my friend, Bill Eatmon. I knew that spotted shetlands were our favorite from the beginning and started out immeditately to collect spotted genetics from all over the country. We are NASSA Flock #417. I enjoy visitors and love showing them our Shetland sheep.stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-8827223779959042132011-12-05T10:13:00.000-05:002011-12-05T10:13:50.758-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SlV8QumTgeA/Ttv_UzDWuMI/AAAAAAAAB8U/P0zwctJn3g4/s1600/anais2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SlV8QumTgeA/Ttv_UzDWuMI/AAAAAAAAB8U/P0zwctJn3g4/s400/anais2.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines Anais Anais - gray katmoget blesset ewe out of V Creek Guinevere x Wintertime Fudge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Bred to SheltrgPines Grand Luxe, pictured at bottom, for spring lambs).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r4UcHaPFBZo/Ttv_qJ7kNeI/AAAAAAAAB8c/26VrFVrqizU/s1600/Anais.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r4UcHaPFBZo/Ttv_qJ7kNeI/AAAAAAAAB8c/26VrFVrqizU/s400/Anais.JPG" width="265px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Detail (above) of Anais Anais' flece</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AegOYT1xJOA/TtwAQJParHI/AAAAAAAAB8s/S_KtEBpA8YQ/s1600/andalucite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AegOYT1xJOA/TtwAQJParHI/AAAAAAAAB8s/S_KtEBpA8YQ/s400/andalucite.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines Andalucite: &nbsp;moorit smirslet ewe out of SheltrgPines Ceylon x Wintertime Fudge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Bred to SheltrgPines Grand Luxe for spring lambs).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nVVIJGqxXYc/Ttv_80fglEI/AAAAAAAAB8k/xiqvTbw6n8Y/s1600/andalucite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nVVIJGqxXYc/Ttv_80fglEI/AAAAAAAAB8k/xiqvTbw6n8Y/s400/andalucite.JPG" width="265px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">detail of Andalucite's fleece</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GtFB7_HEejE/TtwEYKEkNLI/AAAAAAAAB80/stSmE-vNq5o/s1600/Champs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GtFB7_HEejE/TtwEYKEkNLI/AAAAAAAAB80/stSmE-vNq5o/s400/Champs.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines Champs&nbsp;Elysées: &nbsp;moorit smirslet ewe out of SheltrgPines Ceylon x Wintertime Fudge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Bred to SheltrgPines Grand Luxe for spring lambs).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zx2DQSpSQ90/TtwGPRqgBNI/AAAAAAAAB88/Y9wDKcmQ60k/s1600/champs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zx2DQSpSQ90/TtwGPRqgBNI/AAAAAAAAB88/Y9wDKcmQ60k/s400/champs.JPG" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">detail of Chmps Elysées' fleece</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm2nYeITmik/TtwGwqLTHmI/AAAAAAAAB9E/_AgeRrUj12U/s1600/classique.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm2nYeITmik/TtwGwqLTHmI/AAAAAAAAB9E/_AgeRrUj12U/s400/classique.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines Classique: &nbsp;moorit smirslet ewe out of V Creek Guinvere and Wintertime Fudge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Bred to SheltrgPines Grand Luxe for spring lambs).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-rnf_HVcRY/Ttwketv1fPI/AAAAAAAAB9U/25EaCJMhr7s/s1600/Classique.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-rnf_HVcRY/Ttwketv1fPI/AAAAAAAAB9U/25EaCJMhr7s/s400/Classique.JPG" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">detail of Classique's fleece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mDA4b1p9Lo4/TtwmGZdqi2I/AAAAAAAAB9c/PqWCpSiJbkQ/s1600/bengal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mDA4b1p9Lo4/TtwmGZdqi2I/AAAAAAAAB9c/PqWCpSiJbkQ/s400/bengal.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines Bengal: &nbsp;gray katmoget ewe out of Underhill Alix x SheltrgPines Starry Night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5CR9kklI1k/TtwnSDSNRKI/AAAAAAAAB9k/smLC0HunFdM/s1600/Bengal%2527s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5CR9kklI1k/TtwnSDSNRKI/AAAAAAAAB9k/smLC0HunFdM/s400/Bengal%2527s.JPG" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">detail of Bengal's fleece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHHNcB8zKjY/Ttwo_7ouGYI/AAAAAAAAB9s/LHklucNCT60/s1600/Debonaire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHHNcB8zKjY/Ttwo_7ouGYI/AAAAAAAAB9s/LHklucNCT60/s400/Debonaire.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines Debonaire: &nbsp;black ewe out of Justalit'l Black Lambo x Bramble Nick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Bred to SheltrgPines Grand Luxe for spring lambs).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G6XeyedC_hA/Ttwpc_ippTI/AAAAAAAAB90/tLO7P1tYJGc/s1600/debonaire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G6XeyedC_hA/Ttwpc_ippTI/AAAAAAAAB90/tLO7P1tYJGc/s400/debonaire.JPG" width="265px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">detail of &nbsp;Debonaire's fleece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOrNAxFOYtQ/TtwuN4_YLcI/AAAAAAAAB98/M9xT5S0y0Hs/s1600/j%2527adore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOrNAxFOYtQ/TtwuN4_YLcI/AAAAAAAAB98/M9xT5S0y0Hs/s400/j%2527adore.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines J'adore: &nbsp;fawn ewe out of WindyAcres Azalea x Wintertime Fudge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Bred to SheltrgPines Grand Luxe for spring lambs).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqbfHmieuX0/TtwuuclRdpI/AAAAAAAAB-E/cvsKw_IJVsQ/s1600/j%2527adore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqbfHmieuX0/TtwuuclRdpI/AAAAAAAAB-E/cvsKw_IJVsQ/s400/j%2527adore.JPG" width="266px" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">detail of Jadore's fleece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XporRO98KM/TtwxdXE_rPI/AAAAAAAAB-M/hhzOTzAAjRY/s1600/Lair+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XporRO98KM/TtwxdXE_rPI/AAAAAAAAB-M/hhzOTzAAjRY/s400/Lair+2.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SheltrgPines L'air du Temps: &nbsp;gray katmoget ewe out of &nbsp;SheltrgPines Maura x Wintertime Black Forrest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Bred to SheltrgPines Grand Luxe for spring lambs).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKjwhDWMzeo/Ttwz2O8TrCI/AAAAAAAAB-c/HsxccQ73WuM/s1600/Lair+du+Temps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKjwhDWMzeo/Ttwz2O8TrCI/AAAAAAAAB-c/HsxccQ73WuM/s400/Lair+du+Temps.JPG" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">detail of Lair du Temps fleece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXfKWav8Qg/TtzfaRt81OI/AAAAAAAAB_E/JujeYbv-j0U/s1600/grand+luxe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="266px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXfKWav8Qg/TtzfaRt81OI/AAAAAAAAB_E/JujeYbv-j0U/s400/grand+luxe.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">SheltrgPines Grand Luxe:&nbsp; Fawn katmoget smirslet out of SheltrgPines Bengal x Wintertime Fudge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-882722377995904213?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-51958458797116400072010-07-08T09:23:00.002-04:002010-07-08T09:23:18.152-04:00Separation <br />by W. S. Merwin <br /><br /><br />Your absence has gone through me <br /><br />Like thread through a needle. <br /><br />Everything I do is stitched with its color.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-5195845879711640007?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-72273766088876558242009-05-22T19:10:00.013-04:002009-06-23T06:47:39.001-04:00I came home from work this morning and my old friend and trusted livestock guardian dog, Alpha (thus named by her breeder because she was the alpha puppy in the litter) had died in her sleep. I knew she was getting old and had problems but as we always are.....I was not prepared for her to leave this world last night. She was curled up in a hole she had dug to keep cool in and apparently died in her sleep. I will miss her terribly. There is a lot of "history" and sentimentality wrapped up in that old dog. She was Bill's and my first experience wih LGD's. A Maremma by breed and a dog that had many people fooled for the most of her life...she seemed aggressive and most people were terrified of her. I knew her secret: she was a "love" deep inside. Alpha came to live with Bill and me in Nov., 1997. We had gotten our first sheep in 1996 and were afraid of predators and roaming dogs. Alpha came from Julia Farmer's farm in West Virginia. She raised Nubian goats and bred Maremmas. Julia was very particular about placing dogs...she is an incredible person who loved her dogs and wanted them to go to the right home. I will be forever thankful to her for allowing Bill and me to have Alpha. Alpha was 13 years old this year which I am told is pretty old for large breeds. I had a good cry and will miss my wonderful friend and think of her every time I go to the barn. There is a big "hole" in my life right now. I will post some photos of Alpha through the years below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdAhdkM98I/AAAAAAAABMg/IvOGnRFSzqU/s1600-h/Laura+and+Alpha+march+1998.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdAhdkM98I/AAAAAAAABMg/IvOGnRFSzqU/s400/Laura+and+Alpha+march+1998.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338806826887346114" border="0" /></a>Alpha guarding over a very pregnant Laura in March 1998<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdA-5ioBLI/AAAAAAAABMo/BgW8oK0Pvg4/s1600-h/Alpha+in+barn+1998.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdA-5ioBLI/AAAAAAAABMo/BgW8oK0Pvg4/s400/Alpha+in+barn+1998.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338807332613129394" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Alpha lying in the barn Nov. 1998. Julia (Alpha's breeder) loved this photo and used it on her web site for many years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdBe2uiLsI/AAAAAAAABMw/-oir25pnrDw/s1600-h/nov+26+1998.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdBe2uiLsI/AAAAAAAABMw/-oir25pnrDw/s400/nov+26+1998.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338807881613586114" border="0" /></a>Alpha, Nov. 26, 1998<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdCBychTTI/AAAAAAAABM4/G1RsZCII_ic/s1600-h/AlphaBillMay312002+after+stroke.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdCBychTTI/AAAAAAAABM4/G1RsZCII_ic/s400/AlphaBillMay312002+after+stroke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338808481759710514" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Bill and Alpha May 31, 2002 soon after she suffered a stroke from the then new heart worm 6 month injection medicaion. That med was removed from the market as many pet owners had horrible problems with it hurting their dogs. We thought Alpha was going to die and were trying to prepare ourselves for her death by buying a new dog, Bella. But thankfully she made a miracualous recovery and lived many more years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdC8FkAGlI/AAAAAAAABNA/GMBPycR9P6w/s1600-h/AlphaBella+june+2002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdC8FkAGlI/AAAAAAAABNA/GMBPycR9P6w/s400/AlphaBella+june+2002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338809483323775570" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Alpha "vegging" near Bella's kennel soon after Bella's arrival. (june 2002) We were afraid alpha would no "take" well to anothe dog after having been alone for 5 years...but we were soon to learn that a 2nd dog was just what the "doctor ordrered"! They became inseparable friends...and you hardly ever saw one without the other after Bella became used to her<br />new home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdD05JfwEI/AAAAAAAABNI/y4yKN1b0rgA/s1600-h/BellaAlphaAug92002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdD05JfwEI/AAAAAAAABNI/y4yKN1b0rgA/s400/BellaAlphaAug92002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338810459243921474" border="0" /></a></div></div>Bella and Alpha together Aug. 2, 2002 after becoming good friends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdEVMY7-HI/AAAAAAAABNQ/hBlFz9_KAoU/s1600-h/AlphaBellajune+2003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdEVMY7-HI/AAAAAAAABNQ/hBlFz9_KAoU/s400/AlphaBellajune+2003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338811014164772978" border="0" /></a>Alpha and Bella doing their "daily rounds" June 2003<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdE9e8ZeWI/AAAAAAAABNY/bMXEVGsJKuo/s1600-h/BellaAlpha+may+21,+2004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdE9e8ZeWI/AAAAAAAABNY/bMXEVGsJKuo/s400/BellaAlpha+may+21,+2004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338811706340112738" border="0" /></a>Alpha and Bella May 21, 2004<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdFeGF-DZI/AAAAAAAABNg/f8g32oebPk4/s1600-h/bella+alpha+May+6,+2006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 262px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdFeGF-DZI/AAAAAAAABNg/f8g32oebPk4/s400/bella+alpha+May+6,+2006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338812266605055378" border="0" /></a>Alpha and Bella May 6, 2006<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdHJFPiB5I/AAAAAAAABNo/YcFKhwhLgek/s1600-h/IMG_2145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/ShdHJFPiB5I/AAAAAAAABNo/YcFKhwhLgek/s400/IMG_2145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338814104622729106" border="0" /></a><br />Alpha, May 19, 2009 (2 days ago): her last photo<br /><br />Good-bye Alpha. You were an incredible dog and I shall never forget you.<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-7227376608887655824?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-4241832286118368722009-02-05T00:32:00.007-05:002009-02-05T00:53:28.770-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">My mother turned 96 years old on January 30, 2009.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few photos from here "open house".<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp6IAUhajI/AAAAAAAABDE/bE8hFbRzmu4/s1600-h/Mom.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp6IAUhajI/AAAAAAAABDE/bE8hFbRzmu4/s400/Mom.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299182189498427954" border="0" /></a>Mom<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp629thglI/AAAAAAAABDM/Ks8q9SQ_gSo/s1600-h/Jenna+Tough.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp629thglI/AAAAAAAABDM/Ks8q9SQ_gSo/s400/Jenna+Tough.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299182996251837010" border="0" /></a><br />My niece giving her "tough" pose. (her black eye was an accident acquired from<br />playing Wii with her friends. lol<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp92Hl_6cI/AAAAAAAABDU/NakSsZyUPW8/s1600-h/agens-fiskars.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp92Hl_6cI/AAAAAAAABDU/NakSsZyUPW8/s400/agens-fiskars.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299186280259643842" border="0" /></a>3 of my great nieces<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp-mkC3FLI/AAAAAAAABDc/ufctTpd64Mk/s1600-h/Phil+Lori+and+Aunt+Florence.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp-mkC3FLI/AAAAAAAABDc/ufctTpd64Mk/s400/Phil+Lori+and+Aunt+Florence.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299187112530613426" border="0" /></a><br />My cousins with my Aunt (father's sister). She's 87.<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-424183228611836872?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-20398313876089401022009-02-05T00:19:00.008-05:002009-02-05T00:26:58.435-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">My niece took these shots back in October. I thought they were neat so I'm posting them. They were taken at Holland, Michigan...about 30 min. from my farm.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3Jg3wFDI/AAAAAAAABCM/jgH8ALj5paA/s1600-h/Holland,+MI+Light+House+10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3Jg3wFDI/AAAAAAAABCM/jgH8ALj5paA/s400/Holland,+MI+Light+House+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299178916881110066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp4jTLkyMI/AAAAAAAABC8/zDSWWCZYPZk/s1600-h/Holland,+MI++Light+House+8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp4jTLkyMI/AAAAAAAABC8/zDSWWCZYPZk/s400/Holland,+MI++Light+House+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299180459394386114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp4dZX35KI/AAAAAAAABC0/rtv29zI4xAw/s1600-h/Holland,+MI+++LIght+House+9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp4dZX35KI/AAAAAAAABC0/rtv29zI4xAw/s400/Holland,+MI+++LIght+House+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299180357977367714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3psG4xdI/AAAAAAAABCs/_Y1pM_fWeSE/s1600-h/Holland,+MI+Light+House+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3psG4xdI/AAAAAAAABCs/_Y1pM_fWeSE/s400/Holland,+MI+Light+House+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299179469653198290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3WkHgFRI/AAAAAAAABCU/lBJ-2ymL9BQ/s1600-h/Holland,+MI+Light+house+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3WkHgFRI/AAAAAAAABCU/lBJ-2ymL9BQ/s400/Holland,+MI+Light+house+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299179141090776338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3cqtYwHI/AAAAAAAABCc/DvjG6vw-O-4/s1600-h/Holland,+MI+Light+House+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3cqtYwHI/AAAAAAAABCc/DvjG6vw-O-4/s400/Holland,+MI+Light+House+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299179245939507314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3jD90RzI/AAAAAAAABCk/mjvtIZimy0Y/s1600-h/Holland,+MI+Light+House+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SYp3jD90RzI/AAAAAAAABCk/mjvtIZimy0Y/s400/Holland,+MI+Light+House+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299179355798521650" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-2039831387608940102?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-47440900883502664112009-01-08T14:02:00.002-05:002009-01-08T14:06:51.766-05:00I saw the PBS special, "Hit Man" featuring David Foster and friends a couple of weeks ago. Was a fantastic feature. It is available on dvd at the music stores. Anyway, Katherine McPhee (who has an incredible voice) sung "Somewhere"....the song from West Side Story. It has always been one of my favorite songs. I can listen to it over and over again. I think Katherine has the best version of it I've heard. Anyway, the lyrics are very special to me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"Somewhere"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There's a place for us,<br />Somewhere a place for us.<br />Peace and quiet and open air<br />Wait for us<br />Somewhere. </div><p style="text-align: center;">There's a time for us,<br />Some day a time for us,<br />Time together with time to spare,<br />Time to look, time to care,<br />Someday!<br />Somewhere.<br />We'll find a new way of living,<br />We'll find a way of forgiving<br />Somewhere.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;">There's a place for us,<br />A time and place for us.<br />Hold my hand and we're half way there.<br />Hold my hand and I'll take you there<br />Somehow,<br />Someday,<br />Somewhere!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-4744090088350266411?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-27456031312198903412008-12-24T16:32:00.016-05:002008-12-24T18:31:57.848-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKrsm9nNZI/AAAAAAAAA_w/nUFZmhfZW8k/s1600-h/Ashley%27s+Wedding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 390px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKrsm9nNZI/AAAAAAAAA_w/nUFZmhfZW8k/s400/Ashley%27s+Wedding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283474095720576402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My niece, Ashley Morgan Rogers was married on Saturday,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span>December 20, 2008, to Asa Frank Glass. The wedding was perfect.</span><br /><span>These photos were taken by Ashley's cousin, Jamie Brokus.</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLFCk-hnAI/AAAAAAAABBQ/MGFM7FVWCTA/s1600-h/Bride+arrives+at+the+Altar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLFCk-hnAI/AAAAAAAABBQ/MGFM7FVWCTA/s400/Bride+arrives+at+the+Altar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283501960935349250" border="0" /></a>The Bride arrives at the Altar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKsIiVpq8I/AAAAAAAAA_4/aw2MsQYMOZU/s1600-h/Ashley%27s+wedding++-+terry+lifting+the+veil.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKsIiVpq8I/AAAAAAAAA_4/aw2MsQYMOZU/s400/Ashley%27s+wedding++-+terry+lifting+the+veil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283474575515560898" border="0" /></a><br />Ashley's father lifts the veil.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKswL_MaKI/AAAAAAAABAA/KTOUVG_4y-E/s1600-h/ashley+being+given+away+by+Terry+and+Beth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKswL_MaKI/AAAAAAAABAA/KTOUVG_4y-E/s400/ashley+being+given+away+by+Terry+and+Beth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283475256710555810" border="0" /></a><br />Ashley's parents "giving her away". (my sister and her husband)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKti6Y-xjI/AAAAAAAABAI/WvHotoYuyvY/s1600-h/Ashley+and+Asa+at+Altar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKti6Y-xjI/AAAAAAAABAI/WvHotoYuyvY/s400/Ashley+and+Asa+at+Altar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283476128160204338" border="0" /></a><br />Ashley and Asa at the Altar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKuG8daBvI/AAAAAAAABAQ/92emZTYmQXk/s1600-h/Ashley+and+Asa+at+the+Altar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKuG8daBvI/AAAAAAAABAQ/92emZTYmQXk/s400/Ashley+and+Asa+at+the+Altar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283476747190929138" border="0" /></a>In living color!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKudIMR3xI/AAAAAAAABAY/V6_5BmN55j0/s1600-h/Ashley+and+Asa+Glass+being+introduced.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKudIMR3xI/AAAAAAAABAY/V6_5BmN55j0/s400/Ashley+and+Asa+Glass+being+introduced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283477128297438994" border="0" /></a>"HITCHED"!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKu4kX9IYI/AAAAAAAABAg/Ctc2TlqOJYA/s1600-h/Asa+and+Ashley+at+wedding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKu4kX9IYI/AAAAAAAABAg/Ctc2TlqOJYA/s400/Asa+and+Ashley+at+wedding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283477599719072130" border="0" /></a>The Happy Couple!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKvnX_WHAI/AAAAAAAABAo/2zWiG-pmPL0/s1600-h/Ashley+in+wedding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVKvnX_WHAI/AAAAAAAABAo/2zWiG-pmPL0/s400/Ashley+in+wedding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283478403848477698" border="0" /></a><br />The Bride.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLDIrL4biI/AAAAAAAABA4/B-19_-JkLb8/s1600-h/ashley+at+reception.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLDIrL4biI/AAAAAAAABA4/B-19_-JkLb8/s400/ashley+at+reception.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283499866657943074" border="0" /></a>At the Reception<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLCNxTFb5I/AAAAAAAABAw/8IraR_iToAY/s1600-h/ashley+and+Terry+in+Bride+-+Father%27s+Dance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLCNxTFb5I/AAAAAAAABAw/8IraR_iToAY/s400/ashley+and+Terry+in+Bride+-+Father%27s+Dance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283498854686486418" border="0" /></a><br />Father/Bride dance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLDj-n0UyI/AAAAAAAABBA/4kPrbRXiZ2I/s1600-h/candid+shot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLDj-n0UyI/AAAAAAAABBA/4kPrbRXiZ2I/s400/candid+shot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283500335731856162" border="0" /></a><br />Candid Shot!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLEFYTOLfI/AAAAAAAABBI/or5i1lnXzT4/s1600-h/ashley+and+asa%27s+wedding+cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SVLEFYTOLfI/AAAAAAAABBI/or5i1lnXzT4/s400/ashley+and+asa%27s+wedding+cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283500909560475122" border="0" /></a>And the Lord said, "Let there be CAKE"! And there was cake. And the Lord saw that it was good. And He did imprint it with the "Fleur de Lis", Ashley's favorite symbol. And the People Did Eat! :-)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-2745603131219890341?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1541452227526113922008-12-06T09:59:00.003-05:002008-12-06T10:03:38.865-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">I had meant to post this photo back in October during breeding season but I forgot to upload it. This is Wintertime Blues and SheltrgPines Morgan le Fey whispering "sweet nothings" in each other's ears! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STqUFKyWzlI/AAAAAAAAAvI/c7s7RFVfLoI/s1600-h/morgan+and+blues+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 233px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STqUFKyWzlI/AAAAAAAAAvI/c7s7RFVfLoI/s400/morgan+and+blues+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276692729933778514" border="0" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-154145222752611392?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-60168227124624229312008-12-03T01:49:00.003-05:002008-12-03T01:58:05.806-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STYsJakrRAI/AAAAAAAAAvA/XmU0T40C9eU/s1600-h/BarnBeamsVerse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STYsJakrRAI/AAAAAAAAAvA/XmU0T40C9eU/s400/BarnBeamsVerse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275452553774711810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Old Barn<br /><br />The logs are warped and weathered<br />Heaving in the cold West wind,<br />Rain beats down on the sagging roof,<br />Yet the barn still stands,<br />Stubborn, resisting the elements,<br />Waiting for support, a helping hand.<br /><br />The horses' name plates still hang<br />Precariously by rusty nails - Mayda, Major,<br />You can hear their hooves pounding, echoing,<br />Listen and hear the cow mooing<br />Contentedly in their stalls<br />A bit of hay is here and there.<br />Left from another time.<br /><br />Cut, dried, peeled, by loving hands<br />The old barn stands proud,<br />A symbol of strength and endurance,<br />Still at the mercy of nature's whims.<br />Waiting for caring loving hands to nurse her wounds<br />And make her well again.<br /><br />--Margret (Rusty) Vander Veen<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-6016822712462422931?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-10620246733447100852008-12-01T18:46:00.013-05:002008-12-01T19:39:05.547-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving has come and gone and now the weather seems to be telling us<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas cannot be far off with the Second Sunday in Advent quickly<br /></div>approaching. I snapped a few snow photos today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR7liW6N8I/AAAAAAAAAto/xCLKsZKh2Jg/s1600-h/house.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR7liW6N8I/AAAAAAAAAto/xCLKsZKh2Jg/s400/house.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274976948365965250" border="0" /></a>House<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR8HnZhKbI/AAAAAAAAAtw/_h1cIEXghpI/s1600-h/barn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR8HnZhKbI/AAAAAAAAAtw/_h1cIEXghpI/s400/barn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274977533834635698" border="0" /></a>Barn<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR81lDeBoI/AAAAAAAAAt4/w1P0QP8IxAo/s1600-h/sheep1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR81lDeBoI/AAAAAAAAAt4/w1P0QP8IxAo/s400/sheep1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274978323479266946" border="0" /></a>Alpha and Shetland Ewes<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR--pVG95I/AAAAAAAAAuI/pV11NkrOCuk/s1600-h/sheep2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR--pVG95I/AAAAAAAAAuI/pV11NkrOCuk/s400/sheep2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274980678269073298" border="0" /></a>Shetland Ewes<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR_05e61iI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/XZn1vJVKS-o/s1600-h/alpha.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STR_05e61iI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/XZn1vJVKS-o/s400/alpha.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274981610318124578" border="0" /></a><br />Alpha with her sheep<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSAXipCG4I/AAAAAAAAAuY/0aePIKAMJeY/s1600-h/matteo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSAXipCG4I/AAAAAAAAAuY/0aePIKAMJeY/s400/matteo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274982205481950082" border="0" /></a>Matteo enjoying his breakfast<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSBE5VuASI/AAAAAAAAAug/69ztK7lT5gU/s1600-h/alpha+bella.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSBE5VuASI/AAAAAAAAAug/69ztK7lT5gU/s400/alpha+bella.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274982984669069602" border="0" /></a><br />Alpha on the left and Bella behind/right<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSCedmHpGI/AAAAAAAAAuw/tReqSOTlr60/s1600-h/evergreens.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSCedmHpGI/AAAAAAAAAuw/tReqSOTlr60/s400/evergreens.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274984523409892450" border="0" /></a><br />Evergreens and snow<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSDLSjNMBI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Cv1lJAANvzk/s1600-h/geese.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/STSDLSjNMBI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Cv1lJAANvzk/s400/geese.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274985293538996242" border="0" /></a>This flock of Great Canadian Geese are flying north! I think they are confused!<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-1062024673344710085?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-40938518157616120602008-11-05T06:01:00.002-05:002008-11-05T06:08:27.679-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SRF-ov0AsOI/AAAAAAAAAtI/GJOOd_0w1L8/s1600-h/bill%27s+memorial.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/SRF-ov0AsOI/AAAAAAAAAtI/GJOOd_0w1L8/s400/bill%27s+memorial.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265128677867303138" border="0" /></a><br />Finally 2 years after Bill's death I was able to purchase and have installed a Memorial Stone for his grave. Bill's choice for burial was a surprise to all of us as he had always said he wanted to be cremated when he died. Two days before his death we asked him if there was anything he wanted in terms of directives. He replied that he wanted burial. Then after a pause of about 45 seconds he asked, "And do you think I could have a headstone?". That question nearly made us all break down with tears. Of course we could do nothing but answer, "of course you can have a headstone!". <br /><br />I would like to thank those friends who sent memorial gifts. These helped purchase this memorial stone and I thought you may want to see the final product. Thank you again.....I could not have done it without help.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-4093851815761612060?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-65289525711485139402008-08-28T14:19:00.002-04:002008-08-28T14:40:11.972-04:00Well, the 2nd anniversary of Bill's death has come and I was in the hospital on the exact day. (Aug. 26). Interesting karma, eh? On Sunday, Aug, 24 I stepped on a 2 x 4 with 2 big spikes sticking straight out of it. They went into the ball of my foot and I was stepping on it with full weight. Needless to say it hurt like heck. I drove myself into emergency and they gave me a tetanus shot but refused to give me any antibiotics (after I asked for them) saying, "we don't do that anymore". They told me to come back if it became infected. Well, by Monday night it was definitely infected. I returned to the emergency room and waited from 7:30 Pm to 11 PM to see a doctor. (there were only 6 people in the emergency room ...none with life-threatening emergencies). I've never seen a more incompetent emergency room than that in Allegan, Michigan. Avoid that place like the plague. <br /><br />After finally being seen by a doc, they told me I would not be going home that night. I remained on a hard gurney until 3 AM when they finally decided to put me in a room. (really big of them, eh?) I was on an IV antibiotic. At 8 am I was informed I needed to have a surgeon go into my foot and clean out the infection so they gave me general anesthesia. After that I told them I needed to get home as my dogs needed feeding. They assured me I would not be feeding my dogs due to not being able to drive or put any weight on my foot. I still wanted to go home, so they allowed it but I had to go home with a "pick line" (IV) and a portable pump that would give me IV antibiotic. I have a nurse coming to teach me how to change my own IV bags. What a nuisance. <br /><br />I know Bill is smiling down with satisfaction knowing that I now a little about what he went through. He had to have a pick line (IV) about once per year when he got infections in his ear. I was awed at how he handled it. Needless to say, I'm not nearly the good patient he was. <br /><br />It is hard to believe that it has been 2 years since Bill died. I miss him as much today as the day he left. <br /><br />Thanks to Elizabeth for coming out every night this week after work to feed my dogs. She is the only person who has socialized with them and is able to just walk in with them. And thanks to Troy...I think he filled up my sheep water tanks the other night. <br /><br />Bill, I miss you.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-6528952571148513940?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-11927198274686416522008-06-27T06:11:00.011-04:002008-06-28T00:14:19.891-04:00<div style="margin: 0px;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Like a heart in winter beats alone<br />Solitary is this place I call my own<br />Memories of sun<br />That fan<br />An undiminished flame<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mourning song<br />And still you're gone<br />Somehow I'll find my way<br />To fill my glass up to the rim<br />Unearthing gold each day<br />True is my devotion<br />Always there beneath my skin<br /><br />No forgetting what is left behind<br />Light and shadow from a once elusive sky<br />Wanting to possess me<br />Like an unforgiving rain<br /><br />Mourning Song<br />And still you're gone<br />Somehow I'll find a way<br />To fill my glass up to the rim<br />unearthing gold each day<br />True was our devotion<br />Once a bright undying dream<br /><br />Memories of sun<br />That fan an undiminished flame<br /></span><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Mourning Song<br />And still you're gone<br />Somehow I'll find a way<br />To fill my glass up to the rim<br />Unearthing gold each day<br />True is my devotion<br />Always there beneath my skin<br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></div></div><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;" ></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-1192719827468641652?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-67503862138765411722007-11-14T06:16:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:17:23.313-05:00I was looking through old photos on my pc last night and transferred a bunch onto one of those little devices that plugs into your usb port. (the little thing holds 1 G of memory!) My pc has been running "oddly" (slow) lately, and I thought I'd better get some of my photos backed up! Anyway, I found these of Bill and thought I'd share them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzrZjGRK3BI/AAAAAAAAAV4/nJuRfPz7UjU/s1600-h/Bill++Eatmon3+-+March+23,+1996.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzrZjGRK3BI/AAAAAAAAAV4/nJuRfPz7UjU/s400/Bill++Eatmon3+-+March+23,+1996.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132653922343377938" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Bill - March, 1996<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzrZ3GRK3CI/AAAAAAAAAWA/f4QUrQKzR50/s1600-h/BillBumperJune91999.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzrZ3GRK3CI/AAAAAAAAAWA/f4QUrQKzR50/s400/BillBumperJune91999.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132654265940761634" border="0" /></a>Bill asleep with Bumper. Bumper was a kitten that rode in on a truck bumper where bill worked at the factory. No one wanted her so she came home with him. She had a special bond with Bill for the rest of his years. (Bumper is still with us)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzraOWRK3DI/AAAAAAAAAWI/iALyKnVS0Zs/s1600-h/billspellbound.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzraOWRK3DI/AAAAAAAAAWI/iALyKnVS0Zs/s400/billspellbound.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132654665372720178" border="0" /></a>Bill Eatmon Showing Spellbound, his 16 hand purebred Arabian Mare. (Russian) I can't remember the year. Several years ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzramGRK3EI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/6Za2vnuYYCw/s1600-h/Bill+with+Betty+Boop+at+Green+Castle,+IN+Show+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzramGRK3EI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/6Za2vnuYYCw/s400/Bill+with+Betty+Boop+at+Green+Castle,+IN+Show+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132655073394613314" border="0" /></a>Bill with "Betty Boop"...his needle felted "creation". (at Greencastle Fleece Fair)<br />(few years ago)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rzra82RK3FI/AAAAAAAAAWY/LtuKjEt1jwA/s1600-h/Beth+-+Thanksgiving+Day+Nov.+27,+2003+modelling+one+of+bill%27s+hats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rzra82RK3FI/AAAAAAAAAWY/LtuKjEt1jwA/s400/Beth+-+Thanksgiving+Day+Nov.+27,+2003+modelling+one+of+bill%27s+hats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132655464236637266" border="0" /></a>My sister, Beth, modelling a hat that Bill needle felted. (3 years ago approx?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rzrcd2RK3GI/AAAAAAAAAWg/cHceeDR0irg/s1600-h/biill+on+koleed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rzrcd2RK3GI/AAAAAAAAAWg/cHceeDR0irg/s400/biill+on+koleed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132657130683948130" border="0" /></a>Bill on his Gelding, Koleed. (Arabian Horse) Probably about 1997<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzrcuGRK3HI/AAAAAAAAAWo/7IctCBt_Iu0/s1600-h/Bill.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RzrcuGRK3HI/AAAAAAAAAWo/7IctCBt_Iu0/s400/Bill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132657409856822386" border="0" /></a>Bill relaxing at home<br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-6750386213876541172?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-90592825371376537032007-08-25T10:49:00.000-04:002007-08-26T01:27:16.626-04:00<p class="MsoNormal">Bill, </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Today marks 1 full year without your presence here.<span style=""> </span>There are no words to express how much I miss you…just the dull empty void of going on through life without you.<span style=""> </span>You were definitely the reason for Sheltering Pines and it will never be the same again without you.<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>In some ways the past year has gone fast.<span style=""> </span>In most ways it has dragged on like an eternity.<span style=""> </span>You were always such a positive force….the eternally optimistic one.<span style=""> </span>I remember your bouts with illness and the way you never complained.<span style=""> </span>I can't imagine going through what you did.<span style=""> </span>I would have been the worst possible patient I'm sure!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>I'll never forget lambing with you here.<span style=""> </span>When you saw little feet coming out of the ewe…if they were white….we just KNEW the ewe was delivering a wildly spotted lamb which made you quite joyful!<span style=""> </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style=""></span></span><span style=""> </span>You always strung cable to the barn hooked to cameras so you could watch the ewes on tv from your bed each night while I was working 3rd shift.<span style=""> </span>I always knew that while I was working the sheep were in the best possible of care.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>You were always a person who loved to laugh, even though much of the time you felt sick.<span style=""> </span>You so enjoyed sitcoms on television and the sound of your audible laughter while watching them is much missed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>You were always "inventing" something new.<span style=""> </span>A new way to do something in weaving…..a new gadget, gate or setup to make my life easier for feeding/caring for the sheep.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The jugs you built are fantastic.<span style=""> </span>I wasn't sure when I came to the barn one evening after waking up and found them all built.<span style=""> </span>You used the asile down between the 2 sides of the sheep where I used to walk.<span style=""> </span>It was a handy walk-way, but after one season of lambing with those jugs I was sold on them!<span style=""> </span>They are worth their weight in gold.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>The landscape did not get tended to much this year.<span style=""> </span>I didn't have the will to do it.<span style=""> </span>Even though many of the gardens were originally put in by myself, you put your "stamp" upon them with your creative gardening.<span style=""> </span>The hosta beds, the goldfish pond with waterfall and running creek.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Your studio has not seen much activity over the past year.<span style=""> </span>Mainly storage for your yarns, the fleeces and some of your handiwork.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Thank you for the 10 years and 2 months that you gave to me.<span style=""> </span>I shall never forget you<span style=""> </span>and I shall never stop missing you.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Love,<br />Steve</p>The following old Irish Folk Song has long been a favorite of mine. A musical group called "Dead Can Dance" has performed it best in my opinion. It has taken on new meaning over the past year:<br /><br />I am stretched on your grave<br />And will lie there forever--<br />With your hands held in mine<br />Id be sure we'd not sever--<br />My apple tree my brightness<br />'tis time we were together--<br />For I smell of the earth<br />And am stained by the weather<br /><br />When my family thinks<br />That I'm safe in my bed--<br />From night until morning<br />I am stretched at your head--<br />Calling out to the air<br />With tears both hot and wild--<br />Oh I grieve for the one<br />That I loved and is gone.<br /><br />The priests and the friars<br />Behold me in dread--<br />Because I still love you<br />My love and you're dead--<br />I would still be your shelter<br />From rain and from storm--<br />And with you in your cold grave<br />I cannot sleep warm.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-9059282537137653703?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-75665055846676051382007-07-20T04:34:00.000-04:002008-12-12T18:17:31.458-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RqB0lJUJHBI/AAAAAAAAAQE/JQ3UC2UIpKA/s1600-h/cement+sheep+from+rich.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RqB0lJUJHBI/AAAAAAAAAQE/JQ3UC2UIpKA/s400/cement+sheep+from+rich.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089195760433044498" border="0" /></a><br />NOW........Sheltering Pines has it's very own Cement Sheep! <br /><br />On Wednesday, July 18, 2007, Rich Johnson visited my farm on his way to Indiana to pick up sheep! He brought me a gift of a "cement sheep" that he had painted. He had seen a photo of my smirslet gulmoget, SheltrgPines Onyx Velour, and painted the cement sheep to look like her. I was delighted. We have always enjoyed cement statues here in the gardens at Sheltering Pines, and this new addition is wonderful! Thank you Rich and Jennifer for such a thoughtful gift. :-) I really like it and will enjoy seeing it every day!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-7566505584667605138?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-45201157482901274922007-06-30T02:41:00.000-04:002007-06-30T03:11:15.108-04:00<span class="small"> There's a land<br />That gave me life<br />That made me free<br />That made me proud<br />And someday<br />I will return<br />Home to the land<br />Of the long white cloud<br /><br />Where is home?<br />I hear you say<br />So far away<br />So far away<br /><br />I hear your voice from afar<br />It haunts me wherever I stay<br />But I must follow a star<br />So far away<br />So far away<br /><br />In the song<br />Upon the breeze<br />And in the roar<br />Of rolling waves<br />Like the roots<br />Of ancient trees<br />That run so deep<br />In the earth I crave<br /><br />Where is home?<br />I hear you say<br />So far away<br />So far away<br /><br />I hear your voice in my heart<br />I miss you much more than I can say<br />But I must follow a star<br />So far away<br />So far away<br /><br />Where is home?<br />I hear you say<br />So far away<br />So far away<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-4520115748290127492?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-31056581628704381662007-02-12T15:33:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:17:50.705-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RdDQmrqhlmI/AAAAAAAAAEo/DH8SGa53-E8/s1600-h/Dad"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030750146747536994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RdDQmrqhlmI/AAAAAAAAAEo/DH8SGa53-E8/s400/Dad%27s+painting+of+deer+by+fire.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>A small picture of this subject used to hang over the sofa in my Grandmother's house when I was a child. I was always infatuated with it. I don't know if it is a well known picture/painting or whether it was just something she liked and framed. It looked old at the time! (and I'm 53!) :-) Anyway, my father borrowed it from her back in the late 60's and copied it (painted it) for his art class. It is not a large painting...I'd estimate about 8 inches tall by 14 inches wide. It is still one of my favorites. If anyone knows anything about the original...I'd sure enjoy hearing from you. (If it was done by a known artist) The one that used to hang on my Grandmother's wall is now gone and no one seems to know where it went! I'm glad my father copied it! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-3105658162870438166?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-44866267041466490082007-02-11T10:02:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:17:51.206-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8xdbqhljI/AAAAAAAAAEA/yvbYpbz6KJU/s1600-h/sun+breaking+through+snow+clouds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8xdbqhljI/AAAAAAAAAEA/yvbYpbz6KJU/s400/sun+breaking+through+snow+clouds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030293690508219954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On Saturday, Feb. 10th, my brother and sister-in-law invited me to go down to the Shorline at Lake Michigan with them. They were going to Chequer's Pub there for a late lunch - early dinner as they serve wonderful Fish & Chips. On the way down it was dark and snowy. I had my camera along with me and snapped a shot of the sun breaking through the snow clouds.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8wibqhliI/AAAAAAAAAD4/jgfYBgXWx_Y/s1600-h/overlooking+Lake+MI.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8wibqhliI/AAAAAAAAAD4/jgfYBgXWx_Y/s400/overlooking+Lake+MI.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030292676895938082" border="0" /></a>At the Lake shore we drove down Lakeshore Drive. The waves on Lake Michigan had frozen out nearly as far as we could see. We were able to see with the naked eye a "gray line" which would have been the open water...quite a ways out. This shot was taken from up on a "bluff" driving down Lakeshore Drive. (Saugatuck, Michigan) We then went to Chequer's for Fish and Chips! After dinner we drove up to the "Oval Beach"...where in the summer it is packed with swimmers and sun bathers and people enjoying the large sand dunes. It was frozen solid and here is the view out over the beach. The sun had nearly set. It's hard to see, but if you look closely, you can see the waves on the lake frozen in time. It's an odd sight.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8zHbqhllI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/eXQQLVOD_a0/s1600-h/sunset+at+Saugatuck+MI.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8zHbqhllI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/eXQQLVOD_a0/s400/sunset+at+Saugatuck+MI.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030295511574353490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />As we drove away, the sun had nearly set.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8yF7qhlkI/AAAAAAAAAEI/lIhQQ_TD2_k/s1600-h/sunset+2+at+saugatuck+MI.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rc8yF7qhlkI/AAAAAAAAAEI/lIhQQ_TD2_k/s400/sunset+2+at+saugatuck+MI.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030294386292921922" border="0" /></a>As we drove home I longed for spring and warmer temps! <br />It won't be long before lambs start arriving! <br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-4486626704146649008?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-68701354960678483622007-02-01T15:57:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:17:51.596-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RcJe8Cb7LgI/AAAAAAAAADs/YELddVO1uFs/s1600-h/Dad%27s+painting+of+aspens+and+mountains+lake.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RcJe8Cb7LgI/AAAAAAAAADs/YELddVO1uFs/s400/Dad%27s+painting+of+aspens+and+mountains+lake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026684519638052354" border="0" /></a><br />Aspens by Emily Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake)<br /><br />A sweet high treble threads its silvery song,<br />Voice of the restless aspen, fine and thin<br />It trills its pure soprano, light and long--<br />Like the Vibrato of a mandolin.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-6870135496067848362?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-88442096505131875812007-01-31T13:10:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:17:51.759-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RcDc5W-opbI/AAAAAAAAADg/SvtdDbR93LQ/s1600-h/Dad%27s+stopping+by+woods+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/RcDc5W-opbI/AAAAAAAAADg/SvtdDbR93LQ/s400/Dad%27s+stopping+by+woods+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026260062124418482" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening</span><br />by Robert Frost<br /><br /> Whose woods these are I think I know.<br /> His house is in the village, though;<br /> He will not see me stopping here<br /> To watch his woods fill up with snow.<br /><br /> My little horse must think it queer<br /> To stop without a farmhouse near<br /> Between the woods and frozen lake<br /> The darkest evening of the year.<br /><br /> He gives his harness bells a shake<br /> To ask if there is some mistake.<br /> The only other sound's the sweep<br /> Of easy wind and downy flake.<br /><br /> The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,<br /> But I have promises to keep,<br /> And miles to go before I sleep,<br /> And miles to go before I sleep.<br /><br />*****<br /><br />(My father was very good at drawing and painting. He took an art class when I was in junior high school and one of the first assignments to all the students in the class was to paint a picture that was conjured in their minds from reading the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". The picture at the top of this page is a photo of the picture my father painted. It was his interpretation of the poem. It was probably painted about 1969. It has always been one of my favorite pictures that my father painted).<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-8844209650513187581?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-66312371187725785052007-01-30T12:26:00.000-05:002008-12-12T18:17:54.178-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rb-DpG-opXI/AAAAAAAAACw/I4Pht1pGKsQ/s1600-h/pines+snow.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rb-DpG-opXI/AAAAAAAAACw/I4Pht1pGKsQ/s400/pines+snow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025880451439961458" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A WINTER JINGLE</b><br />~ Sir Edmund William Gosse </div> <p style="text-align: center;">The soft wind blows<br />Across the snows,<br />And turns the palest face to rose;<br />The wind it goes<br />Where no one knows,<br />Like water round the world it flows;<br />The sunlit air is warm and light<br />Though all the earth be wrapped in white. </p> <p style="text-align: center;">But owlets shrill<br />Shriek round the hill<br />When twilight fades, and all is still;<br />The keen gusts fill<br />The frozen rill<br />With treacherous snowdrifts deep and chill;<br />The wanderer findeth small delight<br />In crossing there at dead of night.<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rb-EBG-opYI/AAAAAAAAAC4/wFxHGR1pmew/s1600-h/Ewe+Flock.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rb-EBG-opYI/AAAAAAAAAC4/wFxHGR1pmew/s400/Ewe+Flock.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025880863756821890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rb-FQm-opaI/AAAAAAAAADI/8dKPcvcwYOA/s1600-h/alpha+matteo+bella.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OjI5wTdj89U/Rb-FQm-opaI/AAAAAAAAADI/8dKPcvcwYOA/s400/alpha+matteo+bella.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025882229556422050" border="0" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-6631237118772578505?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-4476009790707389532007-01-21T19:42:00.000-05:002007-01-21T19:49:50.597-05:00<h2><img src="http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/marker2.gif" /><i><a name="22"> <span style="color:#004080;">Sadness and Joy</span></a></i></h2> <ul> <dl><p> </p><dt><span style="font-size:+1;">I</span> PRAY you, Sadness, leave me soon, </dt><dd> In sweet invention thou art poor! </dd><dt>Thy sister, Joy can make ten songs </dt><dd> While thou art making four.<p> </p></dd><dt>One hour with thee is sweet enough; </dt><dd> But when we find the whole day gone </dd><dt>And no created thing is left -- </dt><dd> We mourn the evil done.<p> </p></dd><dt>Thou art too slow to shape thy thoughts </dt><dd> In stone, on canvas, or in song; </dd><dt>But Joy, being full of active heat, </dt><dd> Must do some deed ere long.<p> </p></dd><dt>Thy sighs are gentle, sweet thy tears; </dt><dd> But if thou canst not help a man </dd><dt>To prove in substance what he feels -- </dt><dd> Then givve me Joy, who can.<p> </p></dd><dt>Therefore sweet Sadness, leave me soon, </dt><dd> Let thy bright sister, Joy, come more; </dd><dt>For she can make ten lovely songs </dt><dd> While thou art making four. </dd><dd><b>W.H. Davies</b></dd></dl> </ul><div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-447600979070738953?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1157966944490000692006-09-11T04:33:00.004-04:002011-01-11T14:51:12.345-05:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/BillsFeltedMan3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/BillsFeltedMan3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/bill%20and%20kids.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/bill%20and%20kids.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Katherine.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Katherine.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Bill%20%20Eatmon4%20-%20March%2023,%201996.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/320/Bill%20%20Eatmon4%20-%20March%2023%2C%201996.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Bill2%20-%20park%20in%20Detroit%20-%20March,%201996.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Bill2%20-%20park%20in%20Detroit%20-%20March%2C%201996.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Aug211999.3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Aug211999.3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Bill2%20-%20Apt.%20Detroit.%20-%20march,%201996.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Bill2%20-%20Apt.%20Detroit.%20-%20march%2C%201996.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I've been going through drawers of collected items from over the years. Bill was a "great one" for stuffing everything into drawers in chests. I stumbled onto some neat photos I had taken of Bill over the years. I will post a few.<br /><br />One is of Bill at MFF in 1999. Bill was one of those people who tended to not like his photo taken....and often would "screw up" his face for the photo. Very often photos of him would be developed and his eyes would be closed. (I don't know if it was intentional or just bad luck of the draw....the click of the camera). LOL. I thought this one of him at MFF was such a typical shot of Bill. When he was feeling good...he really enjoyed doing the shows. I think it shows in this photo. :-)<br /><br />Another photo of Bill -- this one taken while he was still living in his apartment in Detroit 10 1/2 years ago. Again, eyes shut! LOL.<br />Here's another with Bill in his sunglasses thinking he looked pretty "cool". :-)<br />This one is of Bill "trying out" the exercise equipment where I used to work at Herman Miller Inc. located in Zeeland, Michigan. <br />A photo of Bill's daughter in law, Katherine Eatmon, modeling some of Bill's woven items in his "studio".<br />A photo of Bill and his children enjoying a dinner here at the farm.<br />A "felted man" that Bill created by needle felting roving. This little guy sold very quickly. I wish he had made a 2nd for myself! :-) He was incredible at creating little "creatures" out of roving by needle felting.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115796694449000069?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1156927573872915402006-08-30T04:45:00.001-04:002011-01-11T14:52:33.893-05:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Bill%20Mar.9,1996.1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Bill%20Mar.9%2C1996.1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Bill%20with%20Betty%20Boop%20at%20Green%20Castle,%20IN%20Show%202.5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Bill%20with%20Betty%20Boop%20at%20Green%20Castle%2C%20IN%20Show%202.5.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/MomBillFeb1,2003.0.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/MomBillFeb1%2C2003.0.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Aug211999.1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Aug211999.1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/AlphaBillMay312002.2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/AlphaBillMay312002.2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/BillDuncan6-18-2001.1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/BillDuncan6-18-2001.1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/BillBumperJune91999.1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/BillBumperJune91999.1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/BillAnastasia.1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/BillAnastasia.0.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Bill%20with%20Gretel" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Bill%20with%20Gretel%27s%20ewe%20lamb.0.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Bill Eatmon and I became friends in the summer of 1995. We had a few things in common, namely the love of landscaping (gardens)...especially water gardens, and the love of animals. In June of 1996 Bill moved to my mother's farm in rural Allegan County, Michigan.<br /><br />Bill was born in rural Idaho, and loved his grandparents' farm. He had always wanted to live in a rural setting. I had been raised on my parents' farm which had been in the family for over 100 years.<br /><br />After spending most of his mature years living in large cities, Bill moved to our farm and immediately set himself to cleaning out the barns which had accumulated items for many years -- since the death of my father in September, 1988.<br /><br />After making some room in the barns, Bill thought it would be neat to have horses. We located a local Arabian horse breeder and purchased 2. That was the start of an incredible journey watching Bill enjoy raising farm animals. I had raised many types of animals as a kid and into my high school years, but after attending college, we had finally sold the last 2 horses from my childhood.<br /><br />After Bill and I bought the 2 Arabians....I had been surfing the internet using the term "miniature animals". Somehow, I came across Max and Mary White's advertisement advertising "miniature sheep". (They raised Babydolls and Shetland Sheep). I told Bill about it and it was the next weekend when we scheduled a visit to Max and Mary's farm. My intention was originally Babydolls....however, upon arriving at Max and Mary's farm, it quickly became apparent that Shetland sheep were exactly what I was craving. I had always wanted a black sheep as a child....and none could be found at that time. Bill agreed it would be cool to have sheep. While we were at Max and Mary's, Bill saw their Nigerian Dwarf goats and their Nigerian/Pygmy crossed goats. So, our first purchase was a black Shetland ewe named Lilly (pregnant) and a pair of Nigerian/Pygmy goats. Max and Mary were going to deliver them to our farm the next day. As we were getting ready to leave Max and Mary's farm, Max and Mary told us about an animal auction going on in Ravenna, Michigan which was not far from their farm. We took the bait and looked it up. Bill was like a kid in a candy shop. He immediately started putting his hand up and bidding on animals. I tried to stop him without any luck. His first purchase at that auction was 3 black/white dutch dwarf rabbits. I started to wander around looking at the aniamls for sale (they were penned in cages and pens).....and next thing I knew Bill had disappeared. I quickly located him and found him bidding on a bunch of old hens that could not have been worth anything but for stewing. I tried unsuccessfully to stop his bidding frenzy....but he was determined to buy "laying hens". (LOL). He came away with about 4 very old looking worn down hens at $1 each. :-)<br /><br />I finally talked him into not bidding on anything else as we had not brought a vehicle for transporting animals. I asked Bill what he planned on putting the hens and rabbits in that he had purchased. His reply was that we would just put the cages they were in...INTO the car. LOL. I explained to him that the chickens and rabbits did NOT come WITH the cages. We had to use burlap bags and put them in the trunk of my car!<br /><br />When we got home, Bill went right to building a small area in the barn to keep the chickens in. I told him they were WORTHLESS stewing hens but that didn't stop him. Much to my surprise, the next day there were egss in thir pen and that served only to make Bill want more chickens. He pointed out daily how that the 4 hens he bought were keeping us in eggs. He never let me forget that.<br /><br />The 4 hens only served to "whet" Bill's appetite for raising eggs. So, when spring came we made a trip to the local hatchery and came back with about 30 or 40 chickens. (several breeds). From chickens, we branched out into pheasants and peacocks. Dwarf loppy eared rabbits were next....then angora rabbits: french, English, and German.<br /><br />Bill really enjoyed horses. He decided we should show and breed Arabian horses. After building our stock to 11 we were quickly finding out that raising horses for show and breeding was EXPENSIVE. I had decided that dabbling in Arabian horses was something that only someone with a very "thick" bankroll should attempt. Horses are real "hay burners". After a few years of this we decided to abandon our attempt at becoming horse breeders and concentrated on Nigerian Dwarf Goats and Shetland sheep.<br /><br />Shetland sheep became my particular focus....I enjoyed the goats, but found them not as appealing as the sheep. As time passed, Bill's health was not as good as it was when we acquired the goats so he asked me to sell the goats. We decided to concentrate all our effort on Shetland sheep.<br /><br />Bill became particularly good at lambing. He was incredible. I worked 3rd shift. He would set up cables to the barn and monitor the lambing situation on his tv in his room. When ewes went into labor he would go to the barn and gather up the lambs/mother and jug them for me. Bill also became a "pro" at helping ewes in "trouble" with their lambing. If a lamb was mispositioned....he could almost always get it out.<br /><br />There was almost nothing Bill could do when he put his mind to it. I will miss my friend and companion. Every time I walk to the barn I see Bill in every jug, fence, or cattle panel.<br /><br />In Bill's last year of life, he told me he found God. He had not been someone who believed in an "afterlife" but during his last year of life, he came to believe there was an afterlife and went through quite a transformation in terms of outlook for eternity. He went from saying he wanted to be cremated to asking for burial at the time of his death. My mother was very instrumental in Bill's conversion in thought.<br /><br />About a year ago, Bill phoned me from his hospital room during one of his many bouts with liver problems. I'll never forget the excitement in his voice ....he had left a message on the answering machine as I was outside doing chores. He told me that "something had happened" and that I needed to call him back as soon as possible. I did when I found the message and he told me that he had had an experience and now believed in Jesus as his Saviour. I wish I could have been in his room at the hospital to see this "transformation". I know it must have been profound as Bill came home and proceeded to learn all that he could about Christianity. (something he really had no appreciation for before then).<br /><br />I now have the hope of seeing my wonderful friend and companion in the future when I too enter the "larger" life.<br /><br />Bill I miss you so much----life without you will never be the same.<br /><br />The following poem was written by Bill's son, James Eatmon, and read at his funeral. I thought it was really good.<br /><br />Dad<br />A Poem From His Children<br /><br />Dad, So many things come to mind, whenever I speak your name.<br />It seems without you in my life, things will never be the same.<br /><br />Dad, If I could turn back time and you could once more hear my voice.<br />I'd tell you that out of all the other dad's you'd still be my choice.<br /><br />Dad, Please always know that I love you and nobody can take your place. Years will come and go but your memory will never erase.<br /><br />Dad, Your life has been full and rich with love; friends have been many warm and kind. Enriched by the example you have left behind.<br /><br />Dad, Go with joy to a better place and a new beginning.<br />Dad, Go in peace and know that you've made a difference along the way. Dad, Go in comfort, for all you've been will always stay.<br /><br />***********<br /><br />The following Poem is the poem Scott Eatmon, Bill's son, chose to be put inside his memorial folder for the funeral; I thought it too was a great choice:<br /><br />Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken (1915)<br /><br />Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,<br />And sorry I could not travel both<br />And be one traveler, long I stood<br />And looked down one as far as I could<br />To where it bent in the undergrowth.<br /><br />Then took the other, as just as fair,<br />And having perhaps the better claim,<br />Because it was grassy and wanted wear;<br />Though as for that the passing there<br />Had worn them really about the same.<br /><br />And both that morning equally lay<br />In leaves no step had trodden black.<br />Oh, I kept the first for another day!<br />Yet knowing how way leads on to way,<br />I doubted if I should ever come back.<br /><br />I shall be telling this with a sigh<br />Somewhere ages and ages hence:<br />Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--<br />I took the one less traveled by,<br />And that has made all the difference.<br /><br />***********************************<br /><br /><br />I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that<br />believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:<br />and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die.<br /><br />I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand<br />at the latter day upon the earth: and though this body be<br />destroyed, yet shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself,<br />and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.<br /><br />We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain<br />we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord<br />hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.<br /><br />Psalm xxxix.<br />LORD, let me know mine end, and the number of my<br />days; * that I may be certified how long I have to live.<br />Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long,<br />and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; * and<br />verily every man living is altogether vanity.<br />For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself<br />in vain; * he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall<br />gather them.<br />And now, Lord, what is my hope? * truly my hope is<br />even in thee.<br />Deliver me from all mine offences; * and make me not<br />a rebuke unto the foolish.<br /><br />When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou<br />makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth<br />fretting a garment: * every man therefore is but vanity.<br />Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider<br />my calling; * hold not thy peace at my tears;<br />For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, * as all<br />my fathers were.<br />O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, *<br />before I go hence, and be no more seen.<br /><br />Domine, refugi um. Psalm xc.<br />LORD, thou hast been our refuge, * from one generation<br />to another.<br />Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the<br />earth and the world were made, * thou art God from everlasting,<br />and world without end.<br />Thou turnest man to destruction; * again thou sayest,<br />Come again, ye children of men.<br />For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday,<br />when it is past, * and as a watch in the night.<br />As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a<br />sleep; * and fade away suddenly like the grass.<br />In the morning it is green, and groweth up; * but in the<br />evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.<br />For we consume away in thy displeasure, * and are afraid<br />at thy wrathful indignation.<br />Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee; * and our secret<br />sins in the light of thy countenance.<br />For when thou art angry all our days are gone: * we<br />bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.<br />The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and<br />though men be so strong that they come to fourscore<br />years, * yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so<br />soon passeth it away, and we are gone.<br />So teach us to number our days, * that we may apply our<br />hearts unto wisdom.<br /><br />Dominus illuininatio. Psalm xxvii.<br />THE LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then<br />shall I fear? * the LORD is the strength of my life; of<br />whom then shall I be afraid?<br />One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require;<br />* even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all<br />the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord,<br />and to visit his temple.<br />For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle;<br />* yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he<br />hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone.<br />And now shall he lift up mine head * above mine enemies<br />round about me.<br />Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation, with<br />great gladness: * I will sing and speak praises unto the<br />Lord.<br />Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee; *<br />have mercy upon me, and hear me.<br />My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face: * Thy<br />face, Lord, will I seek.<br />O hide not thou thy face from me, * nor cast thy servant<br />away in displeasure.<br />Thou hast been my succour; * leave me not, neither<br />forsake me, O God of my salvation.<br />I should utterly have fainted, * but that I believe verily<br />to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.<br />O tarry thou the Lord’s leisure; * be strong, and he shall<br />comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the Lord.<br /><br />Deus noster refug ium. Psalm xlvi.<br />GOD is our hope and strength, * a very present help in<br />trouble.<br />Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, *<br />and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;<br />Though the waters thereof rage and swell, * and though<br />the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.<br />There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city<br />of God; * the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most<br />Highest.<br />God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be<br />removed; * God shall help her, and that right early.<br />Be still then, and know that I am God: * I will be exalted<br />among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.<br />The Lord of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our<br />refuge.<br /><br />Levavi oculos . Psalm cxxi.<br />I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills; * from whence<br />cometh my help?<br />My help cometh even from the Lord, * who hath made<br />heaven and earth.<br />He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; * and he that<br />keepeth thee will not sleep.<br />Behold, he that keepeth Israel * shall neither slumber<br />nor sleep.<br />The Lord himself is thy keeper; * the Lord is thy defence<br />upon thy right hand;<br />So that the sun shall not burn thee by day, * neither the<br />moon by night.<br />The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; * yea, it is<br />even he that shall keep thy soul.<br />The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming<br />in, * from this time forth for evermore.<br /><br />De profundis. Psalm cxxx.<br />OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; *<br />Lord, hear my voice.<br />O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.<br />If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done<br />amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?<br />For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be<br />feared.<br />I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him; * in his<br />word is my trust.<br />My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning<br />watch; * I say, before the morning watch.<br />O Israel, trust in the LORD, for with the LORD there is<br />mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.<br />And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.<br /><br />1 Corinthians xv. 20.<br />NOW is Christ risen from the dead, and become the<br />firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came<br />death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For<br />as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.<br />But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits;<br />afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh<br />the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom<br />to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all<br />rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till<br />he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy<br />that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things<br />under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under<br />him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all<br />things under him. And when all things shall be subdued<br />unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto<br />him that put all things under him, that God may be all in<br />all. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up?<br />and with what body do they come? Thou foolish one, that<br />which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and that<br />which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall<br />be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other<br />grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and<br />to every seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh:<br />but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of<br />beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are<br />also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory<br />of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.<br />There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of<br />the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth<br />from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection<br />of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in<br />incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory:<br />it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a<br />natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural<br />body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The<br />first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was<br />made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which<br />is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that<br />which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the<br />second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such<br />are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are<br />they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the<br />image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the<br />heavenly.<br />Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit<br />the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit<br />incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not<br />all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the<br />twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall<br />sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we<br />shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption,<br />and this mortal must put on immortality. So when<br />this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this<br />mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be<br />brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed<br />up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave,<br />where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the<br />strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which<br />giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore,<br />my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always<br />abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye<br />know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.<br /><br />Romans viii. 14.<br />AS many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the<br />sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of<br />bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of<br />adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself<br />beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of<br />God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirs<br />with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we<br />may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings<br />of this present time are not worthy to be compared<br />with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the<br />earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation<br />of the sons of God. We know that all things work<br />together for good to them that love God, to them who<br />are the called according to his purpose. What shall we<br />then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be<br />against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered<br />him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely<br />give us all things? Who is he that condemneth? It is<br />Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even<br />at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for<br />us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall<br />tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,<br />or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are<br />more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I<br />am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor<br />principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to<br />come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall<br />be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in<br />Christ Jesus our Lord.<br /><br />St. John xiv. 1.<br />JESUS said, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe<br />in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are<br />many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.<br />I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a<br />place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;<br />that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I<br />go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him,<br />Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we<br />know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the<br />truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but<br />by me.<br /><br />The Lord be with you.<br />And with thy spirit.<br /><br />Let us pray.<br /><br />REMEMBER thy servant, O Lord, according to the favour<br />which thou bearest unto thy people, and grant<br />that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, he may go<br />from strength to strength, in the life of perfect service, in<br />thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who<br />liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever,<br />one God, world without end. Amen.<br />UNTO God’s gracious mercy and protection we commit<br />you. The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD<br />make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.<br />The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you<br />peace, both now and evermore. Amen.<br /><br />MAN, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time<br />to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is<br />cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and<br />never continueth in one stay.<br />In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we<br />seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art<br />justly displeased?<br />Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O<br />holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the<br />bitter pains of eternal death.<br />Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not<br />thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most<br />holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour,<br />thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last<br />hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.<br /><br />ALL that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and<br />him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.<br />He that raised up Jesus from the dead will also quicken<br />our mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in us.<br />Wherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my<br />flesh also shall rest in hope.<br />Thou shalt show me the path of life; in thy presence is<br />the fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there is pleasure<br />for evermore.<br /><br />UNTO Almighty God we commend the soul of our<br />brother departed, and we commit his body to the<br />ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure<br />and certain hope of the Resurrection unto eternal life,<br />through our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose coming in glorious<br />majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give<br />up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who<br />sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own<br />glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby<br />he is able to subdue all things unto himself.<br /><br />I HEARD a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write,<br />From henceforth blessed are the dead who die in the<br />Lord: even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their<br />labours.<br /><br />The Lord be with you.<br />And with thy spirit.<br /><br />Let us pray.<br /><br />Lord, have mercy upon us.<br />Christ, have mercy upon us.<br />Lord, have mercy upon us.<br /><br />OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.<br />Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it<br />is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive<br />us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against<br />us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from<br />evil. Amen.<br /><br />O GOD, whose mercies cannot be numbered; Accept<br />our prayers on behalf of the soul of thy servant departed,<br />and grant him an entrance into the land of light<br />and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus<br />Christ our Lord. Amen.<br /><br />ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of<br />those who depart hence in the Lord, and with whom<br />the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the<br />burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; We give thee<br />hearty thanks for the good examples of all those thy servants,<br />who, having finished their course in faith, do now<br />rest from their labours. And we beseech thee, that we,<br />with all those who are departed in the true faith of thy<br />holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss,<br />both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory;<br />through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<br />O MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus<br />Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life; in<br />whom whosoever believeth, shall live, though he die; and<br />whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally;<br />who also hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint<br />Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those who<br />sleep in him; We humbly beseech thee, O Father, to raise<br />us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness;<br />that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him;<br />and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we<br />may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that<br />blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce<br />to all who love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed<br />children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for<br />you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech<br />thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our<br />Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.<br /><br />THE God of peace, who brought again from the dead<br />our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the<br />sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; Make<br />you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in<br />you that which is well pleasing in his sight; through Jesus<br />Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.<br /><br />O ALMIGHTY God, the God of the spirits of all flesh,<br />who by a voice from heaven didst proclaim, Blessed<br />are the dead who die in the Lord; Multiply, we beseech<br />thee, to those who rest in Jesus, the manifold blessings of<br />thy love, that the good work which thou didst begin in<br />them may be perfected unto the day of Jesus Christ. And<br />of thy mercy, O heavenly Father, vouchsafe that we, who<br />now serve thee here on earth, may at last, together with<br />them, be found meet to be partakers of the inheritance of<br />the saints in light; for the sake of the same thy Son Jesus<br />Christ our Lord. Amen.<br /><br />MOST merciful Father, who hast been pleased to take<br />unto thyself the soul of this thy servant (or this thy<br />child); Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who<br />walk as yet by faith, that having served thee with constancy<br />on earth, we may be joined hereafter with thy blessed saints<br />in glory everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<br /><br />O LORD Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away<br />the sting of death; Grant unto us thy servants so to<br />follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may<br />at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after<br />thy likeness; through thy mercy, who livest with the Father<br />and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.<br /><br />ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we yield unto thee<br />most high praise and hearty thanks, for the wonderful<br />grace and virtue declared in all thy saints, who have<br />been the choice vessels of thy grace, and the lights of the<br />world in their several generations; most humbly beseeching<br />thee to give us grace so to follow the example of their<br />stedfastness in thy faith, and obedience to thy holy command-<br />ments, that at the day of the general Resurrection,<br />we, with all those who are of the mystical body of thy<br />Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most<br />joyful voice: Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the<br />kingdom pre-pared for you from the foundation of the<br />world. Grant this, O Father, for the sake of the same, thy<br />Son Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.<br /><br />Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord: And let light perpetual shine upon him. +<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115692757387291540?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1153788100873527132006-07-24T20:37:00.000-04:002006-07-24T20:41:40.886-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/ethel"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/ethel%27s%20boy6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I have decided that this black gulmoget ram lamb needs to be shown at the Michigan Fiber Festival. He is coming on now like 'mad' and is looking fabulous! His dam is Underhill Ethel (fawn) and His sire is ShdltrgPines Justinian. I'm thinking I should also repeat the breeding next year! :-)<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115378810087352713?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1153387992500217002006-07-20T05:19:00.002-04:002011-01-11T14:54:49.742-05:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Aeoline.2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Aeoline.2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Quinzi??me.0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Quinzi%3F%3Fme.0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Aeoline.1.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Quarte.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Quarte.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are photos of 3 ewe lambs that I find interesting. I really like the photo of the one standing by the tree. I'm collecting photos to eventually have a calendar made. I've had trouble getting poses that I think are "calendar worthy"! One of these days I want Nancy K. to come out and photograph my flock for me! :-) She does such good work with her camera!<br /><br />Aeoline is a moorit smirslet. She is the one standing by the tree.<br /><br />Quarte is the dark moorit smirslet. I'm hoping she keeps her dark coloration. I don't think I've had a spotted lamb that dark before in the brown tones.<br /><br />Quinzième is the one that I think may be mioget or fawn. I believe she has mioget on both sides of her pedigree.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115338799250021700?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1152856011019600932006-07-14T01:41:00.000-04:002006-07-14T01:48:15.903-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/viole%20conique2.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/viole%20conique2.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/voix%20angelque.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/voix%20angelque.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I got home Thursday morning to find that SheltrgPines Xene had lambed. She had a single black gulmoget ewe lamb I'm naming Viole Conique. Her photo (shortly after birth) is posted here.<br /><br />I will also post a photo of Voix Angelique. I'd be curious to know what color you think she is. She was born black....shortly after I decided she was "Shetland Black". Her picture always makes her look "brownish". Surely she is an oddly colored girl.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115285601101960093?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1152775342623756472006-07-13T03:13:00.002-04:002011-01-11T14:56:33.001-05:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Plein%20Jeu.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Plein%20Jeu.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Cor%20de%20Nuit.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Cor%20de%20Nuit.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There are always those lambs each year that "stick out" in your mind....seeing them every day when you do chores. Cor de Nuit is just such one of those! :-) She is a spotted katmoget ewe lamb out of Justalit'l Lana and Underhill Thelonius Monk. Lana carries spots (or is possibly spotted) and is Ag/Aa BB/Bb S?/Ss. Thelonius Monk is owned by Bill Stearman in Canada and I had use of him last Autumn while he was awaiting the border to open between Canada and the USA. Thelonius is a spotted katmoget. Anwyay, Cor de Nuit has just a "perfect look". She's very square and has a very uniform fleece....very crimpy...and a very light gray...almost mother of pearl sheen to it. I'm posting her picture on today's blog.<br /><br />Another great favorite this year is a horned ewe lamb named Plein Jeu. She is also a spotted katmoget...but has a bit more 'flash' colorwise. Her dam is SheltrgPines The Holy Grail (carries spots) and her sire is also Underhill Thelonius Monk. (spotted katmoget). I will paste her photo here to...taken out in the new pasture. Plein Jeu is pictured first....then Cor de Nuit.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115277534262375647?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1152654703850926412006-07-11T17:39:00.001-04:002011-01-11T14:57:48.507-05:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Trompette%20en%20Chamade%202.0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Trompette%20en%20Chamade%202.0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Moonstruck" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Moonstruck%27s%20boy.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was out with my camera last night in the pasture and snapped a few photos of sheep with "presence". One such is a moorit/white yuglet/flecket ram lamb born May 8th (making him 8 weeks old). I have had my eye on him from his birth "pegging him" as a possible breeding ram. I've named him Trompette en Chamade after the horizontally mounted HUGE trumpet pipes on the pipe organ. (believe me, these things will "blow you out" of the church). :-) This guy has incredibly lusterous wool in unique lock formations. It will be interesting to see how he turns out. His dam, SheltrgPines Hagia Sophia, is 25% UK (Timothy/Jamie) and his sire, SheltrgPines Dionysios, is 50% UK (Lightning/Timothy/Jamie).<br /><br />Also, pictured is a gray Blettet ram lamb I plan to show at MFF. He is the son of Winter Sky Moonstruck and SheltrgPines Demetrios. He has lots of "presence".<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115265470385092641?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1152562025407723252006-07-10T16:05:00.002-04:002011-01-11T14:59:15.252-05:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Frog%20on%20lily%20pad.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Frog%20on%20lily%20pad.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Darius2.0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Darius2.0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hot, dry weather has arrived here and the sheep are seeking spots of shade to relax in. Yesterday we had a large group of spinners here at the farm and had grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. Everyone brought food and what a time it was. Matt and Jamie (from Wooly Knob) were here and brought rovings back to several spinners who had sent fleeces back with them last spin and everyone was enthralled with looking at each other's rovings! :-) Of course several fleeces were sent home with Matt and Jamie to have more roving processed. We're all very appreciative of their being willing to deliver the product at these spins. We have so much fun with them here.<br /><br />Mandy (one of the spinners attending) took some photos and I'll post a couple. One is of my favorite ram, SheltrgPines Darius. The other photo is of a frog on lily pads in the goldfish pond!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115256202540772325?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1152252904132894912006-07-07T02:07:00.001-04:002011-01-11T14:59:47.036-05:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Lambo_s_ewe_lamb.0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Lambo_s_ewe_lamb.0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Lambo_and_ewe_lamb.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Lambo_and_ewe_lamb.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Christmas II has arrived at Sheltering Pines. I refer to Lambing Time As Christmas! :-)Yesterday (Thursday) Justalit'l Black Lambo gave birth to a black gulmoget ewe lamb! I was delighted. I haven't kept a daughter yet out of Lambo, so just maybe this is the one to keep. And since I haven't "pegged" any of the gulmogets born yet this year for keeping....I'd say this is the one! I've named her Grand Cornet. Our naming scheme this year is based on "Stops on Classical Pipe Organs". Being a classical pipe organ music fan myself, I thought the names on the stops were really cool for lamb names. Here is a photo of Grand Cornet, with her Dam, Justalit'l Black Lambo. (her sire is SheltrgPines Justinian).<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115225290413289491?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1152177747511777002006-07-06T03:38:00.000-04:002006-07-06T05:24:49.606-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Munching2.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/200/Munching2.1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Munching.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/200/Munching.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/Munching3.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/400/Munching3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Tuesday we let the flock out on new pasture. Back in April we fenced in another 8 acres of our hay field. 1 1/2 weeks ago we had 1st cutting hay taken off it....I was waiting for the 1st cutting to be taken before letting the flock out onto the new pasture.<br /><br />Since we routed the sheep through a different "gated area" I knew it may take a bit before they were used to going out there. Well, they learned very quickly. IN fact, it only took them one time to know the way back. I was amazed. Who ever said sheep were dumb? Probably someone who never owned any!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115217774751177700?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29975254.post-1150787326886037962006-06-20T02:59:00.000-04:002006-06-20T03:16:26.643-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/BFL_white_Ram_lamb2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/320/BFL_white_Ram_lamb2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/1600/blk_BFL_ewe_lamb.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3657/1146/320/blk_BFL_ewe_lamb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On Saturday, June 17th, Kim Nikolai and Becky Utecht came and visted us here at Sheltering Pines. During their stay I travelled with them to Mark and Brenda Lelli's farm near Coopersville, Michigan. Brenda owns a flock of purebred registered Bluefaced Leicesters. Kim and Becky had come to purchase a few for their farms. I was along for the ride!<br /><br />I had become acquainted with Bluefaced Leicesters at the Michigan Fiber Festival...having seen them there each year when Brenda and Mark Lelli brought them to show. I fell in love with their soft/fine crimpy/lustrous fleeces. So, I guess it wasn't surprising that when visiting Brenda Lelli's farm, I also came home with a pair of BFL's. I purchased a black ewe lamb and a white ram lamb.<br /><br />The Bluefaced Leicesters seem to be very docile and extremely curious sheep. While the ones I purchased have not been "tamed" they will come up and smell of my hand through the gate. I think it would not take much to tame them.<br /><br />I plan to breed them this Autumn. It will be fun adding this breed to our purebred Shetland flock.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Shetland Sheep http://homestead.com/shelteringpines2/ShelteringPines.html<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29975254-115078732688603796?l=shelteringpines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>stephen rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359754483957246588noreply@blogger.com2