Lauren, at the Vet’s Clinic, handed me the package.
Merry Christmas, Grinch!, she said. Who told you I was the Grinch? I said. She just laughed. Poo, I said as I left. She laughed some more.
Mama (policeman sheep) is suddenly limping badly and has a cough. So first I will worm her. Sheep crop the grass very low to the ground so they collect parasites. This is where Organically Grown differs from Certified Organic. If the garlic and vinegar are not working, I will use chemicals. I have no intention of losing this sheep or letting her suffer. I do grow the animals organically. But my breeding girls sometimes need a little more help. So I will treat them if they are sick. And if she has a foot problem she needs all the help she can get.
And the limp? Mama did the exact same thing at this stage in her pregnancy last season. Same hoof too. It is not hot and smells fine. Smell is a very important tool in farming especially when the animals are in the barn. I was like “Hold her still John, I have to smell her foot!” -he does not even bat an eyelid now.
I cleaned her hooves and trimmed them again. I will treat the gap between the two claws of the hoof with a topical application of an antibiotic, (a jab will not reach a hoof, not enough blood going into that area)to combat any infection and I recommend bed rest. Mia is in the hospital wing with her or she will pine. Sheep do not like to be alone.
Hairy McLairy has gone in with Daisy. They shuffle along well together. Both being big fat brutes! I will take you to visit Mama tomorrow, she will be allowed visitors by then.
This is The Kitchens Garden sustainable Christmas Tree. It is a holly. But you knew that. It is not pretty, has thorns (Grinch-like) and the berries. Kind of self-decorating. (Another Grinch feature) To get berries you need a male and a female Holly. Or one that has been grafted and has both. For the record this is a girl tree! Who knew.. Well, I guess now we both know. We will plant it out in the garden in the spring. Then get a boy Holly to go with it for next years Sustainable Christmas Tree!
John is in charge of the Christmas decorations. He will hang them tomorrow. And I should warn you right now, that all his decorations are Star Trek models. I do not interfere. It is best not to, I have learnt. One year I lazily added stars. Well you should have seen the commotion. I thought it was In Keeping! Stars – Star Trek! But no, Our John is in charge of decorations. Not The Grinch. This is the rule. A strict rule.
Bet you thought I was Not Going to have a Tree didn’t you!! (laughter!).
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
78 responses to “The Sustainable Christmas Tree: Who Let the Grinch OUT!”
I hope that Mama is doing better! And the holly is beautiful, too. Yes, we have found that using all of our senses is essential in keeping the critters healthy. 🙂
Thanks Ted, hope all is well with you, how are the wedding plans coming along?.. c
Thank goodness you “sniffed” out the problem. The nose is quite an investigative device in the country. Air, soil, animals, people and good food are the top ones for me!
I think we have been cut from a similar cloth, Celi. I’m not a Grinch, either, but there’s just too much ado and it takes the intent off the tracks. I don’t play the game and become less influenced as the years go by. Mary and Joseph may have suffered from apoplexy if we whispered in their ears about the goings on in 2000 years.
That also would not be a welcome smell in the stable! 🙂
Oh you tied that in beautifully. and I agree totally about smells.. in fact I have trouble if I smell a smell I do not like and am in public, when I lived in the city in london i often used my scarf , discreetly held to my face, to hide from a bad smell!! c
Thanks to a British blogger, I learned that ladies in past centuries used Oil of Neroli – dabbing it liberally on their gloves. I do that with lotion scented with natural herbs. I thought I was being so inventive!
i spray scent on my gloves to, such delicate creatures we are!!
What bright red berries!
perfect decorations I think yummy! c
LOL I hope Mama Sheep is doing alright.. I really needed this laugh Ms Cecilia.. thank you 🙂
It is early morning here Kay, and I am just rugging up to go and feed out in the barn. I am hoping for an improvement today.. fingers crossed.. c
Who would ever know to smell their feet! Sometimes my dogs feet smell like Fritos! I wonder what that means?!! You never cease to amaze me with all your knowledge! Can’t wait to see your tree…. 🙂 When I lived up North I decorated all our pine trees outside with food for the birds and small animals that stayed around thru the winter months; they were always my favorite holiday trees!
I love the idea of christmas trees outside! and decorated with wild bird feed must have been so awesome! c
Merry Christmas, C!
merry Christmas to you too, Giovanna. ! c
Poor little sheepie – hope she is on the mend C – always so much to learn from your posts – you are so farm clever! Good to know who is who at the farmy for if I ever come to visit around this time of the year.
🙂 Mandy xo
I will give them name tags!! c
I’ve cared for horses more years of my life than not. And can totally relate to the smelling of feet in soggy weather – I can smell them as you speak!
Also vis a vis your other post on how not to make …. bread …. having lived in Maine for 32 years I can totally relate to freezing rain. It is a buggah, especially as we had no garage for all those years! Hacking ice off of cars, though reminiscent of Michelangelo with a chisel, is far from fun.
And then having to get the frozen car door open, literally prying your way into the car.. i hear ya sister!! c