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and Enough Wool to Save the Planet, books, catherine friend, compassionate carnivore, Facebook, farming, Fifty Sheep, giveaway, Livestock, memoir, mid-life, review, Sheep, Sheepish, Sheepish: Two Women, Twitter, Wool, yarn
What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.” -Colette
This quote rounds out the final chapter of Catherine Friend’s 2011 memoir, Sheepish: Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet. After reading Friend’s Compassionate Carnivore, I picked up a signed copy of her latest at my local shop. This was a lovely read! Behind the anecdotes, stories, facts, figures, and farm tales lays an authentic account of Friend’s journey through her “middles.” Mid-life, mid-relationship, mid-section… The sheep stories inspire contemplations on the cycles of life, and offer real connections not only into Friend’s narrative, but our own as well.
I’ll admit, through the middle of the book, I was worried it wouldn’t end well. The sheep seemed to be trampling Friend’s sanity! But hope (and the plethora of remarkable and enlightening sheep and wool facts) kept me reading…and I’m happy to report that Catherine Friend realized the above quote in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, as the cycle of the farm came full circle and spring sprang (or, “sproinged”) again…
Does Friend have another memoir in the works? I don’t know, but I’d be delighted to continue learning from, AND being entertained by her journey and experiences of farm, and thus life!
I’d love to share this book with you. I’m giving away my SIGNED copy to one reader. Comment below to answer the question,
“Why are sheep important, why are they relevant?”
This could be personal, or find a fact/figure to share. Be sure to leave your contact information.
For additional good karma, share the giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or whatever social media you are hooked in with. Like Catherine Friend on Facebook and check out her farm blog (lots of fun updates and pics!)
One entry per person, giveaway ends at midnight, January 24, 2012!
Why are sheep relevant? Love that question, simply because it makes you think.
But, this is an easy one for me. I grew up in the country so after a day of shopping in the big city, we often drove past fields with sheep grazing. These were not the permanant kind of sheep, but rather those that were used to come in and graze down a field after a harvest.
My mom and I would always look for the black sheep. Because there was always one, usually only one. Now my daughter and I do the same thing when we come across a group of grazing sheep.
Sheep are relevant because they bring back wonderful memories, they inspired a family tradition, and always make me think of my mom.
180days@sbcglobal.net
Sheep rely on a leader/caretaker (such as we do/should with God). They need relationships as we do. They are not aggressive but (calm & trusting). We should follow their example.
Oh, sheep are soooo relevant to me. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t give thanks for their wooly coats. What would a knitter be without a sheep? A painter, maybe, or a quilter. Good artsy things to be, no doubt. But you can’t keep your toes warm in a painting and if you wear your quilt out in public you might get weird looks instead of the envious ones that hand knit accessories bring. I adore sheep and can’t resist touching them when I’m blessed enough to get with in arms length of one. (Usually at a sheep festival or the fair or a friend’s farm.)
I really enjoyed this clip and am going to look for her books. It’s a shared dream in our family to get out on the land and raise sheep, goats, alpaca – any fiber bearing creatures. I’m very interested to find out how they are using the wool to save the planet. Thanks for sharing!