We are so grateful for the love and support you all have shown us this year. You are wonderful, and we are so, so lucky to have you in our lives. — With gratitude, Chicki Minaj and A.C.
Here’s What’s Happening At Good Spirits Farm
Chris took a temporary job relocation in Virginia and left this week. I am now truly running this place on my own, which feels daunting. Juliet, apparently, wanted to test my already on-edge nerves when she decided the electric fence did not apply to her. As I was stringing hotwire for that day’s move to a new paddock, she got impatient and moved herself, hopping through the hotwire.
The thing about sheep is that if one goes somewhere, they all soon follow. I could see the rest of the flock contemplating going on the lam, too. Rounding them all up would have been impossible by myself, so I knew I had to get Juliet back with the bunch ASAP.
(the crew contemplating a full-on jailbreak)
The good news is that she’s the tamest of all my sheep. Wrapping her up in a bear hug/WWE-style hold isn’t impossible. But: She also weighs about as much as I do. Furthermore, her center of gravity is so low that moving her is like trying to scooch an anvil through deep sand. There was one final issue, too: The fence was on and the switch to turn it off was far out of reach.
Lifting her over the fence was a no-go. I tried, but she was just too heavy (and wiggly). I was going to have to scoot her under the hotwire. So: I used the only insulator I had to grab the line: my rubber boot. Somehow I pulled my boot off (while keeping Juliet in my grasp), and used the toe to lift up the electric wire. (Yes, I could still feel the shock, but it was only mildly awful). I pointed Juliet towards the other sheeps and gave that fuzzy rump a big ol’ shove. Success!
Had the whole herd gotten out, it would have been alright. There is another sturdier fence between the farm and the road. And I could have called a friend to help. But: I want to use my requests for favors as sparingly as I can. I felt so grateful I was able to troubleshoot this situation before it escalated to a “phone a friend” scenario.
(Me? An instigator? I would never!)
Here’s What I Loved This Week
This sweet potato pie recipe from The New York Times’ recipe site, which is absolutely worth subscribing to. The recipes are well-tested, and the comments from readers with suggested tweaks and improvements are usually helpful. In this case, I followed the commenters’ advice to roast the sweet potatoes, and swap cream in or evaporated milk. Divine!
Oooh Juliet what a naughty sheep!
Also, I am so surprised at the missed opportunity for a “going on the lamb” pun!
Glad you're hanging in there 💛 Your newsletters have cheered us up on a tough year. Just hoping things get better!