Animals on the farm

We no longer have a small flock of sheep here at the farm. Dan's health problems made it difficult to do the heavy work involved which left me as the only farm hand. As I told him at the time, "I am willing to do a lot of work around here, but I do NOT wrestle sheep!" After we sold the flock we learned that the life threatening bacterial blood infection that had invaded Dan's body may have been a result of handling newborn sheep. Although the sheep came with the farm when the Backenstoses bought it, the tradition has come to an end.

These latest pictures serve as documentation that a person can change...in this case, my dear husband has become a cat person! Here is a picture of our latest addition, Puffin, about 10 weeks or so. She was a skinny little feral baby that Dan rescued from the cold several weeks ago. She makes number 3 of our "house" cats. She is currently living in Dan's shop but once she is a little bigger, she will probably reside with Khumir in my studio which is much warmer and sunnier. "King" Noir (a black feral kitten we rescued about 18 months ago) is the privileged fellow who actually lives in the house (and Dan said he'd never have a pet in his home!!).

Seasons Greetings from

Buffalo Springs Farm 2008
Dan and I are feeling truly blessed this holiday season. 2008 was truly a year of challenges. This time last year Dan spent the holidays in a wheelchair in a nursing home. Thanks to medical care and sheer tenacity (on both our parts), this December finds Dan on his feet and puttering in his shop on his beloved farm. Thanks for all our friends' prayers and well wishes. What a difference a year can make!!

We are both now "retired" and operate on the belief that now is the time to do the things we want to do. In Dan's case this translates as spending most of his time either working around the property or in the shop creating his artistic expressions in wood. For me the studio and the garden (in season) beckon. Probably my most difficult retirement task is occasionally coercing Dan into leaving the farm for some kind of adventure that requires leaving not only the property but even Lebanon county! Those who know him well know what I mean!! We've made a few trips to art museums this year and I'm campaigning for more trips in the next.

So here's wishing health and happiness to all in the new year.

Love and peace,
Teri and Dan