New Year’s Day celebration

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

Since November we’ve been clearing a timber pasture. Ike is getting used to a single yoke and a new teamster, and (as a former full-time logger) is showing us all the proper ways to navigate the woods. Three-year-old Star and Bright are paying attention.

We are able to get in at least an hour of work every morning, between dawn and when I have to head off to the desk job. Weekends we can put in good long days.

On New Year’s Day we invited all sorts of friends to come and join in brush burning. Ike pulled a few sticks, Star and Bright milled around. At the end of the day we’d burned about 8 good sized piles. It’s a start!

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Glad to see that Ike is adapting!!

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

About these photos:

Rick, Ike’s new teamster, got to know Ike when Rick built the Cow Palace and fenced the pasture-to-be. Rick fell in love. Before long he had carved a yoke for Ike (the sheet metal gladiator look is a repair to the pine prototype), created a harness, and had taken up the goad. Patient Ike did his best to understand Rick’s newbie commands, because he loves Rick right back. Now the two work well as a team.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Swanzey, one of Ike’s former personal assistants has turned her hand to training a team of young goats. Little Meg and Beth came to the New Year’s celebration in the back of Deb’s car, and practiced their gees and haws in the forest.

Kellie prefers to ride horses, but Bright will do in a pinch. Star prefers to lick everything in sight.

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