Some Things I've Learnt ....

Last week we had to bring the flock in and there was a bit of a drama as we had to take them through the cow paddock, which naturally the cows nor the alpacas nor the sheep appreciated.  This event tied together in my mind with a poignant comment that Justin made at our sabbath gathering about how there was a time that the Ruach HaKodesh revealed to him that an issue that was evident in the family originated from his own behaviour and the remedy was his own repentance and behavioural change.  This is certainly not a situation unique to his family, as we all have similar instances I'm sure and Hebron is no different.

Some of the frustrations or difficulties that we have experienced here at Hebron have been a result of either our inexperience, procrastination or faulty actions.  I was discussing the sheep handling with Brendan this week and thought I'd send around an email with some YouTube clips and observations that may help our future planning.  However, I believe that we are becoming more adept at learning and responding, and even pre-empting at times.

Unfortunately I didn't pre-empt the following situation.  I've been thinking over the last month that I really should shore up the fenceline separating the cow paddock from the vege patch area because as the paddocks get drier the trees on the vege patch side are going to look all the more appetising.  Milly had started to nibble on one of the trees but still I didn't motivate myself to find a solution, until I went out the other day to find they had leaned over and eaten off the tops of all the trees closest to the fenceline.  I was more annoyed with myself than them because I had delayed in my response.  Should really take Israel's lead and take a pre-emptive strike approach!

I was so thankful to see rolls of wire sitting exactly where I needed them so I simply rolled them out and twitched them to the fenceline.  A few hours later, hey presto - problem solvered!  Now if I had of done that a month ago the trees down the fence line would now be intact.....

So what have I learnt over the past few years here at Hebron?

never bend over fixing a fence while there's an inquisitive cow close by;

follow your gut instincts!

be ready for any upcoming season;

wear boot sock protectors

start the day with thanksgiving and gratefulness

never trust automatic watering readings

trust automatic watering readings

never procrastinate - prioritise instead

plan ahead

check top tank water levels more often

I had cause to smile this week when I saw that the bottle brush plants have flowered for the first time.  I planted these last year underneath a couple of trees that I saw were dying and probably wouldn't come back, which is what happened.  So on this occasion a pre-emptive strike was successful :)

Shalom from Hebron on this new moon.  May Yeshua, our Messiah, bless and keep you.