Blog
Is this cute looking guy the future face of the farm? It’s a certified dorper sheep raised by The amazing folks at the Roeder Ranch. They have a 1,600 acre ranch west of Fredricksburg that has been in the family since the late 1890s. Brad and his parents were nice enough to have my brother Dewayne and I out for a visit Sunday. They patiently answered all of our questions, even the dumb ones.
They really got us excited about raising sheep. And more importantly, the got us believing we can actually be successful at it! So, we’re now in the process of putting our business together. FEINs, LLC paperwork, bank account, farm tax IDs, business plan, website, social media and all that fun stuff.
We get to employ everyone’s skills. Dewayne’s MBA, Jennifer’s ability to be organized and keep everyone on task, and my…my…hmm. Well, I’m sure I bring something to the table. Manual labor? East austin hipster vibe? Geeky web powers? I’m sure something will rise to the surface.
So, I hope everyone is hungry. We plan to offer some if the best grass fed lamb central Texas has ever laid a fork to! And that’s just for starters. Want to get in on the woolly action? We’ll be up for trading manual labor for shares. We’ll have plenty you can help us with.
I had a knock at the door this afternoon from the man that leases the land for coastal hay. His baler had caught the hay on fire which subsequently caught part of our pasture on fire. He dumped his burning bale of hay and drove up to the house and we put out the fire that was still smoldering in his baler. Seeing as how it’s a $45,000 piece of equipment you really don’t want to see it burn to the ground.
Across the road, about 200 yards away, I could see great clouds of white smoke pouring off the pasture. I called the Granger fire department who told me I needed to call Williamson County 911 before they could be dispatched. What?!? So I dialed 911 and the Granger volunteer fire department was here within about 10 minutes.
I strapped the two girls in to the Subaru and drove down to open one of the gates so they could get in the back way. I then had to head back up to the house because babysitting in a smoky field was no ones’ idea of fun. Well, I thought it was fun but Amelia disagreed. At some point the Sheriff arrived and left. I wasn’t able to watch the progress. I think it took about 30-45 minutes to put the fire out.
Jen looked on the bright said and said, “At least there won’t be any chiggers there.”
How is Texas not filled with nudist? I’m not even sure if that is a term they go by anymore. It sounds very 1960s. Anyway, it is so hot and humid here how is Texas not entirely clothing optional?
I don’t care what the fashion was in Europe when all our Czeck, German, Spanish, Italian, and English ancestors migrated over here, I think they would have left their clothing on the drying line for about 8 months of the year as soon as they spent one year in Texas.
I picture Santa Anna running from the angry, armed and naked Alamo defenders, rifles held high, pistols swinging low. Come and take it! I think Mexico would have left us alone.
We’ve now had a couple of hundred years to figure out clothing is just something to soak up the sweat in Texas. Sure, if you work in an office that is kept the temperature of a nice meat locker, then yes, wear your sweater in June. But on the Naivar Farm, in the heat between March and October, I am seriously considering a clothing optional policy.
Remember the Alamo!