Bye Bye 2014 and Hello 2015

All of us here at the Grazerie,
 would like to take this opportunity,
 to wish you the very best for 2015.

Our wishes include good health, loving friends, kindness and compassion.

As I am a quote fan, I have decided to send this year's greetings in the form of quotes.

I believe quotes speak to you, when and where you need them most.
So, here are a collection of photo's from the past year and some of the quotes I have diligently saved.

       
Games lubricate the body and the mind.
~Benjamin Franklin

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.
 ~Lorraine Hansberry

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
~Albert Einstein

Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.

~Ralph Marston

At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security.

~Jodi Rell

Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.

~Jane Austen

Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret.

~Laurence J. Peter

To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.

~George MacDonald

It requires bravery to do something no one else around you is doing.

~Amber Heard

I'm a shepherd, not a sheep, 

and I've always prided myself on being a leader and not a follower.

~Dustin Diamond

Love begins by taking care of the closest ones - the ones at home.

~Mother Teresa

A well-spent day brings happy sleep.

~Leonardo da Vinci

When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way,

you will command the attention of the world.

~George Washington Carver

What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?

~Jean Jacques Rousseau 

A bond between souls is ancient - older than the planet.

~Dianna Hardy

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.

Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.

~Jane Howard

It is by chance that we met, by choice that we became friends.

~Henri Nouwen  

I think fearless is having fears but jumping anyway.

~Taylor Swift

When you walk in purpose, you collide with destiny.
~Ralph Buchanan

When the student is ready the teacher will appear

~unknown

Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.

~Randy Pausch

Coming together is a beginning. 

Keeping together is progress. 

Working together is success.
~Henry Ford

I believe that courage is the sum of strength and wisdom.
 ~Dodinsky

Much of the vitality in a friendship lies in the honoring of differences, 

not simply in the enjoyment of similarities.

~ James Fredericks

There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.
~Han Suyin

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

 If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
~Dalai Lama

Friends are like walls.

 Sometimes you lean on them, and sometimes it’s good just knowing they are there.

~Author Unknown

The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.
~Margaret Carty

Things are never quite as scary when you have a best friend.

~Bill Watterson

 Character is higher than intellect.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

~Leo Buscaglia

I may not be different,

but I'm definitely not the same.
~William J. Dybus

We do not remember days, we remember moments.

~Cesare Pavese

I think it's being thrown at the wolves,

we call it in our business.

~Dick Van Dyke

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
 ~George Washington Carver

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.

 ~Thich Nhat Hanh

The language of friendship is not words but meanings.
~Henry David Thoreau

I am more afraid of an army of one hundred sheep led by a lion,

 than an army of one hundred lions led by a sheep. 

~Charles Maurice, Prince de Talleyrand-Périgord 

Each relationship nurtures a strength or weakness within you.

~Mike Murdock

Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.

~Sicilian Proverb

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

~William Arthur Ward

Most people are more comfortable with old problems,
 than with new solutions.
 ~Author Unknown

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

~John C. Maxwell

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

~Clarence Budington Kelland

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on,
with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
~Hal Borland

Happy New Year
from Louise, Eric, Jess and Roy
plus the guardian team, the herding team
and,
 all those who needs guarding and herding!

Thank you

We had a delayed Christmas, we wanted to wait until the kids were back from Europe.
This blog is about appreciation and thank you.

Firstly, thank you to the family and friends in Holland for welcoming the kids and giving them a great time in the Netherlands.

Next, thank you to Karl and Marjolijn Laarhuis for their awesome gifts.
We have know Karl and Marjolijn since 1992, they were the people who helped us find our very first, fantastic Sarplaninac!
Over the years we have stayed in touch and kept our friendship going despite us moving to Canada.
Without, their help and guidance, who knows, perhaps we would have ended up with Maremmas,
instead of Sarplaninacs. I am so  grateful that they helped us and introduced us to this fantastic breed.

When Marjolijn heard that our kids were coming to the Netherlands, she asked to meet up with them as she had "something" she wanted to give to me.
She mentioned to me that as they were getting older and wanted to gift me a few sarplaninac items, she wanted them to go to a "good home" and to someone who would appreciate them.

I am honored that she decided to gift them to me!
This book, is out of print and really hard to find.
One of the few sarplaninac books in English.
What a treasure to add to my collection!

And, then this lovely Sarplaninac  pendant,

it is extra special as it was made by a mutual friend, who passed away a few years back.

Thank you, Aad! We still remember you, and appreciate this lovely hanger.

A lovely framed stamp with the National dog from Yugoslavia.

And, a set of 4 Denar Sarplaninac coins.

Close up of the image of the Sarplaninac dog!

I cannot say thank you enough, And I will ensure that one day I will pass these on to someone who will give these artifacts a good home too!

Next, I would like to thank Eric for his Christmas gifts.

It has become somewhat of a joke between us..

3 years ago I got a art deco piece for on the wall.

It is interesting, but in reality looks like a dead squid.

Last year I got... drumroll a Air compressor!!

This year.. I got a generator.

So, sweet and so personal.

How many lucky woman out their get air compressors and generators?

I am now convinced that Eric is building it up and I am sure next year, I will be getting a new tractor.

It is like a natural progression:

Air compressor> generator> to tractor!!

Besides that I also got a handy dandy boot dryer.

Santa, spoilt me a got me a new pocket knife and a trail camera.

I am now going to set it up and see what wildlife roams our ranch when I am not around.

Finally, I am thankful for our awesome kids,

a good man,

wonderful friends all over the world,

good dogs, nice horses

a beautiful ranch,

a lovely Country.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

Being Born is a Messy Job

As we head closer to Christmas,

nothing is more appropriate than sharing births in the barn.

When I look at these photo's of this little guy,

I think this is just so sweet, and cute, and tender,

so slimy and so bloody,

 and, oh so messy.

But, his momma loves him and that is all the counts
Both are doing  well.

The birth of the twins.

I love how the steam rises off this lamb.

Lamb 2 was a bit messy,

but his momma loves him.

We moved them into a nice warm lambing jug, where the bonding and cleaning could continue.

The ewe will lick them clean and dry,

this will stimulate them to get up and go and suck.

A good momma is the key to survival.

Hi there..

And then, a few days later..

Wishing you a loving and happy Christmas!