St. Oran's Hermitage

12/06/2025

The flock rushed in from pasture to watch Europa eviscerate an empty kibble bag.

11/18/2025

Time for an update!
Fall is in full swing, there’s frost on the flock’s wool in the morning now.
I figured out to put some molasses in their water to significantly lower the freezing temperature, and verified that this is actually a legitimate thing to do, which benefits the sheep.

I have at last put some bookshelfs, laden with books in the tiny house/weaving shed. At last it feels like home.

11/04/2025

Update!

Categories Uncategorized Change of Seasons It’s election day, Nov 4, and I am voting in my new community. I’ve finished fencing the sheep’s second paddock, and they have new pasture for the season. I’m moving from the tent to the weaving shed/studio, which will be my home until the permanent...

10/15/2025

Farm Update! Hot off the press.
https://deafshepherd.co/news-from-the-farm
Note chicken diving in to taste the fresh local hay!

10/04/2025

https://deafshepherd.co/testing-123

Categories Uncategorized Testing 1,2,3 I give up on facebook’s user interfaces. They either force interactions or don’t bother holding content with browser cookies- which means in slow connections, whole posts can vaporize. Instead, I’m posting here on one of my blogs, which holds data a bit m...

10/03/2025

Lol

10/02/2025

Knitting by a foot-warming fire with wool that I spun from my sheep. Nice way to spend an evening.

09/27/2025

Facebook keeps eating my prosaic reports.
It’s very frustrating and is a killjoy.
Some knitting with Dori’s wool, and Ozzy and Ollie, who had some of his hair clipped so he will respect the electric fence.
Peace! Life is good. Internet connection not so much.

09/14/2025

St. Oran’s Weekly

I do believe that life is gradually beginning to slow down here. Not a lot of big news to report. I have started drywall in the weaving shed, which goes slowly because it is also being used as a storage shed.
Walnut harvest continues with the aid of a wacky invention called “Grandpa’s Goodie Getter.” This machine us able to crack those tough black walnut shells. Black walnuts taste like mild walnuts but with a floral aromatic component. They don’t seem musty or earthy to me as some folks report.
I think the biggest news this week is that I, the hermit, had a gathering! A happy handful of neighbors and my friend, came out to celebrate the approval of my septic field. We had wine and sloppy Joe’s, and chicken and tofu kabobs over a fire. Laughs and quality getting to know you convo abound and Oliver the sheep even came out to graze among the good feelings.
This week, I hope to make more progress on winter sheltering for all the beings here, and also get the process of having a well driller started.

09/14/2025

Week 3 Chickens of the week are…
Suzy and Eddy! Two Easter egger hens, rapidly approaching maturity were named for Suzy Eddie Izzard, a brilliant and empowered genderfluid comedian and actress.
Suzy and Eddie look very much alike, but have slightly different comb expression. I thought the names were apt!
No new flock members this week, but Clark’s guess of Greta and Hope was my favorite!

09/09/2025

Busy times at St. Orans!
Hen Lucille is now paying rent with four eggs this week! The first frost is fire under my f***y to get the winterization complete.
I have retired the blue trailer after a second bearing blew. Wooden components will be used in a hen roost. I purchased a larger trailer with real wheels to last me a while. Walnut harvesting has begun. Looks like a light crop this year for both walnuts and hickory.

The biggest news is that after about a dozen test pits, one of the state’s soil scientists found a suitable place for a septic field on the property. It’s at a relatively inconvenient place away from where I hoped to build, but it is officially approved. It was a wrenching day as test pit after pit failed to pass, so having the day end in success was a great relief. As you may know, I am a soil scientist, so it was exciting to see a practicing one in action. She did a fantastic job.

This week, i hope to begin drywall in the weaving shed, and make some progress on the move.

09/07/2025

Week 2 Chicken of the week is named after another notorious redhead, Lucille Ball!
Congratulations to honorary flock members, Gordon, Stillings, and Sitter!

Lucy must have been bolstered your thoughts because however petit, she was the first hen to lay eggs: two lovely turquoise eggs! Here’s also she is showing off her lovely green legs, and also with her ovine buddy, Oliver. No doubt they are planning some shenanigans for the ewes.