Ram skulls.
Left to the worms, maggots and other bugs, from the soil and back to earth. The joy of watching these rams born on the farm, the 18 months looking after them daily, feeding them, dealing with fly strike, shearing, watching them grow. Getting to know their behaviour so intimately I can tell in an instant if something is wrong.
The sadness taking them off to be sustenance for our family and friends, sheepskins to keep us warm, an income to cover the costs of the flock.
Decisions never taken lightly.
Tears, doubt and horror, pride and accomplishment.
It's been the biggest lesson of my life and one I am always going to be thankful for. I've never had to dig as deep as this. It's exhausting.
We have sprayed the skull with copper which will develop a unique patina as it oxidises.
With sincere apologies to those making different decisions to me about livestock, I hope the images aren't too unsettling. This is truly the raw edge of life and death. We will all return to the earth.
#smallholding #shepherdess #lifeanddeath #ramskull #ramshorn #skull