This is how I feel - flat and wanting to hide under a potted fern. Bitey Whitey is gone. We sent him to the university for an autopsy and are hoping they'll be able to tell us something that can help someone, hopefully not ever us again.
While I was sitting with him I did as much knitting as I could and got
Elizabeth's second sleeve done and ready to attach to the body.
As I knit I decided that since I was never going to be able to make a Bitey Whitey sweater, he could be a part of this sweater, specifically the last three rows on that second sleeve. And I realized that in fact, all the sheep were all a part of all my sweaters. Everyone here is a part of everything here. My heart.
While I waited for the vets to arrive yesterday I hustled to make sure that the sleeves were indeed the proper length and put all the stitches back on the needles to join everything together. It somehow seemed important that he knew (and probably I knew) that we'd always be together, the sleeves on each others sweaters. And the way you join the sleeves to the body?
K2Tog (Knit Two Together)
46 comments:
Oh Sara I am so sorry, hope they can give you some answers. Things we don't think about when we lose animals is they too are born with birth defects and health issues just like people. Hard to understand when he looked so healthy after looking at Maizie's struggle and she is still going strong.
I see another beautiful sweater there to be added to your wardrobe.
Take care my friend, been thinking of you.
Your words makes me cry. I am so sorry Bitey Whitey is gone. Awful thing to happen.
I am sorry for your loss. Please take comfort in knowing that you're a good Crazy Sheep Lady.
I hope you get answers.
Oh Sara :(
((((hugs)))
Im hoping they find the answers...
I'm so, so sorry.
:(
How awful, Sara. No one I know cares more for their animals than you do. You are a great and loving sheep lady.
The two of you are tied with heartstrings. My heartfelt sympathy.
{{{hugs}}}
I am so sorry. You have had way too many losses in the last year or so.
I hope the docs can figure out what happened, and that it was something very rare and congenital that couldn't have been prevented and that will never happen to you again.
I'm sorry, Sara. It doesn't get any easier because each one is different. Much love.
Heartbreaking.
Lump in my throat, tearful sympathy.
I know you did everything you could for Bitey Whitey for as long as you could. Our beloved animals never leave our hearts.
Oh Sara, I am so sad to read this.... Remember the good times, although short, you had with him. :(
Oh no
Sara, So sad. I am crying for you.
You are such a good sheep mom and yet sometimes there is nothing to be done. Knit together. yes.
gloria
So sorry for your loss!
I know how much you love your animals Sara...you are a very committed crazysheeplady. So sorry you have had these losses over the past year. You must have one strong heart. See you soon.
I too am so sorry about Bitey Whitey. I hope those answers come too. And I have a feeling that working on this sweater beautiful sweater has been a bit therapeutic knowing Bitey Whitey is part of it. Take care...
So sorry to hear about Bitey Whitey. I hope you get some answers.
This is heartbreaking. I am so so sorry.
Dang girl!!! But I understand, same thing is happening here too. I just haven't posted anything about it. It's depressing.
I´m so sorry Sara! :(
Sara, I grieve with you about Bitey Whitey. You have made your sheep a part of our lives. Every day, I look forward to your posts to see what is happening on your farm. I hope they find out what was the problem so someone else does not have the pain of loosing their sheep.
Take care.
Emily
This poem was written for a dog, but it certainly fits here as well. I am sorry beyond words.
A SMALL QUESTION
If you can start the day without caffeine; if you can get going without pep pills; if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles; if you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it; if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time; if you can forgive a friend’s lack of consideration; if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of your own, something goes wrong; if you can take criticism and blame without resentment; if you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct him; if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend; if you can face the world without lies and deceit; if you can conquer tension without medical help; if you can relax without liquor; if you can sleep without the aid of drugs; if you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed or color, religion or politics; then, my friend, you’re almost as good as your sheep. Almost, but not quite!
Sara I am so very sorry. All of us with sheep know your pain.
I recently spun the ball of Renny's roving into a nice 2 ply yarn and will use it for some gloves. Strong yarn from a tough sheep :-)
So sorry to hear about Bitey Whitey Sarah.
Hugs to you and the rest of the woolies.
I did know, perhaps before others, what had happened to Bitey whitey but reading all the comments, I cried all over again. I agree with 'I want Orange', hopefully it was something very rare and totally unpreventable. Thinking of you. Love and Hugs
I am so sorry. :(
Darn it all anyway, I hope you get some answers. My sympathy..poor Bitey Whitey I bet he didn't know how many people were pulling for him:)
So sorry to hear about Bitey Whitey. I'm keeping my thoughts with you and the while flock. The sweater is such a beautiful tribute.
I'm sorry to hear about Bitey Whitey, I hope you get an answer. I think not knowing is the hardest thing. Beautiful post.
I am so sorry to read this. The love you have for your animals shines through all of your writings, photos and especially the care and attention you put into your knitting and weaving. It is far more than just skill that makes them so beautiful.
I hope that the university can give you some answers so that his loss might at least help another.
So very sorry to hear about this.
Yes. Knit two together. Hearts and sweater sleeves.
You have the most poetic way of expressing loss. I trust that is how you heal and continue to love all the animals entrusted to your care.
It's all been said, but there are days when being a Shepherd just SUCKS. Sorry Sara and hugs.
Sherry
sad sigh
I'm so sorry!
I hope they find out what happend to him.
Love (all the way from Holland!), Ineke
My heart is breaking for you.
Hugs,Pat
I was crying this morning when i read your post...I'm so sorry for your little boy! He seemed to have a taste for happy things, and was really funny!
Hope you can have soon a cause of death, to help you in future...hope you don't need to, but it's always better to know.
Valentina
Bitey Whitey is mourned by so very many. He won life's lottery when he was alive--he was loved and cared for in a beautiful place. So sorry.
I'm so sad to hear that Bitey Whitey has left us, but not in spirit. Everything is temporary, but this time it was way too short. : (
Oh Sara.... I'm crying with you. Yes, he is there...in the sweater, in your memories. But it's not the same, nor is it enough sometimes. Sending hugs and prayers for peace.
I'm so, so sorry, and sad. Tears. :-(
So darn sorry. He took some greatnpictures. It always hurts to loose a family member. I think you have had enough this year.
Ohhh... where's my potted fern... :-( oh my...
I am so sorry Sara, so hope they can at least fill you in on what the heck happened...
Hugs.... cookies... for all
When we lost our two nubian goats, Brownie and Murph', within a few weeks of each other the sadness was overwhelming. I couldn't even look out into the goat run. I felt empty and at such a loss.
I'm so sorry about Bitey Whitey. Murphy went to a UC Davis for research too. Somehow it helped to know that they might learn something about why it happen. Still the pain lingers. I'm just so sorry.
I am so sorry and we (the flock here and I) send you hugs and hugs and hugs. love you bunches.
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