sheep and sustainability

Written a few days ago...

Last Sunday I enjoyed a tour and roast at Sonia's parents' house in a small country town just outside Warrnambool called Mailors Flat.  This is where Sonia grew up. Sonia's mom, Jenny, was one of the first people I met at Trinity Lutheran Church... Even before I met Sonia.

(I'm sitting in a park next to Lake Pertobe, right now, with a magpie cooing in front of me.  I can't forget to tell you that it wasn't the magpies' cal I was so annoyed with.  It was the big, black crows'.  I actually find the magpie's voice to be a bit soothing...)

Sonia "warned" me that her dad was a collector of sorts.  A type of pack-rat that her mom was working on.  Although I'm quite distracted by my own clutter, and have reduced my possessions substantially as the result of travel, I could relate with the urge to save objects tied to personal experiences.  She also noted that her parents were living in a type of mobile home, as their plans to build had to be put on hold.  Sonia's dad had the entire frame built, but it's skeleton remained untouched for about a year a hundred or so yards from their home.

My excitement grew as we made our way down a gravel drive, through eucalyptus, Lady of the Forest, and other foreign (to me) trees... to her parents' home.  Laying my eyes on novel surroundings puts me at psychological contentment.  I can't help but smile.  Without waiting for an introduction, Sonia's imitating Trichoglossus haematodus (rainbow lorikeet), Rambo, made his presence known with a piercing whistle that made me wince.  He was no less brilliant than a bowl of skittles, melted in the hot summer sun... If skittles melt this way.  Hmm... Consider a box of melted Crayons; each feather as brilliant as the residential rose petals I walk past every day.  She waved her finger up and down in front of his eager beak and he began to nod his head, which surrendered to his whole upper body; up and down with the rhythm of a Rasta drummer.  His "dance" was complimented by a car alarm, coming from his agape beak.  Rambo had a neighbor who was a bit quieter in plumage and voice.

The house was the epitome of cozy inside.  I wanted to explore all the books and photos.  Now I am contemplating whether I should continue with all the juicy details since I'm describing the interior of someone's home.  Furthermore, if I write how I would like to write, this post may turn into a ten page short story.  Therefore, I'll try to stay in "letter to family" format...

A couple pairs of gum boots waited at the door.  A four to fie foot Cessna hung from the ceiling.  A quiet fire glowed in the wood-burning stove, topped with a big pot of water.  And, the warm scent of a roast, that grew stronger with every re-entry into the house, gently nudged my curious tummy.  After warming a big bottle of milk in a bucket of hot water, Sonia took me to help feed her eight to nine month old lamb, Russell.  Fit with a collar and un-cropped tail (that actually wagged with excitement), Russell's soft pink nose and cream wool contradicted his hungry aggression with bottle in mouth.  Although neither Sonia nor I have had the privilege to breast feed, we agreed we were fortunate to not be ewes.

Her dogs included a sweet, loyal hazel eyed, sheep herder, Dino (pronounced Deeno), and a couple whippets.  Her dad told me of a big, orange cat they had that used to hunt rabbits with their dog...

***

It’s been over a week since I first went to Sonia’s parents, but I would like add some things I meant to mention.

As Sonia led me around her parents' property, I entered her childhood experiences for the first time as she relived them.  We stepped over a log to visit one of these... a quiet spot along a creek where the water hastened over a few larger rocks; too slippery to cross this time.  Any time we approached the sheep, they all quizzically stared and I couldn't help but giggle.  We passed bales of straw wrapped in white plastic to keep out moisture, bordering one end of the farm field.  I've never felt the effects of stinging nettle, but my gum boots didn't prevent me from walking around it.  We mosied around an area that accumulates rain water due to the clay-like soil and forms quite a large pond.  Keeping an eye out for a family of wood ducks (different than US), we stumbled upon a toadstool wearing a feather... ;)

This, my friends, is a near 120 year old fig tree...

The fruit was too ripe eat, but I'm sure an in season, freshly picked fig would have been tastier than the one I tried from the grocery store earlier in the year!

I have been told I’m a “piscavarian”.  My main sources of protein come from fish and other seafood, as well as lentils, beans, quinoa, Greek yogurt and other non-meat sources.  Recently, however, I have had a taste for lamb.  I can think of a few reasons this may be: running daily, common Aussie meal, and my recent knowledge of its health benefits.  I’m not sure exactly why, but I still strive to only consume meat from the sea.  Seafood sustainability and the pros and cons of aquaculture is another discussion…  But lamb.  Here is a tasty nugget of information:  http://healthynutrition.me/?p=1420

Her mom, or mum, made use of a more energy efficient convectioin oven to cook the scrumptious pumpkin and vegetables.  I can’t recall if the meat was cooked the same.  We sipped on a cabernet-shiraz I stole from home.   I haven’t had much experience with shirazes, but to my surprise, Jenny discovered its compliments to roasted meat and vegetables on the label.  Phew!

I believe her parents’ home is better described as two caravans that her dad built together.  He set up two large solar panels on the property that provide all the energy they need.  He took me on a little walk after dinner and showed me the massive batteries that store the abundance of energy the sun provides.  He also pointed out their wind mill (a mini version of the ones in Racine, and elsewhere in the US), but explained its non-necessity as I think I almost heard it sigh with boredom as we walked a few stories below.

On the way out, as Sonia was telling me about Koalas occasionally noticed on the property, the headlights lit up a lump in front of us on the gravel road.  Sure enough.  Here was one now.  He wasn't too keen on moving, but that was alright for us.  Kind of humorous now; how we watched in awe as he lazily stood up and barely made it, waddling on all fours, to the other side of the road and into the bushes.  Not another 50 meters down the drive, we stopped for another production.  Sonia was just as surprised as I was to have this special encounter.  These two beautiful koalas were the sweet cream atop this blessed evening.