I have been a little quiet lately.
I sincerely hope you didn't even notice. I hope your life is full enough, that you don't hang on for my usually-weekly emails... hahaha!
I have really been struggling, well grappling is probably a better word, with the whole gratitude, joy, and faith battle vs the extreme materialism that comes with this time of year.
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This time of year is such a great opportunity for introspection, evaluation, gratitude, and intention.
We see this reflected in our annual efforts to set resolutions for the new year.
But it all seems to be so surface level, and the last thing I want to do is fill up your inbox with a bunch of surface-level, materialistic "buy my life-fixing products or suffer a 2024 full of disappointment and falling short."
The bombardment this time of year just gets old! Ugh!
So I took a break, and let the black Friday hooplah pass, so you and I would have one less reason to look at our overwhelming email inboxes during a time when we could be thinking about the things, the relationships, and the blessings we already have instead.
I hope you are taking some time, as we near the solstice, to seek gratitude and to set intentions for the year to come.
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It is a renewing process that our souls need as the seasons ebb and flow.
The Holiday Bustle really goes against our natural need to slow down and reflect, and it wears us down!
My heart goes out to the people who feel inclined to buy things for family, even when they can't afford them.
I hope we can remember that our time, our attention, and our love, are the most valuable things we can give to each other.
No amount of credit card debt can buy these things.
These thoughts are what have been swirling about in my head, since Thanksgiving anyway.
Some Locally-Grown Holiday Foods You May Want to Know About
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Christmas Turkeys
My friends at Schadey's Acres, just outside of Laramie, will have turkeys available for Christmas this year!
They range from 7-20lbs.
I cooked one up at my friend's house stuffed with Taste of the Wind lamb, local veggies, and-sourdough, over Thanksgiving and it was amazing!
You can pre-order yours HERE.
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Christmas Potatoes
We are getting in another batch of amazing potatoes delivered to Laramie from Circle Y Farms up in Worland!
These potatoes are pesticide-free, and they are the best potatoes I have ever tasted in my life.
Everyone who bought potatoes from our Thanksgiving batch said the same thing!
This next batch is coming in December 20th.
So you will have them just in time to make amazing, creamy, locally-grown potatoes for your family and friends at holiday gatherings this month.
Pre-order your 50lb box for $45 by replying to this email.
I will coordinate with you for pickup/delivery.
Some Farm-ily Updates
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I have scaled back quite a bit, as I am realizing I just can't do all the things I used to- and raise Peter at the same time. I have made peace with it finally, and I have sold off a lot of animals over the past two years, and practiced the art of saying "no" to many opportunities that have come my way.
I am no longer selling eggs, chickens, or pork. Instead, I will be focusing on the products I produce from my flock of sheep, and still helping my local cattle rancher friends sell their beef.
If you would like help sourcing other locally-raised products that I no longer offer, I am always happy to assist. I try to keep tabs on local sources for food in our area for my own family and the folks I know. So email, call or text me if you are on the lookout for something in particular.
That being said, I have updated my online store to reflect the changes in what I am offering moving forward.
Here are a couple of items you may be interested in, if you are still looking for some unique, meaningful, and sustainable last-minute gifts for someone you care about.
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Icelandic Wool Felted Pelts
I handmake these Felted Pelts from the fleeces I shear off of my sheep in the Spring.
These rugs are made of pure, converted Wyoming sunshine and pasture plants.
Sheep literally fix carbon and other nutrients into their wool, then I convert their wool into products like these beautiful rugs.
These rugs will last a lifetime in your home, but could still break down into the nutrients they are made up of, if you were to add them back into the soil.
It is pretty hard to find products like these now-a-days, with all the synthetics and plastics that are added to most products we use in our everyday lives.
It feels good to participate in eco-friendly processes in order to decorate and warm your home!
They are wet-felted with all-natural soaps and a lot of elbow grease, thus are non-toxic.
(Most modern wool products are scoured with harsh chemicals, unfortunately.)
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Peter "helps" with every single one of these rugs. He loves the process!
About 20-30 hours of work goes into each one, not counting all of the work the sheep put into growing the wool!
Each rug comes with care instructions (they are pretty easy to maintain, especially compared to my tanned hides) and they are pet-friendly.
I have two rugs ready to go, and I can make rugs as they are ordered anytime.
Viggi's Massive Grey Fleece Rug (a wild mix of shades from white to very dark grey, with light-grey backing)- $300
This rug measures 50" x 45"
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and
Chip's Small, Badgerface Fleece Rug (Cream on top with black edges and backing) - $175
This rug measures 45" x 30"
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If you would like a different color than the two rugs pictured above, you can pre-order a rug and let me know what color you would like, or you can let your special someone pick out a color they would like to have custom made for them.
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Hand-Cleaned Icelandic Sheep Skulls
These are a fun and unique gift for nature enthusiasts, as they have a sleek and elegant shape that only Nature can procure.
I clean these skulls with all-natural materials and seal them with a light finish, so they are perfect for home decor just as they are, or they can be painted by the multi-media art enthusiast to bring a different aesthetic to any space.
I have 5 of these left, and can ship them anywhere in the US.
Our Very Own, Cooking Your Way Through a Whole Beef, Cookbook
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I also have some of our cookbooks available with recipes from the ranching families we work with. Our customers love these cookbooks. There are big color photos, recipes for bulk-prepping meals, tips on what tools and spices to keep in your kitchen to make whipping up meals easy and quick, and personal anecdotes from the ranch families we work with.
You can snag your copy or send one to someone you care about, to make their life a little bit easier HERE.
I hope you have a fantastic week!
And, I hope your holiday season is full of Joy, Peace, Self-Reflection, and Intention for the New Year.
-BJ and the Taste of the Wind Crew
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