One of the many things I love about my life is the range of things I experience. A few hours ago, I was writing about the Donald Trump phenomenon and two hours later, I’m in a barn with Maria, a possibly dying ewe and a vet trying to figure out what might be wrong and how to treat it.

Their work is never easy, Kyle focused on possible parasites or a bacterial infection. As vets are the first to admit (they have a saying: Sick Sheep Suddenly Die), the odds are not good. I’d give her 50-50, but Kyle was more optimistic.

Deb is a favorite, she and her twin Jake were born from Ma, who nearly died during the birth. Jake died a few months later, Deb is a strong and healthy sheep, only three years old.

Dr. Kyle came quickly from the Granville Large Animal Service, I am always amazed to see these young vets and the way they work, rushing from barn to pasture, diagnosing out of instinct and experience. Deb is sick, has a fever, is hyperventilating and seems disoriented.

It’s not clear what’s wrong with her, but he mentioned three possibilities, none of which I can pronounce. We have a fistful of shots to give  her over the next three days, if she isn’t markedly better in the morning – she had two intravenous shots – then we will have to consider putting her down, or risk infecting the flock.

It will be clear in the morning. Sick animals are a hard thing, but also something that grounds us the farm, a teacher of life and death, and a teacher of the real lives of real animals. My life is rich with meaning and happening. I love being in the barn with a large animal vet, and I love being able to write about Donald  Trump.  I love the range of my blog.