Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

What Color is your Wool?

What color is your wool

 

 

Driving along the road back home I was greeted with a flock of sheep. Like a parade they came with their bells ringing, taking over the entire road leaving me little choice but to pull over and admire them.

 

 

                Sheep

 

Their master, a Shepard for over thirty years, told me he was bringing his sheep down (on foot like most French herders do between seasons of Autumn/Winter, Spring/Summer) from the French Alps, and that he would stay in the area until June 15th. Then when the heat of the Provence becomes to hot to bear he would lead his sheep back into the French Alps.

 

 

 

        Lambs

 

The winter sun warmed my back as the Shepard and I watched the sheep enjoy their constant meal. Where ever I was going took a back seat. It was if this moment was meant to be… meant as a reminder to enjoy the gift at hand.

 

 

Comments

37 responses to “What Color is your Wool?”

  1. Jackie

    You live in heaven…

    Reply
  2. labergerebasque

    This is what sheep will do to you…ground you 🙂

    Reply
  3. Bev S.

    I wonder what type of sheep they were!

    Reply
  4. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Love,love, love these pictures!!

    Reply
  5. Lily

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  6. Liz

    As the Birth of Our Lord and Savior fast approaches, how beautiful a reminder of that special night when the sheperd saw the angel and was lead to the manger.

    Reply
  7. Jean(ne) P in MN

    Lovely encounter and images, straight from yesterday’s creche. Not too many shepherds left, replaced by large trucks these days. Thanks for sharing this beautiful sight.

    Reply
  8. Marilyn

    What a precious gift indeed! I do remember many years ago finding the same occasion to pause while driving through New Zealand.

    Reply
  9. jody

    A perfect Psalm 23 for Christmas…xo jody

    Reply
  10. kim

    Lovely! I was once stopped by a flock of geese! They just stood in the road… all twenty or so of them. All the traffic stopped until the geese waddled off to the far field. I love watching animals – they bring me right down to earth.

    Reply
  11. Debra

    C, I read this as I glance out the window at my back field full of my own sheep. Watching them grounds me and brings me a unique sort of peace.
    . . .Bev asked what type? The brown faced are Tunis, a breed I used to raise . . .now, I have Romney (a favorite of hand spinner’s here in the US).
    God bless this shepherd, would love to spend a few days leading sheep up the French Alps.
    Have a wonderful Sunday!
    xo

    Reply
  12. Nancy W

    So glad you heed the “reminder” and encourage us to do so also.

    Reply
  13. Paula S In New Mexico

    My area sees the occasional coyote or roadrunner dashing across the road. Further west in Arizona they have these wonderful long shaggy sheep, I don’t know what they are but they sure are beautiful. Especially against the beautiful southwestern sky.
    The holidays are quickly catching us, hope everyone here is doing well.
    Love the sheep, Corey.

    Reply
  14. georgie

    Just realized the nativity/santons are missing the shepherd with the lamp across his shoulders!
    Like Liz said, this type of scene does remind one of the reason for Christmas.

    Reply
  15. Denise Moulun-Pasek

    I believe this is called transhumance, moving the sheep that is. The other thing is called living in the moment. Bravo!

    Reply
  16. Franca Bollo

    This takes me back to my days as a terrified shepherdess (sheep recognize five year olds as easy targets for a head butt. Insert visual here of small child flying through after a well-placed butt). Walking close behind either Bird Brain or Sheba as we helped our Father (who ART NOT in heaven, thank gawd) and Uncle Daniel (who art) herd their sheep down the lane to the barn to be sheared.

    Reply
  17. Kathie B

    Corey, when you visited the Azores did you ever encounter small herds of cattle being driven down the road, such that all traffic came to a stop in both directions? I have a number of times, although fortunately I was never in a hurry, being a tourist 😉 Like you, I regard such delays as photo ops! I’m sure the sheep will enjoy wintering at lower elevations in Provence — who wouldn’t?!?!?

    Reply
  18. Marie

    Those sheep are SO cute!! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Kathy Barrick

    How lucky you are to find such a beautiful scene on your ride home! Stunning!

    Reply
  20. Kathie B

    Farmboy Husband has told me that when he was but a tot on the farm, he was once bullied by a mean goose — and learned all too well the derivation of the verb form of the word. Of course, critters see these situations differently, probably feeling menaced.
    You must have many treasured memories of Birdbrain and the rest of the family that you’re especially thinking of around the holidays. Abraços.

    Reply
  21. Franca Bollo

    Kathie, I’ve been meaning to let you know that Bird Brain would have loved your reference to her “droppings” as she had a great, great sense of humor. And she would want us to maintain ours during this transition.Obrigado para o abraços.
    And, I, too, always try to see the animal’s perspective.

    Reply
  22. Kathie B

    Just to clarify, I never meant “droppings” in any derogatory way, as I enjoyed her comments. I was just trying to extend the metaphor 🙂 Wish I could’ve met her.

    Reply
  23. Franca Bollo

    Your metaphor was understood. I thought is was a hoot … metaphor continued albeit badly.

    Reply
  24. georgie

    lsmb…not lamp (unless he’d stopped at a brocante on way to herding)!

    Reply
  25. Zosia

    How symbolic for the coming Holidays!

    Reply
  26. Merisi

    Memorable encounter!

    Reply
  27. Kathie B

    I humbly defer to your superior metaphoring.

    Reply
  28. Chris Wittmann

    This SO reminds me of the sheep herders in England…I used to peek my head out of the skylight window of the 3rd floor bedroom of our cottage and in the early morning dawn see the local shepherd herding the flock down the steep narrow lane in front of our cottage. It was like a scene from another century and I loved it. I count myself lucky to have experienced those little things that made living in England so special.

    Reply
  29. momof5

    After reading all the comments I get to the first one and it was EXACTLY what I was thinking.

    Reply
  30. Aimee

    Years ago in the San Juan Mountain of western Colorado I encountered a pair of Basque sheep herders. I thought they and their sheep magical. Some thirty years on I am a knitter and confirmed fiber lover. I find sheep and herders more magical than ever.

    Reply
  31. Judy

    I LOVE the sheep pictures~beautiful serenity!

    Reply
  32. Tongue in Cheek

    Hi Bev
    Debra left a reply to your comment
    The brown faced are Tunis, a breed I used to raise . . .now, I have Romney (a favorite of hand spinner’s here in the US).
    Tunis there are plenty of them in France.
    C

    Reply
  33. Karen C

    What an idyllic rural scene.
    When I was a young girl I used to stay with an uncle and aunt on their sheep farm in western Victoria.
    My cousin and i were allowed to earn pocket money if we wanted to help in the shearing shed.
    Our job?
    Dag picking! (pulling all the dropping crusted wool ends off the shorn fleece before it was bagged. Eeeewww!)
    Corey, I am amused at your spelling of shepherd as shepard. Is that a french derivative or just your tongue-in-cheek way?
    We have avocados here called “Shepard” avocados, but they don’t taste anything like wool or even mutton.

    Reply
  34. Orama

    Place the lamb chops, rosemary, garlic, pomegranate juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl, and mix until the lamb is evenly coated with the marinade. Transfer into a plastic freezer bag, and refrigerate overnight.
    Remove lamb chops from the bag, and brush of excess marinade. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Grill or broil until desired doneness is reached. Serve lamb chops with a spoon of the homemade mint sauce.

    Reply
  35. Diane

    Sheep!!!!! I have always wanted sheep. I am a spinner/knitter/dyer. A French sheep!!! Oh!!!!!!
    My heart. A shephard in France, that’s the ticket. But never mutton or lamb to cross my lips.

    Reply
  36. Tongue in Cheek

    Good one Brother!
    I think you should write a cookbook!
    But hey give the mint sauce recipe too!
    C

    Reply
  37. LA CONTESSA

    I cant believe this!I just drove due EAST from my home and encountered the same thing but in a meadow with lots of baby lambs!I have always wanted a sheep!Told my husband thats it Iam 51 and I plan to get one!It will be a house pet I guarentee!The sighting made my day as it did yours!How gorgeous!Thanks for sharing……..MERRY CHRISTMAS!BON VOYAGE too!!!!!!!

    Reply

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