On Manure, Mutton, and Roquefort

Now that's quite a title, isn't it? I'm sure to lose readers with that one..... Stay with me though - you'll see how it all makes sense.

Lambs love to climb on anything they can find. Their only choices at our place are on top of a bale of hay or on top of "ye olde manure pile." They don't care that it is manure - for them it is entertainment to the ninth degree. The manure is composting right now and will be spread on our fields and garden next year for soil enrichment.


One of my very most favorite things in the world is Roquefort cheese which is made in France from sheep's milk. It is very expensive and rather hard to find around here. But about once a year, usually around my birthday, I treat myself to some really good Rouquefort. Seems like I'm not going to be able to do that anymore because the US Government has raised the tariff on real Roquefort by 300%. You can read about it here. I have yet to find a domestic blue that has that exact taste.....

More foodie/sheepie news..... It seems that mutton is all the rage in Paris. In the States, the market for mutton is changing with the influx of immigrants from the Middle East who actually prefer mutton to lamb. At our local livestock auction, older sheep have been selling for a decent price due to this change in the demographics. This isn't to say these mutton sheep are old and worn-out - the better mutton is from a sheep that has reached full size and is only a few years old - not little lamb size. We here at our farm actually prefer mutton - it has a much nicer flavor and you actually can taste what you are eating.

Is anyone else enjoying Mark Bittman and Mario Batali's Spanish food adventure being shown on PBS now? It's on every Friday night here and it is quite a hoot.

If you are here for the fiber and yarns, you'll enjoy this. I'll be at Webs teaching classes tomorrow - there is still a bit of room if you want to spend some fun time learning with me and you are relatively local. Call them. Info on sidebar.