December is always a good time to pause and reflect on the past year, and I'd thought I'd take a minute to share a few of 2018's highlights with you.
In June I celebrated fifteen years of raising Jerseys. I started out with one crossbred Jersey cow, Birdsong Summer Blossom, and since then my little herd has grown to eleven cows and heifers representing three cow families.
I broke almost all my previous farm records this year, with 12 13 Jerseys owned at one time, 6 12 calves born in one year, 2 7 calves born in one month, 3 5 heifers born in one year, and 3 7 calves registered in one year.
I taught five fun cheesemaking classes in three cities this year, and I am starting to book classes for 2019. Tickets are already available for the Cheddar cheese class that I will be teaching in Bridge Lake on June 9th, and I'm working out the details for a cheesemaking and wine and cheese pairing class in Oliver in May.
If you've been subscribed to the Moo's-Letter for a while, you'll already know that I changed my surname from Fournier to De Ruiter this year. Ben and I got engaged on January 6th (a year and a day after we started dating), and we got married on September 7th.
Of course, no reflections on the past year are complete without talking a little about my plans for 2019.
If you've always wondered what life as a modern milkmaid is like, you'll want to follow me on Facebook and Instagram @naomisbirdsongfarm. My lovely Jersey assistant, Birdsong Sweet Jasmine, and I will be sharing photos and videos about life on a dairy farm and answering all your
questions about cows and cheese. My goal is to post at least twice a week, and I'm looking forward to being your virtual tour guide for the year. I'll share tidbits in the Moo's-Letter every month, but for the complete experience, you'll need to follow me on social media.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 'Moo' Year!
Naomi