A Shepherdess needs...

...some sheep,



a barn for the sheep,



a 'farm vehicle' for hauling winter hay, a herd dog,



and a shepherd's crook.

David Austin's rose called 'The Shepherdess' isn't needed, but how could I resist? What a shepherdess really needs though, and appreciates when she has it, is a good farm sitter. Ask anyone raising animals and they will tell you good farm sitters are rare and hard to find. Luckily, I have my three almost grown children who, though not eager, are willing to farm sit. They are in that narrow window of time where they are completely competent adults but they haven't moved away yet. They keep reminding me that they DO KNOW WHAT TO DO and at least one of them will ALWAYS be here on the farm keeping an eye on things. "If you forget and don't water the pig, it will die and there will be no bacon this year!!" They patiently assure me that they won't forget to water the pig. Or the chickens. Or the rabbits. Or the sheep. I believe them.