Hi Reader,
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You might have noticed I missed my usual Thursday email this week. There's a good reasonβI just returned from a wonderful family vacation at Disneyland! π My youngest daughter and her family flew in from across the country, and we joined some of my other children and grandchildren ahead of my middle son's upcoming wedding celebrations. (There were a total of 12 family members on this trip.) This was my first real vacation in several years, and I'm still glowing from the experience.
Why Time Away Matters
As farm and business owners, it's all too easy to become permanently tethered to our responsibilities. The animals need daily care, clients need assistance, and there's always another task waiting. But I've realized something importantβtaking time away isn't just a luxury; it's essential for my well-being and the quality of what I offer to you and the animals.
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Being away allowed me to reconnect with my family in ways that simply aren't possible in quick visits or phone calls. Watching my grandchildren experience the magic of Disneyland and having unhurried conversations with my children reminded me of why I do what I do in the first place - to build something meaningful that supports the people and values I care about most.
A Farm That Runs Without Me
One of the most gratifying aspects of this trip was discovering how well Prancing Pony Farm can function in my absence. My amazing farm employee, Kiley, took exceptional care of all the animals while I was gone, including lots of baby goats and a 3-week-old litter of nine Maremma puppies. She handled everything so capably that I found myself checking in less and less as the days went by, fully confident that all was well at home.
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This success has inspired me to begin giving Kiley more regular responsibilities, without my direct supervision. This will free me up for the aspects of the business where I can add the most value - training dogs, helping clients, and improving our programs.
Friends Who Make the Impossible Possible
While I was enjoying Disneyland, something remarkable was happening back at the farm. My dear friend Megan flew in from Texas and, together with Kiley and two of Megan's family members, tackled an impressive list of major farm tasks:
- Trimmed hooves on all of my goats
- Administered deworming treatments to the goats
- Completed significant cleaning and maintenance projects
- Shaved down three of my bucks
- Groomed several of my Maremmas
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Though I missed seeing Megan, I returned to find so many big projects completed that would have taken me weeks to accomplish on my own. This has evolved into a wonderful arrangement - Megan will now visit quarterly to help with these larger periodic tasks, allowing me to ensure all the animals receive the care they need on a consistent schedule.
Looking Ahead
This experience has shown me the importance of building systems that don't depend solely on me. By creating a reliable support network, I can actually provide better service to my clients and better care for my animals while still preserving time for what matters most.
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As I continue to reflect on how to optimize Prancing Pony Farm going forward, I'm excited about finding even more ways to focus my energy where it makes the biggest difference. Some adjustments may be ahead as I consider how to balance our Maremma, LGD Training, and goat programs, but I'll share more about that in future communications.
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For now, I'm back, refreshed and energized, with a new appreciation for my work and my family. Thank you for your patience with this delayed email and, as always, for being part of the Prancing Pony Farm community.
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With gratitude,
Kim
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PS I would have sent this out earlier, but as soon as I got home, so many projects and animals were waiting for my attention that it took me all day to catch up! π
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