#frankrijk They're going to die soon.
Irreparable, irreversible, definitive.

And why? For me it is unintelligible; I do not want and cannot understand it.

Thomas and his brother Tim were born last year, here, on the farm. They have a nice life; they keep the grass neatly short and sleep at night in a clean, warm stable, the little bit of biking in time completes the whole.

But now Thomas and Tim have to die...

When the seven sheep and seven lambs go to the meadow in the early morning, I always walk next to my great friend. He then rubs his very beautiful, robust head against me, I answer that with fiddling on his ears.
It's our morning ritual, Thomas and mine.

Soon it will end...

More than once, the children have visited Thomas to cuddle. They hugged the giant male, they told him their worries, and a few minutes later the worries were gone. Thomas, but also Tim, possesses that gift.

Irreparable, irreversible, definitive...

Death awaits them. Next week, the two friendly giants will be their turn. Then they will meet death in the courtyard.

I haven't eaten meat in 20 years. For my pleasure, no living creature has to give his life. The children are not accustomed otherwise; we eat no meat.
It is difficult for them to understand. We can live well without a piece of meat at our dinner - then someone else can do that too?

The kids absolutely don't want to be around when it's going to happen - neither do I. We will spend the days they are busy here in the woods and in the meadow among the other sheep. We can't go further, because of the lockdown.
I promised the five that I will make sure they don't get any of it - and I'm going to keep that promise.

On this farm they live self-sufficient. They grow their own vegetables in the vegetable garden and they take care of their own meat.
All the animals that we love here hang the same fate over our heads.
They're all going to look death in the eye here.
They're all going to blow their last breath here.

Last night, walking to the stable, Thomas walked next to me, pushing his head against me, and I stroked his earpiece and there was a happy crush in response.
I think he knows, though I hope not...
Let him spend his last days in the meadow carefree, let him play with his (half) brothers and sisters, let him enjoy the green grass and the tasty biks.

A few more days, then it's over.
Irreparable, irreversible, definitive... #zelfvoorzienendleven #lockdown #frankrijk #boerderij #boerenleven #slachten #dood #definitief #slacht #schapen #schaap #ram #voedsel