The very first contest winner is announced: Ellen Southern
Ellen was the very first person to respond to our new contest and I felt that worthy of recognition.
Her comments, as promised:
Hi guys,
Just a quick note towards building fires….I grew up on Beaver Island and we really got socked in for winter. We learned at an early age to tend the fire and it’s a skill I passed on to my boys. I used to camp a lot when my sons were small and they were to make the fire to cook our meals each day,rule was no lighter or matches. They had to use a flint and steel each time and then refill the small tinder box they each carried. They to this day at 26 and 24 still have those tinder boxes. Me, I must just be crazy or getting senile as I still cook on my woodstove.Well back to shoveling….Happy winter
Ellen (Keep reading folks…we happen to know Ellen.)
Ellen is a friend of Last Chance Kennel at Russ-Stick Acres. She is also a musher.
I first met Ellen when I came into Rustic Russ’ life. They had been friends for several years, mushing dogs together, along with a small circle of local mushers.
I was, and always have been, amazed at Ellen’s knowledge of nature and animals. It is inate and instinctual. Her small frame of a body doesn’t stop her from acting quickly in times of need or danger. She is undoubtedly one of the toughest Woodswoman I know.
Over the years we have traded pigs, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, rabbits, cats and more.
Years ago, when I heard the news about our local Animal Control looking for a new officer, I quickly called Ellen downstate, where she was working in construction. (Yep, she does that too.) Having had experience with AC, she followed up on the lead and has been our Antrim County AC for the last 5+ years.
A trip to Ellen’s Serendipity Ranch is always exciting. You are guaranteed to find a new member of the household. This past fall, on a visit to pick up our new woodstove, a newly acquired Doberman was enjoying her new surroundings, sticking close to the humans, while Ellen’s other dogs were off playing in an open field. Ellen has saved countless dogs over the years. And we have acquired countless dogs from Ellen. Too many to mention.
Hearing Ellen and Rustic Russ swap stories from the early days of mushing, or talk about their building projects, animal training and such, always has me mesmerized. They are both sage with wisdom.
Rustic Russ isn’t a huge fan of cats, but they like him.
Although don’t let him fool you, three out of the four cats we have had at Russ-Stick Acres, came from Rustic Russ bringing them home. One was from Ellen’s.
Rustic Russ was building a horse shelter for Ellen in exchange for her beautiful Registered Foundation Quarter Horse ~ Cisco ~ as a gift to me. Each day, Rustic Russ would be joined by a fluffy gray cat. By the end of the week, Rustic Russ and the cat were attached to each other. While visiting Ellens to see the completed horse shelter, Rustic Russ said we could take the cat home that day. I was shocked to say the least.
Ellen lives off the grid, in an amazing little cabin adorned with furs, antlers, and many homemade items. Her ranch is complete with barns for her goats/chickens/horses/dogs/pigs and more.
Want to know how to tan a rabbit or deer hide? Ask Ellen.
How to build a dog sled? Ask Ellen.
She is a combination of Dr. Doolittle, Calamity Jane, and Cesar Millan, to name a few.
But most of all, it’s the stories I love. Ellen can tell a story like no other. Her visits to our place erupt in gut wrenching laughter.
You will get to share some of her wisdom, as she has agreed to be a regular contributor to this Blog. You are in for a treat.
Stay tuned ~ we will have another contest in the next week as a Christmas bonus! You could be the winner!
Woodswoman
[...] One of the true “follower of dreams” is Ellen Southern. [...]
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