Beginnings... a word full of emotion. Maybe it is a heavy emotion, maybe it is an anticipation of good things to come. For me, in this instance, in reference to starting this website, it brings many emotions to the surface. Remembering how I got started with my Valais venture brings smiles and a little laugh when I remember bringing my first F1, Rose, home. My mom, niece and I drove to Ohio to pick her up. We used my mom's new-to-her Rogue for the trip. I put a giant dog kennel tray in the back of the vehicle, covered as much of the back as possible with puppy training pads and prayed that Rose wouldn't make an absolute mess out of the vehicle. My niece rode in the backseat. Rose would stick her head over the seats, putting her face close to my niece's. She especially did this when my niece was eating snacks. At one point, we heard my niece giggling and when mom looked, there she was, feeding Rose mini crackers. That was the beginning of our relationship with Rose and she has been like an overgrown dog since then, happy to be pet and always looking for treats! Beginnings... This website. It also brings a sense of nervousness, a bit of feeling unworthy. I feel like I am still so far away from the goal of having purebred Valais on my farm. I'm just a tiny little farm, with much still to learn. I depend so much on my brother and his family to help out with certain farm things. My farm is not a lovely, pristine, magazine worthy place. It is a working farm, currently full of mud as some winter snow melts. It is in need of better fencing. There is always something that needs fixing. How can I possibly think that I can raise Valais sheep? And yet, I do, and I am. Everyone has to start somewhere. That's what I keep reminding myself. Trying to do a website when I don't really know what I'm doing? Trying to do a website when I'm not sure I'm far enough along in the Valais journey? That brings those feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm. And yet, everyone has to start somewhere. So this is where I'm starting... I am raising Valais Blacknose sheep in the Fingerlakes area of New York State. I am not as far along in the journey as I wish but I have started and that counts for something. In this new year, in this new season, where are you starting? Do you have a new beginning that you are undertaking? Maybe you too feel all the emotions encased in the word beginnings. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere and somewhere is a good place to start!