Christmas Eve Magic....by Sunshine

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She says she heard of a story that the animals can talk at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve. The animals are able to rejoice at the miracle that happened on that night long ago. Her Grandmother used to tell the story about the hen who talked to the rest of the animals in the barn....

Or...was it is simply Christmas Magic.

Her Grandmother was right you know. We can talk for a moment at the stroke of midnight. But we can talk at other times if our humans care to listen carefully.

She came to us all bundled against the chill and the damp air this night. She opened that gate and stood quietly under the moonlight. 

I walked up.

She pulled her mitten off and reached for my neck. I moved in close and breathed softly on her shoulder and then put my muzzle next to her ear.

"Believe," I whispered, "Believe." She sighed and slowly put her arms around my neck and gave me a long endearing hug.

She may have murmured something into my fur. It sounded like, "I do." 

We stood like that in the silver light for a few minutes. Clouds moved across the sky and the silver light blinked out. I heard her catch her breath and then she stood back.

The spell was broken and I blinked and snorted. 

But she KNEW. She knew. I saw tears of joy in her eye and I know at that moment our souls had touched and we'd always know.

The Animals’ Christmas Eve

In the barn on Christmas Eve, after all the people leave,

The animals in voices low, remember Christmas long ago.

One small hen, upon her nest, softly clucks to all the rest:

“Little chicks, come gather near. A wondrous story you will hear.”

The Animals’ Christmas Eve, a Little Golden Book, by Gale Wiersum and illustrated by Jim Robison.

Happy National Dog Day!!!

But let's not forget CATS!!!!

This was on August 26th. 
I couldn't help but post this video of Mr. Charlie on a hunting mission for voles while I was sitting quietly in the forest watching birds and life go by....

Having a pet is another wonderful thing to have to keep you healthy and happy!

What is your favorite pet?

Dog?

Cat?

Reptiles?

First impression of the Naturalist Class

Actually a Master Naturalist Class.

First impression.
5 out of 22 participants are under retirement age.

Most every single person in the room except perhaps 4 of us have had formal training in Biology, Ecology, or some higher degrees of study. Let's just say, as many listed their colleges and degrees and Masters degrees, I started feeling smaller and smaller....
wondering how I could crawl under the table when it came time to introduce myself.

Then I had to speak out to the others.
So much I wanted to say but after listening to all the degrees I just said:

My name is Val Ewing.
I came to this part of Wisconsin by accident. I met a fellow on a Wagon Train and fell in love and moved here.
I don't have a degree in any of this, just life experience.
Why do I have an interest in this class?
Hmmm, well the first year I had a tiny pocket camera I decided to go out and find every wild flower and plant I could daily and record where I found it, when I found it, and record what it looked like.
What was my inspiration?
[Goodness so many things to say but I picked the one thing that really stood out the most.]

My Grandmother Pearl was a Naturalist of sorts. She could hear a bird and identify it, she could walk past plants and tell you if you could eat them. She took us berry picking in the wild woods and we encountered bears. She knew her fish, and she knew wild life tracks. In fact, I was pretty sure she knew everything about anything in Nature.
I wanted to be like my Grandmother.

The fellow next to me didn't have a degree either but was eloquent in his little speech talking about how he liked to roam and stop to look at things and wonder why. [I wished I'd used that line!]

The binders we were given are worth the price of the class itself. But they are huge and weigh a ton! I've already found a hand out that I think Allison and I could really have fun with as a pocket guide.
Wonderful Wacky Water Critters published by the University of WI.

So it looks like I'm going to have to write a field journal. Most of the samples given are so dry.
Saw a Robin, 35 degrees out, sunny, ...date
and location...

Meh. You all know me. I just can't write like that.
More like.
I was wandering down to the creek when I spotted the first green leaves of a wild strawberry plant. I sat on a log to ponder it for a while and listened the the chickadee above me and I'm sure I heard a Robin. And of course I'd go off on a tangent regarding life in the forest and regrowth including wondering ...if the strawberries will be so sweet...and yadda, yadda....

Uh oh, I am in trouble!

90 plus days later...

On May 6th Rich had a stroke. The professionals all said, "The first 3 months are the most important. You will see the biggest improvements during that time."

Speech is still an issue. Rich gets frustrated when he talks sometimes. Fatigue is his biggest enemy. Fatigue seems to short-circuit his ability to find words and express ideas.
Physically he is doing pretty good. We had a follow up with oncology last week and learned that his throat cancer had been a stage IV. When the doctor told us that I was rather surprised. I don't recall learning the stage. Perhaps it was mentioned but I guess we focused on treatment and not the diagnosis.
So far, 2 years after treatment and still no return of cancer which is another sigh of relief.

My plan for the summer was this. Keep Rich engaged. I saw how he reacted right after the stroke when people were around. I had to stay home now to help him.
My farm and home became something of a revolving door.

Grace and Evelyn for a week, Ariel for a week, Dennis and Ariel for a week. Visitors who came and stayed the weekend. Mule riding. Fishing.
But always time for speech therapy and rest too.

I posted this photo already once but feel it sums up so many things accomplished in 3 short months.

96 days ago he could speak only one word. He ate with his utensils upside down. He needed a nurse at his side to leave the bed.

We are still working with Speech Therapy to try to improve the effects of aphasia and are going to address the possibility of driving again with limitations.

I was asked if I missed my work place. Not really. I don't miss the hours at all. I don't miss getting up at 2am to work a 12 hour shift.
The garden has been productive. I have frozen, dried, and canned food for this winter. I have been able to dedicate some rather long days to 'putting up food' for the winter.

Rich helps with chores now. I let him take care of the cattle. We will be shipping several to auction before the winter and keeping a few prospects for 'processing' later.

Things are coming together. I am looking forward to the possibility of part time work as a teacher's aide at one of our local schools. We'll see how things keep progressing.

Winter is looming on the horizon and it will be a challenge to keep Rich engaged with activities through that time.

For now... things are peaceful. I still can't leave him on his own, but I don't mind being here for him either.
Through good and bad we keep chugging along.

Here is to the next 90 plus days...

What about Bob?

I had some very favorite animals here on our place.
All of them were quite loved.

But here is Bob.
Quiet and gentle Bob. Bob is 14 years old and the father of Sundance.

Sundance

As with any stud one should always be careful.
Bob stays because Bob is just...

Well.
Special.

I can handle him and take care of him. He has perfect manners.
I thought about gelding him, but the vet said it would be risky. So Bob doesn't leave. That is quite the commitment. Bob could be around for another 20 years easily.

I was asked recently why would we keep any of these animals? Fred is aged 30-something. He has been with my husband since he was 2 years old. Fred, that is...
Plus the grand kids have all learned to ride on Fred.

Siera. She is a fine gentle 12 yr old mule. She has a gentleness around children that makes me sigh. And my grand kids can ride her. Ariel rode Siera last year and they got along quite well.

Sunshine. Sunshine was born literally in my lap 17 years ago. My mare Cheyanne was having trouble and I went out to help her. She has matured gracefully and has become one of my best rides ever.

Mica. Mica is ride-able aged mule, but has some health issues. She will stay here until her health takes her away.

But Bob. Why on earth would you keep Bob? A Donkey Jack?

And I say. Why not?
Besides, Bob thinks I'm a good person.
He even gave me a cockeyed grin yesterday after his bath and grooming session.

Horse Therapy

Each day is different. I can at least say this. My life with my husband has never been boring.

Yesterday his daughter and the grands came. I had some errands to run and they had volunteered to do some work around the place that I hadn't gotten to because of things being a bit crazy around here.

They cleaned out the round pen while I was in town. Rich had taken a short nap and then decided to work with our new pony 15.

I had told Rich that he didn't need to speak well to work with 15. She was kind and gentle. I rarely speak to the animals I train except when I am teaching a simple verbal cue.
An animal will pick up on your body language and observe you closely.

Rich began to work with her. His daughter later told me that it made her very nervous and she didn't think he should be in with the pony.
15 did an excellent job responding to him. I guess his audience was quite impressed.
Rich had told me that he couldn't do it, he couldn't work with 15. I asked him why and he shrugged. He just thought he couldn't.

I explained that a horse doesn't judge a person's language, a horse can take its cues from the human body language and tone of voice. It is not the spoken word at all.
And besides, he feels worthy and like he is accomplishing things when he works with 15.
15 has a very laid back demeanor and a gentleness I have not often seen in any kind of equine before. Badger was like this.

Rich feels more in his element while doing work with an equine.

Horse/Equine work, it soothes the soul.

Dynamite

Also known as Dyna, or Dina.

Dyna came to us in June of 2009 after her owner passed away from her last fight with cancer. 
Dyna came from the state of Washington, near Palouse.

She was a very welcome addition to our place. We'd promised her owner that Dyna, the sometimes cantankerous mule, who was just as stubborn as my husband would have a home forever and never be sold.

We kept that promise. Dynamite lived mostly a life of leisure. Rich would work with her occasionally and the two of them would come to an understanding in the round pen and her manners would always be better.

She learned to love coming to get caught, she stood perfect for the farrier, she loved being curried and fussed over. 

She loved racing with the other gals on the farm and was always an instigator.

She fancied herself as Lead Mare and often challenged Peaches who was our Alpha Mare for many years.

These challenges always were more bluff than anything else, but they were fun to watch.

She always though ended up with Rich. Quiet and docile. As I said, the two were made for each other.

In March of 2015 Rich was diagnosed with throat cancer and we began treatment in April.

In June we noticed an odd growth on Dynah's ear. I cleaned it as best I could and then put her in a paddock to keep an eye on it.

In the end she was diagnosed with sarcoid tumors and more than likely cancer. 
Treatment for both items was beyond our rural veterinarians. We would have had to apply to transport her to the Madison Veterinary School and await their decision. 
Treatment in Madison would have also been beyond our financial means.

We watched and waited. Dynah became miserable and started to lose weight. 

There comes a point when you cannot let an animal suffer any longer. 

Dynamite aka Dyna crossed the Rainbow Bridge on September 15th.
I know that her master was awaiting her on the other side. They are probably racing across green meadows.

I wonder if Dyna ran into Peaches and her old pasture-mate Feather from Washington?

In the end. Dynamite was loved and touched so many hearts from Washington to the Midwest. She never was sold or put on auction and was given a life of leisure until it was time to go.

I always loved trying to explain her full name to people. 
"That's Dyna."
"Oh Dinah?"
"Oh no, Dyna is short for Dynamite. You figure it out!"

Silliness abounds on the Farm

Really?  What IS the hold up?

Mustang Sally

So you've got a camera and I want to be a star!

Is this my better side?

Or perhaps you want a face on?

As you can see none of the other herd members are interested in getting portraits done!

There is of course...that lazy no good Jack Russell...

Wash Day

I don't believe there is ever a boring day on the farm. Okay there can be days that are boring, but really, there is always always something that has to be done.

Today was Wash Day.
Normally I do this on Wednesdays providing that the weather cooperates and my wonky work schedule cooperates.

Water tanks and even the hound dogs' water bowls get scrubbed clean. I will do it more often if they look as if they need it.

The process involves a lot of walking back and forth for things I forget. Sometimes I forget the bleach [for nasty jobs ~ where a calf poos in the smaller water tank] or the Apple Cider Vinegar [I use that every time I fill.]  

The vinegar acidity helps keep that green goo from developing so quickly on hot days. 
It is also rumored that equine coats are more glossy when they have Apple Cider Vinegar and another rumor says that it helps with keeping away bugs.

I am not going to make any claims at all, but once they get a bit of taste in their tank, they seem to like it.  Or maybe they just like clean fresh water.  

Oh yes, it was wash the human clothes Day also.  Nothing nicer than clothes hung on the line to dry.

I considered sitting in the large stock tank and 'chillin' out in the cool water.  But I had all sorts of work to do and it was very hot and very muggy.

Here everyone comes to admire the shiny clean stock tanks.  The calves are growing like weeds!
Stormy nurses on mom and when she runs 'dry', he walks over and joins Stella.

What a goofy bunch they are!

Siera gave me 'airplane' ears today.  She is not happy that she has been neglected this summer.  She is happiest when she has a job to do.

Speaking of wash day.  Dinah sure could have used something other than a dust bath.

Looks to be a busy weekend coming up.

The First Snow

The First good snowfall of the season brings joy to those with children's hearts.  I was literally dancing waiting for my husband to finish his coffee so we could go out and do chores together on Sunday.

We awoke to snow coming down.  He was Grumpy about it, I was simply delirious.

The animals seemed perfectly content with the snow.  

Bob

Lil' Richard

Nikki

The boys

Hubby...oh well he was Grumpy about the snow, but I thought it was quite beautiful!

It was about time we had snow!  December 9th, 2012, we had approximately 5" of snow.
I hope to get out and explore the creek and the valley tomorrow.

Pets and Animals

I heard an interesting program on my drive to work the other day.  The discussion was about pets and animals and the Healing power of them.

Well, of course they were discussing something I was already aware of.  Most owners of equine realize that the animal they work with helps build self confidence [if all goes correctly] and sometimes it can build a bond like no human bond can be found.

An equine doesn't judge you but is a mirror of what is inside you.  The equine does not lie.  I have found over the years in my dealings with mules that they are very sensitive.  They can sometimes pick and choose a person and exclude all else.  I've seen that with Badger, Opal, and Siera.

Dogs on the other hand adore you no matter what.  They think that the ground you walk on is made of gold.  Dogs make you laugh.  Dogs love you even if you feed them just plain dog food every night.

To have a dog [or cat] in your household is a wonderful thing.  

I guess sometimes people think it is too much of a bother.

I've done 'time' without a pet in my house.  It is not fun.  I need that animal for some reason!

Animals have other health benefits also.  They keep your immune system healthy.  :)

I think I knew that!

The guest on the show insisted that all children should be surrounded by pets, it would help their immune system greatly.  I guess studies have been done that have proven that children brought up in a 'sterile' environment fair worse with their health and allergies.  Whereas, a child brought up with animals, or even on a farm fair so much better.

I think I knew that without the study.

But there you go!