Monday, August 26, 2013

Happy National Dog Day

I really don't know how we could let a day like today pass without sharing what my precious boys mean to me....celebrate the dogs of Wabi Sabi "Farm".

First there's Corky....Corky was a rescue who came to us by default.  For some reason Gordon and I were in Everett and I said "Hey, let's stop by the pound and see if there's a dog there."  This was before Gordon and I were married, and I think before he learned to tell me "no"....and so we did.

We stopped by and looked at the dogs.  We had been having a conversation about getting an "heir" for Charley so that when it was his time to leave, our house wouldn't be empty....and we wouldn't get a dog on a whim.  Gordon said he wanted a Golden Retriever, and so we went to the pound to see if we could find one.

I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Universe brings you the creatures you need, not the one you think you want.  And so we walked around the corner and there was this pathetic creature huddled in the corner of the room....of course I was drawn to him because he was so sad and pathetic.

We took him out, introduced him to Charley and immediately he started wagging his tail and being friendly.
We left him to discuss what we would do....Gordon had a meeting.

Well, long story short we took Corky home.  He had already been brought back to the pound because he was afraid of stair...."Oooh" I thought...."A challenge"  We even had a hard time getting him out of the building because he was afraid of grass too.

Gordon named him Corky after his dad....and Corky became part of our pack.


 It's been a long 2 years with Corky.....he has a heart of gold but has never really learned how to be a dog....and so we've taught him how to potty outside, and we help him succeed by leaving him in a kennel....he gets stressed out at dog parks because of the other dogs....and probably the grass....but he loves going to the bank or coffee stand or ferry but never eats the treats given to him.  He is fascinated by horses and goats and tries so hard to engage the goats in play, but he would never do that with another dog...except Charley.


Corky has been known to walk in the front door of the restaurant when we're home.....he loves people.....he loves us.....he tries like no other dog I've ever known to be a "good boy".  And if I cry he licks my face and watches me with his little Havanese Ears tilting his head to see what's wrong.  Corky needs us.  I imagine that there are very few people who would put up with peeing and fright juice on the couch....he's one of a kind....and we are blessed by our little "Golden Retriever".  Sorry, Gordon.....maybe next time.


 And now there's Charley.....there really isn't enough room in this blog to tell you how special this boy is to me.  He is my split-apart in a dog.  There's nothing he wouldn't do for me.  There's nothing I wouldn't do for him.

He was also at the pound....I remember him putting his back against the cage and looking up at me.  I know that took everything he had because he is so shy.  I then took him out and and we played ball....he sat on my foot and then layed on his back to show what a good boy he was.

I remember the day he met Gordon, and I was so worried how I would introduce them because he has never been very welcoming to new people in his life.  I was walking behind the both of them and he looked back at me with a giant smile as if to say "Yup, we like him".  I knew we were a family.

He fence fights, doesn't like kids, and is obsessed with balls and frisbees.....but he is the second greatest thing that has every happened to me.  If it is possible to share a soul with an animal, he shares mine.  He's been a friend, he's been a companion.  When I was first diagnosed with MS, and I was sick and weak, he was the one who knew I was getting better, and after weeks and weeks of not playing ball, one day he brought the ball to me, and I threw it.  He was the one who pushed me.  He's loved me thin, fat, poor, happy, sad, and now blissful goat herder.

So today we celebrate our boys, we thank Everett Animal Shelter for what they do and for bringing sweet Charley and Corky into our lives.  I believe in rescue....we thought we were rescuing them....but they rescued us.


Monday, August 19, 2013

To The Mamma of Here

Every good soul who comes into our lives and touches us deserves to be remembered in word.....I guess for lack of a better word an obituary for the soul who touched our lives.

I think it was last Spring that I met her.....she was living on a dairy farm and was ready to retire.  My friend Vicky asked if I would like to have her retire with us....she knew we wanted to start a herd of our own, so of course I said I would love to have her.


She was a bit of a crankpot with other goats, but was friendly and happy with people.  I remember standing in Vicky's pasture and Layla came up to me, rubbed against me and I knew we would be friends.

Well, it was a busy spring....Gordon and I were getting married and I wasn't working full time so it wasn't a good time to start a herd....but then Christmas came and Gordon and Vicky made a plan....and it included Layla and her 2 girls coming to live with us.  I could have not asked for a better Christmas present.



Last March Layla and her girls came to live with us.  Gordon and I had our first herd...a dream had come true.

From the beginning Layla showed herself to be an amazing protector of her girls....she butted both Charley and Corky as they tried to get to know these new creatures in their house.  She was affectionate with us and guests, I truly believed she was the bridge for the somewhat skittish girls to welcome us into their hearts.  She showed them the ropes....they followed her everywhere.

A few weeks ago Layla started having what is officially called scours, but what would affectionately be known as "splat".  We used goat pepto bismol and things were up and down.  I emailed Vicky and asked advice and things seemed like they were perking up.

A week ago Gordon called me while I was at work, upset.  Layla was wobbly she got up but it was hard.  We finally decided to call our vet.

Long story short, our beautiful mamma didn't have much fight left in her.  We did what we could and on Wednesday when I came home to see her, she pulled me to her and we sat with her head in my lap and I sang and talked and prayed.

The next day friends of Layla (Tom and Vicky) came to say goodbye.....sweet Mamma maybe wasn't ready, but she was tired.  Dr. Moody came, and as I said good-bye to my mamma and "skilled hands" helped her cross over....in a few minutes she was gone.

And so today I am ready to share the beautiful story of sweet Layla who came into our lives and showed us how to be farmers and make tough decisions.  I have learned a lot from this beautiful girl.  She made me a better steward of my creatures.....and she taught her girls how to trust us.  I will forever be grateful for Layla....the Mamma of here.


Sunday, August 18, 2013

Blue Ribbon

Well, I did it.  I made Lilac Jelly this past May....it's a fun jelly to make....it's even more fun to eat.  And so I made the jelly and decided I wanted to enter it in the fair this year.






I was pretty proud of the results and thought I'd go out on a limb and bring it into the fair to see what would happen.

I printed out the recipe and a week ago I turned it in....I spent a week saying good bye to our sweet Layla, and the bright point was wondering what was happening with my jelly.....would I be disqualified.

Today we went to the fair....what I forgot to mention is that the South Whidbey Fair is a splendiferous fair.....it's a small town fair that reminds a person of the fair in "Charlotte's Web"....on Saturday they had the parade filled with quaint things that you would expect from a village parade....the highlight for the Stewarts was that Gordon was in it as part of the "Mister South Whidbey" pageant.  And so he rode in a truck with the other contestants.....he certainly has my vote.  I also enjoy that no one was supposed to throw candy.....but everyone did.  A bunch of scoff-laws.









This fair is not about the concerts or the rides....it's about education and about our community.....I love the exhibits, the goat barn, the dogs, and eating the food.  It makes me proud live in this community.....it makes me proud of my neighbors.....and I really learn.

But back to the jelly....I turned in my jelly and a blueberry syrup.....and with all this waiting I won a blue ribbon for my jelly and a 2nd place ribbon for my syrup.  It wasn't a super deluxe "Best in Show" but it's still an accomplishment....and my sweet little jelly and syrup got a ribbon.....there's room for growth next year.


And so we took time out of our day to visit our local fair, and see the accomplishments of our neighbors....not a bad way to spend a Sunday

Saturday, August 10, 2013

There's Always Hope

We've been watching our Layla very closely.....she's not getting up, we've given her a transfusion with blood from her daughter, Cali....we've given her shots, hand fed her, basically poured water down her throat.

It's been emotional to say the least.  I've had sick animals before, and what I know is that it is up and down.  What I know is that they break your heart.

I've spent the last few days sitting with her, talking to her, singing to her, just loving our sweet Layla.  She's always had a sparkle in her eye....in my experience when they lose that sparkle, it's time for them to go.

So today when I was sitting with her, watching her eat the tops off of her hay, I asked her what she was thinking.....I was thinking about how it's nice with animals because they can choose to go.  I was crying with her, watching her, but she seems kind of OK.

As I left I looked at our little garden.  We have corn that has been really small....I've really not expected the corn to do much.  But there on our little tiny corn plants are the beginnings of corn.....I can't believe it!!!!!  And what I know beyond the shadow of any doubt is that there is always hope.....there's always hope.....and for that I am thankful....I'm thankful for a little sprout of corn silk showing me that I should never give up....and in the immortal words of Dori "Just keep swimming."  and that is what the Stewart herd will cling to.




Thursday, August 8, 2013

Picking Blackberries

Out sweet Layla is pretty sick.  Yesterday Dr. Moody (the large animal vet here) came by to visit her....he gave her some shots, took some tests and talked to Gordon.  I stayed home from work today so I could be with her and keep an eye on her and her girls and Gordon could focus on work.  I feel bad because at work they are incredibly short staffed, I may even get in trouble....but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is where I need to be.....with my girls.

And so, this morning I began to pick blackberries.....I love tedious jobs where you lose yourself.  I am by nature an introvert and I like to just space out sometimes, I'm not sure if I think or not, I just focus on the task and do what I'm doing....I find it peaceful.  Today as I was picking the berries Charley and Corky were with me, just sitting in the sun, watching me.  The beauty of that is Corky has always been afraid of grass, and likes to sit inside anytime I'm working outside....apparently he's learning....and today he hopped through grass taller than him in the hot sun waiting, exploring, working on being a dog.....they were good companions.  I also threw blackberry vines over to the healthy girls, because they're trying to get to mamma, who's in isolation in the goat house, so they were able to focus on something else too.

I then went to give Layla her treatment, and give her fresh water.  She looked a little perky, so after I was done, I just snuggled up next to her and scratched her head, petted her neck.  I then decided to lay my head on a straw bale and rest next to sweet Layla.....I started reading a book, but she wanted no part of that....she wanted me to lay with her and pet her....and so I did.....I closed my eyes and listened to the healing wind brush through the house....I then started to pray for her, for us.  I then did what I do during nap at work, I breathed yoga breaths and put my "white light" on Layla.....I began to visualize a photo that Vicky sent us of her with a baby Cali eating grass....in that photo she is young, the picture of health, next to her baby who is still with her.....I then visualized all the people I knew alive and dead who would understand animals, and would want health for her.

We layed there quietly listening to the breeze, I watched our maple tree sway in the wind and brought all the good energy I knew those people would  bring to her.  I remembered my Grandmother who nursed a kitten with a bottle and raised him to be a beautiful cat, who had 5 dogs in a tiny house and loved all animals.....I remembered the vet assistant at my old vet clinic who would always help us and loved and rescued animals her whole life and who passed away about 8 years ago, but whose presence I still feel sometimes when I'm worried about my creatures.  Layla and I just were, listening, breathing being together.  I sang a little, and she slept.

When I got up, she looked a little refreshed, certainly grateful for the company.

And so today I called in to work....I was honest because I don't want to bring any negative energy into this situation.  I'm sure my co-workers and boss will not understand.....but this is my Herd....these are the creatures I have been entrusted with.....and when I am getting ready to leave this earth and I am thinking back, I will not remember that I went to work and came up with a lunch plan and tried to bring calm to another day....what I will remember is that I spent a morning picking blackberries with my boys, and rested with my sweet, loving Mamma Layla.....and will know I made the right choice.


Saturday, August 3, 2013

Thank You St. Francis

I used to get slack in High School because I would pray for my animals.  I can remember in youth group asking for prayer for my goat, Apple Cory, because she was having a troublesome pregnancy and actually wound up losing her baby twins.  My Youth Pastor told me that I was very compassionate and that I should never lose that.  But I knew in his heart that he really didn't think that God would really want to answer my prayer.

As I got older, I continued to pray for the creatures in my life....I think before I would ever pray for something in my life.  Maybe I felt that God would care for the creatures in my care before he would answer any prayers for me.

As I got older and I learned about St. Francis, I would pray to him....I can't imagine a more Kindred Spirit....if I were to preach, I do believe it would be to the animals.....and I am happiest around my animals, or other people's animals or exploring or sharing my garden.  So if I were to tell anyone about God, it would be the creatures in our world.  I even brought Charley to St. Francis celebrations to get blessings....so I guess you could say he is the one who took me on the bridge back to church.


This week I've been a little worried about our Layla....she has had some tummy trouble and I've been watching her poo like a hawk.  Last Sunday when they asked for anything else for which we should pray, I prayed for my girl under my breath.....I asked for wisdom in supporting her, and that she would be healed.
I emailed my friend and mentor, Vicky Brown, to ask what I should do.  I was so worried because she has trusted me with her Layla, allowing her to retire with us and bring her 2 great future milkers with her....I felt like I was letting her down somehow....letting Layla down.  But even talking about the symptoms helped me to see that maybe she wasn't as bad as she seemed, that she eating better than I first thought....and Vicky is the queen of being clear, concise, yet compassionate.
And so I came home....treated her more aggressively with goat pepto bismol and prayed more.

So...while was outside checking on her, Corky our Havanese-Yorkie mix got into some dark chocolate....I was so worried....the more I investigated, the more I worried.....and as he ran around the living room rubbing against the couches I wondered if it was his normal "piss and vinegar" or if it was the chocolate poisoning him.  Gordon came home, and we fretted and I felt like I had let down all the creatures in our life.





We all woke up this morning and Layla's poo was firming up and Corky made it through the night without even throwing up.  And so today I am thankful for the wisdom that comes from friends and that someone was looking out for our charges.  I am thankful that I never grew out of praying for the sweet creatures in my life....and I am thankful for the peace that comes from knowing there is someone bigger than all of us.