T’is true, we’re in mud season and I’m doing a happy dance. New England is known for it’s erratic weather behavior and I’ve lived here long enough to know Mother Nature may throw us a few more zingers before Spring arrives, but the past few days have been lovely and tomorrow even lovelier. The Snow has melted for the most part and farm chores are a heck of a lot easier, and certainly dirtier.
I’ve been doing some spring cleaning in this late winter reprieve – paddocks mucked, horses blankets aired out, coats brushed…
..the coop has been raked out, fresh bedding replaces old, the girls wander around the yard while I work. Occasionally a hen will walk right up to me and tell me what she thinks about all the ruckus around “campus”… or that she’s waiting for me to leave so she can lay an egg in peace.
There are days when I ask my self why I have decided to continue on with all the barn and coop work for all these years – mostly when the weather is awful and I’m out in it when I’d rather be in sitting by the fire, or when the arthritis flares. But I keep coming back to the same answer – and it’s as simple as this – I love my animals. I love being around them, caring for them, they bring me peace in an ever turbulent world. They keep me grounded.
I wasn’t going there today but heck, here we are. Let me share two experiences that I have had with my animals and I suppose I need to change the post title.
I will never forget several moments I had years ago during a horrible time in our lives. My daughter had been in a car crash and had been in a coma for weeks. Her future was uncertain. The first time I came home from the hospital after the accident I laid on my bed and cried, didn’t know what else to do with myself. My littlest dog, Rudy, now deceased, laid down next to my sobbing self and wailed like I’ve never heard a dog wail. He knew I was in great pain and decided to join me in mourning.
A few weeks later, I came home from the hospital to change clothes, take a shower and go back to be with her. While home, I walked out to the barn and stood with that horse you see above… and cried. And cried.. and sobbed till I couldn’t breath. He stood in his stall with his head down, just letting me lean in. At that same time a squall had blown in. Normally, my horse would be spooked by the sudden roil of thunder and flash of lightning. This time he stood stone still. That particular storm was bizarre – very quick – torrential rain, wind, the works… five minutes start to finish. When it was over the sun shown so bright – I left Opie’s stall and walked back to the house feeling.. renewed? Recharged. The demeanor of my horse and the shock of that sudden violent storm and then the radiant sun breaking through the clouds was a message. I’m not religious but I do believe that was a message. I couldn’t know it at that moment, but the next day my daughter woke up.
So why do I continue to toil over these critters who aren’t really working farm animals as much as they are pets? It’s those relationships we forge, the connections I won’t be without. I actually feel sorry for folks who never come to know the love and companionship of an animal.
This is Bailey telling me it really is past bedtime, Mom, can’t we please go to bed now?
Till soon, friends –
