Royal's Farm and Jurneez End Farm 2013 - back dated ...sorry

Well, It's been a long time and a dear friend reminded today about blogging.....Thank You Diana ...... So there have been several updates and I will first post about Freddie Greenwell. He was my first love and mentioned in an earlier post, but today I will post some pictures of the farm......the blueberry bushes are another year older now, this was last year. 633 bushes. The logging truck has done logging on all points of the property......presently for sale.....we've done our work.... and then there's the equipment that runs the farm......

I'll add some pics of the dogs as well, after all, they keep the spirits going as far as I can tell. Royce is the black and white Border Collie, - he herds everything, and when it's time to drive out back to the back field, he stares at the truck tires,- at the moment they turn he's off...... Wiry, a fast runner and smart. The Big Gray and White, well, that's Shiitake. He's a Old English Sheep Dog, different from a Border Collie in about 1000 ways. He's likes to stick close to humans and lumbers around.....he watches out for ya....he's a pal.

Always busy but now that we are experiencing the bloom of our lives we are thinking on selling the farm and relax a little more. It has orchards of fruit and nut trees, crops fields, river frontage, small pond and 3 wells. That's a good start as well as being organic.....Then we'll miss it.....perplexing isn't isn't.....and jurneez (lower case) Farm...still kickin.
Always busy, but what would life be if we were't busy. Satisfaction at days end is the souls blessing ....

Commitment Honored - Ending 2014 --Beginning 2015

So, it's Christmas Eve and I accomplished my self set goals plus threw in an extra 3 hours of duty. It was snowing hard and the skies were dark at 4p.m. ..but I was off to accomplish a commitment I made to friends down the road. Said I'd feed their cat and after all the cat knows Auntie...Kitty here I come....Usually the first day mom and dad are gone I get snubbed for a bit, he's takes out his frustrations with humans on me as expected.

So, I was driving down the road feeling mighty spiritual. I had just finished reading some uplifting material and I was being so grateful for this existence and how lucky I was. I was considering 2015 being a great year as this one as been...but I wanted to do better with this vessel we call a body. I want to take better care of it...after all I am in good health and at decent weight but I could do better..I can fix it. Believe in Great Health and Great Control. After all it's fleshy and pliable...I can fix it.....whatever might be wrong...I'm feeling empowered ….....then it occurred to me....the planet is alive too...fleshy and pliable ….so......we can fix it.....whatever might be wrong....even with thriving human ignorance. We can fix it.

                       

So I arrive at my destination after this incredible conversation I just had with myself. I get out in the pouring rain, black vest, black hoodie, dark jeans and I struggle to open the door. I tried 10 times. The roof rain water is pouring on me and my hoodie and sweatshirt are soaking wet. Didn't know ya had to be a rocket scientist to open a door.

I crawl back into my car, text the owners, ooops...I was in the wrong lock (note to self, use lower lock)....mind you I have not had any holiday libations yet.....I run back to the door....now by this time Kitty is frightened someones trying to break in...black hoodie and all. By the time I get inside kitty is in hiding for his life, he knows for sure it was a burglar who just finally busted in....Couldn't coax him out....So I scooped out two large coated lumps from his box, gave fresh food and waited, …...and waited.....and waited......he was still protecting his life in the darkness under the bed.....”Auntie didn't mean to scare you....come here”...Not.

I ate peanuts.....chocolate, cheez-its and a candy bar. I drove home saying ,...”yeah right, I'll start fixing that vessel tomorrow and maybe later on we can work on the planet thing”.

Hope your 2015 is spiritually uplifting.

Enjoy your life ....it's the best.

~ jurn   

Life in a small town......

What a morning....up at 3:45 a.m....out the door and on the road at

4:12 a.m. to help with someones barn animals...... a feeding....Saw the cutest

2 or 3 week old fawn near the barn. Came back home at sunrise......crashed ON the bed jeans and all.

Suddenly...thump de thump...Oh no, I know that sound at this time of year.......fledglings hitting the window....two because of the double thump de thump. Sure enough 2 of them on the ground.....but they crashed into and through a white faced hornets nest on their way down. I quickly grabbed the hornet spray but that, and the extras, were empty as well from repairs being done on the eaves. ….....oh my...now what? I navigated through the garden to move the fledglings to a safer place. I tried to negotiate with the hornets but they wouldn't hear of it. Now ... what to do about the hornets nest which happens to be 2 feet from the dog tie. Cool outside at 55 degrees and now it's only 6:30 a.m. …...the answer......burn the huge 8 inch nest. I did...with a long handled lighter for the wood stove. Success...but after 3 times. Now I turn my attention back on the fledglings One died. Broken neck. The other I comforted until it flew off. I buried the poor little dead one. 6:45 a.m. Now...back On the bed...jeans and all.

Now that's a Life!

jurn

An Angel Brought Mya Home

A neighbor, JoAnne Freeman, lives three houses or so down called me at 10:00p.m. last night - She was passing one of the 5 signs I painted and put up. She backed up and wrote down the number as her friend (Don) from another town was visiting her and working out in the woods, a Wildlife Conservationist" person for CT. He is the one that freed her, ... well, released her. JoAnne called me and I then in turn called him.........He spoke so kindly of Mya and what a sweetheart she is......not wanting to set her free, he took her home and sheltered and fed her. We are meeting this Tuesday morning for the exchange.

Mya is home and safe......I am now a happy camper. Don, the man who found her is a really special person and has a huge heart. His wife and grand-kids loved Mya, ...wife was crying to see Mya leave......they bought her chewys, tennis balls and food.......she had a good vacation.......Thank You GOD and thank you for having kind loving human beings on the planet........Angels....
best regards, and believe................
jurn

Fire Alert - Friday, 14, November

Sixth Sense or Science?
Well, I came home on Friday night after work as usual for my "chill" night after a long week, of course , they're all long weeks to me. Anyway, some dinner, news, and just being with the dogs hanging out. Later I put them out to relieve their bladder, I call it "peeing the dogs".

Dogs peed, lights out, etc we all went to bed.

At 2:15a.m., My bigger dog Pate came and woke me up. I was first somewhat grumpy, thinking, "didn't you pee already? Now you've got more?, Well, maybe you have an upset stomach"
SO I bring him out to the deck area and instead of turning right for the steps, he went left to the far end of the deck, smelling the air ...........sniffing constantly.

It was silent outside so I thought he caught wind of some animal. We do have fisher cats, coyote's, bear, bob cats, and some stray wolfs (they actually got free by accident from the local university study program). He sniffed the air constantly, but was only slightly alarmed. Dogs, in general, (varies with species) have a 1000 times greater sense of smell than humans.

I brought him in. The next morning was Saturday and while I was watching the news, there it was, a story about a house that burned to the ground, at exactly the time Pate was sniffing the air. The house is about 3/4 of a mile away through woods, on another road that runs parallel to mine.

These animals of ours DO have a sixth sense. No doubt in my mind. However, perhaps it's not a sixth sense but a enhanced version of the 5 senses. I've read articles that explain, perhaps as I said, animals have an increased ability in all their senses, they are JUST BETTER than us. Either way, I feel lucky to have my fiends along with me in my travels through life.

The cats and dogs that find their owners miles away, the dogs that predict illnesses, cats predicting death, ....wow, there is so much more to our animal friends.

Well, I was proud of Pate and if there ever was a fire here, I am comforted he would wake me immediately.

Have a Good Week, and drop by to say hello, but remember to give extra hugs to our feathered and fury friends sharing the planet with us.

jurn

Dogs, Kids, and Grandkids,….Oh My…..

The 2 wood stoves that keep Jurneez End Farm warm.

Today’s entry will be various subjects. Last night I was visiting a couple of Blogs that I like to read, even if I don’t log on. The Old Fart is one I always enjoy for he finds such wealth in life in his daily existence. I like to believe we should all give 30-60 seconds of gratitude when we wake up in the morning or go to sleep at night. It is this gratitude that awakens us to a more spiritual side of life.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a totally blissful life, I attract the same daily thorns as others. Last week my toilet seat cracked and there is nothing like getting bitten by the seat at night. My accomplishment is I went to the local Home Depot, bought a replacement and then put three coats of polyurethane on it, then installed it by myself. Although my proud feather in my cap was blown as I discovered told by my dearest friend I put the washers on the wrong side. Re-installed.

Dogs: Well, my newest shelter rescue Mya, has been here 4 months now and really is a little leaping gazelle. Smallest dog I’ve owned in 20 years at 50 pounds. She’s inquisitive and nosey but as cunning as a jackal. She bounds past my legs and gets out on me all the time.

Training? Well, it’ll be a long time. She’s defiant and stubborn. Pate is still mostly the good ole boy he has been except for separation anxieties. Upon coming home from work one would think I’ve been gone for 3 days. Jeeeese, give it a break, will ya.

Kids:

Daughter- Laura has moved back to the country and lives rurally near here now as does her brother. She’s working with horses still and running a life that seems to be 90 miles an hour all the time. I look at that and think “Was I like that?” “Did I have 101 things to do every day?”.

I certainly couldn’t now, I come home from work and the sweats are the first thing to go on.

She explained this morning, graphically I might add, which I will leave out some of the details here, so save your skirmish stomach, how she had to medically assist her horse last night. It appeared the guy has been standing and looking uncomfortable with shifting feet etc……so she had to enter him up to her elbow and retract some private areas to apply some medication. Long story short, it doesn’t look good for the horse, might be cancer. I have greatly softened the adjectives used here.

How she does this is beyond me. She has medicated large wounds, inches deep, with the steadiest hand. She should have gone to Vet School. Perhaps, when she comes into her own with her kids grown, maybe she’ll investigate that avenue. I applaud her. I am proud of her knowledge and whom she is.

Son- Ryan has always lived near by and is a steady reliable source for me. He has his own family but none the less always carries a strong emotion for family ties. He is a strong devoted father and husband with children to teach. I am also proud of him and the man he has become. He has an unending source and ability to help others. What a wonderful attribute. He’s sometimes driven nuts by his teenage daughter, but then I remember doing that to my folks. Harmones. That early teen thing….pheew, am I glad I’m well past that (by decades) with my kids……

This sounds like my boasting but actually it’s my gratitude showing.

Grandkids- What can I say…..some drive, some don’t.

How remarkable to see them. They each individually learn, grow, and behave so differently. I see many elder family members, who have passed on, in them. Funny how cycles happen. Just nature.

Farm – With still living here, I do need assistance now and again with chores and this year I called upon Jimmy, Laura’s son to help dig and clear a ditch that is about 100 feet long. He toughed it out all day. Of course I paid him but I’d like to pay no one else than my own grandchild. We named the ditch “Jimmy’s Ditch” that way I can call him every year. He politely smiled, but inside I’m sure he grimaced.

As for winter prep, one can read any Fall post and it’s always the same, bring in the wood, stack nearby, clean the chimney, etc. etc. and it goes on and on.

So Fall for me is a work period for 5 weeks as is Spring, but ya know what, so isn’t summer. Actually, winter is the only time I can slow down and do some stain glass or work on the train table.

Be Safe,

jurn

Winter is a blessing for giving us the slower pace in life.

Excuse me, I see something shiny over there and need to go investigate and play.

And Yet Another Rescue

It's been sometime since I posted and months fly by and yet I know no one will ever see this. When I pass like a fall leaf, no one will ever know I shared all this, except a few who have become internet friends. This last year I wrote about the passing of my dearest best friend, (dog) Vinnie, then I wrote about the rescued shepherd mix, Pate.

Pate came with some issues that required training. we worked through his negative issues and I stayed in touch with the rescue org from MA and kept them appraised of his advancement in training. Now he shines and I felt we were ready to take another rescue from the shelter. These org's are filled with dogs and cats that need our homes and love.

This new little mighty bit of dog is only 4 in August, 08 and has had 3 homes, 1 shelter, 1 dog pound and 1 litter (before she was 1 yr.) That's some amount of changes in her short life.

Her name is Mya, She's a little nervous, but has really come a long way in only 2 weeks. She's so trusting and wants to learn, once again, the new rules of the house. Pate her big brother has been just the best. Not once has he played the alpha role. He has shared his toys, his dog bed, his water bowl and his owner me.

Two nights ago, after walking on leash every day for 2 weeks, twice a day, Mya and Pate got to run free for their first trail test. They did great. I believe they like hanging out together. Tonight I was only going to let Pate run and he wouldn't leave the porch, waiting....looking back....at the door for Mya, so I let her out and she flew past him, looking over her left shoulder, as if to say, "hey slow poke, what's keep'n ya, can't you run as fast as me?"

Just rewarding to see their friendship blossom. If only mankind could get along and play like these pets.....our planet would be so much better off.

Pate the Dog and Vinnie my loss

Well, Vinnie died on my birthday last Feb and I have come to grips with it. In June 2007 I decided to rescue a dog. My cousin said, and rightfully so, "Vinnie wouldn't want to see you like this, so sad", and she's right. She also said, "he would want you to open your heart and home to another dog", and she's right again. Thank You Debbie.

I rescued Pate. A three plus year old Shepherd mix. Pate has some issues but after all was not treated kindly before and he'll outgrow his issues with time. He's come a long way in almost only 3 months.

Warms my heart to see his intelligence begin to shine. He was so shut down before. We walk just after sunrise in the morning when the dew is so thick we can see a spider walk along the grass. Pate's nose is twitching all along the walk.


There is a cat who lives here too and after this weekend if no one claims the little kitten that's been around, we'll take in another. Somehow they find jurneez End Fram.

It is my interaction with the animals that really heightens my life. I have a blog friend, someone I've never met, but I check in and follow his blog and sometimes, he's never even known I was there. When he lost his friend Roxy, (cat) I felt it. People are missing out if they are not connecting with our animals. I thank him for his kind words and perhaps someday I'll travel in Canada and thank him in person.

Enough........be strong, and live in harmony.
Much love,
jurn