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