Small Town Living and Chores

My persistence goes on following up on a multitude of projects I have yet to do and it seems Fall is closing in quickly. Does this sound familiar? I rise in the morning with gratitude that I could....I first attack my list before the mid-day heat. Wandering out to the hummingbird feeders to wash and fill....starts out good. Along the way I see the step ladder left out, grabbed it to put away, turn around, head further out, saw the wagon right side up, turned it over, headed out again, saw the brush pile had dried, broke it up for burning, headed out (again to the feeders)....saw the shed doors open...on the way to the doors I saw rocks, on the small wall, out of place in the garden.....I relocate the flat rock and to my surprise, the hornets I tried to negotiate with last month would have no part of their rock being moved...they won...I got stung....no more negotiations.....and continued to shed doors...closed them, headed out.....saw the extension ladder still up along the eaves from repairs, took it down and headed out to the feeders.....saw the barn drive way spot light needed repair....made note, ...now what was I doing and where was I going....????

Ahhhh...think I'll just sit on the porch and soak in the rest of the morning.....just as I sat down...peered outward and saw the feeders....I remembered..I had to fill the feeders....I headed out with no stops......Success.

I know I'm not alone in having multiple inspirational and disciplinarian thoughts interrupting my daily routine. In my 35 years living in Hampton I have never had a straight run to accomplish a task with out the relentless sights and sounds altering my direction.

Everyday life. Enjoy.

jurn

Hints, Lessons and Wisdom

It seems when you live long enough, you see clearly the the values and priorities for their true worth. I mean, younger folks may not see the insight or experience the knowledge given, but the older folks lose the ability to see and think like a child. The children glow from the inside. They question. They challenge.

Recently I've been spending time with younger family members and it returned to me a joy I lost along the way. Where? Don't know, but when I hear laughter of children and see how their brain works, it makes me wonder about a lot of things in life...

I've been living in a rural area for 33 years, although with the growth of the towns it seems less rural, none the less, when folks at the general store are talking about a bobcat or mountain lion, it's rural.
Oh yeah, I was going to talk about the ritual of mice patrol. It happens every 5 or so years on the farm. Fall comes, they want in, and I say -NO. Well, This time after I washed out the entire kitchen drawer cabinet again, all the silver wear, I at the end added, dryer towels, and charcoal. I hang charcoal in the tips of nylon stalkings under the hood of my card and it seems to work. Done, still catching a few mice in the cellar but wow, they hate my messing with their homes.

2 weeks later: not a mouse in sight.
And what about what's in his grimy little hands, my food?
We had a snowfall today, not much but winter is off to a late start. So 7 inches now is nothing. I'm planning the spring garden already. Oh my, with the toxins in most food, I hope to eat healthier this spring and summer.

I have a dear friend who lost his farmhouse, all belongings. Reminds me of a story where upon greetings for good bye this family would always say, "I wish you enough" and I absolutely love the reason behind it, it means, I wish you enough hardship to appreciates the gifts, enough pain to appreciate the glory of a good day, enough etc. etc. etc. The point is beautiful. I wish you all enough ..................

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

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