I didn't get out to take any pictures today, but this one of three of my girls is good. These are three ewes ... who like each other and enjoy spending time with each other.

I intend to spend 2010 with folks who I both like, and enjoy spending time with. I also hope to attract new folks who fit into that category ... and maybe even influence a few to become that kind of person.

Life IS good!

I wish my family and friends ... heck everyone ... all the best for the coming year.

NEVER forget that 'Life IS good!"

... feel the Light within and around you ... and find the Peace that both surrounds and fills you.

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 30

I LOVE my messages from the Universe ... :-)

I've got a feeling, Bill, that 2010 is going to be your kind of year. That you'll be happier than you've ever been, laughing harder, smiling wider, standing taller, walking lighter, dancing crazier, hugging longer, living grander, loving louder, and if you want, selling the pictures to a tabloid to raise money for your new charity.

Can you feel it, too?
The Universe

I really needed to hear that message today ... Thank you Universe!

Missing Gene

I'm not sure why ... likely it is the season (the end of Christmas) ... likely it is because I am alone tonight ... but ... I am REALLY missing Gene. I know that he is happier and more comfortable ... and that it is a good thing that I miss him. I just wish that I didn't HAVE to.

Each Christmas that we were together, Gene had to listen to the John Denver Christmas CDs that my daughter made for me so that I'd feel more connected with Christmases past. Gene was NOT a John Denver fan, but he humoured me ... because of my love for my family ... and because of the love that he grew to have for them as well.

These are the lyrics to an old John Denver song that sums up what I hope Gene knows ... nah ... what I KNOW Gene knows. The title is a link to YouTube with the song being sung by artists that Gene would more approve of ... :-)

Perhaps Love
------John Denver

Perhaps love is like a resting place;
A shelter from the storm.
It exists to give you comfort.
It is there to keep you warm.
And in those times of trouble,
When you are most alone,
The memory of love will bring you home.

Perhaps love is like a window;
Perhaps an open door.
It invites you to come closer.
It wants to show you more.
And even if you lose yourself
And don't know what to do,
The memory of love will see you through.

Love to some is like a cloud;
To some as strong as steel.

For some a way of living;
For some a way to feel.

And some say love is holding on.
And some say letting go.
And some say love is everything.
And some say they don't know.

Perhaps love is like the ocean,
Full of conflict, full of pain;
Like a fire when it is cold outside;
Like thunder when it rains.
But … if I should live forever
And all my dreams come true …
My memories of love will be of you

My 'memories of love' will ALWAYS include you Gene. I miss you ... :-) (the link here is John Denver singing it as it should be sung)

We're Having a Bit of Mild Weather!

Clyde ... working. He gets so much muddier than the other two dogs!

Family Christmas at Kate and Tim's

Jamie's first Christmas

beautiful Will

Anna, Princess of the World

Will and Grandma

the Beckenham's tree

Anna and Will

Anna hard at play

Will reading

Merry Christmas

joy ... light ... love ... peace ... laughter ... family ... friends ... good food ... magic

... Wishing you all of this, and more!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Wednesday, December 23

Each person in your life is there for a reason, Bill, and that reason always has something to do with love.

Like me,
The Universe

Tuesday, December 22

What people rarely give themselves credit for, Bill, is that their giving continues giving, even after they've forgotten giving, and even when they didn't know they were giving, forever and ever and ever.

At least I'm keeping score,
The Universe

Mon., Dec 21 ... the shortest day of the year!

When driving down the road of life, Bill, rarely do you know how good you have it, until you see it in the rear-view mirror.

Which is not to suggest that you should look back now, but to remind you that where you are today is more awesome and amazing than you probably realize.

10-4,
The Universe

My Christmas Tree Isn't Straight ...

awww ... like that would bother ME! ... hehehe

Isn't it beautiful!

LIFE IS GOOD!

A Day With Friends ... At Willow Garden ... :-)

I had a GREAT time hanging out with my friends at Willow Garden today. It was cold and crisp ... but the sun was strong and there was no wind. My friends seemed to enjoy our time together. I sure did. I LOVE my farm and the animal friends who share it with me. Here are a few of them ...

Clyde

Barnevelder Hen

Blue Splash Silkie Hen

Thomas, my Red Bourbon tom

Scott, my Narragansett tom

Holiday, Columbo, and Red Velvet

Some of my girls

Grenadine

ewe lambs beside the house

Amaretto

Millie

Chuck Roast

Marvin, the magnificent ... My hope is that Marvin will provide a HUGE prime rib roast of beef for my 60th birthday celebration this summer ... :-). I doubt that this excites Marvin to the same degree that it does me, so we don't discuss it around him. If you get to meet him ... shhhhh

Madge and her daughter, Mary ... Mary is taming up nicely, but has 'spirit' ... which is a good thing!

Bonnie and her best friend, Marjori

Life is good ... :-)

Friday's Message From The Universe.

In case they look at you funny, Bill, when you tell them of your loftiest dreams, goals, and successes, all you have to do is turn your head sideways, raise an eyebrow, and slowly say, "I... have... connections...."

Because you do.

Me,
The Universe

My daughter says that I should 'stop with the weirdness'. I seem to have lost one 'follower'. Maybe she is right ... but ... just one more can't hurt ... :-)

From Tuesday

Sometimes, Bill, it's the ones you love the most who are the best at pushing your buttons.

Coincidence?

The Universe

From The Universe Today

Most people will find the following very hard to believe, Bill, but, there is nothing, ever, worth being unhappy about.

Because no matter what happens, it will add to you, you'll still live forever, and our love affair will remain tabloid fodder in realms far, far away.

Thank you.

Earth rocks,
The Universe

Each weekday, I get a message from The Universe. I'm going to start posting some of them here. I suspect they apply to us all ... :-)

Just wanted to remind you, Bill, that sometimes success is better measured in smiles received, giggles heard, and hands held, than in dollars earned, deadlines met, and kilos shed.

And I must say, you've done well for yourself.

Yeah us!
The Universe

Life is good!

Life Is Good!

Today, Pete and I went to "Vickie's Veggies and Friends Busy Hands Craft and Gift Sale". It was wonderful, as always ... and a great chance to re-connect with friends and to make a few new ones.

Last year when I was there, I saw my friend Terr-Lee for the last time. I met Terri-Lee when I moved to the County in 2000. At that time, she was living with cancer. Through all of the time that I knew her ... she was LIVING with cancer. And boy did she live! Always ready with a quick come back and always ready for fun and an adventure ... :-). And she was also an absolutely amazing teacher!

A year ago at this sale she gave me the biggest and hardest hug imaginable from someone so thin. I will remember that hug forever ... and that smile ... Thank you Terri-Lee ... *sigh*. Terri-Lee passed away last January ... about a month after that hug. I am so blessed to have had her in my life ... as are all who knew her.

Today, friends were selling some of her knitting and donating the money to a local charity that Terri-Lee supported. I saw this sweater ... and immediately thought of Anna! Her 2nd birthday is this coming weekend and I intend to give this sweater to her. To think about my granddaughter being excited to wear something so beautiful ... made by a beautiful friend, who would have loved to see Anna in it ... well ...

Life is just GOOD ... but I wish that I had been able to buy this from Terri-Lee.

In Need of a Re-Charge ... ;-)

Well ... we did put Anna to bed, but didn't dare let her sleep too long. It was already 3:45 and she normally goes to bed for the night at 7:00. We let her sleep for just under an hour.

She wasn't fully awake ... so we let her ice one of the shortbreads.

She liked that! ... and had enough energy to make it through until her Mom came at 5:15.
What a wonderful day!

Life is good.

After The Chocolate Wears Off ...

Well, Anna, Princess of the World had an hour and a half nap today ... but a nap without sleep. She chatted with her toys, sang 'Itsy Bitsy Spider', called out our names, and giggled out loud. We finally gave in and let her get up to bake more cookies. I thought all was well ...

... but ... she IS closely related to her Uncle Chris. She 'passed out' the same way that he does. These pictures don't show the head bobbing or the fact that every now and then she'd say something as if she really wasn't asleep.

She is sleeping in her Princess of the World bed right now. We finished the 'shape of' shortbread cookies without her ... :-)

Life is good.

A Strange Friendship

I have been having 'issues' with my two female LGD, but since I have a no-breed group, I just put the younger female in with the lambs. I also have a yearling heifer that is in that same group as the bull is in with my two cows.

Marjori, the Dexter, is not thrilled about living with ewe lambs ... but an amazing friendship has developed between her and Bonnie, the LGD. These pictures don't show it all that well ... but, they even sleep together.

Pictures From Will

Will and his beautiful Mom, Kerri ... headed out to 'trick or treat'.

Will ... reorganizing ... a skill that his Grandpa has also yet to maser ... hehehe.
Will cooking ... a trait passed down through the males in our family.
Will, hanging out in the chicken coop with some fat old man ... :-).
And there you have it ... pictures of the most perfect little boy in the WORLD!!!

Life is good.

A December First Tradition at Willow Garden

It happens every year on December 1st ... I turn on the Christmas lights for the sheep. Actually, the same extension cord gets used for the water trough heater and I hook it up on December 1st ... but we let the sheep think that it is all just for them ... :-)
It has been so mild thid year that I almost forgot to do it ... but the lambs had heard all about the 'event' from their moms ... and wouldn't let me forget. They've also heard about Christmas Eve and are anxiously awaiting their treats and their story ... hehehe.

My livestock guardian dogs on the other hand ... have heard NOTHING about these coloured lights that are in a place where they weren't at any time during THEIR life on the farm. They are barking madly and doing their best to keep the sheep safe from ... whatever these brighly coloured objects are ... hehehe

Life is good!

The New Dexters

Well ... they are here! Above is Marvin, the Magnificent. He'll be with us for the time it takes for two cow 'cycles' plus three weeks 'finishing' time.
This is Mary. Mary was born about six weeks ago. She will be staying at Willow Garden and will become my fourth cow ... :-)
Here is Madge, my newest cow, with Mary hiding behind her. Madge is still quite aloof and has not yet figured out that I am the 'giver of the grain' ... :-)
Millie, who came to Willow Garden on October first, with her son Chuck Roast, LOVES grain, as you can see from looking at her. Chuck was born September 3rd, so he is six weeks older than Mary.
The cow paddock is right beside the ram paddock. Marvin and Aman seem to like each other ... :-)

And the Excitement Continues ... :-)

I have really enjoyed my Dexter cows. They are calm, gentle and fun to be around. So ... I have arranged to purchase another black Dexter cow and her two month old black heifer calf. I have also purchased a two year old red Dexter bull who will stay here long enough to breed Millie and Madge (the new cow). When Marvin (the bull) has done his bit with the cows, he'll go off to get 'finished' for the freezer ... a belated Christmas gift to my kids ... :-).

In order for all of this to happen ... Marjori will need to live with the sheep for a while as she is too young to be bred. She isn't all that thrilled with the arrangement,
... but she is liking the hay bales ... :-)
Millie wants her friend Marjori, to come back! I'll explain to her about Madge coming ... and of course I'll mention Marvin ... :-)

Life is good.