lions tigers and bears make me shake

So last night the coyotes were close. My new Great Pyrenees, Izzy stayed out barking at the darkness until about 3 am or so. I stayed up as well. Just in case she needed some back-up. I have a nice loaded shotgun ready.

I guess they moved on. We live just up the mountain from the river, and in the hollow there is a path. You can follow it any time of year. It is made and maintained by wild life. It is a natural wildlife corridor. It truly makes me very happy to see that there is all sorts of wildlife, alive and thriving here. It takes the sting out of my guilt for leaving an imprint here in these beautiful mountains.

I love the wildlife, but I do not want to feed them my livestock. My chickens and ducks, geese, goats, pigs, rabbits, et al, are part of my livelihood and I have a duty to protect them.

That is why I have Earl the donkey and Izzy the Great Pyrenees on the night shift. I seem to be on the night shift as well. As I stood out facing the woods at 3 am looking for movement. Izzy, at my side barking deep. I love her bark. It is not a woof sound, more like a WOOF sound. It makes me feel protected. I make her feel protected. She becomes even more brave when I am standing with her, looking into the darkness.

I posted on my neighbor's (our properties connect) facebook page, just to either A. let her know coyotes were around last night, and B. let her know that if she woke from a deep barking sound that traveled up the mountain, it was only our Izzy doing her job.

So my neighbor in turn, posted the following two picture for me:

I think he is a bobcat. Pretty muscular and healthy.

Black Bear

Aren't the just gorgeous? I know that there are all sorts of animals here. They are just so good at staying away from people. For the most part. I worry more about coyotes, raccoons and hawks, then I would a bobcat or bear. Bobcats need miles and miles to hunt. They are usually near bodies of water, because that is where the food is. Rabbits. They love rabbits. It is possible we had a bear come get our berries this Summer. I went out to pick, and it looked like somebody had drove a four wheeler through the patch. It was either a bear, or deer. In any case, I learned not to worry about losing crops to wildlife.It happens.

I watched a program on Public TV a while ago, about the American Shakers. I was fascinated by their lifestyle and way of living. Yes, it did at first get my attention because Women, played a large part in that religious movement. Also, I loved the community spirit, the art of building items with superior craftsmanship (relating work ethic to their faith) and of course the movements they made in worship and prayer. Who wants to sit still in church? I have jumpy legs. I would want to shake and shimmy. All fascinating. But what I really learned from the program, was this: The Shakers would have outsiders come and join the community, timed right about now in the year, at the second harvest. These people, would come and live out the harsh Winters, protected by the Shaker community. In the Spring, they would leave. The Shakers knew what they were up too. But I think they referred to them as Winter Worshipers, or something kind, but still truthful. Lastly what struck me and stuck to me was this lesson: Thieves from outside of their community would come and steal from their gardens. The Shakers, knowing this, just simply planted more crops the next year, to rectify the situation. Simply huh? Peaceful, giving, simple, hard working people, who were a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.
PBS - The Shakers

So, when wildlife comes and eats my carrot crop, or my peas. I think of the shakers, and am glad that they have been consumed, but keep in mind, next year, I will have to plant more.

If you watch that documentary, then look at how the Industrial Revolution negatively impacted not only the Shakers, but farming and craftsmanship in general, You will understand this wonderful little video to the played to the voice of the Great Willie Nelson. Please watch.

If you live in America. I would urge you to invest in America's oldest Seed House, simply by ordering one of their beautiful 2012 Seed Catalogs. Only $5.00. Just a Starbuck's coffee to keep our seeds free from Giant GMO Companies and in the hands of small farmers, like me.

Here is an article talking about it: Could $5.00 Save America's Oldest Seed House? I have a widget posted to on the right hand side of my blog. You can grab the code and pass the word, by blog or facebook or any outlet. This is the time when the meek actually do inherit the earth. Don't give up on Locally grown food. Farmer's Markets, and Local Farmers are very close and would love your business. Speaking of which...
Have a look at this:

What number is your foodometer reading at?

Love and Light,
~crow

flying the coop

I have been waiting to blog about my company that traveled from SC to here in WV.

Why?

I had to wait for her to fly. Fly home to freedom. Fly away from a life that was not in tune with her spirit. I was probably one of her biggest cheerleaders because I knew how it felt... to feel trapped in a life situation that was not enhancing the growth as a human, or the well being of body, mind and spirit. For me it was an abusive and toxic relationship that I exited.

I advised her to fly, but she had already begun. The moment she found out she had wings. And fly she did.

Many women get stuck in relationships where they are stuck. I am not talking about the seven  year blues in a relationship, and finding the time to be reconnected with you husband. I am talking about women, for whatever reason, get into a relationship where they have lost their authentic selves in a dominating male partner. Women who stay, because the fear keeps them there. I am including all sorts of fear.The fear of being alone, to the fear of retribution, and from the fear of the unknown, to the fear of hurting their children. They remain silent and hurt. It is not good for them, their children or their partners. It is not for the good of society as a whole.

I came from a generation where I was taught to be polite, to do what I was told, and to not confront or protest. A time where when if a woman showed anger, or complained, or said what was on there mind, they were labeled crazy, ungrateful or bitchy. It still happens. But perhaps the next generation of our empowered daughters will learn from their Mother's boldness. To watch their elders face the fear and go ahead and fly anyway.

Men get stuck too, and lose themselves in a relationship, histories, or even a job. But I can only write from my own perspective and experiences. I am not forgetting you guys. We all carry our own baggage, we all get stuck, and we all feel fear.

Back to my visitor. She drove all the way up here to place her precious ducks and geese with me. Lovely Indian Runner ducks including a breeding quad of trout color and a trio silver girls to go with my silver drakes, a beautiful white breeding trio, along with a couple of special needs ducks that are penciled colored. Along with the four geese, a very nice Brinsea incubator and all the tools to go with it, feed, feeding trays and some nice warm farm jackets. She packed her truck, called a friend and drove all the way here, to simply give me her flock.

She had already sent me duck eggs to hatch. Gifts sent to somebody she had never met. She had already showed me how far a random act of kindness can ripple out to the world, and she had already taught me to receive. To get good-er at getting good. Tough thing for most of us. To receive, and then say simply thank you in return. It takes as much grace to accept a gift as it does to give one. I had to learn that again. Then when she offered to drive here, and hand me a large part of her life, I could only feel humble. It was hard, because I knew what she was giving up. I knew that she must have been in a bad place to make such a drastic change.

I told her when she listens to her higher-self, that voice is the one who will lead her towards her highest and best good. I told her because I believe it. I reminded her as she gave away her horses, her mule, a cat and her beloved pet dog. I reassured her that everything that happens in life leads us along our own paths in life. Even the really tough times. I told her because I truly believed that she was listening to that higher voice, and I know it will all make sense some day.

That is how it happens. Have you ever heard a cancer survivor be thankful for that life altering event? They  go on and treat life as a sacred treasure. They have gone and found their wings. Yes, that is what I am talking about. All of our experiences bring us to where we are now. It is not an easy road sometimes, but the tougher the journey, the more value in the lesson. People get well seasoned with life lessons. You can see it in their eyes, if you ever want to stop and look. People find happiness, not because they are simply blessed with it. They have actively gone and searched for it. The blessing is in the act of seeking.


My friend, reminded me of all of that. She made a bold move. Her journey was not easy. That is what makes me so sure that she is going to find her own happiness. Because when you take a leap of faith, land on your two feet you realize that you can indeed fly. You are free.


Nicky, I am glad you are home in your Motherland. You are further away in miles, but closer in heart and spirit. I think of you every day. I must thank you... this time, for this lesson in bravery.

~crow