Our Farm Animal Sanctuary has now been open for four days, and this morning, as I’m feeling myself breathe into this new chapter in my life, I’m beginning to wonder exactly what that will mean. Who will call this place home next May 1st? There are so many animals ~ of all kinds! ~ who need safe spaces that our plan to begin by focusing on sheep and perhaps a few mini horses might be tweaked a bit by people and animals we’ve not yet met. I’ve never been any good at predicting the future, so I’m pretty sure now’s not the time to start. However,…

…looking at the past year brings its own wonderment ~ we’ve accomplished so much since we moved to our farm last May! One pasture is fenced, and the others are laid out; stalls are re-built and half the little barn is sided. There are actual chickens in the rehabbed chicken coop. We’ve lived into this space, and the memories of autumn and Christmas, winter storms and spring winds now surround us and help us call this farm home. 

Many years ago, a good friend told me that he thought about life as a collection of days. I’ve never forgotten that because in this vision, the focus can easily be on today, and today, I think about…

The Chickens ~ Yes, the chickens have moved out of the house and into their rehabbed forever home. I’ve truly enjoyed helping them acclimate to their new space and to gentle human hands and voices. We’re doing what so many have told us not to do ~ we’re naming them. We have the one we think is a rooster; our son named him Billy Rae. Our daughter named the smallest one George. There’s Fearless, of course, and the two sisters with brown feathers are Bonnie and Clyde. That leaves one more to name, and we are open to ideas! 

The Vet Visit ~ One of the important things I wanted was to have a vet conduct a walk-through of the little barn and the pastures and let us know that what we had built was safe and strong. On April 21st, Dr. Barski came to the farm and did just that ~ and she gave us a clear to open. But she did so much more! She gave us hints and ideas and websites and information that we need now and will need later.  And she agreed to teach me how to be the best caregiver I can be for the animals who need a safe space. I’m tremendously excited ~ and deeply grateful. Thanks, Dr. Barski!

Our Supporters ~ Years ago I learned that it’s important to end an essay with the most important idea because that’s generally what people remember first.  Unfortunately, what I’ve never learned are words that truly express those deepest of emotions for which the English language seems to only have brief expressions. “Gratitude” is one of those words that really doesn’t do justice to the emotion behind it, so in saying “Thank-you” to all of you reading, all of you following our Facebook page, all of you helping with resources, I’m really saying ~ wow, we couldn’t do this without you! And, we are so blessed to have you in our corner! And, let’s keep going because together, we can change the world, one animal at a time.

With tremendous gratitude and until next time ~ Tracy