We Came for the Giraffes

October 5, 2017 My Farmtastic Life4 Comments

Fourteen years ago, Cowboy and I came to Glen Rose, Texas for the very first time. As big time animal lovers, we had heard about Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and decided to make an overnight trip of it. We had absolutely no idea that one little overnight stay would change the course of our future.

On our day at Fossil Rim, we took a behind the scenes tour, rode around in an open-air Jeep, snapped tons of pictures (with actual film!), and made memories at every turn. And then we saw them. The majestic giraffes.

A combination of gangly grace, long eyelashes, and sticky sweet tongues. I had never been so close to these amazing creatures, and I was quickly falling head over heels in love. Our guide, the legendary Jan Bussey, parked near the herd and shared her knowledge and passion for Fossil Rim while we hand fed these beauties.

Oh my stars. I think I could have parked there all day head pointed up, hands outstretched, smile plastered across my face, and heart leaping for joy. I had found my spot.

Cowboy and I never forgot that trip. In fact, living in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Fossil Rim became our go-to daytrip for birthdays, anniversaries, or just a day out. We brought friends and family. We became ambassadors, telling anyone who would listen about the landscape and critters of Fossil Rim, most especially my beloved giraffes.

Not too long after we began visiting Glen Rose, Cowboy and I started looking for land, an escape from the city. We looked far and wide, even as far north as Oklahoma. We saw little pieces and big pieces of land. Some with houses, some without, and some with houses that weren’t long for this world. Looking became our weekend occupation, as we bumped along miles and miles of country roads.

And then one day, Cowboy looked at me and said, “You know, I’m not sure why we’re looking all over the place. Wherever we go, we are going to have to drive to Fossil Rim, so we might as well be close.”

Have I told you that man is a genius? So just like that our search was narrowed to the tippy top of the hill country, where the deer and the giraffes roam.

And the rest is, as they say, history. Ten years ago we bought our dream place, and seven years ago we built our barndominium and moved into Wild Horse Valley. We filled it with our own little zoo of horses, donkeys, cats, and dogs. And we still love to visit Fossil Rim, and even volunteer when we can. In all these years, it still takes my breath away.

In fact, October is one of my absolute favorites at the Rim. The weather is cooler, the animals are frisky, and if you time it just right you can catch the European Red Deer in rutting season and hear their soulful bugling across the park.

My Farmtastic Life - Giraffes at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center — A friendly giraffe coming to say hello. If you look closely you’ll see several in the background, and also a gaggle of European Red Deer relaxing in the shade.

It’s easy to take for granted sharing your town with giraffes, rhinos, and cheetahs, but it is truly a gift. If you are in the area, I encourage you drive on out to the Rim, soak up some sunshine, and sit in wonder of our tall neighbors. But I must say, be careful. You may come for the giraffes and find yourself staying for so much more.

P.S. A version of this post was published in the Glen Rose Reporter. This farmgirl is delighted to serve as a community columnist.

Smokey’s Eye

September 17, 2017September 17, 2017 My Farmtastic Life4 Comments

No, this is not a post about smudged eye makeup trends. It’s about our soft-hearted fella of a horse and his journey back to health.

For those of you who follow us on Facebook and Instagram, back in the spring, you saw pics of our big grey mustang Smokey in the equine (a.k.a. horsey) hospital with an eye injury. This is his story.

Horses are fun-loving creatures with big personalities, big bodies, and some times they can get themselves into big trouble. Because we live on a farm with trees and fences and stalls, sometimes these precious babies injury themselves. And try as you might, you simply just can’t fool-proof your farm. (I mean, seriously, we’ve got horses who can open gates, but that is for another time.)

One spring evening at feeding time, Smokey moseyed up to his stall as usual for a snack. But this time, something wasn’t quite right. He had his right eye shut tight, tears streaming down his cheek.

After a little eyelid wrangling, we could see he had something going on with the eyeball itself, and made an after hours call to the vet. Two things to note here. First, trying to pry open a horse’s eye against his will, oh holy cats that is not easy. It’s a crazy combination of eyelids of steel and a bobbing head. Second, as we’ve said before, these things don’t happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Nope, if we are going to injure ourselves, we’re going to do it right. No sense in playing games.

It was quickly determined the next morning that he had, in fact, scratched the eye. Drat! The remedy? Eye meds four times a day should do the trick. Did you see my comment above about strong eyelids? Well it got to be a game. We’d look out and see him with his eye wide open. He’d see us, and yep, you guessed it, he’d slam it shut. Quite honestly, he was just tired of us messing with him.

Seven days went by, and the vet came back out and determined that not enough progress was being made. Smokey was at risk of going blind in that eye. In order to save his vision, he would have to go the horsey hospital where they could put an IV system through his eyelid and dispense medication directly to the eye. (Oh if I could have reasoned with this big beast and told him what was coming, he may have opened his eyelids big and wide.)

My Farmtastic Life - Smokey the mustang heals from an eye injury — Smokey bending down to sniff and be petted. I sat on the floor of his stall, talking to him.

So off he went. It was slow going. And after a week, not only did he still have the eye issue, Smokey decided he didn’t want to eat much and developed a fever. Not eat? That horse has never missed a meal.

Here’s the deal. Horses are herd animals, and mustangs especially. Smokey was born in the wild to a herd, and ever since he arrived at the farm he had his band of fellas, one bossy mare, and two ornery donkeys. Smokey doesn’t leave the farm. It’s his sanctuary. He hates change and snorts and blows at anything different just to let you know he’s paying attention. Heck, once our farrier (that’s a horse pedicure giver for our city friends) showed up in a different vehicle, and Smokey was all about letting us know something changed. He’s observant. To a fault.

So Cowboy and I decided we had to go visit our fella and see if we could help figure out what had him down. I had the wild idea that maybe if we could bring him a sense of home, he’d relax. So I took an old towel and trudged out to the pasture rubbing down all the horses to capture their scents. Yes, they all looked at me funny, quite suspicious, and probably convinced I was just a bit nuts. Cowboy also thought I was slightly off my rocker, but as he always does, he just obliged me.

My Farmtastic Life - Smokey the mustang healing from an eye injury — Smokey sniffing his towel and finding comfort in the scents of home.

Off to the vet we went, towel in hand. Oh if I could just adequately describe that moment. Smokey sniffed and sniffed. He touched his nose to the towel. He visibly perked up. He would move his nose to the towel and then back to take a bite of hay. He was eating!!! He softened to our touch. He was relaxing. My heart was aching for our big grey soulstang – he missed his herd, the people and the four-legged ones.

So Cowboy and I made a promise to him. For the rest of his stay, no matter how long it took, every day one of us would try our best to make the 60-plus mile round trip to talk to him, to brush him, to comfort him. And just like magic, it worked. Slowly but surely, he settled in, his appetite returned, the fever left, and he healed. It took nearly three weeks, but Smokey still had his sight and an even bigger heart.

My Farmastic Life - Smokey the mustang heads home — The veterinary staff getting ready to load Smokey up for the trip home. Let’s just say, this fella is not a the easiest loader. (The patches on his neck were from his IVs. Such a fashion statement.)

These horses continue to teach us so much. No one wants to be alone in this world, and when we’re hurting and scared the most is when we need the touch, the scent, the spirit of home. And if we soak in the healing, we too will be able to see again.

My Farmtastic Life - Smoke, Range, and River say hello over the fence

The fellas get reacquainted with some sniffs and nibbles. Horses talk with their ears, and this day they looked like they alls should have all been named radar. Ears twitching every which way.

My Farmtastic Life - Smokey rolls with glee

Smokey’s first day out in the pasture after his return. This is a roll of glee!

P.S. Big thanks to our amazing vets, especially Dr. Imel, at Peak Performance Equine Hospital. They are simply the best. They allowed us to visit Smokey as often as possible, texted us with morning updates, and took the best possible care of our fella. We will be eternally grateful.

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Lessons & Thoughts From the Farm

Church on the Porch

September 10, 2017 My Farmtastic Life2 Comments

I grew up in church. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, I was there. Sunday school, choir practice, youth group, sermons, lots and lots of sermons. It’s where my best friends were, and it was the lense I learned to see the world through.

Throughout our years together, Cowboy and I have attended quite the menagerie of churches. We’ve seen the beauty and, unfortunately, some of the really ugly. We’ve been members, participants, told we couldn’t be members, or worse only one of us could join. (If you know us at all, you know we’re a packaged deal. For better or worse, you get both of us.) We’ve taught Sunday school, volunteered, and attended Bible studies.

And right now, we are officially on a break. There, I said it out loud. We are churchless. Without a church. Without a denomination.

But what does that mean? Does it mean our faith in God is diminished? Does it mean we love less? Does it mean we are no longer Christians? Nope, absolutely, 100 percent no. In fact, for us, I would even dare to say that our faith in God, our love, and commitment to what it really means to be a Christ follower is stronger than ever before.

When it comes to church, we have not found the right fit for us, a place that speaks to us, a group where our core values line up. It doesn’t mean it’s not out there, it just means we haven’t found it, and so instead of continuing the exhausting search, we are taking a break.

So what do you do on a break? You have church on the porch. We are intentionally taking time to sit on the porch and soak in the awe and wonder of God’s creation that surrounds us.

Watching the horses laze around the pasture, while dogs nap in the yard. Watching bees and dragonflies buzz through the air, as hummingbirds hover at the feeders. Marveling that a single Basil plant growing out of an old horse trough can smell so fragrant and get so huge. Feeling the breezes on skin warmed by the sun. And being grateful, oh so grateful. Not because everything is perfect, because that will never be the case, but because we’ve let go of the perfect in return for finding peace and joy in the moment.

My Farmtastic Life - Maybelle rests in the shade of a Basil plant — A fellow church on the porch attendee, Maybelle rests in the shade of a Basil plant.

Observing our surroundings is just one part of church on the porch. There is reading, discussing, listening to music, inspiration of all kinds. For me, church on the porch brings clarity to my crazy thoughts, a deep rooted grace of sorts. The conversations are special, personal, and helpful. Oh, and most importantly judging is banned from the porch. Curiousity is welcomed.

Sometimes church on the porch happens on a random Thursday evening. Sometimes it’s a glorious Sunday morning. Sometimes once a week and sometimes more often. Sometimes for 15 minutes and other times for hours. There are no rules. Just time to revel, to meditate, to laugh. (Laughing is totally okay during church on the porch, in fact it’s encouraged.)

So if you are struggling right now to find the place you fit, don’t be afraid to do what is best to nurture your soul and explore your faith. It may not look very traditional, but what you may find is oh so spiritual.

P.S. I absolutely love to read. Right now I’m working through a series of Rob Bell books, including: What Is the Bible?, Velvet Elvis, Love Wins, and How to Be Here. If you need a little inspiration and are looking for a more expansive, inclusive view of God, I highly recommend these as a great place to start.

P.P.S. Please don’t take this as encouragement to leave your church if it is working for you. We think that is a beautiful thing. This a personal story of finding a new way to express our own faith, while struggling to fit within the traditional boundaries and options present for us.

Lessons & Thoughts From the Farm

The Sun, The Water, and Hope

August 29, 2017September 10, 2017 My Farmtastic Life4 Comments

August has shown us the best of humanity, and through tears of joy and sorrow, it has offered us hope. We so desperately need hope. We need to believe in the goodness of the human spirit, in what unites us all – our raw, deep down humanity, our will to survive and thrive.

Earlier this month, we saw people lining up, camping, and gazing skyward in unity at the beauty and wonder of the eclipse. Caught up in the awe of nature, of science, of God’s creation. We now see people launching boats in streets swollen with water to rescue strangers, animal rescuers descending to make room for displaced critters, and people around the world donating in ways big and small to help those in South Texas with hurricane Harvey. It is these images that give us hope.

Admittedly, this Texas farmgirl has been glued to the news in the mornings and evenings, keeping a watchful eye on my Twitter feed throughout the day, and checking on friends in Houston as they wait and watch. Doing my best to go through the workday, but in the back of my mind thinking all the while about what is important in this life. Watching as the dogs and cats and horses and donkeys laze around the farm unaware of the world in peril, getting some sort of peace observing their peace and knowing Cowboy and I would do anything to safeguard our little zoo.

My faith in God is such an important part of my personal journey, and continues to grow and expand as I watch these beautiful moments when we come together with the best that we are, offering all that we have in order to help a fellow soul.

My Farmtastic Life - The sun, the water, and hope. The beauty of humanity when we all come together. — There is nothing more beautiful than connecting to your fellow humans – reach out, hold someone’s hand, say a prayer, offer a hug.

When I first sat down to write this post, I wanted to talk about how we’ve all gotten into an us vs. them mentality, and how it is pulling us apart. How at some point, all of us are part of a them group to someone.

Even today as my fellow Texans are fighting to survive, I watched as ultra conservative religious leaders took the opportunity to launch the Nashville Statement – targeted to isolate and condemn our LGBTQ friends and those of us who love them. And again, my heart broke as all I could think was, “Really? Seriously? This is what we are spending our time on? Why oh why are we not lifting up our neighbors? Jesus was and is the ultimate in love, and we are so missing the point.”

And while I could argue until I am out of breath as to why this latest attempt to divide us is wrong and heartbreaking and ill timed on so many levels, it’s become clear to me that we simply cannot give hate or those who look to divide us any more airtime. It is enough. Silence may be our greatest gift to each other. If no one is listening to the dividers, then they no longer become dividers, and we become the uniters.

The beauty of our world is that we can all communicate quickly, loudly, and hopefully thoughtfully. The curse is that we can all communicate quickly, loudly, and if not careful not so thoughtfully.

So as we watch the tragedies that surround us, let us share the beautiful stories. Let us link our hands with our neighbors in comfort and solidarity. Let us remember that there is far more good than evil. We just have to make our voices thoughtfully and beautifully heard.

P.S. If like me you grew up in a church that had a limited view of love and are looking for a breath of fresh air, might I suggest checking out Love Wins by Rob Bell. You might just find a little respite for your soul.

P.P.S. There are lots of ways to help those who have suffered and are suffering from the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Whether you want to help families, babies, the elderly, or critters find a spot that speaks to your heart and offer your hand. See list from Texas Monthly. #TexasStrong

P.P.P.S. For all of those who have checked on us at the farm during this storm, thank you for thinking of us. The farm was never in danger, as we are several hours from the coast. However, knowing you care means a lot. God bless!

P.P.P.P.S. A version of this post was published in the Glen Rose Reporter. This farmgirl is delighted to serve as a community columnist.

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Lessons & Thoughts From the Farm

Blank Space

August 26, 2017August 26, 2017 My Farmtastic Life2 Comments

I’ve always loved to organize and clean out. I hate to clean – you know the dusting, mopping, toilet scrubbing variety – but I absolutely, 100 percent love to clean out a closet, organize a drawer, or set up a system. I once even organized my mother-in-law’s pantry as a surprise while she was away on a trip. Is my love of organization a sickness? Perhaps.

I’ve been known to clean out a closet and then continue to walk by it throughout the day, open it up, and gaze in satisfaction as all of the things are neatly lined up and in their place. For me, there is a sense of accomplishment and order in this action. Please tell me that I am not alone here?

On the farm, I even get a little nuts with the critters, and when I am totally on top of my organizational game, each horse has a signature color complete with feed bucket and matching rope and halter set. Okay, yes, I might have a problem because I can guarantee you the horses care not one little itty bitty bit what color their buckets and halters are when it’s feeding time. Shocker, I know.

As I work to keep things in order, lately, it seems like our house has become a pass through for stuff. I buy things, organize things, remove things, and buy more things. We’ve constantly got a give-away pile going – we’re donating stuff to charities for auction and fundraising, donating to the local thrift store, giving things away to friends. I’ve even got one dear girlfriend who has a closet full of amazing shoes, well because Zappos and I have become entirely too good of friends, and I only have so much room.

However, if I’m honest, this constant give away pile is driving me a little batty. Recently, I said to Cowboy, “What if we just pull back a little? There’s nothing we need. What if we just bask in being grateful?” To which he whole-heartedly agreed on many levels, but especially since he is the financial wiz of the household (or farmhold, is that even a word?). Every time the give away pile grows, he does the math of what we’ve spent on things we don’t need and things that fundamentally don’t make life better.

For me, sometimes I accumulate things because I am looking for the perfect combination of things. As if it at some point, there is the concept of never needing to buy another thing. If I have the perfect combination of shoes for potential occasions. If I have just right set of cookbooks. If I have one more inspirational sign. (Gosh, I just love a good inspirational sign.)

But here’s the deal. There will never be the absolute right combination of things, because life’s not about things. And more than ever, I’m realizing it’s about the soulful, grace soaked journey and not about arriving at some mythical destination where you know all you need to know and have every imaginable combination of things you could possibly conjure up. Life is not perfect. It’s a beautifully imperfect, personal journey we all must take and define for ourselves. And at the heart of it is gratitude, and sometimes so much physical clutter just gets in our way.

I’m learning that this search for the right combination of stuff is just a search to fill up space, a space that signals some sort of arrival or accomplishment. But blank space can be amazing space. It’s a place that allows us to imagine, to create, to find inspiration. And if we are always filling up all of our space with more stuff, rotating through the stuff, and adding new stuff, we are often missing the point.

Look, I’m a girl who loves to shop – from Amazon to a local boutique – I absolutely love the thrill of the hunt. But for me, at this point in my life, I’m starting to see the beauty in the blank space. In the thrill of the experience, the laughter, the creativity.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying stuff is evil or bad. Stuff is what you make of it and what you let it become to and for you. Things can hold treasured memories. Things can inspire you. Things can provide much needed functions. What’d I’d say is just don’t let the things define you, because you are so much more than the sum of your things.

And on that note, I’m off to organize a closet, and enjoy not filling up the blank space

Lessons & Thoughts From the Farm

Breathable Moments

August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 My Farmtastic LifeLeave a comment

The new school year has arrived for many, and before you know it we will be running headlong into fall festivals, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. And then the yearly cycle starts all over again. How is that even possible?

It doesn’t help that stores are already lugging out their cornucopia displays and swathing the shelves in shades of yellow, orange, and brown. Before you know it, we’ll all be singing Jingle Bells as we grocery shop. Lord, help us.

The older I get, the faster it seems that the seasons fly. So I propose that we all just take a moment to breathe it in. We seem to be in a perpetual cycle of wishing for what’s next in life, and often find ourselves challenged to appreciate right where we are.

Trust me, I get it. I’ve been a box checker my whole life. Rushing around to tackle the never ending projects, worrying about the details, and wondering what is next on my list. But the times that I feel pure joy are when I stop to be right in the moment. The everyday, less than glamorous moments. Those are the ones that speak to my soul.

Whether it’s looking around the farm and watching the animals, sitting with Cowboy on the porch and talking about our day, snuggling up on the sofa with my best fur-girl Maybelle, or getting a sweet phone call from beloved family and friends. Those are the moments I live for.

And no, the irony is not lost on me. We’re taught early and often to strive for something more, to shoot for the stars. And that’s not a bad thing. It helps us learn to be hard workers and diligent about our goals. But it also builds in us this sense that we will someday arrive, that things are not quite good enough yet. This is when all of those sayings about enjoying the journey come flooding back to me.

It’s also when I stop to take a lesson from the farm. The critters around here live in the moment. They don’t know any other way. Take the horses, for example. They mosey around the pasture, soaking up the sunshine, drinking cool water, and looking for any hint of fresh green they can nibble on. They are not thinking to themselves, “Gee, I wish it was next spring when the grasses are so much more plentiful.” Nope, they are sweating away, kicking up dust, enjoying being alive. It’s all they know how to do.

As we run around in this hot Texas sun getting ready for the rituals of back to school, one of the things I hear us Texans lamenting most right now is how hot it is and how we wish it was fall already. Well of course it is hot, it’s August in Texas. It’s sweaty and sticky and buggy. But you know what? It’s also the time for swimming holes, ice cream, and new school shoes. And I think those are all pretty great moments to breathe in.

P.S. – A version of this post was published in The Glen Rose Reporter. This farmgirl is delighted to serve as a community columnist.

Adventures Away From the Farm · Farmtastic Stories

Musical Cars

July 17, 2017July 17, 2017 My Farmtastic LifeLeave a comment

This weekend I was lucky enough to have a dear friend visit the farm for a farmgirl getaway weekend. We floated in the pool, took pics of the critters, explored the surrounding small towns, and ate some scrumptious goodies (boy did we do some sampling). We bonded, laughed, shared personal stories, and discovered that our lives are similar in ways we never imagined. To say it was a great weekend is an understatement.

And as quickly as she arrived, it was time to say goodbye. And that is when I saw my friend show grace, compassion, and humor beyond measure. (We’ll call that lesson one in this tale of three lessons.)

A few things you need to know to put this next part in perspective:

We live nearly two hours from the airport, so leaving on time is imperative for making flights.
I have a bit of a sensitive, and at times, unpredictable stomach. And as we all know, when stomachs command your attention, well there is just no arguing.
My friend had a morning flight.

We had decided we needed to leave at 7:15 a.m. in order for her to her make her flight home. As I mentioned above, we had partaken in some amazing food the day before as we sampled our way through Hico, Texas. At 4 a.m. on the morning of departure all that sampling demanded that I pay the price and the gurgling and cramping started. (We’ll just stop right there with those details, for all of our sakes.)

Surely I would feel better by 7:15 a.m. I just had to. To boot, Cowboy had been out at a prior commitment and would be on his way home at this time, so he could not take her. Uber – well let’s just get serious for a minute. We live out, way out. So clearly I had to get it together.

So we loaded into the car, and not even 5 miles into the 90 mile drive I started with the deep breathing trying to calm my queasy stomach. Think lamaze breathing – not my finest moment. My sweet friend never showed one ounce of concern for her flight, but rather was more concerned about me. God bless her.

“We’ll make it. But I might have to make a pit stop at my parents’ house. We’ll pass them on the way,” I squeaked out between huffs and puffs.

I slammed into my parents’ driveway, flew out the car and woke the house up at 7:30 a.m. as I dashed to the watercloset, leaving my dear sweet gracious gal pal waiting in the car.

Then lesson number two came from this grand adventure – my family will do anything for each other. My dad got dressed lickety split and said, “Let me take her. I can make it. You need to stay where you are going to be okay.”

Musical cars here we come. So my smiling friend hugged me goodbye, swapped her stuff to Dad’s truck, and off they went. Now to say my guilt was running high was an understatement. This was my friend. I wanted to take her to the airport.

After 15 minutes of hand wringing, I learned my dad and friend were still in town at the gas station filling up. My stomach seemed to be calming down, and I knew I needed to get her to the airport ASAP. So, you guessed it, I sped to the gas station and we swapped cars once again. We were on our way bumping and speeding along, laughing at the craziness.

Then Cowboy called. He was tracking me on my phone and saw that I had stopped at my parents. He knew I wasn’t feeling well. He was just 20 minutes up the road, headed our way, and he could take over and get her there faster than any of us. Plus, Cowboy knows about 20 ways to get from point A to point B, so if we had any chance of helping her make her flight, he was the man for the job.

So the third lesson of the trip, the lesson I know the best, Cowboy is AMAZING. We met up, swapped once more (man her luggage had the frequent flyer miles going at this point), hugged (again) and said goodbye (again – with loads of laughter), and Cowboy got her all the way to the airport in plenty of time. And I’m super glad he did, because I didn’t even make it all the way back to the farm before my stomach commanded yet another scenic side trip.

Not one time did my friend complain. Not one time did she make me feel guilty. In fact she told me later how much she enjoyed her visits with my dad and Cowboy. Gosh, I just adore her.

Folks, that is true grace and compassion in action across the board. To say that I am grateful, well that is an understatement. It was a reminder of the friends and family in my life that are blessings to me each day.

You just never know when a little bit of patience, love, and willingness to chip in is going to touch someone deep down where it counts. Oh, and let’s just say I’m back on a diet of grilled chicken, rice, and veggies. Yum!

Critter Stories · Farmtastic Stories

Holy Sheep

July 12, 2017 My Farmtastic Life2 Comments

Over the years, we’ve had lots of critters wander onto the farm. We’ve had the duck who landed out of nowhere, Yeller Feller the tailless cat who made pals with my dad, and of course the most famous stray of all, Goober who stole my heart and has stayed here at the farm. But last week we had one of the strangest arrivals yet – a random sheep. Yep, you heard me correctly, a Mary-had-a-little-lamb bonafide sheep.

Out in the distance Cowboy and I saw something white, but we dismissed it. It was near a neighbor’s fence and wasn’t moving, so we thought maybe they had set something near their fence. No biggie.

Then came day two. As we drove into our front gate, the white thing moved. Cowboy and I looked at each other and in unison said, “Is that a sheep?”

Well my rescue mama instincts kicked in and before I would even let Cowboy get the gate shut, I had us riding through the pasture to check it out. Poor old gal was hiding in the cedar trees and was super nervous. Most disturbing of all, someone had put a collar of some sort around her neck, and it looked tight, seriously tight. Now my worried farm mama kicked in, right along side of my what-are-people-doing-fury critter protector mama. Needless to say I was a bundle of emotions and personalities.

Poor old gal was so nervous that there was no getting close to her. Heartsick, we took some hay to her resting spot in the trees, prayed she’d realize that we were her friends, and most importantly find the water trough in the pasture.

Driving back to the barn, I said, “What are we going to do with Babalu?”

“You’ve already named her? Seriously?” Cowboy asked, shaking his head.

“Of course. She has to have name.”

“Babalu?” he replied, looking at me incredulously.

“You know, I Love Lucy? Ricky sang Babalu. Sheep say baa baa.”

I’ll just let you imagine the side eye crazy look I was getting at this time. I thought I was super clever; he clearly thought I was nuts. As always, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. But I digress …

My Farmtastice Life - Babalu the sheep — Babalu soaking up the sunshine and munching the grasses. Thanks to our dear friend Trey McIntyre for capturing some pics of this old gal.

Over the next couple of days, Cowboy and I would take turns wandering out into the pasture, taking a knee, and trying to make friends. Holy sheep, she was not having it. The best we could do was get within five feet. And I thought donkeys were stubborn?

Nothing breaks this farmgirl’s heart more than an animal she can’t reach. Most of all we wanted to get that collar off of her. Lucky for us, we also have amazing neighbors, who keep cows in our pastures. After we gave them a heads up about Babalu, they also kept a daily lookout for her. I guess you could say we were all officially on sheep watch.

Truth is, our pasture is not fenced for sheep and Babalu could have easily gotten out, but she chose to stay. With grass a plenty and fresh water, and I’m quite sure all the farm critters whispering that she had found a sanctuary, she miraculously stayed.

I am delighted to report that earlier this week our amazing neighbors caught dear Babalu when she came up to visit the cows during feeding time. They loosened her collar, took her sweet self down to another pasture that was better for sheep, and planned to get her settled with friends who have other goats and sheep.

Can I just tell you the look of sheer joy that came over Cowboy’s face when I got off the phone with the neighbors and said, “They caught Babalu and they have a place for her.”

Now I knew he was grinning because he was thinking, “Thank you, Lord. We do not have to build a sheep pen and add another feed type to our supply list.” Because we all know that was a very real possibility with me. But I also like to think he was grinning because Babalu had found safety and rest.

Even the least of us deserves safety and rest.

P.S. We have no idea if Babalu wandered onto our place or someone dumped her off. Regardless, the collar situation, her advanced age, and her skinny condition lead me to believe that life hasn’t always been kind to her. Please people, if you have an animal you can no longer care for, give them a chance – call a rescue, a sanctuary, a friend. They deserve better from us.

Lessons & Thoughts From the Farm

Forget Your Baseboards

July 6, 2017 My Farmtastic LifeLeave a comment

If you’ve watched HGTV at all, it seems that all of the world loves to entertain. Whether buying, selling, or renovating, the cute couple on TV inevitably declares their need for entertaining space galore because they do, in fact, love to entertain.

Well it’s summertime on the farm, and that means the visitor count is up around here as treasured friends and family come from far and wide for a little R&R. And while Cowboy (my better half) and I love to spend time with them, we are not what you would call natural born entertainers. We are homebodies and spend our days working around the farm on projects surrounded by our burgeoning cast of four-legged characters.

So as the date approaches for each impending visitor’s arrival, I can lose my marbles a bit as I look to make a perfect experience for them.

The cleaning lists get out of control with things like baseboard washing, stall deodorizing, and tucking in fresh plants here and there to spruce things up. And bless Cowboy’s heart, he graciously goes along with my crazy as we work through lists of lists of lists.

And then there is the cooking and baking. In my head, a farm visit is just not complete without something scrumptious to eat, whether it is a night of divine enchiladas with Cowboy’s homemade salsa or a morning brunch of strawberry stuffed French toast.

The bottom line, I suddenly think we need to provide the Martha Stewart experience. The only problem is that Martha Stewart has a STAFF! Cowboy and I just have a zoo of critters, and trust me they do not contribute to the cleaning one itty bitty bit.

But here’s what I’ve come to realize, our friends and family are not coming to give us the white glove test, to judge the color of the petunias, or have a taste testing event. They are coming to see us. To be enveloped in warm hugs. To laugh deep belly laughs. To drink in the country air. To sit a spell on the porch and watch the horses mosey by.

Maybelle says, “Just relax and enjoy some time on the porch. The view is great and the company is even better.”

Like lots of things in life, it’s easy to put unrealistic expectations on yourself and those you love, searching for the perfect and forgetting the good that is right in front of you. It’s something I continue to remind myself of on a regular basis. How thankful are Cowboy and I that we get to live on our beautiful farm, and how special it is to share it with those we love?

So if you find yourself lucky enough this summer to have friends and family that want a little piece of your time, give it freely. Put the vacuum away, pour a cup of tea, find time to just revel in each other’s stories and in the moment.

Life is short, and when we look back, I can guarantee none of us will be wishing we had washed just one more baseboard.

P.S. – A version of this post was published in The Glen Rose Reporter. This farmgirl is delighted to serve as a community columnist.

Lessons & Thoughts From the Farm

Wear the Bathing Suit

May 28, 2017July 6, 2017 My Farmtastic Life2 Comments

Summer is upon us, and it is now the official start of bathing suit season. Yes, I know, women (and some men) all around the world are heaving a collective sigh of dread. But truly it doesn’t have to be that bad.

What do I mean? Of course squeezing yourself into Lycra and spandex is bad. Of course trying to figure out high cut, low cut, two piece, one piece, straps or no straps is bad. Even the bravest of souls can have their ego crushed in a dressing room trying on bathing suits.

You know what I mean. We ladies are famous for trying on suits with skirts hoping for a little ego relief only to feel like a hippo in a tutu from Fantasia. We try the shorts, the tankinis, and any other ini we think can hide a roll, a layer, a bump, or a bulge.

But here’s the truth, it really doesn’t matter. We all have different bodies, and that’s okay. Now listen, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m what some call a curvy girl, as least that is the nice new marketing term for a plus size gal these days. Not going to lie, I kind of dig the new term. But my point is that this love-your-body thing is not something that has ever come easily to me. I’ve spent years apologizing for my body and having some crazy unrealistic expectations for it. Bless my heart.

My Farmtastic Life - Bathing Suit Season — Bathing suit season is here, lord help us all. But what if instead of dread we found joy?

But seriously, just take a moment to stop and think about all your body does for you – it fights to keep you healthy, it carries you around on two legs, it has eyes and ears to see and hear and take in this amazing world around us.

And I know for some of us, our bodies feel like something we are battling or trying to tame, but give yourself and your body a break. Work with your amazing body – no matter its limitations and imperfections.

As the temperatures rise and the glistening waters of summer beckon, so many of us are busy worrying about how we look doing summer activities or trying to cover ourselves in giant t-shirts that we miss what is right in front of us. There is a whole season of joy and fun and movement to be had.

Imagine your summer if you spent it experiencing some out-in-the-sunshine joy moments instead of sitting on the sidelines. Whether you’re skipping rocks and splashing with your kiddos in your local rivers and lakes, hiking the trails with friends at a beautiful state park, jumping in the waves at a dreamy beach, or swimming in the community pool for a family day out, there are adventures to be had.

So dear friends, I’m here to tell you, just put on the bathing suit. Don’t miss out on another summer. Don’t fret about someone taking a photo of you because you don’t look perfect. None of us do. We’re one big bunch of perfectly imperfect people, but we are oh so capable of feeling and sharing deep down joy.

When you look back on this summer, I hope you remember the moments of joy, the friends and the family, and the amazing ways in which your body carried you through. Because 10 years from now, I can promise you that you will not be looking back thinking about your bathing suit, but about your memories. So go make memories!

P.S. – A version of this post was published in The Glen Rose Reporter. This farmgirl is delighted to serve as a community columnist.

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