tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39761347850820420332024-03-19T03:25:40.003-04:00Finding My Way to Moose River FarmLiving With Animals in the Adirondacks (For reservations and more info about llama treks and farm tours EMAIL mooseriverfarm@gmail.com, VOICEMAIL 315.860.0222 or TEXT 315.240.4707)Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-50200139220089580822024-01-04T10:39:00.000-05:002024-01-04T10:39:15.217-05:00Happy New Year, 2024<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year, 2024!</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vvs_u5I0u2zZizcwgIqmPXLdKaLcvtu3Wg2vHd_Ky_L2L2O4mDkFgDc6d2ORO8tiu_tj1lwhui9v4y1WSwL4nqcsnfmrzovOt287zpnrb0QrhTrivbuM9QHTO-BqTUphVJfO_mlYuKwMB_iqf_g_cSt6xUdgQ896YBgXcyJGcnVb3P2LI6yDhoqUXgb9/s2048/image9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vvs_u5I0u2zZizcwgIqmPXLdKaLcvtu3Wg2vHd_Ky_L2L2O4mDkFgDc6d2ORO8tiu_tj1lwhui9v4y1WSwL4nqcsnfmrzovOt287zpnrb0QrhTrivbuM9QHTO-BqTUphVJfO_mlYuKwMB_iqf_g_cSt6xUdgQ896YBgXcyJGcnVb3P2LI6yDhoqUXgb9/w480-h640/image9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LM4sKksiGTQ" title="Season’s Greetings from Moose River Farm" width="400"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Watch on Youtube</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/LM4sKksiGTQ"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">https://youtu.be/LM4sKksiGTQ</span></a></div>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-28678837396714161672021-12-30T10:06:00.002-05:002021-12-30T10:06:35.564-05:00Season's Greetings from Moose River Farm
<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh77hRq7xaGCM_lU3QAJPRnFXV6gl9wNGaH1fZeEJeXlaF-EYHuvVnooHwJmJSGNzqffnQx0oZw-qaDXuYPkadD-QaNnTopiRU1o3HtLhYOBUamWGhhEagCff5EFzmsUQtySs0RcBkyYtGFPZZwCnwlNLI9OIUqBV97I-fz2O3xXu5f_UDsSuUNvDdYlw=s1511" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1511" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh77hRq7xaGCM_lU3QAJPRnFXV6gl9wNGaH1fZeEJeXlaF-EYHuvVnooHwJmJSGNzqffnQx0oZw-qaDXuYPkadD-QaNnTopiRU1o3HtLhYOBUamWGhhEagCff5EFzmsUQtySs0RcBkyYtGFPZZwCnwlNLI9OIUqBV97I-fz2O3xXu5f_UDsSuUNvDdYlw=w424-h409" width="424" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"> It has been a busy year with farm tours and llama treks. On behalf of all of your two legged and four legged friends at Moose River Farm, we wish you a Happy New Year! Enjoy!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vm__4tdXZQU" title="YouTube video player" width="400"></iframe></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;"></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Watch on YouTube</span> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Vm__4tdXZQU"><span style="font-size: x-large;">https://youtu.be/Vm__4tdXZQU </span></a></p></blockquote>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-77188214993113311002021-11-01T01:10:00.001-04:002021-11-01T01:13:36.618-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea920e;">Happy Halloween from Moose River Farm</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgygz7o7sXDJwimItYilM9hdHxVJ9VawUiJ_lKiCWnDu3mBQt4Yoe15ustKgKFy0Ue6Lf2CPmQyEdq15GTGKzROu3gdbYiPbTnudKl6_MPu4ApAr6oM2sjDsnnTKeus-eq4iONIjHfE2q/s640/IMG_5590.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgygz7o7sXDJwimItYilM9hdHxVJ9VawUiJ_lKiCWnDu3mBQt4Yoe15ustKgKFy0Ue6Lf2CPmQyEdq15GTGKzROu3gdbYiPbTnudKl6_MPu4ApAr6oM2sjDsnnTKeus-eq4iONIjHfE2q/w354-h471/IMG_5590.jpg" width="354" /></a></div></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">Moose River Farm was taken over by a bunch of ghouls who visited the animals on Halloween. This video confirms the sightings. Enjoy!</span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imtNsd9tnw8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imtNsd9tnw8</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/imtNsd9tnw8" title="YouTube video player" width="400"></iframe></div>
Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-50947967004023943002020-07-04T18:51:00.003-04:002020-07-04T18:51:57.260-04:00Moose River Farm on Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E0w7s9410c8QCbtw21r23RmJ-iTTWH3QwcqFskrtZzj-01-5lLM-aaZ3RReXTooSgPZXFGkx6dcNnon6kIp0N4QuDWPGUKuQUy3ES1qzJwJ7JZVTNRu981-CimkvEhIzbly7LxyN5x7R/s1600/MRF+Parade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E0w7s9410c8QCbtw21r23RmJ-iTTWH3QwcqFskrtZzj-01-5lLM-aaZ3RReXTooSgPZXFGkx6dcNnon6kIp0N4QuDWPGUKuQUy3ES1qzJwJ7JZVTNRu981-CimkvEhIzbly7LxyN5x7R/s640/MRF+Parade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Fourth of July! Its 2020, the year that will go down as canceled parades and public celebration. The animals of MRF have remedied the situation by having a virtual parade of their own. Take a look at how it all went down with a little help from some special friends. Thanks Heidi and Elsa for joining in the fun!</span></div>
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Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-51071507532465635012020-06-21T01:24:00.000-04:002020-06-21T09:35:23.552-04:00Llama Appreciation Day, June 21, 2020<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_GB5c8oYb1342AjHbrS4zkEKbL6nbU2NaIHNAAowAtVaLmSJYB368jECCdH8_hWPWe5QLUZMRgZ8vM_-kPYEkPOpSIhfuKgZ7-mp_ifcDeEnkWuSfXDRHkp7JPDJSVm6UozfV2ssq819/s1600/Untitled+drawing+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_GB5c8oYb1342AjHbrS4zkEKbL6nbU2NaIHNAAowAtVaLmSJYB368jECCdH8_hWPWe5QLUZMRgZ8vM_-kPYEkPOpSIhfuKgZ7-mp_ifcDeEnkWuSfXDRHkp7JPDJSVm6UozfV2ssq819/s640/Untitled+drawing+%25287%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> What do <i>Father's Day</i> and the <i>summer solstice</i> have in common this year? They share the date with a special group of creatures who make life at MRF extra special. It's <i><b>Llama Appreciation Day</b></i>! Llama breeders and enthusiasts all over the world will be sharing thoughts and images from their own small <i>camilid</i> herds. Click the presentation below to celebrate <i>Moose River Farm's</i> llamas today <i>and</i> everyday!</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="299" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRjmOKs9smVortPvb3xdoMpfx_tsyb-naNRj2eNoxO8A54n9S98DA0XM3Uaj8rdQRFKv9_Yf0vDXFtT/embed?start=true&loop=false&delayms=5000" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="480"></iframe></div>
Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-36666307501123166552020-06-12T10:01:00.003-04:002022-11-27T01:00:55.016-05:00What is Llama Trekking?<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RFRNAYxLZCNcJLF-NnWYjM9Njvav7sDg_RTU9_DbtMFj47osg0aTATeBTVk4jxdgEdh8E36VWDnBZHuIy1MMlcPaUp1QMBtQF7aYRpomoS1XTUjIw14nrn-uAMH4exII0sRWWdsAfPlaZxgiAqNubAa5b3nn4xAmlPIyvqqdcJYD-Ps5m5M_TM47iQ/s960/without%20phone%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RFRNAYxLZCNcJLF-NnWYjM9Njvav7sDg_RTU9_DbtMFj47osg0aTATeBTVk4jxdgEdh8E36VWDnBZHuIy1MMlcPaUp1QMBtQF7aYRpomoS1XTUjIw14nrn-uAMH4exII0sRWWdsAfPlaZxgiAqNubAa5b3nn4xAmlPIyvqqdcJYD-Ps5m5M_TM47iQ/w640-h480/without%20phone%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Who would pay money to take a llama for a walk? Well, it turns out, lots of people...of all ages and of all walks of life. They are animal lovers mostly, intrigued by the mystique of a leggy, necky creature who is currently enjoying an iconic moment of fame on back packs, blankets, tee-shirts and even the masks that have become a necessary accessory of present day. Llama motifs are everywhere! So it shouldn't be a surprise that folks are curious about spending time in the company of <i>real</i> llamas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Most of those who find their way to Moose River Farm for a llama trek have never seen one up close. Soon they become captivated by large eyes and long lashes that stare with rarely a blink. Trekkers are encouraged to stroke their llamas' necks in an effort to make an emotional connection with their novel hiking partner. Combining the trek with breathtaking Adirondack landscape has created the perfect family activity. Even our winter treks are magical. White dolloped trees from freshly fallen snow create memories that keep spirits warm until spring. We are always looking for new ways to share our llamas. Lighted treks and other special events make life interesting. Check here for updates and offerings. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it time to reserve your llama trek today?</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQoDALrR0Gw54A6sG8WqLuNA_ZzrsAAj9536N2yl32an5oRmdnbdlcfJsNOW47DkowPc0Xwq7519qQrKgXWjEvR5onXGmdCFn8Qqr63XA2l2pWS8Ru4GvPozBDRp17X1r3KkO8moZAm3J/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQoDALrR0Gw54A6sG8WqLuNA_ZzrsAAj9536N2yl32an5oRmdnbdlcfJsNOW47DkowPc0Xwq7519qQrKgXWjEvR5onXGmdCFn8Qqr63XA2l2pWS8Ru4GvPozBDRp17X1r3KkO8moZAm3J/s200/IMG_0454.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;"><i><b>315.860.0222 (voicemail) </b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;"><i><b>315.240.4707 (cell; text) </b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;"><i><b>email mooseriverfarm@gmail.com. </b></i></span><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">"Traversing the woods with (llamas) Adonis at my shoulder and Bravo in tow relieves lingering stress from the day. They are Buddha and Dalai-lama rolled into one, my spiritual advisers. Keeping time with my llamas' hushed rhythms, I leave my troubles on the trail behind me." </b>from <b><i>They Teach Without Words; The Animals of Moose River Farm</i></b> by Anne T. Phinney</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL2Jiz2Ew77v46dd5X3-GV4hUPJ2xa0JNTTMJykEg8LIkOlVlJSVFA8uMIQjpo5ElJ1DXZuZssL6XOt7ZFkRnw1k1J09lokv8YTjQmZ8eum8sm5zNgRquLYONZb06sDgRROfVagze846V/s1600/89792819_621030715128298_3132520872485584896_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL2Jiz2Ew77v46dd5X3-GV4hUPJ2xa0JNTTMJykEg8LIkOlVlJSVFA8uMIQjpo5ElJ1DXZuZssL6XOt7ZFkRnw1k1J09lokv8YTjQmZ8eum8sm5zNgRquLYONZb06sDgRROfVagze846V/s320/89792819_621030715128298_3132520872485584896_n.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-51899866582380797022020-05-15T10:23:00.002-04:002020-05-15T11:13:06.504-04:00Goodnight Moose River Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu86-GoaNtDadDoALOhjlC049b_Z0DETZb9sD5CydLPjL6cmnCr88Wz85_uS5nxBtIlRIIN7bicdyGW9aN8sHa43CKMdWXukwRKV98Xrga2GdVrTrCZqAcnk4X9EJmpFLsv2X-CKn5LSQ/s1600/Goodnight+MRF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu86-GoaNtDadDoALOhjlC049b_Z0DETZb9sD5CydLPjL6cmnCr88Wz85_uS5nxBtIlRIIN7bicdyGW9aN8sHa43CKMdWXukwRKV98Xrga2GdVrTrCZqAcnk4X9EJmpFLsv2X-CKn5LSQ/s640/Goodnight+MRF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Join me on my evening visit to the barn in this heartwarming <i><b>Goodnight Moose River Farm</b></i> video. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://youtu.be/00tayPy9ZWI">https://youtu.be/00tayPy9ZWI</a></b></span></div>
Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-81680989434584606482019-05-09T10:21:00.000-04:002019-09-04T09:02:06.158-04:00Goat Saga; from They Teach Without Words; The Animals of Moose River Farm<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Good Morning,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">My second book will be published and available this month! It has been a long and laborious project, but the end result gives me great pride. My animals have taught me so much about living a satisfied existence, how to extract joy out of every minute and how to accept what is out of my control. </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>They Teach Without Words; The Animals of Moose River Farm</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a collection of stories about some of my most memorable teachers. I have carried their lessons into my classroom and into my daily life. Enjoy!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Goat Saga</i></b></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My acceptance of our aging goat Liam’s inevitable demise pushed me to a nearby dairy goat farm</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that produces artisan goat cheese from the one hundred fifty head that they raise. After searching all spring for suitable baby goats, I returned home with twin doelings of Nubian and Boer lineage.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They were only two days old</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I had enlisted friends, Vicky and Michele, to help pick out my next generation of goats. Michele volunteered to drive my car so that I could sit in the backseat and hold my new acquisitions on the way home. Vicky sat in the back with me to hold the other tiny goat. Frequently, we switched the babies back and forth. By the time we arrived home, we had christened them Audrey and Hazel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Audrey had a tan base coat saddled with patches of black. Tan markings randomly crisscrossed her black face, an atypical pattern for goats.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hazel’s coat was the opposite. It fluctuated between light and dark caramel colored patches distributed evenly from her head to her hooves. Her exquisite brown and tan striped facial markings assured that she would be a caprine beauty. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Both doelings possessed amber eyes that promised mischief and all the fun that was about to begin in our lives. Their tiny nursing</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">muzzles reminded me that four times every day for the next twelve weeks, I would be responsible for bottle feeding them. Nothing measures up to the advantages of bottle feeding goats on formula for ten weeks. A tight parent-child bond forms between human and kid. The goats see their people as members of the herd and crave human</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> c</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ompanionship constantly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Bottle feeding baby goats is a pleasure I love to share, especially with children. Every bottle that I prepare for babies delivers the building blocks for our future together. There is no possibility of forgetting to feed them. I can’t put it off until tomorrow or only feed them at my convenience. The clock dictates when the babies get fed. Sticking to a schedule means the goats won’t be stressed. By keeping the temperature and the proportions of the formula consistent, I eliminate factors that could harm my babies. I had forgotten how stressful it is when one baby doesn’t finish a whole bottle or the other bolts down the liquid so quickly it causes her to cough. It is a serious game, this raising of baby goats. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Once we arrived home, I was eager to introduce the doelings to Rod. Unlike many of our animal acquisitions, Rod approved of adding these goats! He smiled at the tiny ones standing in our driveway. Their high pitched bleats sent me scurrying to the kitchen to prepare formula for our first bottle feeding. Rod kept an eye on the babies while I carefully measured and mixed.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Maa, maa meaaaa!” they screamed making it clear that they were long overdue for a feeding. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Vicky and I each secured a kid under an arm and inserted the nipples of the bottles into their infant mouths. Michele continued documenting this special day through the lens of her camera. Baby goats had arrived; and from this moment forward, they would be the focal point of life on the farm for the rest of the summer. The other animals’ routines were not interrupted. Their needs were never compromised, but the extra attention they usually received took a backseat to the constant demands of the nursling goats until they were finally weaned. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The next day was predicted to be twentyfive degrees and snowy, a far cry from what is expected in midMay. Rod and I agreed that the doelings should be kept in our laundry room for a few days until mild temperatures returned. We placed a large plastic tote on the tile floor and filled it with clean sweet hay. That first night I slept without worry, knowing that the babies were snug in our home as Mother Nature tumbled springtime progress back into winter conditions. The next day Audrey and Hazel shivered under polar fleece dog coats in which I wrapped them to go outside. They tended to business quickly and bleated at me to take them back inside, out of the blowing snow that dusted the landscape. We kept our house warm with blazing logs in our fireplace, the heat having been turned off for the season. Sitting on the floor by the hearth, I tucked each kid under an elbow and held them close to me while they drained their bottles. To be responsible for the upbringing of infants is a humbling experience. These two tiny life forms depended on me to prepare and deliver nourishment in a timely manner so that they could thrive and grow. I loved the dependency and was determined to make all the right decisions that would deliver them safely to adulthood. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The next day was Monday, a school day, and luckily I did not have to leave the babies at home. In preparation for their arrival, I had made arrangements with my school administrators to bring the kids to school every day during that first week. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 1pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “John, do you have a moment?” I asked our young principal, getting right to the point. “I am about to acquire two baby goats for my farm. They will only be a few days old and will need to be fed several times a day for a while. I suppose a maternity leave is out of the question.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes, I think that is out of the question,” he chuckled. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I thought so, but not to worry, I have a great idea!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I proceeded to tell him about the plan I had hatched with my elementary school colleagues. Each teacher had agreed to have the baby goats spend at least one day in her classroom during that first week. The babies would be integrated into lessons that allowed the students to handle, feed, and care for them. The teachers were excited to offer the children this opportunity. Not only was our principal in favor of this idea, but our superintendent became excited about it as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The next morning I woke up earlier than usual. The outdoor temperature was still in the twenties, but the forecast was for sun by midday. After feeding the dogs and the pig and making Rod’s and my lunches, I prepared formula for the doelings. When I entered the laundry room, they stirred in their tote. I wrapped them in the dog coats and escorted them to the backyard. Snow still clung to the tender grass and the air was saturated with a damp chill. They peed and pooped quickly in anticipation of returning to the warm house. Back inside, I sat on the floor with my back against the door that shielded us from the cruel cold. The warmth of the babies’ bodies on each side of my ribs penetrated my sweatshirt as if I was wearing a goat vest. The pleasure of sitting with nothing to do but hold the bottles that nourished my babies was emotionally satisfying. I leaned back and closed my eyes in gratitude for this privilege. I embraced peace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The clock ticked away the minutes, but I sat motionless, tuned into the slurping sounds on either side of me. “Swerzzz, swerzzz, swerzzz.” They sucked so vigorously the formula rushed with every draw</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> After they finished their bottles, we returned to the backyard for a few more minutes to frolic and bounce off their pent up energy. Then I secured them in the tote so that I could go out to the barn and perform chores. An hour later the little goats and I were on our way to school. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will always
remember that magical week. The babies charmed the entire school community.
Young students took great pride in caring for their every need, especially
feeding them with a bottle. Teacher cell phones recorded adorable moments of
child/goat interactions. Many images wound up on the cover of our local
newspaper, </span><span style="line-height: 125%;"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">The Weekly Adirondack. </span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">As educators, we were witnessing the effect that the babies
had on students, particularly those who struggle to focus. With arms wrapped
around a sleeping doeling, one young person with </span><span style="line-height: 125%;"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">ADD</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"> (attention deficit disorder) was
not only able to track a conversation with the teacher, but was also able to
process information and reply in complex sentences that exercised vocabulary
and comprehension. It was as if the tiny goat sleeping in the child’s arms
quieted the chatter in the child’s head, preventing the cacophony of
distractions from competing with the ability to pay attention. There is
promising research in the field of animal therapy that<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>supports the theory that animals can have a positive effect on
learning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Empathy often surfaced during</span><span style="line-height: 125%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">goat week at school. Children shared
the goats, recognizing those who waited patiently for their turn to hold or
feed the babies. Others, particularly middle school and high school students,
were surprised by the emotions that the babies evoked. A senior girl holding
tiny Hazel shared a revelation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wow, I feel like I am going to cry,” <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Imagine how you will feel when it is your
own child,” I replied. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
both giggled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of</span><span style="line-height: 125%;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">goat
week</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i>Audrey and Hazel were seven days old and thriving. The constant attention
from the staff and students ensured that they bonded with people. They had been
held, fed and played with constantly. In return they had delighted all who came
in contact with them. The timing worked out perfectly because the baby goats
were becoming more active. In the second week of their lives, they were not
content to sit in laps for long stretches of time. They had discovered their </span><span style="line-height: 125%;">dancing</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">
</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">legs and were eager to practice
their moves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0dcMW1nQzPKq0zN6V7dEd3wVKzAqbFpftVUlAOXvNL0t3TvEtUPfPj_lb9LiwevvUehF1ynpRITxQ5hv-zpE1nwegHR_jda3npkzP4cZ_I4VCldFGSblv-97iVkYzAynzkSIe4fkfod2/s1600/IMG_5306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0dcMW1nQzPKq0zN6V7dEd3wVKzAqbFpftVUlAOXvNL0t3TvEtUPfPj_lb9LiwevvUehF1ynpRITxQ5hv-zpE1nwegHR_jda3npkzP4cZ_I4VCldFGSblv-97iVkYzAynzkSIe4fkfod2/s320/IMG_5306.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">Audrey, Pearl and Ivy</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ijnGN3PhE83KACzbO5NjufPsletS_74dSZqEUBJ_ygh5n_cUJKRQvtYU2yZGCtOEh79dFYCQPyWaqp4GgCJYSCsZDhHrTFBZnAjowCSsZK5URNM1ojuZ4iBU3G7FVY8DIZv73Pl7MMLp/s1600/P1580925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ijnGN3PhE83KACzbO5NjufPsletS_74dSZqEUBJ_ygh5n_cUJKRQvtYU2yZGCtOEh79dFYCQPyWaqp4GgCJYSCsZDhHrTFBZnAjowCSsZK5URNM1ojuZ4iBU3G7FVY8DIZv73Pl7MMLp/s320/P1580925.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;">Best part of raising baby goats.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-60412946212670447982019-03-13T14:30:00.000-04:002019-04-06T21:44:56.582-04:00Llive Llama Cam!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_884231599"></span><span id="goog_884231600"></span><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJR4IkwlBGqPMqfzDKc-xSWkGO8VixzVHySebawW8T2ep5Kp7k38phAzYPZrJIjC0yy39a_Z-18TboPNQwxER9Hsv2yUTSsSJ9qU0D01gepjgrPdObl9A62ly6Wtn0Hami2MndLxa7m6o/s1600/Bluff+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJR4IkwlBGqPMqfzDKc-xSWkGO8VixzVHySebawW8T2ep5Kp7k38phAzYPZrJIjC0yy39a_Z-18TboPNQwxER9Hsv2yUTSsSJ9qU0D01gepjgrPdObl9A62ly6Wtn0Hami2MndLxa7m6o/s640/Bluff+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our llama, Bluff is due to have her <i>cria</i> between now and the end of April. You can tune in and check on her progress! Please keep the following in mind while viewing;</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">We are on the premises at all times and check on her frequently</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">. Chances are if you see <i>something</i>, we are already aware of it. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Bluff has been moved to our heated garage so that we can observe her during the night.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">During the day, Bluff will be outside with the other llamas so don't be alarmed if she is not in view.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We will summon our veterinarian only if and when we feel there is a need to do so.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Bluff is not new to the birthing process having delivered 3 babies in the past. Therefore, we are expecting an uneventful delivery.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Every effort has been made to make our mama llama comfortable and to reduce stress.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We hope you enjoy the privilege of sharing this happy event with us and know that you are keeping fingers crossed so that all goes well for Bluff and her baby.</span></span><br />
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</ul>
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span></span><br />
<br />
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<script src="https://www.microseven.com/assets/hls/m7_hls_lib.v2.min.js?v=20170313" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">new m7_hls_player_v2().setup("m7_hls_content","https://www.microseven.com/",{video_id:"m7_hls_video",stream_id:"1phoc5Zkww5",w:"700",h:"390",auto_play:true,muted:false,poster:"" });</script>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-81348148572991142132018-12-25T14:45:00.000-05:002018-12-25T15:22:43.369-05:00Season's Greetings from Moose River Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX98EiT_mN82Bj-oNbgqf9TpihCyD4je0CqpWTZk-4mNiqAeu-xzqkac2ybdIU6NzUqh2BJ5PjAlmP-oLYAbGmqQuQZewsf30Qn6Yq29ZSv7CZNb00WgGzMAtexPBC3aI31qO0z2PVVzi/s1600/xmas+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYX98EiT_mN82Bj-oNbgqf9TpihCyD4je0CqpWTZk-4mNiqAeu-xzqkac2ybdIU6NzUqh2BJ5PjAlmP-oLYAbGmqQuQZewsf30Qn6Yq29ZSv7CZNb00WgGzMAtexPBC3aI31qO0z2PVVzi/s640/xmas+18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas to all,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Join a lighted procession of animals on Christmas Eve as they trek to the stable for a long winter's night rest. Horses, donkeys, llamas, goats, chickens, geese, ducks, dogs, tortoises and a pig share the peaceful space in which they live; much the same as they did during the miracle so long ago. Wishing you peace on earth.</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/parfHZuBsyQ" width="620"></iframe>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-51107659457178895802018-11-30T09:55:00.003-05:002020-05-20T10:09:49.121-04:00The Barn as Sanctuary<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEak5UujkYnKfR_ayYCPqkhWNUobrtUfFhjvEK8SbtQD16EhM6nX14L2tf_qvnYWuhyKwcxjQrrEFk3hKMOOEUbXXySm4X06N4LpQPrJvL6gJDlsabi4013wC73FGvD7g0tbJlcILk60dO/s1600/Sanctuary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEak5UujkYnKfR_ayYCPqkhWNUobrtUfFhjvEK8SbtQD16EhM6nX14L2tf_qvnYWuhyKwcxjQrrEFk3hKMOOEUbXXySm4X06N4LpQPrJvL6gJDlsabi4013wC73FGvD7g0tbJlcILk60dO/s640/Sanctuary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good Morning,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I am happy to announce that the manuscript for my second book; <i>They Teach Without Words; The Animals of Moose River Farm</i> is finally finished so that publication can occur early in the coming year. Excerpts from my latest animal memoir will appear on this blog in the coming weeks leading up to availability of the book. Having retired from teaching in June, I now spend more time among my animal family paying close attention to the nuances of their interactions with each other. As I reflect on almost thirty years of teaching it occurs to me that so many of the strategies and management skills that I brought to the classroom were influenced by my experiences with animals. They also played a key role in developing my philosophies about relationships, acceptance, patience and loss. This book is full of unforgettable four-legged characters from my house, barn and classroom, who inspired my love of teaching. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To set the mood, this video introduces the animals with whom I currently share my life, as they go about their day in the barn. The following post shares the effect that the animals have on me during challenging times. Enjoy!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/noWRcm30UTE?ecver=1" width="620"></iframe>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Barn as Sanctuary</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-d22ef5f1-7fff-faa2-03e7-1421e0cdb27a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several years ago, my Aunt Anne’s memorial service was held at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Gwynedd Meeting</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> outside of Philadelphia. It had been more than thirty five years since I had attended meeting for worship. A familiar sense of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">calm</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> settled upon me as I centered down in the early simple decor of the antique meeting house. Although the physical barrier of skin and skull prevented me from reading the thoughts of assembled friends and family, I was reunited with the connection that Quakers experience while waiting patiently for the inner spirit to stir.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> During the service, several vocal ministries interrupted the silence. I heard personal anecdotes that reminded me what a special woman and mother Aunt Anne was. Many delivered condolences to my cousins and dear Uncle Morrie. Others provided thoughtful messages of hope and community. Following meeting, we adjourned to the reception area. Nibbling on holiday treats, we received each other with embraces and smiles. After I exited the physical space of the meeting house, I remained enveloped for quite some time in the existential sanctuary of meeting for worship. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Eventually, I returned home to the routine of caring for animals that live with my husband, Rod and me on our farm in the Adirondacks. My barn is a sanctuary for animals and humans alike, providing shelter for the many horses, goats and donkeys who live with us on Moose River Farm. In the days that followed the memorial service, I came to realize that each morning I attend a different sort of meeting for worship. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I don’t sit in quiet contemplation, yet I perform all of my routine chores in a state of meditation. Before centering down, I am greeted by a glorious cacophony as I enter the barn. Shrill whinnies, wheezy brays and ravenous bleats demand sustenance. I oblige by severing twine on hay bales. Once released, pungent grassy flakes pop, making it easy for me to grasp three at a time to toss into each stall. Urgent animal chatter transitions to a chorus of peaceful mastication. The grinding rhythm soothes me in the sanctuary that is my barn. Here in the pale dawn, I meet with my creature community to prepare for my day. Nothing elevates my spirit more.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Although a formal meeting house is silent, this sanctuary is not. A harmony of grinding molars, pawing hooves and the occasional gusts of breaking wind mingle into white noise. The sounds assure that the animals are well. That reassurance gives me permission to center down to a deeper level of prayer. While my body is busy with chores, my mind meanders, searching for strength that will lift my troubled mood. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Lowtchee, my portly black mare, chews her hay while I sift the piles of manure in her stall and toss them into a wheelbarrow. As if she and I are sitting next to each other on the wooden meeting house bench, I am aware of her satisfaction with life right now as she contemplates the forage in front of her. Once her stall is clean, I push my wheelbarrow to the next stall door. Joshua, a large paint gelding, swings his head to greet me as I enter. The black and white patches of his coat resemble formal evening wear. He too is content with his muzzle deep in hay. I allow my thoughts to surface long enough to greet him, stroking him between the eyes briefly before returning to deep meditation. How will I make a positive difference in a tumultuous world? </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My aunt’s funeral was held two days after the horrific shooting of children and teaching professionals at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sandy Hook Elementary School </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in Connecticut. The images are raw, the violence, personal. I am an elementary school teacher. This morning I am comforted by the congregation of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moose River Farm’s</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> meeting house. In our sanctuary we unite as community. They meditate on a level of gastric bliss. I do so on heartache. It takes the mucking of nine more stalls for my mind to transition from despair to hope. Along the way I desperately seek answers to difficult questions, mostly </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">why</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My Quaker education has instilled tolerance and acceptance. I can make a difference today if I make a concerted effort to provide my students with the tools they need to be successful balanced citizens in a world that strives to knock them off balance. My teaching is a small counterbalance to heinous acts, but it </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> within my control. In the end that is all we have, control over our own actions. Although my hoofed society of friends can’t articulate meaningful messages, it occurs to me that I have been meditating alongside of them for decades and have borne witness to their peaceful acceptance of what simply is, this moment, now. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I agree with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gregory Maguire’s</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">author of</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">claim that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Animals are born who they are, accept it, and that is that. They live with greater peace than people do.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eventually, the clock interrupts. My professional day begins in less than one hour. I grasp the long ears of one of my baby donkeys stroking gently. This is the handshake of sorts that will adjourn the meeting. I wish all my animals a good day. Later in the afternoon, the meeting will reconvene. After I serve their supper the animals and I will center down in meaningful meditation, enfolded into the barn sanctuary. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> -Amen</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-54397113541690206872018-11-24T10:13:00.001-05:002018-11-24T10:13:21.866-05:00On Moose River Farm with Anne Phinney (017)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Fkbo-NZwQE" width="480"></iframe>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-49916165127505950562018-03-26T20:24:00.001-04:002018-03-26T20:24:43.215-04:00Walk with the Animals; Winter, 2018<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Good evening,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Spring break is three weeks earlier on the calendar this year. Although there is little that resembles spring, hints of its pending arrival appear from time to time. Birdsong, mud and geese laying eggs have all arrived on schedule. Nothing has been more welcomed than the daily dose of azure sky and sunshine. Despite too many inches of lingering snow, the brightness lures us outside to thaw our winter blues. We are not alone. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Call it exercise, call it therapy, call it meditation. Whatever you call it, don't forget to include the word fun! 4 goats, 3 donkeys, 2 mini-horses and 2 llamas are determined to eliminate any remnants of the darkness from shorter days. Enjoy!</span></span><br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GHuGRJlKMiU" width="854"></iframe>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-56455694160841780362018-01-07T09:50:00.001-05:002018-01-07T12:23:18.201-05:00Fantasy Farm Shopping, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Good morning,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Happy New Year everybody. The Adirondacks are about to heat up after a very long brutally bitter cold stretch of sub-zero weather. These are the conditions that make me rethink why I live in an area where these temperatures are even a possibility. Tomorrow when I am basking in the glow of 15 degrees Fahrenheit above 0, I will have returned to my senses of course. Until then let me share the latest offerings from <i>Wellington, Florida</i>, the winter horse capital of the world. Feast your eyes on properties that have more than you need and all that you want for a carefree equestrian lifestyle. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/3102-RX-10231547-farm-in-Palm-Beach-Florida/">$6,850,000</a> This is the bargain piece. 5 acres to design and plan all to your own specifications. Don't forget to include a place to hang the pitchforks, shovels and unsightly wheelbarrow out of view. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/4078-RX-10294361-farm-in-Palm-Beach-Florida/">$14,000,000</a> There aren't too many barn details for this one but since the mounting block is near the pool your horse will meet you there when you are ready to ride him. It's all good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/4816-RX-10336613-farm-in-Palm-Beach-Florida/">$15,000,000</a> This is my personal favorite. I don't see a substantial house, but I do think there is a luxury apartment somewhere in the mix. Doesn't matter because the barn details are everything I imagine for luxury horse keeping. My fitness tracker might run out of memory after a few days of cleaning stalls and riding horses here. Hopefully updates and upgrades will keep my data accurate for awhile. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/5180-RX-10357482-farm-in-Palm-Beach-Florida/">$23,000,000</a> I like the idea that these 50 plus acres can be subdivided so that several of us can share the horse facilities; thinking along the lines of a coop. Let me know if you want in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/5526-RX-10374589-farm-in-Palm-Beach-Florida/">$28,000,000</a> Just like the the next one only cheaper. Use the balance to improve the lives of those of us shivering up north. Maybe invite us to visit with our horses so we don't have to worry about finding caregivers for them while we are away. Besides, they would love a week of green grass on which to graze. We will even bring a bottle of wine or two as a house warming gift. Surely there is a wine cellar there..somewhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/5636-RX-10379346-farm-in-Palm-Beach-Florida/">$36,000,000</a> This is the masterpiece. Everything and more to pamper you and your horses while the rest of us layer our clothing for months on end. The only thing you will need to do is hire a HUGE staff to maintain everything. Don't worry, it will be worth it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Enough of <i>Wellington</i> dreaming. Truth is I am perfectly happy right here in the bitter cold and blowing snow. Just when I think I have had enough and can't take anymore, there will be a hint of warmer days to come and the magic and glory of spring will soothe once more. You can't have that experience without a few months of this. I know I don't want to miss the transformation this year...or ever. Stay warm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-87473251958097012572017-01-07T22:59:00.000-05:002017-01-08T01:13:48.159-05:00Fantasy Farm Shopping, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Happy New Year,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It's time for my fourth annual <i>Fantasy Farm Shopping </i>tour, brought to you by the cold and endless white landscape of the Adirondacks. Just after the holidays I begin to long for good weather and green grass. I am not alone. My six month old goslings have been cut completely off from their daily fill of vegetation. Hay chaff and alfalfa cubes are making due at the moment. If the sun comes out at high noon, I do indulge them by filling one of their <i>kiddy</i> pools with tepid water so they can bathe. It's a small token of luxury.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> My three baby goats who are also six months old have grown thick full coats that appear to be keeping them insulated in the bitter cold air. At night they instinctively snuggle close together for additional warmth in their deep hay bedding. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The horses and donkeys demonstrate once again their ability to accept the cold and bare it. All I can offer them is protection from biting wind and as much hay as they can eat. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The thought of leaving our farm in search of milder weather conditions is tempting but not really what I crave. However, perusing listings that only 2% of the population can afford is kind of soothing</span><span style="font-size: large;">. The mood is ruined when I begin to wonder who will dust the chandeliers in the barn or mow the forty-two acres of grass? How much does hay cost in Wellington since you can't really grow it nearby?</span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">Who cleans the pool? Actually, who has time to sit by the pool when thirty stalls need cleaning? Back to reality I am jolted where there is plenty of time here at home to clean stalls. With horses, donkeys, goats and geese milling about the barn on these harsh winter days, there is plenty of incentive too. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For your dreaming pleasure...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ocala, Florida</b></span><br />
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Rabbit Hill, <a href="https://www.ocalahorseproperties.com/florida-farm/rabbit-hill/">$10,000,000</a><br />
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Ironwood Farm, <a href="https://www.ocalahorseproperties.com/florida-farm/ironwood-farm/">$7,500,000</a><br />
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Haras Santa Maria, <a href="https://www.ocalahorseproperties.com/florida-farm/haras-santa-maria-training-center/">$6,950,000</a><br />
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Czech Mate Farm, <a href="http://homestoranches.com/czech-mate-farm/">$2,700,000</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Wellington, Florida</b></span><br />
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Skara Glen Stables <a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/3618-RX-10266723-farm-in-Palm-Beach-Florida/">$45,000,000</a><br />
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Saddle Trail Park property <a href="https://www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com/wellington-farm-for-sale/2449-RX-10198717-farm-in-Florida/">$10,000,000</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghonIIJ65d-aIJNpkzjD_TNSrOSMjmoWvDx6W0_CK_fRm6iVyMa04NhcAEwDK4ZaqFjsbMcIYLua4lBsL9W9MK3BvhwMahvsUXOKA7o1Czn0sSxbOVtzjxML4QkjDTqwE5ombbU7fjANnN/s1600/IMG_6934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghonIIJ65d-aIJNpkzjD_TNSrOSMjmoWvDx6W0_CK_fRm6iVyMa04NhcAEwDK4ZaqFjsbMcIYLua4lBsL9W9MK3BvhwMahvsUXOKA7o1Czn0sSxbOVtzjxML4QkjDTqwE5ombbU7fjANnN/s400/IMG_6934.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although I wish the white would turn to green...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PkOWreV9CAMiMZ-3_wMNH1JNWCMl__lXExxmLkV29te0-WO1jJ07aSeiHn-X9XTfUfYM14rU8-N97s6ac5lC3vKhyphenhyphenm5r0oTGCkdceSVwFa7C1j5MLb6AbEB88L-y_IxnD2AaVRNrjqMg/s1600/IMG_3431+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PkOWreV9CAMiMZ-3_wMNH1JNWCMl__lXExxmLkV29te0-WO1jJ07aSeiHn-X9XTfUfYM14rU8-N97s6ac5lC3vKhyphenhyphenm5r0oTGCkdceSVwFa7C1j5MLb6AbEB88L-y_IxnD2AaVRNrjqMg/s400/IMG_3431+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">....spending time with my hooved and feathered family....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGOsFGvY5TyHcepuvmXImyIQDGCmRdKEKUKm2EO1ZeBiICxr2AYYD4VaRdriMMm4Ze-0YOpRxL3XG58J0IVJRCA3MpO5wKDwgTuOTJUQTduc7n4IRFofZvJIJPKcSEzFBmjnnSuqBwQcn/s1600/gp3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGOsFGvY5TyHcepuvmXImyIQDGCmRdKEKUKm2EO1ZeBiICxr2AYYD4VaRdriMMm4Ze-0YOpRxL3XG58J0IVJRCA3MpO5wKDwgTuOTJUQTduc7n4IRFofZvJIJPKcSEzFBmjnnSuqBwQcn/s400/gp3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...is a joy, no matter what the weather is. </span></div>
<br />Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-15668345004016277152016-09-05T21:12:00.000-04:002016-09-05T21:29:19.421-04:00Brought to You by the Letter G...<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvxQp_KVVnzy3SjgJPamQU5BQ7_wovfPCGv8w1FxLWXOU7rA0psqzM_LZnZ5vU981Y_BU22AfhGGrDrwbEZCeaCSguLakLbua-b_gp4K458tUVYoT6YiyYx09zS8M-nTrwaor-dpS9FTw/s1600/G+is+for+Summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvxQp_KVVnzy3SjgJPamQU5BQ7_wovfPCGv8w1FxLWXOU7rA0psqzM_LZnZ5vU981Y_BU22AfhGGrDrwbEZCeaCSguLakLbua-b_gp4K458tUVYoT6YiyYx09zS8M-nTrwaor-dpS9FTw/s640/G+is+for+Summer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Good Morning,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Summer vacation is coming to a swift close, now only a few hours left. It's been a relaxing recess of extended sunshine and rejuvenation. This year it was made extra special by the addition of baby goats, goslings and an incredible transformation in the garden. Nothing marks the passing of time more profoundly than the growth of baby animals. Despite a few episodes of heartbreak along the way, I couldn't be happier with this next generation of pets. The following is a pictorial journey of the past four months. The pictures prove once again, that living things are simply amazing, not to mention a joy to behold. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz2GDLgnqcHn6Qj6hoMa9qR9KHVnrrR5zfuhn_OKdlDxfV-gt2yYYjqxZjjfTFt3uNRo6P7ym2EDPS1S0_0qGCdKgrxvn71z0Bv7u5S7BFRG8nbfUUPrYua2FoBfV9mx5cPD4vM_W8yTF/s1600/P1550619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz2GDLgnqcHn6Qj6hoMa9qR9KHVnrrR5zfuhn_OKdlDxfV-gt2yYYjqxZjjfTFt3uNRo6P7ym2EDPS1S0_0qGCdKgrxvn71z0Bv7u5S7BFRG8nbfUUPrYua2FoBfV9mx5cPD4vM_W8yTF/s320/P1550619.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Baby goats, Hazel and Audrey were selected from <i>Nettle Meadow Farm</i> in mid May.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9CDDiQ5U2-vXfKtNn9I8GWNtPfF2K0HIx6Z9FF0JGWWRNhaaK-5xyS0_UBjiT3Sj1F911-nsfAtOvmzmN5iImzvpTYsQ6DCz-2eb80RB1VAR21ZfYUz3AoE5p3Gd0w7aJlgc-0StWM7p/s1600/P1550674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9CDDiQ5U2-vXfKtNn9I8GWNtPfF2K0HIx6Z9FF0JGWWRNhaaK-5xyS0_UBjiT3Sj1F911-nsfAtOvmzmN5iImzvpTYsQ6DCz-2eb80RB1VAR21ZfYUz3AoE5p3Gd0w7aJlgc-0StWM7p/s320/P1550674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tiny doelings were only two days old when I brought them home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5FFafQXZHWobhhG9JYAo72iHScT8tP_f-I-AdgQJCQqBcSrGKCerqvAWNYJMrxUinN4U_CQ8FlYojqznj9Y00qkR1EPWOjImVlxWKAfnKX-PGY7ss2iL-03vw-Ez5DrJmkaFpB6A9rkT/s1600/P1550675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5FFafQXZHWobhhG9JYAo72iHScT8tP_f-I-AdgQJCQqBcSrGKCerqvAWNYJMrxUinN4U_CQ8FlYojqznj9Y00qkR1EPWOjImVlxWKAfnKX-PGY7ss2iL-03vw-Ez5DrJmkaFpB6A9rkT/s320/P1550675.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65XjgdPlyX9nZj8rRr4u6jvNU4eQakBnf9cXvMG3RBz0mOdYrUYdIQgHRV7SfsaR2E81XiUwOfWbq_AuM4Sm2qAb1TtL197cEbAxZVyvUwKc8TKtD9tQgKuNwIi2s_n-HfaHHEt3fUz37/s1600/P1550665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65XjgdPlyX9nZj8rRr4u6jvNU4eQakBnf9cXvMG3RBz0mOdYrUYdIQgHRV7SfsaR2E81XiUwOfWbq_AuM4Sm2qAb1TtL197cEbAxZVyvUwKc8TKtD9tQgKuNwIi2s_n-HfaHHEt3fUz37/s320/P1550665.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They took to bottle feeding fairly well...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQnXCA8eviVMf5K-GZ-h3O-sH-X2dukunXfwqdQmPVVW1LwJLAY-LuM0kwWJ7OGGY7YdGq1TVn4oO9cwwZRoOD1U5yv4O6Xrix0PLGQVLJJ-shWtbAF1Rjv61pDMFhLgDquKZImYQdRv0/s1600/P1550653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQnXCA8eviVMf5K-GZ-h3O-sH-X2dukunXfwqdQmPVVW1LwJLAY-LuM0kwWJ7OGGY7YdGq1TVn4oO9cwwZRoOD1U5yv4O6Xrix0PLGQVLJJ-shWtbAF1Rjv61pDMFhLgDquKZImYQdRv0/s320/P1550653.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoVxZaQTagKYylO_CBfr_7QbIsd1hndxTef7QBd4gG1F27jUBoA2DLZhhRSM9x6STTulCnnj8A0smRCog_PG21rknxmQZ8pS0ONpgn3Xj1Yq9-S38Miwktdarn1SIqfyubqIk_eFxXuum/s1600/P1550684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoVxZaQTagKYylO_CBfr_7QbIsd1hndxTef7QBd4gG1F27jUBoA2DLZhhRSM9x6STTulCnnj8A0smRCog_PG21rknxmQZ8pS0ONpgn3Xj1Yq9-S38Miwktdarn1SIqfyubqIk_eFxXuum/s320/P1550684.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...and introduced themselves to the residents of the farm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR3RVkf_V5OdkuQcaXEOdWiigg8NwAdqSqiBrAp3LXex3rJTi4wbIitbfl6MLl6kNmf8Y1UPk1W6Orgm4fegv9humsYdMWu0gEm4UgW5ufonbaMkL33ZAPA1Pw8Ef1QKuAdCZLCcIwKiH/s1600/IMG_4526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR3RVkf_V5OdkuQcaXEOdWiigg8NwAdqSqiBrAp3LXex3rJTi4wbIitbfl6MLl6kNmf8Y1UPk1W6Orgm4fegv9humsYdMWu0gEm4UgW5ufonbaMkL33ZAPA1Pw8Ef1QKuAdCZLCcIwKiH/s320/IMG_4526.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The month of May played icy tricks with the weather...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-FcAt6mGJKVwF0d_wn3sQyT_80vqa09NdsS7xQKTQDl-XZqYUv-ol-mYY-BIyGdjWKMSKFcCl84oCge011RGeBuyB10fjz-eaSj3IObv3E2xcTKRi2k3KtMOpCoc3nTDP0StFgROc7ed/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-FcAt6mGJKVwF0d_wn3sQyT_80vqa09NdsS7xQKTQDl-XZqYUv-ol-mYY-BIyGdjWKMSKFcCl84oCge011RGeBuyB10fjz-eaSj3IObv3E2xcTKRi2k3KtMOpCoc3nTDP0StFgROc7ed/s320/IMG_4523.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...so the little girls had to live in our house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaUuu2bFlaDixRq9W3E_u0BzgqZZfMgiz-8CUoae3yeBg98uRVaexJ0Q-FdB3Xg-yTNg9_uDLSMCmVPK67cKmBjEtBtFhiinV7SK9YAhxhHKlcoaWaJNbB4r0MoSnrxHm08NQRWWBbJgm/s1600/IMG_4600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaUuu2bFlaDixRq9W3E_u0BzgqZZfMgiz-8CUoae3yeBg98uRVaexJ0Q-FdB3Xg-yTNg9_uDLSMCmVPK67cKmBjEtBtFhiinV7SK9YAhxhHKlcoaWaJNbB4r0MoSnrxHm08NQRWWBbJgm/s320/IMG_4600.jpg" width="257" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Due to their feeding schedule...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtFUPGvoHB4ytTI-0RX_KV0KDQMpFqf2j3QFQVqY190j_GHD_kKWIMKz_wFzcSdhD-cSTGk0k7PwQsFbwNrE2H4a0ghFNeb4tX-R2kUI45-waW_b9HmGrmHzTNxceBZHUwG4zDVPSzEaB/s1600/IMG_4548+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtFUPGvoHB4ytTI-0RX_KV0KDQMpFqf2j3QFQVqY190j_GHD_kKWIMKz_wFzcSdhD-cSTGk0k7PwQsFbwNrE2H4a0ghFNeb4tX-R2kUI45-waW_b9HmGrmHzTNxceBZHUwG4zDVPSzEaB/s320/IMG_4548+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...they attended school every day for the first week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCCRqUIm7jiQOAqCs_OLT_l5oUC6hdalNAdxkkCPuBnOkdMBBE17kmtq9f5ejncQzE5uECgDBjdAQqC6RFUvzclK1WSR4vWBQKV-y8UkHyuiBpOpAnS_UIxYRtlZON7IJJDenKL2gIsPr/s1600/IMG_4572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCCRqUIm7jiQOAqCs_OLT_l5oUC6hdalNAdxkkCPuBnOkdMBBE17kmtq9f5ejncQzE5uECgDBjdAQqC6RFUvzclK1WSR4vWBQKV-y8UkHyuiBpOpAnS_UIxYRtlZON7IJJDenKL2gIsPr/s320/IMG_4572.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a happy time.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NuTgSiQ26qxTqnlpsnNEJsLlbdwrdJrDkf_yY6g5fpIn9ypCRy63CXW5duACE-Q-BZTBkO2ZkcObyVnHkYzmz2KgPYcfYmenqzosB67n455_cLPR-5VjQSdQhwuRD2MKQPJwXwssJUf5/s1600/IMG_4535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NuTgSiQ26qxTqnlpsnNEJsLlbdwrdJrDkf_yY6g5fpIn9ypCRy63CXW5duACE-Q-BZTBkO2ZkcObyVnHkYzmz2KgPYcfYmenqzosB67n455_cLPR-5VjQSdQhwuRD2MKQPJwXwssJUf5/s320/IMG_4535.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At a month old, Hazel became very ill and died, leaving Audrey all alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsa3Jy__rhE2pj_Px92iis9bPr7VI8MPsVKiGhs8gRBNItoSsvVzQMIhJA-r39Tj5EsZUblEJGtP7BQrssz5989kfEZLVzYKxjhQYDMpdO8l8lif7LwD22Jzt7DDT1F7lbJgCHfcN70yL/s1600/IMG_4891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsa3Jy__rhE2pj_Px92iis9bPr7VI8MPsVKiGhs8gRBNItoSsvVzQMIhJA-r39Tj5EsZUblEJGtP7BQrssz5989kfEZLVzYKxjhQYDMpdO8l8lif7LwD22Jzt7DDT1F7lbJgCHfcN70yL/s320/IMG_4891.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddSAyf-HINFyTvLk9vA4mZdc-i7U8rjCLA-6EFmPhZmmeyJD04y3a5V6OmqUpwD78gj3wD5vZG3r9qYph3JMspRV2LrHY-riahJ3LdsGAyQhFD9RI5tMLS4ctyHTDX88m8gpRnlk1jgLG/s1600/P1580902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddSAyf-HINFyTvLk9vA4mZdc-i7U8rjCLA-6EFmPhZmmeyJD04y3a5V6OmqUpwD78gj3wD5vZG3r9qYph3JMspRV2LrHY-riahJ3LdsGAyQhFD9RI5tMLS4ctyHTDX88m8gpRnlk1jgLG/s320/P1580902.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two new baby goats named Pearl...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOcMYSM4KPaXX8YaKrLyVuBI-1Vbz8IbVcwxXxdmeUL2pfPTtCz-95RQxdcHkPiCagJ1T7RHpMhqn187MjrbjBIb2gKy8mKfLfrw5nHpxqkYMG9YJFkVkGnZjOsMGj3D2ZjcRhD2J7izd/s1600/P1580917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOcMYSM4KPaXX8YaKrLyVuBI-1Vbz8IbVcwxXxdmeUL2pfPTtCz-95RQxdcHkPiCagJ1T7RHpMhqn187MjrbjBIb2gKy8mKfLfrw5nHpxqkYMG9YJFkVkGnZjOsMGj3D2ZjcRhD2J7izd/s320/P1580917.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...and Ivy arrived to establish a herd for Audrey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjMH0jvfSAJU_2k0ok7JOFBwFYewuowwIaxRPKywUjhZSCqXBAQYR98I7HELRi_rXkNN6Hg31_1hIJux15D45rbm6jTVfed5aa5LgjbOq3E6W-4ECWowM6yJokf3Gg6VxioKXE6iffEtz/s1600/P1580940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjMH0jvfSAJU_2k0ok7JOFBwFYewuowwIaxRPKywUjhZSCqXBAQYR98I7HELRi_rXkNN6Hg31_1hIJux15D45rbm6jTVfed5aa5LgjbOq3E6W-4ECWowM6yJokf3Gg6VxioKXE6iffEtz/s320/P1580940.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They were tiny too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The two new kids provided much needed company for Audrey...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HT_YJp5BjSXBxFqfiWYWGeGNv816CW_UPDPzntkMao2e0Qwo5K_SNFeDDvF-qDPjXn4WAWz20tDzRF-e28QOS4ribRW6_D4kMv0qoPEmFDS40zm0G0QqeoiHu6tYzLUV8ASQZEPvNM8a/s1600/P1580929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HT_YJp5BjSXBxFqfiWYWGeGNv816CW_UPDPzntkMao2e0Qwo5K_SNFeDDvF-qDPjXn4WAWz20tDzRF-e28QOS4ribRW6_D4kMv0qoPEmFDS40zm0G0QqeoiHu6tYzLUV8ASQZEPvNM8a/s320/P1580929.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">...and for me too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJRycAcSlZhOVtBkz_qXmcYbuUBU4wz7C2LD2ucpw3MlOlfsf0lfOi1MeICsqIIxYH_A2Fc2QPq4qiKz2aG5A-HhAjo43iNW96JIh1Q73XLKQPv3BBLvQCyh5ZEilrS2hecmcTC01vm6c/s1600/IMG_5306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJRycAcSlZhOVtBkz_qXmcYbuUBU4wz7C2LD2ucpw3MlOlfsf0lfOi1MeICsqIIxYH_A2Fc2QPq4qiKz2aG5A-HhAjo43iNW96JIh1Q73XLKQPv3BBLvQCyh5ZEilrS2hecmcTC01vm6c/s320/IMG_5306.JPG" width="265" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVzSxQE_jdErq10p0-gJaj0QsnI2A1mHLDAPeYHNDmn5AF_8Lt0k0tT27QM_UasWHCpeuGPheHVaUMDnS8rsfd9d4AlTxp6xdtKJh26qmrhzEC9sbm0HHyG5om2KmzoX145cMXgfecncz/s1600/IMG_5718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVzSxQE_jdErq10p0-gJaj0QsnI2A1mHLDAPeYHNDmn5AF_8Lt0k0tT27QM_UasWHCpeuGPheHVaUMDnS8rsfd9d4AlTxp6xdtKJh26qmrhzEC9sbm0HHyG5om2KmzoX145cMXgfecncz/s320/IMG_5718.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The goats have touched the lives of so many.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdu-TgpvlGGBca5TKlBgEEDc1EeEmhMpQviP6lkKMt1FJTrmBtxNHclTt9mn4W9Si2f_F0ibXwjpCLDqDP1TrC9Gb34fjF7_6htZQaIxFrk_iEHVt2X-aDHsEO2bdI-cd2-PNXzEfceO5/s1600/IMG_5708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdu-TgpvlGGBca5TKlBgEEDc1EeEmhMpQviP6lkKMt1FJTrmBtxNHclTt9mn4W9Si2f_F0ibXwjpCLDqDP1TrC9Gb34fjF7_6htZQaIxFrk_iEHVt2X-aDHsEO2bdI-cd2-PNXzEfceO5/s320/IMG_5708.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizXyUiLRaV5pM8iGKYwXYf4nOlU10aGtrWR8k03_let78k4vb2xeACZn0iWc0C0xWPZfO_JdmrfGVtSOvy7jqpdmePmiRFLhF78pK7fVZUNEhqT9EmmZ9KROC_M3-cE_ws45NQu9dOqLh/s1600/IMG_4894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizXyUiLRaV5pM8iGKYwXYf4nOlU10aGtrWR8k03_let78k4vb2xeACZn0iWc0C0xWPZfO_JdmrfGVtSOvy7jqpdmePmiRFLhF78pK7fVZUNEhqT9EmmZ9KROC_M3-cE_ws45NQu9dOqLh/s320/IMG_4894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, a gaggle of goslings arrived one day in the mail...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCetESbSUe9uLbs23DmfbFEAufuIEvq7YBc0I_IjojuyII44fYMftMG-hEQkpPlXzyN2FXW3tcQiUN2-kzxoByJhUW2btZgMtKDHDxND8c41I62tHCvhd82YlTHk7jaTKqFJTabH4Ov6B2/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCetESbSUe9uLbs23DmfbFEAufuIEvq7YBc0I_IjojuyII44fYMftMG-hEQkpPlXzyN2FXW3tcQiUN2-kzxoByJhUW2btZgMtKDHDxND8c41I62tHCvhd82YlTHk7jaTKqFJTabH4Ov6B2/s320/IMG_4910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...while another hatched in our incubator.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFKoDdJjleoOaBrpKZ-JVfIxi3M-zxR6blgsPBDqSlUZBcAkveK5L6HxcaOUuHAuaEt3ObQ0wgSDymhT4xZCf7xJ5yklph7Qm-gJUMoQqS6GoDVQoCI22eZRDUHUwP78DynJlTuoqk8Ug/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFKoDdJjleoOaBrpKZ-JVfIxi3M-zxR6blgsPBDqSlUZBcAkveK5L6HxcaOUuHAuaEt3ObQ0wgSDymhT4xZCf7xJ5yklph7Qm-gJUMoQqS6GoDVQoCI22eZRDUHUwP78DynJlTuoqk8Ug/s320/IMG_4902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Their first swim was in a dish pan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMEGaPq5hcbzGwxIKwEBhIl03ZpPUZ_Rts-5INQHRF2CfheQNKFYvD3SIwQJTR8-8LMf1j4IN2a1zdZSaF2wUNIuIw8_5gE7i37R3IbF9pRe9-ndF-_SjMdYlNG6veR92SQVMEyONoSti/s1600/IMG_5051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMEGaPq5hcbzGwxIKwEBhIl03ZpPUZ_Rts-5INQHRF2CfheQNKFYvD3SIwQJTR8-8LMf1j4IN2a1zdZSaF2wUNIuIw8_5gE7i37R3IbF9pRe9-ndF-_SjMdYlNG6veR92SQVMEyONoSti/s320/IMG_5051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, they graduated to deeper water.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMz_Uow588fOWe2HcAl9qzLDBfg53xMBZ8IwM1gr8Npny9RWu8an28JJ3beiSp3ZXeqdtI2c7h-FpvOdTjmmAX1JQJKnotvnM_IOVS16aYeY64t0dPIT_s6KGQez8ey9Il45oNmTQ47oQ/s1600/IMG_5026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMz_Uow588fOWe2HcAl9qzLDBfg53xMBZ8IwM1gr8Npny9RWu8an28JJ3beiSp3ZXeqdtI2c7h-FpvOdTjmmAX1JQJKnotvnM_IOVS16aYeY64t0dPIT_s6KGQez8ey9Il45oNmTQ47oQ/s320/IMG_5026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh how quickly goslings grow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Colored leg bands permanently identify each one. Green is Vivian.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9pPBKk9Gll-g6dHBE4ExuWe0GecY86UaA2l0ffCOYqfqa-Yp_roDy4sB53cAPVZZk9ok3MZBddmZad_huvBJteBMunjRJQPs2Nvp9YDhghpUcYU9uouEi0Ur-dj7KRbtRo3XLTg9wm6Z/s1600/IMG_5657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9pPBKk9Gll-g6dHBE4ExuWe0GecY86UaA2l0ffCOYqfqa-Yp_roDy4sB53cAPVZZk9ok3MZBddmZad_huvBJteBMunjRJQPs2Nvp9YDhghpUcYU9uouEi0Ur-dj7KRbtRo3XLTg9wm6Z/s320/IMG_5657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the "kiddy" pool became a tight fit...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XXYBbVu1MgSRKATurYThJsg_-hkKG7FpcVPuWUahyphenhyphenmmOeZhKSZEvJRL3d8j1d0KGE6JWauVzy6Lqm4F4XL9knE-tuwA69F4g5SHnSm3Ycyd_1EArH-I1vzGLT57AkVRfg9mVYG8862k3/s1600/IMG_5750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XXYBbVu1MgSRKATurYThJsg_-hkKG7FpcVPuWUahyphenhyphenmmOeZhKSZEvJRL3d8j1d0KGE6JWauVzy6Lqm4F4XL9knE-tuwA69F4g5SHnSm3Ycyd_1EArH-I1vzGLT57AkVRfg9mVYG8862k3/s320/IMG_5750.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...an updated spa with lounge deck was installed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The most impressive transformation this summer... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-hqIrKWgEag5N5hNjUI1eudsMbeeMNqlTQ4CFR0zKzgI7kzt0E73nBhXhoi9uZ0G4RaUqhKtXTowWL3HBWRFH1hjW9UfEkodNevo257MzrCY1T1q5Sc2WMtMP-wltKJcoZFdmmyTxdHC/s1600/IMG_5219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-hqIrKWgEag5N5hNjUI1eudsMbeeMNqlTQ4CFR0zKzgI7kzt0E73nBhXhoi9uZ0G4RaUqhKtXTowWL3HBWRFH1hjW9UfEkodNevo257MzrCY1T1q5Sc2WMtMP-wltKJcoZFdmmyTxdHC/s320/IMG_5219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...took place in the garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chickens patrol the perimeter in a dry moat, gobbling pests along the way.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g_fFIMUNuDUj0qec4TkIVGgGm3wq6uKIj2I20vvLa60FYaYnwL0t4Rd-PdACKZbWPF8xCwkPA08-Mwo13fDQHIvKphv9Pv9iROlTsYhx8fgb1zi93p8Pk8TO_-nUH3Z10lhm_3ugf8nu/s1600/IMG_6032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g_fFIMUNuDUj0qec4TkIVGgGm3wq6uKIj2I20vvLa60FYaYnwL0t4Rd-PdACKZbWPF8xCwkPA08-Mwo13fDQHIvKphv9Pv9iROlTsYhx8fgb1zi93p8Pk8TO_-nUH3Z10lhm_3ugf8nu/s320/IMG_6032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At summer's end, sunflowers reach for the sky and garden bounty awaits a fall harvest.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoKDriYDZTK8Eeur_ccEi-8e2tBUEhp-vxuVUoezbsjmnjDTAa3tda8ITphpCk2wR8G6jl1IyWOKxD1Ch8TNKaYLLpjzVQ7vXcO8tah5b6AomdHka-HxnkenhBvX0PPJMVL4qyx6TSLf3/s1600/IMG_6030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoKDriYDZTK8Eeur_ccEi-8e2tBUEhp-vxuVUoezbsjmnjDTAa3tda8ITphpCk2wR8G6jl1IyWOKxD1Ch8TNKaYLLpjzVQ7vXcO8tah5b6AomdHka-HxnkenhBvX0PPJMVL4qyx6TSLf3/s320/IMG_6030.JPG" width="303" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you summer for such glorious gifts that soothe the eye and fill the stomach. May winter be kind to us until you return next year. </span></div>
Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-91775019199050821352016-06-19T22:09:00.003-04:002016-07-05T01:16:16.961-04:00Love is Always Searching....Best Wishes to Amy and Ben<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yl98pYbjxNrIijb7_2AhelnplQd9unuYLL1T_HMb6capdqTHXp-NG85b1nSaLx_XtO4KrEbVjhRXuoBoDMQATk1Aa4EyGQagB3axfwQWdanL9ST-rMUk6MK_WinCTQ7Qu3BGowhxDVDF/s1600/Love+is+Always+Searching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yl98pYbjxNrIijb7_2AhelnplQd9unuYLL1T_HMb6capdqTHXp-NG85b1nSaLx_XtO4KrEbVjhRXuoBoDMQATk1Aa4EyGQagB3axfwQWdanL9ST-rMUk6MK_WinCTQ7Qu3BGowhxDVDF/s640/Love+is+Always+Searching.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Good Evening,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My husband and I have just returned home from attending our niece's wedding. Readers of the blog might remember Amy, (<a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2012/10/all-grown-up.html"><b><i>All Grown Up</i></b></a>), from a number of blog posts. She has visited Moose River Farm almost every summer since we moved in twelve years ago. In fact she lived with us for two summers. Her horse, Welby, (<b><i><a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2013/06/exchanging-gifts.html">Exchanging Gifts</a></i></b>), lived out his days here when Amy's adult life required relocation after college graduation. The following poem was written for and read at the wedding. It's a biography to rhyme, warm...and inform. May this be the beginning of a long happy life together for Amy and Ben. Cheers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is Always Searching</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Best Wishes to Amy and Ben</span></i></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e745d703-6b4f-0b36-61bb-254f6e0f9cbe" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is always searching </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Searching high and searching low</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">For signs of everlasting </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contentment and seeds to sow</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">When this woman was first conceived</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> nurtured her in the womb</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">It stitched with threads of wisdom </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">And sang songs in a harmonious tune</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">In years to come </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> would plant for her</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">A total of siblings three</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">They all grew up strong and sturdy</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like the branches of their father’s trees</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Along the way </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> introduced </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">A world at which to marvel</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Spaniel pup here, a kitten there</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">And rodents to play among them</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">This land in need of livestock</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asked </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to build a barn</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Goatie antics, bunny frantics</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">And chickens complete the farm</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">When she was young </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sprinkled upon her </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some glittery magic dust </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">And off she rode on a toy stick horse</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make-believe imagination at its very best</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">But nothing compared </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To what </span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shared </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Between her and an ex-racehorse</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">She galloped him out of childhood</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gripping the reins to stay on course</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And all the while </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> coiled and danced</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">nudging her to kiss the lip of a flute</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her breath and fingers flirted with fate </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Earning a degree from the succession of notes</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> stood close while the little girl</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Grew into an adventurous woman</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who ventured deep into the Delta</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">To teach its most vulnerable children</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alas this </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> had one card left</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">To deal from a fickle hand</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">It searched for Ben</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">And assured her then</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">That this love could last</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How did </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> let her know </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">That Ben was hers forever?</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">It flowed in an accent of southern charm</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then prepared crawdads for dinner</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">As for Ben who cast the lure</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">That brought her to her senses</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reeled her in then held the pen</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">So she could sign the license</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now settle in your new abode</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">As residents of the Big Easy</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will guide life forward</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">To do with whatever pleases</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">With all the ingredients of a happy marriage</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thru which you two may amble</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will keep you whole</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use it to lead and follow in your ensemble</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-87030389846480521782016-05-07T14:52:00.000-04:002016-05-28T09:13:33.898-04:00Barbaro; Ten Years Ago<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5_Dx-tGZh_uJKspN7lm9UE9QT3ZrkI7QS0cZsmpX2fKltpghR4RIStWJ8usjI6RgiS5zAC4IIfKtCifKK-YYDoSeyUQJDuEBl5M0Pu6GYNmEfK0EJRHT5HpvREj7iKdlObb5GI4VkBTo/s1600/Untitled+drawing+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5_Dx-tGZh_uJKspN7lm9UE9QT3ZrkI7QS0cZsmpX2fKltpghR4RIStWJ8usjI6RgiS5zAC4IIfKtCifKK-YYDoSeyUQJDuEBl5M0Pu6GYNmEfK0EJRHT5HpvREj7iKdlObb5GI4VkBTo/s640/Untitled+drawing+%25285%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;"> Good Morning,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> It is hard to believe, as we prepare to watch the Kentucky Derby today, that a decade has come and gone since <i>Barbaro </i>achieved his<i> </i>spectacular victory. In 2006, the Derby pulsated with a field of twenty horses who were favored to win from a plethora of perspectives shared by the racehorse industry's most respected analysts. <i>Sharp Humor</i>, <i>Lawyer Ron</i>, <i>Sweetnorthernsaint</i>, <i>Bluegrass Cat</i> and <i>Sinister Minister </i>represented only a few of the memorable names given to horses that year who were capable of crossing the finish line first after running a mile and a quarter. However, at post-time it was Barbaro who entered the starting gate with 3-1 odds in addition to being the favorite to win. And he did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Barbaro's win is one of the most indelible in Derby history. On the final turn that brought him in view of a deafening crowd ,jockey Edgar Prado encouraged Barbaro to switch up another gear. The horse obliged. They surged ahead of the pack and finished the race with a six and a half length lead in front of <i>Bluegrass Cat</i>. Race caller Tom Durkin described the feat as <i>sublime</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Of course this was the highlight of Barbaro's story. Two weeks later, at the Preakness Stakes, Barbaro suffered a catastrophic injury to a hind leg that required five hours of surgery to stabilize. Sadly, eight months later Barbaro was humanely euthanized when secondary complications from the injury proved too much for the horse to bear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My sixth grade students illustrated the following book about Barbaro's life during the sad days following the Preakness. We sent it to Barbaro's trainer, Michael Matz who in turn passed it on to Gretchen and Roy Jackson, Barbaro's owners. I am posting the pictures today because they remind me that life goes on and although my students were deeply saddened by Barbaro's death, they were very proud of their book that brought comfort to Barbaro's <i>connections.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In the ten years since this famous race took place, the students have grown up; many will graduate from college in just a few more weeks. As their futures unfold in front of them I am confident that their small contribution to the events surrounding Barbaro's injury</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> and death will remain with them for a lifetime. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span id="goog_999002459"></span><span id="goog_999002460"></span><br /></span>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-91827754277815194052016-03-06T09:51:00.003-05:002016-04-16T01:48:11.640-04:00The Secret Life of MRF's Pets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATb20Eo7IETDDpvUx6aPyqdFzMuWuKi-fLBOrRRaLriyDL2TRXZ-VvoaEUPKHWG9_AcyDo2XBnpCI0pFnOxxbTgWKxxfoyBIYjQBVzgTEXjiMWQAjfJoFy7Ko_D0PCGcieWJtUxFTjp87/s1600/Who+said+that-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATb20Eo7IETDDpvUx6aPyqdFzMuWuKi-fLBOrRRaLriyDL2TRXZ-VvoaEUPKHWG9_AcyDo2XBnpCI0pFnOxxbTgWKxxfoyBIYjQBVzgTEXjiMWQAjfJoFy7Ko_D0PCGcieWJtUxFTjp87/s400/Who+said+that-.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Congratulations!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> You have arrived at <i>Moose River Farm's</i> video mystery game; <i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Se</span></b></i></span><i style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">cret Life of MRF's Pets</span></b></i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">. <i><b>Part II </b></i>was published on March 21.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The answer is revealed in the video below. Did you guess correctly? Scroll down for the answer to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mooseriverfarm/?fref=nf"><i><b>March 6th mystery challenge. </b></i></a></span><br />
<a href="http://upload.ellentube.com/media/The+Secret+Life+of+MRF%27s+PetsB+A+Mystery+Game+from+Moose+River+Farm/1_3mne9om1"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjALSloDQ591ILDFqZX7dnlEnd0Zop1cRyBvRsTHh4eYCmviW9fvWCdWcfSHWIB0Y3WLxGzsAno8_kta-6HYATmf8IZjqPuRYMNzC0c7w0qB2-Le3QX5SwXOkfAjO2ScoJjPYbch7YCtNN/s200/103014-ellentube-logo-tv-only-blog-jpg-750x435.jpg" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1resxrF6IWbK0q8l70IazUjRKkVt261fyERvOuwEpRwvJ8vdcaWP4nYOPsyOXEopXsAsvauB9guvkcCMHuiKWAa6dbrb_SM2fj8NccCqpuatBcrlDC4LlmX-hbYjPVImFcIJ4BBKDS2k/s200/smicons.jpg" width="200" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">Secret Life of MRF's Pets</span></i></b> mystery video game <i>reveal</i>; <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Part I</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The clue is available on <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mooseriverfarm/?fref=photo">Facebook</a>!</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i>Stay tuned for future video clues and reveals coming soon!</i></b></span><br />
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Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-27895516293767641982016-02-20T22:56:00.000-05:002016-03-10T08:51:59.663-05:00It's Moose Bowl; MMXVI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIsh2c7Feh0_8iMr5BABTeBmzJv-LUWQFceumPnByyKIfon-ovK_G_Z-3CtJ4pPiVW9SK6Hc_p4cIz2YvgMlbMwJO9euY6x9N_NdB-njH2u0G6mvnQQQOerX8jiOFoQa7dFvY2EEadMnu/s1600/Moose+Bowl+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIsh2c7Feh0_8iMr5BABTeBmzJv-LUWQFceumPnByyKIfon-ovK_G_Z-3CtJ4pPiVW9SK6Hc_p4cIz2YvgMlbMwJO9euY6x9N_NdB-njH2u0G6mvnQQQOerX8jiOFoQa7dFvY2EEadMnu/s640/Moose+Bowl+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Good Evening,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Mid-winter doldrums have officially set in despite the season's slow start at the end of last year. This is typically, when I begin to pine for my warm weather life by posting poems, (<a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2015/01/field-of-green.html"><i>Field of Green</i></a>), (<a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2014/03/dream-in-shades-of-summer.html"><i>Dream in Shades of Summer</i></a>), (<i><a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2014/02/by-light-of-snow-moon.html">By the Light of the Snow Moon</a></i>), and other grateful sentiments that assist in counting the days until the great meltdown begins. This year, I have decided not to wish winter away. Instead, I've created a distraction by putting my video camera to task. It has been capturing the spirit of competition between two adorable teams battling for the league championship.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Who will be the winner of Moose Bowl, 2016? Tune in and find out!</span><br />
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Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-27017060336008233832016-01-31T22:07:00.000-05:002016-02-01T08:45:42.795-05:00Temperature goes up...Blankets Come Off!<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3vO_cNCktbeWoF7hm2kDNDo7BHBS1oe0sZYl62-pBTXs9IyckD-t5fQS_5eBT6xbCdeFJUtxrR348287SxBJl0633vGhyphenhyphenBxpIOc8gs-00R7qFoZoO3ixAgsqa2eJBXfipkL09UeRrCRJ/s1600/blankets+off+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3vO_cNCktbeWoF7hm2kDNDo7BHBS1oe0sZYl62-pBTXs9IyckD-t5fQS_5eBT6xbCdeFJUtxrR348287SxBJl0633vGhyphenhyphenBxpIOc8gs-00R7qFoZoO3ixAgsqa2eJBXfipkL09UeRrCRJ/s640/blankets+off+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Good Evening,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> So far the winter of 2016 has been fairly tolerable with temperatures remaining consistently in the comfort range between zero and thirty degrees. I can actually forgive this winter the few mornings that I had to trudge out to the barn in twenty below zero, but only if February behaves itself by continuing the moderate trend. February arrives tomorrow and spring break is a mere eight weeks away, (who is counting?). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Today the temperature soared up to forty-six degrees giving cause for the horses to rejoice. Once blankets were removed there was no stopping the celebration. Their exuberance was captured in this video post.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/psKrMSm44KE" width="560"></iframe>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-37351191150757294382016-01-10T10:36:00.000-05:002016-01-10T10:36:01.194-05:00Fantasy Farm Shopping, 2016<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIkaHMV23rInZcoYHGUyVNLZL5tfjCRgy63Z4gFraEiGyi36R50js7FWrvmQdqJpQshMBmDiIVm1e06bm3ivbnwvLfgDFFlhHxV4OfEYxLrNsgwN4aK-AQQll41NEXtpBQrt7U6hyphenhyphentmaL/s1600/california-road-map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIkaHMV23rInZcoYHGUyVNLZL5tfjCRgy63Z4gFraEiGyi36R50js7FWrvmQdqJpQshMBmDiIVm1e06bm3ivbnwvLfgDFFlhHxV4OfEYxLrNsgwN4aK-AQQll41NEXtpBQrt7U6hyphenhyphentmaL/s320/california-road-map.gif" width="295" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Good Morning,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> As predicted, after the long stretch of balmy holiday weather, winter has taken a harsh grip in the last week. The drop in temperature and the blowing lake effect snow sends me on a fantasy hunt for the perfect horse farm that exists in a sunny climate. With a record 1.5 billion dollar <i>Powerball</i> jackpot at large, there are no budgetary restraints, (buy all the water you want to restore the green vegetation), to prevent us from enjoying the possibility of living in one of these incredible places. This year I am scouting out properties in California for a change just....because. Enjoy! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.horseproperties.net/properties/California/Los+Angeles+County/Hidden+Hills/12177">Los Angeles, CA</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.horseproperties.net/properties/California/Monterey+County/Carmel+Valley/11949">Carmel, CA</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.horseproperties.net/properties/California/San+Mateo+County/Woodside/12227">San Francisco, CA</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.10420verdugord.com/">San Juan Capistrano</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqrD61bLIVw">Somis, CA</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jfdIWJMNt4">Agoura, CA</a><br />
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<br />Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-58221400121422444722015-12-29T17:12:00.000-05:002015-12-29T20:08:35.286-05:00Sleep In Heavenly Peace...<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn_tB1ZN5EJGI0ggQyIK6nOdEk120dKrlFlwwApU5d_SG1KF_HDTas-GqK83dv49Vv0vlRjNcaYJ6dfBi_RsF2WPaxGbdaC_o18KQrlEhFIErHB6xPss5WgmjO45IwdJBDaa3rxtRyyp5/s1600/Target.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn_tB1ZN5EJGI0ggQyIK6nOdEk120dKrlFlwwApU5d_SG1KF_HDTas-GqK83dv49Vv0vlRjNcaYJ6dfBi_RsF2WPaxGbdaC_o18KQrlEhFIErHB6xPss5WgmjO45IwdJBDaa3rxtRyyp5/s640/Target.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Good Morning,</span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> "Which is your favorite horse?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> This question has been asked of me hundreds of times since becoming the owner of multiple horses. Almost before the question mark exits the inquirer's mouth, I hastily exhale the reply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> "I couldn't possibly have a favorite; I love them all the same."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> But do I?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The longer I live with horses the more they mold me into the person I am on my way to becoming. My only hope is that I continue to evolve into a better version of the one I am now. This journey is not void of difficult questions that can be painful to answer if I am completely vested in living my truth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> On December 4th I finally conceded to the euthanasia of a twenty-one year old thoroughbred gelding, <i>Final Target</i>. Unlike <a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2015/11/a-cold-bloods-tale-to-warm-your-heart.html"><i><b>Rosemary</b></i></a> the iguana, <a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2012/05/just-school-horse.html"><i><b>Sandi</b></i></a>, a beloved lesson mount and <a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2012/04/welcome-huxley.html"><b><i>Huxley</i></b></a>, the dachshund, Target's obituary never appeared on Facebook or Twitter. Subsequently, there was no outpouring of condolences assuring me that he had lived a wonderful life thanks to my love and devotion. I couldn't bear to hear these words because I wasn't convinced they were true. Over the eleven years that I have owned Target, I have contemplated putting him down more than once. Yet, when the moment of truth arrived each time and for a variety of different reasons, the notion never materialized past a quandary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Target was originally purchased as a lesson horse shortly before we moved from our tiny Lakeview Farm to the sprawling landscape that is Moose River Farm. I found him on a specialty website dedicated to connecting thoroughbred enthusiasts from around the country so they could buy and sell horses of this magnificent breed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> After driving more than two hours with my friend Michele one late afternoon in the monochrome landscape of March, we arrived at a tired looking fifteen stall barn that housed only two horses. The owners were clearing out; ending a long chapter of their lives spent retraining thoroughbreds off the track. They were on their way into luxurious relaxation of retirement sans the care of horses. Target was about ten years old and stood close to 16.2 hands. He had been the offspring of one of the owner's thoroughbred mares who sadly died two weeks after the gray horse was foaled. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Orphans typically struggle in life having grown up under the care of a human nanny. Good intentions can turn sour because these horses never learn the rules and regulations of being a horse...from their dam. I believe this had an effect on Target his whole life. He remained rather aloof to other horses; humans too for that matter. At times he also lacked respect for people, never going out of his way to please; a desirable characteristic associated with thoroughbreds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> His dingy white coat suggested only a few remaining faded dapples from younger days. Over the next couple of years he would turn completely white. The big horse had not been ridden in a very long time. However, I was assured there would be no behavioral issues. There weren't. Target complied willingly with my leg and rein. If anything he seemed a bit dull. For me this makes a better lesson horse when compared to a demeanor that is flighty or too quick to react to the rider's leg. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Two weeks later, Target was on his way to life in the Adirondacks. He settled into the routine easily and shortly after his arrival I began the task of conditioning him for my lesson program. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> It didn't take long to realize that my bargain horse had serious quirks. As conditioning progressed he seemed to become irritated with me. Attributing this change in behavior to physical pain as a result of conditioning, I backed off by riding him ever so lightly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> And then the tripping began. At first the bobbles were subtle. A loss of rhythm here, a balance issue there. I paid little attention to it until one day I counted the number of trips. On average the great white horse lost rhythm in his stride fifteen times in a forty-five minute session. Imagination on my part or physical issue on his? Did he need more conditioning? Did he need protective pads on his front feet? As his conditioning progressed he developed balance and elasticity in his back but required a knowledgeable rider to help him hold himself together. His large size made this a difficult task for beginner riders. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Eventually, I used him more and more for adult riders with experience. They loved him. His trot and canter were just challenging enough to teach the rider's leg and hand how to respond. The bobbles appeared often but never seemed to result in anything more than a hiccup in rhythm. Meanwhile, I rode Target as often as I could. The behavioral quirks reduced measurably once he became acquainted with the trails at our new farm. Away from the schooling ring, he picked up his feet with enthusiasm minimizing the episodes of imbalance. I used to joke with barn family and friends about developing a sport called "road dressage" because as long as Target was moving forward in a straight line, he seemed to float effortlessly along the trail. He also kept his ears on alert waiting for the faintest distraction in the woods to give cause to enormous spooks! More than once he unseated the most experienced riders on excursions in the woods. Fellow riders, Michele and Irene, have experienced his spooking escapades. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Then one day while giving a lesson to an experienced college student, the inevitable happened. Betty was cantering Target in a balanced frame effortlessly </span><span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">between her hand and her leg. Her confidence and Target's balance appeared to be synchronized beautifully. Suddenly, he crashed to the ground without warning. The rider's body projected across his neck and over his head like a bullet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Thankfully, Betty was not hurt; although a bit stunned. After all there had been no warning, no interruption in the footing, or no explanation for the sudden catastrophic loss of balance. I had no words of advice. "You should have done this....You should have done that...." I had nothing to offer her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Target's fall resulted in a melon sized hematoma on his chest and a rattling of confidence in both him and me. What did this mean? What malfunctioned? Was there really something wrong with him? Should I put him down? This event forced me to pull him out of my lesson program. So far he hadn't hurt anybody seriously and I was not willing to run the risk of that happening. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I continued to ride him after he healed from his bruises. In fact I spent the next winter in the indoor arena focusing on his balance through continued exercises and conditioning. Some days instead of riding Target, I chased him around the ring; encouraging him to gallop as fast as he could. I wanted to observe his abilities without the weight of a rider on his back. I may have seen him bobble without a rider an unimpressive five times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Over the winter he improved greatly. I rode him six or seven times between stumbles. Some of my <i>best</i> rides took place on the great white horse. These sessions frequently occurred in my lighted outdoor ring under falling snow. Accompanied by the festive notes of popular Christmas music, Target glided across the powdery surface effortlessly responding meticulously to my requests. The experiences were powerfully emotional and kept me smiling all evening despite a long professional day at school. I will never forget those moments and know that I owe him a debt of gratitude for providing them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The years went by, the bobbles became something I accepted, although unbeknownst to me they were having a detrimental effect on my riding in general. I began to ride all horses defensively with a fear of tripping and falling. I convinced myself that I could control and even thwart a potential fall. To do this I stared at the footing so I could steer around suspicious soft spots and uneven depth that might end in catastrophe. This technique became the new normal and lasted over the next couple of years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Meanwhile, Target was beginning to exhibit abnormal behavior around the barn. He acted terrified when his halter was placed behind his ears. Bridling him in the wash stall was impossible as he hoisted his head to his highest shaking with fear and eyes bulging. In his stall there was no bridling issue. Sometimes after removing his bridle he twisted his neck and held it stiffly in this position for several minutes. I wondered if he was having mini seizures but our vet could diagnose nothing wrong with him. Was it time to put him down? His issues began to accumulate. Intermittent lameness that required long stretches of rest only to return after a few weeks of light work. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then one day while riding him on a beautiful promising morning in June of 2011, it happened. The great white horse was cantering effortlessly around the ring. My legs and reins were communicating in perfect harmony when suddenly he dropped to his knees. The event occurred so quickly, I didn't have time to react as I had convinced myself I would be able to. Miraculously, he did not fall. Instead, he caught himself and took two more steps in a crouched position to compensate his forward momentum. Next thing I knew he was standing. Not only was I still on his back but my feet were still in the stirrups. Target's entire body was quaking. Fear? Pain? I too was suffering the effects of fear and in the realization that this time...I had been lucky. Immediately, I steered him toward the gate and exited the ring for the last time astride </span><span style="font-size: large;">the great white horse</span><span style="font-size: large;">. While walking him in the woods to calm his nerves I had to face some difficult questions. By the time we pulled up at the mounting block where I dismounted, I had decided that he would not be ridden ever again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It would have cost me thousands of dollars to run conclusive diagnostic tests on a horse that refused to step in a trailer. Regardless of this fact was knowing that whatever ailed him was probably not fixable to deem him safe to ride. Was it time to put him down?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> All summer I pondered this question. What was his life now that he could not be ridden? Yes, he could live in a state of permanent retirement lounging in the luxury of care without giving anything back. Had he earned that? Could I justify the expense, (nearly $3000 a year per horse)? Every other horse who had retired at Moose River Farm did so after a long and productive life. Horses are expensive. Target could live another fifteen years. The math was staggering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Like all gray horses, Target developed melanomas at various locations all over his body. They tend to grow slowly and rarely end the animal's life unless they interfere with the mechanics of breathing or digestion. Two years ago, melanomas began to grow rapidly under Target's tail and all around his rectum. The unsightly large black tumors stretched out to nearly a ten inch diameter mass when he lifted his tail to defecate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Last spring I declined to have Target vaccinated. I was pretty certain this was the year I was going to put him down. The summer passed and as the horse grew his winter coat in preparation for his twenty-second winter our vet provided the courage I needed to make the decision. We agreed that the mass of tumors under his tail was probably going to become problematic in the future. After four years of existing in carefree retirement in which Target was expected to provide nothing in return except his gallant presence, it was okay for me to let him go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The end has brought closure to horse ownership at its most complicated. Although I loved this horse, ending his life has brought a bit of relief. Yes it has taken some time to accept it, but now I can move forward while he sleeps in heavenly peace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Like most gray horses, Target was born dark and lightened with age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He performed without a rider at <i>Hoofbeats in the Adirondacks</i> in 2012.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The big white horse was a favorite of my two nieces...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...and other visitors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My decision to euthanize Target at age 21 brings peace and acceptance. Perhaps his mission was to force me to face complexities that arise when living with horses.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-30377645482560622702015-12-15T16:02:00.000-05:002016-03-10T08:52:12.467-05:00Season's Greetings from Moose River Farm, (2015)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Merry Christmas,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Its that time of year again! The time when Rod, the animals and I usually have to bundle up for our annual Christmas greeting that is extended to family, friends and blog followers. Last year a picture perfect snowfall provided the backdrop for a stunning <i><b><a href="https://vimeo.com/115315578">video</a> </b></i>produced by <i><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj-s_Lv4N7JAhVi7YMKHZyKAHMQFggdMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adirondackmountainproductions.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNH-nYSwEFDNTmHkMQGgi6_rZAa4tA&sig2=XaUTr9bR1Qhvpd-b2GIPjA">Adirondack Mountain Productions</a></i>. The result portrayed life at <i>MRF </i>as pretty close to perfect. Animal activities were recorded and edited to display playful antics. I have watched the video numerous times over the last year, never tiring of the flowing pristine images. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> This year, a stretch of balmy unseasonable weather is in stark contrast with last year's snow globe setting. Never fear, with a little creativity and a large cast of living beings, I think we have conveyed the sentiment of the holidays quite accurately. So curl up on the couch and join us in wishing all of our families, friends and animals a joyous Christmas!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Love, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Rod, Anne and MRF's entire extended human and animal family. Blessings. </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tIUqNrffx2A" width="854"></iframe>Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3976134785082042033.post-81330929684587445732015-11-26T10:45:00.000-05:002015-11-26T23:48:54.742-05:00It Takes a Village<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving,</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For almost thirty years Rod and I have tended to the animals with only a few hiccups in care along the way. A day here and a day there have required help from friends who will stop in to feed horses,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> to check on the homestead or to rescue animals from a thunderstorm in our temporary absence. Vacations require another family to literally move into our house so that the smooth routine can continue at </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">Moose River Farm</i><span style="font-size: large;">. Somehow it all works and I am more and more grateful for this incredible privilege to live with so many animals.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> In August, however, a nagging symptom in Rod's arthritic spine led him to an orthopedic surgeon who confirmed what we already suspected. Scoliosis, spinal stenosis and arthritis were crippling Rod. Major back surgery was the only option to prevent further deterioration and to alleviate chronic pain. Scheduling the operation had to wait several weeks as Rod was already preparing to undergo surgery for a hernia.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> With medical repairs on the horizon, Rod and I were forced to divert our attention from the daily caring of our animals. This was a necessity. Albeit difficult to do, I needn't have worried. Surrounding me at all times is a group of people who can step in and take over without missing a single detail in the barn. Animal routines continued without interruption and I was able to completely concentrate on Rod. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Jean and I are going to come at noon and Vicky will be here late in the afternoon to feed horses dinner. Don't worry about anything here," my friend Michele, (<i><a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2012/04/friends-as-blessings.html">Friends and Blessings</a></i>) affirmed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> After a long day in the hospital and an hour drive both ways, we arrived home where Rod could spend a number of weeks recuperating. The first several days were rough. Managing pain while Rod's body desperately purged the anesthesia made me reluctant to leave him for an extended length of time. My focus remained in the house. Not to worry, the barn purred along under the care of Jean, Michele, Irene and Vicky. Horses were turned out, stalls cleaned, water buckets filled, and dogs walked, whether I was available to help or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> After the first week, Rod began to recover quickly; almost too quickly resuming chores around the farm that had waited impatiently for his return. Our caregivers were quick to reprimand him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Should you be doing that so soon?" inquired Jean, gently when Rod began raking in front of the barn one day less than two weeks after his surgery. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "I have to do something," he replied indicating a sense of boredom waiting around inside the house for his incision to heal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> All things considered, healing from the initial surgery was simple compared to what was to come. Back surgery was scheduled for the middle of October which meant that I would be teaching school; requiring extended days off to take care of my husband. Although Jean and Michele were headed south within days after the surgery they had arranged to step in once again and take over the animal care. Vicky, Irene and another friend, Lynn had cleared the days on their calendars to help. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Once plans were meticulously arranged and everybody confirmed in their designated roles I could finally direct my attention to Rod's needs during what was certain to be a long convalescence. Then the hospital called to reschedule! The new date threw us all into a tailspin. It was after Michele's and Jean's departure dates. Irene's availability decreased due to work. In the end Vicky, (<i><a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2015/02/special-needs-part-i.html">Special Needs I</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.mooseriverfarm.com/2015/02/special-needs-part-ii.html">Special Needs II</a></i>), stepped up to take over the farm duties. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Rod's surgery took eight long hours to realign, readjust and stabilize his spine. Dr. Anthony Lapinski was confident that by taking his time and addressing three separate procedures at one time, Rod would receive a favorable outcome. During the long wait, Vicky came to the hospital to distract me. In the late afternoon she made her way back to the farm to tend 11 horses, 3 dogs, 2 donkeys, 2 goats, 9 chickens and a pig. By the time I arrived home, weary and spent, she was preparing a late dinner for me. Afterwards we tended to evening barn chores. I basked in the presence of my horses, precious rejuvenating beacons at the end of a long and worrisome day. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Over the next three days I was able to teach school and head to the hospital to visit with Rod. Once again the anesthesia was wreaking havoc on his debilitated body making it impossible for him to eat. I was thankful for trained nurses around the clock to assist him through this necessary evil of post- surgery. At home Vicky, accompanied by Irene during the day, kept my animals in the calm of their established routines. It was most comforting to me while feeling fractured from their care at the moment. Evening and morning chores were the only times that I made contact with them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Finally, on Thursday evening, Rod was on his way home to rest and heal in the comfort of our home. Over the next several days we were inundated with phone calls, emails and get well cards from friends and family. Their outpouring was overwhelming and has reminded me over and over again how blessed and lucky we are. From the bottom of my heart I send out my appreciation to all of you during this temporary hiccup in life at <i>MRF. </i>With each and every day Rod is healing towards his full strength; another blessing for which we are grateful. It appears that the most intense moments of this episode are behind us. We look into the future for a cornucopia of possibilities and know that whatever comes our way; we will not face it alone. So thankful for <i>all</i> of you. Love, Anne</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Thank you John and Pam Leach, Lynn Durkin and Jennifer Basile for animal care during Rod's recovery. We are so grateful.</i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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Vicky, (holding her baby Scout), resided at <i>MRF </i>caring for animals so that I could be with Rod in the hospital. </div>
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Thankfully, my dependable caregivers are also horsewomen...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjTnWOxGH3RIJUucgN9xapyU02DnSusrEof9XSnH6w6SylNTz-_0HaXotP4SBWsrwBQQTlnUkfq7R6e10Y-fnpxVnaA2MV5u4nIZhpcoqTdeKWk6ChSaOS7NxDxZ9XmzIlWUfSIDhmvGU/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjTnWOxGH3RIJUucgN9xapyU02DnSusrEof9XSnH6w6SylNTz-_0HaXotP4SBWsrwBQQTlnUkfq7R6e10Y-fnpxVnaA2MV5u4nIZhpcoqTdeKWk6ChSaOS7NxDxZ9XmzIlWUfSIDhmvGU/s320/IMG_2368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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...who love the horses as much as I do.</div>
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My friend Irene, (who boards her horse, Ben, at MRF) frequently cares for the horses in the middle of the day. She calls it her workout!</div>
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A new horsey resident to our area, Jennifer was available to help with the horses mid-day once I returned to my job.</div>
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Jean...</div>
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....and Michele have stepped in to care for the animals countless times over the last twenty-five years. </div>
Anne T. Phinneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09465094626328393042noreply@blogger.com1