Month: February 2013

It has been a long time since we’ve been on vacation and I was spurred to take it easy this weekend this afternoon when I was wrestling Susie, one of her sheep, so we could hold her still to change her coat to keep it clean for yarn. I was by the manure pile, and it was slippery and muddy and my feet went out from under me and I fell backwards into the large and muddy and stinky manure pile while holding the sheep with my crook. Susie jumped on me while Maria jumped on her to try and get her off of me, Maria was afraid she would walk on my head or face.

She slid off of me and I sunk keeper into the pile of very wet and soggy manure we shovel out of the barn every night. Quite the smelly mess. Had to get all of my clothes off and into the washer and dryer but I will be smelling that manure for awhile, and my back was feeling the fall. Maria was quite heroic leaping onto the sheep. This is the sort of thing that happens on a farm from time to time, although it is a humbling reminder to take a short breather. I did not get hurt, other than a sore back and it could have been worse – the manure pile was quite soft. I’m going to wind it for a day or so, unplug devices, read, go to movies, meditate and Sunday, Maria and I are going to our hideaway inn in Vermont for one night. Hopefully I’ll smell better. This is not my first fall into a manure pile, perhaps my third or fourth. As the go, a good one.

Remembering Rocky and Red, one of the most touching animal friendships I have seen. For several months, Red was Rocky’s eyes, helping guide the blind and aging pony through the pasture.

Maria and I looked at one another this morning, and we both realized the same thing at the same time. We are both worn out. The last six months have been among the most intense of my life – moving, waiting to sell Bedlam Farm, dealing with a new home, money, the blog, the animals and chores on the new farm, my next book, my e-books and a new and profoundly satisfying level of spiritual work and progress.

Some researcher found that because of the information assault, we make more decisions in a week than our grandparents made in a year. I think this so, times two or three. I am doing more, in more different ways, taking photos, writing on the blog, managing a social media structure that now siphons  easily more than 1,000 messages and e-mails a day into my computer.  I am writing several e-book originals, publishing a paper book – Frieda – this October (we are revising the cover, which I will put up when it’s finished) and writing a book about Simon, Rocky and Red for 2014. Sometimes it makes me dizzy. All of these elements grow and change constantly. (And I’ve decided to do an e-book original of my photographs, and I will call it “Light And Love From Bedlam Farm.”

And exciting time, for sure, and a creative time. But my brain is frying, and so I’m taking Maria and running off for a day or so to catch our breath and just be still. I will be around until Saturday, then gone until Monday. We need it, for sure. My brain needs it.

I love what I do – all of it – but every now and then the muse smacks me upside the head and says go take some quiet breaths. I’ll be blogging through Saturday, but quieting down and silent Sunday and Monday. Give everybody else a rest too.

Found this wishing well in Granville, N.Y. Nobody was home, so I didn’t go on the property to make a wish. Maybe next time.

Took Red to hardware store to get some caulking for the dining room wood floors. He likes to visit Kerrie, who has a bucket of biscuits.