As long as we have been together, Maria and I have begun every day of our lives in the same way. We get up together, just before sunrise, we get dressed and go out to the pasture to feed the animals and spent some time with them. We do this every day, cold or hot, storming or sunny. The animals are always waiting for us at the pasture gate, Maria brings carrots or apples or leftover food. She brushes the donkeys, walks with Chloe, grooms her. She might make a video and I take some pictures. Every day I put up a new photo of the day as it is, a visual journal of our lives.
We bring out hay, fill the water tanks, eyeball everyone’s hooves and eyes and gums. We have always taken good care of our animals, they have almost always been in excellent health. Each one comes up to me, to greet me, check for apples, hope for a hug. I am more detached than Maria, I am often standing back, watching, taking things in, taking photos. Maria’s great love for the animals frees me to stand back a bit, where I am most comfortable.
It takes about a half hour for us to start the day in this way. The rule of any good farm is that the animals eat first, and that is the rule here.When we come into the house, I make breakfast, we sit in the room and talk. The animals are out the window eating their hay, the dogs are tired out from the work and are usually sleeping, even the tireless Fate.
This beginning of the day brings us to nature, to the natural world, to our animals. We see them, talk to them, listen to them. It is grounding, spiritual. I would hate to simply leave the house and drive somewhere to my work, although I respect the people who do that. They make the world go around. It would be hard for me to begin the day in any other way, we have done this for years now, it is an organic and instinctive part of our lives. We never need to talk about it, we just do it.
The dogs get to work the sheep every day of their lives, usually more than once. It opens me up, grounds me, sets the tone for the day and for our work. That relaxes me, I drink my tea or milk, light my candles, and go to work. Red comes into my study, Fate goes off to Maria’s studio. It feels so comfortable.
Maria asked me this morning if I ever thought I would start the day in this way, and I said, not, I did not, but I always wished I could. Sometimes, the syrupy people at Disney are right. Sometimes, dreams do come true, if you believe in them and do not let anything or anyone cause you to let go.