03/06/2017
Hi All ! Today, another cold, dreary dismal, cloudy, rainy day here in OH :( It is much Better to see "grass and mud" rather than snow and ice; better that there is little wind here in "The Holler" rather than gale force bone-chilling frigid wind too. We've actually had a fairly 'mild' winter, as opposed the previous few years and each time the snow melts, amazingly there is still Green grass! lol Good for grazing animals; bad for the hay sellers. I am expecting that because of that, we're going have a larger number of creepy crawlies this year than 'normal', such as ticks and other insects. I think that I have probably seen the sun maybe 10 times over the past 4 months :( I miss having a 'tan' ha hah!
The constant long period of typical 'dreary' Ohio weather here combined with very little opportunity to Get Outside to "do" something (other than haul in more wagon loads of firewood for the stove) has taken a toll for sure. But. I remain 'grateful' for it could always be worse, I know! Isolation is not for 'everyone' for sure but if given the choice of either town/city living, I would never leave this 'place' :^) WITH the exception of if I could just become a 'snowbird' for Jan., Feb. and March each year! LOL!
After being totally alone here now (minus certain much loved & invaluable canine companions) I have to admit, my heart aches for the goaties I once had here, ESPECIALLY the kids :^( Next to watching my own when little and playing, there is absolutely Nothing more entertaining than seeing baby kid goats frolicking! I miss watching the running, especially 'sideways' lol, twirling in air, jumping and climbing. And, I miss my girls, their moms. I received word that Julie (Bryson Brook Joyful Julianne), my best milker I ever had here, passed this year. It saddened me that I was not by her side when that happened. I was never notified nor given that chance, but, maybe that was for the best.
Since there are really no 'farm animals' here now (well, not counting my one RP Tom, roo, hen and pair of Magpie ducklings), the view from these floor to ceiling windows remains serene but stark to me, remembering "ALL" the activity that once covered these grounds from one end to the other of this mere 14 acres of land. The 'working' dogs have been 'bored' for having endured such a long period (over two years) of nothing 'to work'. They do however continue to patrol, chase off coyote, etc. and eradicate vermin, snakes and 'other' critters but I believe their consensus now is to allow the deer to come on to the property now, even close-up to the pond for a drink. I have to laugh to myself that they must have decided to make the deer, their much missed goat charges. The ES used to run them off, funny that they now permit them......
From a working dog's perspective, I guess they no longer consider 'deer' a threat to the animals once here. And, adding to that, the 'deer' have ALWAYS been here, since it was 'I' that invaded 'their space by thrashing my way through a quarter mile of thick brush, tarzan swing size vines, brambles and trees in order to make the "driveway" to get up in here lol I do not know if it is because of baby goats always calling out in the past (maw! maw!) that the deer have not felt so threatened as to leave their 'safe haven' and continue their own mating and 'kidding' in certain spots here. I do love seeing the 'Bambi' fawns that are (hopefully) going to be appearing again soon :)
Since I am no longer breeding my awesome working dogs or goaties, Etc......here, (at least for now anyway) I refuse to 'give up' hope and will keep on writing away about what IS left here, who and what's happening in 'our' little world for that is exactly what this little protected area is, laden with wild animals, birds and butterflies. This is where I stood not more than 15 feet away from seeing my first Woodcock Mating ritual, my first Hummingbird mating ritual dance too, which btw, are very similar dances :^) I have a high respect for nature preservation, disturb only what has been absolutely necessarily (place for a house and couple barns) and have left the rest of it heavily wooded and a bit of meadow land.
I can still find crawdaddies in the stream of my spring and that is also where I found my first, "What the heck is THIS" ugly, black, legless creature too. I'd seen plenty salamander, lizards and crawdads in my life, but NOT this thing, somehow missed during my childhood 'creek' exploring days. I guess I never lifted up large enough rocks LOL because that 'thing' quickly prompted an internet search entailing me to discover it nothing but a little 'ol 'mudpuppy' ! Old timers tell me that crawdads and mudpuppies are usually only found in the freshest of water so I guess that cold, refreshing liquid coming out of the side of the cliff-hill here, is pretty pure ;^) There are no 'cattle' nor any other farm animals for many acres away above that, but studies have taught me it still necessary to 'disinfect' said water before drinking because of potential wildlife contamination. A 'secret' of mine is that, yes, there have been times I've enjoyed it LOL and I am Still Alive hah! Still, since my spring water was "developed" out a few years back, and underground pipes bring it to my house water holding tanks up on the hill, I do not 'drink' it until one day, a whole house filter and purifier is installed!
Having started out here as a 'prepper' and living off-grid for from 2006 until 2012 when I 'gave-in' to the local electric power supply company, only after meeting their demands for practically my life savings to 'tie me in', my acquired 'word from the wise ;) is to always try to err on the side of 'caution' about such things like drinking 'wild' water. I do confess though, of occasionally stealing a rare plant but know enough not to 'take it' if found growing 'alone' ;)
I am dedicating this particular post to my precious doe Julie rip sorely missing her loving 'rubs' and smiles. Yes. Goats (at least Nubian dairy goats) DO smile and love their owners ;^) I've been told by others and cannot disagree, Nubians exhibit THE most awesome personalities :^) and she was 'tight' with Me.....sigh...Bless her sweet soul, Mother Nature and God has taken her back :( Two things that are always TRUE; we are Born and we will Die. Life, a Gift not to be taken for granted including coming into our hearts in the from of 'animals' ;^) Photos coming of her and some of what lives on through her by way of the awesome kids she's thrown soon as I upload :^)
Thanks to readers for being a part of my life, even if a 'cyber' one! Until I get Julie's pics uploaded and posted here, leaving you with a memory of how I started out here for my first 7 months :)
