"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." - St. Francis of Assisi , Roman Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans Order

I am a hobby farmer. I love animals. The running joke is that I love them more than most people. I wouldn't go so far as to say "most people," but I do love animals more than those who are mean, those who lie, those who steal, those who don't mind harming people or even hurting their feelings...and that's about the extent of "those anyone doesn't like." Animals are God's gift for us to look at and see, if not how we SHOULD be, then we can see how we COULD be if we lived our lives more like them.
If you are a regular reader of my blog, I talk a lot about my animals. The "antics" part of Annie's Antics often times has a lot to do with funny stories or experiences with my animals. I have a range of them. I have eight goats: Ben, Buster, Grady, Milo, Sophie, Dice, Beau and May. I have two donkeys: Cinnamon a mammoth sorrel jenny and Muffin, her daughter. I have two cats: Tripod (and yes, he only had 3 legs) and Izzy, a hurricane rescue cat we saved during Hurricane Isabel several years ago. We have a lot of dogs! Geordie is the elder statesman of the lot. He is eleven and a half and is a red border collie. Then there's the other red border collies: Darcy, Chris (who's real name is CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY!), Dixie (a rescue from an abusive home) and the son of Dixie and Chris, ROLY, who was named "Roly Poly" as a nickname when he was a new born pup! Changing breeds, we have LUCY, THE WONDER BEAGLE! She too is a rescue. Someone put her out as about a 4 week old puppy on a very busy road in Pamlico county. After watching her run up to cars looking for "anyone" for a few days, we asked around, no one knew where she came from, so she came to live with us.
Now, we have obtained TWO MORE DOGS. I tried get them to go away, but they made it clear they were not going to leave. So, we have Maybelline and Inky added to the menagerie. That's a grand total of EIGHT DOGS! Whew. But I love each and every one of them SO much. They all have totally different personalities and they're so much fun.
These animals enrich and touch my life in so many ways that I couldn't even begin to describe "how." Each one of them has their own space in my heart. Each one has a role that only he or she can fill. Their personalities lift me up, make me laugh and carry me through day after day, even when times are difficult. Of late, I have seen more than I ever dreamed possible in terms of behaviors coming from human beings that animals are not capable of demonstrating. Perhaps predator animals are capable of harm to another animal, but it is within their cycle of life. It is certainly not planned malice. Human predators are another story entirely. That behavior is "chosen" and unacceptable.
I've spent the past several days with my friend Grady the Goat. He has been ill. Very ill. I have stayed awake nights and days to have nurse him constantly since I discovered his belly was distended early on Tuesday morning. There is a condition that goats and other ruminants get called "bloat." It occurs within the complicated physiology of a goat and you can research that yourself. It happens quickly and it can lead to a horrible death if not treated. Then there are the after effects that can occur from bloat that has been treated...and that's where we are now. Grady is in a very vulnerable, weak, "touch and go" place and we're fighting hard together.
Grady is my friend. He has made me laugh, he has entertained me for hours on end, he has made me as mad as a wet hen when he gets into mischief, and he is the "leader" of the other goats. Goats are herding animals. They stick together and make a fascinating community. I have learned so much about "community" from observing them.
I have had to accept losing some of my friends too. I have lost Lupin and Henry, two of my goats. I still miss them today. I am committed to helping Grady. At the time of this writing, he is not doing well at all. I have spent time telling him what he means to me, how happy he makes me and remembering funny stories of all sorts. Grady and I have always seemed to get into all sorts of things together. He listens and doesn't seem irritated by the sound of a voice who loves him.
He has spent the last several nights in the bathroom because the temperature has dipped so low. I wanted to keep his body temperature warm and consistent. He was in terrible shape on Thursday night. I had been in with him and once he was going to sleep, I thought I'd lay down for a few minutes. I heard a tinging of his bell hit the floor and thought he had passed. I jumped and ran to the bathroom only to find Grady standing at the toilet drinking water! I laughed at him and he just looked at me like I was nuts. He seemed to be improving. I felt well enough on Friday, Halloween afternoon, about leaving him to go out to dinner and when we got back he had moved to another spot. I felt encouraged by that and decided he had gone to the goat shed with the rest of the goats. Wayne and I were happy to see he had moved around.
As I was getting things together to check on him and give him his medications, I kept hearing a bell tingling. (Grady and Dice are the only two goats that still have their bells. The others have lost theirs and I haven't replaced them.) I kept hearing this "ting, ting, ting," going on as I changed into my work clothes. I went to the door and was astonished to see, coming up the front steps, GRADY! I guess he thought I had forgotten to come and get him, so he came to me! He, in fact, was our ONLY "trick-or-treater!" I was completely stunned and over the moon! I was yelling for Wayne to come quick, adding, "You'll never believe this!" And he couldn't! I opened the front door and in walks Grady. He never paused. Walking into the room, he turned left to go down the hallway, then he took a right, going straight into the bathroom and stood there. We howled with laughter. "That's Grady." He has always been very decisive in what he wants to do. He seems to have reason and is able to make decisions. HE WANTED TO COME INTO THE HOUSE, SO HE CAME TO US. He knew exactly where to find us. Even weak, sick and certainly not himself, he wanted comfort and he knew exactly where to find it.
As people, are we that willing to let our friends and family know our needs? I doubt it over all. First of all, no one wants to be a bother. Second of all, WE don't take the time we should to study the behaviors of those around us and OBSERVE that they might be in need and reach out. We are too self-serving, too absorbed in our own worlds and we do not look beyond that. Consider how much LOVE you miss in not giving of yourself and reaching out to others in need. It's not easy. People think you are weird. In fact, I have even been called "WEIRD" for completely dedicating myself to another human being who was gravely ill and NEEDED love, support, attention and affection.
I'll be weird from now on if that's what "love" is...and happily so.
Part of my love for animals is their acceptance of whatever comes their way. They accept love, they accept our failures as humans, they simply "live and love." A CARDINAL RULE of keeping livestock and maintaining healthy happy animals is that you MUST take the time to OBSERVE THEM and to KNOW THEM. If not, you won't know when they have a need. How much observing do we REALLY even do in our marriages, our families and our other relationships?
That's a HUGE question and a hard one to answer honestly, isn't it?
I don't know what will happen with Grady. I know I will keep doing what I know to do and I will keep telling him I love him and I will do all I can to help him.
I encourage you to take a good close look at how you respond to others. Do you observe them? I mean REALLY observe them, notice their nuances so when anything IS out of whack, you can pick up on it and offer help, or an ear or friendship or comfort.
Understand that we are ALL creatures of God. He loves us one and all. For me it is hard to differentiate loving my neighbor, whether it's a canine or a bovine or a feline or a human being. "Love is love." You cannot turn your heart away from those in need and feel very good about yourself.
I thank God for all I learn every day from my animals. I hope with all my heart that Grady makes it. I have so much more I want to see him get into. Even in his illness, he is teaching me about observing, love, gratitude, patience and even acceptance. I will let you know how things turn out with my friend Grady. He's SUCH a character. I'm not ready to let him go.
The bigger meaning in all of this, however, is to LOVE.
Just love. Then no matter what happens in life, I think you're much more prepared to deal with difficult things when they do come your way when your heart is free to love.
...I'm now going to check on my friend Grady and tell him again that he is loved. No time to proof read! You can correct my errors as an exercise in "observing." (grin!)

Till next time,
Annie

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March 1 was a great day for Wayne and me. After having battled this evil FLU thing for what seems to be an eternity, we headed out early to Hyde County. It's beautiful country up there and always a pleasure to visit. I was performing in "MUSIC ACROSS THE SOUND," which has always been a great time among wonderful folks. The folks in Hyde county are always so generous and kind to us. They put out a spread like you would not believe!!! There was enough food to feed an army...and to tell you the truth, some of us musician types are known to have hefty appetites, so we were more than thrilled with the selections! I wanted to start with desert because there were amazing cakes, pies, cookies and loads of yummy treats. I behaved and had dinner first. But I am a firm believer in the saying "Life is uncertain...eat dessert first!" My friends Gary and Kitty Mitchell and David Tweedie were there, my good buddy Gerald Hampton and his new treasure (thanks for accompanying me Gerald!) Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro and their brand new baby girl Charlotte, Jamie Tunnel, Earl Carrawan, Rodney Kemp and others were there. It's like a big family reunion of sorts. Also, our dear friends Martha and Gene Myers came over on their way back from Raleigh. The concert was held is the GORGEOUS Providence Methodist Church. It is known as the "Church that was moved by the Hand of God." Dick Tunnel (Jamie's dad) gave the audience the wonderful story how how the church came to its present location today.
The audience was so warm and welcoming. They are ALWAYS warm and welcoming, for that matter. We have done this same show at Mattamuskeet and I have loved it there each time, but there was just "something" about performing in such a beautiful historic church.
I am blessed with talented friends, warm neighbors in the counties north of here and good friends.
When we returned to Washington, we spent the night at my parent's place and we made a visit to Frieda. She was very happy to see us and we were happy to see her. I HAVE TO SHARE SOME NEWS! She looked right at me and SAID...MEANING VOCALIZED..."ANNE." She grinned like a Cheshire cat! It was like she was holding in this BIG surprise! Then she said "WAYNE" and just laughed! We were thrilled. I was in tears and we were high 5'ing all over the place. Today, was so wonderful to have time together with Frieda, Wayne, Martha and Gene. Frieda said several words and is working SO VERY HARD.
I am asking those of you who read the blog to PLEASE pass this good news. Frieda is working hard. She has great support from her caregivers and she is trying SO HARD.
On specifically THREE different occasions over the past week, I have been told that by folks asking about Frieda "that they HEARD" she is a VEGETABLE! She is a HUMAN BEING. She has problems to overcome, but she is certainly no vegetable and that is so hurtful. Bad news seems to travel and keep going and going. The good news is that FRIEDA can type, she can drive herself around in her own power chair, she can engage in conversation and all that is needed from visitors is patience and an extension of love and encouragement to Frieda as she continues to heal.
TIME is the answer and just know that Frieda is in this to WIN and in it for the long haul. Please continue to pray for Frieda
and just know that vegetables are for steaming and eating. We have actually joked about it though. Frieda said it was ok to let readers know that ASPARAGUS is her favorite vegetable, so if she must be labelled a "vegetable," she would like to be ASPARAGUS! SEE? That caustic sense of humor is still perfectly in place.
GO FRIEDA GO! She's going to do great things folks...so just keep praying for her energy and strength to push forward.
Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate all of you as readers.
Also, once again a HUGE THANK YOU to all of those who put together "MUSIC ACROSS THE SOUND!" I thoroughly enjoyed myself and singing for you was completely my pleasure.
Till next time,
Annie

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