Dream in Shades of Summer

Good Morning,

The endless winter of 2014 is preventing the warm temperatures necessary for spring to burst out of the ground. Its bitter cold grip is inflicting a sense of starvation upon me. How I crave a glimpse of green grass, a crawling insect, or any other mere morsel of life in the Adirondacks on its way to vernal abundance. Until then I can only escape the present by closing my eyes and indulging my senses with what I hunger for the most.

Dream in Shades of Summer

I dream in shades of summer

Through the long gelid winter night

Of green and sun-kissed places

Teeming in life under solar bright

I dream in sounds of summer

Where birds sing a chorus of renew

Leaves chime in gentle breezes

Peepers chirp desire for a mate to run into

 

I dream in scents of summer

Green hay filling up the barn

Earthy loam, milkweed sweet

And ozone before a thunderstorm

I dream in textures of summer

Working the stiff brush I clutch

To reveal the sleek smooth coat

Of every animal I touch

I dream in flavors of summer

Vanilla ice-cream, fruit cobbler and Barbecue

Only allow such rich indulgences

When the body has much work to do

I dream of all things summer

Through bitter nights that never end

While asleep I climb up on my horse
And hit the breezy trail again

We escape the sticky heat and bugs

Follow the meandering Moose River

Visit all our favorite woodsy sites
Now buried beneath a brutal winter

And when the night is over 

The sun creeps towards the dawn

A cold hard jolt of reality 
Shoves me back where I belong

To live through yet another day 
Frozen to my very core

Until I lay me down to sleep, close my eyes and return once more...

To dream in shades of summer

Through the long gelid winter night

Of green and sun-kissed places

Teeming in life under solar bright

Ah, yes.....Summer!

Read aloud from Finding My Way to Moose River Farm

            Good Afternoon,

        The technology of communication offers so many different applications.  Today I am trying my hand, (or voice), at an audio excerpt from Finding My Way to Moose River Farm.  As Rod, the animals and I approach our 10th anniversary here on the farm, it seems only fitting that the first audio recording take place on the first morning of chores in my new barn.  Enjoy!

Home Sweet Home!

Seeing-Eye Donkeys

     Good Afternoon,
     Although March arrived today on the calendar, winter weather is expected to prevail into next week.  Trying to remain optimistic about a warm-up in the air and in my attitude, I constantly search for signs of hope around the farm.  Lately, I haven't had to look far passed the wooden fence outside my back door.  
     Failing eyesight has forced our 29 year old gelding, Sandi, (Just A School Horse), to adapt to a world gone dark.  Watching him learn to compensate is an inspiration to me.  Failure to accept this change in his life is simply not an option.  Therefore, he has had to rely on guidance from our two young donkeys, Bing and Frankie, (Whinnies of Change), to show him the way.  
     Lately, it has become evident that the donkeys are even more aware of their role in Sandi's life.  Both Rod and I watch in awe as this relationship develops out of adversity.  Although it may be different for each of us struggling to survive an endless winter, there is a lesson to be learned from the following video.  Enjoy!
Film Crew; Frankie and Rod Phinney 
Dedicated to the memory of Sherry Grimm a fellow animal lover.