Thanks to the rain that arrived at last to our drought-ridden land, the earth is beginning to turn green again.
Quanyin in the bird garden
During the days of downpour, I stayed out in the most welcome rain long after finishing the animal chores, happy to get soaked. The dogs, ever loyal companions, came with me. Earlier they had been romping in a pool that appeared overnight in the old foundation beyond the barn. They leapt and splashed and wrestled and got thoroughly, joyously wet. They are so big now (90 pounds each) I sometimes forget they are still puppies.
Giving thanks for the rain and also for the barn, where I know the animals are weathering the storm in comfort. I am able to relax in my own warm and dry shelter, knowing they are warm and dry in theirs. What a relief! I used to feel uneasy during storms, knowing
Barn breakfast
(photo by Regina Kretschmer)
the floor of the barn might be turning to muck as water seeped in. And now when it is raining, the animals can eat their meals out of the wet. They all prefer open-air dining, though, so I feed them under the barn porch roof rather than in the stalls. It warms my heart to see the donkeys, horses, and sheep sharing the hay on dry ground while the rain feeds our thirsty earth beyond the porch.
Daisy, Merlion, Perseus, and Pegasus
The dogs are usually hanging around close by. It is clear that all are family. The dogs are almost as tall as the miniature horses now, and still growing!
We had some unexpected visitors recently. I was in my dining room talking on the phone when I looked out the window and saw a mother bear walking up the driveway, with two bear cubs gamboling along behind her. What a wonderful sight. I dropped the phone and ran outside to make sure none of the animals were anywhere near the bears. The donkeys were standing with ears straight up, all looking in the bear direction. Merlion must have smelled the bears then because he raced into the pasture next to the driveway, barking furiously. Fortunately, mama and her cubs were already out of sight on the other side of the fence. Not sure what our brave champion would have done otherwise, but I’m hoping his instincts warn him not to approach a mother bear.
Joyous days on the sanctuary as we head toward Winter Solstice.
