Wind

A Pino Pondering

The Great Pig Breakout

Anytime a new animal comes on board, there is a certain amount of chaos and the settling in period is usually stressful for everyone, including the farmers.

Yesterday was such a day. If it hadn't been so amusing - I kept imagining it as a Cary Grant movie - I would have sat down and cried. After several break outs, Lucy finally found the apple orchard and once she knew there was an apple orchard, well, that's when the fun really began..

In all fairness to Big Pig, she is at a new home, without her group of pigs, she is in heat, and she is big. Really big. She's smart, really smart. And she's just trying to figure it all out.

She is personable. When she breaks out, I think it is to genuinely see what's on the other side, and check the farm perimeters. She cruised down to the lavender field but came a running when I called. She genuinely likes people, and likes me. I led her back to her paddock but she cruised into the orchard and...well, you can watch the movie. Rather than panic, I decided it was best to just go with the pig flow, and capture it on film. Eventually I put her in a stall which she broke out of but I reenforced it and managed to keep her in all afternoon while I made changes to the fence and added hot wire to the side she kept getting out of.

She went out and made it through the night, but as we lay in bed at 6AM Martyn heard wood breaking, and then I heard grunts outside my window, some 300 feet from the pig paddock.

I lay in bed and called out, "Big Pig?"

"Grunt, snort" Lucy replied.

I must confess that seeing her large mass outside the window was sort of cool, even if I knew in a matter of minute she could wallow into any area and ruin fences.

She's a steam roller.

So back I went to do more fixes to the fence, and then I had to leave the farm for a riding lesson. As I drove back up the drive 2 hours later, I kept looking for a large brown mass - but she was still in her paddock. The wire had held her...and as I write she is still inside her area.

The Dirt Farmer and I will once again work on the fence this weekend, and bring in pig panel and even more hot wire. The thing is, I really like Big Pig. And I always think of Paco and how long it took for him to settle, and I almost gave up. But I'm so glad I didn't.

So Lucy had a bad day, but in some ways it was fun to be part of it. A good glass of red wine at night and I can take anything.

Hippopotomamius has landed

She has landed in all her 500 pound glory. Her arrival was calm and welcome. She hopped out of the trailer like it was no big deal and trotted into her new private pasture with her new house waiting for her big piggie feet.

Now this is a pig. I can assure you of that. The barnyard is still under the belief that a Hippopotomamius is here and I am staying out of it. I can understand the confusion, for the only pig they know is little Rosie. Rosie is about the size of one of Lucy's hind legs.

Yes, her name is Lucy and she is a beautiful girl. She could no longer be bred, but she was the first breeding sow of a local farm and they wanted to find her a forever home of retirement if they could, rather than the alternative. She had served them well and I am so glad I was able to help. At first I was a bit nervous about the issues that might arise with such a large animal, and one that can take out a gate if it really wants to get to an apple on the other side, but after even one hour with her, I am in love.

She is much different personality wise than my little grumpoluposaus Rosie, and it is a nice contrast. Lucy is more like a huge dog who follows me around and comes to sit by me in the hut. She is a thinker, where as Rosie is a dreamer.

There is much to learn about her and many stories to emerge. For now, she is in her private area and barnyard introductions will be made slowly. Boone shares a fence line with her and he was intrigued. Itty Bitty has already taken walks though Lucy's pasture and in time I'm sure she will have many friends. I have already enjoyed watching her take a mud bath, something little Rosie seems uninterested in.

Do not fret about little Rosie, I have already told her she is and will always be, my first little pig.

Lucy will be eating 3-6 pounds of food a day, so feel free to sponsor Lucy or others if you feel so inclined.

Hippopotomamius is coming

It's all over the barnyard that a new hippopotomamius is arriving. Paco especially is enamored with this idea because he is always being told he has a bubble bottom and is excited another bubble bottom will be here now.

This pumpkin with a note was near the front studio door when I went to do barn feedings this morning. Paco has been quietly guarding the pumpkin patch for a month now and he is very protective of his pumpkins. So this was a very big thing for Paco to share a pumpkin with the new hippopotomamius. Stay tuned.

Little polk-a-dot pig pajamas

Little pig spends her time napping which leads to dreaming which leads to flying out windows to far away forests, accompanied by dragonflies as her accomplice.

From cat to man and woman, to old man and goat

A couple's beloved pet cat fell ill and it was discovered he had cancer. So they opted to treat the cat with chemo. They visited the cat each and every night of his stay at the vet as he went through treatment, sharing their memories and love with him. One night, they got a call that the cat had quit breathing, and they rushed in to say their final goodbyes before he was euthanized. The vet bill was very high and they now had to start replenishing their savings.

Soon after, the couple went to the hardware store to purchase items to make a proper burial marker for their beloved cat. The woman waited in the car and she saw an older man struggling to strap a heavy welding tool he'd purchased to the back of his bicycle. Nobody was stopping to help, so the woman approached him. Even she was unable to help the man, and when her husband arrived he suggested they drive the man home and then return for the bike and then drive the bike back to the man. This was a good hour back and forth and the older man felt grateful, but insisted on giving them $20, but the couple refused the money.

After the couple returned home, the woman flipped back her seat to retrieve a bag and there was the $20 bill where the old man had secretly tucked it.

Even though they had their own vet bill to recoup, she wanted to pass the small donation onward, and thought about her local Animal Welfare Society - but while reading her favorite blogs, she came upon my story of Lofa, and passed it on to me, sharing this story.

She never got the man's name, but sent a note to the building manager who said he would pass on her note that his money was now helping an old goat in need.

A cat named Blue shared a life of love with two people I never met, who help an old man who helps them, and that helps a little goat and her caretaker far way in Oregon. The circle of love, I'd say.

Chickens prepare for Halloween

Each year, the barnyard begins tossing around ideas for Halloween costumes and tactics to spook one another. Here Chicken Named Dog creates a perfect Chicken Without a Head costume.

Their is a sense of macabre in many of their ideas and I get a lot of requests from The Head Troll for red food coloring and black cloth. I try not to interfere.

Post Drawing Day Donkey Nap

The donkeys once again were wonderful models and companions for the small group that ventured to Apifera this weekend to draw and commune with them.

Matilda, as always, seems to have an innate gene for communing. As always, the guests talked about her soulful eyes and old but beautiful posture.

We had perfect weather and the Chess Pie at the end of the session was spot on...if I may say do myself. Rosie put on a show with her unique communication style and I was glad to see Lofa out and about too as we sat in the barnyard after the session.

These Drawing sessions are evolving and I learned that it's difficult to translate the online techniques of the workshop's gestural drawing to the on site drawing sessions. I think it is more important to focus on the quiet communing and healing of the animals, and then offer my simple instructions in the beginning of each session to help people focus on 'seeing' intently with purpose.

While there is no photo taking allowed during the session, two guests took these lovely pics. Matilda provided a sound base of hugs, and after the session, the donks were ready for a nap. It's hard work being a healer and model!

Lofa rebounds!

Raggedy man shows off his ZZ Top Moment as Little Lofa stand by.

Little Lofa has rebounded and is eating like a little vacuum cleaner to make up for lost time. For the last week he has eaten well and shown much more strength. He still has white eyes though but I swear I'm seeming a teeny bit of pink.

He still runs the risk of getting knocked down and having trouble getting up, but I've been watching and the couple of times he was accidentally pushed over, he stayed upright and could get up. His runny nose seems better too and his personality is back, as he greets me with his little Lofa love bleats at morning feedings.

I think after trying so hard to save Aunt Bea, and then have this happen to Lofa just brought it all back home - I'm just one person with two hands and one heart. You can only do your best - with your vet at your side - when you take on a creature that didn't have the best nutrition in the pas. Lofa is getting up there in years, turning 8 next spring, but I'm glad New Moon got him when they did, and we in turn could help.

SO thank you again to everyone that helped Lofa! He felt the love and so did Apifera.

The magpies escourted his fur

I just completed a commission of a client's beloved dog, Dylan, who is still thriving at age twelve but has entered his senior years.

I always ask people to write as much or as little about their pet before I create the art for a pet portrait. I have never failed to read something inspiring or magical in one of these brief bios - so many memories and so much love comes out from the human. In this case, it was the image of the magpies swooshing around, waiting for the soft fur to float in the air while Dylan's owner brushed him.

Sometimes Dylan will retreat and sit on the grave of his long time friend, Cam, and I felt he needed to be part of the piece too.

The owner was moved to tears when she opened the portrait and saw Dylan looking at her. I took that as a very good sign - when I was working on the art, as I always do, I just kept calling out, whispering really, for Dylan. I think when I got done I saw or felt that Dylan is in between realms right now - but he is still alive and well, he is just nearing his next float. I have done art of my own animals when I know they are nearing - or I think they are close - to the end. It is really more of a way for me to mourn the The art always shares some truth in it, I've found, some basic truth about our own feelings or fears, or the simple reality of the situation. It is one step to letting go, before the real letting goes is thrust on us.

I was honored to work with Dylan, and hope he has a lot more days ahead with his human.

The accepting ones

I started out the morning task of worming the flock in a chipper mood. I had my flock just about in their holding pen without a snafu when the Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys gang - that would be the menagerie of crippled and small statured goats led by The Head Troll - stepped upon the scene. Determined to place themselves securely in the same holding pen as my flock, my calm mood soured.

Sourness led to down and out tartness as the ducks, led proudly by old Priscilla the goose, also entered the fray.

"Surely there must be food in that bucket she carries," they quacked.

"I shall investigate," said the Pig.

By now my morning had become a chaotic mess and as I was swallowed by a myriad of feet all around me, I tripped on a bucket. This caused half the flock to scatter, and left me bruised in spirit and skin.

I am flawed. The one place I know I can be flawed and not be judged is in the barnyard. No matter what I say out of frustration - the faces that greet me seconds later show acceptance. I was going to say forgiveness, but I don't believe they ever enter a period where they judge me.

This does not mean I don't try to be the best I can be with my animals. I do, I really do. But I can be tired or rushed like anyone, and they take the worst of it sometimes in my frustrated words to the wind and walls.

I like to think all my songs I sing them, and left over salad, apples, back rubs, and love-ins make up for my falls from human grace. This face of one of the yearling ewes seems to say it does.

Perfect chicken timing

It was if I was meant to look up right at this moment, when red metal, cobweb and white hen all orchestrated a pose of balance.

Duck Days of September

The winds have been here all day - and since we don't have any outstanding forest fires in the area, I can say they are welcome, blowing the warm air around feathers, hay strands, and a farmer's braids.

I went to the barnyard to see if there were any worthy photo opportunities, but ended up sitting with the ducks and chickens and a smattering of goats around the makeshift compost hay pile - which doubles as a bed for pig, goat and fowl. I had planned to move it to the 'real' compost area, but the animals enjoy the warmth that emanates from it so much, I keep putting it off. First threat of rain and I'll scramble to move it.

The wind and warmth combined with crisp, fallen leaves and the ripe scent of grapes and unpicked blackberries always takes me back to being in one of our childhood homes - my favorite childhood home - a small 5 acre parcel cut out of a larger country estate. There I had a myriad of paths into forests - or forests to me, they were more or less groves of sumac - where I could retreat and explore on my own clock. I can still feel that place and I remember the smell of the small cottage as it was the day we moved in - a combination of outside air mixed with vintage linoleum counters. It was the beginning of Apifera in some ways - there were white dilapidated pasture fences, old barns and horses in the distance, ducks and geese graced the nearby pond. I had space there.

So I sat on the concrete with the fowl today, on my own clock. I wasn't making any money doing it - just like I wasn't earning a dime as that five year old back on my old homeland - but I was deep in feeling.

Official barnyard business

Paco's Henrietta Crossing

As you might know if you follow along here, Paco is our resident worrier. And the autumn winds bring out many worries all at once - he's worried about keeping the pumpkin patch safe [even though I've fenced it hoping it would soothe him], he is sewing elaborate costumes to protect himself from inexperienced bow hunters, and now, with the arrival of Henrietta, he is worried about her safety since she does not have the smarts of a country chicken.

I assured Paco that Henrietta would have to wonder quite far down the road to get to the busy rural road, but he still insisted on creating a special Henrietta Crossing for the new hen. He also has written her a special poem that he insists she memorize to help her keep safe:

"The road is the wide and full of trucks

It makes worms flat and kills the ducks."

"She is citified, it will take her time, perhaps forever, to act like a hen born under the open sky and moon," said Paco.

I hugged Paco and thanked him, for I am very fond of Henrietta.

Update on little Lofa

Lofa's blood test for Johnes came back negative. This is a huge relief as there is no cure or treatment.

Now I just need to keep slowly trying to get energy into him to get those red blood cells reproducing again. An iron shot today for good measure. A little propyl glycol for a few more days.

He's still slow to eat, but is eating. Still weaker than he should be. But this could be a month or more. Of course there could be hidden reasons - tumors or cancer - but we will proceed with positivity and except what we get knowing we have done our best. It takes time to get that blood working right again. I did learn from my vet - and had read this = that just because you have a negative fecal doesn't mean there isn't an overload of parasite in an animal. Since Lofa came from a previous horm where his worming might have been zilch or lax, he still could have been treated by New Moon [which he was, they always worm and delice arrivals and keep them quarantined for observation] and showed up here with worms. He also had another but of topical sucking lice which I treated about a week before the vet came, but I might not have been aggressive enough since at that time he was healthy.

So I will be keeping my eye on this love called Lofa. He gets plenty of hugs and atention!

Thanks to everyone who chipped in to help! [Lofa is too weak to send out his thank you gifts, but I put Raggedy in charge, chaperoned by The Head Troll. Expect them in a week or two].

Another offering from Pino

Love for little Lofa needed

Lofa is still not well and is on his fifth day of medication and shots. I am just heartsick about this one. The vet was here on Wednesday and we haven't gotten the blood results back but are treating him for what we hope is just anemia from worm overload and prior malnutrition.

Lofa came to us via our friends at New Moon Goat Farm and Rescue. He and his herd [including little Raggedy Man] were relinquished by the breeder/owner. I do not know the whole story - one never does in these cases - but I do know they were mismanaged, loaded with worms and lice, had signs of rot and were very thin. Raggedy arrived a sack of bones and I'm really pleased he is putting on weight, his coat is much better as is his skin. They had been at New Moon for a couple months and the lice and worms had been taken care of.

But Lofa started declining a week ago. I didn't wait to call the vet on this one. After my experience with Aunt Bea - another malnourished rescue who sadly couldn't pull through despite heroic efforts on the part of the vet, Bea and myself - I knew anemia can take a malnourished goat down pretty fast. He's been getting daily shots of B12 and penicillin as well as we've hit him hard with daily oral wormers.

He is standing, but last week he couldn't get up when he was pushed over at feeding. This morning I sensed he was a hair better, but he mainly just stands in what I call 'the sick goat stance'. His hair is puffed up due to the anemia, although I felt that was better today too. He is still not finishing all his ration.

I once told a vet that I wanted to be a place that could take in hospice animals, since vets or sanctuaries often don't have the man power to hospice animals. Once again, the intention I released tot he universe has been brought to me. I do believe that I somehow attract certain animals that simply need a place to feel safe so they can die. Not every animal that comes here is dying, but many have been due to old age and malnourishment or a combination of the two. I always tell a sick animal it is okay to move on if they need to. But I told Lofa I want him to fight with me and live.

Raggedy is quite sweet too - his face reminds me of an angelic painting. He checks on Lofa regularly and sleeps with him too.

If you'd like to help defray Lofa's vet bill, please do so. Lofa will feel the love.

Gift Levels

No gift $5.00 USD Lavender gift $25.00 USD Art card $25.00 USD

Nonsense Song to The Pig

Besides drawing and learning to slow down and 'see', the Online Workshop has a lot of 'play' in it, as a way to warm up and also a way to get people to self entertain and let the internal muse get some exercise.

One way to entertain your muse, sing a Nonsense Song, such as this one I sang to my pig. Now if you don't have a pig, you can sing one to anything or anyone.

You come to this world with an imagination. It seems like some people - due to life's load and hard knocks, shut it down. Or maybe they grew up in a setting where using your imagination was frowned on as a control tactic. I truly believe we are here with these gifts - and out of respect to ourselves and the world, and this realm, we should exercise them.

Learn more about the workshop and sign up today! 

It's another, "I was minding my own business" story

You know the routine, I was minding my own business last week, mulling over which wormer to buy at the feed store. Content with my choice, I meandered up to the check out counter at my small local feed store where every knows your name, or at least what route number you live on.

A very nicely attired - at least for the feed store - gentleman of about sixty came in with a box in his hands, the kind of box you would buy a large quantity of Xerox paper in, say 16" x 14" or so.

The two regulars behind the counter, and I, all looked at him as he shyly said he had a chicken and that so and so who worked there had agreed to take it off his hands. But she wasn't working this particular day.

Now everyone at this store has plenty of chickens, as do I, so it's not like we all jumped at the chance to perhaps intervene and take the chicken.

"Is it a rooster?" I asked, usually the case when someone wants to rehome a chicken.

"No, it's a hen..." he said rather sheepishly.

"Why are you giving her away?" I asked.

"She keeps getting out into the neighbor's yard and into my vegetables and I just can't put fencing up. She's free range," he said. "She gets into everything."

Now, this is where I wanted to say, "You're free ranging a chicken in your yard, without fencing anywhere, and you now realize she will go in your garden, and your neighbors?" Just one of many reasons animal sanctuaries all over are overrun with chickens.

Anyway, he seemed to be a very nice man, at least in the five minutes I knew him, and I sensed his city neighbor was the main issue in this matter. He wasn't a farmer type and didn't have a network of chicken homes to reach out to, so he came to the feed store. He claimed she might have to become a picnic if he didn't give her to someone. We all knew this guy was not capaable of the deed or he would have done it already.

The girls behind the counter asked me if I wanted the chicken.

The entire time, I was thinking, "I do not need to take this chicken, step away from the chicken, someone has already said they'd take this chicken, you do not need to help every chicken that crosses the road..."

But then I went and asked him just what kind of chicken was in that closed box of his.

"An Astrolup," he said.

My heart raced.

"I'll take her," I said, without even looking at her.

"I don't know if she still lays, but she's nice," he said.

He seemed almost sad about giving up the chicken, but also resigned to not leaving with her, or the box.

"I've always wanted an Astrolup," I said, and we peeked in the box. She was a beautiful coco color.

I clucked to her all the way home, leaving people at stop signs bemused.

Now, if I had been to the feed store one minute earlier, or later, I would have missed the chance. Surely it was destiny, for both hen and woman.

And can I tell you, she is a fabulous hen. Very tame, which makes me think the man really did care for her and like her. I told him how good she'd have it here, and that she would die a natural death here by nature, not by anyone's hand.

I never asked him if she had a name. But I call her Henrietta.

Elder gentleman in transition

Perhaps one of the most memorable visits I had at Sanctuary One was with an old ram, well into his senior years. It was a hot day, and he had taken refuge in a barn, with another senior fellow. I met him in the morning and vowed to return later in the day to try to capture him in photos. He had a gentle, beautiful essence, one that seemed resigned to his stage of life without regret.

When I returned hours later, he was lying in basically the same spot, but his head was turned and I couldn't really do well with the light or the specific camera lens I had on. But I found these images very telling and spiritual.

He never opened his eyes during his long nap, but I did speak at length to him and rubbed his ears and forehead. Communing with him was very nice and I know he is transitioning into his next big journey.

I swear, I didn't take a cow in

The Dirt Farmer and I snuck away from the farm, for - Heaven forbid - three whole days.

Collective gasp from the barnyard!

It was much needed and well deserved. Leaving the farm is one of the most stressful things about living here for me. The details of first finding a reliable farm sitter [and I'm hoping this one sticks because she had fun and seemed to really like it,and we love her too] and then creating the lists and details for that farm sitter is enough to create a need for a vacation from the pre-vacation.

We wanted to take a trip to one of our favorite spots in Oregon - the Jacksonville area near Ashland near the California border. Not only is the energy suited for me, the rivers are full of fish for Martyn and it also is where Sanctuary One is located, Rosie and Stevie's old home.

I spent a day visiting with Robert Casserly at the Sanctuary, meeting all the animals, like Cream, a beautiful cow who had spent her life donating blood and is now retired at the Sanctuary. I met the three "little" pigs [this is Sanctuary One humor, as the pigs are huge boats - maybe 500-800#?] and we gave one a dirt/mud bath and massage. Now that's a vacation! I also got to see all the wonderful new things they've accomplished in one year since we picked up Rosie and Stevie. A new Cat Cottage to help house 15 cats - most are the least likely to be adopted from large shelters due to their handicaps or color. They have a wonderful chicken coop made out of straw bales. The gardens were ripe with produce and herbs. And the place was buzzing with smiling volunteers and happy visitors [and animals]. Imagine if more farms could create one cat cottage, or one goat area and take on 5 of each to help animals reside in more natural settings until homes are found for them.

Sanctuary One is a 'care farm', a concept that is well known in Europe but is still new to the States. I was attracted to The Sanctuary because of this concept [a blessing, as it brought me to Rosie, and Stevie]. The idea is that people, animal and land are working together in an equal, tandem relationship to heal, teach and thrive - no one entity is put on a pedestal. I also was able to drop off a couple of prints to Robert of Rosie and Stevie which he is donating to the Sanctuary. He was generous in helping fund my "Misfits of Love" Kickstarter project.

I always considered our time here at Apifera as such. I do not consider myself an animal rescuer, but rather, a person that is open to those creatures in need that come my way and see me as a safe spot to live or be hospiced - this includes plants and often people. But I feel I am working in tandem with nature and the laws and forces of the universe to walk with, support, improve, and heal land, people and animals - and that work helps bring healing to me.

It's a wonderful organization - a very positive glow engulfs the place and people.

Rides with Boone

It has been the summer of "Me & Boone". I made a firm decision that I would ride more, learn more, and enjoy more Boone time. And I did. I had been duffing around for the first three years I owned him, taking him out on a road ride a week - but the cars, the unknowns started adding up and I became less confidant. He felt it and responded with some lazy or unreliable responses. And when a log truck is rolling down the road, you want to know your horse responds to your leg and gets "Over now".

So, I invested in a small horse trailer - it fits Boone perfectly - and I invested in renting time at a nearby barn and arena where Boone and I can go ride year round under cover, and then ride the beautiful 100 acre homestead that has been groomed for the horse riders in the barn. The owner is eighty and still rides and she has become a wonderful horse companion, teacher, mentor and inspiration to me. She sits and watches me and Boone ride and it has helped my confidence immensely.I never thought I could afford this, but I found this wonderful opportunity in my own backyard. Oddly, when we first moved here, I used to drive by the property and admire the quaint, somewhat raggedy property and old house and wondered who lived there. It spoke to me every time I drove by. I should have acted sooner.

I never thought I'd get into dressage, but here I am taking my first dressage lessons at 54. And I love it. Every two weeks, a teacher arrives for me and Boone. My goals when I started riding there were to get Boone to move forward better, and have a steady trot. That was it. We managed that quickly with riding more. He had other little quirks we worked on - he had been taking advantage of my lack of confidence and week leg. When I look back, he was a horse with me on top. Now I feel we are much more a team, but I am leading. I still have a lot to work on, but it has been the most rewarding experience to come this far with him.

It is like falling in love all over with the same person - working with him allows me to understand him more and more, and I feel I am clearer for him now too. One of my favorite times is to let him loose in the arena, and sit down somewhere on the ground. In seconds, not minutes, he comes and stands with me, in silence.

I took this picture yesterday on top of the homestead property. When I got home, I realized it was the same spot I felt compelled to take a picture in on a previous ride in June. I will have to take another come autumn.

There is nothing better than picking blackberries on top of a horse, and sharing them with him. Thank you, Boone, you carry me so well - long may we ride.

Daisy, oh, Daisy

Rosie arrived at Apifera with her mother, Rosie, in 2004. They were the building matriarchs of our current flock. We lost Rosie much too young in The Spring of Death, and it has meant Daisy as become even more precious to me over the years.

I retired her two seasons ago and she is on to her 10th year. I checked her teeth last night and she is down to only two in front, but has kept her weight on despite some arthritic hips.

Daisy has helped nurture us through her offspring. She has nurtured the land and soil by grazing and spreading her manure - all this without asking. She has earned her place as head of the flock and even though she is not the alpha of the herd, she is respected.

She will spend the rest of her days under Apifera sky, surrounded by generations of her clan. Someday she will return to the under earth to feed the millions of creatures that live their. She'll live on in the worms and insects and soil. Nothing will go to waste.

Dirt Farmer and Farmess

Nine years ago I married Martyn. How would we know what lied in store for us?

Every day I ask the sky to bring him home safely. I still love hearing the sound of his car coming up the gravel road. He is truly the most gentle person I know.

I am soaking it all up. All around me I see people that lose their mates, sometimes suddenly. It is not something I dwell on, but I have always lived my recent years with the understanding that nature is Queen, not me, and my time or his is out of my control. Perhaps this is why the world and life touche me so profoundly and I am hyper sensitive to both joy and sadness - because I see death entwined with life.

Living on the farm has meant we spend a lot of time together, working towards goals, learning, laughing, crying over animal graves, watching trees grow from seedlings to fruit bearers, helping an old barn, growing our own food and eating pies of love.

While Apifera has sprung from my internal rumblings, and it truly found me as much as I found her, it would not be the same without The Dirt Farmer. It might simply fall down.

To all those who haven't found a mate and yearn for one, or who have lost a mate and are lonely, remember the story of a broken heart who had lost her wings, but she grew them back and landed in front of a little house far from her homeland. And then there was a knock at her door.

Apifera's own E.B. White

Elwyn Brooks White, aka E.B., is two months old this month. He sprung from the belly of Lilly along with his sister. E.B. was not a planned birth, but who in life walks the Earth as a planned anything?

So much for family planning.

You see, Mr. T. jumped a fence on January 24, and I wisely noted it in my day planner. Then I forgot about it. As mid June neared, my energies were focusing on Pie Day, and the lambing had been over since mid March.

"Hmmmmm," I said one June night over a glass of wine, "Lilly sure looks big."

"I noticed that too," The Dirt Farmer replied.

Then we had another glass of wine.

I had retired Lilly the previous fall. She had lost a couple teeth and she had served us well in 7 years and I wanted her to enjoy her senior years. She is a wonderful ewe and produces beautiful, big lambs who have grown into lovely sheep. Many still reside here and always will, like Betty and Bessie.

Pie Day arrived. I was baking pies the day before the onslaught of hungry pie eaters. The Dirt Farmer came in around noon to let me know there were two newborn lambs by the barn.

"Lilly's?" I asked.

"No, another one," he said, I couldn't imagine what he meant. He tends to get the sheep mixed up.

It was Olive Oil, with two new girls. Olive had shown not a sign of pregnancy, and this had happened once before with her. She is a small ewe and I never wanted to breed her, but, nature with Mr. T as the lead actor, played it's hand - twice.

So now I knew Lilly had to be pregnant. I was not imagining it.

I decided to keep this fine fellow. There is something about him. And he combines the lines of both Joe Pye Weed through Lilly, and Mr. T.

I named him after one of my favorite writers and considering his marking it seems appropriate.

Pino's NEW Fan Page!

Pino and I have evolved over the years. He is my muse, no doubt, but he is teacher [to me and many] and healer to broken hearts and torn wings. He is the walking version of The Puppet.

He is so much more than just the host to an annual Pie Party, and I wanted his online presence to make sure the world shared in all of Pino, not just his Pie Day.

So his old Fan Page on Facebook will end, but his NEW Page will begin. And it will still share Pino's Pie Day every year, but it will be full of his ponderings and spirit in many other ways.

I hope you will join him there. It will be a respite from the often too cynical cyber world.

Pino speaks

"When someone does something that makes me feel badly, I just close

my eyes and imagine that black hole in their heart where it must be

hurting and I imagine it turning to daisies, because I've never been hurt

by someone without a hole in their heart."

Pino.

Capture the essence with us

I am having so much fun communing and drawing with my animals as I get the Online Workshop ready for the mid September launch. I haven't sat and just drawn, in one color, without the need to assess, adjust or tweak the piece for certain results, in so long and I forgot how peaceful drawing is.

Drawing these "gestural" to capture the motion from one pose to another is a calming experience, although it also is an active experience and takes energy. Once you do these drawings of any given creature [that includes all living friends like trees and such] you begin a relationship with them, and you open the door to finding their essence.

I like to think of these as my eye relating to the animal and my hand is relating to my eye. But both parties end up with their heart on the paper.

There are other exercises in the Workshop to bring out your inner child [yes, an overused phrase but many have shut that child out]to tell stories, share feelings and relate to memories.

A hot pig

We had what Rosie and I call a "Half Tube Day" yesterday. It was 103 degrees in the shade and the pig needed a half tube of sunscreen.

Which brings me to the piggie point of this post - Rosie somehow managed to get up from her nap long enough to help me snort out a name from the people that graciously sent her sun screen or donations for her first annual Suncreen Fund.

Pam Z. of Maryland will be sent a piggie print and we thank everyone who helped Rosie. Oinks and squeels!

Really, I underestimated the price of sunscreen and we have another month to go so all your help is so appreciated. Her little hair bristles are growing back so I do look forward to my hairy Rosie versus my bald Rosie. I really am pleased I've kept her burning to an all time low - she loves to lie in the sun and even though she has many shade options often goes to the sun first. All the moisture of the lotions has also kept her scaling and scabs to a minimum.

Essence of old goose

I've been very busy working on getting the online workshop all put together. It is a lot of work - really like writing my first book in many ways. But this time it involves writing and filming, quite a challenge when the subject matter are moving, living creatures at your feet.

In order to make the movies and lessons, I have to draw! And it has been intense, but so fulfilling. I haven't sat and drawn like this for a long time. I am getting to focus on animals I don't normally draw - Stevie, the pig...and more.

I was taking footage in the barnyard for one of the gestural lessons and came upon the old goose Priscilla. She is so beautiful. I drew a quick gestural and sketch of her later in the day. Sixty seconds of chalk on paper and it brought the elegance of her neck from my eye, to paper, back into my heart.

Read more about the workshop here.