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| Me: Cooking up a new blog post |
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| You: Waiting for new blog post |
What’s new? Well, I built my very first fence and my 2 sweet goats are loving their new, bigger grazing area. They have waited patiently and I appreciate it. It took me a minute to realize I can put in T-posts all on my own. And boom, I can make my own fence. The farm magic is real y’all.
More coming soon…..
Well friends, it's been about 6 months since I moved here, and the time has finally come - the farm has a name. It came to me as naturally as my coffee at sunrise: Peace and Love Acres
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| ☮ ♥🐔 |
You see, there was already a heart painted on the barn from the previous owners, and one day, I randomly added a peace sign above it. I stepped back, looked at it, and BAM - there it was. The name had been waiting for me, right there in front of me, this whole time.
Peace. And. Love
And let me tell you, the girlz (you know who they are 😗) are most certainly a large part of my peace and my love in the barn.
So here we are at ☮ & ♥ - the world is still spinning - and I am way overdue for some updates. Let's get into it, shall we?
Let's talk Huck 🐶
Ah, Huckleberry. The goodest boy. My very first foster from the Humane Society of North Texas. And the reason my mascara ran down my face in the HSNT parking lot on a Wed morning at 8 am.
Here's the thing. Fostering is basically emotional roulette. I went back and forth. Do I keep him? Does/will Max' family adopt him? Do I return him for adoption because that's what fosters technically do?
I felt like I was on Love Is Blind - you know the part where they don't decide until they are literally at the alter? Yeah, that was me pulling into the Humane Society parking lot the morning of his neuter. Because here's the deal: If I don't adopt him, he stays and goes up for adoption. If I do, I pick him up after surgery and he's mine. No takebacks.
The decision? I chose to let him go so I could continue fostering. Cue the waterworks. 😭
A kind staffer - clearly a veteran of fostering herself - asked if I needed a hug. "Yes", I sniffled. She wrapped me up in the kind of hug that stitches your soul back together. She reassured me, "He's sweet, small and adorable. Someone will scoop him up straightaway." And since straightaway sounded like a Mary Poppins word, I trusted it.
And sure enough, Huck was adopted quickly. My heart swelled. As did the lump in my throat when I found out.
Fostering has taught me something beautiful: I don't have to be their forever to be their safe space. Temporary love is still powerful love. It's joyful heartbreak and I'm here for it.
The Cat Room Chronicles
Next up: The Cat Room Saga - starring mama cat, Cricket and her fab four kittens. Tomorrows the big day: spay/neuter time! And unlike the Huck saga, this ones less teary because:
I'm keeping Cricket!
Plus, two kittens are going to Lauren and Ryan, one to my co-worker, Morghan, and just one lil orange kitty will return to the shelter for adoption. Not bad for a Monday.
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| Mama is the mottled kitty I love everything about her 💘 |
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| Mini, the bobtail Future heartbreaker in Ryan's life |
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| Bug, officially Brooks' new ride-or-die |
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| This right here? 💕 This is the good stuff |
Mama kitty, Cricket as I call her now, is an OG outside cat. She's doing her best to raise her littles inside. Lucky for her, once she heals from her spay, I will release her in the barn with June Bug, who's also a bob tail and enjoys the outdoorsy life. I think the two of them will get along famously. And hopefully keep the mice away, too.
Hay is a Thing of Beauty
Big News: I had my first cut of hay!
Listen, I've never been so excited to watch grass turned into big rolls. It's mesmerizing.
Why so exciting?
First, it's beautiful to look at.....
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| I just love a field of fresh cut hay |
Second, it's such an interesting process to watch.....
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| They drove these farm machines down the side of the road for miles to get here (from Leonard) |
I used to think tractors hogging the road were just being dramatic. Nope. They're actually going to work. Who knew. I thought maybe they were heading to the gas station to fill up.
As I watched the whole magical hay process, this seemed to me, how it went down:
1) First, the grass is cut and left to dry (cure as the farmers call it). I missed that part - work life got in the way.
2) Then, after it's done curing (days later) a weird looking farm machine with spinning-wheelie-thingies takes the grass off the ground and fluffs it, making it ready for the next step.
2) The finale is this giant vacuum cleaner-meets-transformer machine that scoops the fluffed-grass up into it's mysterious back part, and I assume the farmer then waves his magic wand, and the transformer spins it into bales, just like yarn into balls.
Every time a bale popped out, I gasped like I was watching fireworks. #farmmagic #haythere
Rapid Fire Updates
Speed round style........
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| Paul loves his bestie |
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| It hurts my heart that he's getting older 😓 |
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| Loving life even during his molt - currently rocking 3 tail feathers |
* Side note copy and pasted from the interwebs: Chicken and turkey molting is the natural process of shedding old, worn-out feathers and growing new ones, typically occurring in late summer or early fall. It is a necessary part of a chicken's life cycle to ensure healthy, insulating plumage for winter. During a molt, egg production decreases or stops, chickens may look lethargic, and the process takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months to complete.
Hard to believe it, but guess whose in school.....
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| Tiny CEO |
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| My ducks are still in a row - and loving all this rain |
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| Emmie, Poppy, Pippa, Dora and Hope are all doing great and the mash is flowing The goats are living their little goat life back there, too. |
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| Mia supervising everything like the good girl she is. Currently, it's the septic system install. |
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| Water line trenched and ready |
And did you notice.....
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| Sweet Mia 💛 My sidekick |
Side Note: Mia and I found each other about a year ago now. She's has the temperament of a saint.
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| Penny and Dutch are holding strong on their own 💪 |
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| Since big brother has a tractor, this only seemed fitting for her |
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| Minnie Mouse is besides monster trucks of course |
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| Where does everybody sleep, you ask? The better question is where do I sleep..... |
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| The chickens are back roosting in the area in which I shot the snake in. Never mind the hole I blew in it.....no, I'm not fixing it |
The chickens are all doing wonderful despite the heat. And my little chicks are growing up and blending in beautifully with the flock.
Here at Peace and Love Acres, the world keeps turning - sometimes quietly, sometimes chaotically, always full of heart.
But whatever comes, it'll either be good - or it'll be a story. (Lauren is probably so tired of hearing me say that).
Thanks for riding this journey with me.
Take care of you.
With peace and love,
Cyndi
So many wonderful things are happening around here! And honestly......is it just me, or are they all happening at the same time? It's like the universe hit "shuffle" and "fast-forward" at once.
While I'm wrangling my thoughts into a blog post, here's a little peek at the current chaos joy:
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| 15 bales in this area |
Which feels like both an agricultural update and a fitness tracker alert.
I've always been curious about the mysterious world of hay baling - turns out it involves tractors, timing, and a surprising amount of suspense. I can now confirm: it's intense, slightly itchy, and very satisfying.
More soon,
Cyndi
With A Heavy But Grateful Heart
It's with a heavy heart - but also immense gratitude - that I share that my sweet, kind, fierce, loving beast of a livestock guard dog, Levi, has passed. At nearly 13 years old, Levi lived his life with quiet strength, full purpose, and deep love. He left us the way he lived - peacefully and on his own terms - crossing the rainbow bridge during his usual afternoon nap.
How It All Begin
Levi and I first came together in June of 2016. Both Levi and his sister, Whisper were (intentionally) left at the property in Gunter upon the purchase of the farm there. The previous owners asked if they could stay - the two Great Pyrenees had been raised there, and the land was all they'd ever known. They were moving into a neighborhood and didn't have the space these gentle giants needed.
I, on the other hand, was thrilled - what a gift they turned out to be.
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| Whisper, on the left Levi, on the right Only a few years old. So young! 💕 |
This was Levi and Whisper on Sept 13, 2016, up by the pond - their favorite post for night duty. Back then, the area was much quieter, with fewer people and plenty of coyotes. But Levi and Whisper handled it all with strong, rugged, yet quiet command.
Born To Protect
True to their breed, Levi and Whisper stayed up all night, every night, patrolling the perimeter, watching, listening and protecting. In all the years I lived in Gunter - nine of them - only one coyote ever dared cross the fence line. It was a short-lived mistake.
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| He was their Shepherd 👑 |
He trained Penny and Dutch, two great pyrenees I got as pups. Levi made sure they knew exactly what to do. He had a way with them. And once he had them trained up, both Penny and Dutch always respected Levi and worked along side him to guard, just as he had taught them. They never stopped looking up to him.
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| Levi, Whisper, Penny and Dutch |
A Bond Like No Other
He and Whisper were a true pair - deeply bonded and always side by side. He kept a watchful eye over her, the same he did with everyone he loved.
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| Levi, always watchful over his sister, whom he adored |
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| Patient and tolerant, even when Maybe would chew on his bones |
After I moved to Wolfe City, Levi adjusted wonderfully. He seemed to settle in like he'd been here all along. With Penny and Dutch by his side (after Whisper disappeared 😭) the 3 of them settled into a strong, peaceful rhythm. He was happy, content and had his favorite napping spot picked out quite quickly. He continued to guard the animals as he always did, like they were his own children - and truly, they were.
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| My Main Man here in Wolfe City 💪 Just beautiful even at 12 years old! |
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| I loved how he walked, one paw crossing in front of the other. The Fancy Levi Walk. Yet, he had a fierce run, even up until the day he passed. |
The Gentle Goodbye
Levi was still eating, playing and patrolling until the day he passed. There were no signs, just the normal slowing down that comes with age. That afternoon, I had brought him his dinner, only to find that he had quietly passed in his favorite spot. Just slipped away, with no pain, no struggle - just a deep, peaceful sleep.
Isn't that how we all hope to go?
Even still, the shock has stayed with me. It was sudden. But old age, in it's quiet way, had finally come for him - as it eventually comes for us all.
A Legacy That Lives On
There is now a little cemetery at the back of my property - a place just for you, Levi. I buried you near my running path, so I can see you every lap, every day.
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| Every day, I miss you 💔 |
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| For you, big guy. |
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| I wanted a place of peace for you 💙 underneath the trees |
There will never be another Levi. He was a once-in-a-lifetime gift, one who gave protection and fierce devotion to everything and everyone on this farm. He loved his people. He loved his farm animals. And he trained Penny and Dutch like a boss.
I was so lucky - and blessed - to be your person.
Nope. There will never be another Levi.
Thank you, good boy. Thank you for being there for us all - every day, every night. You earned your rest a hundred times over. And don't worry - Penny and Dutch will take it from here, just as you showed them.
Rest easy, my love, I'll see you again.
Heartbroken,
Cyndi
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| I see you 💖 In your fav napping spot.....out in the cool grass. Little did I know..... |
You know what's really heartbreaking? Fostering. Not in the way you'd think. Not in the oh no I stepped on a Lego kind of pain. More like I let this little creature into my heart and now my heart is wearing a hoodie with it's face on it and refuses to move out kind of pain.
I've been blessed to foster. That's the word. BLESSED. Blessed in a way that makes it very hard to say goodbye.
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| I mean, just look at that face |
Go ahead. Look. Your resolve will melt like an ice cube on a Texas sidewalk.
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| You guys 💟 |
At one point, I thought I could let Huckleberry go.
I had peace, serenity, closure.
Then, the next morning, I looked into his big ole soulful eyes and I was like:
"Abort mission. I am keeping the floof."
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| Shoes on the other paw now, huh, Theo |
As I contemplate the Huckleberry Dilemma, I've created a Kitty Room which used to be my guest room and apparently I prefer kitties as guests. I mean, who needs a guest room. Gone. Poof. My house used to say, Welcome, Guest! Now it says, Welcome, Furballs, with questionable boundaries!
Honestly, cats make the best guests. They bring their own snacks, use the bathroom in a box, and ignore you respectfully.
What I haven't mentioned is that I Marie Kondo'd my guest room. I disassembled it awhile back, and had gotten rid of all the furniture so it was actually empty - except for my Christmas tree which has squatters rights. All along, that room was waiting patiently for feline enrichment toys and tiny creatures that meow. Your welcome.
Side note: Since I've been practicing living in the main house with what I'll be taking to my little home, I feel very wow - as less is more and I love having less. It's different having less material things, no doubt, but I really love having just what I need, want or love (Thank you, The Home Edit). Our things own us, right? We have to clean it, maintain it, fix it. And if my things are going to own me, I prefer them with fur or feathers. And purr.
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| Kitty Room |
So foster update: I got the call to take in a mama kitty with 4 young kittens who are still nursing. The responsibility in this felt a little heavier as they explained the "fading kitten syndrome" and what their protocol is if this occurs. No need to worry. No fading kittens. Only shy and elusive ones.
And just so we can all understand what I'm saying.....I'm happy to tell you that all 4 kittens are giving. The food is bussin and they are here for it. Bro, KittenLand is not basic. It's fire. And that mama? She has all the drip.
I know that was mid. And I may be corrected by those who know just how to correct me. But I hope it was a Big W. Tryna over here.
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| Ready for her Vogue spread. Her markings are 💣 |
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| It's a whole new world outside the crate |
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| Best Mama Award 🏆 |
This little mama is tiny herself, and since this little cat family was simply 'found' outside by someone who then took them to the HSNT (Humane Society of North Texas) there's no DOB or age - nothin'. But somehow in all this, she's nailing motherhood like it's a TikTok trend.
Not to worry, the security camera keeps tabs on them like they do Puff Diddy. I see them out and about, playing while mama watches from the front porch aka refuge chair. Single mom-ing can be hard, y'all.
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| Litter box use ✓ Kittens at play ✓ Spa break in the getaway chair for mama ✓ |
Interesting nugget about the current naming system at HSNT:
Food it is. All animals there are currently named after a food, hence why Huckleberry is actually Jello.
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| 13/10 is accurate |
As an update on Huckleberry, his option for a home with Max and their family (see prior blog post for reference) did not iron out, so Huck is with me and I'm currently arranging an appt for his neuter. I did attempt to have him neutered as instructed at HSNT, but plot twist - he had a bit of kennel cough, so he was rescheduled for a later date. He bounced back like a puppy-shaped tennis ball, but surgery is on hold for safety. Safety is a choice, not a chance, right Lauren?
I'm still over here waffling between "foster" or "forever". Foster fail is real people. He's gonna find a home, no doubt. Unless that home is my home. TBD.
And just for the record, I'm definitely keeping mama kitty. Not the kittens, as they'll find a home because they are kittens and everybody loves a kitten. But mama kitty....she's here to stay. I'll need to think of a name for her and likely not a food name.
Condensing while Living Large
I can do this. I've been practicing now for a couple of months. Living small in a large house. Trying to practice ahead of time.
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| How do I feel about this? |
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| Me Also Olive preparing to take over the world Blue Bell first |
Funny thing is, I've dreamed about living in a small home for a long time with just what I want, have or love in my home. And now, I'll be getting that opportunity. I'll eventually be able to tell you first hand if the dream is all it's cracked up to be.
Currently, it's being hand built by a mennonite family business in Commerce which automatically makes it more charming and 82% more cozier.
On this particular day, I was approving the wall structures so that the foam insulation and walls could be completed. The plumbing and wiring is mostly completed. And yesterday, I had a septic system design completed so that I could get an estimate for the septic system to be installed for it.
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| So many windows I might have to name them |
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| It's hard to really imagine it finished |
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| This is one a little bigger than mine, and with a different ceiling. I picked metal for my ceiling - but this looks really nice too. |
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| This awning is big enough to cover 4 cars or a huge RV. |
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| The pad for the house is slightly elevated, with the cement blocks for where the doors will be. |
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| I'll eventually be at 239. Currently, I live in my house at 237. This portion shown is 10 of my 21+ acres. The other 10 are back behind the big pond and barn (bottom right corner) |
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| These folks are big, esp compared to my mini's |
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| They are excellent greeters and enjoy face time with my horses and donkeys |
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| Poppy glows. Literally glows. |
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| Dora's on the mash now, too |
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| My buddy, Paul is ever present and gobbling. Struts around like he owns the joint. He does. |
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| CoCo and Pearl are GOAT. Pearl has been showing off her fainting skills lately. My goat drama queen. |
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| Brooks and I recently spent the day at the Children's museum in Fort Worth and WOW - what a dino-day it was! |
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| Just being safe in bed |
