Took a break from the war today

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Sometime before 9/11 I indulgently signed up for a gardening seminar sponsored by Horticulture magazine. Just the right inspirational mix of speakers for the frustrations I have had in my garden. A chance to take a vacation day. And a great location, Tower Hill Botanical Garden in central Massachusetts. I had never been there but had heard terrific things about it.

Then 9/11 came along, and 10/11 was approaching, and I just didn't have the same interest in attending the program. But for various reasons it seemed like the right thing to do today.

It was perfect conditions, extensive gardens still in bloom, sparkling blue skies, unusually comfortable temperatures, magnificent view off the hill. At one point I was surprised to realize that was I was experiencing something I hadn't felt for a while, peace of mind and knowledge that there couldn't be any real evil out there. I thought I had been taking 9/11 in stride, and perhaps I had, but these constant alerts had really put me on edge.

Of course, it wasn't a totally normal situation today. Never before have I gone to a gardening or nature seminar toting a dosimeter, a radiation meter, KI, and a small pocket radio so I could check on the world during one of the breaks.

I believe we are in this for a long haul and we have to find ways to take mental breaks. I have a responsibility to myself and those around me to be prepared but also to then carry on.

I was home in time to work in my garden for about an hour. Now I'm back to checking the internet, and I'll be glued to it whenever I'm at work because I feel vulnerable being in a high rise. I want the earliest possible warning.

Have any of you, but accident or design, rediscovered the carefreeness we had not so long ago?

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Answers

In church, mushroom picking, and gardening last Saturday. My animals are also a big help- walking the dogs, playing with the cat.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

yes, Brooks..I have decided to make an effort to "play" with the horses like I used to so enjoy. but I find I am watching the skies, and the wind directions, ect. I am trying to take 15 minutes of each day and thanking the Creator for the life I HAVE had so far, and hope to continue to have. It is a month since our world changed forever, but life has to go on, we "deal" the best we can, and we continue on with the process of living. My heart still aches for those that lost loved ones in such a senseless act.

So glad you enjoyed your day...bet Git wishes she was a little mouse in your pocket all day!!!! :^ )

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001


No. Not once.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Yep, those moments are there and all the more precious because they stand in stark contrast to those other moments. Other moments like just now when CNN showed some footage of firefighters before September 11 and then said that they were dead or missing in the WTC, including a father and son.

But I shall go outside again tomorrow and wonder at the small sunflower and the bright pink climbing plants, neither of which I planted but which volunteered themselves and were able to grow and flower because I haven't weeded like I should. The flapping of the flag my neighbor gave me will distract my attention from the St. Patrick's rose nearby, two perfect blooms on it at the moment, but it's a comforting distraction. "The flag was still there."

Then I shall see if I can see any sign of the small black kitten I spotted today, under the deck--one of Mojo's offspring?

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001


Well, I forgot the war this morning.

Went out to feed the animals, and Grace Goat and her twin boys weren't anywhere to be found. Everyone else was in the corral and the gates were locked. No sign of a fence breakage. Mike Mule was trying to tell me something, but it wasn't coming through. The dog was pointing away into the north forty, so I ran there calling Grace Goat and begging her to answer.

They were gone, no doubt about it. There was simply nowhere to hide in the barn or corral. And everyone else was still in there with the gates locked.

I fed everyone before sitting on the propane tank to weep. I could still hear her special voice in the crowd, but she wasn't there. Her collar was still hanging where I had left it, and I could still hear her sweet voice even though she wasn't in it. After a while I realized I COULD HEAR HER.

She and the boys were way down on the highway. She won't explain how she got out or what she was doing. I prolly made things worse by giving her corn and a kiss instead of a spanking.

I spent a long time reinforcing every inch of the corral. I accidentally reinforced myself in there with them. I finally got out and reinforced things from the outside and then realized my keys had fallen into the muck inside.

I didn't remember the war until I got back in the house. :)

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001



Since Helen posted her story about her escapees, thought you would like to here mine.

Yesterday turned out to be more exciting than I like. I went to the next town to the bank and when I got back, I pulled in the drive and there was Charlie, our 2,000 lb Hereford bull in the backyard along with his two lot mates, Flame, a breeding stock paint horse and Butter, a buckskin horse. Now their lot is what we call the concrete lot between the barn and the corn crib about 100 yards north of the backyard.

Charlie was busy trying to get into the bottom lot (below the barn) where we have Grumpy (the black Angus bull), 4 steers, 2 bull calves AND 2 heifers for Grumpy to breed (Charlie's daughters). Charlie wanted the girls...

I got out of the truck and the horses decided to take off - they wanted their freedom. They first went south to the garden to see the other horses, but discovered the fence, so a quick turn and they were headed into town. Luckily, DD#3 was just coming around the corner and saw them. Stopped and chased them back into the yard. But the horses were determined, back around the backyard, jumping over the poor geese ( This would have been a video to have, it was so funny), towards the barn, down in the ditch onto the road going out of town - full blast. DD got into my truck with her friend and went after them.

I moved the calves into another lot and opened the walk gate for Charlie. Charlie walked in and kept walking right though the lot and over a panel fence to get to the girls - Now he has NEVER done this before, so I don't know what got into him yesterday.

In the meantime, I had opened the gate to the concrete lot (that Charlie had charged to get out) and here come the horses and we finally corner them to get them into the lot. It seems they went to the neighbors 1/2 mi up the road and were in her flower garden snacking (oops). DD had let Buttons, my Australian Shepherd out of the truck to help her herd them and she did a good job.

Well back to Charlie and getting him away from the girls. I had gotten DD horse out, so we quickly saddled him and DD got her rope and went after Charlie. He was NOT a happy camper. It took quite a bit of work to cut him out of the herd away from everyone (and of course one little steer jumped the fence having never been worked with a horse). Luckily, like most men, his stomach usually wins over anything else. We got a big bucket of ear corn It was funny though to see him try and make up his mind to go for the corn or take another run at the girls He would look at the girls, then at the corn, then back at the girls, then at the corn... He finally followed me clear into the barn. Ever had a bull only a couple feet behind you following you wanting that corn you have??? Normally, Charlie doesn't scare me, but yesterday, I was a little worried.

Then we went to the back pasture, chased the little steer back through the gate, through the horse pasture and back into the bottom lot where he belonged. DD & I figured out how to get the tractor started and back it against the gate to the concrete lot, so if Charlie charged again, he wasn't going anywhere.

This took us almost 2 hours to do all of this and I was exhausted by the time we were done. Thank God, my daughter and her friend came over or I would probably still be chasing those darn horses.

Here are the escapee's this morning. As you can see Flame doesn't share and play well with others when it comes to corn.



-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001


Beckie, the pic was wonderful!

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Boy, Flame's a real bitchy horse, huh? Time for Charlie to assert himself, I think. Nothing like a horse-pecked Hereford.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Bush did say to live your normal lives. guess Charlie was just following directions...

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

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