gratitude

I was struck with gratitude this very morning. Sometimes it hits hard. I was on my way to the post office to pick up another one hundred chicks for our farm. Twenty-five are laying hens and the others are our roasting chickens. In three short weeks they will be out on pasture, picking bugs and eating green grasses and flowers. I am grateful that we can provide them with a very chickeny life. Our cats, Calvin and Hobbes, were off to the vet for their yearly checkup last week. They hate the drive in the carrier but are very healthy. I am grateful we can provide them with a great life. They live in the house but work, mostly at night, hunting. They eat healthy food and have a wonderful place to live and help out by keeping the mouse population low. Patou, our Great Pyrenees also works here. He is head of security. He, like the cats, sleeps all day but in the evening he keeps our farm and it's inhabitants safe. He loves to bark at possible intruders and spends most nights doing just that. I am grateful that we can provide him with a working life. We strive to let our animals here, live a good life. They all have a purpose. Our guinea fowl scours our property, ridding it of bugs. No ticks or fleas here. They also are part of the security team. Their loud calls keep everyone else alert to possible danger. Our daughters are emerging as wonderful young women. They are forging a place in the world, hoping to make a difference. They are compassionate and tolerant and very funny. I am grateful that we have and continue to provide a safe place for them to grow like the rest of the farm. I am further grateful that my husband loves this farm so much and that he is handy and can fix almost anything. And he likes to fix things. And he loves birds. I am grateful for everything that the universe has bestowed on our farm and how we all live and work together each day. This is the start to my sharing and hold a vision of sharing this with others who aren't/weren't as lucky as me. Wow, I am grateful.