I realized this weekend that we have two more February birthdays to celebrate, and I decided to combine the party next weekend. Redford had a special birthday tub on Friday, lots of hugs and play, and he is quite happy to be 2 years old.
The weekend was gorgeous and I spent most of it dragging, mulching, trimming tree branches, gathering and burning fallen wood, and moving stones. The front field is now on official hiatus so the spring grass can grow unimpeded by equine hooves and teeth. Tomorrow's rain is perfectly timed - now that the field is all cleaned up it needs a little rain to settle it.
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Linda at 7MSN and all her animal family lost Skippa Little Lyle this weekend. We here at November Hill love reading about all the 7MSN adventures and reading about Lyle brought me to tears and made me realize just how much we can come to care about animals we have never met but feel we know almost as well as the ones we live with.
All our sympathies and healing wishes are with Linda and her family in this very difficult time.
billie hinton’s camera-obscura:
life and lessons on November Hill Farm
I've just read about Lyle and it's so sad. They leave us so quickly sometimes. You're right though it's so amazing that we can grieve for animals we've only met through their pictures and stories.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are getting things done in preparation for spring. I haven't even started, too many things are going on right now and I don't have the time to even start cleaning like I wanted to. Glad the little guy had a nice birthday!
Thank you, Billie. I can still remember how I felt the day you told us about Rafer Johnson breaking his leg and how much I worried about him. We are a community of animal lovers, and your support and kindness is deeply appreciated.
ReplyDeleteArlene, I cried for half an hour as I told my husband Lyle's story.
ReplyDeleteIt's easier to get into the spring cleaning when nice weather comes calling!
Linda, we are so very sad and can only imagine how it must be for you. The only downside to being virtual neighbors is that we can't pop over and pitch in with chores and the shedding of tears together.
ReplyDeleteIt is so amazing though, the power of the blogging world, and how much we can share in spite of the miles between. Thank you for sharing your world with us, including this very difficult piece. Everything you wrote and will write about it will stay with me and the day I have to deal with it with one of our equines, I'll have to write you and say thank you again - in sharing your grief you are helping us prepare for our own.
Sending hugs to all at 7MSN.
I haven't heard about Lyle and was shocked to read about it here. I'm on my way over there right now. What a tragic surprise...
ReplyDeleteBillie, we were stunned when we read Linda's account of her hellish day. We left a message on her blog but it didn't go through for some reason. There are so many condolences that have been left I'm sure she knows how many of us are thinking of her. I know Jack won't be with us forever and I just hope we have Linda's fortitude when the day comes. Godspeed Lyle. And say hello to CindyLou.
ReplyDeleteSheaffer
Anon (who I think is Michelle), it was not as shocking to me b/c I had stopped by Linda's blog Sat. and Sunday and there were no new posts up - so I knew something had to be going on. Still, it took my breath away and as it did for so many people who knew Lyle through her blog, brought me to immediate tears.
ReplyDeleteSheaffer, I am sure she is feeling surrounded by love and concern, given the sheer number of condolences.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine losing any of the equines here, although I know it will happen and I have written about it before. The hardest part for me is not only my own sense of loss but that of the rest of the herd.
It broke my heart all over again when Linda described Hank's reaction to the empty trailer.
I am so glad he has George and Alan with him.