November Hill farm journal, 243

 It’s been a rough transition toward summer on November Hill. We have said goodbye to two of our oldest animal family members, Bear and Mystic.

Bear was our fluffy Pembroke Welsh Corgi and he was an amazing dog. Through the years he has been such a joy. He was helped to pass by a very loving end of care vet who came to our home. 

Mystic was my daughter’s 18-year old cat. Mystic was one of the most remarkable cats I’ve ever known and loved. He had a different temperament than most cats, and his love of water became one of the most interesting things about him. He taught himself to use the toilet. He loved getting in showers with his humans. He was a survivor, with three major trips to the local vet school ICU where he won the hearts of all his caregivers there. Mystic had a peaceful end of life in a local small ER with my daughter and husband. 

While the farm shifts into summer we’re marking and living these losses. Our animal family census is down to 10. 

Twenty years ago it started with 4, ramped up to 7, then to 8,9,10,11,14. We’ve been sliding back down over the past few years. Life seems to go fast with our animals and we’re trending senior still. 

I feel surrounded by all the animals I’ve loved through my life, whether they are embodied or ethereal. A life with animals is a good great life. 

Love you Bear and Mystic. You made us rich in love. 

Going Private

 I’m planning to change the settings here to private soon, and will happily invite you as a “custom reader” if you’d like to continue reading my posts. You may comment or reach out to me to request that by simply commenting on this post and sharing your email, which will be used only by me to give access. I approve (or not)  all comments and won’t make your info visible to anyone else. 

Why am I doing this? In part because of our world today and feeling the need to have a smaller circle of readers so I can write more deeply about things I want to say. Most of the bloggers I “grew up with” on the internet have retired their blogs but I’m attached to the format even as I mostly read on Substack these days. You can join me there, though I’m much less active with posts. I hope anyone who reads here reaches out, as my intention is not to lose anyone who reads these posts but simply to enable a more personal sharing. 

Meanwhile, November Hill is in full springtime mode, even as our weather dips back to more wintry temperatures off and on. The grand old fig tree seems to be managing that by putting out only a quarter of its leaves. But the rest of the greenery is full and as usual, our spring/summer gigantic privacy screen is here. 

Superpower mode activated…

 I’m feeling strong and good and excited about a lot of things right now, and there is a lot going on in full view, behind the scenes, in the sky, in the world. Sending out good strong energy to all and accepting it as well. 

The Force is with us. If you know, you know. 

November Hill farm journal, 242

 It’s springtime on November Hill, though this particular spring is being quite erratic with temperatures near 90 on at least one day recently and a frost warning last night. So far the plants and trees are managing this wild range of temperatures. 

We’re fully leafed out, pollen in full force, and I have already had two bouts of poison ivy, due to my own reckless weeding without gloves or long sleeves. M helped me remove the remainder of it from two beds and I will work on it with the weedeater along the woods’ edge and in Poplar Folly as I also battle the Japanese honeysuckle.

Currently in bloom: Eastern Columbine, golden Alexander, wild phlox, native violets, green and gold, foamflower, native honeysuckle, and one darling native I have forgotten the name of but will remind myself next time I’m out there with my phone. 

The redbuds are done, the dogwood is mostly done, and the tulip poplar flowers are in and not yet falling to the ground. The two original honeybee colonies survived the winter (out of 5 active hives in the fall) and now of the 4 empty hives 3 have repopulated with feral swarms or swarms from our original 2. I am planning to take a frame of honey from each hive this summer, which will be our first time taking honey from our bees in all these years of keeping them. I don’t like breaking the propolis seals but am going to do it this year and see if there is any negative impact to them moving on from that. 

Redford turned 17 this year, Cody has turned 23, Little Man is soon to be 26, and Rafer will be 18 in July. The herd is trending senior but still quite active and spirited. My favorite new habit is Rafer coming to the front porch and braying. There is not any alarm to it, it’s him I think wanting to come in and hang out with us. Someday, Rafer, you may get to do that!

Clementine turned 7 in January, Bear is 17 this year, and Baloo is going to be 10. Thankfully Clem’s mast cell cancer is well controlled with diet, supplements, and a homeopathic protocol. Bear is hanging in there but has arthritis, vision and hearing loss, and some dementia. He gets very happy and excited for his meals, enjoys being carried down to the back yard to sniff around, and truly loves a car ride with the windows down. However, there are some difficulties that are slowly increasing as the days go by and I’m trying to keep a close eye on his quality of life. 

All the cats, Mystic, Pippin, Pixie, Violet, and Isobel are doing very well. Mystic is 18 years old and although very thin, he is spunky and alert and active. 

My aquarium tetra are thriving in their little school of 4, and the two new snails are extremely personable and a joy to watch. 

I’m writing and editing and loving my year-long Craft School activities, which are many and it’s a joy to have things popping up for me multiple times a week that fuel my writing life. 

The mountain house land is now in a carbon offset program, we’re in process of getting qualified with NC Wildlife as a wildlife conservation habitat property, and also set to go into conservation easement at the end of 2027. I’m happy to have the land protected in three different ways. 

Family life is good for the most part. There are a couple of areas that continue to be stressful but I am hopeful positive and lasting change for the better is coming very soon. 

Robert Sapolsky’s brilliant talk about aggression and social change

 If you haven’t heard this, listen. 

If you have, listen again.

Either way, share widely. 

GO HERE