My husband and I daily reminisce over these moments of "the way we were." Shocking how different times are now from what we had imagined. But wonderful to remember how great things could be, young people now just wouldn't believe it if they could go back in the time machine.
I have to say, this is one of my favorite writings from you. I see your humanity, your compassion, and the connection to the LAND!!!! I have taken heed of that connection from you; I am now raising my OWN food. Not quite the same as you; but learning as I "grow". Bless you bunches! And yes. Ground hogs, and other "Creatures" DO LIE!. Those other creatures will be held accountable.
Farm life is a way to stay grounded. Glad you have dogs, horses and a manure rake to return to. The modern rat race leaves people confused, anxious and disconnected with nature and each other.
Our little farm attracts lots of our city dwelling friends and their children to drive out to witness chickens clucking, roosters crowing, cows licking faces, and pigs being pigs. I have become expert at the Tom Sawyer tactic of making farm tasks seem fun, as a way to recruit help, on occasion. People even come help process chickens- which brings them back to the reality of how their Chick Fil A sandwich originates. Glad you have such a place to retreat to. It’s essential to maintenance of sanity, in the madness around us. Hope your foot has quieted down!
I remember a story about a family farm that had many, many geese, as property security! Geese are amazing to watch as they head south for winter. Every Fall as I cleaned up my large garden, I would hear Geese in the distance, & stood outside awaiting their "fly-over"....I simple love watching Geese in formation, honking "Howdy", as they flew over my property! Great to recall wonderful memories!
The wild geese are migrating right now. They are very cool!
Domestic geese aren't all that great for "security", except maybe to intimidate human intruders. Dogs and other predators readily kill them.
Also, they make noise too frequently to be effective as "alarms": too many "false alarms", especially at the beginning of breeding season. But they are still great birds for plenty of other reasons.
". . . another option for home security . . . " Lol! My Substack photo is my baby yak bull . . . wait till he gains another 1,500 pounds! My yak herd is (partially) for predator security, but they also will look very imposing to any humans with questionable intent!!!
If you ever encounter geese in the wild again, take a good size broom and flap it at them making a lot of noise (but don't corner them, just herd them away). I've seen it work and carried a broom but never used it. As to the windmills, that's a problem since we seem to be building them everywhere. A broom probably won't deter the windmills even if you flap it😉 at them. Just stay away from windmills altogether.
With all the garbage that is strewn in our direction by the Demon-rats, this is the gift, the kind of story I needed to read today. Thank you for the pre-election pick-me-up!!
It’s so nice to read about you relaxing and enjoying your farm - your life - after everything you have been through. Nature heals.
I found a new Substack that all might like. It is about PTSD and the healing power of art. The author says we all have PTSD. Indeed we do after the last two years!!
Love the pictures Dr. Malone. I grew up on a farm too and had horses. I loveeeee horses. They are such healing animal and so majestic and beautiful. I totally agree that a farm is a very healing place. I am extremely jealous that you still have such a paradise as mine is long gone and is just a memory for me now. I hope your foot gets better soon.
Wonderful "soliloquy"... Thanks for sharing. Glad you are home safe on the farm! Pasture poodles are a pain, for sure, but in my old age I find it hard to kill anything other than fire ants or wasps... Of course, we have no large animals (horses) on the property, though our four bull mixes come close to the size of small elephants (and one of those is a real squirrel dog)...
Nice story, it brings me memories. Yes, groundhogs are destructive and a danger to livestock. I remember visiting my aunt and uncles' dairy farm in New York State during summers in the 60s. My cousins would shoot groundhogs @ 200+ yards in the pasture, since groundhogs would burrow holes. which would need to be filled with rock. Their collies would retrieve the carcass and enjoy a feast. If a cow (Holsteins) stepped into the burrow, it would risk a broken leg. Being a kid in the 60s, cleaning the barn after cows went to pasture, and seeing how farming works, were life-long lessons.
We have multi-generations of a groundhog family living under our shed in suburbia. No damage no harm here so we let them be.
Just loved having coffee in Colorado with you and your "beasties" on The Farm in Virginia this morning. My Aussie was not a farm worker but he always successfully herded the mailman and kept the backyard garden clear of squirrels, rabbits and the loud magpies! Murphy was a Blue Merle, had a blue and brown eye and was quite big..a little kid called him "The big, bad wolf" on one of our morning outings at a coffee house. Your pics flooded me with great memories of dogs and growing up in Maryland with many Virginia countryside experiences way before in the interstates! Thank you for sharing your family, animals,and, your home and heart.
What a beautiful story! :-) Thank you for sharing, Dr. Malone!
Beautiful photos, beautiful family (including the dogs & horses). Thanks for the "up close and personal."
My husband and I daily reminisce over these moments of "the way we were." Shocking how different times are now from what we had imagined. But wonderful to remember how great things could be, young people now just wouldn't believe it if they could go back in the time machine.
I have to say, this is one of my favorite writings from you. I see your humanity, your compassion, and the connection to the LAND!!!! I have taken heed of that connection from you; I am now raising my OWN food. Not quite the same as you; but learning as I "grow". Bless you bunches! And yes. Ground hogs, and other "Creatures" DO LIE!. Those other creatures will be held accountable.
Groundhogs are guilty of misinformation. Obviously MAGA-adjacent. I suggest you contact your local FBI office.
Danny Huckabee
Farm life is a way to stay grounded. Glad you have dogs, horses and a manure rake to return to. The modern rat race leaves people confused, anxious and disconnected with nature and each other.
Our little farm attracts lots of our city dwelling friends and their children to drive out to witness chickens clucking, roosters crowing, cows licking faces, and pigs being pigs. I have become expert at the Tom Sawyer tactic of making farm tasks seem fun, as a way to recruit help, on occasion. People even come help process chickens- which brings them back to the reality of how their Chick Fil A sandwich originates. Glad you have such a place to retreat to. It’s essential to maintenance of sanity, in the madness around us. Hope your foot has quieted down!
Such a lovely post! Thanks Doc! 💛
Only time I visited a farm got pinched by a windmill and chased by a goose. City boy meets the great outdoors
Lol! Geese are mostly "all bark and no bite" posturing. The worst they can do is give you a good pinch with their bill and whack you with their wings!
I found that out
My wife's dad was a farm boy and she tells me they had a goose that singled him out for special attention
I remember a story about a family farm that had many, many geese, as property security! Geese are amazing to watch as they head south for winter. Every Fall as I cleaned up my large garden, I would hear Geese in the distance, & stood outside awaiting their "fly-over"....I simple love watching Geese in formation, honking "Howdy", as they flew over my property! Great to recall wonderful memories!
The wild geese are migrating right now. They are very cool!
Domestic geese aren't all that great for "security", except maybe to intimidate human intruders. Dogs and other predators readily kill them.
Also, they make noise too frequently to be effective as "alarms": too many "false alarms", especially at the beginning of breeding season. But they are still great birds for plenty of other reasons.
Yes, that may be one of many reasons to have another option for home security.......Honk-Honk-Honk! LOL!
". . . another option for home security . . . " Lol! My Substack photo is my baby yak bull . . . wait till he gains another 1,500 pounds! My yak herd is (partially) for predator security, but they also will look very imposing to any humans with questionable intent!!!
Yes, I would not want to mess with a Yak!
If you ever encounter geese in the wild again, take a good size broom and flap it at them making a lot of noise (but don't corner them, just herd them away). I've seen it work and carried a broom but never used it. As to the windmills, that's a problem since we seem to be building them everywhere. A broom probably won't deter the windmills even if you flap it😉 at them. Just stay away from windmills altogether.
With all the garbage that is strewn in our direction by the Demon-rats, this is the gift, the kind of story I needed to read today. Thank you for the pre-election pick-me-up!!
It’s so nice to read about you relaxing and enjoying your farm - your life - after everything you have been through. Nature heals.
I found a new Substack that all might like. It is about PTSD and the healing power of art. The author says we all have PTSD. Indeed we do after the last two years!!
Here is the link : https://open.substack.com/pub/ptsdart?r=t2t5x&utm_medium=ios
PTSD would also be much more effectively treated in a farm setting.
Love the pictures Dr. Malone. I grew up on a farm too and had horses. I loveeeee horses. They are such healing animal and so majestic and beautiful. I totally agree that a farm is a very healing place. I am extremely jealous that you still have such a paradise as mine is long gone and is just a memory for me now. I hope your foot gets better soon.
Majestic was the word that came to mind when looking at those dog photos. Lots of great attitude.
Yeah. Never had any but always admired Australian shepherds. Beautiful dogs.
Maybe the groundhog (Fauci) will meet Bella at his new ranch down in Costa Rica some day.
Would love to see her shaking the life out of that little rodent! Metaphorically speaking, of course!
Of course... Just metaphorically.
Wonderful "soliloquy"... Thanks for sharing. Glad you are home safe on the farm! Pasture poodles are a pain, for sure, but in my old age I find it hard to kill anything other than fire ants or wasps... Of course, we have no large animals (horses) on the property, though our four bull mixes come close to the size of small elephants (and one of those is a real squirrel dog)...
Nice story, it brings me memories. Yes, groundhogs are destructive and a danger to livestock. I remember visiting my aunt and uncles' dairy farm in New York State during summers in the 60s. My cousins would shoot groundhogs @ 200+ yards in the pasture, since groundhogs would burrow holes. which would need to be filled with rock. Their collies would retrieve the carcass and enjoy a feast. If a cow (Holsteins) stepped into the burrow, it would risk a broken leg. Being a kid in the 60s, cleaning the barn after cows went to pasture, and seeing how farming works, were life-long lessons.
We have multi-generations of a groundhog family living under our shed in suburbia. No damage no harm here so we let them be.
Just loved having coffee in Colorado with you and your "beasties" on The Farm in Virginia this morning. My Aussie was not a farm worker but he always successfully herded the mailman and kept the backyard garden clear of squirrels, rabbits and the loud magpies! Murphy was a Blue Merle, had a blue and brown eye and was quite big..a little kid called him "The big, bad wolf" on one of our morning outings at a coffee house. Your pics flooded me with great memories of dogs and growing up in Maryland with many Virginia countryside experiences way before in the interstates! Thank you for sharing your family, animals,and, your home and heart.
Hi Dr. Ma-Lion - we're all happy you are getting some well-deserved farm time in!
Do you tell your sheep dogs sheep jokes? Or have they "herd" them all?
I love puns.
So happy you are home again. Thank you for indulging us with photos. The dogs are beautiful. Prince Charles is an amazing beast.