Farm Week Update

What an interesting week it has been.  We started off warm with our Christmas preparations.  That began to change on Christmas night with winds so hard I thought we would barely survive.  There is minimal damage to the east end of the barn.  Somehow the loose items in the yard remained as did all our furred and feathered.  I remember that movie Twister from years ago with the flying cow.  With the wind's roar I thought we were about to see that in reality.  Then we were blanketed by our blizzard.  The funny thing about the snow was watching the reaction of our younger animals that had never seen snow before.  Amos the goat "tiptoed" around unsure of what had happened.  Rascal the raccoon could not keep his hands out of it.  Somehow he was loose, unattended in it a day or so later.  That story in published below.  We were #1 in the last photo contest, but a late entry sneaked in trying to take that prize.  There is just a short time to go on that one.  You are welcome to vote for us.  That link is provided below, as well.  That about sums up the good news.  There is some other news that I have hesitated to mention as of yet.  Maggie, short for Magnificent, passed away on Thursday night.  She was diagnosed by a vet as terminal due to a disorder with her spleen.  Surgery was not an option.  Maggie spent her last days with us in the house.  She was never cold in the frigid weather.  She was held, comforted and monitored for pain regularly.  Maggie's little curled tail still wagged every time you checked on her.  It was her way of saying, "Thank You!"  We did not meet this with great sadness.  It was an end of suffering for a Magnificent little dog.  I realized a long time ago that I had set us up a lot of heartbreaking moments with 100 pets.  Our goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, pigeons, llamas, alpacas, and bull are all beloved pets and members of the family.  We have experienced great losses in December, but the pain of loss is far outweighed by the difference that we have made in the lives of the remaining.  That mission and work continues.  For every animal that someone has cast aside, or decided they are "tired of fooling with" we are there to offer a safe haven.  There are those others that just needed more space or a country life.  That care is continual until their time here is done.  Our hearts are full of memories of dear ones, furred and feathered, that have left profound marks on our lives.  We say we were helping them, but in the end we received the greatest care, unconditional love.  These animals make us human.  They teach us charity and teach us sacrifice.  In all the heartache that is and is to come, I would not trade this life for anything.  It is here that I truly live.   Thank you, all who have supported our endeavors in any way.  On this last Farm Week Review of 2012, We wish each of you a happy and blessed 2013.  Have a FARMTASTIC day!

What's so funny Tweenie?

I caught this pic of Tweenie the other morning.  It was so cold but this donkey was ready to play.  Tweenie holds a special place in heart.  We heard about her through a friend who contacted us to see if we would be interested in giving her a home.  She was an hour away from us, so we loaded up and made the journey, not knowing what to expect.  When we arrived, she was well cared for but that was not the case one owner before.  She had been abused and neglected.  The signs of that environment she came from were still a little obvious as she was slightly underweight.  As soon as I was in the pen with her there at her former residence, I noticed her "friendliness."  It was a bit alarming because she was very friendly and playful, perhaps even ROWDY!  I did not know if it would work out or not, but I said we would take her.  Donkeys really have a sad plight.  No one really wants them.  Their prices are far below horses.  They eat like a horse and when grass and hay becomes scarce people feel trapped with them.  They try to give them away, neglect them or some people even turn them loose.  That would never have happened to Tweenie in her safe home she came to us from, but I knew we had to help her.  I am not sure how long she has been with us, but it seems like she has always been here.  She loves attention and is one of the first animals to come to you over the fence.  That is why it is so hard for me to imagine what people had done to her before.  We had trouble getting weight on her at first.  She finally started filling back out.  Tweenie is so at home at Fair Haven Farms.  She has a personality that cannot help but make you smile and at time laugh out loud.  There are other time that personality can be a bit too much.  The other day she was behind me while I was taking pictures.  She stood up on her hind legs and threw her front legs on my hips.  She was going to ride a human.  The thing about that is that she will not allow anything on her back.  This donkey is certainly no beast of burden.  She gets a little bit overbearing like that at times.  She especially does that with new people.  She just likes to introduce herself.  That is exactly how she introduced herself to me years ago.  I love that donkey.  Where did her name come from?  She is not a miniature donkey, but at the same time she is not the size of a standard.  She is in between, hence the name Tweenie.  The photo above was taken just after trying to saddle me up.  She thought it was pretty funny.  What a knucklehead!  But, you gotta love her! 



The Beginning: Genesis of An Unrealized Dream

How did all of this begin?  Tabithia and I started out in our home in 2003 with no intentions of caring for nearly 100 animals at a given time.  We never expected that we would be invited to schools, libraries, churches and other places to share what we discovered--joy!  With all of the hard work and expense it really has been an exciting and rewarding journey.  Yes, there are times that threaten to rip your heart out causing you to cry out the words, "I quit!"  Aside from the few heartaches, the heartwarming moments far out number the bad.  In 2009 we started construction on the barn, while it is still not 100% complete, it was like Noah's Ark preparing for a flood of animals that would be housed inside.  Our intentions were storage and entertainment, but divine plans would prove otherwise.  That is just the way life goes sometimes.  We tend to look at things myopically, but God has the big picture and plan for our lives.  It requires surrender and that is precisely what we did. 

The beginning of Fair Haven Farms and all the furred and feathered friends was a couple of mallard ducklings we received as gifts.  There were rabbits early on and our dogs and cats.  But things really began to pick up with a chocolate colored donkey with a white heart shaped blaze and a heart of gold.  Festus was discovered for sale craigslist.  We made arrangements and brought the little guy home just before Easter of 2010.  He was timid at first and stubborn as he still is.  He was every it adorable like a stuffed animal you could pick up and squeeze.  We brought Silver the miniature mare down from the Old Barn to keep him company.  Festus was so well received that an ad was answered for another miniature donkey.  We thought he would be Marshall Dillon.  Well, his personality proved to me more like Dr. Jekyl/Mr Hyde.  One moment he is fine and the next--not so much.  Because of the rough experience I had with him and the resulting soreness the next morning, I usually call him Jack Daniels or JD when that might seem inappropriate. 

Shortly after Jack came along my dad passed away.  Building the farm and reaching out to animals in need became my escape.  It was and still is good therapy.  It seems that you can confide anything to an animal, but they share that secret with no one.  Offering peace to the furred and feathered became my peace at a time of great turmoil.  The farm is not only a refuge for them but for me and others as well. 

One by one the numbers of tenants rose.  Fair Haven Farms does not keep inventory, but rather a census.  The animals here for the most part are owner surrendered or strays.  We discourage breeding among everything except the chickens.  We pursue that rather passively.  Some of the critters here had it rough prior to coming here.  The goal is to give them as much of a carefree life as possible.  We allow them to live out their days here as they wish.  Yes, those with people-friendly personalities are chosen to travel at times, but even that arrangement is voluntary.  There are many stories and experiences to share on this blog.  There are many lessons that we have learned along the way.  We would love to take the time to share it all with you and sincerely hope that you will take the time to visit our blog again.  Welcome to Fair Haven Farms!