GK and the Canada Geese

A challenge is a challenge to our "danger Jane", also known as GK. So, on our family outing this morning, we came upon a field with a gazillion Canada geese foraging. I asked GK to get out and take a couple of pictures of the geese without the fence in the view. She gladly took on the challenge of crossing an irrigation canal and getting to the geese without frightening them to flight.

But then the fun and excitement of getting them to fly got the better of her and she agitated them enough by waving her arms and ran towards them. And there was a huge rustle of wings, squawking of geese and a very happy smiling girl.

Shelley was able to get a photo on her phone of GK taking a picture. Kinda cool.

Observation of nature's charm: there were but a few snow geese within the larger flock of Canada geese and yet they all travel, feed and live together at this time of year. We should all be so inclusive in our attitudes as Mother Natures beauties.

Ry's IEP

Thought you might like an update on the education front.

A little background. Ry has been diagnosed with Aspergers which is on the Autism Spectrum. Part of his diagnosis is not being able to communicate clearly, being influenced and affected by outside stimuli, repetitive behaviors and self management issues.


so proud of himself, what a guy

Shelley has been through 3 previous Individual Eduction Plan's. Her experience was to say the least awful. She asked if I would attend and of course I said I would. She also said, and I am quoting "don't be afraid to say what you "need" to say". Wow, really? Like there is any other way?????

Ry was warehoused in kindergarten with children who were so affected by their issues that they rolled on mats or licked trees or screamed all day. We fought to have him re assigned but he had a year of terror at the hands of a violent little boy and the system and not much else.

His first grade teacher (she was only an intern and had no credentials in Special Education) thought we were devil worshippers because of our life choices, took it out on Ry and he was segregated from the other kids because he might be "mean" and certainly could not make eye contact like a "normal" kid. What?????? Yep she was enlightened, huh. And we asked that he be re assigned but that didn't happen either. 2 years of non education in the area of math, reading, social skills, except here on the home front.

So this year, when he has a brand spanking new special education teacher who is in her first year of teaching, we kinda gulped and held on real tight. But we had no reason to worry, she is a wonderful educator, and a great person. She has a special understanding of her students needs and also is able to incorporate these kids together into a cohesive class (or as much as is humanly possible). So does his  mainstream teacher. Together, and I think that is the key, they are making a huge difference in little man's life. He looooooooooooooooves his teachers. The special offerings of occupational therapy and physical therapy teachers have a handle on behavior and social skill sets for him and help him learn how to control himself. His speech teacher has come around (after some gentle nudging) and has studied up on kids on the spectrum. So his team of educators were a joy to meet with, set goals with and give them some much needed praise and kudos.

The team was also very kind to us. They told us that we are a special family because we are open and allow Ry to be who he needs to be. When I said, I didn't know there was another choice, they let me know we are very differnt and they appreciate us as well. That was very good to hear.

It was a super, special time for all of us. They learned the emotional needs side of Ry from his Oma and thanked me for those insights into his "real" life. I learned how he is the same everywhere his little pea picking, challenge the rules, hugging and loving self goes. His mom, my beloved sweet Shelley, got to relax and feel that she wasn't fighting this fight alone (and it has been in the past and we're ready for it in the future). The team not only set goals for Ry to achieve but also made it possible for him to partake of some services offered by the district and the state which will be of a huge help to him (and me, selfishly). He can now enjoy Extended School Year activities, doesn't have to be bored, or lose his place in reading or math but rather continue to learn all the time. He can be included in extra curricular sport activities, targeting special ed children. Much like his wonderful summer program where we watched him blossom.

Woooo Hoooooot. Everybody won yesterday and on the ride home I saw my daughter relax for the first time in ages.

New Moon Blessings..................

Great Monday lovelies!

Attitude adjustments come in all colors, sizes and forms. Sweetness comes in packages, boxes, packets and jars............except when it's too sweet for containers as mundane. When it comes with a beating heart, long fuzzy ears and smiling eyes.......

Bernardo de MBF

Freckles on noses, whiskers on donkeys,
my grandbabies' laughter and small flying monkeys,
full moons and magick, new sparkly rings,
these are a few of my life's sweetest things.

I know, now you think I have gone Sound of Music on all of you....

but let me say if I were:
1,000,000 times smarter
1,000 times thinner
100 times healthier
10 times wealthier
this 1 moment, when all of the good things are clear and in focus could not be any better or more meaningful and I am glad for all I am, all I have and all that I can do.

Happy year of the Dragon....especially to Big G and Little G who are both Dragons in so many ways.

Look at this sweet little face..........

Her name is Sparkle, her mommy's name is Champagne. They live at Edgewood Longears Safehouse. There is nothing cuter than a baby donkey........awwwwww

No donkeys today.........

Can you see my bottom lip in the official pout position?

Well it's not a pretty sight. Neither is my left foot.

While doing what we do in January, namely organizational stuff, I tipped over a table and it landed on my foot. Yikes. I never said I was sure footed or coordinated now did I?

So ice, elevate and wait was the song I've been singing for the past two days. I let Edgewood Longears Safehouse know I wouldn't be coming today and went to bed. Boo damn hoo.

Woke up this morning and the foot is achy like my breaky heart.....still.

So I'm back to elevate and ice and I'll catch up later with the bloggie world later.

I met the donkeys and they are adorable

I'm going to regale you with my day of donkeyness. The truth, pictures and all.

We dropped off the kids at school (both of whom wanted to play hookey and go with us but I was a selfish shellfish and said no). And then headed out to the east mountains via old Route 66. A slower way to our destination but much more colorful and interesting than the interstate. Prior to our trip, we received directions on how to get to Edgewood Longears Shelter. Very good and concise directions (don't ya love those versus the wishy washy ones we sometimes give and get) and our journey only took us about 40 minutes. It would have been about 15 minutes faster on the highway.

Pressing the flesh with the donkeys

The directions said, "when you end the S curve, look for the donkeys on your left and you are here." And we were. There were all (15 that we saw) of these adorable donkeys staring at us as we pulled up. Before I go any further, yes, I will be going back weekly to ELS and what I am about to tell you, in my sarcastic, Oma way is for storytelling purposes and in no way is a put down of mother nature and all her jokester ways.

The snow has melted, refrozen, melted for over a week now at the 7000 foot altitude donkey rescue. So, the ground is frozen hard in early morning and grabs your boots off your feet by noon. Guess when I'll be going to visit the longears, yep early morning.

so peaceful.......so long as there is distance between us and them

Now you all know, or if you don't you will now, that I have Fibromyalgia and have a knee replacement, the other knee is iffy and I am a full ton of fun. Other than that I have had offers to stay out of the way by many Olympic committees at length and often. The ground kicked my ass. Heck people, I fight to keep my balance when I walk down my hallway, let alone on rutted frozen tundra. And it really wasn't a surprise that this was going to be physically challenging to me. But as Sweet Man kept reminding me, it was good for me to stretch myself. Whereby, he and I, arm in arm, trying to keep each other stable, hit a patch of solid ice and did the olde people splits......laughing our butts off. "help, no help yourself", teeeeeee heeeee. It was hilarious.

Of course the funny wore off this morning when we tried to get out of bed and every muscle that we forgot we had in our butts and thighs, calves, feet and brain yelled simultaneously...........REALLY?????????? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????????????????

you can see how uneven and rutted the ground is on the donkey highway

The visit was fun, interesting, educational and humbling. I took apple slices with me to tempt the sweeties to come close. Some did, most did not. Many looked away and I could almost hear them wishing me to go away. I had no idea just how afraid of humans so many of them are. I also did not know the extent of abuse some of these beautiful critters have withstood. I am so ashamed of how humans have treated these precious animals.

The educational part came from not only Dorothea and Andrew who were so welcoming and told us all about where all the donks came from but also from just observing. 4 boys were bought off Craigslist as "roping donkeys". 2 found wandering up near Las Vegas with no owner. 21 were rescued from a slaughter yard, 9 of whom were pregnant Jenny's. One who is gonna have that baby donkey any day now.

pretty girls

So many donkeys with stories and yet so much unknown about others as to why they fear so deeply. There also was a farrier doing his job with 2 penned jennys. In the 2 hours we were there, he had only gotten as far as touch training with the one he was working on.....so patient, such a nice man, so gentle. I was mesmerized by his soft approach. The donkey on the other hand had a much more direct approach.....and kicked at him many times in the beginning and became more gentled with every passing moment. Wow, what an experience.

The best part of the visit was when Stella the white donkey in most of my pictures became curious and followed me around. She, Ghandi, Rose and Sheila made the bologna sandwich out of me, started chewing my hair, sweatshirt and tried to take the apple bag from me. I've never been that "surrounded" in my life by donkeys, kids yes, donkeys no. It was awesome looking into their eyes, breathing their breath and feeling their closeness. I am so addicted now.

I love how fluffy Stella's ears are and how they say so much

So the sore muscles are a great reminder of how I will need to pace myself to get the best out of my visits, but they also are a physical reminder that I can. Who knows three months from now, I may not be limpy the next day, but today I say it was worth it because Stella the belladonkey let me touch her and demanded I do it again and again........even without the apples........just because she figured out it felt good.

Creating new, Good Old Days

If you've been reading my drivel for any length of time, you have noticed that I ride the cuckoo train to Feel Goodville and back to Myassisdraggin Junction about every 60 days. No big deal except it does get kinda monotomous to all concerned. And when I am mentally engaged, I am less likely to stay on the negative end of the line with or without my friend Fibro. So I want to make some changes in the way I live my life.

I wanted to do something new this year, giving back someway and started researching what was available for someone with my talents and limitations and also what I really wanted and for that matter needed to do. I need to be needed. I am not too old but just old enough to admit that with a clear conscience and no guile. I like the feeling of being wanted....so there I've said it. With all of those tick marks to check off I began my search back in November.

You know that I adore donkeys. And our friends at MBF have been more than kind to let us visit their herd and receive donkey therapy. If you haven't spent time with a herd of donkeys then that doesn't make any sense. But there is something so soothing and comforting that happens to me when I spend time with the donkeys. They are real. They are straightforward. If they like you, you know it. If they aren't sure, they won't approach you. If you bring cookies and carrots and apples......you could have a crowd of new friends very quickly. It is so earthy and honest.

Because of the darling new donkey Buck at Morning Bray Farm, I became acquainted with a couple who rescued many donkeys recently. Their goal is to find homes for the donkeys and in the meantime gentle them down so they can be adopted. This a lofty goal on their part. When they rescued this last group there were 9 pregnant jennys in the herd. These jennys will be bringing new life soon.

After contacting these folks and letting them know what I could do and finding out what they needed. My new something to do is to volunteer to love the donkeys. To bring treats, love and give them human contact that is calm, soft, soothing and hope they can accept it and that it will make a difference to them. And I will get donkey therapy in return. The snow in the mountains is the only thing that has kept me from being able to go before Thursday this week. Sweet Man is going to go with me. He has never gotten to be with the donkeys of MBF because of his work schedule and has said he was always a little jealous of the fun and adventure of the rest of us spending time with the longears, so now on one of his days off, we will adventure together and share that joy. That is another thing we have been missing in our life. Time with each other, doing something fun just for us.

Who would have thought that those sweet brown eyes, long fuzzy ears, whiskered muzzles and braying donkeys could hold so much excitement for two old farts like us. I'll tell you of this magic and have pictures to share very soon.

The name of the rescue is Edgewood Longears Safehouse. They are managing to feed 6 of their own donkeys, and the 8 boys in a rental lot and 9 pregnant jennys that they moved today to their own land. So if you are looking for a way to make a difference, they could use any amount you might be able to share. You can find them on Facebook or I would be glad to get you into contact with them.