My daughter. Animal friend. Beautiful soul!

My youngest son with the giant dog!

I just had to add this to show how big this dog is....my son playing with him is over 6ft tall.

My oldest son with my sisters giant dog! He is 6'1" just to give you an idea how big Bruzzi is.

Seeing her smile is everything to me!

Broken Heart

As I am writing this, I am crying. I have been through this before with my oldest son and now it is my daughter. You see, she has just had her heart broken. She was dating a very nice, respectful young man for almost two years until last night at 10 pm. I got a call from him and I barely could understand him but I made out the name of my daughter. I assumed he was trying to call her but he was asking me to check on her. I went upstairs to find my daughter crying her heart out. He had just broken up with her on the phone. He was away for a week at the beach for Senior Week and just returned. She was excited she would see him today but instead she learned he doesn't want to be her boyfriend anymore. I am torn because they are young and he is going off to college and she is a senior in high school so I know these things happen. But he was different (I thought). He wrote her songs, poems and letters of love all the time. He brought her roses all the time (even the day he was leaving for the beach). He was always telling her that he couldn't wait till they married some day and would casually talk about their future. I would hold my breath when I heard these conversations because I know from experience this is not how things usually work out. She is heartbroken. I find myself lost here. I know how to care for a sick, lonely, abandoned animal but I can't fix my own daughters broken heart. I had a similar thing happen to my son when he was 20 (now 24) and all we did was cry together. He got over it and he survived but you never get over not being able to take the pain away from your own child. I would gladly take on all the pain so they never had to feel the hurt but this is something I can't do. You see, my daughter is one of the most caring, loving people you could meet. One of her passions is animals. She stopped eating meat when she was 10. She has a "old" soul that is way beyond her years. Yesterday she demanded I stop the car and she got out to help a turtle across the road because he was dangerously close to getting hit. I was yelling for her to hurry because I didn't want her to get hit by a car. These are things she does all the time. Little things to help animals. She is a lot like me in a lot of ways but much, much better. I know in my heart we all must feel some pain, sorrow and adversity to grow and become stronger but she has had more than her share recently. I always said that my oldest son is my challenge. My daughter is my rock...she has stood by me and helped me through hard times and my youngest son is my comedian. He can make me laugh whenever I am down. These are the hardest things about being a mother. I want to fix everything for my kids and I can't. I can only be there and hold their hands and love them. I am hoping that is enough.

Picky the Goat

On a cold winter day I arrived at the farm and started my routine. As I walked through my Dad's living room I noticed a box on the floor with a blanket folded up in it. My first though was I guess I should see if that is a cat blanket that needs to be washed. On closer inspection I saw a tiny head peering from under the blanket. I immediately went to the kitchen and asked Dad about our new arrival. He explained the neighbor was taking care of a local farm while the owners were away and she found this goat that was near death. Dad said he was just keeping it while she was in school. So as with all the sick ones that arrive it was time to set up the "sick room" where they stay until they are better. The crate, the blankets and the food and water. So as I was taking "Picky" into the room I noticed that she was VERY ill. Her tongue was hanging out and she was very warm. I decided to unwrap her and try to get her to drink. She drank only drips. I was just glad to know that she would not die alone and cold today. As I left the farm that day I was sure that she would not be alive when I returned. Boy, was I wrong. Although months and months passed with a goat living in the house and lots and lots of goat poop later, I am pleased to say that Picky is one healthy, beautiful, ornery critter. I am always amazed what a little TLC can do for a very sick, neglected and frightened animal. As Sonia, Dad and I can attest to a little love goes a long way.

Ruby

My Ruby is a mix of Chow and maybe Akita. The shelter wasn't sure about the Akita but her mother was a purebred Chow that was pregnant when the owner decided that she was of no use since she accidently bred with a non-chow. Ruby's mother was saved from a high-kill shelter in Philadelphia by a Chow Rescue in Lancaster, Pennnsylvania where she had eight puppies.The vet told the rescue that she was the worst case of overbreeding he had ever seen. We visited the Rescue after researching online. Ruby actually "picked us" since we were there to see one of the other puppies. She took immediately to my daughter but she was terrified of everyone. Similar to her mother she was extremely skiddish. To this day Ruby does not like men. She loves my other dogs and loves to be out in our huge yard. She was kept in a little yard with no grass. I remember her look of amazement at the grass and the cows and the wide open space. This is a success story because not only did the puppies all find homes, Ruby's mother found a forever home and will never have to be used soley for the purpose of breeding. Although these dogs have endured adversity, they will and have overcome their fears and insecurity with love and patience.

Bootsie and Bella

It was like any other day at the farm until I noticed a big dark figure in the front yard as I was dumping the dust pan. Then out of the tall grass steps this big beautiful black kitty with white boots as paws. He was enormous and extremely friendly. "Where did you come from?", I asked. Well many purrs later and another little surprise, I realized someone had just left behind two adorable kitties. The other kitty was just a baby. She was so tiny and had a little pink collar with a bell dangling from her tiny little neck. I was wondering when they arrived, how they arrived, were they together from the same place and why? I could only imagine that some family must have wanted these two but had to give them up for some unfortunate reason and thought they might have a chance if they left them on a farm. I pictured some child picking out the little pink collar for their new kitten and taking it home. But something happened that we will never know. Was someone sad and regretful that they had to give up these precious souls? Do they wonder what became of them? I don't know how you "give up" a pet. I don't know what horrible thing forces you to make a decision like that and I thank God everyday I have never had to.

Farm Kitties

At the farm we have Willie, Whitey, Tigger, Loverboy, Bella, Mr.Goatee, Diamond, Mr.Daisy, Little Mr. Daisy, Poly, Ester, Frito, Simon, Buster, Maisy, Bootsie, FunnyFace,Stash, Partner, Grayson (feral), Momma Kitty and NutterButter (both feral but trying to trust). And then there was Molly who found a wonderful home with my mother in her last days and has since passed away. There was Callie and Scotchie who have also transitioned to Kitty Heaven. We have had others who have made the farm their home and found homes for which we are eternally grateful. And of course the beautiful Peggy Sue who is now at the best place ever for her and her four babies!

Buster

Buster came to us from a lady who knew our Dad had a farm. She rescued this little guy from a parking lot and took him home. Unfortunately this lady's husband does not like cats and threatened to kill Buster if she did not get rid of him. She found us and the story begins.

Buster is a beautiful kitty with a blind eye but that does not get him down. He patiently waits till I arrive in the morning and begins the "I want all of your attention now" routine. He insists on being carried while I am doing chores because he is a lover of cuddling and kisses. He gets along well with all of the other cats and doesn't mind when he gets the occasional batted paw from some of the others because after all he is the baby and they are trying to show him his place in the pack. Not only does he look a lot like Tigger, he has a lot of Tiggers personality traits.

Peggy Sue is a Mommy!

If you want to see the cutest thing ever go to The Adventures of Space Paws.

Peggy Sue

I am so happy to say that Pretty Girl (now Peggy Sue) is in a safe place having her babies with a wonderful person who I have not met (yet). I have just come to know this wonderful Lisa and The Adventures of Space Paws very recently and I am amazed by the caring and wonderful things being done. Sometimes life on a farm isn't always easy and somedays you feel all alone and then you realize there are wonderful people and great things going on that you didn't even know about.:)

Pretty Girl

Well, when Pretty Girl first showed up, it only took a little while for her to trust me enough to pet her. This went on for days that she would allow me to bend down and pet her but not pick her up. One particularly nasty rainy day, I decided she should go into the farm house to get warm because she was looking a little under the weather. I picked her up and all was well until I got close to the door. Well, this was the closest I have ever been to being bitten by a cat. She was furious. It took weeks for her to even let me pet her again. Well, Pretty Girl looks pregnant and she is tiny and probably very young so what are we going to do....................