Photo: My goat friend Harley.
Time moves differently on the farm.
I'm not sure if people who have spent their whole lives on a farm notice that, but at least for me I can officially say that the days are an actual blink in time. I get to work on most days at 8:30 and after what feels like 45 minutes, I'm in the car on the ride home.
In almost every other job I've ever had, there's a "honeymoon" period where the days go by fast because you are having fun and new things are still being learned and the excitement of all that keeps you engaged and thoughtful about things happening around you. Then, it becomes just your "job"- the thing you do to pay the bills. Your days are the same every. single. day and you no longer are excited to get out of bed. You live for the weekend, and then you are happy and enjoying life again.
Starting my 4th month with Pasados and I still LOVE when the alarm goes off. I'm still always excited and in general disbelief that I finally have a job like the one I have. Even on the "hard" days. Will the honeymoon die? I honestly don't think so- because I truly down to the core love the job.
For instance: last week, spending some time with the Warrior Pigs. No, not forceably cuddling or interacting, but just sitting near them while they were napping and relaxing.
(L-R): Gabby, Xena and Hercules.
Hercules getting some alone time.
There are never boring or slow days on the farm. Some days are quieter than others, but all days move with such efficiency that I have a handwritten list along with a list on my phone of to-do's that sometimes I rarely get to. On every day of the work week I have eyes on 50+ ruminants who call the sanctuary home. And I am not of the belief that walking by the pasture a few times a day is "spending time." I like to hang out a while, check body condition, see if anything looks weird/different and just give them time to get comfortable with me. These are not chimpanzees who never be moved or adopted- these animals will moved to their new forever homes and need to be comfortable with people and interaction with humans if nothing else for the purpose of feeding and meds. Often times they need to be "re-trained" for lack of a better term, to like humans again- particularly if they were the victims of cruelty and/or neglect.
BUT if I don't get to my lists, it's because other pertinent time sensitive activities come up.
OR I haven't seen an animal for more than a few minutes that day and I want to spend some time, checking in on everyone.
For example, my friend Harley Goat.
Harley with his buddy Alfie Alpaca.
Harley is an old guy with old joints and spends most of his days with his buddy Alfie who lives in the pasture with him. Sometimes they have words, but most of the time they ignore each other in opposite sides of the pasture. Alfie is not a huge fan of humans, but Harley likes people once he gets to know them. When I first started interacting with Harley he was very standoff-ish and not sure about me. Now, he will walk right up to me and demand rubs between his horns, which I of course oblige him with. Harley is as smart as a whip- he knows exactly how many crackers you are putting on his meals and when we need to trim hooves he scoots away as quickly (pretty slowly) as he can.
Harley smells like a grandpa- in the best possible way. I've never met any of my grandfathers, but I've known plenty of older folks and Harley smells exactly like the smell you are imagining when you think of visiting your grandparents. His beard is glorious, and some days I'm convinced he managed to wash it, when it's extra shiny and soft.
Wanna foster or adopt Harley? YOU CAN! http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/adopt/farm/#petid-27011170
(also; I love Harley A LOT and he deserves the best of the BEST. SO you should probably plant some sunflowers, because he loves sunflower leaves as a treat.)
Most of my days are closing shifts now, which means I do PM meds/ closing in other animals as needed. It's my ALL TIME FAVORITE thing ever. I have a unwavering and true love for ruminants but some days you want to go see the dogs, or the cats, or the pigs but you just don't have the time. Closing means I usually go to all parts of the farm to check on everyone one last time before bed. Goodnight snuggles with almost everyone on the farm? OH YEAH IT'S HAPPENING.
Perhaps one of the best parts of being at Pasados is that sometimes Lars comes to help me with all my chores, and sometimes that just means playing with babies while I clean.:
Louie and I:
Lars and baby Ichabod.
The baby goats are very much a huge, time consuming, cuddly part of my day. These guys are still getting over some upper respiratory infections so wiping noses is a must- but after all that is done, we get to run around in the field and jump on rocks (and mostly me) and relax in the grass. It's a pretty sweet life, being a baby goat at Pasados.
Jamie taking a walk around Young's Hill.
Jamie (and the other beautiful souls) are all doing well- including avoiding fires already this summer in Cle Elum. Flames were making their way towards the chimp house but the firefighters in the area did another excellent job getting things under control.
Annie napping in the greenhouse.
Annie spent some time last week grooming my bare feet, and head nodding during the event- happy to see some naked feet! Shortly after, Jamie let Annie and I know we were done hanging out, and then demanded we walk around young's hill.
Having a real weekend means real trips to REAL PLACES. I finally got to visit my friend Meg who is going to Veterinary School at WSU and see all of the cool things she is up to. Seeing and hearing all the things she's doing and learning makes me want to go back to school! Classes like "Small animal anatomy" sound so interesting and super helpful for my current job. I could have stayed in the Anatomy museum for HOURS soaking up all of the models and information about muscles and what part of the foot moves the other part and ALL THE RUMEN I mean GOODLORD I could have looked at all the rumen in there for forever.
We also got to visit Palouse Falls, and it was beautiful! One of the places I've been wanting to visit in Washington State.
I am actually genuinely addicted to the heat. While its 90 degrees and no wind out and everyone is miserable, I'm in HEAVEN. When it's 65 out and sunny- I'm in a sweater. So being on the east side where it's all sun was great. I saw an acutal movie in an actual movie theater (which hasn't happened in a long while) and it was glorious and I sobbed throughout the movie. #gorillasmakemeemotional #tarzanisahunk
July will be a quiet(er) month as most of our vacations are in August/Sept but it is the month of Lars' and Queen Butters' birthdays. Stay tuned for the madness!
B
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