2017; strength.

2017 did not start the way I would have liked, that's for sure. 

a) All firework holidays are the worst. If you have pets at home- you feel me on this. If you have an abnormal work schedule- you feel me on this. 

b) Frozen faucets, frozen locks, icy roads and multiple staff call outs/ late starts: two of us laughing about how we "want a do over for the first day of the year!" 

c) Spending the first new nights in a new place without your person: not the best sleeps I've ever had. 

d) Saying goodbye to a dear old friend- the hardest of all. 

It's not all bad by any means, but it's only the 8th day of the year and I already feel behind. 

All in all 2017 is shaping up to be a great year for Lars and I and I'm really looking forward to all the trips we've got planned and living on property is already making my life so much easier. Right now it's me, Raleigh and Jasper living in the cabin and we are all still figuring out what fits where and who sleeps where and so on- and even though I don't sleep all that well with my husband gone, I do sleep a little better in some ways knowing that my 1 hour and 20 minute commute has become a 19 second one. 

Things are really going well right now for my little family. Lars is going to be venturing into his own career path and I still love all the things I'm doing with all my little black heart and I'm so excited that some things are finally going our way in 2017. 

But the thing really weighing on me now is that my friend Harley Goat is no longer here. 

I've said goodbye to a number of animals over the years, but Harley is the first one (that I didn't grow up with) that really hit me hard. If you've ever met him you know what I mean. Harley was an old guy with a glorious beard and didn't trust ANYONE until he got to know you. He smelled like a grandpa and loved laying in the sun on nice days. He enjoyed watermelon, blackberry bushes but most of all he loved sunflowers. There were a number of days in the summer I would sit in the sun with him and scratch in between his horns and just relax. He was a favorite for sure. 

I can't describe my connection with Harley any other way than "He was the grandpa I never had." I LOVE that he didn't trust people right away because THAT IS EXACTLY ME. We have so many similarities  and sitting with him and braiding his beard is something I will treasure until I leave this earth. He was a great goat, and I'm so lucky to have known him. 

The act of saying goodbye to an animal is not hard; when someone is in pain and the quality of life is poor its the best thing you can do- to release them from that. The hardest part is realizing you'll never have moments to share with them again- that even though we are animal caregivers and our job is to interact and care for these animals and see them everyday, sometimes it's easy to forget that they don't live forever. Even going to Harley's yard on Sunday for the first time since he passed knocked me on my ass. Out of habit I went to open the door of his stall and give a good morning scratch and let him out. Seeing his empty stall was still almost too hard to deal with. It will get easier I'm sure, but I do miss him fiercely already. 

Heavy stuff. Hard stuff. Life stuff. 

I'm happy that Harley is somewhere in goat heaven with his pal Buford  and a field of sunflowers- and I know his spirit is still around the grounds silently judging everyone- a man after my own heart. <3 

Maybe 2017 is going to be a year of creating memories- money is nice sure but no amount of dollars will ever outweigh braiding Harley's beard in the sunshine. 

The snow has been beautiful around the property: here are a few of my favorite shots I got over the snowy days we had: 

Baby Cow:

 Hooper Goat: 

Oscar Sheep: 

 Dot Sheep: 

 Love of my life Norman Cow: 

View from the road that leads to the cow pasture: 

I cannot speak for everyone at PSH but most of us are counting the days until winter is over. We are waiting for some warm sunshine and water troughs to NOT be frozen. 

I had today off (except for a few hours in the afternoon to move some alpacas to a new yard) so I spent some time out with my favorite cows in the world and cuddled with Baby. <3 

This big guy is IMPOSSIBLE not to love. He's a big sweetheart and lately greets me with a lick on the face. 

I'm heading to CSNW tomorrow from the new cabin for the first time- and with Raleigh since I'll be gone so long.. It will be an adventure for sure! 

More updates soon. 

b 

Baby and Becky's Love Story:

There are very few times in my life I've willingly walked away from something I loved. I could count all those scenarios on one hand and in all certainty can tell you that it wasn't even because I decided to walk away- but more so that people looked me in the eyes and said "okay really becca you need to GET BACK TO WHAT MATTERS." 

And I, begrudgingly would admit they were right and walk away. 

The past few days have been just that. Decisions were made and my life plan is changing faster than I can follow it, but it's all happy things.  Things that are good for me and my family and I'm beyond ready to focus on one thing instead of hanging in between two things. Which, as someone who is very stubborn and a take-charge-of-my-own-shit kind of person, it is incredibly hard to wait for others to take that step. I'M WORKING ON IT OKAY. 

All of that sounds very ominous and "oh please please ask me what I'm referring to" but I don't intend it to be that way. I have just been stuck in a place waiting for other people to decide things and finally, with news comes relief, a hint of sadness but ultimately an exciting opportunity to focus on what's important to me right now. So: here's to moving forward, no looking back and completely investing in THE NOW.  


Also my husband and I spent most of today cleaning out the house and getting rid of things we don't need which involved me getting rid of an entire bin of shoes AND IF YOU KNOW ME AT ALL YOU KNOW SHOES ARE MY LIFE and I'm just a little emotional. whatever. I love shoes. 

BACK TO THE IMPORTANT THINGS: 
Baby and Becky's Love Story: 

Baby Cow is 8 years old and easily the largest cow I've ever seen in my life. I understand COMPLETELY when people see him and become instantly aware of how small they are- he towers over pretty much everyone who visits. But beneath all that, he is a HUGE love. A giant cuddle bug, and over the past few weeks has become a dear friend to me. 

I can't exactly pinpoint the moment Baby and I became friends, but I can tell you he is the sweetest being on this planet. I feed the cows once a day, and on a typical day I go back out to the pasture in the afternoon to see everyone and take photos and just spend time with them. Normally Baby cow is always resting somewhere; in a barn or just in the grass, but while everyone is having second lunch or first dinner he is taking an afternoon snooze. I go over and sit with him- reading his body language to see if he is up for a cuddle or not, and most times he lets me rub his head as he lets out a huge sigh, and we just relax together. I take this time to also check his head/face for fly bites, bumps or anything else out of the ordinary. I give a few hugs and kisses while thanking him for letting me sit with him, and I say "I'll see you in the morning!" as I move along the pasture to check on everyone else. Much like the chimps, the pasture is his home and I always try to be a gracious guest when I'm out there. It's bar none- my favorite place on the entire Pasado's property and if the day comes that I've finally completely lost my mind and no one has seen me for a while, you'll probably find me sleeping in the cow barn with Baby and Norman. 

Baby Cow has become very protective over me in the pasture. He even chased Blue away when I went to say hello to him! He rests his head on my knees as we sit in the barn out of the rain, and lets me rub his head until he falls asleep. When I say cuddling in the cow barn is the best place in the world- I assure you- it's an understatement.  Norman has even caught on to our friendship and some mornings looks at me as though he is disgusted with my behavior. "Oh Norman, you know you are my true love" I say as I rub his head. It's almost pumpkin time (Norman Cow's favorite time of year) and I'm hoping to win some points back with him! 

Oscar the Sheep: aka cute as a button aka baby button aka snuggle factory aka i'm dead: 

Oscar the Sheep moved up from ISO and has made more sheep friends in the Narn Barn Pasture and we are ALL SO HAPPY. He's the most adorable little thing and we are so happy to see him with friends after being stuck in ISO for a few weeks. He is available for adoption, and would do great with a herd. He's about 9 months old and at times acts like a puppy with the other goats and sheep, but ultimately he loves having friends around to play with. 

Also, King Hooper continues to make me question if he's a goat or actually an antelope in disguise. 

In other news: I stepped outside of my normal animal photography comfort zone and took my sister's senior photos. It was a BLAST and I'm so glad she let me do it- I hope there are more opportunities to take photos like these! 

And if anyone- in all seriousness- wants to let me take some photos, I'd love to practice. Christmas is coming ya'll. 

I haven't seen the chimps in quite some time- I traveled to Denver to see friends and then caught a cold so I'm hoping to get back over there soon. 

Halloween is coming- my favorite holiday of the year- and I've got some cute shots from Pasados I can't wait to share! 

B

Vacation / One Year of Marriage and how I'm DYING to get back to work!

ONE YEAR! Lars and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary on 8.15.16 in Chelan when the world wasn't burning around us. I had the great (eyeroll) idea of getting up before the sunrise, getting dressed in our wedding clothes and going down to a dock to take some photos in the golden hour. Each year on our anniversary we will take photos with the years we've been married. 

But you know what sucks? 

Waking up at 445am on your vacation. 

Getting dressed like you want to look presentable in any way. 

Putting on YOUR EFFING WEDDING CLOTHES WHICH ARE ALL LAYERS AND ZIPPERS AND BUTTONS UNTIL YOUR EYES FALL OUT. 

So, I had this great idea and then the alarm went off and I was like "nope." 

Luckily, sweet dear Lars knew I would kick myself in the afternoon hours (which I said multiple times later that day) if I didn't get some photos. And to be truthful, I'm DAMN PROUD of what we got. No photographer, no fancy equipment, no selfie stick and no editing. We got some pretty good shots of each other! 

Here are a few of the shots we got!: 

I could tell you that our year has been testing and full of ups and downs but honestly, THATS A LIE. 

Lars and I are pretty different than most newly married people because we have been together for 10 years prior to finally getting married. We understand each other almost TOO well and when I'm frustrated or upset with anything it's almost like Lars solves the problem before I even realize I'm having it. Sure we bicker, but mostly jokingly and shortly after we both say something to the tune of "How do we still not have a TV show!?!?" (Because for real: we are funny as hell.) 

If this sounds a little "my married life is perfect" to you, I assure you it's anything BUT. However, I don't like to pretend or make believe anything. We have a solid, sass-filled, love-filled, LOUD marriage. And the first year overall has been smooth sailing. Mostly me freaking out over things I have no control of and Lars reminding me I have no control and telling me to breathe. 

It was nice to unwind and get tan and eat all the fresh fruits but I am SO READY TO GET BACK TO WORK. I miss all my babies at Pasados and I hate when I'm away from them for so long. 

Thursday before I got to Chelan I did a shift at the chimp house and we had a morning breakfast forage on the hill. Here are some photos I got: 

LOVE that blue sky! 

Jody snacking. 

Annie finds an orange. 

Jody taking her haul inside. 

Jamie 

Annie with some pea tendrils. 

Foxie with troll baby. 

Annie, Missy. 

Annie leaving, Missy. 

Missy taking the haul. 

And of course, Mr. Bub.

I LOVE Young's Hill forages. Watching the chimps head out and go to their favorite spots and seeing where they end up. The quiet of no sounds but munching mouths. There is nothing better! 

I'm ready to get back to Pasados and snuggle EVERYONE. 

But mostly the real love of my life, Norman cow. 

All the for sale lots on the east side were greeted with "Oooh! Norman and Hank would LOVE this pasture." 

because that's how much I love them. 

MORE SOON! 

b

Playing with B and INDIANA JONES!

If there's one thing I hold dear to my heart and know is forever true its this: playing with Burrito chimpanzee will never be boring or old or a "oh well I guess I have to." 

As the years go by at CSNW Burrito continues to be the goofball, the dood, the most handsome and lovable chimp I've ever known. I still "aww" to myself when Bub comes over for a kiss or turns around and lets me give him some knuckle rubs. And I still experience genuine shock when we play for many minutes and Jamie hasn't come to break it up yet. 

Here's the link to the CSNW blog with the video of us playing!
Burrito and Becca play!

Lars and I are up early this morning headed to our favorite place again: 

This time- for a real vacation! ha. 

It's birthday month so my art is up at Tin Umbrella Coffee! 

Originally, a year ago when I decided to do an art show, I was going to paint all of the Cle Elum 7 and make accompanying wreaths for each chimp. 

and then I got busy. 

So, once the end of July rolled around and Jamie Chimpanzee's painting looked like a sad old man, I decided to go a different way. I take tons of photos for Pasados, and I wanted some to hang in my house, so I decided to print some big ones, frame them and use them as the art show. Its a mix of CSNW and Pasados friends, and there is 1 actual painting up and 1 actual wreath! 

Also, I hung all the art without a level or a tape measure so BOOM. 

probably why they are crooked but WHATEVER. 

Anyway, I'm happy they are up and people get to see my friends I play with everyday. 

The end of July brought me, FINALLY, some good photos of Indiana! 

Indiana, or Indiana Jones as I call him, is actually one of the sweetest baby goats I've ever met. He is very lovey with humans and always very curious of what I'm doing. He likes to wait outside the door when I'm cleaning to observe or wait for a head scratching. Normally when I bring my camera in, he's right at my feet trying to figure out what I'm doing. On Sunday he was relaxing on this rock and didn't get up, so naturally I snapped a million photos of him. 

I also got to spends some time with this handsome dude, Banjo.

(who needs a home, if you are looking!) He's super friendly and loves cuddles! 

Off to the sunshine! 

B