spending my day in the company of dogs

On these winter days of late February in Vermont, with the dearth of snow, I have found more time to sit and reflect. Consequently sharing my thoughts in this blog. I have decided to use this as a way to show my day-to-day life. The daily part is shared by “the boys”, our pack of dogs.

I will start with an introduction to Cyrano. He is 3, from Tennessee and is a golden retriever/hound of  humble and unknown origin.  As a matter for the historical record, I too was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, hence my ability to spell it.  Although, my roots are really in Virginia(a good topic for a future post).

I live on a small farm in Vermont with my wife Jennifer and daughter Gabrielle. My writing is about life in the country, taking care of the livestock , the poultry(a mixed bag of chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys) that are kept as a self-sustaining year around flock , our gardens, fields and the woods. The boys always accompany me as I do farm tasks, so they are frequently captured in my images.

Continuing with Cyrano, he is a rescue pup, who was saved the day before his demise, and shipped to Pennsylvania. Living in the pound is a difficult way to start one’s life.  Cyrano has risen above the start and is a good and loyal boy obsessed with his balls, and did I say, quite fast? We picked him up on our annual journey down to  the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where I grew up, for Thanksgiving.

Later, I will introduce Quinn, our Golden Doodle and Laddie,our Scottish Border Collie. I know many of you have been following the  pictures of the pups on Facebook as they grow and play. I would like to use this space to further explore the small details of my life on the farm. I look forward to exploring the transitions of the seasons, the weather, the gardens and animals from my world in a lovely part of Vermont.

golden retriever plays with a goose

Golden Retriever running

Cyrano, side portrait, winter 2011-12

Night visitors to the Poultry house

I have been thinking of doing an illustrated copy to the children’s song about the Fox, after having several visits from a night visitor.

The fox went out for a chase one night

prayed to the moon to give him light

for he had many a mile to go that night
before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o
he had many a mile to go that night
before he reached the town-o.

2. He ran right up to the farmers pen
ducks and the geese were kept therein
he said “A couple of you gonna grease my chin
before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o
A couple of you gonna grease my chin
before I leave this town-o.”

3. He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
slung the little one over his back
he didn’t mind the quack quack quack
and the legs all dangling down-o, down-o, down-o
he didn’t mind the quack quack quack
and the legs all dangling down-o.

4. Old Mother Pitter Patter jumped out of bed
out of the window she popped her head yelling
“John, John the grey goose is gone!
and the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
John, John the grey goose is gone!
and the fox is on the town-o.”

5. John he ran to the top of the hill
blew his horn both loud and shrill
the fox said “I’d better flee with my kill
for he’ll soon be on my trail-o, trail-o, trail-o”
the fox said “I’d better flee with my kill
for he’ll soon be on my trail-o.”

6. He ran right up to his cozy den
there were his little ones eight nine ten
they said “Daddy won’t you please go back again
for it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o
Daddy won’t you please go back again
for it must be a mighty fine town-o.”

7. The fox and his wife without any strife
cut up the goose with a fork and knife
they’d never had such a supper in their life
and the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o
They never had such a supper in their life
and the little ones chewed on the bones-o.

Pastured Poultry

Pastured Poultry. I have my chickens down on the lower pasture. They spend the day eating grass, bugs, establishing the pecking order, resting under shelter during the heat of the day. Living the life that a chicken should. I have an acre of my lower pasture inclosed with a solar electric fence to keep them safe from predators.