It's the journey.......: September 2019

#29 The Second Hardest Blog

This is an out of sequence writing but one we feel is important to convey. I confess this will be the second most difficult blog I've ever had to write. There's never an easy way to convey the mourning of a Cherished Friend but writing helps to fill the pit of loss.

August 16th was the day that Cokie and I agreed the quality of life for our spunky little companion, Tara, had reached a very low point indeed. It has always been extremely difficult to "play God" for our fuzzy friends but they can convey very explicit pleas for help if we are willing to listen to their needs and not our own. She had been having more and more frequent seizures within a period of about two weeks and had lost interest in eating. Our Vet visit diagnosis was a possible brain tumor on the pituitary gland which was also the most likely source of her Cushing disease. We tried giving her anti anxiety medicine along with eating stimulators but she just became comatose and threw up a lot. We definitely got her message that this wasn’t living. The very next day we helped her cross over “The Rainbow Bridge.” She was fun, feisty and curious. She trained us quickly to her funny little habits and needs, never losing her zest for life. We are content knowing we gave her our best during her last 1.5 years. We interred her in a special hallowed ground on Rattlesnake Road amongst many other life companions. Our hearts are healing now but we will truly miss her.

#28 Wolf Springs Ranch

After saying goodbye to Cat and David we headed back the way we came! Silly us, the road had gotten no better over the two days we were camped, but it was the only way to Highway 55 and north for a visit with Sabrina and Nick Ferris, owners of one of the sweetest ranches on earth, Wolf Springs Ranch. Story is that Cokie babysat two sisters, Ann-Scott and Sabrina plus their brother, Cliff many many years ago. They’ve all kept in touch over the decades though it’s been 14 years since we celebrated their mother’s 70th birthday together.

Their incredible ranch is nestled in a gentle valley outside of St. Maries in north-central Idaho. Aside from the shear beauty of the forest covered ridges, the small stream running through the middle of 120+ acres, groves of white birches, Engelmann Spruce, oaks and fruit trees, this is a fully sustainable working ranch with a beautiful herd of Scottish Highlander Cattle, Alpaca wool producers, gentle horse helpers, strutting turkeys, laying hens, great dogs and a cat or two. But that's not all, by any means! No sir! These two amazing people have opened their hearts and their home to children of many ages and to women veterans of America's military. They have created a variety of classes: horsemanship and etiquette for girls, ranch skills for boys, craft classes, team building plus one of the few opportunities provided for female veterans to come to a safe, secure ranch setting to share place, space and camaraderie with other veterans of similar experiences.

Sabrina and Nick have built many venues on the property to facilitate their programs: a huge covered arena and a state-of-the-art crafts barn/sleeping space (thanks to donations to their non-profit: LifeSkills Ranch Program, Inc. www.lifeskillsranchprogram.org/index.html. They wonderfully restored a old log cabin for guests, placed a teepee for fun and sleeping near the creek and developed quiet spots throughout the land for meditation, conversation and simple reflection. Couple all of this with contented farm animals, busy happy ranchers, the sense of sharing and heart felt giving makes us believe this is truly one of the sacred places on this Earth! So I decided to share my varied impressions as you view dear Cokie's exceptional photos.

I'll just call it-

WOLF SPRINGS RANCH 2019

Thick rich silence

Broken only by

Gentle leaf whispers

Water kissing pebbles

Whoosh of wings

Raucous cries of raven

Growling bark of dogs

Neighs of horses

Creak of field gates

Endless vistas show