On Saturday, October 26, 2024, my dear friend Tania and her gorgeous donkeys will be hosting a fundraiser event for The Longears Safehouse Donkey Sanctuary. The Longears Safehouse (TLS) is the only rescue organization in New Mexico specifically for donkeys and mules/hinnies. TLS is a federally recognized 501c3 tax exempt organization. All of this is a VERY cool, necessary thing because donkeys and mules are awesome and they deserve to be cared for and live out their best lives.

Did you know that donkeys typically live 30 - 40 or more years? That means they often outlive their original owners. I didn't know that. But WOW! Now I understand why it's so important to have such a wonderful organization as TLS to rescue and care for the donkeys who have lost their (original) owners until they can find their safest, best forever homes.

Aren't they gorgeous? Each one has such a unique personality and they'd love to meet you. In fact, we'd all love to meet you! I hope you will consider spending the evening of October 26th with us. There will be fabulous food, drink, conversation and live music too! Our very own Farmer Jeff (aka JR Chapman) will be providing the live music. He's been working hard putting together a great selection of songs for your enjoyment.

If you're interested, I urge you to secure your tickets soon as tickets are limited and final counts will be needed soon for food planning & preparations. It's going to be so much fun and it's for such a great cause.  I hope you'll come and help us make hay after the sun shines. It's going to be a remarkable evening.

Today is Sunday, October 6, 2024.  I send you love and wishes for peace and joy.
I completely understand if you're not interested in my rambling thoughts. Some of my posts here on the farm blog will be limited to observations & information about specific plants, some will be interviews with other growers, farmers, ranchers, animal sanctuaries, etc. But some--like this one--will offer my personal sentiments that have grown out of living here and pursuing my own life in the most authentic manner that I am able.
Pictured above are Rudbeckia-Sahara flowers that I started from seed waaaaaay back in February. As a first time grower of them, I had no way of knowing how truly beautiful they would be when they bloomed. I loved the picture on the seed packet, of course, and that's why I chose to try growing them; but that image paled in comparison to being in their full bloom presence. That is such a great analogy for how life works, isn't it? When we plant seeds -- especially for the first time -- we never really know how they're going to turn out. There are no guarantees. Yet we do know that if we plant the seeds and we carefully tend the plants as they grow (giving them what they actually need out of selfless commitment & love), it makes a HUGE difference in their health and ultimately, the harvest. So it is with each generation of people.

With all that's happening in the world right now, I know the concept of peace and joy often seems out of reach. Let's take Hurricane Helene for example and all the destruction and absolute loss that has happened in North Carolina and several surrounding states that were deeply impacted. Families and entire little towns are just GONE. What a horrific mess and tragedy for so many. My heart hurts deeply.

So much chaos, confusion and loss seems to bombard us on the daily. Ugh. It feels really overwhelming to me too some days and I lose precious time feeling like nothing I do really matters so why even bother?!? I mean, some people have even said, "...why grow flowers when people need food?!" Well. That's some stinkin' thinkin' right there, my friends. Flowers feed our souls and flowers feed the bees & butterflies which pollinate our fruit trees and veggie crops. It's ALL connected. We are ALL connected to each other and to the earth. ALL are needed. It's true. There's a lot of chaos and disaster in the world today--though we know chaos and disaster is nothing new in this world. They have been part of this world since the beginning of time as we know it.

I also know that truly, as long as the sun rises and we draw breath, each one of us really does have a choice to make each day. We can choose to use our priceless present (that's today) to shine our light of love (and our gift) upon each other and make a better way for ourselves, our families & communities; OR, we can choose to shut down and hide because...why even bother?

I hope you choose to shine and share your gift. As we each stand together for good, shining love & light we absolutely DO make a difference in this world -- and more will begin to stand with us. Our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, families, and communities need to see our example of love in action. We are ALL NEEDED. You have a gift--please don't be afraid to share it. When you share your gift in love, LOVE multiplies and that light of love is the only thing that can cast out the darkness.

To take the analogy even further: This white dahlia isn't worried about what the rudbeckias are doing. She isn't wasting time criticizing the cosmos or bachelors buttons that are so different from her. She's not worried about next week or when the first frost will arrive. She is dancing freely in the morning light as the sun shimmers behind her pretty petals. She is sharing her gift in her moment for her time is present but brief. She is in her moment with fearless, wild magic. So we should strive to be--with pure love at our core.

We don't have to agree on politics, religion or lifestyles in order to be kind, loving and mutually respectful. There's room for all of us -- and ALL of us are needed.  Each one of us has room for growth and opportunities to extend the kindness, dignity and basic human respect that we wish to have extended to us.

I may be just a simple old sew & sow, but I'm sending you love, smiles, gentle hugs & cheers of encouragement. We can do this together.