The West River

Two days ago Terri and I were able to get into the West river from our yard. I was able to cut down some really tall weeds that had grown up. If you can make out just below the window a bench situated about 10 feet from the edge. Tow days ago you could make out the rocks that sit in the river and you could see the bottom. Terri wasn't too keen on sitting on the river bottom but I talked her into it. I told her I was in the river for a half hour before she came home from work.

Today I hope you can make out how brown the water is. You can't really tell just how fast the water is moving. Trust me I wouldn't be able to step a foot in this river. I would be in the Connecticut River in a about 10 minuetes. This is how the river can change in an instant when we have so much rain.

Here is the river when we haven't had much rain. You can see the other edge and the rocks. The river is also running very clear.  What a difference,huh.

DOWN WITH DOMA AND PROP. 8 OUT THE DOOR

  Today is one of the happiest days of my life. Today I have never been more prouder of my country. I thank the Supreme Court for making a decision of inclusion for all. I have not stopped crying since 10:10AM June 26th. When I met Terri over 7 years ago I knew we were destined to be together. When we fell in love we wanted to be more to each other than "partner". I grew knowing a longing I would be a married individual. Terri and I just celebrated 3 years of marriage together. I have never been more happy to be an American. I am one of the most patriotic people you will ever meet. Today I am an equal married American. We love all of you who follow this post! Today we are two of the happiest people in this world.
Sharon

Pond Hill Ranch

Turn Right to Pond Hill Ranch

Barn where our Mickey and Major still lived, 3 years later! We were very excited

Terri Doughney with Major

Mickey with his one blue eye, the other is brown.

These two were trouble. Once we passed them they decided to "tag" along, much to the dislike of Mickey.

Mickey who always likes to be last was not fond of these two coming along for the  trail  ride.

Terri being passed by the naughty chestnut horse.

Each time this horse got too close to Mickey he gave a "friendly" KICK reminder to him to back off.

The site of our wedding. The view just keeps getting better and better. At this point the two tag alongs continued down the hill and away from us.

It was a little cloudy but it was still beautiful.

The happy couple. Just as we were leaving a light summer rain started to come down and it was like H.P. was sending down love and warm wishes for us. It only rained for a few minutes and then stopped and the sun came out.

The view from on top the mountain. The little horse head you see is the guide's. 

I have no idea what we were saying. The guide said she was getting "action" shots of us!

Sharon with her boy Mickey bringing up the rear. My ankle felt pretty good  the entire ride. I have my air cast on my right foot under my jeans. 

  A hundred feet from the end of the trail ride, with the barn in sight, I dropped the cell phone that took these pictures (most taken by Sharon) in the dirt road. We all just stared at it, because the guide wasn't allowed to stop the horses there and dismount. And there was a large truck towing horses coming up the road. Sharon couldn't watch, but the guide assured us that the truck would miss the phone, which was fairly close to the side of the road. And it did, so that was good,  because it would have been a crappy anniversary present to Sharon! Terri

How we spent our 3rd wedding anniversary

  We are very excited today because we are living in Vermont where we were married 3 short years ago. I am having a hard time typing because Vinnie our dog has decided that there aren't sufficient amounts of extras mixed in with his dinner. He is sulking on my lap and won't get up.

  Terri came home after work to clean up and we decided what to do for our day. We went to our FAVORITE CO-OP in Putney for sandwiches on gluten-free bread. We ate at the picnic table outside and were entertained by a 50-something man and his band singing, I kid you not, Brittany Spears! We went home and were greeted by an apartment that was just too hot to stay in. Terri said "Let's go pick strawberries so we can take them to Aunt Jean's house tomorrow." (We are going to Pond Hill Ranch in Castleton, where we were married, and take the trail ride to celebrate.)

  So we headed out and back to the top of the mountain to see some goats and pick some berries. Then we went to the infamous Royal Diner, in West Brattleboro, for ice cream. Life is good in the Doughney household.  

The perfect strawberry, seconds before Sharon ate it!

The does and two remaining kids

Looks like a heart. Sharon ate this one too!

Mumbasa and son at two weeks

Umbale on the roof, where she likes to meditate

  

Farm, Food and Fiber Tour

  The weekend was capped off with a trip to the laundromat. Of course I'm walking around much better without those crutches, so Terri thought, ok, go do laundry. HA. Typical. No really she met up with a friend at the Brattleboro Co-op that was just down the road from the laundromat. After the final chore we had to take care of we went on a tour of Franklin Farm in Guilford, VT. This weekend was a chance for local people to appreciate their local farms and see where their food comes from.

  The Franklin Farm is an eighth generation farm. They have cows, chickens and the cutest horse I have ever seen. They also make Maple syrup! Yumm...

  Terri brought her other camera and when she was taking pictures this horse popped her head out! She was very friendly. A young lady who worked there came out with a wire basket full of eggs. When we went inside to look at the baby cows, some called Liz, Viva and Whiskey, we heard what sounded like a bull. On the other side of the barn was a cow. She looked like it was time to be milked. She just kept mooing really loud, standing in front of her milking stall. I got her to come pretty close to me but I wasn't much good to her if I wasn't going to milk her so she walked away from me looking disappointed.

COWPA(r)TTY 2013

Tom & Lou
He was the M.C for the evening.
Kinda a Vermont Garrison Keillor

  On Saturday, we attended the neighborhood Cow Pa(r)tty, held at our next-door-neighbors' house. The hosts were Mr. & Mrs. Daigler, and Tom and Lou Zopf from a few doors down helped coordinate everything, and contributed to the festive atmosphere. The Daigler's have a beautiful house on a lot of land that backs down to the West River. The Who's Who of Dummerston were all there (I guess, we didn't know anyone but that's what they said). Tom told some great stories while wearing this lovely chicken hat, cow shirt and cow booties.
  There was a contribution board, seen slightly on the right in this picture, and people brought poems and stories relating to all things bovine. You had to vote for your favorite and there were supposedly prizes awarded but we left before they gave out any. Here are two of the poems/songs!
  GinMillBill was great entertainment. He had a wonderful deep voice and could carry a tune from gospel to country. And he sang for hours!

Poem entry about Heifer weekend

Another entry

In the distance is the covered bridge we drive over to get to our street.

GinMillBill

This man was a real treat. He had a nice deep voice. And could he carry a tune. Gospel and Country songs, old and new. He sang for long sets and when he rested he went over to the side and smoked his pipe. He really made this party great.

Extra fun pictures from the weekend

The water level during Irene was up to the edge of the  patio deck.

Terri with her favorite goats.

The family

4 day's old!!

Goats in the other pen

More goats!

Terri at the festivities

Strolling of the Heifers

 

  This large cow greeted us as we entered the festival grounds on Saturday. We were in a long line of people who waited to get a picture of themselves taken, while milking this fake cow. Take note of Sharon's stylish boot, which comes off in 11 days (but who's counting).

                                                             

  These goats were supposedly in "Goat Olympics" which turned out to be a short goat race (bummer!). They were resting here, and looking very cute and snuggly. People could bet on which goat would win, and get prizes. We actually missed the race because we were in line for the best ice cream on the planet. But I was envisioning someone holding out grain in front of these little guys as an incentive to move.

                                         Here's Sharon in a cow cut-out....and I'm below.

   




  These alpacas were cute but they looked a little mad, to be honest. They had a sign by them saying, "We only spit if you call us llamas." Hah!

This is the biggest ass I've ever seen in captivity!

I didn't realize this was a real live owl until he moved his head; it was pretty cool.

Typical corn snake

Yep! Thought this was real till I got up close to it. Looks good, doesn't it?

Mumbasa and boy (2 days old)
Elizabeth was unsure if she was
pregnant until Thursday a few hours before  she gave birth

  We stopped by the farm to see the new baby later that day...

A new little surprise to the herd. Baby Boy Goat.

Strawberry plants about a week till they turn

Chamomile growing at the farm

Kale growing at the farm

Nairobi sitting on her mom 

Still there!

This is mommy and daddy and the baby. Isn't dad quite interesting looking? I'm glad the kid favors his mom and not his dad.