My boys

Bo and Luke are the two precious kitties of the family. Very fat, special kitties are they! At age 25, I got the boys on December 15, 2001 from Jacksonville, Florida, where I was living at the time. Here's their story:

I lived on a golf course in Jacksonville. One day while walking about the course, I heard a faint cry in a bush and knew immediately that it was a kitten. He was a fuzzy little white and gray kitty that somehow lost his mother. Being who I am, I scooped the little one up and happily went home with "Links". Links was a very athletic and energetic kitty, thereby ripping the furniture and carpet to shreds in bouts of boredom and restlessness. My roommate and I decided to have him declawed while he was anesthesized for neutering. Well, Mr. Linksy never woke up. Prior to his one-way trip to the vet for his murder/procedure, I even took Links to my office for all the girls to meet, since they had heard so much of my little feline. It was a very sad time for me...which actually was about this time of year. I was striken with guilt for requesting the declaw; declawing requires a higher dosage of anesthesia than neutering alone. After a while, I realized that the anesthesiologist was an idiot and perhaps I should not carry around so much guilt.

Since I had become so accustomed to the life and entertainment from the little kitten, I decided to get another one. I went to the humane society but all the kittens were claimed. I searched for rescue organizations and discovered "Purrfect Love", an organization that rescues animals from euthanasia at the humane society. In October, Bo and Luke were scheduled to be put to sleep because of a bad respiratory infection. However, Purrfect Love realized the potential health of the kittens, adopted them, and began nursing them back to good health. Choosing my new kitten was difficult for I wanted each one that had been rescued! Some of the older cats were pitiful; one had been doused with kerosene and set afire on Halloween. The next dilemma I faced was splitting up litter mates. That's when the thought occurred that two kittens may be better than one because each would keep the other company. With proper justification, I selected Bo and Luke.

Sick since birth, they were not very pretty kittens. They had pot bellies, runny eyes, and drippy noses. Their illnesses progressed even though they were on a pretty high dose of antibiotics. (For those of you who don't know what antibiotics make a kitty's rump smell like, be thankful!) The respiratory infection was accompanied by a gastrointestinal infection and a good case of ringworm. I could handle the projectile sneezes and stinky side effects, but the GI infection had me considering purchasing newborn diapers and cutting holes in them so the cats could wear them with their tails hanging out. Luckily, it never came to that point. But I unfortunately did not discover their ringworm until I identified it on myself! It was the easiest cure of all...and no harm to me!

After thorough background checks and verifying multiple references, I decided on my new vet. With proper nutrition, medication, and about $800, Bo and Luke were on their way to optimal health! When it came time for neutering, I selected the gas method of anesthesia over the injection form; the vets could remove the gas at any sign of distress in the kitten. For thirty minutes Bo and Luke were put to sleep and neutered, and this is the only time in their lives that they were separated.

These kitties have lived in many places before calling the mountains their home. They lived in three different apartments in Jacksonville, in Athens, Georgia, at Nana and Papa's, our first house in Kernersville, and home. My sickly, city kitties have come a long way in six years. And they haven't had the first cold, only injuries from the farm since they have free choice to go in and out.

In Kernersville, the house had neither screens nor air conditioning. I asked Danny to please put up the screens he had for the windows so we could have some fresh air. With the boys solely accustomed to apartment living, the outdoors was a scary and unfamiliar place to them. While the house was situated in the middle of tobacco fields, a busy road was in the front of the house. Danny assured me it would all work out just fine. Our first evening away from home while dining with his parents, Luke discovered a window I did not lower enough and decided to explore the great outdoors. I hysterically and immediately realized he was gone when we returned. After an hour of searching, calling, and rattling treats, I found Luke crouching and crying under a tobacco plant. Danny was so scared, moreso for himself than for Luke!

The boys love the mountains. They have caught moles, birds, rabbits, and field mice, which they usually bring in their front door with much pride and as gifts for us. These city slickers have even killed a possum! Danny, who was against the kitties living in the house, has taught them that they are kitty cats, not just boys. They don't hunt as much as they have in the first few years here. In fact, they are pretty lazy in their routines. They expect to be fed precisely at 6:15am and promptly at 5:00pm. Little Bo has morning "beg" duty, pouncing on my chest at the first sound of my voice; Luke has evening duty, which starts at about 3:00, following me everywhere I go. Luke enjoys bird hunting after his morning feeding while Bo is more interested in a walk to the barn or mole hunting after the evening feeding. We think something spooked BoBo at the barn because he goes there significantly less often these days. If I procrastinate at 5:00, which I often do to make them keep walking around, they'll get so mad that they fight with each other. Sometimes before bedtime we have kitty wrestling, more physical activity that I encourage. Our vet, Dr. Sluss (again with references), happens to have the boys labeled as severely obese in their files. Bo weighs in at 15lbs with Luke tipping the scales at 17lbs. We have a song we've composed and sing, "Dr. Sluss Is Gonna Fuss"; most of the songs we make up and sing are to old hymn tunes.

These two kitties destined for euthanasia have given me such sweet companionship for six years. I may have lost one kitty, but I gained two. Although they sleep about 20 hours a day, I enjoy feeling the life in their presence and think how they almost didn't have a chance. I never have to worry about oversleeping, either! Their part of the contract during the adoption process was to stay with me until I'm at the age of 40 for housecats typically live about 15 years, much to Danny's chagrin! We have 8 years remaining in the contract, if obesity complications or that "hard mountain living" doesn't expedite the process.

Elly Mae

When I was at UGA pursuing my doctoral degree, my favorite class was a qualitative research course. Qualitative research involves subjective observation of the themes and patterns of behaviors in a set of people; quantitative research involves measurements and calculations of specific and concrete actions in a set of people. I'm not sure if it was the content matter or the professor, Dr. Elizabeth Payne, that intrigued me. At first, I was certain that the professor was going to live up to her last name! I remember my sister, Wendy, telling me when I was beginning college to not be fooled by my first impression of my professors on "syllabus day", the first day of class. She was absolutely correct because on the first day, professors put up a front to weed out potential problem students and show that he/she has the authority and power over your grade. I know firsthand after teaching courses through my three years of graduate school.

Anyway, Dr. Payne was an intense teacher. She loved her job and it showed. In addition to the four textbooks we had for the course, we had various other book assignments to read about every other week, each about a various culture and the roots of its behaviors. Dr. Payne challenged each of us at a new level. For her dissertation, she moved to an Indian reservation for over a year. She moved in with a family and adopted the culture of the tribe to immerse herself into her research. Dr. Payne believed in the theoretical construct that to truly understand the behaviors and customs of a population, the researcher must "walk in their shoes" to grasp the true foundations of behaviors. She was a cool teacher.

Qualitative research is more time consuming than quantitative, so it is not often the method chosen to collect data. Constant observation and memorization collects qualitative data; the researcher must continually treat every encounter as a collection point. The key to successful qualitative data collection is to blend in with the environment so behaviors of the population are not altered. You know how we each feel knowing a camera is aimed at us or a microphone is near our mouth; we tend to behave just a bit differently. It takes a while to be accepted into another's environment, but after a while, a level of comfort and normalcy is established and true behaviors emerge.

So...why am I babbling about qualitative research? I have had several people ask me if I regret my choice to become a homemaker over completing something as prestigious as a doctorate of philosophy. My dad's joke, which I have used quite often, is that I decided to get my "MRS" instead of my "PHD". I've battled the thoughts that I am wasting my education but recently I have felt true peace about my decision. Ironically, I have had about the same number of people joke with me about all of our animals and my interactions with each. I have even had multiple people, mostly family, call me Elly Mae from the Beverly Hillbillies.

I feel like each day is a collection point of qualitative research because I truly enjoy observing the animals' behaviors and routines. Since we have a variety, boredom is not an issue for me. Research has always been a strong point for me because of my keen perception and memory. If you just watch an animal, you can learn to predict it's behavior and train it easily. Now I'm no horse whisperer, but I am good with animals. They are fun to watch and since most of you don't have 2 fat cats, 5 dogs, 4 horses, and 4 cows plus 3 cows and 3 chickens at the Fowler Farm, I plan to utilize my blogspot to record and share with you some of the interesting observations and encounters that I have.

Some people think I am wasting my time and compassion on animals and should be raising a family instead, for animals have no soul and short lifespans. Some people think I'm just a little crazy. But I feel the Lord has His hand in our lives right now. I feel that He is pleased that I am tending to His creatures, in some way preparing me for the hopeful family ahead.

I am content being called Elly Mae instead of "doctor". I love the companionship of the animals and the labor they require while I am making our home. I believe that my educational training has helped me to adapt to my new home in the mountains and care for the animals that I have acquired. (When Danny and I married, it was just the cats, Bo and Luke, our dog, Scout, and two horses, Sunday and Shadow.) I have immersed myself into mountain living, the job of tending to our home and small farm and the animals that come with it. I wrote in my last blog that I would write about the animals, but I felt it was necessary to explain or perhaps justify my interest of their routines and behaviors before sharing our "barntales". I am also trying to figure out a way to link a story I wrote about the loss of some of our animals in the past year; from what I've heard, it's a good story, but it is too long for a blog. It is the spark flaming my desire to write more...but not right now. :)

November

November has been a fabulous month!

I have aged a bit since my last blog, having turned 32 on the 9th. I have always felt fortunate to have a birthday so close to Thanksgiving for it really makes me reflect upon the blessings in my life. This particular birthday has been quite special. Danny and I were so happy to have my parents visit and celebrate the special day; it was my first time spending a birthday with Mama and Daddy in twelve years! Besides the three home-grown humongous bales of tasty hay for the livestock from Bledsoe Farms, my sweet mother delivered a homemade red velvet cake, with cream cheese icing! It is the most delicious cake in the world; she could sell it. Many years ago I watched and help her make one and realized it truly is a labor of love! It even converted Danny into a red-velvet lover! This cake was a staple in our diet for about two weeks because the cake remained fresh until we were able to eat the entire thing, enjoying each slice. A huge accomplishment for Danny and me for we rarely eat sweets. Thanks, Mama!

I was so flattered with all the calls, cards, and text/email messages that I received from friends and family; over 20 people remembered and acknowledged my birthday and I thought that was something special. What a blessing to feel so loved!

After three weekends of entertaining, Danny and I had a weekend with no guests. While it's nice to have friends and family around, it's also nice to have a little time alone. These weekends are usually when we do much-needed work yet try to squeeze in a horseback ride. :) We set posts and beams for a new cow shed in the barnyard. For the past year or so, we have been feeding the cows round bales of hay in the peanut wagon, both from Bledsoe Farms. Remember, this is the peanut wagon that Mama and Daddy flipped on Friday, January 13th, 2006. Daddy was run off the road on one of these mountain curves; when he went left to get back on the road, the peanut wagon went right. They, Mama, Daddy, and their Guardian Angels, were pulled down the bank of the road from the force of the out-of-control wagon and stopped about two feet in front of a telephone pole. One of Daddy's euphemisms is that they had a "little bit of good luck and a little bit of bad luck." If you were to travel the road they were on, you could see how fortunate they were to be beside an open flat pasture when the usual shoulder is a boulder or a guard rail on a steep drop-off. Anyway, the peanut wagon frame is now warped and never sits on all four tires therefore making it a difficult climb in and out, especially in rainy or snowy weather. We would try to protect the hay from the elements by placing a tarp over it, but it was a pain because it usually collected rain, snow, and ice. I do not like pitching hay under a saggy, soggy tarp, but it was the best we could do until this past weekend! What another blessing, to remove such a daily hassle out of my life. I am so thankful to have such a talented and smart husband who happens to have many more skills than besides carpentry.

We were able to spend Thanksgiving day with the Arnold's, all except the Little family and Gordy's kids. Danny's mom fixed a delicious meal of turkey and gravy, stuffing, corn, green-bean casserole, sweet-potato casserole, cranberry sauce, rolls, and pumpkin pie. A traditional Thanksgiving meal to be thankful for followed by games and home movies. We enjoyed our time together with the family very much. We spent the night and enjoyed breakfast the next morning. Thanks, Mom!

Danny and I got a few tasks accomplished on the trip. We were able to enjoy the sunshine while loading many useful materials on Danny's trailer from Steve's old jobsite. I thought it was nice to work off some of that meal from the day before! We had an uneventful trip home, with the exceptions of stopping by some friend's houses, Mike Clodfelter and Timmy Shives. Danny's brother, Peter, has been doing some carpentry at Mike's so it was nice to see some of his handiwork while visiting with Mike. We also bought another automatic watertrough from Mike, like the one we have at our barn, for the cows over at the Fowler Farm. Danny and I recently bought three cows from Steve to leave over there to help keep the pasture down. Next summer, Danny intends to harvest hay from there as well. We saw Tim for the first time since Worth's passing. He was cheerful and like the Tim I remember meeting. On Thanksgiving night we had a brief visit at Gordy's house; Danny was able to see yet another bit of a brother's handiwork. We were blessed and thankful to see friends and family.

This past weekend we had a friend of ours bring his 14 year old son to spend the night for they were attending the App State playoff football game on Saturday. Big Dave came and helped Danny put rafters on the cowshed. As soon as David left, Jonathan and Liza arrived to start the second shift with me. Danny had a lot of patience with his crew. It took me a while to acclimate myself on the roof and move about freely on the rafters. Jonathan was cutting with experience similar to my experience of trekking on the roof. While slow, we were still of some help. Cindi came for soup and crackers and helped us with the third shift. She and I had a good time of clumsily nailing tin. Cindi remarked on the speed and accuracy of Danny's work several times, and I totally agree with her. I guess I have become accustomed to seeing him work with such vigor, so I'm glad she pointed it out for me to appreciate. After nailing the last sheet of tin at dark, we enjoyed a trout dinner provided by Jonathan and Liza's last fishing expedition. The next morning, we all went to Banner Elk Christian Fellowship for the morning service. We've been once before, after finally accepting one of Alex's (the contractor for which Danny works) invitations to attend. Danny just completed an addition to this bustling, growing church and has grown fond of the pastor. The highlight of the service on Sunday was the song of worship presented by Cindi and her mother, who accompanied on the piano. While giving all glory to God, they are a beautiful duo to watch and listen. We enjoyed yet another meal together! We were yet again thankful for a weekend blessed with safety, good health, and time with friends and family.

While working on the new cowshed, Cindi asked if I had a name for it, probably since I name just about everything; naming helps identification of an animal or a structure. I suggested the dining room or the cafeteria because it is designed for the cows to eat a round bale of hay in the dry. Cindi pegged the new name for the cowshed in the barnyard, the Messhall.

Monday had 100% rain predicted so Danny decided to take advantage of his time off to retrieve more supplies from Burlington. We decided to take Danny's '79 GMC dually with the horse trailer and his worktruck with the flatbed trailer. On Thanksgiving, we hauled Worth's old truck to his father-in-law's house and on this trip we hauled Worth's old paint horse down to his wife's house. Well, we hauled him half-way. Danny and I were driving the old truck with the horse and David and Chrissy Clawson followed behind in Danny's work truck. About half-way down, we had a "little bit of good luck and a little bit of bad luck". The GMC erupted a sound like a shotgun blast and immediately lost all power. After one more loud blast, the truck was dead. And it was raining. I was so proud of Danny for how calm and collected, as phrased by Chrissy, he remained! Poor Danny had to climb all under the hood and under the truck, in soupy clay and dirt, to investigate the problem. For three hours we tried, with many hopeful sounds and even a few cranks, but the end result not favorable. During the fourth hour, we waited on Mike, who happened to be traveling to Wilkesboro and passing our breakdown point in his truck that is capable of hauling our gooseneck trailer! With his help, we were able to load the broken-down truck onto the flatbed trailer behind Danny's work truck that he hauled to Peter's house. Meanwhile, Mike and I hauled Pecos to Worth's house and then the trailer to Peter's. Poor Pecos was jerked out of his cozy stall that morning, shoved in a trailer, and stuck on the side of a road where people rarely moved to the passing lane thereby spraying us with rain puddles. After keeping and feeding the horse for 2 1/2 years, I thought my goodbye would be more sad, but I felt comfort in releasing Pecos into his home pasture with horses he seemed to remember and vice versa. Danny and I had worried the horses would beat on Pecos, like ours do. With the cold air and ground, Pecos has been having a harder time with his sore leg so we felt he would appreciate a flatter pasture. I hope he's comfortable and his home pasture is his last home.

After reuniting at Peter's, we departed on our journey home, which was safe and uneventful. We enjoyed a nice meal at Ruby Tuesday's. The day was actually a really fun day, except for the messy work environment for Danny. We laughed a lot and enjoyed the time with David and Chrissy. They are our best friends up here, and always a hoot to be around. Today the rain is clearing out with the gusty and blustery winds forcing the clouds away, revealing that intense mountain-blue sky.

I suppose anyone reading is as weary as I am typing so I'm going to stop and go outside to soak in some sunshine. Next time, I feel that after sufficiently updating on our blessings of family and friends, it is time to begin writing about my animals. Afterall, this blog is named Barntales.

Family

I read a quote once that said something like, "Family is God's way of giving us permanent friends." While not all families are close, I am proud to boast that my family is pretty fond of each other. Danny and I had a lovely visit from our "Memphis" cousins, Jim and Pat Bledsoe, this past weekend. They had been visiting Pat's ill sister in Virginia and were able to spend the weekend with us on their return trip home. On Saturday, we were fortunate to entertain lifelong friends of Danny's, Jack and Louise Leonard, for the day. They were coming from Abingdon, Virginia, having been the night before to the Barter Theater to see Driving Miss Daisy. I jokingly told my mom we were getting a lot of Virginia backwash that weekend. Honestly, I'm extremely thrilled we are in a place they can fit into their trips and hope it becomes routine! Even if the relationships are distant cousins or no blood shared at all, it felt like a time full of family to me.

Danny was such a gracious host, taking us to lunch for soup, sandwiches, and ice cream, with a trip to the peak of Roan Mountain included. It was a clear day yet particularly windy at the summit of the Roan, so we didn't do any hiking to the most scenic overlook; if the leaves were not a bit passe, we might have been a little disappointed! Nonetheless, we admired the winding views of the route, analyzing ridgelines and designs in the land below. This is something I love about the mountains, being able to see so many locations from different perspectives. It amazes me, and I believe our guests as well, to see the dimensions of the slopes because of the shadows cast by the sun, various angles of familiar landmarks, and the difference in temperatures between sunlight and shade.

The highlight of the trip was when our tourguide decided to explore the trail, more specifically the 4-wheeler trail, that recently had been cleaned of briars and other natural debris. In other words, we were four-wheeling in a six-wheel truck! While this is not new to Danny and me, for we have taken Mama and Daddy on this same journey, we thoroughly enjoyed the reactions to the trek. Born and raised as a flat-lander, I understand the concern that must pass through people's minds as we are headed downhill directly toward the back of our house. We put a lot of trust into Danny's truck and driving ability because he is typically the one driving. We joked truthfully about the timing of Danny's mechanic work on the front right brake earlier in the week. While explaining how one "ball-hoots", or loses traction, down a mountain, we safely made it to the gate that at first seemed so far below. It was such a fun day - pausing to take pictures, laughing, and conversing. We truly enjoyed the companionship.

I love to show people the beauty of where we live, the talented work Danny accomplishes, the life we have grown into and love. I had this same opportunity last Friday as well. Wesley and Linda White, lifelong farmers and friends from Dooly County, visited us last Friday. I was able to show them a small piece of Danny's handiwork before we all ate at Times Square Diner. We hear some more farmers may be coming this weekend! What a blessing to have family and friends so many continual weekends!!

While speaking of family, last Thursday was a big day for Granny, my grandmother and only surviving grandparent. She left her home in Pinehurst, her home of so many years, to live with my aunt, Edith because of her poor health. I can't imagine how she must feel. She will be 88 in January and must be overwhelmed with her sudden change in routine. Granny caught pneumonia about three weeks ago and is having a difficult time overcoming the illness and the strength she lost. She has a nurse aide with her during the day while Aunt "Tiny" keeps a watch on her at night. I know Granny enjoys the company; I hope it lifts her spirits and enhances her health.

More family updates...My sister, Beth, threw her husband, Johnny, a surprise 50th birthday party. I hear it went really well. Wendy and Alan, my sister and her husband, were able to have a few days with Mama and Daddy. Tommy, my brother, was courting Jill, his gal. :) The Arnold family is still relishing their time with Cindi, Jonathan, and Liza. We have enjoyed several times with the Westbrook's as well - church, horseback riding, and eating. This year Danny and I will spend Thanksgiving in High Point with the Arnold family.

Cold air and gusty winds have invaded Hicks Hollow this morning. Our windmill has been spinning furiously. Danny is sick with a cold and I am fighting catching it. We've been puny at night and sleeping easily with the new time change. The dogs are enjoying their new blankets (bwankies) on the front porch; the kitty cats are enjoying the woodstove and occasional sunspots. The horses are frisky in the morning, but such angels when fed in their stalls. The cows are cows, Jill still fed in the barn and groomed twice a week. Woodsplitting is a common activity right now for Arnold Acres as we welcome in the fall weather. I'd better go stoke our fire.

Winds of change

Monday and Tuesday were unbelievably beautiful. They were the type of mountain days you have to experience to understand the intensity of the blue sky and the freshness of the air. I had checked our local weather source and was aware of the foreboding change, so I reveled in the perfect weather seizing the opportunity to take care of a few things I felt should be done before the winds of change ushered in a completely new season. I was determined to detail my Tahoe in the hopes of keeping it out of the elements, mostly the salt spread on the roads, this winter. Living on a dirt road definitely changes one's perspective (and ability) on keeping a car clean! I also mowed my grass to have it short when Jack Frost comes nipping at our nose. I've been so proud of our yard this summer; having the opportunity to manicure it on a weekly basis has really made a difference. I love being a housewife! I had time to wash my pickup truck as well...not only does living on a dirt road present a clean car challenge, but also does hauling FIVE dogs around in the back play a critical part!

As I mentioned, a new season has evolved quite quickly. I've traded my swimsuit for my handy Carhartt bib overalls in a matter of days. We built our first fire last night and had a hard time leaving the warmth of it. Little Bo is still enjoying the first fire of the year, keeping his belly stretched in front of the woodstove. The leaves are turning more each day to bright yellows and vibrant reds. With the drought this summer, the colors indicate a quick drop from a brisk wind. I love to see the leaves, majestic in their color, falling and blowing down the mountain roads. My feelings on seasons has not changed since I was a little girl. With the approach and entry of each new season, I think, "Ooh, I LOVE fall, fall is my favorite....Ooh, I LOVE winter, winter is my favorite"...and so on. So while we have enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine and the beauty a mountain summer entails, I thank the Lord for blessing me with yet another season of my life as I welcome fall. I really do LOVE fall, you know!

Danny's sister, Cindi, and her family are coming to the mountains today. She and her family live in China and have been in the States since late June or early July. We now have the Westbrook's for the next couple months. She is so excited to arrive here, one of her favorite places on Earth, and I am so happy she has timed it so perfectly to enjoy this transition. We hope to take them horseback riding this weekend, and I'm always up for a ride. Sometimes in October we ride to see all the leaves and have to "chase the sunlight", usually chasing it so long that we end up riding home in the chilly dark. It's still weird riding without our friend Worth, and I've already thought about him this morning as I was stoking the fire. He used to keep a house soooo hot. We surely miss him.

Arnold Acres has had its share of heartbreaks since September 2006, it seems. I hope these winds of change bring about happiness and prosperity for not only us, but our loved ones as well.

Three years

Monday of this week, October 1, marked three years since Danny and I have been permanent residents "in the holler". What a change in direction my life has taken! It was the first time Danny had moved in about 15 years, but for me it was my 13th move in 7 years...I think he's finally adjusted! I have reflected so much on the transitions of my life and have so much to write, I can't wait to start blogging and purging these thoughts into some creative writing. My dear friend Emily inspired me to do so, although the thought of writing more frequently is constantly on my mind. Many interesting things have happened during my tenure here; some have been totally unexplained, some have been totally by the grace of God. Either way, I am so happy where my life has come to at this point and I anticipate many blogs sharing my happiness, as well as some of my trials, in the future. The weather is changing and the cold will drive me indoors, so I will utilize each opportunity to write thoughts I have had for so long. For now, I must complete other tasks that are more pertinent.