"My Inner Purpose", and other treats

I've been meaning to update for quite sometime but I've been finding it difficult to recreate my days in words lately. I often find myself experiencing something wonderful on the farm and then trying to hold onto that feeling, taking in every bit of that moment and tucking it away so I can feel it later too. Kind of like I'm trying to create a happy feeling memory...if that makes any sense. This never works by the way. I can never get as much joy out of an experience that I've already experienced and am no longer experiencing...but that hasn't stopped me from trying. But really, I think that's the whole point of experiences. Being in the now, not obsessing over every detail so you can remember and feel it later. Just feel it NOW and appreciate it NOW. I'm currently reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle (seriously, this book is changing my life....read it. It's beautiful) and this is the central theme. Living in the now. Being fully conscious and awakened to life and how we are all interconnected. I definitely want to read his other book "The Power of Now"

Anyways, you came here for cute animal stories and pictures yes? Well, that I can deliver.

My Inner Purpose
Speaking of that book I was reading, I went to go spend a little time with my sheep and goat friends who have been moved to the rescue barn which is right behind the vegan house. I thought it would be relaxing to read in the pasture with them. It turned out to be more entertaining. Molly was the first goat to come greet me and she was very interested to see if I had any treats for her. When she found I came with only a book of paper in my hands she wiped her nose all over the pages and walked away. Love you too Molly. Then came Buddy. Cute old Buddy. He stood over me for awhile as I mulled over and digested the current chapter title "Your Inner Purpose". Buddy literally digested the chapter when he decided I was paying far too much attention to words on a page than to scratching his shoulder. This is what it now looks like:

My book then got finished off by Melvin who came and licked several pages. Yes, my copy of "A New Earth" is looking a little ragged. But it was well worth it. I love those guys. I feel I'm getting daily lessons on "living in the moment" from all the animals here. What great teachers they are :)

For the Love of Olive:

I went to go cut grass buckets to be fed out a couple days ago. This involves sitting in a field with shears and buckets, soaking up the sun and clipping away. One of the designated areas for cutting grass is the turkey ladies yard. So, I toted my four buckets up to the barn and opened the gate, looking for a nice spot to sit for the next little while. As I chose a thick grass patch Olive turkey spotted me. I really hadn't had much experience with the turkey ladies, as most of my turkey time was spent with the girls for my little video project. As I watched Olive hobble over, I wondered if she had come to give me "love" pecks that turn to "love" bruises like her sweet turkey girl friends. Instead she cocked her head sideways when she saw the bucket, continued walking towards me and then positioned herself right along my side, snuggled in as close as she possibly could without being on top of me, and sat down. I gave her cute turkey head a little rub, she closed her eyes and took in the suns rays. That moment, is one I will never forget. All the magic of this place seemed to be sitting with me and Olive in the yard that day. Olive is a beautiful soul and I wish everyone could meet her. Today, I went to cut grass again and it was so tall that I couldn't see her. I called out "Olive!" and out of the yard popped her little head. I sat down and again she came to cuddle. What a day. Tomorrow I have the day off and will be getting a picture of this lovely lady.

Here are some random photos from the past couple weeks:

 Buddy being silly. He stuck his horn in the ground and was lying with his head facing the sun.

 Whittaker and Harrison playing. To watch a 41 second video of this love fest click here

 Me and Colvin.

Bold Native

Friday, in place of our typical ed lunch, we went on a field trip to Sacramento to see John Robbins (author of Diet for a New America) and watched a screening of the film Bold Native. I really enjoyed hearing John Robbins speak because he seemed to tie in the spiritual side of being vegan, how we have lost our connection with nature and the animals, and the disconnect that exists between our ideas of "pets" and food. I've never read any of his books but I was looking at the list and there were a ton that caught my eye. The Awakened Heart and The Food Revolution are now going on my reading list.

I also wanted to talk here about the film Bold Native. This movie focuses primarily on the ideas of the Animal Liberation Front. I'd like to make a whole post about the ALF one day...once I've done more research on the topic. One of the ALF's guidelines is to do no harm to animals, human or otherwise. They are a nonviolent group known for illegally breaking into laboratories and factory farms and freeing the animals. They frequently engage in property destruction as well. We had a lot of discussion about this in the van on the way back. The ALF does not harm humans or animals...does this alone make them nonviolent? Or are the damages they inflict on buildings and equipment considered violent actions? I have a lot of conflicting thoughts about that. On the one hand violence is typically directed at one or more beings, not inanimate objects. I don't really feel you can commit violence against a computer or lab equipment. Sophia did bring up a good point though, that if someone came into your house and destroyed your things wouldn't you feel like a violent act had been committed against you? I'm not sure. I still consider the ALF to be nonviolent in their practices, but it did make me think a bit harder about the definition.


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(also, I'm finding I didn't explain this too well. This movie is not a documentary it's an actual movie, full length feature film...or whatever you call it)

By far the most controversial part in the film is "the feral child" scene. It's definitely hard to watch.  One of the ALF members goes a bit rouge and captures a man involved in factory farming, ties him up and shocks and beats him. Treating him exactly as the animals are treated.  It's a vivid scene. A baby piglet runs free around the tortured man, while horrible undercover investigation videos are played on the wall. I'm going to give it away and say that in the end, the main character (not the person who originally captured the guy) frees the man. So, now that that is out of the way....apparently there was a bit of an uproar about this scene at the conference I went to last summer (I went to bed before this film was over so I didn't get to hear the commentary). Here are my thoughts. I think it was a necessary scene to put in the film. It connects the audience to the horror of  reciprocating in anger and frustration.  I can't say how many times I've heard or seen posts on animal investigation videos: "this is awful, I hope this person dies a painful death", "someone should hang that guy by a hook and make him bleed out...see how he likes it". Do we really want to see that? Really? It's extremely hard to watch the feral child scene in the movie. And I think that's WHY it's there.  To show us that we may FEEL like retribution is justice...but actually seeing it, we are able to understand how horrific that idea truly is.
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Anyways, check the movie out. And understand that it's portraying only one part of the animal rights movement. Then tell me what you all think. I really want more feed back about this movie from non vegans. How did you react to the film? What are your thoughts?

This film can be rented or purchased on iTunes as well as the Bold Native website.

You can also purchase this super soft hoodie for the animal rights activist in your life *points to self and smiles*