I love animals. I love to watch the wild ones around my house; it never ceases to thrill me when I catch a glimpse of our shy red fox or hear the singing of the coyotes at night. I love my pets. I love my dogs and my cats and my horses and my little rodents friends. They are companions; they are family. The sort of human-animal relationship I haven't been party to yet is that involving 'production' animals. I am vegetarian, and have been since the age of 11, so although I come from a family of farmers and my grandparents did raise animals for meat I never had much to do with that. But I'm not vegan. I eat dairy and I eat eggs, but I do this with a certain amount of guilt. While no animals are slaughtered to make my omelette or my yogurt I cannot deny the fact that those industries are not kind to animals, and animals are killed as 'byproducts'. One of my dearest dreams is to sometimes have a small farm where I can produce my own guiltless eggs and dairy products. And I will be making my first foray into this in the springtime, when I acquire my first hens. I am very excited.


You see that junky little structure there? It once housed my pet rabbits and as soon as the snow is gone and the ground is thawed I will tear it all out and build a lovely coop and yard. One that is secure enough to keep out the fox and the coyotes and all the other wild things I so admire. I will keep you apprised of my progress.