Serenity Springs Sanctuary

A couple of weeks ago I took the kids and Madeline to visit the animals here:

http://www.serenityspringssanctuary.org (I can't get the @#&*$ links to work, so feel free to cut and paste..argh!)

I have been looking at the site of Farm Sanctuary in California (farmsanctuary.com) for quite some time, wishing we could visit, and I found out that there was actually a sanctuary within driving distance. Terry is a great lady. Her place is beautiful and she takes excellent care of all these animals. The sanctuary has 130 pigs, 2 donkeys, 2 goats, 2 steers, some horses, several cats, a few dogs, and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. One of the dogs is a gorgeous white pit bull that would likely have no chance in a shelter, he's a little bigger than Angel and has every bit of her...shall we say...zest for life? They're all so darling. Some of the pigs followed us around on our tour, talking to us with oinks and little squeals and grunts. One pig lays down for belly rubs as soon as you pay attention to her. Pedro the donkey follows people around so quietly and gently, waiting patiently for attention, that you don't know he's literally an inch behind you until you turn around and nearly smack into him. And Patrick...oh Patrick the baby goat has got to be the cutest thing I've ever seen. As soon as she called him he answered back, "baaah!" and came running to find us. He is into everything, just like a toddler or a puppy. He stayed right with us but I still could barely get a picture of him because he's just never still. Absolutely adorable.

Terry gave us a great tour and made us feel so welcome, even on one of the hottest days of the year. She welcomed us back to visit anytime and accepted my offer of any help I can provide so we're planning to go back often.

Here are some pictures, and a layout:

Parenthood in D

This is so awesome, it's long but you have to watch and hear the whole thing. I insist!

Parenthood in D

"camping"

This is where we go "camping". Aren't we tough to brave the elements like this? This is the new trailer. I need to hunt for pictures of the old trailer for contrast. I love this thing so much, it's really a miniature home in the country for us. John's sister and her family went with us this time and we had so much fun! The kids were in the water almost the entire time. Little raisins. Frances is a total fish. The kids went up to Madeline's house and played in the water hose for a while, but Frances quickly came back, unable to understand why they wanted to play in the sprinkler when there was an entire POOL available. Aunt Liz took to water volleyball as quickly and enthusiastically as John did when he started playing.

Playing Wii, taking a break from the sun:


The view from our front door:


The view from the table...see the little bridge over the creek? Aww!


Mornin'! John Aubrey is such a morning person.


Left to right: Annie, Madeline, Frances, and John Aubrey.

Earthlings

Woah. Forget screening it for the kids, I couldn't even watch it. It's "Meet Your Meat" on steroids. The trailer is so peaceful. I knew there were graphic parts but I expected glimpses. I'll see it, but a little at a time. Alone. Late at night. Not for children, that one.

On a more cheerful note, them wacky kids:

1970 Something

I'm usually too lazy to scan old photos for layouts, but I'm a sucker for a challenge. And I'm always tickled with the results. Here's me - in 1970 something:

Vegan for a Week

I don't know why I'm so proud of myself. I've been trying to do it for what...three years? Knowing of the incredible suffering that factory farming and animal testing causes, I ought to be ashamed that it's taken this long. But for the last week I have actually done it. Eliminated every possible animal product from my diet, and shopped cruelty free to the best of my knowledge. No giving in to the kids' requests for store-bought brownies with "just a little" eggs and dairy (and a heap of preservatives, artificial flavorings, corn-syrup, trans-fats, and colors). Man, you eliminate a lot of junk when you buy vegan. I didn't really realize how much the little things add up until I started to absolutely refuse it all. I can't even find a loaf of bread at the grocery store, so today I'm baking lest John should have to go without a sandwich tomorrow. I've made pizza from scratch and tempeh and white bean sausage patties with whole wheat biscuits. We've had burritos with those amazing Central Market whole wheat tortillas, and I even made vegan nachos with homemade nacho cheeze sauce from The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook which is so wonderful! Lowfat, made with mostly whole foods, and so delicious that even John likes it (not as well as Velveeta, you understand, but well enough!)

Now I just have to deal with the kids' love of ham. They accept change pretty well if they understand the reasons for it. But they don't know that they've ever eaten pigs, I've never told them that's where ham comes from. And they really, really like ham. I'm partly afraid that it will gross them out and make them feel bad for ever eating it, and mostly afraid that they'll think ham tastes so good that it's worth it. They really like ham. I know I'm the mom, but it's their body and ultimately their decision when I'm not around. We live in a world where there's ham in nearly every fridge. I've ordered Earthlings. I'll have to review it when it comes in, I don't know if it's too graphic to show them. It probably is for Annie, but John Aubrey might be old enough to handle and digest some of what goes on.

Even more challenging for me than making ham undesirable is being prepared. There is no such thing as stopping off for a quick bite when you're out and about. And kids get hungry. Like all the time. And when they get hungry, they get cranky. This is a giant stumbling block for me. I have always struggled with being organized and vegan food that the kids will actually eat isn't always terribly portable. I wouldn't want to have to explain that to a hen who just had her beak sliced off though, or to a newborn calf who had just been ripped away from his mother at the dairy farm. Inconvenience is not enough of an excuse. Not anymore.