Kylie on the path behind our house
As many of you know who follow me here on my blog, my all time favorite blog and author is Jon Katz– no kidding, right?
Sometimes I wish I were him. But in a way I guess I am. We both like to write. We both like dogs and animals. We both enjoy trying to just enjoy the simple moments and joys of life. He is (well) known as Bedlam Farm. I am (not as well) known as Joyful Paws.
So let’s see. He lives on a farm in NY. I live in a little cottage style home in WI. He has three dogs. I currently have one. He has three donkeys, many chickens, a few barn cats, and sheep. I’m really short in all those departments I’m afraid to say. But I do have wild birds and hummingbirds. Lots of bunnies. Some squirrels and the occasional woodchuck. Even had a Sand hill Crane family in my backyard last summer.
Everyday he walks his three dogs on a path on his property. Though that will soon change and a new path will be forged at his new farm house. I walk Kylie on the path behind our house when it is not too hot– which hot it has been most of the summer so far– so not much path walking has gotten done. And to this day she still is not the most enthusiastic walker- never was, and I suspect she never will be. I’ve accepted that about her.
I may not have all the animals and life that Jon Katz has, but I know enough to find happiness in what I do have. It is all a matter of choice, afterall. It is where I am in this moment at this time and I’m pretty happy and content. When I need a donkey or farm fix, I get lost in Jon’s blog. But for the most part I really do give thanks for the simple, sweet life I’ve carved out here with my supportive and loving husband, John. I feel a wee bit short in the dog department right now, too, but that will hopefully change as I continue to move forward. Though as promised to John, not until after our fall trip to Vermont. Hey, maybe I’ll run into Jon Katz and his wife, Maria there as I know they like to escape there, too. Now wouldn’t that be something?
So I’ve decided, yes, Jon is great and I love learning from him about his writing and his life. I take it and sift it and adapt to what is right for me. So I guess this then means I would just rather stay me. Yup- I like me and I like my life. It has been something I’ve worked hard on the past ten years and wouldn’t trade where I’ve come to the place of mostly peace and acceptance about who I am and what I do have. Life is good.