On Kind Words (Or The Week That Was)
- August 15, 2010
- Category: Daily Diary
- (21) Comments
Mountain Man and I are private people. And in light of that, it’s amazing I’ve chosen a public platform such as blogging because we are down right hermits. But I always think maybe it’s interesting for people to get a glimpse of life on a farm and to see Vermont through my eyes which are always full of wonder at the incredible beauty surrounding us.
I have on my blog entry page this quote by Mother Teresa:
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.”
I try to live by those words or as our mothers taught us, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
All this leads to last weekend. I woke up to a beautiful morning, grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down at the computer for my morning ritual. I visited my Grit Magazine blog post to answer any new comments and there it was; my first unkind comment. I suppose I shouldn’t have minded. After all, we who blog share our lives with any who care to stop by. But I did mind. And it upset me and startled me as unkindness in any form always does. Mountain Man advised me, “If you are enjoying yourself, keep on doing it. If you don’t, then stop.”
I decided to take a break and just savor life on our farm. But I found myself, as each event happened, wanting to share it with you. You who visit this blog are almost family as I’ve gotten to know you through your comments so how could I stay away? And that leads me to our recent week on the farm.
Saturday night a creature appeared in our field. “What’s that?” said Mountain Man. “Did you get another horse?”
“No, of course not. Where is it?” And I looked and saw a creature pouncing like a cat in our pasture.
Mountain Man looked closer and I ran for the camera and we both are sure it is a type of Vermont mountain lion known as a Catamount. Only thing is the Fish and Game insist Catamounts have been extinct for years despite numerous sightings. Here’s a blurry picture of the creature in question.
On Tuesday, we were visited by a skunk. She decided to take up residence in our garden shed where unfortunately the dogs discovered her. While I bathed 7 stinky dogs, Mountain Man relocated the skunk but unfortunately her stench remained and it permeated our entire house. Ugh! I couldn’t breathe. I grabbed a chocolate scented room spray and sprayed everything in sight and I ended up with skunk stench with undertones of chocolate cake.
To escape the skunk fumes, I took a walk in the woods where instead of looking up, I decided to concentrate on the forest floor. Here’s what I found:
Back home, Mountain Man was busy working.
With Lilly always at his side.
Our oven decided it was time to break so evenings were spent barbecuing and playing tire toy with Logan.
And I’ve been trying to persuade Mountain Man, who thinks all equines are hay burners, to discover the pleasures of riding.
“Here, hold her, she won’t bite.”
And, finally, for the first time ever, I got to see Mountain Man on a horse.
I’ve realized this week there will always be people in the world who will try to drag you down through unkind words but the true test is whether you will discard the negative and move always towards the positive and enjoy your life to the fullest. Don’t ever let anyone stop you from living your dreams and sharing your hearts. Thank you one and all who read this blog and are so wonderful to Mountain Man and me.
I hope you don’t let some negative (and jealous) person keep you from blogging as I love reading your stories of daily life in your beloved Vermont and seeing the pictures of all your animals. And I love that Mountain Man cooks for you. I truly enjoy your blog and look forward to seeing you have new entries.
Date: August 15, 2010
Lovely photos of the flora in the woods. Mountain Man looks like quite the horseman.
Have a grand week
Date: August 15, 2010
There are some people who for some terrible reason, find their joy by stealing other people’s joy. And they do things like leaving rude comments on blogs, harping at service people and so on. Ignore them. They are not worth expending your emotions towards!
Date: August 15, 2010
That was a delightful post! Love the picture of Mountain Man on the horse. Too funny! Please don’t let any negative comments upset you. Some people can only feel good about themselves when they are being rude or negative. It’s sad.
Date: August 15, 2010
I love that mountain man has finally bitten the bullet and decided to try being a horseman, he looks so natural up there on his trusty steed. lol Keep up the blogging, alot of us look forward to your post.
Date: August 15, 2010
I would love to spend the summer where you live. It looks so very peaceful. I was raised on a dairy farm in Oregon as a kid. I didn’t care for that because is was work 24/7/365. For a kid growing up I didn’t get to go anywhere as there were always a million chores to do. I still probably wouldn’t like the work, but I do love the country.
Have a terrific day.
Date: August 15, 2010
Oh hon, I am so sorry someone had to try to ruin your day. You are a truly unique, kind and wonderful person (in my humble opinion), and mean people always go after people like you, who have spirit and courage…Especially the kind of courage that makes a woman walk in a forest with a suspected catamount (!!!) on her property! I had to wrinkle my nose at the skunk (and thank God I wasn’t washing 7 skunky dogs, good grief). The first bits of fungus remind me of women’s petticoats under their dresses – they looked so frilly (probably horribly poisonous too, lol). I laughed out loud at Mountain Man “riding” while simultaneously looking like he was trying to hold the mini-horse’s skull on with his fingers (LOL). I am so jealous of your farm, your life, your knowledge and Mountain Man’s handiness and workshop (can you say drool!).
Don’t you dare ever take some idiot’s words to heart (mine excepted, lol). You are wonderful the way you are and I love visiting your blog to see what you are up to.
Have a FANTASTIC Sunday and enjoy your Mountain Man and your paradise, you deserve it
Date: August 15, 2010
Unkind words do sting. You put out your best and even if people don’t agree you hope they will do it in pleasant way.
I love De. Seuss quotes and this one is a favorite of mine..“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”Dr. Seuss
Loved your wildlife pictures! Sorry about your skunk, I have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt!
Date: August 15, 2010
Enter Comment Here.
Without a doubt I love your blog and look forward to each and every post and picture! What about that strange creature? Will they look at your photo? Do you think it was after the poultry? MM, the horse whisperer??? That was a funny photo! You just keep posting and I promise to keep reading. I wish I could be so blessed as you to find someone in my life as wonderful as MM.
Date: August 15, 2010
I love your blog and you are funny. I love reading about your life with Mountain Man…Lilly, Logan, and all the other furry creatures you share your homes with…
Sorry about the unkind comment on your blog. Some people haven’t learned to hold their tongues and htey just like to spread unkindness to others…but you are behaving so well and I really admire you for that!!! You can’t control what others say, but you can control how you react…and I’ll follow your example )::)
You’re a sweetheart!!
Oh, a skunk…yucky…I’m so sorry…but I just about died laughing when you told me about the chocolate-scented spray that didn’t quite get out the skunk smell. Is it better now? I’ll bet you’ve been airing out the house a lot lately!!!
Your Mountain Man sounds like an absolute gem..and that photo of him on the “horse”…that’s too funny!!!! Very cute!!! Have a great week. I always love it when you share part of your home with us…Those photos are gorgeous!!! Extra love and hugs for you from Oregon, Heather
Date: August 15, 2010
Skunks! Oh my! And looks like you finally got a cat of some sort! Skunk smell is terrible. Sad for your poor doggies.
Date: August 15, 2010
I hope you don’t let the bad comment get to you, someone else may have been having a bad day. You are a terrific blogger, and if you stop writing that would be a loss for many. Recently I had someone read through my archives..I have to approve comments more than three days old..I was called a racist..because I used the term “The Natives are Restless” ..obviously the person was an idiot. My feelings were hurt, then I realized he or she picked one blog to pick on, without knowing the whole me. Hang in there and keep on keeping on!
Date: August 15, 2010
Sara,
Waste no time worrying about the negative one as you are blessed with a talent that we are able to enjoy by reading your blog & viewing your beautiful pictures. You have a beautiful farm, and you are kind enough to share it with others…we are blessed by it!
Have a great week!!!!!!!
Date: August 15, 2010
There was a line in a movie that I always remember, I think it was from Pretty Woman. “Why is it easiest for us to remember the bad things people say about us rather than the good?” Or something like that. But how true that is!
Think about all the nice comments you have gathered over the years and then look at that ONE comment. Why do we focus on the one bad?? I know how you feel, I have gotten them too, but we can’t let Negative Nancy’s get us down or stop us from having fun. In fact, it is a good get-even to ignore it and move on, continuing posting the way you do!
Hang in there, Stinky!
Hahaha!
Date: August 15, 2010
I think people who leave unkind comments have a serious problem, either they are unhappy and think everyone should be that way too, or perhaps they are jealous or envious and say hurtful things to make themselves feel more important. Still words do hurt, regardless of the old saying; “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Mean words do hurt and that was just what the person was trying to do…shame on them, and I strongly believe what goes around, comes back around.
Love your blog, the wonderful photos, the beautiful mountain scenery, all the daily things you and Mountain Man do that us city folks can only admire and imagine in our fantasies. Never give it up, ’cause we all love you.
Date: August 16, 2010
Some people seem to thrive on negativity – I just don’t understand it – I suppose it comes out of some deep inner pain. I’ve rarely gotten negative comments on my blog, and try to ignore them. Hope it doesn’t get you down too much – you have a lovely blog with many interesting things to share.
Loved the shelf mushrooms, and the other beautiful things found in the woods.
(and thank you so much for the kind words on my blog!
Date: August 16, 2010
thank you so much!!!!! for visiting my blog – prompting me to come see what wonderful things you’ve done with yours! love the way you have it divided into sections – your quotes and photos are perfection (no, I’m not trying to make up for that thoughtless person:)
I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – Vermont is my idea of heaven on earth and through your blog I get a taste…
one more thing – a favorite quote: we do not see things as they are, we see them as we are. from the Talmud – perhaps your insensitive commenter should read that!
best wishes:)
Date: August 16, 2010
I always feel sorry for people who have so much loathing in themselves and try to bring others down.
I love Mtn man on his horse! So cute and funny.
Date: August 16, 2010
Oh that photo of Mountain Man on the miniature horse is hysterical!
I wanted to thank you for your comment on my post concerning the Service Dog. I would be most grateful for the harnesses and any other items that you are no longer in need of. I too wish that you were closer, as I can use all the help that I can get.
Please send me an email, so that I can “talk ” to you at more length, about training, equipment, breeds, etc. etc.
Libby
Date: August 17, 2010
I just found your blog, bunny trailed from Elaine Miller, to Diane Estrella etc…and here I am! Love the pics and the life and think the punk/fungus on the tree reminds me of mussels from the sea! Blessings new friend!
Date: August 23, 2010
I so understand your feelings about the negative comment. I had one on my blog (and after four years one is all). The person had to sign her name to leave a comment, so I think I know who she is. She has since moved (a local girl). I was stunned, shocked and amazed. I just deleted it and kept on. If they don’t like me or my blog, oh, welll! For those people life sucks….I’m glad I am not them. As for me, it took awhile, and I still remember it, but I knew that I am who I am and it ain’t all bad.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Date: August 24, 2010