I am a true Southerner! I don't like cold weather (I wear sweaters in the summer), and I especially don't like damp, cold wind-that-goes-right-to-your-bones weather. And, oh my, please don't ask me to drive, or walk for that matter, on ice!
I have also never been that much into fashion. I, as a rule, don't follow the trends, don't take much time with my hair, etc., but I have always cared enough to make myself presentable. And never did I go somewhere without at least a little makeup on.
Then, along came the Sanctuary, in July! I learned quickly that makeup immediately melts away with the sweaty work. Clothing - you don't want to wear anything that you don't mind getting really, really dirty. Hair - Ha! Naturally curly hair in our moist climate, outdoors, several hours a day... Doesn't matter if it's hot or cold outside... just don't bother!
Summer was crazy, but the sunshine, green grass, beautiful leafy trees, happy dogs, new friends, the excitement of a dream come true... all made the experience absolutely awesome.
Winter... I've been rained on, sleeted on, snowed on, slipped down - more than once, had days where every pair of shoes I own were all wet and/or muddy (just flat ran out of shoes), peed on (yes, peed on), got mud up my nose and in my eyes... And with these past few weeks of ice, snow and freezing temps... Wrestled with gates that wouldn't open, broke ice on water buckets only to have them refreeze while I'm standing there, toted heavy water buckets because the outdoor faucet was frozen, drove on ice, and had fingers get so cold that I couldn't grip the doorknob to get back inside to the warmth.
I'm sure I'm leaving out some other unpleasant experiences, but the bad memories of winter are already fading. And it's been less than a week since we had ice and snow! Yes, we're still dealing with about 3" of mud in the dog runs, replacing tarps completely destroyed by the ice, and repairing damage to the runs and pens.
But taking a lesson from the dogs, I'm learning to live in the moment. The dogs don't care that last week we were living in a frozen world... the nights long, cold and lonely and the days boring and event free. Today, the temperature is warm, the daffodils are blooming, the gates open easily, the water is unfrozen, and we have an extra hour of daylight in the afternoons! Time to play a game of fetch!
And another lesson, the dog's don't care that, before I come visit them, I don't bother with my hair, my makeup, and I have the same old stained jeans and tee-shirt on that I wore 3 times last week. I do wash them, but you'd never know that by looking at them. They don't care about all of that, they just want what's most important... time with their humans.
And taking lessons from our first Sanctuary winter... better shelter for our outdoor pups (the tarps kept our dogs protected, but didn't hold up to the ice. Work on drainage for areas where the runs and pens are holding water. Work on gates. Buy better insulated, waterproof boots! Wear rubber gloves OVER my "waterproof" gloves. Buy heater strip for outdoor water faucet. There's more, but I'll stop there.
The biggest lesson of all that I learned this winter is how appreciative the dogs are of our care... Fresh straw in the dog houses - doggie excitement! Take a moment for a belly rub, thick winter gloves and all - doggie gratitude. Slip and fall - doggie kisses. Bad hair day and mud in place of makeup - doggie admiration. We humans are very special to our canine companions.
Please don't overlook these abandoned and homeless pets. They have so much love to give!
And please join us in caring for these extraordinary beings. We rescues can't do this work without the whole community behind us.
We currently have an important fundraiser for the Sanctuary and ongoing construction of Hissy House. Please see details at www.facebook.com/beyondfriendsmemorialgarden and help us save the animals!
Tara
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