Animal Tales, Bears, Blog | December 16, 2010
On a cold damp day with biting wind, we decided it was time to put the bears to bed for the winter. They were all substantially plump, with Major Bear winning the substantiality prize. His belly was almost touching the ground. He is a slow-moving, good-natured bear so perhaps his metabolism is a bit slower than the others (it is important to be tactful). The bears were still eating – usually they stop when they are ready. But Teton Totem ( still unparalyzed for those who have followed his healing saga) had been giving us signs that he was ready. We realized some years ago that when he was thirsty he would ask us for water by putting out his front right paw and sweeping it towards me in a gesture that to a human could be interpreted as “come,” or “give me ” ( I should check what those words would look like in American Sign Language). What made us decide it was time, though they were still all eating with gusto, was that we saw Teton entering his den, sticking out his head and paw and making that same sweeping motion — he was asking for his hay. (They won’t go to bed without their hay.) He was also sweeping some of the dried portion of his food into his den as a pathetic substitute for hay. It was time. And if it was time for one it was time for all six.
So we gave them each a bale of sweet smelling fresh dry hay and there was no hesitation. The bed making began immediately and in earnest. Teton’s eyes got big and round and he ambled his portly self over and began to arrange it. It had to be just so. It usually takes a full three days of making and remaking and remaking his bed until it is just so. The floor gets rearranged, more padding here, less padding there . . . the edges get rearranged; the log gets placed just so and hay put on it so he can use it as a soft pillow. I relayed this to Dondy, our office manager, who replied – “Of course it takes three days – I would take that long if I had to sleep in the same bed for five months”. Finally he plugged up the entrance until he was invisible. No bear there. No bear home. And that is the last we will see of him for months.
Blog, Other Animals, Squirrels | December 16, 2010
Tuttle’s very first success with walnuts. We were so proud!
Perhaps we should bronze them . . .
It was a long frustrating trial for him and quite an accomplishment. First the nuts were too big and he couldn’t hold them; then he could barely hold them; then he managed to hold them andturn them this way and that but was unable to crack the nut so to speak. We would find them whole, “squirreled” away around his enclosure hidden away in frustration. After all, he had almonds and hazelnuts and pine nuts – what did he need with a lousy old walnut anyway? Then one day I found one open and empty!! And immediately another! He had gone on a walnut orgy. Since then he has been cruelly dubbed Walnut Gut by Dondy the svelte (he now is a rather substantial squirrel). She didn’t help matters by bringing organic walnuts from her mother’s 150 year old trees in California. Then Linda visited him yesterday and cried out “My God, he has jowls!” She doesn’t help either because she keeps feeding him nuts which she freely admits she cannot
resist. Then Amanda, who hasn’t seen him recently exclaimed “He has a gut!” as she went to give him a treat. The poor guy doesn’t stand a chance. And after all, a squirrel has to protect himself from potential starvation.
In one way his nut accomplishment is “cute” . . . but actually it is quite profound. Just how is it that a creature unfolds; develops awareness, coordination, and competence, each in their own individual and species way? It is a miraculous thing.
It is easy, when dealing with nature and life to go from any observation, to something astoundingly profound. If one keeps an open and inquiring mind, wonders truly never cease. And so thank you Tuttle for your breakthrough and the thoughts it brought forth. When we look adoringly at a beloved child, or animal companion, developing and unfolding as a being, we are sensing the miracle of it all.
Earthfire Stories, Seen Thru New Eyes | December 15, 2010
I have to tell you what my dear neighbors told me a few minutes ago. We live on a bluff, overlooking open area. Yesterday, they had their dogs out in the fenced in part of the hill. As they looked up, a large coyote stopped dead in its tracks.
The neighbors remembered my stories about Earthfire and wished him well. They said that they stood and shared space for almost five minutes. The coyoted looked at them one last time and trotted off. They watched him disappear into the woods.
So, your teachers there helped to stop a panic in the area by the gentleness they shared with me, and I in turn, shared the lessons with the neighbors.
Donna
Deep Ecology, Ethics & Whole Community, Wellness & Spirtuality | December 7, 2010
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche conducted a teaching this summer at Earthfire Institute. Watch part one of three as the Rinpoche talks about cultivating compassion for all beings.
Blog | November 10, 2010
Colette Baron-Reid
On Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 11AM PST, Colette Baron-Reid, host on Hay House Radio (www.hayhouseradio.com), will talk to Susan about the interconnectedness of our living planet; Earthfire’s work to protect rescued wildlife who cannot live on their own – giving them the opportunity to teach people about the larger community of life while instilling a commitment to the protection and care of nature . The taping of the interview will repeat throughout the week on the stream. You can also listen to the taping on demand for free in the “just added to the archives” section on the Hay House Radio home page at http://www.hayhouseradio.com/index.php . Hope you have a chance to listen in some time between 11/11 and 11/18.
Animal Tales, Blog, Other Animals, Squirrels | November 10, 2010
Tuttle working on his very first walnut. No success to date.
Tuttle was tiny and barely alive when we got him. No longer. He is now a lively squirrel of ample proportions. Maybe it’s because he gets all he wants to eat and every visitor wants to give him treats; or that Linda, our office manager, secretly feeds him when she needs a boost (often), or that until recently we couldn’t find nuts in shells so he didn’t have to work for his living. In any case he is one thriving creature, grown so big and fast that we refer to him as “The Squirrel Who Ate the Bronx”. We promised to fill you in on his progress, and in sum – well, he is filled out.
Blog, Retreats and Workshops, Wellness & Spirtuality | October 19, 2010
We had the pleasure of hosting Rose De Dan for our third highly successful retreat this year. Rose has a wide following and full-time practice doing energy healing with animals and their humans and is the author of the book, Tails of a Healer.
Rose heard about us in August and we had a full and successful workshop two months later! People came from all over the country including Alaska. Quite an amazing feat.
Success can be measured in many ways. The workshop met all of them, but the most important one is the impact on people and what they do with what they learn. We would like to share with you what some of the participants had to say about the retreat . . .
“A visit to Earthfire Institute ‘should’ be a requirement for all human beings. I seize every opportunity to share the value of wolves with others. Being around and with Jean, Susan and the beloved animals was such a gift. I will always remember and treasure this experience.” Della Moher, Seattle, WA
“I gained an even deeper love and appreciation for these magnificent creatures. And insight from Susan and Jean about the animals’ lives in the wild, and the dangers they are now facing. The wisdom and knowledge of patience they both exhibited is inspiring.” Kris Fahlstrom, Lake Forest Park, WA
“In four days, the animals, with help from the humans involved, taught me some very important life lessons. Very wise animals. Thank you for the program and the peace that now is in my life once again. I will do whatever I can to promote this special piece of Earth and the harmony between man and animals.” Donna Safley, Zion, IL
Rose will be coming back next year (the workshop is already 1/3 full). We are putting together a video of the weekend, and will have a full article in our upcoming November, hard-copy newsletter.
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See pictures from participant Debbie Noyes’ optional photoshoot experience.
Blog, Coyotes, Wellness & Spirtuality | October 19, 2010
Internationally respected energy healer Donna Eden and her husband, energy psychologist Dr. David Feinstein, visited recently with the Earthfire animals. David is renowned for his work with PTSD war veterans. We asked him if he might help with our traumatized little coyote girl Faerytail. This video is what happened during the encounter.
Blog, People, Wellness & Spirtuality | October 19, 2010
Susan will be doing an interview on the Colette Baron-Reid Show online at Hay House Radio. It will air at 11AM PST, Thursday, November 11th. Look for it!
Animal Story, Bears, Blog | October 19, 2010
First, let it be known that the bears here at Earthfire eat extremely healthy food — buckets and buckets of fresh fruits and vegetables and a bit of high grade dog food to be sure all bases are covered. But every now and then we all need treats. Two wonderful guests asked what they could bring and we said … six cherry pies, one for each bear, with whipped cream. If you are going to do it you might as well do it right! The pies they brought were Marie Callender cherry pies (actually five cherry pies and one berry) which had to be cooked 55 to 65 minutes at 400 degrees to make sure they were properly flaky. (Major Bear in particular appreciates a flaky crust. As you can see, all of the top crust has been devoured while the cherries are still left. Huckleberry Bear Bear on the other hand is more into the cherries.) As per their preference, the pies of course were served warm.
Touched By Nature by Dennis McMahon
