Celebrities with Heart

This is such a weird thing for me to post...I haven't been interested in celebrities since, well, middle school. But I had to share because I have come across several awesome celeb charitable campaigns lately, and I LOVE when people use their fame for good (my Grandma always uses this argument for why her grandchildren should strive be famous, and I guess in a way she convinced me...other than the trying to become famous thing...)

Here's an awesome ad with one of my favorite up-and-coming actors, Ryan Gosling (not sure where the add came from, sorry!) and his beloved (and adopted) dog:

He's also involved in a PETA campaign that is working to end a horrible method of killing chickens and turkeys that are not suitable for consumption, and is working to get Kentucky Fried Chicken to only purchase chicken from farms with humane practices. He fights for poultry rights. He must have a pretty big heart.

And a great actress (and apparently great person, too), Scarlett Johansson has been an Oxfam Ambassador since 2007 (one of my favorite international non-profits). Check out the work she's been doing. And while you're at it, give a meaningful gift through Oxfam this Christmas.

Jack Johnson is one of my favorite famous activists because he is tireless and outspoken about environmental and social causes--he and his management crew created the "All At Once Campaign," which is a social action network focused on environmental and local and world sustainability causes. He also has a charity that matches whatever amount people donate to featured organizations at booths at his concerts (the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation), he and his wife set up the "Kokua Hawaii Foundation" which supports environmental education in Hawaiian classrooms, and he is involved with or supports literally hundreds of other organizations. He donates amazing amounts of money (in 2008 and 2010 he donated ALL of his profits from his tour to environmental, art, and music education). He's just plain awesome.

The point of this post is not to commend our culture's obsession with fame...in fact, I think it's important to not give more credit to "conscious" celebrities than to average American activists. I have been involved in activism since high school, and I have come across some of the most devoted, hard working, strong, and compassionate people over the years. Often as a result of their complete devotion to their causes, many of the activists I've known are also poor, which most good-hearted celebs don't have to contend with while they travel the world for good causes. But I have to say, I appreciate this wave of young celebrities who care. And since America is so heavily influenced by celebrities, hopefully the wave of compassion will be carried over into the non-famous population of young Americans. 

Long Legs

Lost, hungry, and lonely animals must have some kind of communication system through which they tell each other "Go to the Leach house at the end of the neighborhood!" Because somehow, they just keep coming. To my mom, every animal is too precious to turn away...which is why I love my mom so much (if only we could all have such big hearts)! I have been waiting for an opportunity to post photos of my mom's photogenic newest addition to the Leach household, Long Legs, and finally decided, why not just do a quick blog about him? He makes me happy, and I'm pretty sure these pictures will make you happy, too. 

Long Legs is a very special, and definitely different sort of cat...he moves slowly, intentionally...he resembles a bobcat more than a house cat...but unlike a bobcat he is a complete baby about the cold...he runs, absolutely terrified, from cats half his size...instead of jumping he reaches his ridiculously long legs to his desired location and pulls himself up...and I've never known a cat who appreciates a rub on his belly more (which he gladly will present to you within seconds of meeting him). And of course, we made a different-sort-of-cat even more different by naming him "Long Legs"--but his legs are so long! The name just stuck. Really, maybe an unconventional, alliterated, and flowing name such as Long Legs is actually quite fitting for this lovely, and may I add lucky, feline.

The photos are all from the summer, as you can see, when Long Legs lived outside. Since winter came along he's been bouncing between outside (or should I say curled in a ball on the railing by the door?), my mom's office, and my old room. The other cats have become aware of his sensitive nature and love the thrill of seeing what they are sure is a bobcat run from them, so unfortunately he is limited to bedrooms. But Long Legs doesn't seem to mind the isolation one bit--I think he's just grateful for the visitors and the warmth of a home. In all of my experience with rescued animals, I am convinced that they feel gratitude, or something very close to what we know as gratitude. Long Legs embodies this. But enough blabbing already--enjoy the photos!

Isn't he handsome?

Just chillin...

Contemplating the famous Long Legs "pull up"

Slowly but surely...

Almost there...

Success!

Making his way to the purpose of his ascent--a hand he knows will pet him:)

The Adventure of Two Minis and a Goat

One of my dreams is to write children's books that encourage children to love and appreciate nature and animals. In an attempt to get started on that, I'll share with you a really rough draft of my first idea. I feel like I need an audience, so please feel free to comment if you have any feedback...and let's hope no one steals this idea now that it's on the web (are there any laws to protect personal blogs as property?!). It's missing some pictures that I still need to take, but this will do for now. This is almost all a true story, and is a sweet way for you all to get to know our cute little barn inhabitants better. Enjoy!

Hope was lonely.

And bored.

She spent all her time waiting for the friends that fed her to come outside, and then followed them everywhere they went once they did.

One day, the people who take care of Hope decided that it was time for her to have a friend that would live outside with her all the time (and that was a little closer to her size!). So they brought home another miniature horse named Ali.

Ali and Hope are very different. Ali is a young, spirited, outspoken, and loving little horse, and Hope is a motherly, sweet, nervous and beautiful little horse. Despite their differences, as soon as they met it was like they had known each other their whole lives. They started scratching each others backs the way horses who love each other always do.

Pretty soon, Ali and Hope's human friends found out about a goat who didn't have anyone to take care of her anymore. So they brought her to their home, too. Binky has one leg that doesn't work, so she has to kneel to eat. But she has no trouble walking on three legs!

Hope and Ali didn't blink an eye when Binky entered the equation. They let her follow them around like a shadow. Now Hope had not one, but two new friends, and she wasn't lonely or bored at all!

Time passed and the threesome grew closer every day.

One day, the people who take care of Hope, Ali, and Binky accidentally left the gate unlocked when they were feeding them one evening. Well, horses never ignore an open door, so they walked right out of that gate and headed down the trail to the river.

Binky wasn't too sure about this idea. She had heard from the ducks and geese that the river is really strong and fast. They even told her that sometimes there were people at the river who don't like animals very much. But she decided to follow them anyway because Binky doesn't like to be alone.

When they got to the river they saw that it is very beautiful, but that it is strong and fast. They saw some people, too...and they weren't like the people that take care of Hope, Ali, and Binky. They didn't pet them or feed them. They just looked at them funny and pointed and laughed. Hope, Ali, and Binky didn't know what the people thought was so funny about two miniature horses and a goat walking by a river! So they just kept walking.

As the sun began to lower behind the mountains and the air began to get chilly, Hope, Ali, and Binky were starting to become scared. The path was narrow and the big strong river rushed below them. The people who were laughing were gone now. They were all alone.

As they hurried down the path, they realized that they weren't so sure of how to get back to their house. Now they were really wishing they hadn't come to the river alone. So they did what horses usually do when they're spooked--they ran!

Just then, they heard the familiar voice of the woman who takes care of them calling, "Hope! Ali! Binky! Where are you!?" They stopped right in their tracks and Ali let out a loud and high pitched "neigh!"

The very nice woman who takes care of them came running around the corner with two little halters and two leads in her hands. Hope, Ali, and Binky all nodded their heads up and down in delight. She gave each one of them a big hug and put the halters on Hope and Ali. Binky didn't need a halter because she follows her friends everywhere.

They walked back happily with the woman who takes care of them. When they got back to the barn, there was a fresh flake of hay and grain waiting for them. They had never been so happy to see their cozy barn before.

After their adventure, Hope, Ali, and Binky snuggled up next to each other in the safety of their warm barn. They closed their eyes and dreamed sweet dreams of hay and barns, and even walking by the beautiful river--but this time with the people who love them!

Blessing

Deep peace of the running wave to you,

of water flowing, rising and falling,

sometimes advancing, sometimes receding...

May the stream of your life flow unimpeded!

Deep peace of the running wave to you!

Deep peace of the flowing air to you,

which fans your face on a sultry day,

the air which you breathe deeply, rhythmically,

which imparts to you energy, consciousness, life.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you!

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,

who, herself unmoving, harbors the movements

and facilitates the life of the ten thousand creatures,

while resting contented, stable, tranquil.

Deep peace of the quite earth to you!

Deep peace of the shining stars to you,

which stay invisible till darkness falls

and discloses their pure and shining presence

beaming down in compassion on our turning world.

Deep peace of the shining stars to you!

Mary Rogers, adapted from the Gaelic

Balance (or the lack thereof)

Tonight I bought a salad "kit" on my way home from work. I have actually never done this before (I am not a true food purist, but I do love my fresh salads), and think that it reflects my current state of being pretty well. I somehow have not been able to find the time to do the things that are important to me on a regular basis--like cooking healthy and tasty meals, talking to or spending time with family and friends, getting outside, being with my animals, getting some exercise, doing yoga, and being creative. It's a lot, but these important elements of my life mean so much to me that a day doesn't quite feel complete if I haven't done at least a few of them. I have not figured out how to balance my life with a 40+ hour a week job that, while I usually love it, drains me so often. My neglected-feeling dog doesn't get many hikes with the female human in his life anymore, I somehow break something every day, my clean laundry has been sitting in bins for days, I can't seem to get outside while it's still light out other than for short walks, and dinners have become a last minute ordeal. I come home from work feeling drained and irritable more often than I would like. I am literally amazed by all of the parents out there working full time and finding time for their children. Especially the ones that seem to have the balance figured out (how, I sincerely ask, do you do it!?).

On top of the lack of balance, I have been consumed by worry about my lovely little Lila...who you've seen in a couple previous posts. She's having serious kidney problems and spending a lot of time at the vet getting fluids. She's a sensitive little dog and I know this stress is extremely hard on her physically and emotionally. I am being as positive as I can, but it never gets easier to see your loved ones scared or in pain. I have been thinking of her almost constantly.

Now more than ever the rituals that feed my spirit are important to me--lately I have been reading a few chapters of my Thich Nhat Hanh books in the morning before I leave. His simply spoken wisdom always seems to resonate with what I am needing to hear at the moment. And every evening, yoga and meditation soften the edges and provide me with a much needed step back, a view of the bigger context.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't struggling. And as a result, I haven't been writing. I realized today how difficult it is for me to admit to the general public (that may be a stretch, but whoever it is that reads this blog!) that I am not glowingly happy at the moment. So here it is. My big step towards honesty.

But I will end on a positive note (because I think it's a good habit to be in). This weekend we were able to hike up Bass Creek on a strikingly beautiful day. The stream's boulders balanced snow that looked like dollops of fresh whipped cream; the sun reflected off of the sheer white mountains so that they appeared to be lit from the inside; and the shadowed path held the silhouette of black trees framed by a perfect azure sky. It revitalized my spirit and left me wanting for more.