It's beautiful how you faced your pain. Wish I could do that. Beautifully written with wonderful pics and videos, especially the last video, with Robert walking with Gonzo into the sunset. It's helping me process some similar situations that I try to not think about instead. Thank you for sharing how to deal with grief. 🥹
Our fur babies, feather babies, and even scaly babies find a niche in our hearts that for some reason not even humans can fill. So sorry for your loss.
When our kids were in 4H, raising market lambs and hogs, they learned early on the heartbreak that these animals, who became such close companions, were not pets but meat. Even now as they are grown with kids of their own, hunting moose and caribou, the lessons are hard but part of life.
As one who still cries when I think of each pet I have ever lost during my 77 years on this earth, my heart goes out to you dealing with your heavy loss. Those never heal because of the special bond you have with each animal…..bonds that will never be duplicated in quite the same way.
Big hugs to you both. My sympathy, and tears, are with you…..
I feel the same sense of loss each time I look back in remembrance. Each loss is a trigger for a grief long ago healed. I am also 77. They accumulate over a lifetime.
Oh boy, nothing like a good cry before 1p.m. Good thing I already ate my lunch, I feel so sad. These animal pets of yours have given us so much by just being themselves. I felt bad when your Emu died, but this feels worse. Who knew I could love a goose that I never met in person. The best I can do is hold my hands over my heart and think of you.
That video of Robert and Gonzo at the end pretty much ripped my heart out. This is so sad, & I am so sorry this happened. We all know how much you love your animals. Both of them had the best life possible, & I pray that knowledge helps ease your pain in the days to come. Thank you for all you do for your animals, for us, and for the world, Jill. Love to you both.
Beautiful post and real life on the farm. We've been having a large coyote jump at the chicken coop every morning while our Adam Cemani Rooster (given to us) and hens scream. We just lost our 13 yr old barn cat and had a ceremony last week in the pet cemetery. Through all the grief I wouldn't trade it in to live in the concrete jungle. My wife and I decided to live on a dirt road for as long as we can for the rest of our lives. Thank you for your farm wisdom and encouragement. Praying for protection of your farm and that the critter is full and moves on. Keep planting and Much love.
"Through all the grief I wouldn't trade it in to live in the concrete jungle. My wife and I decided to live on a dirt road for as long as we can for the rest of our lives."
This captures it - and Gonzo's death is only finally hitting me. I cried like crazy over the peaboy - but when Gonzo died i didn't. Even though she was more dear to me than the boy.
Oh Jill, I am so very sorry for your loss and heartbroken for you. I can relate having lived on a farm and delt with predators from snakes to hawks to so many others because they all love chickens and their eggs. We had some success with something called Night Predators which were solar activated from dusk to dawn red blinking lights. We posted them all around our coup and run. Other neighbors continued to lose chickens, we did not, at least at night.
I am so, so very sorry for your loss. This is heartbreaking and made me cry. I can't imagine how you must feel. I hope the fact that you gave these babies a wonderful life full of love, can at least give you some measure of peace.
I feel your pain for sure. Nineteen years on a two acre pond has kind of numbed me to the reality of how brutal nature can be. And yes the predators have to eat too but that does not make it easier when you lose the animals you have been friends with. Or watch a hawk swoop down and grab a new little baby goose. This year we have two vultures who have made a nest in our chimney. They sit on the top roof and look in at us like they really would like to come in and visit. I shout at them - "I'm not ready!" Whew, nature.
Gosh, that was so hard to read, I can only imagine your pain I am so, so sorry.
Farming is hard, and sometimes it breaks your heart. Just like all worthwhile things in life.
Thank you for sharing.
It's beautiful how you faced your pain. Wish I could do that. Beautifully written with wonderful pics and videos, especially the last video, with Robert walking with Gonzo into the sunset. It's helping me process some similar situations that I try to not think about instead. Thank you for sharing how to deal with grief. 🥹
Our fur babies, feather babies, and even scaly babies find a niche in our hearts that for some reason not even humans can fill. So sorry for your loss.
When our kids were in 4H, raising market lambs and hogs, they learned early on the heartbreak that these animals, who became such close companions, were not pets but meat. Even now as they are grown with kids of their own, hunting moose and caribou, the lessons are hard but part of life.
As one who still cries when I think of each pet I have ever lost during my 77 years on this earth, my heart goes out to you dealing with your heavy loss. Those never heal because of the special bond you have with each animal…..bonds that will never be duplicated in quite the same way.
Big hugs to you both. My sympathy, and tears, are with you…..
I feel the same sense of loss each time I look back in remembrance. Each loss is a trigger for a grief long ago healed. I am also 77. They accumulate over a lifetime.
Jill's post moved me to tears.
Oh boy, nothing like a good cry before 1p.m. Good thing I already ate my lunch, I feel so sad. These animal pets of yours have given us so much by just being themselves. I felt bad when your Emu died, but this feels worse. Who knew I could love a goose that I never met in person. The best I can do is hold my hands over my heart and think of you.
That video of Robert and Gonzo at the end pretty much ripped my heart out. This is so sad, & I am so sorry this happened. We all know how much you love your animals. Both of them had the best life possible, & I pray that knowledge helps ease your pain in the days to come. Thank you for all you do for your animals, for us, and for the world, Jill. Love to you both.
Beautiful post and real life on the farm. We've been having a large coyote jump at the chicken coop every morning while our Adam Cemani Rooster (given to us) and hens scream. We just lost our 13 yr old barn cat and had a ceremony last week in the pet cemetery. Through all the grief I wouldn't trade it in to live in the concrete jungle. My wife and I decided to live on a dirt road for as long as we can for the rest of our lives. Thank you for your farm wisdom and encouragement. Praying for protection of your farm and that the critter is full and moves on. Keep planting and Much love.
"Through all the grief I wouldn't trade it in to live in the concrete jungle. My wife and I decided to live on a dirt road for as long as we can for the rest of our lives."
This captures it - and Gonzo's death is only finally hitting me. I cried like crazy over the peaboy - but when Gonzo died i didn't. Even though she was more dear to me than the boy.
In writing this, the grief finally came.
Jill I felt this in my gut. We do all we can but this is the reality of rural life. Praying you feel the community’s love right now
Now you know why farmers are realists.
Oh my. So sorry. Think about saving this essay, and someday, publishing it; it's a lovely story of love, and loss.
OH W-O-W ‼️
This is so sad about Gonzo who shared part of my last name.
I know that your heart must be breaking 💔 😢 ‼️‼️‼️
Oh Jill, I am so very sorry for your loss and heartbroken for you. I can relate having lived on a farm and delt with predators from snakes to hawks to so many others because they all love chickens and their eggs. We had some success with something called Night Predators which were solar activated from dusk to dawn red blinking lights. We posted them all around our coup and run. Other neighbors continued to lose chickens, we did not, at least at night.
Heartbreaking 💔 so sorry. Gonzo was definitely a Malone farm celebrity and her antics will truly be missed.
I am so, so very sorry for your loss. This is heartbreaking and made me cry. I can't imagine how you must feel. I hope the fact that you gave these babies a wonderful life full of love, can at least give you some measure of peace.
I feel your pain for sure. Nineteen years on a two acre pond has kind of numbed me to the reality of how brutal nature can be. And yes the predators have to eat too but that does not make it easier when you lose the animals you have been friends with. Or watch a hawk swoop down and grab a new little baby goose. This year we have two vultures who have made a nest in our chimney. They sit on the top roof and look in at us like they really would like to come in and visit. I shout at them - "I'm not ready!" Whew, nature.