A Snowy Day...Pondering The Sixth Sense

There is nothing like fresh fallen snow to liven up the dull, gray winter landscape!


Two inches fell yesterday.


It greeted us early in the morning as we were heading to the barn...



And while it was falling,  many stayed indoors...


Weather doesn't ever seem to bother the horses, however.
Although they have plenty of stall space available, the prefer to be out in whatever the
precipitation-du-jour happens to be.


Donkeys?  Not so much.


A few of the chickens are always courageous and venture out...


while others find shelter where they can.


By afternoon, the snow stopped and the sun came out.


Sunshine is always a welcomed invitation...
responded to with an enthusiastic "YES....we will attend!"


The dogs are now used to their winter coats enough that they no longer hinder rough-housing.
Perhaps my favorite side effect of the winter coats is the decreased tendency towards roaming.
As long as the coats are on... the dogs are by my side.


Living in the country amongst the animals has taught me so much.
We, as humans, often feel superior to the animals we see.
 We feel that the ability to express ourselves through language and the arts,
along with our vast base of knowledge somehow separates us
from the rest of the animal kingdom.
And while it is true that we do possess those special abilities,
there is a type of intelligence that is unique to animals.


Perhaps because of their innate ability to live in the moment, 
they possess the ability to sense things that we do not.

Here is an example:

For weeks, our guineas have slept each night perched in the tree branches of the 
sycamore tree outside the henhouse.
Monday night, however, when closing up henhouses, 
I found the guineas perched inside one of the houses.
(Hmmmm, highly unusual.)


Later that night....snow arrived.

Think of all the stories of natural disasters that you have heard...
more often than not,
the animals had sense enough to leave the area before the mayhem occurs.
They sense the subtle changes in the earth to which we are blind.


One only has to spend a little time really observing animals to also see that they
possess many of the same emotions that we do.
They are capable of joy, of love, of grief.
And while they do not compose great masterpieces, or solve complex equations...
they have a sense about the world that we do not have.


There is not a day goes by that I am not in awe of this amazing world of animals...
of which we are a part.

Comments

daisy g said…
You are so right. It amazes me to see how they interact with their environment. I think they are able to sense things because they are so focused on being what they are and not distracted by all the human trappings that we deal with. So much of it is just paying attention. They are masters at that. They have to be. I'd love for you to share this wonderful post at this week's Maple Hill Hop!
Anonymous said…
So very true.
This N That said…
Great pictures Bev. I guess you're eating those words about your dogs roaming this morning. Didthey have their coats on?lovely post! I wonder if the full moon had anything to do with their behavior?
jaz@octoberfarm said…
i tell my family all the time that i think the first thing we will realize when we die is that animals really are smarter than humans. i am always amazed at the things they know that we do not!
Country Gal said…
Wonderful photos ! Yes being from a farm myself and living in a valley with wild life all around has taught me so much about life , nature and the beauty of it all as well ! It has been snowing here since the middle of last night and still is snowing now at 10:30 am it is soo pretty though I just came in from filling up the wood stand the birdies and critters feeders and walking and playing in the snow with my Miggs , I love it , feels so invigorating after being out in the snow and cold ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
Kim said…
You are right, animals are very intuitive and are much more aware than some people give them credit for. i wanted to thank you for the glove recommendation. That will be very helpful. Have a wonderful day.
Anonymous said…
we only have forgotten, but it is in all of us. I remember my grandmother (Born in 1897) looking at the sky , the shape of the clouds, the wind where it was coming from, and predicting the weather coming, she did teach me a few things like looking at certain butterflies ,as they were also predicting the coming weather, I have tried to pass it on to my family, but modern life is just too overwhelming!!!!....

It also takes a great deal of patience to observe not easy in this society of I want it now!!!

Annie v.
Laura Sudderth said…
Oh, I adore all your bird pictures! Happy New Year!
I have always said that animals are 'smarter' than human beings--
and they have to use their senses more as they can't read what the weather is gonna be!!!!:-)
smiles, di and miss gracie
An American in Tokyo said…
You are so right! I think we have lost touch with the subtle-ness of the world.

I love all the different varieties of birds you see in your area! Thank you for the wonderful pictures!
Jennifer said…
So very true. Animals are the true masters of the world, while we are just passerbys, it'd do us well to listen to them more. :-)
Lynne said…
Always "right on". . . wonderful post.
This morning as I shoveled the paths for the feeders there wasn't a bird in view. I came inside, walked to the window and the thistle feeder had a dzen or more, the feeders were filled with Cardinals, jays, chickadees, juncoes and more. Who says they don't know us . . . keen, patient, faithful, considerate, sometimes antsy and restless.
Lynne said…
and they let me know they are off in the wings . . . still around, part of the family.

What a full house you have . . . they all love you so . . .