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A red stag photographed by Farmwife in Scotland, from whence the family descends
and to where they voyaged in September 2024. |
Dear Mules and Countrywomen, It is my pleasure to report to you today, from my forested vantage point, that the Farmlet is well.
It has been eight years since my family had a Farmlet to report upon, and this one is among the best. It is 25 minutes south of Casa de Bartholomule-Teaspoon, where you may remember the family lived for a time, and situated on the same verdant island. It is 120 minutes south of Bent Barrow Farm, where the ancient rhododendron still blooms and where FenBar's old barn of many colors still stands and shelters farm machinery. This place has rhododendrons, too, encircling a lawn which slopes down to my barn and paddock. We call the barn Hoofhouse, and it is going to be painted black in the spring to match the house and my companion, Puck.
My paddock, by design, does not overlap the lawn but instead winds through a mixed hemlock, fir, and alder forest. I am told this is better for my laminitis. I don't believe everything I am told. The humans have intentions to lengthen the track through the forest by several hundred feet next year, after they recover from the energetic and financial expense of installing Hoofhouse and my first 400 feet of fencing. I am not unlike a pony in my ability to test fences, so nothing but the best will do for me.
The human house, with an attached shop, lies not more than 150 feet from me. My human started visiting this house in summer 2023, moved into this house in spring of 2024, along with her youngest daughter, and married the man of this house in November. During the day the man goes into the shop and builds beautiful things out of metal and glass, and when Farmwife travels for school board conferences he is the one who brings me breakfast in bed.
The man is very wonderful, and has in fact been Farmwife's friend for years and years. It was only too easy for Farmwife to fall head over heels in love with this man once they noticed they were both single at the same time—a miraculously timed discovery. On their first date, they talked about motorcycles—he had gotten his learner's permit the month before, and she was scheduled to get hers the week after. They just happened to dive headlong into the hobby at the same time, by chance, and now there are 7 motorcycles in the family!
Do you remember how Fenway used to speak of Larval Human #1? She, who is 20 and in college now, celebrated her 12th birthday at this man's pinball arcade (now closed). Weanling Human, who is 24 and a firefighter now, says one of her first memories is of playing with his youngest daughter in the yard. Their families have been entangled in many ways, with friendships woven among friendships spanning generations. Farmwife is very gratified to be a step mom now, and together they share five adult children and a sixth nearly so. Larval Human #2, the youngest, is finishing her senior year of high school and planning grand adventures for the year to come.
And do you remember when, about four years ago, Farmwife considered a $10,000 riding mule but instead purchased me, Songbird? And remember how I racked up $10k in vet bills in relatively short order without ever becoming sound? Well, that mule's name was Captain. Whether out of regret or whimsy, Farmwife named her favorite motorcycle Captain Fantastic. This is an homage both to this mule and to a favorite movie. Farmwife now rides Cappy whenever she feels like it without worrying about rotated coffin bones or thin soles or stiff knees. She did have some trouble with a gas tank overflow valve, but that was covered under warranty. She is learning to change her own tires, with help from her husband, but still outsources hoof trims to the professional (Auntie Cookie) on account of my Special Needs.
Arrietty G. Teaspoon still lives in Sequim, Washington where she is a companion to an older appaloosa mare and their human steward. We understand that, being the youngest of the trio, she may eventually come home for retirement. In the meantime, we hear reports that she is very well. I've not met her, personally, but being Uncle Fenny's widow makes her uniquely qualified to confirm Farmwife's reports of his impeccable character and flawless beauty. I can't wait to interview her on the subject when eventually we meet.
It's not hard living in the presence of Fenway's memory—it's less a shadow than a warm glow, a reminder that mules can be among the best of all people and that friendship between an equine and a human can change both lives for the better. Farmwife talks of him as her muse, her adventure buddy, her therapist, and her mentor as she discovered both her writer's voice and her self worth during a rather hard chapter of life.
Farmwife has been having a particularly great time, lately, in spite of national and international news often boding ill. In part, I credit her orthodontist. For 43 years, she was reluctant to smile due to very crooked teeth. In March 2023, she was single and between jobs. With no one to judge her, she got braces. The next month, she started her dream job as Executive Director of a 38 year old environmental nonprofit. Three months after that, she started dating this motorcycle man. The next autumn, she applied to law school and was admitted to their online MSL program in a remedy of a "path not taken" regret that had haunted her since 2003. School starts next week. The braces come off next month, or thereabouts, and she has smiled more this year than I think at any time in her whole entire life.
We owe you a new report on the Cast of Characters, which includes old favorites like Clover the Chihuahua (15 and glowing!) and new friends like Roger, aka "Surly Cat". We'll tell you more soon, I promise!
May your 2025 bring health, joy, and a a great abundance of fragrant hay to you and yours.
Ears to You,
Songbird Sparrowgrass.
