yes, we believe in magic

Our rescue barn is one year old this month. Woot! More to come on what we've learned so far.

Back when it was just a pile of wood, contractor scribbles, city inspection sign offs and nervous energy (ours) we decided we needed to invoke some good magic to ensure good juju for this space. So we called the group together for a ceremony of sorts.


Everyone brought something that held special meaning to serve as a good luck charm for the barn. There was a dog whistle from Cris Cohen's youth. Dog tags from Holly's departed love, Yoda. An angel from Sheri. A patron saint charm from Kerry. A box of worry dolls from long distance friend Dina. A turkey feather from the resident natives, recently evicted from this space (So sorry, guys). So many sentimental offerings that we took turns getting choked up as we called out our contributions.

Kim burned sage and said prayers of protection. Just as we called out a special amulet - a bone from dear friend Jane Berkey's muse dog Petal - we nearly jumped out of our skins ... **POP!**... The champagne just exploded, and unseen paws sent the cork flying into space. We laughed like hyenas. Of course Petal would want us to get on with the dramatics already and have ourselves a drink of bubbly. Pit bulls have better sense than to drag on with ritual.



Simon - who is Elliot's predecessor - laid himself right down and smiled like a goober as Tim placed the items underneath what would be the center of the barn. Little did we know that he'd follow Petal's footsteps and pass on before the barn was completed.

To hold him near, Simon is now buried under the front porch, just steps from my desk. Sometimes new-guy Elliot stretches out on top of him and gazes off at the sky, perfectly content with this little universe and his work here.

Yep, lotsa magic in the bones of this place.