This week Jay and I spent time at The Gentle Barn Missouri, before finally going home to California. We have been gone for about two and a half months now, but our trip just wouldn’t be complete without visiting St Louis. We were able to catch the last couple days of warm weather before fall officially hit, and after a very long, hot, humid summer, the rain, and crisp, cool air felt great!

While here we got to be part of our very first volunteer appreciation party for this location, a wonderful animal communication class taught by Joan Ranquet, and an open to the public Sunday. What a wonderful weekend! I got to meet Jemima Puddle Duck and Ella for the first time, pet Einstein, and see how well everyone is doing. It’s amazing that the Missouri location has only been in existence for a year, and yet fear has transformed to joy, animals have turned into ambassadors, and our volunteers have turned into family. Something so new and fragile a year ago has turned into something so impactful and inspiring in the community, and we look forward to so much more growth and healing.

Jay and I travel home to California today, at long last, with smiles on our faces, so very proud of our three locations and our nineteen years of service to animals, people, and Mother Earth. It is going to be so great to sleep in our own beds, see our kids and animals again, and be home. But we take with us memories of the bright blue Nashville sky with the whitest, fluffiest clouds, the animals’ homecoming in TN, our opening day with our parking lot full of cars for the very first time, the smell of the woods, the fragrant smell of the summer air, the chorus of cicadas, the thundering of hooves as our horses come running for cookies, Einstein’s soft, dreamy fur, Chico’s powerful energy and hugs, the Missouri turkeys sweet bright faces, and the feeling of happiness from everyone! It was a wonderful, wonderful summer!

Please come visit all our locations, meet our animal angels, enjoy the different gorgeous landscapes, meet all the wonderful volunteers and staff who make our locations great, and be a part of our gentle family. https://www.gentlebarn.org/visit-our-locations/