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Miralee Ferrell | Some Things are Almost Too Hard to Believe
October 9, 2015
Have you ever viewed something you thought should be impossible? Something that if you
read it in a novel, you’d say it wasn’t believable? We experienced that a number of
years ago. My husband Allen rescued a full-grown cougar from a breeder (born and
raised in captivity) who had neglected and abused her. It took weeks of working with
Sierra before she trusted Allen, but once she did, her behavior altered significantly.
No longer was she a hissing, spitting cat taking swipes at him if he got near her
huge, outdoor enclosure. He spent hours standing inside her chain link door, talking
at times, and others, squatting near the ground and being quiet.
It was amazing to see her start to relax, to approach him then dash away, and
eventually, allow him to touch her. She’d been raised by people, so she wasn’t totally
wild, but she’d gained a fear and distrust that he had to overcome. The day came when
he was able to stroke her head, and eventually, she enjoyed it so much she’d rub
against his leg asking for more. Every evening when he arrived home after work, she’d
start chirping and calling until he came to give her the scratches and strokes she
begged for, purring the entire time. But the big cat totally surprised us a year or so
later when she gave birth to a cub.
Allen was sitting in Sierra’s enclosure, leaning up against the trunk of one of the
many trees we’d left inside, talking to her as washed her baby. I stood outside, as
Sierra didn’t care for women or children, and she had never allowed anyone to get
close to her besides my husband. I’ll never forget what she did next. Plucking the cub
off the ground and carrying it by the scruff of its neck, she trotted over to Allen
and placed the baby on his lap. Then she sank down next to him and stretched out,
laying her head against his leg and purring. My heart melted at this picture of
unconditional love for the person who’d taught her to trust again. She shared her
heart, her trust, and her baby. My only regret was not having a camera close at hand
and snapping a picture of something that few would believe if they hadn’t seen it
themselves.
We no longer have our two big cats (yes, we had a male we raised from a cub, placed
with us by a reputable breeder when he needed a home), as we moved out of the area and
couldn’t take them with us. Spunky, our male, went to the Olympia/Sequim Game Reserve,
and Sierra went to a private reserve where she quickly bonded with the man who owned
it, thanks to the hundreds of hours my husband spent earning her trust. Allen missed
them terribly, but it was a three-year time in our lives that we wouldn’t have traded
for anything.
GIVEAWAY
What have you witnessed that is hard to believe? Leave a comment below and be
entered for a chance to win a copy of MYSTERY RIDER.
Miralee Ferrell and her husband, Allen, live on 11 acres in the Columbia River
Gorge in Washington State. Miralee loves interacting with people, ministering at her
church, (she is a certified Lay Counselor with the American Association of Christian
Counselor), riding her horse, and playing with her dogs. She speaks at various women’s
functions and has taught at writers’ conferences. Miralee, an award-winning author,
has been writing since 2005, and her first book was published in 2007.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog
In the third installment in the Horses and Friends series, thirteen-year-old
Kate Ferris already has one problem. Snooty, well-to-do Melissa is boarding her horse
at Kate’s family stable. When Melissa suddenly turns nice, Kate is shocked ... and
suspicious.
The last thing she needs is more trouble. So when a hooded rider appears—and then
disappears—on a stunning black horse outside her home, Kate isn’t sure if Melissa is
playing a trick or something more dangerous is going on. Either way, Kate and her
friends will need an extra measure of faith and courage to solve this mystery.
Miralee Ferrell is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels. She and her
husband live along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where she
enjoys riding horses on the nearby wooded trails and spending time with her grown
children. In addition to horses and dogs, Miralee once owned two cougars.
Comments
21 comments posted.
Re: Miralee Ferrell | Some Things are Almost Too Hard to Believe
Birth. A miracle.
(Sharon Berger 12:22pm October 9, 2015)
My tough and rugged husband who once hated cats, rescued a
kitten from a worksite, and now my husband fusses over her
and she never leaves his side.
(Sandra Martin 2:29pm October 9, 2015)
the Aurora Boreallis in Alaska
(Joy Isley 5:47pm October 9, 2015)
What I have witnessed that was hard to believe that some
animals have more love in them than some humans. That is
so awesome!
(Renae Kelly 6:39pm October 9, 2015)
seeing lava flow and realizing it was creating more land. You see it, but then
wonder how does that hot red molten lave turn into a lush green island?
(Diane McMahon 9:47pm October 9, 2015)
My uncle raised large horses, Belgians, Percherons and
Clydsedales. He used them for hayrides and for taking
people out to the convention cabin he built way out in
the woods. There they had weddings and parties. When he
would bring the wagon or carriage back he would have the
horses back up the carriage or wagon into their
designated spots in the pole barn and then he would
unhitch the horses and put them in their barn. I thought
it was absolutely awesome!
(LaCinda Jameson 10:11pm October 9, 2015)
I have not
(Marissa Yip-Young 6:12am October 10, 2015)
My Husband and I live in the country, and feed all the
birds, as well as the strays, and animals that people
so carelessly drop on the property, to get rid of
their so-called problems, and figure that someone will
care for them. We were feeding a cat at the time that
was still a bit bashful, and my Husband had put out a
double bowl of hard and soft food for it. I'll never
forget peeking around the corner, and seeing it eating
side by side with a raccoon!! Yes, they come around
here, too, and my Husband can't resist them, but at
the time we were just getting our feet wet with
feeding them, too!! The longer we live out here, the
more amazing these animals are. Even the deer are
amazing to watch, and I have stories about them that I
could tell you, too!! You and your Husband were
saviors to save that poor cougar!! I can't wait to
read your latest book!! Congratulations!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:44am October 10, 2015)
I have seen animals save their owners.
(Debra Guyette 4:01pm October 10, 2015)
I think cruelty to animals and people. I've seen battered
women and although I've been there before, it's a whole
different thing seeing it on someone else. Harmed animals
are the same for me. I can't believe some people can be
like that.
(Val Pearson 6:27pm October 10, 2015)
The super friendly squirrel outside of our hometown library.
It's so used to people it will come up and sit on your knee if
you sit on one of the benches outside.
(Diana Thomas 10:56pm October 10, 2015)
When I was young I watched my mom shoot someone and wow
that image will never leave me. She also did some other
things that would make a good x rated book but i was
young and those are flashbacks and I hate them. Almost as
much as i hate all that was done to me in my foster home
! Good thing I am 60 and can overlook that but sometimes
it is in my dreams when i sleep then i wake up very
fast.
(Peggy Clayton 12:33pm October 11, 2015)
To see how some people live . My husband was pumping gas in our truck one night , I was sitting in the truck and a young girl came walking up to the store front and started picking up cigarette buttes . My first thought was she was working at the store , but then she got a handful and turned and went back the way she had came to the store . I was in AWE that this young girl was doing this .I wanted to cry . This happened several months ago and I can still see her so plainly .It's so sad , and this was in my hometown .
(Joan Thrasher 9:02am October 11, 2015)
Oh yes...sometimes it's just how people live or it's what people do that just amaze me. Their beliefs are so very different from mine and so is their way of life!
(Bonnie Capuano 11:30am October 11, 2015)
How much our two English Black Labradors love our granddaughter. The
dogs go into withdrawal when she's not around. They look for her to come
in the front door when she's not at the house. When she does come, they
go wild by running around the yard and circling around her and run some
more. They lick her all over. She just giggles at them and loves every
minute of it. While she is at the house, the dogs constantly follow her and
don't leave her side.
(Anita Seymour 2:33pm October 11, 2015)
I saw a video of a lioness protecting a fox cub with her litter from a lion who was going to make a snack out of the fox cub. Nature has a bit of a habit of showing compassion when one least expects it.
(Kai Wong 8:44pm October 11, 2015)
Would love to read.
(Charline Bonham 9:08pm October 11, 2015)
I have been in rescue for almost 20 years. I have had dogs
who were so scared that you could not laugh around them
without the dog flinching. It takes some doing but they can
learn to trust and be friends with people again. That is a
miracle I never get tired of. I usually take in adult dogs.
Whilst they can not speak, after they get used to their new
surroundings and learn that they are safe, they can tell you
all sorts of things about the life they had before.I know
who's been a house dog, was loved and used to a routine in
just a few weeks. How great is that?
(Dagmar Finch 6:11am October 12, 2015)
not yet
(Debbi Shaw 8:07am October 12, 2015)
We have a friend that can befriend almost any animal, they actually seek him out. He can walk up to an untouchable horse and put a halter on, milk a wild cow- everyone else just stands around mouths agape.
(Angela Daffern 12:37pm October 12, 2015)
The birth of my grand-children!
(Denise Austin 4:29pm October 12, 2015)
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