Compass Rose Farm Sanctuary

01/09/2025

✨🌿🐴 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 🐴🌿✨

If you’ve ever run your fingers through Cherokee’s long, flowing mane, you might have noticed tiny, mysterious tangles—fairy knots, they’re called. In the world of old folklore, fairy knots (also called witch’s stirrups, elf-locks, or hag-ridden manes) were not just tangles but evidence of nighttime visitors. Many cultures believed that horses, with their deep sensitivity and gentle nature, were especially attuned to the spirit world, making them a favorite companion of supernatural beings.

In Celtic folklore, fairies were said to sneak into stables under moonlight, braiding horses’ manes as a form of mischief—or as a blessing. A perfectly tied knot could mean your horse had been chosen or was admired by the Fair Folk. Some believed that fairies would choose the kindest and gentlest horses, using the knots as makeshift reins,to carry them through moonlight into hidden worlds.

Cherokee was surrendered to our sanctuary because of lameness. Here he is safe and cherished, but we know it is unlikely that he’ll ever again be able to carry a human at full gallop across a field. He has the softest soul and the most beautiful eyes, as if he’s seen things we can’t. We like to imagine that that’s because while his body rests, his spirit soars—racing with fairy folk through fields of starlight, hooves light as whispers, heart full of joy. We brush out the fairy knots with care so that we don’t remove the dreams braided there.🌿✨

When you visit the sanctuary, be sure to spend a moment with him. Perhaps, if you look closely, you’ll see a bit of moonlight lingering in his mane.

30/08/2025

Elvis and Sweet Pea were the third and fourth pigs that came into my life, and they were two of the 16 pigs that moved to Compass Rose in 2022. They have been part of my life for so many years now that it’s hard to imagine a day without them.

Early on, Elvis was the leader of the pigs, the “top hog” as it were, and Sweet Pea was his queen (and believe me when I tell you, she played the part). They had a falling out at one point, I never figured out why, and he went to live with Willabelle and Winona for a while. Sweet Pea never took up with anyone else, I think she was just waiting for him to come back. And he did after a couple of months. To my knowledge they’ve never slept another night apart.

They’ve grown older now…Elvis in particular is quite a bit slower…but I see such amazing beauty and wisdom in their lives. Elvis was long ago dethroned as top hog by Jeb, and he handled it with the grace you’d probably expect. Sweet Pea stayed by his side anyway.

These days, they nap in the sunshine, fuss at each other over snacks like old married folk, and kind of lean into each other in that way only they understand. Sweet Pea watches over him so closely, and she never lies down in their hut until he’s settled.

Watching them grow old together is an incredible honor… it’s tender and bittersweet. Watching them today, I thought a lot about what animals have to teach us about devotion, about how love can be soft and steady, and how real love exists in the simplest of moments.

I want them to live forever, and at the same time I know they won’t. But however much time I have left with them, I know that I’ve received the most beautiful lesson in love, loyalty, and slowing down to appreciate the simple joys that come with the passage of time and the living of life. ❤️



28/08/2025

Dear Diary,

Today, a so-called “kind” person offered me… an apple. 🍎 AN APPLE.

Do I look like the sort of alpaca who eats apples? Absolutely not. I am a creature of elegance. I have taste. I have standards. Bananas? Acceptable. Carrots? Delightful. Fresh hay cubes? Divine. But an apple? The disrespect.

So, naturally, I stomped, laid my ears back, chased the “kind” person, and made sure the entire sanctuary knew about this outrageous insult. The chickens heard. The goats heard. Even the donkeys are gossiping about it.

Let this be a lesson: one does not simply hand me an apple and expect gratitude. 🙅‍♀️

Signed,
Your wronged (and still fabulous) alpaca 🦙✨

Pixie

24/08/2025

Welcome to ANIMAL TALES, our new weekly series featuring interesting facts, legends, and stories about farm animals!
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Do you know the legend, generally considered to be of Ethiopian origin, that attributes the discovery of coffee to goats?

The story goes that a goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats were acting unusually energetic and frolicking late into the night. Intrigued, he observed them and discovered they were eating the berries from a particular bush. He decided to try the berries himself and experienced a similar feeling of alertness and vitality.

Kaldi shared his discovery with an abbot from a local monastery. The abbot, however, disapproved of the berries, calling them "the devil's work," and threw them into a fire. The roasting of the berries released a delightful aroma. The abbot, along with the other monks, was so taken with the scent that they raked the beans from the embers, ground them up, and dissolved them in hot water.

Drinking this concoction kept the monks awake during their long hours of prayer and meditation. From then on, coffee became an integral part of their religious practices and, eventually, spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and the rest of the world.

While the legend is widely known, there is no historical evidence to support it. However, it remains a popular and charming tale that highlights the role of nature and chance in the discovery of one of the world's most beloved beverages.

22/08/2025

While there is no such thing as a “usual day” at the farm, there are some days when the landscape truly changes. Welcome to our new little herd of alpacas….Lucy, Ginger, Pixie, and Tonks (plus Phoenix, who missed the picture memo), who arrived yesterday and with whom we are already very much in love!

Shout out to Yvonne Jones, who has guided us through every step of this new adventure. You are the most amazing friend this sanctuary could have, and we appreciate so much your willingness (always) to share your knowledge and experience.

We are so excited for these incredible animals to call Compass Rose home!❤️

20/08/2025

20/08/2025

Today we welcomed the sweetest little billy goat, named Teddy. Going out on a limb here with a prediction that he and our farm associate Skylynn are gonna be friends❤️

19/08/2025

Late last week, we had the honor of welcoming this beautiful girl to the sanctuary. Although she was very loved in her prior home, the circumstances were difficult. As a result, at nearly 4 years old, she had never had her hooves trimmed, nor had she ever been able to experience the simple joy of standing on grass. Despite these limitations, she is “loud and proud”, very sassy, and emits joyful energy. We are in love with her already!

She is currently at the Purdue Farm Animal Hospital, where she will undergo the initial phases of hoof care, to be continued by our wonderful farrier Flip Side Hoof Care in October and beyond. She will also undergo a spay procedure and receive routine immunizations. After that, she will return to the farm and once healed from her surgery, she will begin the process of learning to be a pig! For the first time in her life, she’ll be able to root, wallow in mud, feel the sunshine on her back , wander the pastures, and make pig friends.

These are the opportunities we cherish…the chances we have to truly change the trajectories of animals’ lives. We will call this girl Zora, a name of Slavic origin that means “dawn” or “sunrise” and symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and light after darkness.

Zora, we are so happy to have you here!

16/08/2025

Thank you Owen County Chamber of Commerce!!! This is aMAZing❤️

15/08/2025

Well, I’ll be a donkey’s sister…you guys really did it! We hit 1000 followers! I am beyond thankful to every single one of you for reading our stories, sharing your pictures, and helping us love fhe animals of Compass Rose. Your support helps us keep doing the work that allows them to be safe, healthy and, most importantly, HOME.

Congratulations to Terri Speer, who is the winner of our 1000th-follower drawing! I’ll be hand delivering your tshirt to the hospital tonight😊

And I’ll go back to ignoring the stats (but pssttt! Is 2500 a thing???)❤️

14/08/2025

As an aging, somewhat curmudgeonly woman who for years has foresworn social media as a societal scourge, I admit to a certain degree of irony embedded in this post. It has come to my attention (mainly because I’ve been avidly monitoring it) that we are approaching 1000 followers. I would guess we’re maybe-probably-close-to-exactly 28 followers away as of this morning. But I’m being super casual about it.

Now I’m not naive enough to think that’s earth shattering (Taylor Swift and the Kardashians rested well last night, and they’re probably too cool for Facebook anyway), but by golly that’s 1000 people who a year ago didn’t know about all the animals at Compass Rose! And that makes me happy. Here’s to all of them (the people and the animals) and to all the stories still to be told.

But you guys, I’d like some help. For anyone who likes or shares this post, or who comments about your favorite CRFS resident (posting a picture counts extra), I’ll put your name in my best hat, and when we get to 1000 followers, I’ll pick a winner and send that person a Compass rose T-shirt.

Please, let’s get this done so I can go back to playing Wordle with my morning coffee like a sensible curmudgeonly woman ❤️

13/08/2025

One of the most common questions I received at our grand opening was about the meaning of “Compass Rose” in our name. The compass rose is a nautical tool that points travelers in the right direction, toward their “true north“. In the same manner, the compass rose is symbolic of our sanctuary’s mission… guiding animals from lives of hardship toward lives of safety, care, and freedom. The compass rose in our logo reminds us that no matter where an animal’s journey begins, we can help it find its “true north”, a life filled with dignity, peace, and love. We invite you to continue this journey with us, to meet our animals, and to help us keep the needle pointing toward a more compassionate world❤️