Saturday, September 4, 2010

Modern Day Mama

This mom thing is much harder than it looked before Bailey Noelle was born.  If the crazy parents in the school parking lot don't do you in (good grief, just go around the loop in one direction it is not that hard, folks!), the complete lunacy at their extra curricular events will push you toward to institution.  We enroll them in activities to give them a chance to be with other kids (we do live in the boonies, you know, well away from their school), and the hypercompetitive parents seem to remove all possibility of teaching teamwork and responsibility.

Charlie and I often talk about how different it used to be, but I remember those stage moms of my ballet days.  The ones who gave their girls stage names and drove them to buy the most expensive toe shoes whether they actually fit better or not.  Who paid tutors to do the school work and schmmozed the dance master.

I imagine that as Charlie and I discuss personal responsibility and what kind of people we want Bailey and Wyatt Clay to grow up to be, that we idealize the times of the past.  I am sure that we can easily ignore the problems that existed in the previous generations.  We have been so very fortunate to be able to provide them with a good school, despite that we have to drive so far.  They are able to raise livestock and compete in 4H, Wyatt plays football, Bailey is in the school play.  And they both do much more than that.  Despite raising them in a military family in such uncertain times, we are tremendously blessed to be able to make so much possible.


I suppose that I hope that anyone who reads this will stop to think what they really want their child to garner from their activities.  Is winning really everything?  What do we want them to learn in the journey, what qualities do we want them to posess when they lead the next generation?  As much as I despise having to explain so often that sometimes adults forget to be adults and emulate positive qualities, I hope that in telling them that they are the company they keep, that they will choose those associations wisely.


As much as I hope to give them every opportunity in life, I hope to foster in them the ability and drive to open the doors for themselves, and to close them and open new ones when needed.  I won't take Bailey and Wyatt away from their activities unless the situation is unsafe.  I will expect them to follow through on their committments.  I will hope that when they see me correct my wrongs they remember to do so too.  But it is so hard when I have to sit back and watch the volatility.

Remember when we were young and our parents looked to have it so easy?  Funny, looking back now!  At least, I think so.  I will continue to lay the groundwork for my children, continue to work with Charlie to reinforce the ideals that we feel matter most.  To make sure they know they are truly loved, no matter what.  And hopefully emulate the kind of people we want to raise with my own behavior.  Wish me luck.  And hey, let's all hang in there together.  Maybe if we show the kids what teamwork means, we will truly lay the groundwork for a better tomorrow- raising barns, helping those who need it, and no expecting anything in return.  A girl can dream, right?

Friday, September 3, 2010

Home from Hunting

The Labor Day holiday means many things...
A three day weekend, the celebration of forward movement in workers conditions in the Unites States over a hundred years ago, and for some- Dove hunting.  Charlie had the rare chance to sneak out early today, and ran out to pick up Wyatt for a little afternoon hunting.

While an unforcasted storm threatened to thwart their last minute plans, they ran south of the storm and bagged a few.  Charlie also was quite glad to have the chance to work one-on-one with our new young hunter on hunting ethics and safety!  (Meanwhile Bailey and Mama were doing Community Yoga Group).

Wyatt is committed to his football team obligations in the morning, then he is off with the boys- and hopefully Bailey- to hunt for the afternoon. 

Guess Mama had better google some good recipes!  Just as soon as she posts the photos of her cuties!

New Arrivals this Week at Patriot's Dream

I might just bet that I fooled some of you with that heading!  Some of you know that Bailey is expecting baby goats in the near future. 

This set of new arrivals, however, involves Wyatt's chickens. 

In preparation for the new farmer's market Wyatt has committed to for eggs in late October, seventeen 3-4 month old chickens came home on Thursday. 

Along with the hatchlings he has been raising since summer, they are expected to begin contributing to the egg sales in late fall. 

For those of you who are our regular customers, consider playing a little match the breed to the egg. 

While these chickens aren't currently providing the eggs you purchase, they are healthy bids who will soon do so.  And these are mixed in their heritage, all with a little Americauna thrown in. 

Should be fun to see what colors of eggs they throw!!!  Enjoy the photos...

To Rescue a Goat

For those of you who follow Patriot's Dream on Facebook, you already know that two weeks ago, someone ran a stray goat off of Sandario to our house.  We've spent the last two weeks contacting the livestock inspector, the local breeders, 4H folks, and the folks in our area who seem to know everyone.  One gentleman said he wanted him, then backed out at the last minute.  Alas, Bucky Boy the stray pygmy buck is still in a holding pen on the northeast area of our property.

In posting on Facebook and Craigslist, I did also research enough to figure out with decent certainty, that someone was trying to sell him quite inexpensively about a week before he appeared at Patriot's Dream.  This leads us to the conclusion that he was dumped.  The livestock inspector agrees with this assumption.  Sad, no animal deserves to be dumped.  The livestock inspector says to go ahead and offer him up to youth in 4H, or anyone who may want him.  If he cannot be rehomed, the livestock inspector will come pick him up.  But he doubts he will sell in the abandoned livestock auction.

Bucky Boy will likely be a sweet fellow when not trying to challenge our buck for his ladies.  Wethering will turn him in to a nice pet, or if we had been able to determine he could be registered, even a show goat.  His random markings would keep him from being too perfect, but other than that he has a nice face and conformation. (Though we all know that each judge sees an animal quite differently!)  For now, though, he is lonely without friends to hang out with.

Our friend, Auntie Sonia, seems to want to take Bucky Boy home.  She lives in the city, though, and I don't know the landlord will go for yet another animal in the menagerie at their house.  She sent me the attachment about a goat rescue in Montana.  Bucky Boy should be very glad to be here than to have waited on a ledge for two days like these precious girls!  The photos make quite an impression!

Bucky Boy talks to us when we are working nearby, and plays with his house.  I am going to announce that he is looking for a home at the 4H meeting next Tuesday.  I hope he will find a place where he can be happy and a member of the herd.  Take a look, let me know what you think.  The next time you see a lost animal, as hard as it is, try to help him find his way home.  Even if the journey takes a bit.  We are all gods creatures, after all.  I will let you know how this pans out.