Things I Learn While the Kids Are Away...

Right now, our elder child is away as a camp counselor for two months. She made it back here for 36 hours over the weekend, but really, she is gone for two months. Our younger child is responsible for most of the chickens, and one small group of the goats, but I am essentially taking over lots of responsibilities I used to share...

This had led to me learn a few things while she has been away...

1. My two goats really do poop more than all of the others put together. That wasn't an exaggeration. Lulu seems proud of that, but she is jealous of sharing me with the other goats while their caretaker is away,

2. The camouflage shade cloth makes the kidding pens look like a MASH unit. The goats all hoped it was real leaves, and had to try it. Then they tried it over and over again until I tied it WAY up to keep it out of their reach!

3. The boys really do knock their little house over as many times per day as you are willing to put it back up. She wasn't blowing me off when I asked her to pick it up.  Now, I believe they think it is funny since I fuss over them having the extra shade. Then when I go in to fix their messes, they dance and act neglected since their usual caretaker is away.

4. My geese really are as destructive as I thought. They are working extra hard to plow through the container garden. They trimmed the citrus trees, including some new trees that really didn't need it, ate three pots worth of mint- three times each- and the basil twice, not to mention a few other things!

5. Bailey's black Cochin hen has issues. At least she is finally letting the new little hens sleep on the same side of the house. But that little chickie has issues!  Very antisocial, that one.  New little ones are fine, not sure what to make of her, but fine.

6. Shadow gets lazy in the summer. She will sleep in from of the fan with the boys all day if allowed, then roll in the mud but still expect to come back in. Okay, that part really isn't new, but she used to get up and head outside with me at first light! At least she still takes guard duty seriously, I suppose.

What have you learned when you were required to go without your partner in crime?

Who's Ready For Summer Camp 2015?

Recently, a friend shared this awesome post and it made me so happy!  I encourage you to read it. http://wellfesto.com/2013/06/13/if-our-daily-lives-were-more-like-summer-camp/

This post is truly relatable to me. I absolutely support and agree with everything stated here. The bonds really do come quickly. The friendships are magic and every one of them is important, from the past to the future. Exercise is better at camp. No one would care how you sound when you sing. Eating as a group is a cool deal. Written letters are treasures. The warmth of the sun is a great feeling. Friendly competition is the most amazing form of competition. Being ourselves is the best thing we can do. Money shouldn’t disrupt the amazing moments. Making stuff in arts and crafts should be enjoyed. The stars in the sky are worth looking at. Warm fuzzies would be a common occurrence, and that would be joyous. Hugs should be given, warm and heartwarming. We’d live out the Raggers Creed.

 But I believe there’s more to it.

1. We’d get to know one another and trust one another quicker.
2. We would embrace emotional moments.
3. We would graciously include new people, new cultures, and new possibilities.
4. We wouldn’t dress to impress.
5. We would take each other into consideration at every turn.
6. We would become comfortable in our personality and quirks.
7. We would challenge each other to become better.
8. We would help each other get past our fears.
9. We would encourage open conversation.
10. Resolutions to interpersonal issues wouldn’t be drawn out, but quickly and constructively.
11. We’d show compassion constantly.
12. We’d encourage and support one another’s choices.
13. We’d encourage each person to speak up and be leaders.
14. Appearance wouldn’t matter, but our attitude and intent.
15. We would enjoy one another’s crazy laughter.
16. We would compliment others sincerely.
17. Random dancing wouldn’t be uncomfortable.
18. We would enjoy children’s stories.
19. We wouldn’t rely on technology to feel connected.
20. We would use pranks as a form of appreciation.

There are so many things camp does for us that the real world would be enhanced by introducing. Camp builds people up and supports who people plan to be.

Camp is my safe haven. Three summers ago, I wouldn't speak. I didn't have the trust and friendliness to open up and be part of my cabin. Throughout the week, I went from not speaking to anyone to speaking to one camper and one counselor. That summer, I made goals and got my first rag. Two summers ago, I came back and I had trouble talking to my cabin mates and two new counselors. Eventually, the discomfort became friendship. Those counselors became more like mentors and I trusted them. Making more goals and getting my second rag, I went home changed and all the beauty of camp made everything better. This last summer, I went from being the shy and antisocial camper to the one that was invited back as a Counselor in Training. Staying 6 weeks instead of 1, I became someone those counselors could make use of. I hope I made them proud. Camp saved me from many situations that could have unfolded just by being safe and encouraging. I went home impatient for summer to come again, and I'm still waiting to go back to grow some more.

Last spring, I would go to girls’ group with my church and sit under a table or behind a chair during our movie time and now, after camp, I speak with a newfound confidence and in comfort with the people around me. Camp is what took the shy and uncomfortable person I had been, and transformed me into someone with no reservation in being myself.

For me, camp will always be my home away from home. I think of my favorite people I met there, and I smile. I can’t wait to go back and experience each special thing all over again countless times. Camp has been my life saver. I think the opportunities presented by camp are the best to learn from.  Camp gives independence in an open and accepting environment that provides room to grow and mature while still keeping the childlike nature that is important.

What’s your camp moment?

Adventures in Home Repair- the Ceiling Fan Edition, part one...

Part of the fun of being a military wife is all of the fun things you learn to do on your own. And with your kids. All military wives know the same fun of any wife whose husband travels for work. You know, the cars where the alternator dies and all of the electrical goes out in the fast lane at the top of a hill at rush hour and you pray as you muscle it down the hill with a foot on the brake, hoping the other cars let you over so you can coast into the church parking lot at the bottom of the hill in the scary part of town? (Cue kind father in law to bail you out and bring a mechanic to the rescue... husband had barely crossed the state line when that happened!)

Yeah, that kind of fun. And I must note, my husband's deployments and TDYs, incessant as they were, never took him overseas. He almost did, but then they changed his orders. I know how lucky I am, but I still spend a good bit of time on my own, troubleshooting issues, hiring contractors when needed, and learning LOTS of new skills!

I have long been terrified by electrical work. It is on my list of classes to take, when the time arises (haha), but until then, I will learn a little at a time. Recently, a ceiling fan with a light, originally installed by a contractor (long story) literally fell out of the ceiling. Thankfully, no one was right under it, but it did sustain a couple broken light globes and a bent fan blade arm. 

I did what any goofy girl who no longer trusts contractors but wants it fixed would do...

I took pictures of the parts left behind, and stopped at the local Ace Hardware on the way home. While I really like Lowes for a number of things, when it comes to quirky how tos and random things you only run into in your part of town, the local small hardware store is a good first stop.

So I pulled out my not-so-smart phone and showed him what was left and where I thought it had failed,

which was this bracket you see below.

The man agreed with me that washes might be just the trick to getting the tiny screws to hold in the bracket. Then he explained how to hook up the wiring- white to white, black to black, and add the blue to the black bundle since it had a light on the fan, and leave the green as it was for the ground. That sounded easy enough, so I purchased washers and headed for home. Note to all of you for future reference- the washers actually needed to fit in the bracket- oops- so luckily we have a big stash of washers in the tool shed!

That afternoon, Bailey tried to hold the fan up for me to wire back together. We realized quickly that was just too awkward. So we took a bar stool, and stood it on the counter. We propped the fan on the stool, and the kids tried to help me by passing tools up when needed and making sure I didn't knock the fan down. 

That way, the wiring went pretty easily.

See? All hooked up, with the little things screwed on to hold the wires together properly.

The kids ended up having to help me shove the wired in while positioning the fan rod arm in the bracket. But then the housing went on fairly simply. And the big exciting part- it turned on! 

I decided to wait on getting new globes (and of course trying out the fan) until I figured out how to bend the arm back into place. I am still having trouble with that part. In fact, I stopped and looked at parts while getting paint at the big hardware store over the weekend. Turns out, the guy there thought I should give up and buy a new fan.

I am not ready to give up on it yet, gonna stop at ACE this week and ask about that part, and see if Wyatt can help me try again tonight, too.It is never as simple as it should be, but if we can figure this out, then Wyatt and I are going to put in a new fan switch in his. A little more intense on the electrical, but I found an online how-to, so you never know...

Christmas Day...

Once again, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Charlie and both children have been sick, so we ended up sticking with a quiet day at home.  I sure enjoyed being with them for the day, Charlie's only day off for Christmas.  Wyatt was the first up, and he and Shadow got us all going with their first round of fetch with her new toy.  Wyatt read through all the sections of the nativity calendar with me.

It is always fun hanging around with all the animals here. The livestock love extra attention, and Shadow loves quiet days with family. We got to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Special, as well as some actual Christmas movies. Funny thing about the commercials today, there were a number of the ones where they talk about abused animals. Those commercials really upset Shadow, it seems like she knows what they are saying, and she wants reassurance and to cuddle with us. Sometimes I think she wants to bring them all home like we do.  I couldn't blame her if she did.

Old man Vegas had his fur grow in rather funny after his last grooming.  The fur over his ears is rather long, and the same on the tops of his feet, so the kids have taken to calling him elf dog. 

All in all, days like today remind me how blessed we are here.  We always have plenty, and we are a strong family that sticks together. Life does remind us that we are far from infallible, but we get back up and are so fortunate!

Over the next week, we will spend time reflecting on the year that was and setting goals for the year to come.  I am still thankful that we get to learn and grow every day.

Love to all,

me

Hi Everyone, Sorry i have been missing a while...

I am sorry I disappeared for a bit there. I haven't had the words to share things lately.  Even though, I have had fun stories, new products, and we have things going on around the farm, I was absent with some important people in my life.

Then today, as I drove home from teaching, I was thinking about the friends and loved ones coming and going, and the many blessings in our lives, and began to think I might be ready to write today.  Then while I was doing chores before loading the car for the market, I heard this song, and I began to open up a bit. I don't know why, since this song really isn't much about what is going on in my life, but it has always touched me so perhaps that is all it was.

Here is the video for the song...

http://www.cmt.com/videos/dierks-bentley/701627/home.jhtml

To be completely honest, I don't know how much to tell. While I have often split several things off into other blogs, it seems to make more sense these days to be honest that life in balance is not something I have mastered, It is, instead, a work in progress, like many other aspects of our lives. And this morning, my students reminded me that somehow I should be remembering my role as an example for them and taking care of myself better (they caught me limping again).

I promised them that I understood, but that sometimes the balance goes off a bit, and it can be the act of bringing it back into balance which is more important in our long term wellness.  And, in fact, my husband has promised to take care of the farm and dinner tonight so that after the farmer's market I could teach my last class of the day and take time to practice yoga before the drive back to the farm, the home school grading would still be there!

My mom has been staying with us a bit.  She came to help my auntie, who was in a health crisis. In the end, the experts couldn't help with her inability to swallow or speak. I spent extra time with she and my mom. Last Wednesday, Bailey and I sat with Mom and laughed and told silly stories about auntie and sang songs.  Thursday morning, she went to be with God, her parents and her husband.  I hope she had a great dance with Uncle Mac on Friday, as we all watched cousin Ashley marry Michael, now a new cousin in the family.

Life is funny that way.  Ups and downs and twists and turns.  God has a plan for us all, even when we have a hard time letting him run the show.

Ashley's wedding was wonderful, and I was glad Daddy had flown in, too. Then on Saturday, we took eight chickens out to the poultry show. Since life was even crazier than expected, we ended up hanging out at the show to let the kids have fun with friends and participate in showmanship.  Bailey even earned reserve champion in her age division, and third place overall.  But more on that later, I will sit down and put in all the photos and plans for the chickens in a bit!

Have you ever sat in church and listened to the preacher launch into a sermon that seems tailor made for your life?  Well, that proceeded to happen on Sunday. The minister began to speak about life in conflict, and how to handle those you are conflicting with.  One of the tenets of coexisting was that you and the person you are in conflict with need to agree to live in peace.

I think that is the part that has been hardest.  For years, I have gone with the turn the other cheek theory, thinking if I tried to be kind and guard involvement with those folks who have worked in concert to harass my child, that they would eventually be kind. Or that we could somehow coexist.  Those people have consistently chosen to pretend to coexist, but have gone out of their way to be malicious and deceitful. I have had a lot of trouble with the ongoing anger that sits in my heart, something I don't like to hold on to. And when I see those who supposedly were to help my child, who were the only authority we could go to in order to prevent it from happening to someone else, when I see them holding those people who continue to try to hurt my child being held up with praise and helped to the top- I worry about what will happen to other youth, and what message that sends my children.

My daughter looked at me when she saw the rewards befalling these folks, and I told her that in the end, things will right themselves, and she will be better for being strong.  While it doesn't change the desire to protect other youth, my approach with her has been to encourage her to continue to volunteer her time, though not in the section of the organization that protects and commends abusive people, instead to volunteer in the section doing the work that she really believes in. I tell her regularly that we are the company we keep and we are seen in conjunction with those who we keep company with, and their missions, so hopefully that will help guide a path Hopefully. I wish I always felt convinced that I was balancing protection and the right thing.  Another of those aspects of life that doesn't come with an instruction manual.

Anyhow, I must admit that I am glad to be slowly getting things back on track this week.  We were basically treading water with home school for a bit there, just the basics and most of our energy going to family. But truthfully, that is what I had looked most forward to in home schooling- living by our own priorities, focusing on the academics and the extra time going to experiential learning and the things we really believe in.  So family was big, and we will be doing more academics as Christmas approaches that I had originally written in the plan, but that is okay.

But I do miss having my folks around. Wish they were closer- my sister and niece, too.  Our family keeps growing smaller.

Well, the minister called to check on us earlier, and I thanked him for the resources and recommendations he had given us. I told him they helped as we just hung in there together and put one foot in front of the other.  He seemed to understand just what I meant, and said that was what family was for.  Maybe that makes me normal for once, but I wouldn't expect it.

I know the sadness is for those of us behind, and there is always more to learn and do.  So I suppose that more than anything else, family is what I am thankful for as we move forward to the Thanksgiving holiday later this week.  We somehow manage to stick together and love each other through it.

Well, I am back, and working on balancing things back out, and over the next day or so, I will do my best to update you on all the animals and fun. Have a blessed holiday and enjoy your family, whether it has feathers, fur, or what have you.  Love to all.

Another Weekend in the Books...

For those of you who have been laughing alongside me, everyone is home, and settling back in...

Late Friday, Charlie and Wyatt rolled onto our property, and unloaded just enough so that Charlie could head in to town and pick things up for the duty he volunteered for- snack bar at the goat show. Originally when he volunteered, he expected to return on Tuesday, but for any of you who know my husband well... hunting season comes with lots of "surprises" and changing schedules!

Undeniably, though, Shadow Paws is SO HAPPY to have Wyatt home. They are so funny together!

Anyhow, the show was fun. Fortunately, folks put up with me asking them to verify which goat they are showing and the herd name multiple times, as I am terrified I am going to miss something and not get someone lined up when they are supposed to be.  Happily, the only ones missed were found before their classes!  I come home from these events not knowing how on Earth the show secretary/ organizer, Kate, can possibly be willing to manage all the paperwork required before the show and still show up with her own goats, not running for the hills by show day.  I don't mind lining folks up, and getting the submissions in to the association, but all that work she does!

Charlie had to make one last stop on the way to town, so other folks did pre-setup for the food booth, and then the food area turned into a man-cave of sorts, with other Dads pitching in to cook and help serve.

Wyatt came in and manned the raffle table.  After having done it last year, he doesn't need me at all.  He prides himself on pitching in without needing an adult, though when little ones come running through, I really believe he encourages them instead of calmly keeping them enjoying themselves constructively. I know that is just maturity, and that it will come with time and guidance, I will keep working on my patience!

The show was fun- a young man looked at me and told me it was the best day of his life. As Kate reminds us, they will have many best days, but I always hope the  youth will remember that this hobby of theirs is work- and lots of it- but at the root is it fun, with friendship and camaraderie.  Bailey did well in showmanship- 3rd of 8. This is only the second show with her new showmanship goat, who doesn't like to be crowded, and the youth just kept scooting up, so I think she was happy with that.  In a couple weeks will be a showmanship only show, hopefully she will continue to improve.

I still find there is a lot of anger in my heart for the people who made 4-H not fun for a while, and who continue to spread untruths, but as I sat in church this morning, I thought about how it frustrated me that I haven't softened my heart yet, and found that balance between standing up to people to demand the right, and practicing the compassion that I need to model for the kids and to not let those people change me. If you see me tripping over the juggling act, please be patient with me, but remind me to be the person I expect of me. It has been hard to practice forgiveness where people have hurt the children and not been held to account. But I know I will eventually be better for it.

After church, the children and I moved the guineas out to a pen where the Javas and Buttercups usually live. Those birds are temporarily living with the Buckeyes. I am hoping that it works for now so the guineas can establish their territory here, before any issues arise, because I am even more sure today that all of the Javas we raised have turned out tot be roosters!  Anybody need a Java rooster?

Wyatt and Charlie finished packaging up one of the two elk.  The other is still frozen, and they hope to finish it up tomorrow.  Bailey cleaned Glory's kidding pen again. No babies yet. A little more udder development, but based upon the breeding dates, we don't need to worry about them not arriving yet. Bailey will be keeping  close eye in between assignments this week!

Well, now the real work begins. Getting things put away, and getting the schooling back on track. I had planned for this couple weeks to be pretty light on school. After all these years with Charlie, I know to plan for crazy in hunting season, and he got to spend a lot of time on environmental science and orienteering with the kids while they were away.  I do think Wyatt's math books may have ended up in his grandfather's trailer, though, going to have to track those down in the morning!

Have a great week!  We will keep you posted about those babies, all the best to you all!

Phoenix Baby is On the Move...

Everybody loves a little ball of fuzz.  This is the little one hatched by the Phoenix mama in the big pen. At first, she was being really attentive and tremendously protective of her little one.  We occasionally caught her trying to divide her time between her little chick and the eggs she still had in the straw loft in the top of their hen house.

Then, last night, when we got home from poultry ans dog project meetings, we checked on the doe due to kid, fed everyone, and began our walk around.  When we got to the big pen, the mama and baby weren't in their usual spots, and my flashlight was dying (isn't that how it always works?) so Wyatt began helping me follow a quiet chirp. The mama had gone back up to the loft to sit on her eggs, the baby was alone on the floor in the corner.

I scooped her up and brought her into the house so Wyatt could finish a couple things, and she warmed up in my hands while I finished off in the baby wards.  Some girls just aren't meant to be mamas, the mama in this case really needed a better space for raising chicks, and she isn't tame enough to manage it.

Bailey took the little one out to the the juvenile area, and waited to see if she would do okay with the bantam Cochins and Silkies in there.  The little ones drew her in and the larger ones wrapped her with wings, and she settled in for the night.  We hoped for the best.

This morning, as I was rushing to work through my chores, I saw the baby was having trouble with the wire mesh cage floor. I hadn't thought about that, since she was raised on the dirt floor of the big pen. After checking on Glory, I handed Bailey a towel and the little one, she was going to evaluate her inside for a little bit.  Think good thoughts, every life is precious, we just hope she is able to integrate well into the group, since we won't have any more little babies for almost another month.

Such are the days for us livestock mamas, looking after the little ones and their mamas and friends.  FOr those other livestock mamas out there, and mamas in general, got any stories to share?

Citizenship for the Future

By now, you all know me and my oorah posts.  Well, here is another one.

Citizenship isn't something you do for class credit, or because you know people are looking, or even because it benefits someone who matters to you. It is doing the right thing, without being asked or told to, when needed, often with some or great inconvenience, because it is simply the right thing to do.

The other day, I heard about a little girl who stood up to a bully on a bus. What is right is right, what is wrong is wrong.  While I fully concede that life is not nearly that black and white, how we treat people, the intent and spirit of the treatment and interaction matters greatly.

So we decided that it was time to establish an award. I spoke with the little girl's Dad, who told me that she loved pink and purple, so the hair ties below were designed just for her. I made a couple extra because I liked the design so well, and those will go into the merchandise available, but the two below went in a box with a note to the little girl thanking her for being the kind of person who makes the world a better place, and one to the little girl's mama. As a parent of a child who was bullied, those actions matter.

I know folks often read me quoting Gandhi, and "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I am also in a position to recognize those who stand up to be that change, and I hope that somehow that helps the positive worldview contagious.

So here is the deal. Know someone we should recognize? Shoot me an email or message. Tell me about it, and we will figure out the best way to recognize them, be it award, or helping them in their endeavors to make the world a better place, or whatever is appropriate to the specific case. 

For tonight, great job to those parents, and to that very strong young lady.  All the best to you!

Simple Saturday

Well, we slept in until about 7am today.  As we finally got rolling, the boys quickly followed the chirping to the new baby in the incubator.  While I set up the brooder, Wyatt took the new little munchkin outside.  

The little one hollered and hollered all day, but no one else emerged from their eggs in the rather full incubator, so "she" is still by herself  in the brooder.  Poor thing! But she is getting attention from us until she has friends!

Sorry about the sideways photo here. Sometimes blogger gets the best of me. Shadow Paws actually cried for Wyatt while he was at football practice last night, so she didn't really want to share him with the little chick. Every time he went to work with her, she laid on the floor and gave them dirty looks. Poor baby! Not "her" fault! Goofy puppy!

This is the little one in the brooder. She was getting along okay, but Bailey and I kept looking at one leg and worrying, 

We think it is a little loose and not lining up right, so we splinted it. Now she is walking much more correctly, but we have to leave the corrective measures on until the muscles catch up.

We lost a day of schooling this week to football stuff, so after I made waffles, Wyatt was set to school work, Bailey to Chem experiments, and me to cleaning.  Charlie had me make out a shopping list and headed to town, and the post office to try to figure out what has now gone wrong with our mail. Looks like I have to take it on again Monday.

Charlie did some shopping, and in the end felt like bringing home special things for us- how sweet!

He brought us a new electric toothbrush, and the dogs new dog beds.

Shadow needed no convincing. She decided immediately it was hers, and got comfy.

Vegas took considerably more effort. He stood by them and demanded his old bed back, then laid on the floor and grunted.  Poor old boy! Charlie carefully helped him get on it at one point, but it didn't work.  Then tonight, after Wyatt took Shadow Paws to get in bed for the night (Spoiled puppy has her own pillows on Wyatt's bed), Vegas walked across both beds two or three times and decided Shadow had broken the one in well enough, then laid down to sleep.

Well, I am pretty beat. I don't have much to show for my day, to be honest. I made three meals, cleaned the fridge, a little laundry, taught math, helped the baby chicken, and cleaned the kitchen.  Hopefully I get more done tomorrow!!!  For now, though, good night!

Kids and Animals Mark the Passage of Time

Sitting at the park yesterday, working on math with Wyatt Clay when a coach came by and asked him about homework, I thought how funny it would be when children began asking him what school he attended and, for the first time, he learned to start saying, "I am home schooled."  I left the boys at the park, and headed home to manage the animals and do the watering.  Shadow had gotten to stay inside with her brother, Vegas, during the day. The only thing we found out of place was a large stuffed Shamu, and he still had his eyes (the first thing she remove when destroying a stuffed animal.) As the dogs and I headed out to feed and water and collect eggs, I thought about all of the things coming full circle, and how children and animals really do mark the passage of time.

I am definitely not eighteen anymore.This photo is several years old, I believe the second Halloween after Wyatt was born. He has always been so big, the in-home day care talked me into dressing him up as BamBam, Bailey was a flapper girl in one of her dress up dresses (she has often been silly and fun in such a simple way), and Charlie went all out in his leaf suit. I had an old gypsy outfit, and was very nervous dashing out in it, you can tell what part of me never sees the sun! Funny, Charlie was between TDYs that weekend. 

As moms, we often note that when something happened, the younger one was around so old, or like looking back to losing Callie Jo, our first family dog, January before the first county fair when Bailey joined 4-H, and Remington coming come while the club kids were preparing the animals for show.  

In a military family, we have extra things, like oh, no, we were in San Diego then while Daddy's unit was flying against their F-18s. Or, no, we went to that chocolate factory in Phoenix when Daddy was up there on deployment briefings and we went to visit.  When I first started hiking with the kids, we used to go to this place a little North of here, where there are petroglyphs on the rocks. Back then, Bailey didn't mind posing for pictures. It was before the bullies.

I look back at photos like this, and am reminded if part of why we chose to home school. In the balance of trying to deal with bullies, and life, and meet the constant expectations of others with life where we live, there was no time for hiking and family fun in the driving and craziness of live.  This was a component, along with the refusal of the school to deal with the bullying, in our decision to home school.  There are so many important things to learn in life, and a number of them are not taught while spending an hour a day practicing standardized testing to prepare for a test after the regular lessons.  Hands on experiments and trying out random thoughts, chasing dreams and building things from scratch cannot be ignored.  Now my hiking buddies are as tall as me!

Right after 9/11, when I had just begin working for the Tohono O'Odham reservation, this little dog was hit by a car. Charlie was away hunting, I didn't even know Wyatt was on the way yet.  I brought the puppy home, hoping to bring it back to health and find its kid.  Hopper Spark would be Wyatt's first best friend, getting him through long stretched of not speaking and withdrawing from the world during Charlie's deployments. We lost her right as Wyatt was turning ten last Summer.  Wyatt and I still talk about how special she was, and how she loved him unconditionally, never complained and was such a special element is him rejoining the world. 

On one of the many trips to San Diego, while Charlie was working and we would go to Sea World and help some around my aunt's house, she licked out this great place, with the history she knew I enjoyed teaching the kids- about explorers int he area who had traveled all the way around South America to make it there, and these neat little tide pools. She had once worked nearby in bunkers built into the sides of the hills. The kids loved the stories!  You wouldn't think they would remember from being that little, but Wyatt still brings it up sometimes, and Bailey mentioned it while studying WWII last year.

Fast forward a tad to when Bailey joined 4-H. This was one of her first goats, Vital. Vital used to sit in Charlie's lap, when he was in town for 4H shows.  Such a silly goat, and a great ambassador! He boy, Obediah, took over as lead buck this year. Talk about the passage of time!

Maybe not the best picture in the world! Anyhow, Wyatt always liked the bucks better than the does. Our bucks are cuddly, though you won't want to go anywhere in the clothing you were wearing when you cuddled them!  Initially, we had Huey and Steely, they came along in Bailey's second year of 4-H. I will get to Steely in a minute.  Huey is a beautiful black buck with a great personality. When shown, the most common thing for people to say about him in the line to show is how strangely sweet he is. He was so well conformed, and folks told us to go ahead and breed him as long as he wanted to.  Typically, once his belly was full, he would be interested in girls more than anything else.  This year, when Bailey put him in with his best girl, Glory, he went to see what was in her food bowl.  Bailey called me over from the garden area, and said, Mom I don't think this is going to happen. I think he is retiring.  I told her to give it an hour, and just rake the next pen over and watch.  Yup, he laid down and ignored Glory, until Glory went to the fence and complained to Bailey. Obediah, his son with Vital, took over as lead buck.  He was all to happy to, and funny thing is, he and the new guy, PowerStroke, spend most of their day calling to ladies from their fence.  They give Huey first shot at the food, and pretend to head but him and are so gentle with him but play hard with one another.  A far cry from the days of Huey's rough and tumble play with Steely and calling to the does from the show ring.

Steely, Wyatt's smiling buddy, is shown with him below in the monsoon sunset.  When we brought he and Huey home, there was another we also liked, named Mr Wiggins, but he was Steely's brother, so we wanted to keep different blood lines for the bucks in our small herd. After losing Steely and Bailey seeing PowerStroke show for a couple years, the son of Mr. Wiggins, Bailey bought PowerStroke this year to round out the breeding stock. So, not only has Obediah taken over as head buck, but Powerstroke, Steely's nephew, has come to Patriot's Dream as well.

This was Bailey at her first county fair.  The little girl to the back left, who Bailey met st fair this year, went to leadership camp with her a couple years back, and they are still friends now.

This past year was year number seven in 4-H for Bailey. Despite the ups and downs, she loves learning about her animals, and loves to help the younger ones. When she went to meetings this year, the older ones were asked to teach more, and help the younger new members learn.  Working with the other kids is one of her favorite things, and this Summer she got to be a camp counselor for her first time.

This was one of the first baby goats born here at Patriot's Dream.  I just showed Wyatt this photo, and asked if he remembered getting along this well with his sister!

Well before Wyatt could join 4-H, he began asking for chickens. We kept getting stuck in the poultry area of the petting zoo at functions, and he figured out he could teach children about them, and look after them, but never have to speak with the adult. (He doesn't care for crazy show parents, but then again...) He spent a year taking care of the dogs where all I had to do was check, and then as his birthday came around, he wanted to start looking for birds for his own flock.  This polish was Sgt Winger, his very first, who laid in his arms the whole drive home from the other side of town.  After Wyatt had his established flock, and the economy went south, friends of the family would find abandoned birds in their rentals, and call Wyatt, leading to him learning about quarantining and flock management.  Before long, the flock grew, and grew, and now his eggs are sought after at the farmers markets and by local customers who come directly to us. While the research is all over the place, this week we make the transition to non-soy, non-corn, non-GMO feed, since we finally have a source again!  Looking at this photo, I can see where the pens are now that was once empty and how different things are! Remington, on the left, learned to be a flock protector then.

Remington, who came home at eight weeks old, right before that first county fair, while Charlie was on his way back from that long assignment to the Border deployment up at Silverbell Army Air, learned to warm up cold babies who fell in water buckets, helped raise a bottle baby goat (remember Nathan from the sidelines when Bailey was on the basketball team?) and shared her home and bed dutifully, even when she didn't want to. Plume Snowflake, here, followed Remi around the lining room during Christmas after getting wet and coming in hte house, nestling up to Remi until she cuddled it.

Remdog was my buddy, who adored the older dogs she was raised with, and who we lost the Christmas before last, but when Hopper passed so soon after, We moved back to being a two dog family and Wyatt brought Shadow Paws home.  Here she is with Vegas, about six years ago.  How do I know this, because she was still skiny, not fully filled out, and look at Vegas' face.

This photo really shows the passage of time.  Old man Vegas has been with us fourteen year, but the animal control estimated him at seventeen to eighteen year old.  Shadow Paws dotes on him, and makes sure he always has food in his bowl, the door opened on his whim and someone to play with or help him chase lizards when he wants to.  Wow, those photos next to one another sure say a lot about the goofy buddy presently at my feet.  Wyatt snuck some arthritis happiness in a treat for him this morning, hoping he feels good as the storms rumble overhead.

Speaking, of Wyatt, you saw him as BamBam, you saw him with his first chicken, here he is with his d'Uccle hen, Millie, when they went to sing Christmas carols with the 4-H club at the elder care facility.

These juvenile chickens he was holding a few months back are some of this year's new layers.  That little Brahma in the middle may have been one of his champion heritage meat birds this year, too.  Those chickens are in the 9-11 pound range at this point! And then hens are all laying, most of them up to full size eggs. some with eggs in the incubator in our work for determining the best breeding stock moving forward.  That Millie, above has babies in another part of the county (don't tell her, though, she might want visitation!)

This photo was from Wyatt's first year in football, when they were lucky enough to play at half time in a scrimmage on the field of the Arizona Wildcats.

Here he is about a year ago, back to back and out-sizing his adult cousin, Jamie!

And, as we begin a new football season, here he is this morning working tire drills, with Shadow Paws in toe, doing extra training for this season.  I am adding obstacles to the obstacle course daily for us, and this tire is five feet tall.  Where did my baby boy go?

Well, I am just back in from checking on the Javas out back. They came home about nine weeks ago as tiny chicks, and I just switched them to big chicken food mixed with the baby food, in preparation for their move out to the Buttercup pen.  The cycle continues, as always.

Got any before and after photos to share? This would be a great place and time. Maybe the first day of Kindergarten alongside the first day this year? Or any of those photos and stories that show the passage of time.  Your thoughts and experiences are ALWAYS welcome!

Hugs to all,
Erin