It was a challenging week with Charlie and Bailey sick, right on the heels of Wyatt sick and me fighting of a cold.  With the stress of everything else, and almost obsessively watching the two does getting ready to kid, we went outside last night to catch chickens for Wyatt to take to the show today. 

Laughing hystrerically with Bailey and singing bathtub songs to the chickens, Wyatt looked over at me and said- Mama, I think I just want to go hunting and get away from the world tomorrow!  After getting all the finally dry animals back to their pens this morning, and Charlie and the kids out the door with fresh banana bread and my s'mores ingredients stash, I slept the morning away.  Oops!

So now I have fed the chickens, snuck the dogs and goats a little snack, and started on laundry and kitchen chores.  I am glad they are all stepping away from the crazy world, if only for two days, to reconnect together and with their close friends, Teddy and Tristan.  I hope all that range time and preparation helps Tristan get his trophy he wants and Bailey fulfill her goal of filling the freezer (Charlie missed his hunt due to duty orders, so she is our chance for the year).  Looking forward to seeing them all safely home.

Sore throat still lingering, but lots of chemistry and preparation to do for a craft and jewelry show tomorrow!

Marana Farm Plot Update

Between all of the doctor appointments, meetings, and school, teaching and random issues, it has been hard to work on the Marana Farm plot as much as I would like.  I was glad to have a solid few hours today to pull weeds, check status and prepare the next stage of planting.  I have a bit of infill planting to do next week, as the Spinach area didn't come up very well, but I also managed to get the water lines down so that I can prep for some bok choi!  Now to keep things on track...

The Circle of Life

It’s been a tough week around here.  Truthfully, everything in life comes with its ups and downs, and maybe I am less patient than I used to be.   Know I am less patient that I ought to be.  But really…

On top of the regular joys of people thinking my life is easy or handed to me because I am a military wife (funny one, really) we have finally made enough headway with the insurance that they are testing Bailey for the medical issues.  The boys at school got her quite scared of the blood draw.  The technician was absolutely wonderful, and explained exactly what she was doing and how it would have been different if she were drawing blood from one of her goats.  Wow!  But lots of appointments and waiting rooms keep us all on edge, especially when hens are sitting on eggs and does ar ready to kid and the dark comes earlier and earlier as winter approaches.

Wednesday night, we  got home, and I began to unload the car as the kids ran back to begin with the animals.  I was on my second armload when Bailey came back.  It wasn’t the- goat in labor look.  But it was the come help look.  One of Wyatt’s Silkies, the last white one who he has had for some time and is known for riding around on Huey’s horns, was down in the pen.  Not the cat this time, she was in seizures.  She led me back to find Wyatt in the bantam / show pen, crying and trying to calm her down.  She isn’t a young bird, she is one of the first he raised from a baby chick, and this breed is prone to neurological issues.  Bailey and I gathered our supplies, and Wyatt cooed at his little friend.  We went through the check and tried to comfort her, as Bailey mouthed to me over Wyatt’s head that it looked almost over.  We sat with Wyatt an let him cry, talking about his silly hen Plume Snowflake and that it was okay to cry.  This isn’t a factory farm, things are different here, and the animals are special.  And Plume was special, she would sneak out of her pen and into the buck pen to ride on Huey’s horns- one of the few chickens he allowed to do that.  She would sneak into the feed bucket and con Wyatt into bringing her up to the house, where she would con Remington into cuddling with her.  The first time she did it, Remington really wasn’t too sure about her, but Plume kept nudging closer to Remington’s spot until she won her over.

By this time, it was seven, and getting chilly.  We took care of little Plume and the things you have to do in these cases, and then got back to chores.  On the way in, Bailey held the flashlight so Wyatt could feed and water the hen that decided to sit in egg in the box next to the greenhouse.  Bailey and I traded out, since I wanted to check the eggs.  As Wyatt picked up the mama hen, two babies lay peeping at us!  And then another was under her wing.  Three new lives to join the family.  Three new little sets of opportunity and promise.  Exciting, really.  And exhausting, too.   Reminding us all of the circle of life and our place in it.

 Wyatt fell asleep on his homework.  It took a lot to maneuver him up the ladder to the bunk bed, but he made it.  And he woke this morning sick.  So he went to grandma’s house, Bailey and I went to town.  Now Miss Rose is trying to go into labor under the beautiful moon.  We shall see... 

I wish you…

As the mother of a freshman daughter and fourth grade son, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to gently lead them while allowing them to find their way in this life.  That seems to be my big focus in life balance lately.  Some days for Bailey, some days for Wyatt.  The boys are intermixed with the girls all the time now at school, and many have been pairing off.  Bailey has told the potential boyfriends thus far that she just doesn’t have time right now, with school and 4H and so much on her plate, but I figure it is only a matter of time, I don’t get to keep her from growing up.

All I ever really wanted was to be worth it.  Worth the extra time to sit with and share hopes and dreams, worth time lingering after lunch or dinner or school really listening to what I had to say, worth staying awake to share secrets with after homework or work was over.  Worth holding hands and opening doors for, the little things that make you feel safe and loved.

Now, as I look at Bailey, I hope she will hold out for the little things, the things that show she matters.  I hope she won’t rush into anything just because she doesn’t want to be alone, and know how to say with manners and without hurting anyone’s feelings if she really doesn’t want to be more than good friends.  I hope she will maintain her sense of self, and her friendships, and learn how to be herself while with and apart from others.

I know so far, she is weaving her way through and watching her friends experiment with changing for boys and trying to learn to support friends who are forgetting to keep their friends or who are walking on others to climb socially.  I try to hear her out and remind her to be someone she can be proud of in the long run.  But I remember High School.  I know the times are rocky, and that it is art of the learning curve. And I know all Mamas worry, it is part of the job with the hours and heartache we naturally give it.  But I love my goofballs, like most every other Mama, and I wish for her to find her way through the trials and turbulence to the person she will become with as little hurt as necessary and lifting up others with her as she goes.  And I wish her the little things that will remind her how truly special he really is.

Arts and Culture and Happiness

I was reading an article earlier regarding self reported health and happiness which seems to be greater in those who are connected with the arts.  These folks don’t even need to be artists themselves, similar increases in reported levels of happiness occur in those who go to the symphony, galleries, theater or ballet as those who engage in performing or creating the art themselves.

Myself, I really value the connectedness and spiritual lift I get when I work in the workshop or take the time to dance.  My daughter and I were discussing how much gentler and more relaxed my son becomes when he gets to paint and color and enjoy his animals.  She likes to write and draw, and loves her Musical Theatre class at school.

I regularly tell my students that I am a huge proponent of taking one class for you each semester, and do my best to structure time for myself to practice and work on my art.  Growing up, I was a ballerina.  Outside of the dancing I did, the shows and the rest, Dad made the time to take us to the theatre, musicals, Radio City Holiday show, the Nutcracker and more.  It was more than a chance to experience the arts, also a chance to dream and to be a part of the story being right there where it was happening.  I used to take Bailey to the Nutcracker each year.   This year, that tradition needs to return.  Anyone care to join us?

Marana Farm Plot finally planted...

The progress of the Marana farm plot over my day of work on Monday, 24 October!

The two photos above are the plot when I arrived Monday morning.  When I began over a month ago, this was solid bermuda grass.  I had really underestimated how hard that would be to deal with!  Big lesson learned!

This is the plot after planting.  I needed larger stakes than I usually use at home in the gardens and greenhouse, the rows are longers and I cannot be there every day.

Five types of lettuce went in, baby romaine, spinach, black seeded, and more.  Really looking forward to seeing the germination in them side by side, and watching how it all does!  

Soap Challenge UPDATE

Hello Everyone!Wow this soap challenge is sure proving to be fun!  Lots of great soap going out, I cannot wait until the posts start popping up with thoughts on the recipes and scents!  Following is an updated list of scents/ styles available presently...

Lavender
Goat's Milk Chamomile
CocoMango
Coconut Lime
Strawberries and Champagne
Vanilla
Orange Dreamscicle
Shea Butter Lilac
Tangerine Glycerine (certain allergies do better with glycerine based soaps)
Holiday Spice
Coffee with Orange Clove and Cinnamon (sloughing bar,not for you face =) )
Peach
Peach-Cinnamon
Goat's Milk Lavender

Coming later this week- Jasmine (debating goat milk in this one)
and Goat's milk peppermint... or honeysuckle... or irish rose...  oh, goodness!

more to come, if you have a special request, let me know...

So how do you take me up on the challenge?  Either post tot he facebook link of the this blog post, or to his blog, as to whih you would like to try for your challenge soap.  Then message or email me as to where to send it.