Where Did the Weekend Go?

I think these photos were left over from Saturday. I was really enjoying the sunset while the kids and I were working on our special pen project and watering and doing evening chores.

I was also really enjoying the way the last rays of sun were extending further into the sky with each picture.

We didn't get much finished, but did make a little progress.

Okay, this one is likely my favorite shot of them...

Or maybe this one...

Charlie and Wyatt were supposed to be putting things away when it got too late to work. Then they talked me into trying on this hunting vest and Wyatt started messing around making funny horns with the cow horns we have been threatening to affix to Bailey's truck.

Okay, here is the vest. How much could I lose in all of those pockets?

I was working on putting some things away and the box from some leftover fabric had disintegrated. As a temporary patch, I used a big old ammo can.  It got me thinking, I could hide a lot of craft supplies in ammo cans and Charlie might not notice it was even there... 

The sunsets really are amazing out here. For those who accuse me of ADHD behavior, I don't know where you are getting it from...

On Sunday, we made a few stops on the way home from church. One was Bookman's, where Wyatt found a couple books. We also picked up a soaker hose. That project will be coming along later this week But while we were at Bookman's, we found a pigeon that is really fancy and doesn't require any feed. We thought it was perfect for a new 4-H project, but apparently it doesn't meet the breed standard.  Picky, picky...

We also stopped for tortillas. Wyatt was really enjoying the architecture a the El Rio bakery.

Once we finally got home and got things rolling, we did finish the main structure and roof of the special pen project. This will hold for a week or so while we select the right primer, but it is almost ready! In fact, the chickens moved in, and seem to like it for now. I look forward to not only checking this project off the list once and for all, but also sharing the photos of the final project. The kids have something fun planned for the next stage!

This is the hole in the kids' bathroom wall. The towel racks just don't do well in there. The kids have finally decided what to try next, and they think they like their Grandma's idea of going to well secured hooks. That being decided, Wyatt is learning to patch the wall. When all is said and done, I will share a separate post with photos of the learning process on this one!

Charlie is going to exchange some wood tomorrow, and we should get back on task with the doe barn project when it comes home. Because of that, all of the walls are not yet complete. We have had some extra bracing at the edges of the wood panels, and Shine has taken advantage of them to go visit the pens and come back tot he house. What a spoiled little guy! So Bailey got you all a couple videos to enjoy!

He is sure enjoying having the best of both worlds- the companionship of the goats, but the great house like alongside the dog and kids!

Well, that is not to say that we didn't take time to appreciate the reasons why we are free to be as silly and independent as we are.  We know all too well that we are the lucky ones. As a military family, we are blessed to be together and to have each other to drive crazy!  Our family has been military in nearly every generation since the war for independence, so our military tradition is a proud one, spanning several branches of service.

Well, we finished off the weekend with a much appreciated family dinner of elk round steak, roadkill potatoes and melon. I have also been trying hard to reorganize the house completely, so Charlie and the kids brought this into the house temporarily for me to work with along the way this summer.

As well as it will keep a lot of things organized, it is rather big, so hopefully I will be ready for it to move out soon.

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Hug a veteran, love your family, and enjoy the coming week for all of the promise that it is. Love to all.

me

Our first fodder feeding...

This morning, we fed fodder with the morning feeding. We used the sunflower seed sprouts that I had been working on sprouting. Since the kids and I each have certain pens we work with, and there were eight littler boxes ready to go out, we divvied them up- 2 for the big pen, two for the A pen, one for each the grow put pen, the Brahmas and the Buckeyes, and one between the two little bantam/ show pens.

Here is Wyatt showing off one of the boxes whose lid we could not keep on...

This is the root system coming out the bottom...

The tops of the stacks...

Some of the ladies in the Big Pen checking out the treats...

One of the Buckeye hens...

Some of the friends checking out the sprouts together. 

I am really looking forward to seeing how this plays out- one day at a time. So far nowhere near enough to offset too much of the feed, but fresh food for a portion of it anyway!

The Cool Upcycled Camo Purse Project

For those of you who follow the Patriot's Dream Farm on Facebook, you heard all about the number of needles I broke along the way with this project. Funny, I hadn't broken a needle in 17 years of having the machine, then I broke four in as many months (not just this project, the chicken purse one too!)  In the case of this project, apparently the notion of all purpose needles doesn't really mean all purpose-  should have gone with the denim ones!

Anyhow, I have this thing about upcycling. Things which are perfectly useful but whose use has- for some reason- become obsolete or changed should be passed along for someone who can use them or should be modified for further use instead of lying waste in landfills or the like.

Over the last few years, the Air Force changes to new digitized camouflage BDUs. This meant that Charlie's perfectly good, in some case new and as of yet unworn uniforms were being mothballed.  The ones of appropriate size were held for the kids for hunting. Still, I figured that I would have some projects come along, and even had a few in mind. After all, the kids love camouflage, and this material was built for wear.

Then, I was trying to think of something neat for my camo wearing, soccer playing niece. I found a cute Christian t-shirt in the brand she likes, similar to one I found for my daughter. But grey, not camo.  And some other fun things. And when I wandered into one of her favorite stores that has her size of clothes, I saw lots of camouflage, as well as olive green.  Standing there, I came up with an idea...

And a project was born.

I asked Charlie to pull out a set.  It took a little, but he obliged. Then I got to cutting, chopping sewing...

This is the back side if the the finished project...

a camouflage purse!

a HUGE thank you to my Dad for the photos! I completely got sidetracked when I went to get camera batteries out, and the photos never happened before I sent the box off.

This is the front. I added the red, white and blue charms because she loves her peace signs!

For those of you who, like me, have ironed your share of these, you will recognize where the pieces came from, it is a little fun! And there are sure more pockets on the inside.

I thought that by the time I added the gussets that gave the purse depth to stand up, the the sizing would be good, but it turned out a little BIG for my petite niece, I will have to take that into account in future versions for other folks.

Will I do it again? Sure! I think my daughter my need one here soon! But each will be different- by the person I make it for. For that one, I think I could see some of the patched from her mom;s police owrk added on the pockets if she chooses, will be fun to see what she does with it. I sure hope she likes it =).

What have you done to upcycle camo and old clothes and items?

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

Today calls for a little reflection, and a dream for the future...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KwEuNapzt0&list=PLD7019FD242C5F51D

This might seem like an odd song choice for this post. Read on.

12 years ago today, the towers were attacked. I don't think about that once each year, it is a part of our daily life. That day, my husband was away on his annual elk hunt with his buddies. We didn't know what was truly behind the attacks at first, so the unit told the boys to finish their hunt, no one knew if or when they would get a chance to do it again, once they knew who had carried out the attacks.

We didn't know it, but Wyatt was already on his way into this world.

Charlie spent much of the next eleven years travelling, in support of the conflicts or the border mission, or whatever. We have been through lots if ups and downs, a bizarre economy, crazy bullying of our daughter at the hands of youth and adults who worked together to carry it out, but in the end acted with impunity, and learning to take charge of the children's education and stand up for what we believe in.

This afternoon I read a post from a friend on Facebook whose daughter had stepped in to stop some bullies on a school bus. What better way to create a better world than to stand up for what is right in simple evryday life.

My dream... that we raise our children to be leaders who know how to stand up for those who cannot, but without being pushed around themselves.  I hope that when we pass this world on to our children, that our world will have the opportunity to be still filled with promise and possibility, that they will take the lead  in the traditional prayer that recognizes that all our neighbors are a part of us. That life is a circle, where whatever someone does to someone else, they do to themselves.

There are good people, and scary unkind ones, in all walks of life. I dream that on a day like today, the good can lay down the expectations of what neighbors should be, and to be those people themselves.

Whether you believe in the same things as him or not, to essentially understand and to live by the commandment to "love one another", to also" Be the Change you wish to see in the world."

Late at night... on the farm

I was up last night, coughing and listening to the noises.  This came to mind, so I decided to share...


Late at night,
You lie awake, listening to the roosters, to the goats,
To all the animals talking back and forth.sometimes going outside to check on them
Over and over.

Late at night,
Every sound near the incubator sounds like babies hatching,
Every dog outside sounds like
Coyotes coming to take the animals you are devoted to.

Late at night,
Every cough down the hall brings you to your feet to check,
The little one's puppy nestling closer,
The big one pulls more blankets to her chin.

Late at night,
Every movement I make leads the old dog to wander the halls,
Not settling in
Unless he can see me.

Late at night,
You redesign pens and think about who needs what,
You wonder if you could possibly
Do enough for your animals, children, home.
-me

Stripes

Stripes.  These can refer to zebras, who you are on the outside, who you are on the inside showing for the world to see, a prison uniform, or much more.

As you can see by the photo below, today I am referring to military rank insignia.

In the military, rank is earned by a number of different things.  Time in grade, training, evaluations by superiors, positive contributions to the unit and the mission.  But there are other factors at hand, as well.  Things such as how many other members of your work area there are, and how many of each rank a given work area is permitted to have.
Anyhow, Charlie had been a Tech Sergeant for a very long time.  This past year, after many years with A LOT of travelling, Charlie decided to apply to switch to a new job, as a crew chief.  He got two job offers with different groups at the same unit, and was excited to try something new.

One of the bonuses of changing- a larger pool of people in the job description, so he wouldn't travel nearly as often!  I know it is part of the job, but goodness it has been a long run of continuous travel, and he and Wyatt had talked every year about Charlie helping coach football.  One little downside, Charlie would have to give up a stripe.  Well, he has never been one to be too concerned about rank and titles, more about doing a good job/

Charlie has enjoyed his new adventure, and it seems that it is going well, because his supervisor recently called him in, did a performance evaluation, and put him in to board for the rank he gave up.  When Charlie was home sick earlier this week, he boss called, and said he wanted to be the first to congratulate him on placing so highly in the boards.

Yay!  So noce to know you are valued, right?  And I am glad to know that he is planning to take those uniforms in to change the rank back to the E-6- to the same place that sewed his name badge upside down. They can fix that othe little detail along the way- and I can skip messing with badges!

Well, congrats, Charlie!  Well deserved.  Now before you get a big head, can we talk about the to-do list around here?

Perseverance-

Or- Show Up, and Try

This time of year, I spend a lot of time telling my students that if you keep showing up and trying, you will get better. (Or stronger, faster, more agile-whatever it is you are training for.)  I often find myself saying, too, that of the students who look back in three months and have not met their goals, the single most common thing stated as what they would do differently next time is (drum roll, please...): showing up more.

So what does this have to do with life, or the peewee football photos on this page, you ask?  

Pretty much everything.

Life comes with its wins, like the kids below experienced, yesterday.  Some are easy.  But sometimes they only look that way from the outside.

These boys came out fighting yesterday.  They scored quickly- Sunshine, then Tank, recovering their own kickoff, even.   They ended up winning 36-0.  But what might not be visible to the casual observer are other aspects of this win.  Like number 54, in the middle was playing through an upset stomach, and one of the Quarterbacks was just back from a concussion in last week's game.  Or the fact that they haven't won in well over a year.  At least.

Just as big a win for my young nose-guard who was fighting illness on the field, was the fact that it was a win which came as the first time his dad got to coach from beside him on the sidelines, instead of from afar around his military schedule.

That part of us that helps us keep getting up in the morning, like that underlying fight of my friends and family members who are fighting or living with cancer- that perseverance- not only gets you to the win or the next day, but it gets you the little things.

In yoga, there are some postures, or asanas, which help build physical strengths, or also those that build strength inside- from trust to perseverance.  Holding a posture that is hard, or a little scary, that helps build perseverance. 

 That same perseverance is a quality that will help you have a little more get up anyway when life keeps trying to knock you down.  Sometimes we need a little help to keep getting up, and sometimes we need to helps others.  But by practicing perseverance, and taking on new challenges in life, from a new sport to a new class or hobby, will give you a reason to get up anyway.  After all- there was that one time when you won.  It can and will happen again.

There's my thought for your Sunday. Hugs to you all. And find something to tackle this week, or helps someone else take on life.  It will build you both.

Floating Downstream

This morning, we had some lakefront property on our hands!  It was still raining when we left for town, and much of the property had water.

It took a bit to figure out that we could safely pass the wash going out to Sandario.  But in the end, we got in to town for school and work, visited Auntie and made the feed run.  As dinner was almost ready, I stepped outside to check the rain gauge.  Another inch!  

If I wasn't already motivated to finish up the rain collection upgrade, I would be after the last week.  Two inches in a week, and the barrels were full well before this round.  I am really looking forward to that upgrade!

Well, tomorrow morning is a long drive for football.  The first game to count of the season, with Wyatt having been sick this week, the coach demoted him to being a sub.  But Wyatt says he isn't worried, he will be there for his team.  Then he reminded me a few of the boys don't get back up very often when they get hit, and he will see enough play time for the cough he still has lingering.  I just wish Charlie didn't have to work, and would be on the field with him!

Well, the bell on the dryer is calling my name!  You all have a great night!  Hugs to all =)

Memorial Day... My thoughts for today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyDboZZd6nY

So, most folks who have spent much time with me know that I am not usually the one to ask to sing the national anthem.  I would be too busy fighting the tears to get the notes right.  Remember that upbeat Brooks and Dunn song, Only In America?  The folks I used to train with in a gym back when Bailey was a baby used to put it on loud just to mess with me.  I am not usually an overly dramatic person, just for the really special moments in life, like watching Wyatt and those nice boys from Tierra Homesteaders pass through a record mark at the county fair auction this year, or feeling like we finally survived this year and Bailey still standing after the intense bullying from adults and youth alike.

But patriotic songs, they tug at my heartstrings. Big time.  All the time.

My husband is military, but that isn't where it began.  My Dad, and my husband's Dad, both served in the Navy in Vietnam.  But it is more than that.  My Grandfather and Great Uncle, they served.  My grandfather lied about his age to join the Army at the end of WW2, he ended up in the Army Air Corps, eventually the Air Force, serving in Korea.  If you look in the family archives, our family has served this nation in every generation since the War for Independence.

I had always been taught the reverence that stands due to the flag, what it means, and what the costs of our freedom entail.  I have walked the fields of Gettysburg, the old preserved battlefields of the Revolution, the Civil War, seen the bullets remaining at Pearl Harbor.  We were not taught to hate, as I hear them say some children are, but we were taught to believe and to stand.  I had grown up thinking I would fly fighter jets, and would be the one to defend our country, but in the end I am the one raising the children, while he does the military work, rarely anything that resembles the glory we think of in our youth.  Just the day to day.  And I do this in a time where women can serve, and we see the service of men, women, service animals, and the families back home.

We think about this at Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day.  And we try to live the thanks year round.  And sometimes these songs come out of the clear blue and remind us of how lucky we are, and all that we have, thanks to amazing people who did their job with valor and honor and strength, as we would hope we could do in their place, if called upon.  We run the flag up the mast, then lower it slowly for today, hand under hand, giving thanks along the way.  Hope you like the song.  Happy Memorial Day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyDboZZd6nY

Month of the Military Child, Part Three

Okay, so I was really planning to share a few photos each day.  But the time running back and forth from the farm to the county fair has made things a bit challenging in that regards.

So here are a few more of what my military kids do....  They shoot archery...

They take chickens and goats to local school and help teach about animals and farming...

They use Phoenix chicken feathers to go punk for fun...

They load wagons full of poultry to weigh them systematically for their projects.  Funny, the chickens line up for attention from him!

They name little chickens Trooper after the "camo" feathers they have, then win showmanship ribbons with them...

There is always the outgrowing grandma part, too...

They take advantage of learning opportunities to improve themselves AND the things they believe in...

They PLAY.  They find ways to make every day fun, from walking Grandma's dog to training time.

Military kids aren't different from other kids, except that they may move more, be required to help at home more in a full family regularly missing a parent, or worry more, stand up for siblings while they all miss someone important at birthdays and school events, and more.  Give them some time and understanding.  They are giving you something very important- a share of their parent.  Enjoy your night!  I think I have some more fun photos for tomorrow!

Month of the Military Child- Part 2

So I got off task (surprising, right?) and didn't post last night.  But here is more on what it means to be a military child... in our house anyway...

Wyatt reminds us that no matter what the kids at school say about his Daddy, his Hopper always loves him...

Bailey and Wyatt love taking baby goats on visits to schools and, in the case f this photo, their auntie's assisted living facility.  Auntie thinks kidding season is about bringing her babies goats to cuddle!

When we can squeeze it in around the crazy commute, we go to Operation Military Kids events.  In this one, Wyatt was at the 4H High Ropes Course.  Bailey went too, she would like to be able to volunteer at these soon...

Being small business owners and small farmers, we like events that showcase history and local groups.  We went to downtown Saturday night last summer, and also to the King Tut exhibit.  Great night of local artisans and cool exhibits that spark the imagination!

We got hold of this antique incubator, and tried hard to make it work.  We failed to properly control the temperature but it was still fun!

Here is Wyatt at an obstacle course with Bailey's pygmy buck, Obediah.  Wyatt loves the bucks, and joins in whenever he can play with them, Bailey was somewhere with Nathan at the same event.

They do chores- or sometimes avoid them.  Wyatt was supposed to be cleaning chicken pens....

Both children were advanced to the regional science fair competition this year.  These military kids also love science, and not just as it relates to their Daddy's job.  Anybody recognize the researcher they are posing with here when they took their projects in?

Yep, all children are different, and the same all at once.  They want to be loved and accepted for who they are, and given just enough room to grow and explore.  More to come!  And don't forget to hug a military child.  It is true that they serve, too, though it isn't all they do!