Another day, another bit of vortex chaos.
Good news for everyone, the young lad is off to Vermont for a few days. That will relieve us of his teenage mood. I am sure we are luckier than most, he is not terrible yet, then again he is only 13 and we have a way to go. Since his sister fractured her nose and neck, my son has had to cover for her. He was at the route of the accident so a lesson learned is long lived in payment. He does need some time off since he really didn't realize just how helpful his sister is.
My daughter is consistent as being her angel self but is starting to get more active. A relief and a curse at the same time. She wants to be more active and I know she is feeling better but I don't want her to loose ground on her healing process.
Her neck is stiff and sore to move, "then don't do that". She is having fun being the water girl and Mom's all around right hand at this point. Reminding me of all I am forgetting to do. Yes I am finding it difficult to remember all that needs to be done:
Coffee, no breakfast,
Morning animals care-2.5-3 hours
Up to the roof 4-6 hours
Hit the ground for lunch, yes I have to make it,
Hey make dinner before you go back up,
Onto the roof for another 4 hrs,
Plate out dinner, grab a tootsie pop,
Evening animal care 2.5 -3 hours
In between all that get the bills paid, laundry, keep the troops entertained and coordinate farm business, keep up with family and friends via phone, and finally just pass out.
Shower, you bet. Stinky is not my middle name.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
It's time
Well the 4-H expo was tremendous fun. I felt it would be the last fair of the season since I am so harried between doing the regular farm duties as well as helping with the roof. My husband has become fearful of heights which makes me the point or edge girl. Doesn't bother me but it makes for a long day between unloading hay wagons that weren't expected between rain drops, getting animals and children packed up to bring to the fair, keeping the house and bills in order, there isn't even enough time to breathe.
I must confess that the group we go to the fairs with has seen fit not to be bothered by my children hanging around with them. It is very kind and I still feel I am taking advantage of the whole situation. I have been told repeatedly that the children are not a bother and it entertains their children also but I still feel bad. I must say that my son is emerging from his cocoon and is participating more. Maybe it is because I am away that he is taking control over his world. I expected him to show some autonomy and it is finally here. He worked really hard on his 4-H project and the ribbon he was awarded was better than any A he could have gotten from school. I am very proud of both of my children.
My daughter deserves a round of applause since she participated with a fractured nose and neck, wearing and uncomfortable plastic brace. What a trooper.
A huge thank you to all involved for keeping an eye on the two of them. They truly enjoyed themselves.
Now off to bed before I pass out......
I must confess that the group we go to the fairs with has seen fit not to be bothered by my children hanging around with them. It is very kind and I still feel I am taking advantage of the whole situation. I have been told repeatedly that the children are not a bother and it entertains their children also but I still feel bad. I must say that my son is emerging from his cocoon and is participating more. Maybe it is because I am away that he is taking control over his world. I expected him to show some autonomy and it is finally here. He worked really hard on his 4-H project and the ribbon he was awarded was better than any A he could have gotten from school. I am very proud of both of my children.
My daughter deserves a round of applause since she participated with a fractured nose and neck, wearing and uncomfortable plastic brace. What a trooper.
A huge thank you to all involved for keeping an eye on the two of them. They truly enjoyed themselves.
Now off to bed before I pass out......
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Nap Time
Oh the joy of a simple nap. I usually take power naps that last from 10 min. to about a half hour. Yesterday was no exception. I thought I would sleep for at least an hour but 15 min. in I awoke refreshed and ready to continue my day.
What I really need to do is get into bed before midnight every night and it would probably work wonders for me. I am always trying to do just one more thing every day and I seem to be getting less and less sleep. So now my mantra will be put off for tomorrow what I should have done today.
I am looking forward to nap time today.......if the phone doesn't ring or if the kids stay away from me or if the dogs don't start barking at the wind........
What I really need to do is get into bed before midnight every night and it would probably work wonders for me. I am always trying to do just one more thing every day and I seem to be getting less and less sleep. So now my mantra will be put off for tomorrow what I should have done today.
I am looking forward to nap time today.......if the phone doesn't ring or if the kids stay away from me or if the dogs don't start barking at the wind........
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Great Goats
Well we have started the agricultural fair season. Since our 4-H group is so large I figured that I would bring plenty of goats to let everyone have a chance to show one if they wanted to. The 4-H Expo is July 25-27 and it would be good for them to practice their moves from last year.
Most of the children got to participate at least once, with some twice. Great fun was had by all and both the goats and myself are tired. Oh and they all did very well to boot.
As I hurdled over the cliff edge by doing two goat shows on consecutive days I am still feeling a bit tired. The goat pens are also very quiet and docile. I'm sure today will be different since the goats didn't have to get grain and drop children to activities all day. Today isn't looking any better but I will demand a nap today.
My husband will start the roof next week. 60 square will take some time since the old needs to come off and general maintenance and repairs will happen at the same time. He will be off "work" for several weeks so my work load hasn't gotten any better. At least we will have a dry place to hang our hat this very cold winter (forgot about the cold since it's been in the 80's and 90's with the dew point well in the seventies it has been like a tropical rain forest!)
The garden grows very well with tomatoes set followed by squashes and peppers. We have harvested some peas and how quickly you munch as you pick. The raspberries are ripe as well as the gooseberries and currents. We harvested cherries weeks ago.
A friend or fellow cliff diver extracted "some" honey.....yeah 45 lbs worth. Maybe next year for me. I stole a frame or two and the children and Dave drank through it. I did sneak some off so I could savor a stash and have some on hand for colds this winter. I am such a little ant.......
Most of the children got to participate at least once, with some twice. Great fun was had by all and both the goats and myself are tired. Oh and they all did very well to boot.
As I hurdled over the cliff edge by doing two goat shows on consecutive days I am still feeling a bit tired. The goat pens are also very quiet and docile. I'm sure today will be different since the goats didn't have to get grain and drop children to activities all day. Today isn't looking any better but I will demand a nap today.
My husband will start the roof next week. 60 square will take some time since the old needs to come off and general maintenance and repairs will happen at the same time. He will be off "work" for several weeks so my work load hasn't gotten any better. At least we will have a dry place to hang our hat this very cold winter (forgot about the cold since it's been in the 80's and 90's with the dew point well in the seventies it has been like a tropical rain forest!)
The garden grows very well with tomatoes set followed by squashes and peppers. We have harvested some peas and how quickly you munch as you pick. The raspberries are ripe as well as the gooseberries and currents. We harvested cherries weeks ago.
A friend or fellow cliff diver extracted "some" honey.....yeah 45 lbs worth. Maybe next year for me. I stole a frame or two and the children and Dave drank through it. I did sneak some off so I could savor a stash and have some on hand for colds this winter. I am such a little ant.......
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Jever Wonder......
What I do when I miss posting for a long time?
I spend my time answering replies to my postings of my products on various pages.
There are a few different types of people who want information.
There are those who really want to buy product, those who are just seeking information to see what they should grow on their farms, those who are looking at my marketing tools, some who are just looking to make on line friends.
I was disturbed today when one of the tire/information seekers said they were going with a different farm due to the fact I was not forthcoming with information. The only question they asked what what breed of beef we sold. I answered the dairy crosses exactly and no more. How much time do they think I have. Ask specific questions, I give the answer, or call the phone number on the add or in the reply.
What? You think I wasn't going to complain about something today?
Come to find out the person was another farm. Oh surprise, surprise. I don't have time for that. I am marketing the beef for a friend and now I know why he doesn't want to do it. I think my price will go up.
So we are all fine here and the garden is growing so well. I am having trouble with the seeds as some bug thing is eating them before they get big enough to transplant.
I will use another technique and start them in a broad flat and move on.
Message you later.......
I spend my time answering replies to my postings of my products on various pages.
There are a few different types of people who want information.
There are those who really want to buy product, those who are just seeking information to see what they should grow on their farms, those who are looking at my marketing tools, some who are just looking to make on line friends.
I was disturbed today when one of the tire/information seekers said they were going with a different farm due to the fact I was not forthcoming with information. The only question they asked what what breed of beef we sold. I answered the dairy crosses exactly and no more. How much time do they think I have. Ask specific questions, I give the answer, or call the phone number on the add or in the reply.
What? You think I wasn't going to complain about something today?
Come to find out the person was another farm. Oh surprise, surprise. I don't have time for that. I am marketing the beef for a friend and now I know why he doesn't want to do it. I think my price will go up.
So we are all fine here and the garden is growing so well. I am having trouble with the seeds as some bug thing is eating them before they get big enough to transplant.
I will use another technique and start them in a broad flat and move on.
Message you later.......
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
New Month...
I sure hope the summer months hold less excitment than the spring.
Well the garden has been planted and I will continue to plant for the next month and a half. I stagger crops such as beans, lettuce, spinich and the bracias to make sure of a long harvest season.
I have just realized that I have forgotten to plant some onions. No it's not too late and I will run out to the grain store and pick up some sets and in the ground they will go. Along side the peas, tomatoes and anything else that doesn't mind that strong vegetable who doesn't take well to weeding so mulch we must.
All the plants are doing well. I have a feeling that the hay season will be difficult this year with unsettled weather making it difficult to dry the grasses. Damp hay will start to decompose and I don't want to burn down the barn we have yet to finish and have inspected.
The goats are milking well and the goat kidds have found homes and some are left to replace our older milkers. Veal and chickens have been harvested and new ones are also doing well. Wait things are going too smoothly.........when will the other shoe drop? Or have both shoes dropped and I just didn't notice number two!?
Well out to water the garden. Enough to you.
Well the garden has been planted and I will continue to plant for the next month and a half. I stagger crops such as beans, lettuce, spinich and the bracias to make sure of a long harvest season.
I have just realized that I have forgotten to plant some onions. No it's not too late and I will run out to the grain store and pick up some sets and in the ground they will go. Along side the peas, tomatoes and anything else that doesn't mind that strong vegetable who doesn't take well to weeding so mulch we must.
All the plants are doing well. I have a feeling that the hay season will be difficult this year with unsettled weather making it difficult to dry the grasses. Damp hay will start to decompose and I don't want to burn down the barn we have yet to finish and have inspected.
The goats are milking well and the goat kidds have found homes and some are left to replace our older milkers. Veal and chickens have been harvested and new ones are also doing well. Wait things are going too smoothly.........when will the other shoe drop? Or have both shoes dropped and I just didn't notice number two!?
Well out to water the garden. Enough to you.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The truth.......
Well as the truth has been told to me I am not feeling so bad about loosing the last few animals. Poor things (bull calves) did not have their colostrum for at the minimum 12 hours and who knows really how long it took.
I don't blame them (the farmer) they have a huge maximum capacity farm with over 300 milking three times a day. They make close to 30,000 pounds of milk a day so I can see how a (basically useless in their book) bull calf can be over looked. The cows udders are so huge that the calf (who looks at the high point of the udder)for a drink can't always find it. Sometimes the teats are so big that the calf can't manage.
Without the colostrum as we all know, the calf has no antibodies from his dam to take him through the first important few days of life. No matter what I do by the time I get him will help (that is without spending a large quantity of money). So there I have it. Still feel bad though.
So now I have two more and they are fine and healthy. Drinking up a storm and flitting about.
On another subject.
My daughter has a slight hearing loss in one ear. I have been called by the school no less than four times about the subject. The pediatrician was not worried nor was I but none the less I had to take her to the Audiologist to make sure there wasn't some form of vegetable growing in her ears. The doctor gave her the thumbs up but still she took 2.5 hours to test and recheck. What a long day....
I don't mind making sure my girl is healthy (the school was trying to tell me she could have a tumor or something, thanks for that!).
What really bothers me is that while I had my daughter bring home extra work I have again realized that the girl has no concept of her vowel sounds.
Yes, I am frustrated.
Yes, I have been working with her myself,
No, the school thinks there isn't enough of an issue to get extra help.
If you don't know your short vowel sounds do you think you will have difficulty reading and learning to spell? Sure my girl can do American Sign Language (something I have always wanted to learn) and speak Spanish so I guess they don't expect her to have to know how to read or write at this point. Is it me? Am I expecting too much from the school to teach her the basics of our language?
Sure I sometimes call my daughter the trophy wife in jest but it looks like the school is going to have her major in it!
I don't blame them (the farmer) they have a huge maximum capacity farm with over 300 milking three times a day. They make close to 30,000 pounds of milk a day so I can see how a (basically useless in their book) bull calf can be over looked. The cows udders are so huge that the calf (who looks at the high point of the udder)for a drink can't always find it. Sometimes the teats are so big that the calf can't manage.
Without the colostrum as we all know, the calf has no antibodies from his dam to take him through the first important few days of life. No matter what I do by the time I get him will help (that is without spending a large quantity of money). So there I have it. Still feel bad though.
So now I have two more and they are fine and healthy. Drinking up a storm and flitting about.
On another subject.
My daughter has a slight hearing loss in one ear. I have been called by the school no less than four times about the subject. The pediatrician was not worried nor was I but none the less I had to take her to the Audiologist to make sure there wasn't some form of vegetable growing in her ears. The doctor gave her the thumbs up but still she took 2.5 hours to test and recheck. What a long day....
I don't mind making sure my girl is healthy (the school was trying to tell me she could have a tumor or something, thanks for that!).
What really bothers me is that while I had my daughter bring home extra work I have again realized that the girl has no concept of her vowel sounds.
Yes, I am frustrated.
Yes, I have been working with her myself,
No, the school thinks there isn't enough of an issue to get extra help.
If you don't know your short vowel sounds do you think you will have difficulty reading and learning to spell? Sure my girl can do American Sign Language (something I have always wanted to learn) and speak Spanish so I guess they don't expect her to have to know how to read or write at this point. Is it me? Am I expecting too much from the school to teach her the basics of our language?
Sure I sometimes call my daughter the trophy wife in jest but it looks like the school is going to have her major in it!
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