Early Riser

It's dark thirty here on the farm and I just heard one of our roosters calling. The temp outside is below freezing, but we are toasty and warm here inside. We winteized the animal's quarters, so hopefully they are all safe and warm in their respective homes!

Today should be a busy but fun day for me in spite of my waking at 4:30AM! Tonight is my monthly paper crafting club meeting and we are making Valentines, or as I like calling them "love cards" for a local nursing home.

I really love doing things with girl friends, it's rather a new thing for me to have actual friends who are girls. I have avoided women as a whole for the past twenty or so years. I won't go into details about why, but am glad to have put that all in my past where it can stay.

I also enjoy the quiet of early morning. I can think without much to interrupt, except my little dog who tends to be an early riser as well. I can quietly read my bible and pray, prepare for the upcoming day and get alone with God before the day overtakes my plans.

I know others are early risers as well and are doing similar things. One doesn't have to live on a farm to desire the solitude of the wee hours of the morning. Living on a small farm is fairly new to us. We have only lived here about three years. I've lived in suburbia most of my life and always beat the sun up as far as early rising goes.

The rest of the world may be night owls, but we early birds like getting the worm (metaphorically speaking).

Sunny Sunday

I'm in our cozy little farm house surrounded by way too much stuff. Why? I've been making cards for two days. I've finished 56 cards and 48 homemade envelopes thus far and on my way to make more. I love making cards, it's such a delight. The hardest thing is giving them away. Each one has my heart and soul in it, but God doesn't give us the ability to create just to consume our gifts on ourselves. So...I will be selling some and giving the rest away. I do love giving cards. I love surprising someone in the middle of the week or the middle of a nothing day with a card. Giving a homemade card is all the better.

I woke up way too early again this morning, but I guess that's just life on the farm. I knew the ducks were trapped in the greenhouse with our young Rhode Island Red rooster and his sister. I kept envisioning a fight where the rooster attacks the ducks. Wow did I have it wrong. I got up while it was still dark thirty and went out and attempted to let the ducks out. They were having none of it. I eventually convinced them to come out. Later in the morning I went out to do my morning feeding rounds and the ducks were waiting outside the greenhouse. I had no idea to expect the fight that would ensue, but as soon as the door was open to the greenhouse my Swedish blue duck "Squeaker" headed for "Rosie" our young rooster. He cornered him and bit the dickens out of him. Poor guy was scared like a bunny rabbit. He eventually made his way out of the greenhouse and flew into the compost bin to safety. Squeaker has always been so docile it's wild to see him get "postal" on my poor juvenile rooster. Life on this farm sure has it's wilder moments.

As soon as the chaos died down between the "Mighty Ducks" and the RIR Rooster boy I noticed one our goats (Pal) was in the big chicken yard. He was bawling like a baby and trying to get back with the other goats. When I put hay in the feeder and alfalfa pellets in the trough on the opposite side of the fence he went wild trying to jump the fence. He got up on a bunch of wooden pallets. I could just envision him getting high centered on the fence so I rushed to get a bucket of pellets. I lured him gingerly through the gate and dumped the pellets out, much to his glee and delight. Freddie and Billie (two of our pygmy goats) ran to help him eat them. The only bawling after that was from the corral on the other side of the yard. The "babies" were making all sorts of noise in their attempt to lure me to their side of the world. They are normally last because they are so far from the house, but they get the best feed so I never feel guilty. I used to freak in the mornings because they all sounded so pathetic, but I've learned they ALWAYS sound pathetic when they are trying to manipulate you.

Everyone was fed and I was cold and ready to get my granny fanny in the house. I miss my daughter and grandkids so it's an especially hard time for me. My husband is on his way back to Texas from New Mexico so I really have to sit on the lonely feelings that haunt me twice a month. I guess it's back to the creative drawing board till then.

I'm glad it's sunny this morning. God is good to give me a sunny day outside when I'm feeling blue and dreary on the inside.

Cerise

Home Home on the Chaparral

I used to live on the range in Wyoming, but now I'm in West Texas so technically speaking I live in the chaparral amongst the oil derricks and pump jacks. I can just hear it now.

"Oh give me a home where the oil derricks bloom and the pump jacks and coyotes play. Where seldom is heard "unemployment absurd", and the skies are not cloudy most days."

I woke way too early this morning, before 5:00AM. Rather than fight it I got up, read my daily bible reading and wrote in my journal. I then dressed quickly and made myself go out into the cold. There I encountered gluttonous goats, hungry hens, ravenous roosters, and a couple noisy ducks. This is normal in our part of the world. We have 12 goats, 23 hens, 5 roosters, two ducks, a cat and a dog. We used to have mice, but hubby has been working to rid the hen house of the little pests so for now we are mice free.

Our goat "Pal" has discovered how to break fences. He keeps getting in the chicken yard. I suppose he felt it was fair as the chickens are constantly over in the goat's field and eat the bits and pieces of goat feed that the goats miss. He decided that I wasn't fast enough with the goat goodies so he did his little escape routine and went after the chicken feed. I got him back where he belonged by pouring sweet feed in the goat trough. He showed me he latest escape route, which I temporarily fixed. Hubby will have to do the expert job of repairing the fence.

I discovered late yesterday that our latest Cornish chick is a rooster. That means butcher time at the OK Corral. We already have four roosters. I'm ready for two to go "bye bye" so hubby has more to do than he bargained for when he gets home. "Smiles everyone".

Today is my day off so I dragged a bunch of my craft supplies to the little house and have been making cards since last evening. I finished 32 cards and 16 envelopes. I now have to make envelopes for 16 of the cards left over. Should be a quick work.

I'm feeling a little tired and it's not even 9AM so that means a nap. Naps are good. I've always liked naps.

Well, this was fun but it's time to step away from the computer and create. I've already had the accordion out and practiced it this morning. Note to self: Play your accordion more often, you really enjoy it.

Time to play and maybe make some oatmeal for breakfast.

Cerise

Winter Work

I've been busy cleaning out the baskets in my kitchen. (Most of my cupboards are open shelves with cute wicker baskets). I love order and dislike chaos and disorganization. I also cleaned out our financial records and need to go uptown to purchase a plastic bin and manila folders for 2010 in preparation for 2011. It's nice to start with a clean slate. I have lots of things to enter into the computer, but I'm simply prepping for now.

My husband has been cleaning the goat barn for a couple of days. It took way longer than he anticipated as it was deep in "goaty raisins". When he's through he's going to lay down lots of fresh straw for the nannies and "babies" (now quite large) to sleep in. He already made a wonderful feeder for the goat boyz. They waste so much less because they can't trample the bails or go potty on them. Once a goat smells "wee wee" on their hay they won't touch it. That can be very wasteful.

The duck pool was an inch deep in ice this morning, so once the hose thawed hubby filled the pool with fresh water. We're trusting that the kiddie pool will last through the winter and spring as we haven't seen many swimming pools at the stores this time of year.

I'm thinking about making some more fresh bread. The first loaf is almost gone and I plan to make potato soup for dinner. Hubby loves fresh bread and we're back to whole wheat and sugar free living. I'm learning how to use molasses, agave syrup and Stevia instead of sugars. It's a challenge, but our health is worth it. Making cookies for hubby is so vital. He loves sweets and I can't keep him away from them all.

Our chickens are happy, but would love some fresh green grass. I save every little bit of our veggie trash for them as they need produce like we need it. We also chop up corn tortillas for them and they really appreciate them. They aren't really laying eggs right now as they are at the end of their annual molt. It's nice to see them all feathered out again. They really need feathers as it got down to 18 the other day. That's cold in terms of Texas weather.

I'm purging closets, drawers and cupboards and again loving the "clean slate" feel of it all.

The attic is calling me and I'm anticipating getting it done VERY soon. That will be a real undertaking.

I think I'll get out my embroidery for my night projects. I may also pick up my accordion and do some practicing on it as well. I love winter for the very reason that it's cool enough to work hard and not be uncomfortable.

Romance Can Last

My husband and I will be celebrating our 33rd anniversary in just a few days and we've both been sneaking around. One of my girlfriends has been really "hinting" in non hinty ways all about what he's been doing. Actually she's just enjoying the fact that she knows what he's up to and I do NOT. When I was younger I would have pumped her for information, but today I'm looking forward to his surprise. I am working on his. I have one gift wrapped, his card made and am looking for more goodies to surprise him with.

After 33 years I can tell you that romance is alive and well and living in our hearts and in our home. My husband is so far ahead of me on the romance scale. IF we were keeping a list and competing he's have won long ago. I can also tell you we've had to work hard at our marriage. Marrying is like blending two colors of paint, but there is always someone who doesn't like the idea of two being one and will put himself in the way of success. Should a couple divorce the colors are somewhat blended so no one goes away without a part of the other person rooted in his/her soul. Comparisons will always be made and memories will be in the background influencing every action.

I love scrapbooking and my husband knows it. He visits a huge scrapbook store every time he goes on a mission trip. He has lists he fills and then brings to me. He also visits a particular tourist trap during his trips. He looks for gifts for me all the time. We aren't materially motivated people, but the little gifts we get for one another are just reflections of our love for one another. I on the other hand am always listening to hubby for tools he needs and wants. He has difficulty buying tools for himself, but I do NOT. I love thinking back to the first time we had a nice chunk of change in the bank. I went crazy buying him Craftsman tools and hiding them at a friend's house. I still remember the look on my husband's face as he saw all the huge power tools wrapped in paper with big huge bows on them. He was flabbergasted as he opened each one. My friends delighted in watching him as well. It was a great time for all.

We have a farm and each of us will take turns doing the early morning chores. There are days when I just don't want to move and he does it. There are days I can tell he needs to sleep in and I will get up and brave the cold to feed our animals and release the chickens to peck their happy way through the day.

Love isn't all about sex, though sex is a part of married love. Sex becomes less and less a part of life in older people's life. If it holds too big a place problems can develop. The human body changes and has times of weakness. Having unreal expectations about a partner can cause imbalance. Dealing with unreal appetites is also a part of marriage. Open communication is work. Transparency is a must for a long lived marriage. It is NOT impossible to be open and transparent, but it requires sacrifice of self. Marriage requires sacrifice of self. Hubby and I are blessed to have come to a place where we decided to work for the team of our marriage rather than fight for individual wants. We are a team and we are team players. Romance in marriage is about being for the team. Sometimes you're a player and sometimes you're a cheer leader, last of all sometimes you need a referee and sometimes you need a coach. Being open to that is a biggie.

I find it funny that I am using sports analogies as we aren't big sports people. I just realized that it applies in understanding marriage. Our team colors are yellow and red! How funny. I never realized we had "colors" until this moment. Hubby loves yellow so I use it in decor and when I want to demonstrate my love of him. I love red and hubby uses it to do the same for me. Our team motto, "Love never fails".

Romance is alive and well, but it takes work on BOTH sides of the cake. One can never make demands of the other partner, but must be willing to give 100% knowing that whatever is given will be received.

I'm looking forward to another few decades with my husband. He's my own personal man and I love him deeply. I need him and he needs me. We make an unbeatable team. We only play against the one who would try to separate us. We have God as our referee and coach and our "Ketubah" is the entire bible. We work for each other and look for opportunities to go the extra yard.

It's amazing how quickly 33 years have passed, it only seems like yesterday I say my man for the first time. I know when I see his silver hair that time has passed. I'm thrilled to see what's ahead.

Come grow old with me, the best is yet to be.

Happy 33rd Anniversary babe.

Love ya,

Cerise

Girl Fun

Last night was a lot of fun. We had standing room only and the store was humming with activity. Our guest speaker had to beg absense as she had a band concert rehersal she had forgotten. We were sad she missed out, but we carried on and had a fairly fun time of it.



I made gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread house as a door prize. Ann C took the cookie house home and each gal took a cookie home as my gift. We aren't allowed to have refreshments, but I wrapped the cookies and notified management that they were "gifts"!



The girls each made at least two art trading cards. I know it's hard to be creative on demand, but with a little encouragement they all made tiny reflections of their individual artsy selves on a card. The real fun came when they traded their cards.



Melinda B won the stamp and Debi S won the gift tags. Ammie brought her "Embellish Your Story" goodies and we each bought from her after the meeting. We missed several gals due to conflicting schedules and hope to see them next month.

We discussed January's tentative meeting subject (digital scrapbooking) and our guest speaker. I stayed after with one of the gals and had a nice warm Chai at the Barnes & Noble cafe. Great evening!

Duck Dodging

The air was brisk this morning, but nothing compared to the past few days. My routine is pretty much set in cement or should I say caliche being that I live in West Texas. I've been doing this for over two years now and I've become almost nonchalant about it. In the beginning, the naying of the goats, the quacking of the ducks, the crowing of the roosters made me panicky and I'd rush through it all. Of course in the beginning we had baby goats, bottle fed goats and their pleas would drive me to distraction. Now they all can scream and I'm OK with it. Those bottle fed goats are big burly guys who want to play rough with me. I now also carry a broom handle or pinata bat when I go out to the field with them. (For those of you who read that last sentence and are wondering, remember I live in West Texas and pinata bats are real things. No they aren't mammalian, but simply a carved and colorfully painted bat used to break pinatas or bean goats who want to jump on you.)

Buddy and Pal are now adult male goats. Their mama's owner needed goats milk for her show lambs and I ignorantly and I must admit stupidly volunteered to take ONE baby goat and bottle feed it. Of course when the blessed event happened there were two goats and the other taker backed out. So I figured (again ignorantly and stupidly) two goats would be as easy as one. I'm going to be up anyway feeding one. What I didn't know was that Buddy would be easy as pie and Pal had a weak constitution and everything but goat's milk would go straight through him. I won't even divulge the amount of money spent keeping him alive. But he's a lover and well worth the expense. I had NO idea how expensive animal rearing or garden keeping was back in the beginning. I now have a clue.

This morning I did my rounds and then talked to my ducks "Beaker and Squeaker". They let me know they were ready for fresh water in their pool. So I obliged my two Blue Swedish ducks and filled their pool. I sat on one of our heavy aluminum chairs as they discovered just what I was up to. First they sipped the water in the pool. Next they dunked their heads as if to see what was in the bottom. (Like it's changed since the first time I ever filled their pool.) Beaker is the alpha male of the two. He made his inspection and then climbed the cinder block to get into the pool. He swam a couple of laps and then watched as Squeaker dunked his head in the waterfall flowing from the pool. They love to do some sort of sand filtering routine when I fill their pools. It's weird, but knowing that chickens have crops full of grit in order to digest their hard cracked corn, I figure ducks must need sand. After a little sifting Squeaker made his way into the pool. He too did a few laps and then the preening routine began. They dunk under the water with a sort of wave motion. Then they swim laps really fast. They alternately dunk under and swim laps as fast as they can. This rounding motion causes a whirlpool and water goes everywhere. When through they do a tandem sort of bugling and squeak noise, throwing their heads back and then they quack, quack, quack. I know they are happy, but what they are saying only duck whispers know. The watery mess quickly spread onto the ground and approached where I was sitting some three feet away. It was time to turn the water off and return to my other duties. It's fun to watch their ritual, but life does go on and it was time to dodge the happy ducks.

I also love my chickens. I did what my sister lovingly refers to as the "Elmira mommy" thing with two hens this morning. I grabbed for one (I think it was Bingo; an Auracauna) to cuddle her. She was so freaked out she ran circles around the chicken house. There were only two hens in the house and I had shut the door so she had nowhere to go. She's on the end of her molting stage so she isn't flying too well these days. I eventually caught her and she flailed while I calmed her. I don't consider myself a chicken whisperer, but that didn't stop me from whispering in her ear, "It's OK baby". I cuddled and talked to her for a while and then eyed "Chicklet" on the shower curtain rod. We have shower curtains to divide the chicken area from the water well pump area. The chickens have claimed the rod as a roosting post. She has been "Elmira Mommied" many times before so she knew what was coming. I still had to grab her legs to get her and prevent her from flying into a wall and hurting herself. She screamed bloody murder, but it did her no good. I held her anyway. After I got my "chicken fix" I went in and here I am. I just love the peaceful nature of living in the country. Actually I only live ten miles from town in a smaller town, but it feels wayyyyy more country-esk than anywhere I lived in California.

I'd like to think of our life here as "Green Acres 101". I don't know much about farming, but what I do know I put to use. I actually have 42 pets that we feed. We've actually eaten two of our hens and umpteen eggs from our chickens. We plan on butchering "Lunch" and "Dinner" this month. It isn't easy to butcher animals you've loved and fed, but it's a sin to me to not eat what you've butchered so I'm forcing myself to get past it all.

I don't get to be farmer gal nearly as often as I'd like. Hubby is forced to take up my slack when I'm too busy with the financial end of living or some other endeavor. We're a team and we tag team whenever we must. That's what I like about being married to my best friend. When I'm too busy he dodges the ducks for me. I'll have to post the video of them trying to get him. It's a hilarious game they play with him. Love me some ducks. Next year we hope to find a couple she ducks for our boys. They are desperate for duck women. If anyone knows of a good duck dating service, please let me know. I am not opposed to mail order duck brides.