I have now had several adventures that involve little creatures I was not expecting. I will start of with the more mild ones and then move onto the more adventuresome ones.
The other day I went to the turkey pen to dump out their nasty dirty water and re-fill it. When I got to their pen I noticed a dove fluttering all over trying to get out. I have no idea how that dove got in there, the turkey pen has a fence all around and a tarp over it that doesn't have a hole a dove could fit through. Anyways I caught the dove and stroked it for a bit then let it go. This is the most mild adventure.
I was downstairs in my room reading and I kept hearing this scratching noise. For the life of me I could not find where the noise was coming from, for it stopped every time I stood and looked for it. It almost sounded like a bug of some sort climbing through papers. So I re-organized my papers and cleaned a bit. Well still no sign of the culprit of the noise. Then for some odd reason I looked down at my pair of high-heels, there in the instep of my shoe was the culprit. It was a large gray beetle that had some how managed to get in my shoe and was trying to get out. The scratching noise was coming from his insect legs attempting to climb up the satin inside of my shoe. Sends shivers up my spine.
I was scooping out various grains to take to the chickens. I reached the scooper in one bag and saw something jump. I thought it was a leaf that might have blown in. I don't know why I would have thought that given the lack of wind here. Anyways I reached in again and the thing moved again. This time I decided to take a closer look. Any guesses as to what it was? I'll give you a hint. "Squeak squeak" Yep, it was a little mouse. Laura and Monte were both out of town, so I had to deal with it myself. I didn't know what to do, so I just used the scooper to lift it out of the bag and then a dumped it out and it ran off somewhere.
Today was the most alarming one. Since today was market day, I try to look nicer. I lifted up my hamper of clean clothes that I still need to put away, and dumped it on my bed so that I could find the shirt I wanted to wear. I soon found it. And then I looked over to where I had had the hamper. Can you guess what I saw there? Laura says they have only come into the house very rarely. Think also that I am in the desert. It is also one of the star symbols you might have been born under. Any more guesses? Alright hold your horses I will tell you what it was. It was a scorpion. Thankfully Monte was not out of town. I called upstairs asking "How do you kill a scorpion that is in your room?" He called back down "you squash it." I thought I can deal with mice and bugs, and maybe spiders, but I cannot deal with this scorpion. I didn't have to. Monte came down and killed it. He took a metal pole and squashed it's head and the tail curled around the pole as if one last attempt to sting what ever was killing it. Shudders up and down my spine to think that that poisonous thing was in my room, under my clean laundry.
Those are all my adventure currently that involve little unexpected creatures. I don't want anymore for a LONG time.
I have a funny story to tell now about a goat. It is my week to milk the goats. We have this milking platform that can do two goats at a time. When one goat finishes we take them back to the pen and get another one. On Tuesday night I took one back to get the next one. As I approached the gate I called out "who's next?" And Bella did a baseball skid up to the gate. I am not familiar with the baseball terms so please forgive me in this explanation. Picture a baseball game, and the person who just swung the bat is running to the bases but will be out soon if he doesn't touch the base within seconds so he does this kind of slide/skid to the base. That is what Bella did. I didn't know goats could even do that. It was hilarious to behold.
Because of the egg re-call the government are going to try to make more regulations to meet to be a chicken farmer. It is very vexing because that is one of the last things we need more of. More regulations can hurt the small farmer who does things properly. What we need is not more regulations but open doors to see how those factory chickens are raised and vote with our dollar what food we buy. People should have the right to see how the food the consume is raised. We don't need more rules. We went to this meeting today where someone who represents the agriculture committee in Washington was going to be present. She didn't really listen to a word the local farmers said, she just turned everything we said around. She said the bill for more regulations will probably pass soon and then they will get together and decide on what exactly those rules/regulations might be. At least this is what I understood of it, I was not fully present I will admit, because I believe part of my subconscious was beginning to doze. I do however know that our free country is becoming more socialist every day and with every bill that seems to be passed. I worry for our country.
In a lecture I re-listened to this last Friday while I was cutting peppers. The speaker said there are four lost ideals of America. I may paraphrase a lot, because I don't remember the exact way he said it, I just remember the gist of what he said. In fact some of you may know exactly which lecture I am quoting and know how to explain it much better, and may even think I am ruining and missing the point of what the speaker said. I apologize in advance now. These four things help maintain freedom. Freedom is the fifth thing and the only thing we still seem to remember. The first word we have forgotten that makes America what it was is Georgic. Georgic means to own the land. America used to be mainly independent people, people who owned their land and owned their businesses. And because they were these independent people, a georgic society they could make more of in impact on the nation's outcome. The second was the word Providence, which was more then just believing in a Higher Power, it was believing in that God and that he had given you a purpose/ mission in life. The third forgotten word is Liber. Liber is the root word for Liberty and Library. To be liber means you are educated, and you use that education to make a difference. Anyone can read and write but what they do with that education can be the difference between a liber person and just a well educated person. The fourth word was Public Virtue. Is what you do to help society become better, to change the world for the better. Where you give of yourself to make this change. The last word is Freedom. This word we are also forgetting slowly.
Soon America may be nothing left but a memory of what was.
The things I am learning here are more then just farming. I am learning in some ways how to be one of the needed leaders at this time of crisis. I am learning things here that I need to know for my future family, and my country.
I am so thankful that The Lord lit this spark inside of me when my sister told me about this farm.
"And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Giving thanks unto God and the Father by him." -Colossians 3:17
I am truly thankful to be here at this time!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Girl I mean to Be...
In case some of you readers of this blog are getting tired of reading about picking cucumbers, cutting peppers, chicken drama, etc.... I decided to do this post on some of the reasons why I am here, and the woman I mean to become.
Yet Gene Stratton-Porter also has a description of what a lady is and what a women should aspire to be. Gene Stratton-Porter's is more lengthy yet I think every word is important. Laddie's Mother is talking to this gentleman who I can't remember his name I just know it starts with a "P". "Anyone in petticoats is not a lady by no means! A lady must be gentle by nature, and rearing. She must know all there is to learn from books, have wide experience to cover all emergencies, she must be steeped in social graces, and diplomatic by nature. She must rise unruffled to any emergency, never wound, never offend, always help and heal. She must be perfect in deportment, virtue, wifehood and motherhood. She must be graceful, pleasing, and beautiful. She must have much leisure to perfect herself in learning graces and arts-.... when I think of the life a women must lead in order to be truly a lady, when I think of the life I have been forced to live to do my share in making this home, and rearing these children, the contrast is too great. ... Believe me, my highest aspiration is to be a clean, thrifty housekeeper, a bountiful cook, a faithful wife, a sympathetic mother. That is life work for any woman, and to be a good women is the greatest thing on earth. Never mind the ladies, if you can honestly say of me, she is a good woman, you have paid me the highest possible tribute. To be a good wife and mother is the end toward which I aspire. To hold the respect and love of my husband is the greatest object of my life."
Mr. P. : "Then you have succeeded. You stand a monument to wifehood; and your children prove your idea of motherhood. ... How in this world have you managed it?" Laddie's mother: "By educating ourselves before their coming and with them afterward. Self-control, study, work, joy of life, satisfaction with what we have had, never-ending strife to go higher, and to do better. ... Before any daughter has left our home for one of her own, she has been taught all I know of cleanliness about a house, cookery, sewing, tending the sick, bathing and dressing the new born. She has to bake bread, pie, cake, and cook any meat or vegetable we have. ... They can knit, darn, patch, tuck, hem, and embroider, set a hen and plant a garden. I go on vacation and leave each of them to keep house for her father a month before she enters a home of her own."
I want to know these things. I want to be like this. I feel that part of my life's mission is to help Women be women again. Children to be children. Men to be men. I can do all of these if I strive to be the woman that has just been described by Jane Austen and Gene Stratton-Porter. I feel I can learn a good bit of those things here at the farm. I don't believe this is just my romantic side wanting to go back in time. I think it is partly because when a society is simple in many ways they are more willing to turn to the Lord. I think that my Heavenly Father has put these desires in my heart for a reason. I actually feel more alive every time I read, say or write these characteristics.
If you are still wanting to read news from the farm here it is....
Despite all the difficulties and adventures of farm life, I love it here.
ttfn :D
- I have just re-started reading my core book, and in the first couple of chapters it keeps saying... "And it came to pass that we did gather together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us; and we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness." Here I am learning about seeds. I am learning when to plant them what to look for when I harvest and how to save seeds. In fact there is this one watermelon that the Bledsoes call Indian Cave Watermelon because these seeds in a leather pouch were found in a cave around these parts.
- I am learning how to work hard.
- I am learning about nutrition.
Yet Gene Stratton-Porter also has a description of what a lady is and what a women should aspire to be. Gene Stratton-Porter's is more lengthy yet I think every word is important. Laddie's Mother is talking to this gentleman who I can't remember his name I just know it starts with a "P". "Anyone in petticoats is not a lady by no means! A lady must be gentle by nature, and rearing. She must know all there is to learn from books, have wide experience to cover all emergencies, she must be steeped in social graces, and diplomatic by nature. She must rise unruffled to any emergency, never wound, never offend, always help and heal. She must be perfect in deportment, virtue, wifehood and motherhood. She must be graceful, pleasing, and beautiful. She must have much leisure to perfect herself in learning graces and arts-.... when I think of the life a women must lead in order to be truly a lady, when I think of the life I have been forced to live to do my share in making this home, and rearing these children, the contrast is too great. ... Believe me, my highest aspiration is to be a clean, thrifty housekeeper, a bountiful cook, a faithful wife, a sympathetic mother. That is life work for any woman, and to be a good women is the greatest thing on earth. Never mind the ladies, if you can honestly say of me, she is a good woman, you have paid me the highest possible tribute. To be a good wife and mother is the end toward which I aspire. To hold the respect and love of my husband is the greatest object of my life."
Mr. P. : "Then you have succeeded. You stand a monument to wifehood; and your children prove your idea of motherhood. ... How in this world have you managed it?" Laddie's mother: "By educating ourselves before their coming and with them afterward. Self-control, study, work, joy of life, satisfaction with what we have had, never-ending strife to go higher, and to do better. ... Before any daughter has left our home for one of her own, she has been taught all I know of cleanliness about a house, cookery, sewing, tending the sick, bathing and dressing the new born. She has to bake bread, pie, cake, and cook any meat or vegetable we have. ... They can knit, darn, patch, tuck, hem, and embroider, set a hen and plant a garden. I go on vacation and leave each of them to keep house for her father a month before she enters a home of her own."
I want to know these things. I want to be like this. I feel that part of my life's mission is to help Women be women again. Children to be children. Men to be men. I can do all of these if I strive to be the woman that has just been described by Jane Austen and Gene Stratton-Porter. I feel I can learn a good bit of those things here at the farm. I don't believe this is just my romantic side wanting to go back in time. I think it is partly because when a society is simple in many ways they are more willing to turn to the Lord. I think that my Heavenly Father has put these desires in my heart for a reason. I actually feel more alive every time I read, say or write these characteristics.
If you are still wanting to read news from the farm here it is....
- Our best milking goat Uno died last week. We had to put her down, she had an infection that wasn't healing, and she was miserable. She wouldn't eat or drink.
- I cut up another two bushels of peppers last week.
- Tomatoes are getting fewer!!!!
- This week Jen, Amelia, and I sorted through a TON of onions, and tied them in bundles to hang to dry. Some on the bottom of the pile were starting to mold. Rotting onions smell sooooooooooo NASTY!
- There was a storm that lasted 15 minutes but felt like 5. In those few minutes we got 0.6 inches of rain. And usually the average rain fall here if I understood correctly is 4 inches every year. I might be wrong, cause my memory is disagreeing with itself. I have never seen a storm like it. There was lightning, wind, rain, and hail. You couldn't see past 3 feet in front of you. It came and then was gone as sudden as it had come.
- Several of the turkeys have figured out how to fly over their fence. During the storm our chicken coop rolled over a couple of times and squashed 3 chickens. (not going to go into any more detail.)
- We are no longer bottle feeding any of the baby goats, they have all moved in with the big goats and are now eating hay.
- Wild rabbits better stay hidden and out of the garden/farm because Monte takes his gun down every morning and evening. After working on a farm you don't like the story of Peter Rabbit as much and you sympathize with Mr. McGregor more.
- I think my favorite type of watermelon is the YELLOW verity. And this IS watermelon. Working on the farm you realize that there are Many verities of every vegetable or fruit.
Despite all the difficulties and adventures of farm life, I love it here.
ttfn :D
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Plank of Putrescence
In the barn, in by the rabbits is a plank of putrescence. I like the alliteration. When ever I walk across it I think of the part in The Princess Bride where the hag in her dream is insulting her. The plank of wood is over a muddy mass (again good alliteration :D) . We have to turn misters on by the rabbits so that they do not overheat. The moisture + the rabbit poop + the baby chick's poop + the regular dirt = GROSSNESS! YUCK! FILTH! PUTRESCENCE! etc... I think it is why I dislike doing the rabbits the most.
I have had slightly interesting and traumatic adventures this week. On Saturday morning I woke up at around 5:45 am. When I got upstairs I heard this constant beeping. The vehicle I use to drive the milk back up was beeping non-stop. I could not figure out why and how to make it stop. I was tired and stressed because Laura and Monte had left for a family reunion on Friday. So finally it stopped I don't know how it stopped it just did. Then I went down to milk. I can now catch Uno or Una (the goat I have previously mentioned being vexing because she never would let me catch her.) without having to go around the goat pen a bunch of times. Uno is usually our best milker, but for some reason she isn't filling up at all. To add to my traumatic adventures the milker stopped working as well. I have had to hand milk all of the remaining eight goats.
In case you want my mailing address.... it is PO. Box 688 Overton Nevada 89040
I have cut up probably almost two bushels of peppers this weekend to put in the dehydrator. This week I have harvested Okra, more cucumbers, onions, beets... to name a few. Okra flowers are so pretty!
This post is really short but this is all the news I have to tell. I encourage you all to buy whatever you can from local farmer's markets. It is worth it when it comes to taste.
Oh.... our table at market made it into one of the Las Vegas magazines. You can see the two other interns and my fingernails. :D isn't fame grand!
Until next week... this is all.
I have had slightly interesting and traumatic adventures this week. On Saturday morning I woke up at around 5:45 am. When I got upstairs I heard this constant beeping. The vehicle I use to drive the milk back up was beeping non-stop. I could not figure out why and how to make it stop. I was tired and stressed because Laura and Monte had left for a family reunion on Friday. So finally it stopped I don't know how it stopped it just did. Then I went down to milk. I can now catch Uno or Una (the goat I have previously mentioned being vexing because she never would let me catch her.) without having to go around the goat pen a bunch of times. Uno is usually our best milker, but for some reason she isn't filling up at all. To add to my traumatic adventures the milker stopped working as well. I have had to hand milk all of the remaining eight goats.
In case you want my mailing address.... it is PO. Box 688 Overton Nevada 89040
I have cut up probably almost two bushels of peppers this weekend to put in the dehydrator. This week I have harvested Okra, more cucumbers, onions, beets... to name a few. Okra flowers are so pretty!
This post is really short but this is all the news I have to tell. I encourage you all to buy whatever you can from local farmer's markets. It is worth it when it comes to taste.
Oh.... our table at market made it into one of the Las Vegas magazines. You can see the two other interns and my fingernails. :D isn't fame grand!
Until next week... this is all.
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