Tough Lessons Learned

Back in Mid-January, my husband bought 25 broiler chickens for my son to raise as a 4H project. He will show two chicks at the spring county livestock show in two weeks.

A couple of days ago we came home from visiting a friend to find dead and dying chicks all over the yard and around the chicken tractor they were being kept in. Our three dogs had dug in under the chicken tractor and proceeded to kill whatever they could catch. It was traumatic for my son as he saw the dying chicks suffering from wounds that couldn't be healed.

We were able to save six chicks and of those six only three seem to be healthy and without bite marks. It was a learning experience for all of us and it has made us look a bit differently at our dogs.
No, we don't love them less, we just understand more fully that they are animals and sometimes instinct drives them instead of trained behavior.

Strangely, the dogs have never bothered the free-ranging chickens in the past. That they purposely went for these is a mystery to me.

Once our remaining broilers have been shown and then processed humanely for our consumption, I'll prefer to remember them as they are pictured in the top two photos. The first picture showing them in all their fluffy innocence and the second picture showing a five-day-old chick that my daughter put to sleep by rubbing it's belly.

And for those that think farm living is idyllic, I must interject that farm living is hard work, you have to deal with hard truths, and many times things don't turn out as you had planned and purposed. Early morning feedings in the cold and rain make you question why you do it. And coming home to a yard full of wasteful devastation that makes your children cry and ask, "Why?!" , can make you think twice about the choices you've made. And yet we will still move forward in all this animal craziness knowing the risks are there and the emotions are invested whether we like it or not.

Moving Forward, Julie

This World Is Not My Home

I'm reminded daily that this world is not my home and the energy that I exhaust in trying to find comfort in it is futile. The barbs make themselves known more sharply when we endeavor to live above mediocrity and conform to Christ instead ...of this world. But I must remember that just as my Savior laid down His life for me, I am called to do the same. Remembering:
  

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ~ Rom. 12:2 ~

 

Blessings, Julie

 

Before & After

 

The girls and I started decoupaging this window frame last year and finished it up this past fall.

But we couldn't figure out what to do with it.

And we wanted to try and sell it at a craft fair in December.

 

BEFORE

 

 

Back in October I posted this photo on facebook and asked for advice on how we could finish it. Quite a few friends gave their advice and it was so helpful! We decided to put chicken wire on the back of the frame for earrings to hang or to post notes! We then put crystal knobs and ceramics knobs on it for necklaces, belts, and/or scarves. There is also a shelf for rings and bracelets.

 

AFTER

 

 

We were not able to sell it at the craft fair. But that's alright because its now hanging in my bedroom and I'm utilizing it!

And just to update here, my girls and I are no longer involved in crafting to sell items. Our plate was too full and it was one item that could be removed to give us a little more flexibility in our schedule.

We made some great memories though...and I hope to keep painting now that I've gotten back into it somewhat. I'm still learning that there is a season for all things.

Blessings, Julie

Silhouette

Oklahoma sunrises and sunsets can make for the near-perfect silhouette photo opportunity.

I love the contrast,...the natural contrast of color and light, but also how this speaks to me poetically. The dead seed-head played dramatically against the sun's departure.

                                 God's flourish of color and last glowing light before darkness.

I'm reminded of a children's book that my husband and I read consistently to our little ones night after night at their insistence, "Goodnight Moon."

But in this case, I'll say, rather expectantly, "Goodnight, Sun."

I'm also reminded of this:

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.  ~ Rev. 22:5 ~

Blessings, Julie

Moving Forward, Always Moving Forward

                                                           Leavenworth's Eryngo

Last Spring I had started a series of posts on wildflowers. And while I really enjoyed it, this will be the last in the series.
I just couldn't keep it current due to other responsibilities and besides I don't think we'll be seeing anymore wildflowers until next spring around here. 
This particular early-fall flower is related to the carrot although many believe it to be a thistle, it isn't. But it's a definite favorite of mine!

In other news our little crafting business has kept my girls and me quite busy.

I posted this painting on facebook just a few days ago and it immediately sold!
Now I just have to figure out all the ins and outs of shipping and handling. We're newbies at all of this but enjoying the excitement of it.
And speaking of excitement, the girls decided to expand our lttle business into making and selling jewelry.

They've been having a lot of fun creating and learning about the skill of jewelry making. They'll be the first to admit that there is still so so much to learn, but I love watching them work together!
We have a craft fair coming up on the first of December, we'll see how the jewelry does. The girls and I are finding that our little business venture is always a learning experience.
And I think that's definitely a plus!

I hope your week is a productive one as I'm hoping mine is also!
Blessings, Julie

Feasting on His Word

A Rooster's Tale

Our family has been spending a lot of time at the local county fair this past week.
The children showed goats, horses, and calves.
Crafts and items that were sewn were also entered.
And strangely, on a wild trip back to retrieve horses, immediately after the goat show, my husband decided to also bring our wild, Buff Orpington rooster, Dash.
Welcome to the rest of the world, Dash!

I was bit incredulous at Dash being a "show chicken" at first.
Dash is a wild rooster and mean at that...the spittin' image of his Pa, the late Mr. Incredible.
Here is one of my favorite photos of Mr. Incredible.
I think it catches his true character. Mean.



Here are several posts that mentioned Mr. Incredible:

Life At Forty Acre Farm
Lots of Shtuff and a Planned Butcherin'
Birds on the Brain Again

Mr. Incredible was mean beyond belief. And we were told that B.O. roosters were usually docile.
Not so with Mr. Incredible. He was out for blood. When he died prematurely, I was not saddened.

But alas, this tale is about Dash and I must get back to the point of it.
A year ago, August, Dash was born underneath our porch.
I had let the chickens free-range because it was so hot. His mother, Myrtle, had decided underneath the porch was where she wanted her brood born. And he was born there, directly underneath the Welcome mat.
As we have cats, my oldest daughter was concerned the little fluff-ball would become a cat treat. With my blessing she crawled up under the porch and captured our soon to be named Dash.
Oddly that would be the last time Dash was touched by a human being until nearly a year later to the date when my husband decided at the last minute to throw him into a pet crate and bring him to the fair.
And so, I, exhausted from walking to and fro from barn to barn to Exhibit hall and back through the whole crazy sequence of tracking down kids and making sure they were dressed to show their animals, barely gave ole Dash a second thought but to tell my husband his precious time had probably been wasted in bringing the mean ole bird.
That was Tuesday.
On Wednesday, we were due back to the fairgrounds for several commitments and were also eager to see how the girls had done with their entries in the Exhibit hall. My husband met us in the Exhibit Hall after loading the horses to take them home. He had a funny grin on his face. I asked him what's up and he then told me I needed to go visit Dash in the poultry barn. I laughed and said something like, "that bird didn't place did, he?" All my husband said was, "let's go see."

And this is what I saw. Wow, who knew....who knew a ridiculously wild, ungroomed rooster could be transformed in a moment into a show chicken. I'm still somewhat in a state of disbelief. But hey, you know what they say, truth can be stranger than fiction.

Blessings, And have a great week!
Julie


Click on the purple link to visit other homesteading related posts and great blogs!

Homestead Barn Hop #77

Here at the Farm

We've accumulated quite the menagerie.
There are the Boer goats.
They must be exercised for the fair!

So we pull  walk them up to the beginning of our driveway, line them up and then scream like a bunch of banshees to get them to run back towards the barn. We repeat this a couple of hundred times except for the screaming like a bunch of banshees because the goats are on to us now and usually just trot a few yards and commence to eating the dried-up oak leaves. It sounds like they're eating potato chips.
Anyway we have someone stand down near the barn with a food container now, it works.

The horses are being readied for the fair also.

And let's not forget our bovine friends, they'll be shown at the fair also.

Some days the time and effort can be a bit much. But really the pay-off is that the time and effort involved is helping to teach our children about responsibility. We're also instilling in them a realistic view of what it takes to keep animals healthy and properly maintianed.
I'm hoping they'll look back on these busy days fondly.

In other news, my boy was baptized a couple of weeks ago! We're rejoicing.

Blessings to you and yours, Julie

A Few Photos

                                                    My boy's bouquet of spring wildflowers.

Daisy Mae, our doeling Kinder goat.

Rudbeckia blooming in the pasture this past spring.

I don't know why this speaks to me, but it does...

My sunflowers went the way of drought and grasshoppers this year. But I was able to get a picture of one before it's demise.

I hope your summer has been productive and pleasant where you are.

Here, in central Oklahoma, we're still experiencing extreme drought conditions. Wildfires have been common and many have lost their homes within a sixty mile radius. The small town where we attend church saw multiple homes burned down to the south of it this past weekend.

Please agree with me in prayer that our Lord, our Provider, would send long nourishing rains to the midwest.

Thank you, Julie

Just A Little Bit of This & That

                                                                       Button Bush is blooming by the water's edge.

Recently I was able to get down to the lake for some much needed time alone.
As a stay-at-home mom and homeschooler, I'm with my children 24/7. I need a break sometimes and God's creation always provides me with that much needed respite from our daily routine of taking care of animals, schooling, and life in general.

                                                                             Thistle grows in the pasture.

While hiking down through the pasture, I am afforded time to ponder the beauty that surrounds me and appreciate the blessings that are my family back at the house. I have time to be thankful and praise the One who fills my cup.
Upon reaching the lake, I am refreshed by gazing out over the water and observing the plants that make their home here.

                                                                        American Germainder & Frogfruit

Another plant that grows near the water and is quite unique is Button Bush. The multi-flowered globes attract many butterflies and nectar seeking creatures to their sweet-smelling buffet. There really is a  perfumed scent in the air when these wonderful plants are blooming!

                                                                              Skipper on Button Bush

My time spent on these walks is a time of reflection, prayer, and photographing God's rich creation. I'm never disappointed by what awaits me when I can get away for just a short time. 

In other news, this summer has been quite varied in activity. In early June, our little guy kept us busy at trying to negotiate schedules to get him to ball practice and games.

Here my little guy is bunting...he even got a homerun off a bunt in one game!

And then immediately following baseball, he attended a cub scout day-camp for a week.

                                       He looks every bit of the "happy camper" doesn't he?

It was during this particular week of June that we went through an intense heat wave. Temperatures climbed dangerously high every day and I prayed hard my little guy would be taken care of properly. It is so hard letting go.
The critter count has climbed dramatically and the chicken that was broody successfully hatched out two chicks. Now my whole flock is displaced just to accomodate her and her brood.
We've purchased two more goats in addition to the Kinder goats that I had posted about previously. The two new ones are Boers and are show goats for the girls.
My day begins around 5:30 and we try to get the kids outside by 6:30 to help feed the horses, cows, goats, chickens, dogs, and cats. The girls have started working with the ponies as they will show them at the fair  the end of August.
Of course there's much more...so much more...just like your place...it's a constant moving forward.
And with all this activity I must say I fail to relate to the phrase, "I'm bored."

Staying busy and thanking God for our blessings,
Julie