30 Minute Days

I awoke this morning to some "chilly" temperatures. Compared to the scorching heat of the past month and a half. Today's daybreak temp of 62* feels like winter could just be around the corner. Despite the fact it isn't due for another 4 months. Lon had asked me just this past Saturday if it "would ever get cool again." I jokedly responded ~ "Yea, in January!" Having no idea at the time that this "cool spell" was even in the making. Coming to greet us 2 days later on this very morning.

Not having a TV leaves us with a limited knowledge of what is going on beyond our front door. A good thing for the most part, as there isn't any expectations. Instead we move through our days letting the world unfold around us. Taking what the Lord provides with grateful hearts and a deeper dependency on HIS provisions for us. There is always surprises that thrill and challenge us at every turn, a benefit of not knowing what to expect in our daily lives. I have learned blessings can and do come in many different looking packages. Being always present in our lives for our enjoyment. We need to only have a receptive heart to unwrap them.

As I sat on the porch this morning with a chill on my skin and a cup of coffee by my side. (The first in several weeks, as I had quit drinking it. Favoring instead hot herbal teas as my morning beverage.) But a day like today, with this kind of hint of relief from the heat begged for a cup of tamed coffee. A sweet treat as I pondered the gift of this day, along side of the thoughts that were reeling me towards Autumn. A season that is a lot closer on the horizon than I've given thought to. Give the air a subtle brushing of cooler air and my mind scoots towards the pursuits enjoyed during the days of FALL. Warm quilts, colorful leaves, hometown high school football, porch sitting, seasonal decorations, campfires, pots of steamy soups, and crafting.

I know the relief from the heat is only a temporarily lull, but it sure feels nice. I've already noticed the sun slipping across the horizon towards shorter days. For it is no longer shinning through the back of the house, heating up our living space with the late afternoon slant of the sun. The mornings seem to be breaking at a later time as well, as the evening hours creeping up steadily on the face of the clock to an earlier hour of the day. We are steadily moving out of Summer towards the shorter days of Autumn to be sure.

The kittens are getting braver in their discovery adventures on the front porch. Venturing down the steps and under the bushes more. That is until a hen passes by too close for their comfort. Forcing them to scamper back up the steps to a perceived place of safety. They are resting more quietly since Leah, our granddaughter left yesterday.


Her constant attention and loving was a challenge of patience on their part. I'm so glad she can experience the fun of not one but two kittens to play with. I had to wait 55 years before I had the pleasure. At 5 she is able to see, hear, learn and experience more here at the farm. Than she ever would have at our old house.

I really should get busy with my home chores for today. But find it hard to pull away from this wonderful day in the making. There is more than plenty for my day to be done. Probably always will be as long as we live here. The needs of the farm are too great and my interests too wide, to be still for very long. Seeing what needs to be addressed at any moment is easy. Ignoring such things for moments of quieted rest of body and mind are more of a challenge.

So on days like this I often have "30 Minute Days". They are sort of like a game for me, allowing me to enjoy both the work I need to do while playing at the same time. It's rather simple to do by setting a timer for 30 minutes and working like crazy till it goes off. Then resetting it for another 30 minutes and doing something I enjoy or nothing at all. Repeating the 30 - 30 activity until I call my day done. Give me an hour and I will get too comfortable with my play. Fifteen minutes at a time and I can loose focus. It truly is amazing how much I can get accomplished in these little splashes of time through out the day. I think mainly because I'm not locked into an ALL-DAY work mode. Having playtime punctuated through out the day helps to keep my interest peaked to get my work done. Cause I know playtime is right around the corner. I will never lack for something to do that's for sure. But unlike my "city dwelling" friends, I get the pleasure of pursuing them in the quiet, peaceful arena of our farm. Thank you Lord for the gift!

Setting my timer for 30 minutes ~
Deborah

Saying Goodbye ~

Our last 2 Spring bucks were sold yesterday amid some reservations on my part. Oh, I know they had to be sold. We difinitely didn't need 4 bucks on the place. Sometimes the one we have is one too many. But I just didn't like the ways of the man who bought them. Overly protective of my boys? . . . . probably.
Victor ~

Victor and Lil' Bit were both nice specimens of the dairy breed, Nubian. Either one of them would have been great breeders for our herd. Except for the fact that we were keeping related does. When it comes to genetics you don't won't to push the possibility of interbreeding fathers and granddaughters together. Or neither sons back to their mothers. So we had already decided to keep Patches, as our up & coming replacement breeder. As we had already sold his mother this year. Plus there wasn't any concern with him breeding the new does we had kept. So all of the other 5 bucks had to have new homes. Fortunately they had slowly left the farm one at a time until the last 2 remained.

Lil' Bit ~

My prayer as they were being pulling out of the drive was/is that they will be treated kindly. I hate the thought of them being reduced to slave goats (brush control) or worst wind up on someone's dinner table. Though right now my gut feeling is says otherwise. I know this is the nature of the business, but I hate transactions like yesterday.

Lon and I both have decided it is too hard to see them go when we have kept them as long as we did with these two. It was not our intent to keep them but to find homes quickly for them. Each time someone came to look at our boys. The others were picked over these two. Why, who knows, maybe it was their colorations. Or just not what the potential buyers wanted. Victor and Lil' Bit had become part of the family and were like pets, gentle, loving and trusting of us. For my own mental solace, I hope forgiving as well.

Their sale will help us with our morning chores though, as Patches is back with the adults now. There isn't any need for separate housing and feeding any more. He seemed happy to be back playing with Daisy and Sarah. Breeding time is fast upon us, as we are already noticing some bucky behavior from Samson. Though our plans to breed Patches to the new girls may have to wait till he gets a little bigger and older, possibly until next year.

Having dairy goats is an adventure and for the strong of heart. For every season brings losses to the herd. As babies and adults are sold for the health and well being of all.

Missing my little guys,

Deborah

Yee Haw, There's a Hee Haw in Our Yard!

Life has been quite busy this past week. We are continuing to processs the bounty from the garden. Plus my "little darling" came for an extended visit to see her Nana, Papa and Aunt Melba. Who had came for a visit on her way back home to Seattle. But the strangest visitors we had were of the four legged variety.

On Tuesday past, Lon and Leah had gone to get hay for the critters. Only to find these surprise visitors standing in the driveway when returning from their errand.

Calling around to the neighbors didn't give us much info to work with in finding out where they belonged. And before I could make any inquries of their owner. They decided to wander off on their own through our woods to visit someone else. But not before posing for pictures and sampling the grass up on Cedar Hill. Leah was so excited to see them that she kept asking if we could keep them. After all, Nana & Papa are always adding new critters to the farm. For them to stay just made perfect 5 year old sense. Besides they showed up on her birthday and in her eyes would have made a great birthday gift!
Like I told my sister time and again, it is never boring around here. I think she beginning to believe me - now!

Enjoying my visitors, both the 2 legged and 4 legged,

Deborah

Hey, Bro!

Like an ad straight out of the world of advertising - One is never enough! At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Yesterday as Lon returned home from work, he didn't return with just his usual baggage in tow. There was something extra riding in the cab of his truck.

We had received an email from the family we had gotten Gracey from. Seems like the potential adoptive parent had backed out on taking her brother. On the day we picked Gracey up. We had commented on his unusual coloring, Lon even mentioned that if he wasn't taken by another family to give us a call. So. . . . they did. And Silas came to live with his baby sister and join her new family at Heartland Farm.

She was so glad to see him and immediately welcomed this sandy colored kid brother with a flying leap on top of him. They soon became inseparable and have been steadily romping through the house. Giving us lots of laughter at their kitten antics. Having a kitten in the house is always entertaining, but having two is a bonus. Both of us have fallen in love with them!

Though seeing Silas, with his climbing abilities. We are thinking maybe, just maybe we should have named him Zaccheaus. Don't you think?

Smiling,

Deborah