Dairy Supplies

These just arrived! Yay! I'm now looking at cheese making equipment and supplies. I'm sooo hungry for feta (and tired of buying it!) I eat it on everything! I want to have my cheese making skills perfected and ready for this summer's tomato crop.

Monday: Just Keep Swimmin, Just Keep Swimmin

Well, Monday is here and boy is it already a doozie. With one phone call from my husband. I now have a list that will keep me hopping until Sunday or…….until declare a strike against housework and laundry.


I must say I am not missing monitoring homework and keeping children on a schedule. We’ll be getting back to one though, there’s plenty to do around here. The boys are up north helping their uncle work cattle. They have a big time riding their ponies on the ranch and being cowhands. It’s good for them to work with and take direction from people other than their parents, and they are at an age where they are actually good help. They love going to the Johnston Ranch. If Pecos could move in for the summer, he’d do it. Sparky on the other hand is still Mama’s boy (and I love it!) He’s told me he’s going to college in Curtis so he can stay close and help me (sniff, sniff)


Our agenda this week is a continuation from last week and the week before and the week before and the week before that. Did I say how much I love May? Oh, I do. It’s just always so full, every year. In addition to ball practice and a game at the end of the week and appointments sprinkled throughout the week, we still need to 1) finish the goat barn/chicken house 2) plant the rest of the garden and install the drip system. 3)mow the lawn (now long enough to process into mini-bales because our mower is broken) 4)fertilize the lawn 5)empty the ranger cart 6)mulch the new trees 7)get ponies in shape and practice for Junior Rodeo 8) finish downstairs bathroom 9)shampoo carpets 10) LAY IN THE HAMMOCK AND READ A BOOK!

Phew. I am tired already. Actually after three cups of coffee I don’t feel too bad this am. My “sleeping in” (just kidding there is no such thing around here) and my late nights (unfortunately that one is true) is about to come to an end. When we bring home Egypt, I’ll be getting up early to milk and as strange as it sounds, I am looking forward to that.

This week I am working on ki previews and reclaiming my house. With the recent rains and mud we’ve once again managed to turn the laundry room into the aftermath of a mud wrestler’s paradise. There is laundry strewn about and my darling packrat brought home a turtle shell she found yesterday.

So this morning she asked me, "What are we going to do today Mama?" I responsed, "We have a lot to do Blue Sparkle (she's changed her name again!) She looked right at me, flashed a huge, five-old-happy grin and started singing,  "Just keep swimmin, just keep swimming, just keep swimming"! I'm not wearing a bathing suit but I see my ability to doggie paddle is still pretty good!

Here's to keeping my head above the waves and wishing you smooth sailing!

Relaxing in the Coop

We finally have a day at home to work on two projects we've been trying to get to for a month; chicken/goat barn and garden.

Despite the incredible wind, I planted peppers and red lettuce. It is a miserable day to be outside and the wind has picked up since I started this morning. I don't know where the idea of raised bed came from, but its a winner. You wouldn't think a coule of inches makes a difference but oh, oh, it does. I love the crisp, tidy look and even more than that, I will love less weeding. We'll have a drip system set up. This is the first of two beds, maybe more.

We have a variety of peppers, sweet, mild and hot. If they survive the elements I will be a happy gardener by July's end! They will be eaten fresh, roasted, grilled, made into salsa and jam. Strawberry jalepeno jam is "to die for". My Valentine family will attest to this. There could be fights over last summer's last jar! (I've been saving it!)

Unlike past years I am settling into a pace and planting in succession. Tomatoes are next followed by sweet corn, cukes, squash, pumpkins, beans, melons and cantalope.

We're going to have a large garden if all goes right with Mama Nature. There's always the possibility of hail and high winds (that we are having today).

Our goal is to eat fresh, eat local and eat in season. Starting in August, my semi clean kitchen will look like a bombshell of canning equipment and supplies.

The goat barn now has flooring and walls. Tinkerbell spontaneoulsy flopped down on the floor while Chad and I had a "meeting of the minds"! She makes herself very comfortable around here.

I am on my way out to the barn to deliver a late sandwhich. We need to get the barn done soon! Egypt will be here Monday!

More soon!

Raised Beds

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Summer Vacation Begins.............

It’s officially here…………summer vacation. School let out today at 11:30 am. The boys came home, excited to be here every day with me, their Mama! I am excited too. I love having my kids with me though I will have to get used to wearing my firefighter suit more often. The first flame rose up at approximately noon, when the littlest one started squabbling with the big one over "I don't know what".  I just could tell from the kitchen there were not happy, pleasant vibes coming from the living room.


We did watch a movie today, Avatar. I can’t say that I watched it, my multi-tasking was in high gear. No one cared if I watched or paid attention, they just wanted my lap and wanted me in the room with them.  I noticed they kept getting annoyed when I asked “what happened” and invited them to help me catch up (they are so like their father in that department, he gets annoyed too but they didn't tell me to pay more attention! I just got the ol eye roll!

The second fight started when the littlest one started in with the middle one. She "HAD to have" his bow and arrow so she could "play the girl Avatar, (I don't know which one?) Oh the fight was on! Clearly we are going to need some practice in the art of sharing. The little one IS old enough to not get her way all the time; her brother are starting to stand up to her. This could be a long summer of “learning to get along” and play nice!

In the past I’ve hosted celebrations to commemorate the final day of school. This year, quite frankly, I am pooped. We have Johnston branding tomorrow and I’ll be traveling for a Feng Shui consultation. We still have a goat/chicken barn to build and lots of plants awaiting their homes in the ground. Much to do, much to do!

I snapped this photo the other day on “Sparky’s” field trip. It reminds me of summer, though the day wasn’t as warm has it had been in past years. It was apparently warm enough for two snakes to be out!

Part of the reason I love summer is the appearance of freedom and a slower pace. I am truly craving that right now. I have dreams of lying by a river and listening to the water flow, feeling warm rays of sunshine drenching my skin and looking up at a cloudless, brilliant blue sky. I smell lilac blossoms and I drift away to somewhere very soft, quiet and peaceful. This is the image I’ve been referring back to again and again. This is what will get me through the next week when I am juggling classes, consultations/sessions, children, goats, chickens and a garden. It is a good thing that I LOVE what I do, since it doesn’t seem like work.

We are off to build a milk stand. The girl we're getting is used to being milked without but but future goats may not be. Since we are all ready "under construction" what the heck! Chad saw the plans and is sure that he can whip this together in no time. I'm amazed. My job is coming up with the fab ideas, I am thankful he's willing to actually execute them.

Watch for Twitter updates! I'll post branding pics. I won't have service for the better part of the day but if you'd like help in squandering away any time you have, I'll be happy to oblige!

Happy almost weekend and almost summer..........

Need a moment? Wisdom Wednesday

This is one of my favorite photos. It summarizes what I really want to do right now, take off an entire afternoon and soak up the sun with my favorite kids and animals. I've observed that my children are actually very good at taking frequent time outs to: 1. play 2. lay on the grass 3. pick dandelions and various pretty flowers (dad calls them weeds but who cares! 4. ignore adult suggestions of "get to work" 5. piddle away for hours, being completely unproductive and HAPPY.

Its time for me to take note of this ability and join the crowd. School is officially out tomorrow. Summer begins or is supposed to, whenever the weather decides to reflect the season! Today is a break in the action so I'm taking an opportunity to reflect on all that has come through in a very short week.

The "present moment" for me has offered an array of decisions, choices, shifts, changes in plans and lots of restructuring. Some of them have been easy to navigate, other much more challenging. How do you react to stressful, unplanned changes? One of the abilities that I've prided myself on is the abilty to be flexible. Usually I am. Monday I was supposed to get my dairy goat. At 10 am I had to make the call asking if we could wait one more week. We planted trees instead of working on the barn. The pick-up died so I had no transportation (and NO, I do not have CDL so you won't see this ol gal driving the Blue Whale!) I had my heart set on getting Egypt to this place. She's been wanted for a long time and it was soooo close..........and it wasn't meant to be. A lot of things this week just weren't meant to be.

After days of being "flexible" I snapped. Not pretty. I would love to say that since I teach meditation and often help others work with their emotions and responses, I am 100% zen. Yeah......not the case. What I am is 100% genuine, even in the appearance of rage and frustration. Others around me usually do not have to guess what I am feeling or thinking. I do wear my emotions on my sleeve for all to see. I do often react in an intense way. Thanks to the support of a loving, trusted friend I was able to recognize and honor this.

I am not trying to be anyone other than me. It might be nice to act (and genuinely feel) like Mother Teresa, full of compassion and joy ALL OF THE TIME but for me this wouldn't be authentic. I am fully human, and with that comes and array of emotions, connections and responses. I choose to live full out. I hold nothing back. No "stuffing" goes on around here, no shoving feelings aside to make others happy or comfortable. No hiding, no retreating, no denying. I allow myself to feel whatever comes through. Sometimes I have more control on the way I react than other times, but there is no game playing. What is here is REALLY here.

At times, I know this can be difficult for the people around me. In the past, I've apologized or tried to fix or repair any perceptions of damage or hurt feelings. I don't intentionally hurt anyone. Often it isn't even them or what they've done, its ME reacting to ME  and they observe me "processing". I can be angry, loud and frustrated. By allowing those emotions to FULLY be here, I also am able to move through and release them quickly. I don't hold a grudge. I feel what I feel and then I let it go.

It came as a lovely surprise when my friend shared that I am not an "angry person" (as someone told me yesterday) rather I am an "intense person". "You don't do anything halfway. I'm sure this includes being mad. Its how you are. Its not something that is a problem. I find that qualtiy admirable."  These words helped me recognize and honor the TOTALITY of my being. This is a wonderful recognition and helped immensely in releasing any guilt or attempt to fit into a mold of how I should (or should not) be. I wish for everyone to have friends that reflect such truth. I feel deeply blessed.

In this present moment I am able to open, embrace and accept myself for ALL that is here, admirable or otherwise. When I set the intention of living a full life, I would be limiting myself if I only choose those moments that are appear good and positive. I believe there is beauty and wholness in every moment. It may clouded by the occassional angry words or intense reaction but I'd rather have real, genunie and authentic than something "sugar coated" and false. It is who I am. I accept all my emotions without filters. I don't need a moment, I want them, all of them and whatever arises within each is welcome here.

Wisdom Wednesday: Be in the Moment

This is an intense week. For me, its been an intense month. I'm working with fire energies for the month and the year so there's been a constant steady flow of constriction, challenges and curve balls.

Each moment offers something different so the challenge has been being present to whatever arises; sometimes that isn't known until after the moment passes!

So today, whatever is coming down, rising up or shfting sideways, I encourage you to be there! There's a lot to experience too. I'll share more later!