May 27, 2010 by Debbie.

I know it’s been awhile since I posted to the blog, been a rough kind of month. First one of the kindergartners shared viral pneumonia with me - wonder if that qualifies as a benefit on sub-teaching pay? Secondly,  this last week plus has been spent doctoring one of our baby goats, Rose.

Rose didn’t know she was a goat. She thought she was a pig, so she ate like one. But since I was her goat herder/care giver I should have watched her better. I made the fatal mistake of letting the goats out in new pasture on a Sunday. By Tuesday Rose was bloated. She also got butted pretty hard by Sunshine, an older, temperamental doe and we think that caused a contortion of Rose’s belly or her intestine. Yes, I did take her to the vet and even consulted another vet recommended by my vet. Yes, I did everything I could for her, researching via internet and books and vets’ suggestions. Yes, yes, yes, we prayed for her and had others praying as well.

We thought we’d have to take her in on Wed. morning to have her put down as she was looking so bad on Tuesday evening. Wed. morning she was up and looking brighter than she had in over a week. She even showed interest in eating, first time since the bloat.  I was totally surprised to find her dead this morning when I went out to milk and feed.

Hence the title of today’s blog - sometimes life stinks. The only recourse to that statement is God is still faithful. I wanted to find Janet Paschal doing this song but didn’t find it so here’s another singer with the same message -Take These Burdens

We’ve only had 2 other goats die over the 10+ years we’ve had goats,  so it’s unusual and not something we have any desire to get used to. I’m grateful for the health our goats have experienced.

I have a lot of stuff to do here today, mowing, cleaning out the goat stalls, weeding the small gardens we have; things I’ve let go for more than a week to care for Rose. Somehow my heart isn’t in it so instead I’m going out driving in the country for awhile. May even go by Gober cemetery and sit in the porch swing in the pecan tree.  Comfort time.

Posted in Homestead living | No Comments »

May 6, 2010 by Debbie.

Spring is in bloom and although it’s not as showy as past years where everything blooms at the same time, it’s still beautiful and brings both a smile and hope to my heart. I guess it’s also a relief to my sinuses, not having everything bloom at the same time, too. Gotta find those sliver linings, right?

We also had a couple of days with low wind, very unusual, especially for spring up here on the hill. The wind must have  blown last night as I went out back to a driveway full of spring ’snow.’

And here’s the green cloud (OK, you literalists, the tree) that produced the ’snow.’

I really like this tacobba tree even though it shades my herb garden. We had two in our yard when I was growing up. I remember my sister stepping on a horned caterpillar that fell from the tree and her foot swelled up for over a week. Back then we didn’t go to the doctor  for such things but her foot healed just fine.  I also don’t remember it curing her or any of us from running around barefooted either! The neat thing about these trees are the seed pods that hang down like brown Cuban cigars. We were raised before the dangers of smoking were either widely known or believed, not sure which, so we were never told we couldn’t go around with these ‘cigars’ hanging from our lips. We looked soooo mature and worldly, I’m sure.

The first row of green beans I planted are trying to bloom along with the English peas. The garlic  and scallions have sent up their seed pods, which will burst into purple balls any day now. The purple Iris and yellow lilies are blooming in the few flower beds I have left. The leaf lettuce is still sweet as we’ve not yet had our first 90 temp day. That is yet to come. Seems like spring blooms white, purple and yellow at Beulah Land. Wouldn’t that make a pretty quilt?

I hope your world is blooming as well!

Posted in Homestead living | No Comments »

May 3, 2010 by Debbie.

A counselor I was once visiting with used that word, ponderous. Since she had encouraged me to question everything I wasn’t sure of, I had to stop her and ask what it meant. From the look on her face I wondered if she meant I should question everything I didn’t understand that OTHER people said and not her. But she did answer my question. Since I like the word I try to use it every now and then. And, no, I’m not going to tell you what it means - you can google it to find out.

I’ve had quite a few ponderous thoughts lately, which isn’t too unusual. Maybe I just have too much time on my hands/mind - at least that’s what I’ve been told. Not from the counselor, either, in case you’re wondering. One of the first questions/thoughts I’ve recently had is what am I doing or what is it about me that either hinders or stops Jesus working or flowing through me? I’m still searching for that answer and probably will be for awhile but open to input.

The other ponderous thought came as a result of a co-worker’s question last Thursday. We had been talking about homestead activities - raising goats, chickens, ect. - when she asked what I am. My poor husband is  still trying to figure that out after 36+ years but I’ve come to realize some questions have no answers. This may be one of those.

Actually, the co-worker phrased her question this way, “I don’t think you’re Amish, but what are you?” The Amish’s faith defines their lives. That’s when it hit me. Our faith should define our lives. And vice versa. If my life doesn’t define my faith, then which is lying - my life or my faith?

Those questions are as comfortable as wearing a skirt two sizes too small.

Posted in Homestead living | No Comments »