One for the Are you Kidding me File

First off a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Medium and Wallene!


Yesterday I was making cupcakes for Medium's school party when the phone rang. "your horse is stupid" Came the voice of good neighbor "bring a lead rope, she's hung up in the fence." I grabbed the pink lead rope that good neighbor had first brought her over in and walked to his house. He was standing next to the fence petting and cursing Sam. I was expecting a leg through the fence like she has done twice before. Instead what I found was half her body over the fence and one rear hoof tangled in the fencing. "You're Kidding me Sam!" I exclaimed. Good neighbor shook his head at me. Bad Dog neighbor stood outside with his dog watching us.

Good neighbor didn't want to cut the horse fence, I suggested cutting the wire that secured it to the post and pushing the fence down, as I had to do with her last time. So we worked on it, and a few moments later Sam was free. Good neighbor told me that he has a shot gun for her. I laughed. Good neighbor gave me Sam because she threw him. I have not had a problem with her, except for this fence thing. As soon as we were finished Bad Dog neighbor walked over with wire cutters, saying "guess I was too late." But as he was walking over Good Neighbor mumbled, "of course when all the work is over he comes." I bit my lip in a smile.

I lead Sam home and tied her. Finished my cupcakes and went to see Medium. Turns out Medium is a head taller than all the kids in his class! I knew my boys were big, but didn't realize monstrous!

Home again, then Husband came home. We walked out to the garden chatting when Uma came running through the ditch next to the road. She was out of Good Neighbor's field! All together now "Are you kidding me!?!"

I ran into the house and grabbed the coffee can o' cookies and went to the road. I called "Yup yup" Uma looked at me then ran across the road to Bad Dog neighbor's. I yelled for Large as Husband jumped the fence. It is Husband's cow. Large came running and I gave him the bucket. I didn't have shoes on. I ran in to get them and another bucket to bring in the cows that were still in Good neighbor's field. There was little need for that, because they had all heard the yup yup and came home on their own. As I went back out, Large had gotten Uma back into our yard, Husband was laughing.

Turns out that Uma did to Large what all the cows do to me. Came running, skipping and clicking heels together high in the air as fast as possible, then suddenly slams on the brakes just before hitting you. Large has never been on the receiving end of this treatment and had flinched as though he was about to get trampled. I laughed and told him just wait until you have all of them coming at you like that. I have yet to get run down.

This morning I have to go out and check fencing and re-secure everything before the cows can be let out.

We had dinner and I went to read for a bit. All the boys and husband were passed out on the couches in the living room, I in my own bed. Buckets began to bark the intruder alert. I sat there a moment listening. Then I heard a man's voice scold Buckets. I grabbed the rifle and ran into the living room. "Husband! Husband!" he sleeps like the dead "HUSBAND!" told him someone was out there. I took the rifle and went hunting. I am sure they heard me yelling at husband and left quickly. But I searched, rifle ready. I didn't find them. I told Husband next time I am not waking him, but just heading out. He didn't like the idea but understood that he isn't easy to wake.

So how was your Friday?

I like you guys

you always manage to crack me up.

Looks like I will be having a niece some time today.

I should have a very long post about the rabbits coming next week.

New coop going up and maybe even building that smoke house.

I forgot to mention, my brother's girlfriend's father built a very cool outside furnace. I talked with him about it when I was up in Fort Scott. It is something that Husband was wanting to do, but now we know some one that has done it, and can improve on his version.

Speaking of Husband, he is one of my issues. This might sound a little odd, but Husband and I are getting married. What!?! But. . . Some of you are new here and do not know the story of Husband and I. We are legally married, however I had no idea that we even got married. Husband came home one day and told me to sign something, as it was for insurance. I signed it and the next day Husband comes home from work and tells me that HR at the motorcycle builders shop had married us. You can marry by proxy in this State. But I want to actually get married, with friends and family around. It has been several years now, and I think it was time. Husband on the other hand feels like it is just play and wasn't really into it. And I was feeling a bit put out about it. But after a few days of talking about things, and him realizing that it crushed me that he didn't want to have a wedding that he finally agreed to it. We have a date, but not a year. Not sure if I could get it all together by the date this year. But I will let you know.

Murrial jumped the fence into good neighbors yard. Good thing that the cows being over there is ok. However, fence jumping is severely frowned upon in our home. So looks like barbed wire (or Bob's wire as Small says) will be going up. Sam had stepped through it and got stuck again the other day. It will stop her as well. I need to talk to Good Neighbor about what he is growing over there. I called the cows home and here they come running, so bloated that there bellies where bouncing out to their sides. Reminded me of running with out a bra. Yes, it looked uncomfortable. I was worried about bloat, but that doesn't seem to be the case, everyone is pregnant and that helps it out a bit. The largeness of it all. But they are very happy cows, and Sam's butt is getting a little too big. She will need some extra walking time.

I was doing dishes when I felt something small and furry on my barefoot. At first I thought it was the gerbil out of it's cage, but when I looked down, it was a chipmunk. Good thing I am not girlishly afraid of rodents. The cat (pepper) thought to bring me a gift. How sweet is that?

You Never Know just how to look through other people's eyes

I am not enthusiastic about this lifestyle as much as I was in my 20's. Scroll to the past here, and you can see that for yourself. I think I have grown tired. This isn't a very stable life.

Just when it feels like things are going well, something crashes around you. Then you go through the most boring mundane times. However you are nostalgic for those times when the BS happens. No, nothing horrific has happened, just musing I guess.

The boys are in school now, Small needs speech therapy. Large is a TA and Medium ignores it all.

I have grown rather sad, I think. I miss traveling and those adventure. I am becoming restless. Feeling closed in. But that will pass, it has happened before. I am having a personal problem that is heavily contributing to the feelings. But that is one of my odd stories. It's difficult to feel up about everything right now. This work wears on you, and there never seems to be an end in sight. In the firsts years, everything is good, even when it isn't. You took at the trails as an adventure, and dance in the good. But after so many years, it's just down right annoying. You thought you did everything right, but then a curve ball is thrown and you aren't able to hit it in time. Maybe you will get to walk, but most the time it is a strike out.

However I don't resent my choices. I would do it all again of course, perhaps with better planning. If I had known the extent on which I would be homesteading, I would have found larger property. One that still had it's top soil. Yet, that would mean no good neighbor. Choices can be fickle, one outcome isn't always better than the other. I don't dwell on what I have done wrong, though I keep it in the back of my mind so that I do not repeat them. Some mistakes are brutal, and not something I ever wish to relive.

My garden is a famine this year. The flooding then drought has ravaged it. I do not have enough food for the year. That is a hard one to admit, for it is the first time this has happened in 7 years. We have had flooding before, but was able to save it, but this year 3 inches of water stayed in the garden for several days. We tried saving it all, but was unsuccessful. I only have enough ketchup for six months, nothing else survived. (except potatoes and a few cantaloupe) no beans, no carrots, no sweet corns, a little dent corn and sunfllowers, and I do mean a little. This winter will be a struggle. Husband is making some cold frames for this winter, and we will be starting on the wallipinii. I hopefully will have cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli, spinach and lettuce for the winter. At this point, I am not holding my breath.

On the better side of things, we should be getting eggs again next month, and we still have 7 turkeys to butcher. If we can get the smoke house built, I can make some sausages with the meat. We will have that at least.

I don't mean to be down about things. Money is fine right now. We have stretched the propane longer than I thought possible, and will have a full tank before winter. Winter, that's another one bothering me. I hate living in a mobile home without central heat. The oven the only source of warmth. I said 5 years ago that this was the last winter I would spend in the cold. Alas! Here we are creeping up on another cold winter.

We have good intentions, plans to have things built. Things get in the way, time slips by, and here we stand with little accomplished. This year has been the worst. Mainly because of the cows out at the farmstead.

I hate woe is me posts. And I woul delete this, but it is all part of the life, my life. I loathe discussing money. Not that it makes me feel weak, just inappropriate. It always makes me feel like I am asking for a hand out when I talk about certain things, even if I know I am not. That would be me being self conscious.

Please no pat on the head comments. My feeling right now are just things I have to go through. Makes the spirit stronger if you make it out of it. And besides, that is not the reason I ever post the negative. You come here to learn about this life, and why should I make it all happy and pleasant like some of the other pop bloggers? I could just keep updating the same o' how-to's if you would like, naw. This is the real life.

Homesteading sucks.

But then again, the rewards you gain can be spectacular. The Neophyte Homestead is just cycling through one of it's bad years. half years? things started off well. Maybe it is mainly me, and my mindset at this time. I will work through it, and the mundane currents. And return with my self deprecating humor, crass statements, and blood on my hands.