We Are Not Tearing Families Apart - Conversations With My Husband

So I was sitting with my husband one evening in our back yard discussing our plans for our little homestead (we love talking about what our little slice of heaven will hold) and he indicated that he did not really want to get goats. I of course was like “We are getting goats. Period. I can’t drink cow milk but I can drink goat milk, thus the whole point of having goats”  (This is completely logical in my head – not so much to him.)

This prompted a rather hilarious response from him (well I found it hilarious) – “Woman! I am not jerking off a goat!” Oh… Muh… Gawd… It took me a minute to compose myself as I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. I am sorry but I instantly had a visual of him trying to milk a goat and her expression of “really dude?!” and the bewildered, frustrated look on his face of "I am not happy about this either lady" and I sorta lost it. I reassured him that “I am already planning on being the one to milk any goats that need it and besides I only want like 2 maybe 3 goats; 1 boy and 1 girl so that I can keep her in milk. We can just butcher the baby or sell it each year.”

What came next was also not anticipated by me at all. His response was “We are not killing babies” I started laughing again because I naturally assumed he didn’t realize I meant when “said baby goat” was not a baby anymore. So I clarified “no I mean when it gets older, then we will kill it, I have a friend who really likes goat meat so we already have someone interested in purchasing it each year for meat. He firmly responded with “I am not killing anything and we are not tearing families apart.”

No problem I said. I am fine with being the one to cull off the chickens when needed and a goat once a year. No big deal! Would you like me to field dress your dear too come hunting season? He didn’t find that last part too funny and he just gave me “the look” (it was deserved).

He firmly stated “We are not tearing families apart or killing babies!” I was still laughing “Seriously honey?! You are that sentimental about a farm animal that you don’t even have yet?”

Okay, so I clearly I found this entire conversation humorous, but there is a rather serious topic that should be brought up. Death is a real part of life on a farm & homestead. Things happen to animals just like with people. Sometimes you can intervene to heal and help, other times, there isn’t much you can do and the humane/kind thing to do is to put down the afflicted animal. Then, there is the purpose of raising animals for meat. This animal will have to die for you to eat it. That is a fact.

SO… If you are not prepared to put down an animal when needed, please think very carefully as to whether you should be getting farm animals of any kind.

At any rate… the goat topic will have to be revisited at a later date… I am pretty sure I can convince him… eventually… hmmm...

Dreams are things wished for…

I dream of little legs running through dandelion fields and of little lips blowing their wishes into the wind.

The pitter-patter of tiny feet chasing butterfly wings and dragonflies zipping overhead in the hazy summer afternoon.

Of innocent laughter as the wind teases hair and clothes and kites flying overhead.

Of wonder at baby chicks and rolling in the grass with loyal furry friends.

I dream of earthy rain scenting the warm summer nights and the steady drum on the roof.

I see little boots splashing in puddles and impish grins of joy at trips to the fishing hole.

I envision bonfires in cool evenings and short sticky fingers being licked clean with childish abandon.

I hear the crickets and cicadas song at night as it lulls my babies to sleep under starry skies.
I imagine scraped knees and boys in trees.

I see piles of leaves being rolled in and thrown in the air by little hands with joy.
I hear sleigh bells muffled by softly falling snow as it lands on tiny tongues anxiously awaiting each snow flake.

I dream of open fields and rolling hills and warm breezes of country air with little children running wild and free with rosy sun kissed cheeks.

Of nights twinkling with fireflies and mason jars filled with their glowing light.

I dream of you and me on a porch with tea rocking in the evening looking at each other knowing… we are in our heaven.

So I sent this lovely little bit to my husband for his reading pleasure and some warm fuzzies… and this was his response…

REALITY,

I hear questions (about 50,000) and grunting and feet STOMPING up the stairs and down the hall followed by the soothing thunder of doors slamming (Teenage Boy).

The joys of young adult smart ass backtalk singing through the house (Collegiate).

And the hollow sounds in the background of GO GO GO! BUUUT NO NO NO!

And on the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 12 diaper changes, 11 grunts a grunting, 10 bucks fo gas money, 9 night time meds, 8 days a lazing, 7 glasses of wine, 6 college debts, 5  S—C—R—E—A—M—I—N—G hours (colic baby & frustrated momma), 4 Chinese combinations (what we order every time), 3 Spanish cousins, 2 bucks in my wallet and a FART filled bedroom STINK!

All as I walk down the hall with a coughed up fur ball on the bottom of my feet.

So there is that folks… 

I almost fell out of my chair laughing – I hope you enjoyed the laugh, I certainly did.  God I love my husband… HA!  

Happy New Year Ya'll

Just Do It for the Chickens! - Conversations with My Husband

I love my husband and he has inspired another blog so here it goes.

Dutch Village Chickens

I came home one evening and I was in a mood. You know those days where it feels like you are: putting out fires, not making progress, not appreciated, crabby, and just kinda over it all. I had one of those days with a defeated attitude, was frustrated and ready to throw the towel in… in essence I had a bad case of the “F—k Its” as we call it. My husband, bless his heart, decided I needed a pep talk and an attitude change.

His first approach would be one that I would call… unsuccessful. My reaction was that of “Honey, you are not helping, can it.” (He sarcastically replied, uh canning is your thing)

But that is when he decided to use a new technique to “refocus me” He said… “I thought you wanted chickens?!” with a touch of an accusing tone… and I begrudgingly said “I do want chickens” which sounded very similar to how a small child reluctantly agrees to a parent while pouting and he said “Then do it for the chickens!” and I knew he had a point and I conceded with “OK you are right” this was followed by a rendering of Limp Bizkit’s tune “I did it all for the Nookie” only with the words “She did it all for the Chickens, the Chickens, the Chickens…”

I think my kido likes chickens too!

I busted out laughing. How can anyone be crabby after that? He proceeded to break it down… literally and figuratively but bottom line was: Stay the course, Keep focused and do it for the Chickens….

This leads me to a really good point. We ALL have those days. They suck. But those days can be made much more bearable by knowing your “WHY” – WHY are you going to that job, WHY are you getting up at 4:30 am to workout, WHY are you staying up late to study…

My husband knows that I really really really want chickens, a large garden, a more sustainable lifestyle, to live in the country on a small homestead… he knows how much this means to me and he knew I needed to be reminded of “Our Dream, The Goal, and The Why”

This "WHY" is what will get you through so many hurdles. SO learn your WHY, and tell someone who knows you well what your WHY is because maybe you will need them to give you a pep talk to keep you on course when you need it.