There have been many
blessings, lessons, and discoveries made while living on the farm over the
course of the past month. Here are a few:
+My OCD comes from my dad: it really does matter if two light switches beside each other are both down when off the lights are off. I also get my onriness from him, if you've ever experienced that side of me.
+There's an old drawer full of cards, letters, prayers cards and a Bohemian (Czech) prayer book, I stumbled across. Collecting these items and sending letters and cards is something my mom used to do quite regularly. I have a knack for similar happenings and items.
+My affection for animals often gets the best of me. One evening, we were putting a sow in the farrowing house. I was trying to stay out to keep from getting smelly, having already showered that day. Averting smelling bad was not conducive to helping dad. There was also a kitten who has made its home among the pigs who I'd been trying to tame when I came around. As soon as dad grabbed the kitten and said here, I succumbed to my fear of having to shower again for the chance to hold the kitten.
+The lifestyle is hard work yet so rewarding. More often than not, you can tell you've accomplished something each day, even if you have to do it again ten hours later, the next day, or in a few weeks. Feeding livestock is a prime example, as is mowing the lawn. The fruits of your labor are not realized instantly, but progress is made steadily.
+Baby animals warm my heart! I picked up 501 baby chicks on Thursday of last week. While they typically arrive in the mail at the local post office, we ordered from a different hatchery this go around. Thus, I made the trek to Manhattan, with peeping all the way home. Dipping their beaks in water as I took them out of their carriers, I counted them. Before the end of the day, I'd spent a time watching them run around in their new home, their curious eyes exploring, their tiny feet running, often falling over to get right back up and a few being puddle ducks in the water. Part of that time was spent taking pictures, too.
We've begun a bit a fall calving. A set of twins were born Saturday morning. The mom-cow took to one of the calves. My brother brought the other back to the homestead so we could bottle feed it. He's pretty darn cute, too.
Sunday night, another sow farrowed - she had 15 piglets. These are my favorite, though pigs smell the worst of the animals on our farm. Before I realized it, I had spent a good forty minutes helping a tiny piglet find a nipple and get some milk, and putting a couple others under the heat lamp to find warmth.
+While new animals aren't always around this often, I think that is one of the most rewarding things about the farm, for me anyway.
I've been thinking about this post for awhile. My dad said he wasn't expecting that sow to pig until September 7. Saturday night, I told God it would be neat and a blessing if the piglets were born before I departed. He's given me some tremendous blessings lately.
I don't know if there is really a point to this post, but I'm sharing none the less.
I'm off to spent a month volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity. Pray for me.
+My OCD comes from my dad: it really does matter if two light switches beside each other are both down when off the lights are off. I also get my onriness from him, if you've ever experienced that side of me.
+There's an old drawer full of cards, letters, prayers cards and a Bohemian (Czech) prayer book, I stumbled across. Collecting these items and sending letters and cards is something my mom used to do quite regularly. I have a knack for similar happenings and items.
+My affection for animals often gets the best of me. One evening, we were putting a sow in the farrowing house. I was trying to stay out to keep from getting smelly, having already showered that day. Averting smelling bad was not conducive to helping dad. There was also a kitten who has made its home among the pigs who I'd been trying to tame when I came around. As soon as dad grabbed the kitten and said here, I succumbed to my fear of having to shower again for the chance to hold the kitten.
+The lifestyle is hard work yet so rewarding. More often than not, you can tell you've accomplished something each day, even if you have to do it again ten hours later, the next day, or in a few weeks. Feeding livestock is a prime example, as is mowing the lawn. The fruits of your labor are not realized instantly, but progress is made steadily.
+Baby animals warm my heart! I picked up 501 baby chicks on Thursday of last week. While they typically arrive in the mail at the local post office, we ordered from a different hatchery this go around. Thus, I made the trek to Manhattan, with peeping all the way home. Dipping their beaks in water as I took them out of their carriers, I counted them. Before the end of the day, I'd spent a time watching them run around in their new home, their curious eyes exploring, their tiny feet running, often falling over to get right back up and a few being puddle ducks in the water. Part of that time was spent taking pictures, too.
We've begun a bit a fall calving. A set of twins were born Saturday morning. The mom-cow took to one of the calves. My brother brought the other back to the homestead so we could bottle feed it. He's pretty darn cute, too.
Sunday night, another sow farrowed - she had 15 piglets. These are my favorite, though pigs smell the worst of the animals on our farm. Before I realized it, I had spent a good forty minutes helping a tiny piglet find a nipple and get some milk, and putting a couple others under the heat lamp to find warmth.
+While new animals aren't always around this often, I think that is one of the most rewarding things about the farm, for me anyway.
I've been thinking about this post for awhile. My dad said he wasn't expecting that sow to pig until September 7. Saturday night, I told God it would be neat and a blessing if the piglets were born before I departed. He's given me some tremendous blessings lately.
I don't know if there is really a point to this post, but I'm sharing none the less.
I'm off to spent a month volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity. Pray for me.
Baby Chicks Photoshoot
You know me...this is a great post. It is important to appreciate the little things...and working/living on a ranch/farm...there are a lot of little things. It is so easy to be unappreciative of these things, but so much more rewarding if you do appreciate them. Thanks for sharing.
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