Posts Tagged ‘boys’

A Bunch of Stick-in-the-Muds

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Had to get the rest of the crops planted this weekend  – Started out pretty good, until Monday morning – when Marilyn and I decided to get up early and plant the rest of the tomatoes and melons.

Well, it started out pretty good. We got into the garden area and started hoeing and shoveling – by 7:30, we were getting along pretty good and then… the rain started. We kept working -  thinking “it’s gonna let up pretty soon – seems to be getting lighter all the time”. Then, it started raining harder – and harder – we headed out the gate and down the hill toward the house. By now it was pouring hard and we were pretty much soaked.

I stopped and put the 3 pups into a large kennel on the porch and had Jessie get in her kennel.

We had breakfast and some much-needed hot coffee then we headed out to feed the animals and milk the goats.

After that, we came in for a break, then headed out to finish the planting. it had stopped raining, so the boys and I hoed and shoveled out new rows for tomatoes.

Nathan and I had to stop and scrape off the mud from the bottom of our shoes.

That Kentucky clay makes walking heavy work!

–Pat

Hard to say Goodbye

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

We truly love our dogs. We have a pair of NorthWest Farm Terriers – a relatively new breed comprised of a specified blending of 5 different breeds. The Welsh Corgi, Irish Terrier, Airedale, Jack Russell Terrier and the Border Collie. This combination makes for the perfect farm dog – loyal, good protector, good herder, obedient, quick-witted, fast learner, task oriented, playful and full of love.

We were asked to breed our dogs in order to help perpetuate the breed. We have bred Jessie twice, and each time, we all go through “puppy withdrawal” as the last one leaves our home.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Marilyn had called me to say that someone was coming to look at the last puppy. When I arrived home, two teenagers were carrying out the puppy as the mother was completing “the transaction” – getting shot info, bags of puppy food for transitioning to other food, last minute information on the dog, etc.,.

I was pleasant as the ladies chatted, smiling on the outside – but inside, I was feeling the same thing my two sons, ages 9 & 11, were feeling – empty nest syndrome…

They took Nathan’s email address, promising to send him pictures.  It is always hardest on Nathan – he loves every creature born on the farm, and I think he loves the puppies the most. He plays with all of them, gives them all their “temporary names” and just plain snuggles with them. I know the loss he feels as each one goes to their new owner, and I share his pain. But deep inside, I know that he still loves his Buddy and his Jessie.

And I know that Buddy’s big hugs will heal his wounds…

Our NorthWest Farm Terriers can be seen here

For more information on the breed, please go to:

www.northwestfarmterrier.com/info.php

– Pat

Sometimes, it’s not my bees-iness – 12/11/2007

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

One of the negatives of having to work outside the home while attempting to build up a farm, is, well… I’m not there to get some things done…

Today, Dec. 11th, it was partly sunny and in the 60′s…. And Marilyn called to say that the bees were flying. – A perfect opportunity to feed them once more before winter in the hopes that they will stash most of it for the winter ahead…

Of course, I’m stuck in the office. So, I called and asked Nathan to feed the bees for me. Sure, he can suit up and be safe from bee stings – and he can carry a 1 gallon container full of sugar and water. And he knows how to open the hive up and put the containers in – and he’s pretty responsible. So, why am I anxious about him doing it?

Because he’s my boy and I worry about him dealing with the bees. And because they are my bees and I worry about them being dealt with by a 10 year old boy!

Sure, everything will be fine – but I should be there taking care of my bees!

I’m very grateful to have such a responsible son, (and relatively calm bees) and I have come to rely on him heavily since we have increased the number of animals and things that require some oversight. He is truly an asset to the family ( and the farm). But …

I just found out he’s swatting at the bees! That’s the part I was referring to above (being dealt with by a 10 year old boy). Yes, I have told him to “stay calm and they won’t bother you”. And “open the hive slowly and they won’t be frightened”. But he’s a 10 year old boy – and yet I trust him with my bees and I trust God to protect him from the bees…