Losses and Gains...

When my husband and I started our little farm we decided it was best for the kids to learn the truth about life and death. After all living on a farm there is going to be new life and there is going to be death. We decided to teach our children that everyone and everything goes to Heaven. We teach our children that EVERY life is precious and worthy. We also decided that we would not "sugar coat" things that happen on the farm. It is very important to us that our kids learn that life is NOT "sugar coated".  This has made our children more aware of what goes on to keep a life alive. It takes work and care to tend to all the animals on our farm. All the animals require food, shelter and water. When the animals get sick we try every effort possible to make them better. Sometimes despite all efforts there is still loss. I am proud that my children understand the efforts it takes to run a mini (2 cows, 8 goats, 2 dogs)  farm like ours. I am proud that my children understand where food comes from and the work it takes to get it to the table. I am proud that my children understand once something is gone, its gone.

Over the last week we have had  2 losses and a few gains.

Twilight about 1 week old.....

 






As most of you know Twilight (Adysons little goat) got severely dehydrated for whatever reason. We brought her inside and gave her bottles and electrolytes and she seems fine in the middle of the night.

 

When I checked on her at 4:30 she seemed to have taken a turn for the worst. She passed away about 30 minutes later. Everyone asked how Adyson took the news. She was upset at first and when I explained she went to Heaven to be with Roxanne & Hazel(Papa Jacks dogs ) and our Max in Heaven she seemed fine.  She asked if she could help bury her in the animal cemetery I said sure.


Adyson laid a flower for all the flowers she ate. Adyson also laid an onion for all the onion I fed her.

REST
IN 
PEACE
TWILIGHT










My father in law also had a loss. He lost his beloved Roxanne.

 
 REST IN PEACE ROXANNE

Even though there is loss there is also gain! Drum roll please!!!! 

I'm so excited!!! 

I can't wait!!! 

WE HAVE CHICKENS!!!!! 

 

UNTIL NEXT TIME. 

WHAT DID YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS WEEK?

Tessa checking out Papa Jacks side mirror and steering wheel! 

February in Review!

I know its been a MONTH since I last posted but life got away from me the month of February. It was a whirl wind of appointments and dentist appointments and Aunt Nancy came back for 10 days, Adyson's birthday party, my birthday, my mothers birthday, grandfathers birthday, etc... Oh did I mention all my baby goats (kids) were born last month too?

So Aunt Nancy made the decision to go back to Washington. We miss her already. She had a great trip to Texas. She came back to Tennessee to wrap up a few things and have eye surgery (which went very well). She was only here 10 days. It already seems so long ago. My how time does fly when you are busy.

Adyson started out the month sick with a nasty upper respiratory infection. Which resulted in 3 visits to the doctor. She was put on breathing treatments every 6 hours for 7 days. Brittany has had a few check up appointments and orthodontic appointments as well. I am hoping March will be a calmer month!

Adyson's birthday party was wonderful. She had such a hard time deciding the theme of her party. She FINALLY decided on My Little Pony. I made everyone's favorite meal, CHILI!!! Everyone had a great time!

Her icecream sundae from CHILIs

Her Donatello wall sticker for her birthday!

Adysons 5th Birthday
Fav Color- Purple
Fav Food- Hot dog w Mac & Cheese
When I grow up I want to be a worker like Daddy.

Adyson and cousin Angelina

testing out the TMNT gloves! 

showing off her NEW cowgirl boots! 

Then on my birthday this little guy was born! And his mother didn't pay much attention to him. So I had to bottle feed him during the first day. But he and his momma are doing great now! Adyson named him Tailspinner!

Then we came back from library(a few days later) and found these little girls! Doesn't one of the little girls look like her big sister OREO?? It tripped us out for a few minutes when we found them! Brittany named the white little girl Sparkle, Adyson named the black and white Twilight!

Then the next day Brittany found Cloudy! (Her mom is OREO)

        

Jackie and Brittany stuffing their face with some homemade tacos!!! They couldn't even wait to sit down at the table! (Don't you love Brittany's new hair cut? I do! )

  






Savings- Just an update on the weekly savings. Remember I am working backward/reverse from everyone else. Week 9 means I have $433 in my Christmas savings account! How much have you saved this year?

Don't forget the Snow/Rainy day activities so no one gets bored with all the snow days we are having!

What did you do in February? 

Winter prepping on a farm!

Tennessee is due to have an extremely cold spell over the next 2 to 3 days.  To prepare for it, we went and got hay for the animals.  Made sure their stalls were clean and put down fresh bedding. Today was also family day so everybody joined in to help. 

 

The cows always try to overpower us when we feed them! 

Poor Brittany trying to hide behind a tree and fool the animals.... It didn't work. 

The water buckets have been emptied cleaned and refilled. The heated water bucket has been plugged up. Hoses have been disconnected from the pipes. All the animals have been fed. The hay has been covered. 

We went yesterday and got groceries. We bought five cases of water, had to get eggs and bread. I made sure I had 10 gallons of water out in the garage. We checked our propane tanks and our grill out on the back deck. 

Now it's time to start on the inside stuff. I'm doing loads of laundry in case my pipes freeze tonight and tomorrow. All the dishes have been washed everybody's taking showers. All in all it's been a very successful Sunday afternoon! 

WHAT DID YOU GET ACCOMPLISHED TODAY?