"Indeed, until someone tries it for himself, it is incredible what dignity there is in an old hat, what virtue in a time-worn coat, and how savory the dinner-table can be made without sirloin steaks or cranberry tarts." Ten Acres Enough
Monday, July 13, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
Critter Tale
Chicks
The chicks are growing so fast! We are building them a coop since they have already started jumping out of the wash tub. We did lose one of the smallest, not sure what happened to it... Sad to be loosing critters... But we are thankful for the healthy ones we have!
Ducks
The crazy news this week is about the duck!! On June 16th our big white Pekin duck, Bubba, disappeared... We had given up looking figuring he had been eaten... But this week we saw a post on Facebook saying someone found a friendly white duck in the park, 20 MILES AWAY... Could it be Bubba?? 20 miles away, 21 days later???
Bubba loves getting his face rubbed and he hates water. So we figured it would be easy to tell. Sure enough, it's Bubba!!! We couldn't believe it!! Bubba is home now safe!!
Bubba loves getting his face rubbed and he hates water. So we figured it would be easy to tell. Sure enough, it's Bubba!!! We couldn't believe it!! Bubba is home now safe!!
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| Talking to Bubba about his adventure |
Mr. Bear
The bear came to visit again, this time in the middle of the day... Hmm... He better just keep moving through. Neat to see wildlife, but bears make me a little nervous with the kids and critters in the yard all the time...
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| Mr. Bear just strolling through |
Thursday, July 9, 2015
A Place to Call Home: Introduction
A Novel. For those who enjoy stepping back in time...
Coons calling up and down the creek was the only sound breaking the otherwise still night. Even the cottonwood leaves seemed froze in place and not even a cricket chirped. It was chilly for mid-summer, yet the usual prairie breeze had been missing for days. Odd. That seemed to be the theme.
A small figure, bare toes just above the waters edge,peered into the dark. Looking. Watching. Trembling. What lay across the other side she didn't know, but she wasn't looking back. One foot plunged into the icy water and all seemed to break loose. An owl took up from a near by tree, old wings beating hard. A bull frog launched himself into the muddy weeds and the coons scattered. She was running now. Knee deep. Struggling she lunged forward and momentarily lost her breath as she sunk into what now seemed like an ocean.
A small figure, bare toes just above the waters edge,peered into the dark. Looking. Watching. Trembling. What lay across the other side she didn't know, but she wasn't looking back. One foot plunged into the icy water and all seemed to break loose. An owl took up from a near by tree, old wings beating hard. A bull frog launched himself into the muddy weeds and the coons scattered. She was running now. Knee deep. Struggling she lunged forward and momentarily lost her breath as she sunk into what now seemed like an ocean.
The old owl circled around and landed upstream to watch the flopping, splashing, sobbing little thing make it to the warm bank. Her dark hair dripped down her back and ripped clothes clung to her bony body. She paused to listen. She knew there were panthers out here, but that wasn't her concern.
Come back next week for Chapter 1...
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Friday, July 3, 2015
Critter Tale
This week with the critters started out great, but went down hill and hit a tree... but I think we learned a thing or two.
Chicks
6 fuzzy black chicks arrived on Sunday! Loud little things and they eat like crazy, but they fit right in with the rest of the crew. We hope they are all hens and we are looking forward to having our own supply of eggs and bug control in the garden!
Daffy Duck
Monday night we went to feed Daffy but opened the door to find a 6 foot long black snake stretched across the floor. We were thankful that Daffy came racing out the door unhurt. We removed the snake, checked for holes in the coop and secured the door. We were uneasy about the snake, but as big as Daffy has grown we were not too worried. We also like having the black snakes around for rodent control so we didn't kill this one. We should have... because Tuesday morning we knew something was wrong when Daffy wasn't peeping... The snake was no where to be found, but it has killed Daffy... Now I am so mad at that snake that I might just kill every snake I see for the next 10 years. It made us sick.
I grew up on a farm seeing animals die, even having to put animals down many times due to sickness. We also knew most of the animals were going to die for meat anyway. But when you work hard to rescue and save a critter and then its killed for no reason I get mad and can't stand it...
We are already planning to get more ducks. But not until we go snake hunting and build a better, more snake proof coop.
Hummingbirds
Good news though! We now see three hummingbirds at the feeder everyday. And they are sure to let us know when the feeder is empty! Even in the pouring rain those guys are out there zipping around!
Chicks
6 fuzzy black chicks arrived on Sunday! Loud little things and they eat like crazy, but they fit right in with the rest of the crew. We hope they are all hens and we are looking forward to having our own supply of eggs and bug control in the garden!
Daffy Duck
Monday night we went to feed Daffy but opened the door to find a 6 foot long black snake stretched across the floor. We were thankful that Daffy came racing out the door unhurt. We removed the snake, checked for holes in the coop and secured the door. We were uneasy about the snake, but as big as Daffy has grown we were not too worried. We also like having the black snakes around for rodent control so we didn't kill this one. We should have... because Tuesday morning we knew something was wrong when Daffy wasn't peeping... The snake was no where to be found, but it has killed Daffy... Now I am so mad at that snake that I might just kill every snake I see for the next 10 years. It made us sick.
I grew up on a farm seeing animals die, even having to put animals down many times due to sickness. We also knew most of the animals were going to die for meat anyway. But when you work hard to rescue and save a critter and then its killed for no reason I get mad and can't stand it...
We are already planning to get more ducks. But not until we go snake hunting and build a better, more snake proof coop.
Hummingbirds
Good news though! We now see three hummingbirds at the feeder everyday. And they are sure to let us know when the feeder is empty! Even in the pouring rain those guys are out there zipping around!
God Bless!
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Content or Complacent?
Often contentment and complacency are confused and mixed up. This is understandable since they both relate to satisfaction. But we need to be clear on the difference as we move toward godly contentment.
Contentment is good, it is godly, it is biblical. Complacency is dangerous.
As we learned in my last post on contentment, the definition of contentment is: pleased and satisfied : not needing more.
But on the other hand...
According to Merriam-Webster, complacency is "self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies." also "a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better."
Dictionary.com says complacency is "a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc."
Proverbs 1:32 says "For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."
The definition of complacency also reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they say, 'peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape."
Let us be content with the blessings of God, but never deceived into complacency. As followers of Christ let us be satisfied in Christ, not in the things of this world. Be aware the satan's greatest tool is complacency, he tricks people into thinking life is great to keep them from seeing their need for our Savior.
Contentment is good, it is godly, it is biblical. Complacency is dangerous.
As we learned in my last post on contentment, the definition of contentment is: pleased and satisfied : not needing more.
But on the other hand...
According to Merriam-Webster, complacency is "self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies." also "a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better."
Dictionary.com says complacency is "a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc."
Proverbs 1:32 says "For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."
The definition of complacency also reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they say, 'peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape."
Let us be content with the blessings of God, but never deceived into complacency. As followers of Christ let us be satisfied in Christ, not in the things of this world. Be aware the satan's greatest tool is complacency, he tricks people into thinking life is great to keep them from seeing their need for our Savior.
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
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