One Long Day

Yesterday did not want to end. We started the day by attending the funeral of my husband’s uncle. When I returned home I checked the cattle and one of the cows had calved, but I could not tell if it was alive, so I called my husband to come and check. It was O.K. Then I checked Mama Kitty to see how her stitches were after being spayed; her incision had come open and part of her insides were on the outside—a quick phone call and a dash to the vet left us with a very low temperature, half anesthetized mommy. I bundled her up and set her on a heat pad hoping she would live. That is when my mom called to say my cousin’s husband had died. The thunderstorms that passed through late in the afternoon seemed to echo the feelings of the day.

This morning Mama Kitty is still groggy, but her temperature is up and she ate a little bit. She has a big cone around her head to keep her from washing the stitches and we will need to keep her that way for 10 days; we will be giving her an antibiotic to try to keep her from getting an infection. I think the calves are all doing well, and I’ve let the children sleep in a little before getting the school day started.

“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” Psalm 107:29-31

God bless.


Dear Mama Kitty

Farm Update

We took our last Mama Kitty in to the vets today to be spayed. The vet is having a special this month—a spaying and rabies shot for $25 as long as you have 4 cats to bring in. My neighbors had one cat and another had two, so we went together to take advantage of the deal. No more kittens here! How sad! Mama Kitty was showing her age and she was miscarrying a number of litters. In the summer she was exhausted trying to care for them. If we need more kittens someday, we will have to adopt.

My husband’s uncle passed away this week. Tomorrow is the funeral. His health had been failing for a while, so although we did not expect it, it was not a big surprise. We did not see him often nor did we know him well, but as usual it will be a time of remembrance and sadness for the family.

I am still working my way through the Psalms and we are still reading Isaiah during family devotions. Today we read, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation” (Isaiah 52:7). For whatever reason, that verse always causes me to feel happy.

Blessings.


Charcoal's curiosity resulted in a good photo!
What a crazy cat!

Not much time this morning for blogging. I'll leave this photo of a newborn here for you--can you see the umbilical cord still attached? Have a great day! 

He is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

I hope your Easter was one of celebration! We attended a sunrise service and Easter morning breakfast at my mother’s church. At our own church, we had a very special day—we had a wonderful service as we thanked God for his establishing our church 150 years ago. To think we who worship and serve there are a part of a legacy that goes back so many years!

I finally heard Mrs. Donkey heehaw this morning. What a racket! The first time I offered her a carrot she was quite cautious. The second time she threw caution to the wind and yanked the carrot out of my hand with glee! We will tie her to some of the cattle we want to lead on a halter and she will train them to go where she leads—and the cattle will be worth more when we go to sell them since they are broken to lead. We need to find a name for her.

I love her ears.

Gotta go! Blessings!

William of Orange 

Waiting in Silence

Do you have a Good Friday tradition? There is nothing as moving as attending the services at our church during Holy Week. Traditionally, after the Good Friday service the women of the church strip the altar of its vestments. It feels bare and empty. We leave the service in silence.

Easter morning we will arrive and it will still be somber and silent, but the women will transform the altar and pulpit by draping it in white—the Easter color representing resurrection and purity.

As a child, I recall coming into the church for sunrise service. It was dark and bare. We turned around in the pew to face the pastor in the back of the church while he read the story of Easter morning to us. When we turned back around to face the altar, the miracle had occurred—the women had quietly draped the altar in white. Lilies everywhere. The lights were back on and the choir and organ erupted in joyful celebration…

But today, we wait in silence and mourning, recalling the passion of Our Lord.

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Mrs. Donkey. Say hello to our
newest addition to the farm.

Good Friday

"I do adore Thee..."

A song we sang last night at Maunday Thursday services still hangs in the air. The Text is by Johann Heermann. I've linked the title of the hymn to the site that has the music in case you do not know the tune. Blessings.

Ah, Holy Jesus

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended
That man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
For man's atonement, while he nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.

For me, kind Jesus, was thine in carnation,
Thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation;
Thy death of anguish and thy bitter Passion,
For my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee;
Think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
Not my deserving.

Maunday Thursday

I have decided that I need to either quit blogging, or I need to shorten the amount of time I take writing up my daily thoughts. We’ll try the abbreviated version for a while! Life is getting in the way of computer time!

Laundry is a never-ending task, and here on the farm, mud season is in full swing making laundry an overwhelming task. I have found a way to help me cut down on my time spent keeping everyone in clean clothes. I’ve lined up laundry baskets along one wall for each person in the family plus one more. When a load comes out of the dryer, it gets sorted into the right person’s basket. Towels and miscellaneous go into the 6th basket. Each person is responsible for folding and putting away what is in his basket, and the children fold the miscellaneous during chore time. It works for us!

Today is Maunday Thursday. We will have church tonight. I enjoy Holy Week.

Blessings.


If you delay in folding your laundry...

The Mommy and calf we rescued yesterday