Simple Hobby Homesteading

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Homeschooling offers families the flexibility to tailor education to their children’s needs, but it can also present financial challenges. Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities for homeschool parents to generate income while effectively educating their children. Let’s take a quick moment to mention a couple creative ways to make money while homeschooling, allowing you to achieve financial stability without compromising your child’s education. Throughout the week I’ll add some more blogs diving a bit deeper into each of these opportunities further and letting you know which have worked best for me so stay tuned! 

Online Tutoring:

Capitalizing on your expertise in a particular subject can lead to online tutoring opportunities. Platforms like Chegg, Tutor.com, and VIPKid allow you to teach students remotely, setting your own schedule to fit around your homeschool routine.

Freelance Writing or Blogging:

If you have a flair for writing, consider freelancing or starting a blog. Share your homeschooling journey, curriculum ideas, or parenting tips. Over time, you can monetize your blog through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.

Virtual Assisting:

Offer your organizational skills as a virtual assistant. Many businesses require assistance with tasks like email management, scheduling, and social media. This flexible job can be done from home, allowing you to be present for your children’s learning.

Sell Handmade Crafts or Products:

If you’re crafty, turn your hobbies into a small business. Whether it’s handmade crafts, artwork, or personalized products, platforms like Etsy provide an excellent avenue to sell your creations.

Online Course Creation:

Share your expertise by creating and selling online courses. Whether it’s teaching a musical instrument, language, or academic subject, you can create valuable resources for learners while generating income. Creating unit studies that homeschool families can download and print out at home is an up and coming business! 

Remote Work:

Many companies offer remote job opportunities that can be easily integrated into your homeschool routine. From customer service to data entry, these roles allow you to earn money without leaving your home.

eBook Authoring:

If you have knowledge in a specific area, consider writing and self-publishing eBooks. Whether it’s a guide to homeschooling, a cookbook, or a self-help book, platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing make it accessible.

Photography or Videography:

If you have a passion for capturing moments, offer your photography or videography services for events, portraits, or even stock footage. This flexible job allows you to set appointments around your homeschool schedule.

Affiliate Marketing:

Promote products you believe in through affiliate marketing. As you share your experiences and recommendations, you can earn a commission on sales generated through your unique affiliate links.

Home-Based Businesses:

Explore various home-based businesses such as baking, catering, gardening, or even pet-sitting. These ventures can align with your family’s interests and allow you to generate income while managing your homeschooling responsibilities.

So there ya go, just a couple great ideas to get your creative (and financial) juices going! Balancing homeschooling and generating income might seem challenging, but with a little creativity and determination, you can find fulfilling opportunities that complement your educational journey. By exploring these ten creative ways to make money while homeschooling, you’ll not only provide for your family’s financial needs but also demonstrate valuable life skills to your children as they witness your dedication and resourcefulness. Check in throughout this week as I dive deeper into each of these opportunities! 

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As a homeschooling parent, you may have heard of the concept of year-round education and wondered whether it’s worth considering. You may wonder if these “year-round wackos” are gluttons for punishment and misery. “I NEED THAT LONG SUMMER BREAK”… I hear it all the time. Parents claim it protects their sanity, gives them downtime, allows for awesome family vacations, and helps to rejuvenate for the following school year. I hear ya but I think those folks might not understand what peace the year-round school year brings. Let me show you…

While the traditional school calendar might dictate long summer breaks, year-round homeschooling offers a compelling alternative that comes with a host of benefits. Let’s explore ten advantages of educating your children year-round.

• Consistent Learning Progress: Year-round homeschooling provides a consistent learning routine, reducing the potential for knowledge gaps that can occur during extended breaks. We all know it’s true… kids spend a good chunk of time retraining their brains after a long summer break… not only in the academic department but also with Amy routines, schedules, and discipline. 

• Flexibility: With a year-round schedule, you have the freedom to plan vacations, field trips, and breaks at times that best suit your family’s needs, without being tied to a traditional academic calendar. No one is saying you can’t head to Florida with all the other summer birds but let me tell ya, those typical vacation spots can be even more beautiful, relaxing, and enjoyable off peak seasons (even if it’s just by a week or two)! We’ve gotten some of our best cruise deals in September and October for the Caribbean! 

• Continuous Skill Development: By maintaining a steady learning pace, children have the opportunity to deepen their understanding and skills without the need for lengthy review periods at the start of each school year.

• Individualized Learning: Year-round education allows you to tailor your teaching approach to each child’s unique learning style and pace, fostering a more personalized and effective learning experience. You may find that kids want to be inside more in harsh winters so you get more traditional academic work done then while your summers are better spent with outside, less structured and more play based learning. Spring is the perfect time for those biology lessons of growth and rejuvenation! 

• Retained Knowledge: Shorter breaks between learning sessions help students retain information better, reducing the need to spend excessive time relearning material.

• Reduced Burnout: Year-round education helps prevent burnout that can arise from intense periods of studying followed by long breaks, promoting a healthier approach to learning. This is the one most people don’t realize! Year-round education really does take away the burnout because it’s a schedule that works off of life’s seasons (literally and figuratively) which allows you to get into a natural flow and rhythm of life that every body, mind, and spirit craves.

• Real-world Application: A continuous learning schedule mirrors the real world, where knowledge is acquired and applied year-round, helping children adapt to a lifelong learning mindset. We often talk about “preparing our kids for the real world”… how many of you get two to three months in a row off in your job? It’s just not normal for most and for those that do have that kind of work schedule (oil rig workers? Sailors? Public school teachers? Crab fisherman? Ooh I love the show “Deadliest Catch”… is it still on?) It lends itself to huge adjustment periods when they leave for their “break” and when they go back from their break. Talk about stressful!  No thanks, give me the steadiness of regular work/learning with smaller breaks whenever needed! 

• Enhanced Focus: Speaking of breaks… did you know that regular, shorter breaks help maintain children’s focus and motivation, leading to improved concentration and engagement during learning sessions? True!

• Opportunities for Exploration: Year-round homeschooling allows for more in-depth exploration of subjects, fostering a deeper understanding and passion for learning. You don’t have to fit everything into nine months and totally skip the learning that best happens in the warm summer months! Take your time, stress less, know that the time table of year-round is MUCH more forgiving! Growing a garden is a treasure trove of practical, hands on learning that will stick with your kid(s) for life! Adding academic things to garden growing is such a natural fit… making charts for growth, journaling hypothesis after hypothesis on plant needs, growth etc, cooking with all your yummy veggies and herbs, and drawing/painting the beauty of God’s creation just scratches the surface of what is in store for you!

• Smooth Transitions: Moving from one grade level to the next becomes a smoother process as the transitions are more gradual, easing any potential anxieties associated with drastic changes.

There ya have it… year-round homeschooling offers a multitude of advantages that can contribute to a more effective and enjoyable learning experience for your children. There are a ton more but these cares one if the big o es for me. From consistent progress and personalized learning to reduced burnout and improved focus, the benefits of educating year-round are compelling. By embracing this approach, you’re not only nurturing your child’s intellectual growth but also preparing them for a lifetime of continuous learning and success.

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Embrace the Journey: Do What You Can With What You Have Wherever You Are.

Welcome fellow homesteaders, aspiring adventurers, and anyone who happens to stumble across this blog! I hope you find this post inspirational… motivational… comforting… all “in the feels” as I dive into what I’ve learned living the “Do what you can with what you have wherever you are” way of life. It has become an essence of homesteading and life itself. Let’s explore the beauty of making the most of every opportunity, regardless of our circumstances.

• Cultivate a Positive Mindset:

Every successful homestead, like every prosperous life, begins with the right mindset. Embrace an optimistic perspective and recognize that challenges are opportunities for growth. Even if you have limited resources or face constraints, the power of a positive mindset will guide you towards finding innovative solutions and making the most of what you have. You WILL find yourself on your knees in utter defeat at one point or another. Appreciate this moment for what it is… a moment… an opportunity for rebirth… an opportunity to learn and be/do better… an opportunity to start again knowing better than you did before. Don’t waste hardships ❤️

• Start Small, Dream Big:

Homesteading may seem overwhelming at first, but remember that every journey begins with a single step. Start small, taking one project at a time. Whether it’s growing a few herbs on your windowsill or raising a few chickens in your backyard, every tiny action paves the way for greater accomplishments. Dream big and visualize the homestead of your dreams, then work tirelessly to achieve it, one step at a time.

• Embrace Sustainable Practices:

As hobby homesteaders, we understand the importance of sustainability. By making conscious choices to reduce waste, conserve resources, and recycle materials, we not only nurture our homesteads but also positively impact the environment AND our pocketbook!Incorporate sustainable practices into your daily life and see how even the smallest actions can make a significant difference.

• Foster a Spirit of Adaptability:

Life on the homestead is ever-changing, just like life in general. Embrace adaptability as a core value. Learn from mistakes, adjust your plans as needed, and find new solutions to overcome challenges. Think outside the box!Remember, life doesn’t always go as planned, but those who can adapt will flourish, finding beauty in unexpected places.

• Seek Knowledge and Connect with Others:

One of the most rewarding aspects of the homesteading lifestyle is the continuous pursuit of knowledge. Never stop learning about new techniques, innovative technologies, and ancient wisdom passed down through generations. Engage with the homesteading community, share experiences, and seek guidance from others on this shared journey. Like minded folks are all around you, start chatting!

• Celebrate the Journey, Not Just the Destination:

As you progress in your homesteading journey, pause to appreciate the moments of joy, growth, and accomplishment. The satisfaction lies not only in reaching your ultimate goals but in the everyday joys of tending the land, harvesting your crops, and watching your animals thrive. Celebrate each step forward, knowing that you are building something special, and your efforts matter. 

All in all remember that the essence of life lies in doing what you can with what you have, wherever you are. You may wonder if pouring all you have into this adventure will leave you depleted but I’m here to tell you there is a living well… there is a Creator who is responsible for this creation you are tending to… a Creator who wants the best for you. Your homestead journey is a reflection of your indomitable spirit, resilience, and love for creation. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the triumphs, and know that your path is unique and special. Embody this philosophy not just in your homestead but in all aspects of life, boldly knowing that God will continue to fill you as you serve Him in your endeavors… you will not be depleted. May your days be filled with abundance and purpose as you continue to create your homestead legacy. Happy homesteading!

~Jhenna

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Growing lettuce in the fall in Indiana can be a rewarding experience, as the cooler temperatures provide ideal conditions for this leafy green vegetable. To ensure a successful harvest, follow these steps:

• Choose the Right Variety: Select lettuce varieties that are suitable for fall planting and can withstand cooler temperatures. Some recommended types include romaine, butterhead, and loose-leaf lettuce. Check the seed packet for specific information on the ideal planting time and temperature range.

• Prepare the Soil: Before planting, ensure the soil is well-draining, rich in organic matter, and has a pH level of around 6.0 to 7.0. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its fertility and structure, promoting healthy lettuce growth. Remember, you are harvesting the LEAVES of this plant (rather than slow release nutrients that promote fruit, vegetable, or flowering) so immediate nutrients in the soil are imperative!

• Planting: Start planting lettuce seeds outdoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area. Sow the seeds thinly in rows, approximately 1/4 inch deep, and cover them lightly with soil. Space the rows about 12 to 18 inches apart to provide enough room for the lettuce to grow. Things like kale and spinach like a light frost so continue to successively plant new starts/seeds up to and even slightly past light frosts.

• Watering and Mulching: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, throughout the growing season. Regular watering is especially crucial during dry spells. Applying a layer of organic mulch around the lettuce plants will help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth.

• Protection from Frost: As the fall progresses, be prepared to protect your lettuce from early frosts. Use row covers or cloths to shield the plants on nights when temperatures dip close to freezing. This extra layer of protection can extend your harvest and keep the lettuce leaves in good condition.

By following these steps and providing the right care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh, crisp lettuce during the fall months in Indiana. The cooler weather will enhance the flavor and texture of the lettuce, making it a delicious addition to your autumn meals.

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Pinch me, I must be dreaming!

Today was just the most amazing day ever and absolutely nothing extraordinary happened. How does that even make sense? I wasn’t on vacation… I didn’t win the lottery… no newborn babies were held… it was just a day of normal everyday stuff but yet here I am all giddy and excited because I just had THE BEST DAY EVER!

Let me try to piece it all out so maybe you can help me figure out why I’m on cloud nine…

7:30am after having slept in I woke up to a glorious day with my bedroom windows open all night and that crisp fall air washing over my head peeking out from under soft sheets and an extra blanket on the bed. Echo (our husky) was snoring softly on her bed and I could smell coffee wafting up from downstairs… Kevin was already up as usual luring me down with the intoxicating aroma of deliciousness.

8:30am all dogs were thoroughly walked, fed, watered, loved upon, and Axel (our giant German Shepherd) got a thorough brushing (Mondays are his day for pampering).

8:45am swapped out some laundry and put some dishes away while I waited for my coffee to brew. That first sip of coffee… magical… and I don’t even believe in magic… but it was magical. How have I become that person… it’s so “adulty.” Next thing ya know I’ll be enjoying wine! Cup of coffee in hand, I sat to join Kevin for some morning happiness… but then I got all excited to check on my chickens in their new area (I moved all my chickens up to the secondary garden area to clear it out and fertilize it before winter)! I sat for a millisecond and then announced to my husband that I was going to “check on the chickens and gather eggs.” Echo wanted to join me so I took her as well.

9:15am chickens were checked and all was WONDERFUL! They were so happy and Echo didn’t even try to eat any of them (mainly because she was on a leash and I continued to remind her to “Leave it”! I gathered some of their favorite weeds from outside of the garden area and threw them in for them… happiness level increased tenfold… they were wizard level happy! I did happen to get about a million… maybe a billion… little seeds stuck to my jammie pants in the process but it was totally worth it!

9:30am I come back in and chug my lukewarm coffee while I chat with Kevin.

9:40am I head off for a training session/playdate with my favorite puppy of all time! Love you Doc! Cutest little (though he’s getting HUGE… 50 pounds is hardly little unless you‘re me and used to 100-160 pound dogs on the regular) Rottie ever! Training… playing… chatting… more training… SO MUCH FUN!

12:00pm I realize Gunner is working a day shift and won’t be able to make his 1:00pm haircut appointment so I swing by Tractor Supply to try to convince Jackson to take his lunch at 1pm at take Gunner’s appointment time so Gunner can take his 4:15pm appointment time. He can’t do it because they are a bit short staffed and busy… bad combo for ducking out for a haircut. So I arrange with the hairdresser for both boys to come after work at 4:00pm. While at TSC I pick up some dog food and a bag of jelly beans for Kevin.

12:45pm I swing by the salon to do my sons a favor and prepay for their haircuts (I love little surprises like that!) and end up chatting with their hairdresser for 30 minutes because she is amazing and she got into nursing school!!! I’m so excited for her! I left there on cloud nine!

1:15pm I swing over to the water station to fill several of our 5 gallon water jugs and by this point I am just thinking, “Wow, it has been the best day EVER!” Why? No idea! I get all the jugs filled while replying to some emails, messages, and texts. My aunt updated her profile picture on Facebook (a platform she tends to avoid at all costs) and it’s a beautiful picture of her so that made me all sorts of happy too!

1:25pm I happen to see a bright orange go mango Dodge Challenger across the street at the Dairy Queen drivethru (golly do I love living in a small town) so I run over there and jump in front of the car just as it’s pulling away from the window… it’s Jackson! Thank goodness… I may have been mortified if it had been someone else (probably not though). I say “Hi’ real quick then let hm be on his way to enjoy his lunch… though I did give him a bit of a hard time about “Sure, you can run and get Dairy Queen but ya can’t run and get your hairs cut” (yes I know I pluralized hair… it’s not a typo, I just think it’s funny). I walked over toward the drivethru to say hi to Gunner but he wasn’t in there… probably on his lunch as well somewhere in town.

1:45pm I return home and set about doing farm chores, house chores, catching up one some computer work, walking dogs, making supper, and just all the ordinary things.

5:30pm Gunner got home from his haircut and it looks AWESOME!! Trimmed beard too! He looks so much older and from the side and back I can’t tell him and Jackson apart! He’s happy with it too so that’s awesome!

8:00pm I ask if Gunner wants to come see my new set up for the chickens and he says “sure” so we walk through a neat trail to get to the chickens and I gather the last of the days’ eggs and he pets a chicken… so, that was awesome!

9:00pm I’ve been having computer problems for weeks… some sort of security certificate or something like that… can’t update my website as I need and just a mess with stuff online! I’ve been limping through using a different computer for some things even though this is the one I know and love… my dinosaur of a laptop missing the “o” key that I love and refuse to give up. Finally I had a light bulb moment tonight… Jackson has a Bachelor’s degree in Cyber Security… why have I not requested his help in this matter? I called out “Oh Jackson my son, could you come take a look at this issue I’m having? Don’t look at my desktop, it’s busy , I know it’s busy, don’t say anything about it. The massive amount of icons on my desktop has nothing to do with the issue I’m having. Here, take a seat, I’ll take the dogs out to potty while you work on it.” By the time I returned everything was fixed and there was no lecture about my busy desktop… I think a certain young man was happy mom paid for his haircut today! By the way his haircut was great too, looks so nice!! So now my computer is all perfect again… except that darn “o” key but I just plugged in a different keyboard that I found in one of the boys’ closets.

10:17pm so now here I am. All happy with still no idea why… other than I just feel blessed beyond measure for a life that I never want a vacation from. Anything in my day that you see that would make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and out? I’m excited to head to bed too though… those sheets are SO SOFT! I may head off and finish up night chores sooner rather than later so y all have a great night!

~Jhenna   

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Hey everyone, Fuzzy Bear here. I recently heard the nastiest of rumor concerning a certain Great Pyrenees dog’s retirement. Rest assured, twelve years old is FAR too early for this Great Pyrenees to retire. I was lured inside in the heat of summer with promises of naps in front of box fans and I’ve been held captive ever since. Don’t let anyone tell you different. I wasn’t scared of any spring storms though they most assuredly are out to kill us all. I didn’t enjoy the cooling blasts of air conditioner even though they cooled me perfectly, even on the hottest of days. I didn’t have a hotspot requiring looking after and a horrible cone of shame. I didn’t covet an always full food bowl that I didn’t have to guard from the cats. Belly rubs, daily brushings, ear rubs, booty scratches… all of it just a ploy to keep me inside against my will. It was the Stockholm Syndrome that brought me to the windows scratching to get in when I was sent out to “do my business.” It wasn’t that I WANTED to be back inside, it was just that I was conditioned to think I BELONGED inside… such craziness. I’m wild and meant to be free!

Today I officially escaped! Just a coincidence I suppose that it was a perfectly crisp 70 degree fall day. I was let out to do my business as usual and I just flat out refused to come back inside. Who knew it was that easy? I’m free again!

I looked around the farm as if seeing it for the very first time. Things had gone downhill since I had been inside through the summer. Ducks were waddling around all willy nilly in the goat enclosure, turkeys and chickens were spending way too much time on the lower farm when there was summer garden to clear in the upper farm, guinea pigs and rabbits had multiplied, the buck goat was in full rut, the pigs were feisty, guineas were scouring neighboring woods for ticks instead of our own, and there were a million new chicks!

Where to start? I spent the first couple hours figuring out how to get the ducks out of the goat enclosure… what a puzzle. Of course the ducks thought I was going to eat them so they scattered when I came up behind them. It’s easier to herd them when they stay in a group… or so I’ve been told by our resident German Shepherds. I’m a livestock guardian dog, not a herder. There was a learning curve and I must admit I had to take some rest breaks along the way. I believe Farmer Lady calls these “coffee breaks” and she insists on them. I don’t know what coffee is but I like the idea of the “break” part of it. It was then I found one of our ducks had been adopted by Mama Banty with her newest clutch of chicks. I shook my head in disbelief. We once had a guinea (not a guinea pig… two very different animals!) who thought she was a horse. She refused to range with the other guineas and instead stayed with the horses and adopted all the horse behaviors. Birds are weird! I guess horses are too because I think they thought she was a horse too.

After I got the ducks back to their enclosure and secured I moved my attention to the turkeys and chickens. Farmer Lady was WAY behind the farm curve with getting the summer veggies cleared out and the fall garden completely planted. Some things were in here and there but there were still tomatoes and jalapenos on the plants… what had she been doing? Well, I know what she had been doing because I watched her do it. She had been cleaning her bedroom for the last bunch of days and then she had to clean the rest of the house because she had moved a bunch of stuff out of the bedroom and into other rooms… I guess that’s her definition of “getting rid of stuff.” I made her promise not to touch my coveted box fan. Well, I couldn’t get the chickens and turkeys in the main garden with produce still in there so I moved them into the secondary garden to clear some weeds out of there.

I sat and watched the new chicks for a while… those little fluffs of furry fluffiness are adorable! Usually when I sit and “guard” the chicks the cats are rubbing all over me but today they were totally leaving me alone. How odd. Then the wind shifted ever so slightly and I caught a whiff of something quite vile. A musty smell yet pungent in its sourness… it filled my nostrils. I got up and moved a bit to my left but it seemed the smell was there too. I walked slowly around to the other side of the chick cage and the smell seemed to follow me. That’s when I realized the smell was ME! Suddenly it dawned on me… rounding the ducks up in the goat enclosure. Casper, the buck goat, was in full rut and he must have rubbed against me without me even knowing it because his smell had permeated my fir. Disgusting! Retirement is looking more and more alluring each day!

How in the world would I get this smell off? An honest to goodness bath was out of the question because that would require me to go inside… that’s not happening! Maybe if I found a nice deer carcass in the woods I could roll in that and get this horrible buck goat smell off? Unfortunately I knew of no deer carcasses in the woods at the moment. Ooh, the neighbor’s lake! Yes, I’ll take a dip in the lake, that has to work!

I loped off to the lake, giving the goats an evil eye as I went past their enclosure, they deserved it… well at least Casper did.. A few guinea pigs started following me just past the barn but I waved them off reminding them open spaces like the lake are no places for perfect hawk food. They readily agreed. I was able to make quick introductions with some of the new babies who, by the way, are positively adorable… for a rodent.

The lake was still deliciously warm from the long summer rays and I glided in like a like stealthy gator. I dipped down in to make sure to cover all my fur and climbed back out by the dock… not the best idea as I had to climb up over rocks and let’s just say it wasn’t as graceful as my entrance.

As I headed back to the farm I came to the unfortunate realization that instead of washing me clean the lake had simply shifted my “buck goat stench” to “wet buck goat stench” which was no improvement. One might even say it was worse. Oh well, I have no one to impress.

I checked in with the cats… which by the way have increased in numbers as well! We are now the proud owners of two dumpster kitties. Why does Farmer Lady do this? Actually it was Gunner, her son who did this. He brought home two little kittens that were rescued out of the local Dairy Queen dumpster and they are quite content to live inside and drive us all absolutely bonkers! Another very obvious reason why I had to get out of there! Ever had two kittens think your tail is their personal chase toy? It’s no fun and it never ends… I think those kittens needed to take more coffee breaks and just simmer down. Chicken and Midnight Fudge are their names… weird names but who am I to judge? The cats all have very weird names.

OK, back to checking in with the outside cats. I called a meeting of the minds and everyone showed up except Cinnamon, Dr. Steve Matron, OG Shadow, and Captain Lucky Jack Aubrey… probably off hunting… I had seen them earlier in the morning so I wasn’t worried. I was very surprised to see Kitty Soft Paws at the meeting because last I knew she was shunning me due to an unfortunate disagreement (yes, I may have lost my temper) about whether or not it is appropriate to eat baby bunnies (he says yes, I say no and I may or may not have made my thoughts known when I rescued a baby bunny from his jaws a few months ago.) Farmer Lady wasn’t thrilled with either of us because she had no idea where the nest was and had to bottle feed this baby bunny day and night “forever” (her word, not mine) until it was weaned and able to head up in a safe enclosure to grow a bit more before release.

Where was I? Oh yes, back to the cat meeting. With most everyone in attendance there was a lot to cover. It seemed each cat had a list of grievances a mile long and there was talk of unionizing. First and foremost, the teenager chickens were getting a bit big for their britches and attempting to challenge many of their cats to their meals of mice, moles, voles, frogs, and even snakes! The cats were livid that they couldn’t eat their kill in peace. “If the chickens want a mouse they should hunt and kill their own mouse in the fields like I do!” shouted Tres from the back row. I calmly explained what all the cats already knew, the big open field is no place for the chickens. Hawks and eagles will swoop down and get them lickity split. It was all our jobs to protect the more “vulnerable” animals of the farm… there was a roar of laughter. Apparently the cats weren’t as on board with farm protection as I had hoped. We moved on (without really finding any solution to the chickens bothering the cats at mealtime… shhh… don’t tell the cats) to the ducks using the cats’ water bucket down by the house entrance. This was a big deal because the ducks are disgusting sloppy drinkers no matter if they’ve had one drink or ten! According to the cats (and I can confirm this is true) the ducks eat then go directly to drinking and as they drink they expel half of whatever they’ve just eaten into the water they are drinking. Quite unpleasant and just plane rude if you are using someone else’s water bowl. I assured the cats that the ducks would be kept in their enclosure and I would see about moving up “lane fence” on Farmer Lady’s “to do” list so the ducks wouldn’t come down to the house even if they were free ranging. The rest of the meeting went on much the same… some problems I was able to provide a solution and others glossed over and changed the subject without the cats realizing no solution had been given. Full notes for farm therapy session number 756 can be found in the “waiting to be typed up by Farmer Lady” inbox, available upon request (after Farm Lady types them up.)

Well, I better get going as there is still so much to do! I feel like I haven’t even filled you in on a fraction of what is going on but we always have next week! Until then, watch out for those buck goats, try to keep your ducks in a row… or at least in sight… or at least in their right enclosure… ugh, just try to keep your ducks alive! See ya and all that jazz!

~Fuzzy Bear… Great Pyrenees extraordinaire       

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“I make these woods look good”
~Fuzzy Bear

You know I’m back like I never left… another sprint, another step… another day, another breath… been chasing dreams, but I never slept…. It’s me, your friendly neighborhood farm dog Fuzzy Bear back for another installment of “Friday’s on the Farm.” Farmer lady has been outside nonstop this week blaring her music all crazy loud like none of us are trying to nap the day away. How rude. To make matters worse I can’t seem to get one of those songs out of my head now… help me out with the name of that tune (see first sentence) because it’s driving me nuts. Farmer Lady loves it… a little too much and I think I’m gonna disable her “repeat” function for songs in her iTunes account… just gotta get some opposable thumbs and her password.

Enough complaining, let me tell you about my week because it was INCREDIBLE! First off, the weather has been gorgeous and Monday found us without Farmer Lady and the husband as they took a little jaunt down to Nashville…. I assume it was to eat ‘hot chicken” or something like that. The cats and I jumped at the opportunity to hatch a plan to break into the hen house and nab some eggs. Unfortunately, the cats overslept the 11am rendezvous time and I was unable to do it on my own… stupid lazy cats.

Tuesday brought Farmer Lady and the husband home once again and she seemed to notice that I was giving the cats my coldest shoulder ever… like total shunning. She encouraged us to “talk it out” but I refused. To make matters so much worse, she allowed the cats to roll around in the massive piles of my hair that she brushed out during what had to have been one of the best brushings of my life. What the heck Farmer Lady? Don’t give those darn cats ANY enjoyment… they completely bailed on our egg heist. Wait a minute…. Is she in cahoots with those cats? Did they text her and let her know about the egg heist? Can the cats even text? Did Farmer Lady give them a phone? Did they talk the farmer Lady’s sons into texting for them? I have so many questions and even less trust in the cats now. I will be keeping a VERY close eye on them!

Wednesday brought forth the birth of a new game. It’s the best game ever and I call it “Look Cute, Hide,  Pounce, and Seek” Let me explain how it is played. I act all cute and get Farmer Lady to look at me. Then I hop behind a tree and she calls out “Where is Fuzzy? Oh darn, I’ve lost Fuzzy! Fuuuuzzzzzyyyy, where are you?” I then hop out from behind the tree and pounce around like a puppy. I’m really quite extraordinary at this game and with Farmer Lady’s obvious limited IQ (I mean really, she watches me go behind the tree, how can she think she has lost me? Duh!) it seems to be a great game for us to play together… she REALLY seems to like it! I will see if the cats want to play this game with me… wait no, I’m mad at the cats.

Now you see me…
Best… game… ever

Now you don’t!
best…game…ever!

Thursday we had some new bunnies begin their free range experience. They are always a little nervous on their first day out of any cage so I try to come alongside them to offer support. Almost always they hop away like I’m gonna eat them. They usually hop into the pig enclosure and I just laugh because if anyone is gonna eat them it’s those pigs… those pigs eat EVERYTHING! They’ll get used to me, I never take it personally. They’ll also find out I’m quite the legend as far as snuggle bugs go… they all flock to me in winter as we nestle into the sweet soft hay…it’s really quite magical! Towards dusk I was feeling a little freaked out by some rifle shots coming from across the creek (apparently it’s “deer season”… I don’t know what that is because deer are always around… do humans think deer are only around in November? They are seriously ALWAYS in these woods… maybe they are invisible to humans the other months of the year… stranger things have been known to happen and that would explain why they hit so many of them with their cars… hard to see an invisible deer and then maybe they become visible after humans hit them with their cars. But in November deer are visible all the time so humans call it “deer season.” Yup, that must be it. Sorry, I got off subject. Anyways, I wanted to come inside so no hunter thought I was a deer and Farmer Lady seemed to have no problem with that… until she let me in and everyone started complaining of an “odor.” You’re welcome family… I found a dead fish along the creek and rubbed in it for a while. Farmer Lady seemed to be in quite a conundrum as to what to do. One on hand, I was happily snuggled behind the couch, under the boys’ desk, and on the other hand I had an “odor” and demanded to be in and amongst the family if I was gonna be in the house.

If she put me outside I would assuredly head over to the neighbor’s house, paw at the door until she let me in, and be a total nuisance with my “smell” there. If she kept me inside her house her family would apparently “barf.” Soooooo… she put me in the entryway of the house where they couldn’t smell me but yet I felt safe away from the scariness of rifle shots outside (apparently they were “very far away” and I “shouldn’t be a baby” but I don’t care what she says… her IQ is low (see above with the Look Cute, Hide, Pounce, and Seek  game). Well, I got bored… there was this bag of  rabbit bedding… and the rest is history. I may or may not have ripped open and spread the contents of the rabbit bedding all over the entryway. No worries it was unused bedding, I’m not a crazy monster that goes around ripping open bags of soiled rabbit bedding. On second thought, that sounds DELIGHTFUL!

“When Fuzzy gets bored”

Friday brought forth a flurry of activity from the Farmer Lady! She must have added two extra shots of espresso to her coffee because she was all about getting outside projects done. It was really quite annoying because she wouldn’t stay still. When she is outside I figure it is my sworn duty to watch over her, protect her, and in general keep her company. That is a much easier task if she would just stay in one spot. But nooooooo…. She’s gotta flit all over the homestead like it’s her personal space without a care in the world as to the night I had ripping open bags of rabbit bedding… I’m tired this morning, I would like to nap please… rabbits come nap with me because I’m still shunning the cats! Nevermind, Farmer Lady is on the move again, apparently all this stuff has to get done RIGHT NOW! UGH!

So that is that… the week at a glance in all its glory. It is dreary on the farm this morning… gonna rain. That’s perfectly fine by me though, Farmer Lady is much easier to keep an eye on when she is inside (in other words, she’s not my problem when she’s inside!) It’s also Saturday so I do apologize for not getting this out to everyone yesterday as the title “Fridays on the Farm” obviously intends… but I think you all understand that I am a dog and days of the week are pretty much lost on me anyways.

Have a great weekend everyone!

~Fuzzy Bear

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I’m sitting in front of my computer this morning after drinking a really great cup of coffee and listening to the ever funny song “Cows with guns” by Dana Lyons. You see my coffee was the “AK47” from Black Rifle Coffee Company… so you see, there is a method to my madness… AK47… cows with guns… stay with me, I promise it gets better. Black Rifle Coffee is veteran owned and they hire a ton of veterans to do what the company does better than most… make amazing roast to order coffee… so that’s wow worthy and I love it!

Enough about coffee and farm animals with heavy artillery… let’s start learning to let go while we hold on tight.

This topic came to me early this morning as I lay in bed wrestling with my oldest son’s latest plan. His plan… head to Air Force Officer Training School (OTS) after he gets his college degree in three very short years.

You see, he turns nineteen in a little over a week and I may be having some struggles with having an adult that I gave birth to living and continuing to get older and older under my roof. As he gets older he becomes more “adulty”… you know… adulty… like an adult. How can he be an adult when I’m an adult… is it possible we can both be adults at the same time? I did not sign up for this when I kissed each of his little baby toes and fingers, stared into his big brown baby eyes with incredibly long baby eyelashes, listened for his “I’m hungry” baby cries, and sniffed the top of his baby head (don’t think I’m weird… the scent of the top of a baby’s head is like cocaine for mamas).

I thought it would be relatively easy to let my kids go when they reached adulthood. Not only would it be easy but as they kicked their little three year old feet in defiance over having to wear shoes, screamed as I made them take yet ANOTHER bath before a totally unfair early bedtime, and refused to eat anything other than beanie weenies for an entire year I envisioned myself packing their suitcases and throwing them on the first bus to boot camp on their 18^th birthdays.

My oldest son’s 18^th birthday came and went and he actually had been planning to enlist in the air force after high school but then decided to go to college instead. Secretly I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief… I wasn’t ready to let him go yet. In reality though, it was not my job anymore to “let” him go or even “make” him stay. My job had changed.

My job now was to hold him tight… in my arms, actions, and words when he was near me and in my heart and thoughts when he was away. My new job involved a new level of encouraging separation and independence. Encouraging separation has been easy for me to fake. I made him get a job outside the home at sixteen to encourage independence and responsibility. Inside I missed every fiber of his being when he headed off for each shift at work. On the outside I praised his success at work and didn’t make any kind of big deal about his absence from our home. The new normal, right? I hated the new normal for so long… I missed my son even though he was only gone each day for a short time.

I encouraged separation by teaching the realities of life with taxes, rent/mortgage payments, electric bills, phone bills, grocery shopping, laundry, relationships, and all the other million things that go into living away from the home of mom and dad. I taught him these things and then I refuse to let him do most of them. I did demand that he do his taxes the other day rather than letting him continue to put it off… so there, that’s something “adulty” he did.

Right now we live a life of encouraging separation by continuing to have our adult son do the things of adulthood… some on a regular basis (working, taking college classes, paying for the gas in his car, doing his own taxes etc.) and others on an “ok, you know how to do this if you would have to and we will ask you to do it on occasion but for the most part mom and dad will take care of it” (cooking meals, doing laundry, paying insurance etc.).

I hold my son tight by watching him like a hawk and I’m not ashamed of it. I’m not following him around all the time but I make it a point to get to know the folks he works with as well as his friends and their families. I actively initiate conversations about his college work, what he’s reading and watching, future plans, hobbies, his job, relationships, diet, and his spiritual path. I ask for his advice and help around the farm and home as a fellow adult rather than a kid. I don’t let him get away with a bunch of “I don’t know”,  “I guess”, or “Nothing”… there is always something meaningful going on in SOME aspect of one’s life and gosh darnnit I want to know about it when it comes to my family… and my friends… and acquaintances… and complete strangers if I’m being totally honest with you all.

Truth be told, this road of encouraging separation while holding tight is a tough one for many, including me. It looks different for each family and it often changes day by day. This opening of my heart all came about because I didn’t get my way recently regarding something with my oldest son. I caught wind of an internship with Vectren (local power company) that was right in line with my son’s degree program (Information Systems Security). I excitedly told him about it and pressured him like a used car salesman to jump at this opportunity and at least put in for it. He shut me down quickly and completely by simply saying, “No thanks, I have a plan and I’m not interested in that internship.” Not knowing when I’ve been defeated I pressed on that no plan of his could possibly be as good as my plan (not my best moment of parenting). Being the adult he is he didn’t fight back and simply told me, “No thanks” AGAIN (the nerve of that kid adult!) and went on to tell me that he planned on staying at Tractor Supply Company for now, focusing on school, get his degree and then apply for Air Force Officer Training School.

Honestly, my heart dropped at first because in his plan he didn’t stick around the home area to work after college. Continuing with the honesty thing, I selfishly prefer the holding tight when he’s around and I can see him, give him hugs, and have conversations with him anytime I want… the holding tight from afar, in my thoughts, heart, telephone conversations, and texts takes more work and I know I have the tendency to be lazy in this regard. But, the upside… the kid adult has a plan! My adult that my husband and I raised up HAS A PLAN! So, now my heart is not all droopy but rather right in the middle where I guess it’s supposed to be.

Sooooooo… what do I need to work on? Ugh… everything. But for right now my son is home and will be, God willing, for a few more years so we’ll just put some of this holding tight from afar on the back burner until I’m forced to acknowledge it as a reality. Maybe not the best plan but I think the coffee and the high from the call for bovine freedom, (seriously, listen to the “Cows With Guns” song (does have one swear word in it, sorry)) has worn off and I need another dose of optimism and caffeine.

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Ratchet… don’t fall for that cute face!

So, as many of you know a few months ago we retired Nala (8 year old long haired German Shepherd) from livestock guardian dog to pampered inside house dog. This left Fuzzy Bear (7 year old Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog) without a partner. In comes Ratchet… an amazing Great Pyrenees pup we got from some amazing friends up by Indianapolis.

He’s been here for a few months and has grown into a wonderful pup and perfect partner for Fuzzy Bear. As the weeks flew by we knew he was getting closer and closer to the time of the dreaded surgery… the neuter.

Surgery was done when he was just over 5 months old and a still happy puppy returned home in apparently no pain (pain meds given just in case). We thought we were in for a couple calm weeks of convalescent leave while he recovered inside. I mentioned this dog is accustomed to being out with the goats, chickens, rabbits, cats, horses, and Fuzzy Bear 24/7 right? Well, if I hadn’t mentioned it let me make it very clear now… this pup is not accustomed to the wonderful world of “inside.”

Soooo…. Let me take you on a tour of our convalescent time with Ratchet as he recovered from his neuter surgery.

• He taught himself to push the water cooler spout on… but not off.
• He learned to shred paper towel straight off the roll that was obviously offending him by his proximity to his kennel.
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• He learned to eat drywall through his kennel because it too obviously offended him by its proximity to the kennel (the wall folks… the wall offended him so he ate holes in it)
• He learned to dump an entire water dish on the floor by grabbing the towel it sat upon an running.
• He found a fun game in grabbing my neighbor’s ball of yarn that she was CURRENTLY knitting with and running with it…several times (I hope she’s still willing to dog sit on occasion)
• He learned the delicate art of performing a squeakerectomy and destuffing of eight dog toys.
• He managed to lose six baby puppy teeth and lovingly hand them over to Echo (husky puppy) to chew on.
• He learned to dig to China in the mud puddles in the back doggy potty area… yup we’ll stick with hoping they were all “mud” puddles.
• He learned how to open the baby gate from the kitchen and let loose the entire herd of dogs (during some cold and stormy snaps we had all 6 dogs inside… 2 German Shepherds, 2 Great Pyrenees, Siberian husky pup, golden retriever).
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It was a LONG 2 weeks of recovery but I am glad to say Ratchet has been returned to livestock guardian dog duties OUTSIDE and he…me…all of us couldn’t be happier.

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