It’s TWINS!

I got a call this afternoon from Caitlyn.  She heard our momma goat Pepper crying…in labor!  By the time I rushed home from work, I had missed the whole event…all except the clean up.  Pepper had given birth to 2 of the cutest little bucklings! 

 

20 Year Reunion

Well, it's been 20 years since I graduated high school.  It doesn't seem that long!  Yesterday, our class met at the park for a family get together..I didn't attend.  In the evening, we met at Quincy Magoos for the adults only part.  Being that I'm not socal at all, it took quite a bit of self pushing to even get me to go.  In fact, I wasn't going until Friday afternoon when I decided I should.  Troy called in for vacation...even with only a days notice, he was able to get off.  We were one of the first to arrive.  Now, I'm not a bar person at all and even to step foot in one makes me terribly uncomfortable.  My theory was that since they also served food and there were some familys there that I would be fine.  Of course, I went into this fully expecting to continue to be the loner off to the side hoping that no one talked to me...however...it's a little disappointing when it actually happens that way.  Keep in mind that only a couple of people from the "group" I was in at school were there.  Most were from more outgoing, popular or sports groups....none of which I ever belonged to.  So, we sat, Troy and I, the only ones on the non-smoking side.  Everyone passed us by, none invited us to sit with them and no one asked to sit with us.  We finally moved to a bar section so we weren't totally alone.  Throughout the night, those that were sitting near us eventually moved to other tables.  By this time, I didn't care if I talked to anyone and I sure wasn't going to mingle.  The few that did stop and talk asked mostly about Stacy and where she was.  I spent most of the time there texting and talking to her to get her there.  She's still able to fit in and mingle and talk to people and is obviously still a popular person in the group.  Don't get me wrong, It was nice to see people that we graduated with, but I couldn't help to leave with a feeling of disappointment...I was remembered by a very few (even with a name tag on).  I spent most of my night in bed trying to figure out what I could have done differently and trying to reason out why I turned out the way I did.  Trying to figure out why being around people made me so miseralble.  I felt good about managing to get myself there in the first place, but still, even after all these years, want to fit in.  Stacy left shortly before us and we slipped out without being noticed...the story of my life.

Finally Friday!

Some issues from yesterday are at least partially resolved…hope it continues to get better.  I’ve got some work to do and some decisions to make, but I’m up for it! I think I am anyway…

I found this morning that another one of my turkey hens was taken from her nest.  All that was left was a pile of feathers…so, I take off following the trail of feathers to try and find what we are dealing with.  Whatever “it” is doesn’t seem to care about the bait in the trap.  I was hoping that the problem was taken care of when the raccoon was relocated.  I’m guessing I was wrong.  The feather trail leads down to the ditch and partially down the road.  I’m left thinking that the neighbor’s dog is the culprit.  When I made it to their driveway, he was loose and came out after me.  It would be interesting to know if the remains of my turkey were back in their yard, but I’m not going to go find out.  I’m down to 1 hen now….and I’m still frustrated about it.  Aside from sitting outside on watch with a shotgun at night, I’m at a loss. 

Caitlyn texted me multiple times from camp last night.  Seems that there are a few unruly kids attending.  I believe the problem was taken care of, at least for now.  She doesn’t seem to be homesick, and actually seems quite comfortable away from here.  I really never expected my little girl to take up target shooting.  At least I know she will always be able to protect herself!

Terrible Nights make for Terrible Days!

A huge combination of events yesterday made for a sleepless night last night.  I'm going on barely 3 hours sleep and fading pretty quick.  We sent Caitlyn off today for a 4 day rifle camp in Marshall, MO.  She will be home Sunday afternoon.  Zack and I milked this morning and literally were soaked from the rain by the time we were done.  Granted, we were in the barn to milk, but it was the walk to and from the barn that was wet!  We had to make a unplanned trip to Walmart when we were done to get a couple of dry t-shirts so we could make it through the day. The boys are at work with me today and I'm babysitting my nephew Joshua.  Technically, I'm at work, but I'm having a terrible time focusing...maybe it'll get better as the day progresses. I'm still freezing from being damp...the dry shirt helped, but my socks, shorts and undergarments were all wet too.  I should have just went home and tried for a do over...

As for yesterday's events, lets just say that big changes may be in store for our family...not necessarily for the good.  I won't know until later how things will work out, but the potential for change is definately there.  I'm worried, stressed and honestly a little sick over it all.

On my way home from work today, this owl was sitting on the power lines.  Caitlyn tried to step out of the car to snap its picture, but a car came up from behind us and we had to move.  When we got turned back around it was gone.  Thankfully, on my way back through later, it was back.  It’s a beautiful barred owl.  I’m hoping he or she continues to return.

Just before I turned on our road, I caught this pretty girl in the neighbor’s crops…by the look on her face, I caught her by surprise too!

4th of July

I started out today making blackberry cobbler and cottage cheese salad for dinner at my parents house. This is going to be a strange 4th.  None of my kids want fireworks!  I don't think in all of my 38 years that we have ever not done fireworks!  Caitlyn says that she knows it's the 4th and knows what it means, but it's a waste of money to buy fireworks...hmmmm, I may have contributed to this thought...financial brainwashing maybe??  I tried and tried to get them to get sparklers, snap pops, confettii shooters or little rockets...but...NO... they didn't want any!  I'm just not sure how to think about this.  My younger sister and her family went to a friend's house, so we didn't even have the whole family together this year.  We have Shirley and Harold staying at mom's this year from California.  They've been in town for about 3 weeks now.  The family cookout and fireworks we have had for the last 5 years at my parent's property had to stop because there are just too many cows out there now...it just seems like things are changing too much.  Our dinner at mom's was great...you just can't beat hamburgers and hot dogs.  The kids swam for a while, Zack went home with Stacy to help mow her yard, Josh came home with me and we went out to feed cows...Troy went to the hospital to visit a friend that just had a baby...not much excitement.  I tried again to just get a few fireworks for tonight...it didn't work.  We saw a few displays from a distance around our house, but that is about it.  All in all, it was one of the strangest 4th's I've ever had, but we were all together.....that's what counts! Caitlyn and Zack went upstairs to bed, Kyle and Josh fell asleep watching Tom and Jerry on the hide-a-bed, Troy and I went to be with no kids, but still had all the dogs!