Ready or Knot. . .
The in-home foster care interview is tomorrow. Most of the bachelor influence from the 2 former, temporary live-in employees has been removed and the house is looking as near to a family residence as this hundred year old shack is going to look here in the 21st century. The housing upgrade is officially on the drawing board with enough physical evidence to prove that we really mean it. Alas, the best case scenario puts the upgrade into October before move-in will be possible. I have been living in this shack for most of the 3 years since Hubby and his brother inherited it in 2016. None of the Spa Crowd will be impressed, but I feel confident we will be able to manage a few months with the added chaos of 3 physically young children. We have court orders to help insulate against the middle aged child chaos and the comfort of physical distance from their *perfection*. The distance isnae so great as the physical distance I maintain from my birth family, but a 3 hour drive one way is allot for a middle aged child who cannae even pay for their own meals, much less keep up with vehicle maintenance.
My gut knots arenae so fierce this morning. I feel as ready as I ever will be for this NFF deal. I feel confident that Hubs and I are harmonizing from the same sheet of music. We have plans to spend today and Sunday morning fine tuning our harmonies before the interview Sunday afternoon. If I understand the ifs of the case, the custody proceedings could move very fast after the interview. The local school year starts Wednesday and big brother has fellow 1st graders to meet and greet. Prayers in progress that we will be able to get him there with confidence and a positive attitude. Just praying. . .
On a calmer front, my 65th birthday is next week. I'm giving myself a Heritage Turkey flock for my birthday. 20 is the minimum order for the hatchery I ordered the poults from, so I bet you can guess how big the flock will start out as. Brooding feather babies isnae a small feat, so it seems unlikely that all 20 will make it to adulthood, but I have laid in preparations with the experience gleaned from brooding baby chickens. We see how much I have learned.
Aside from the thing pile in the unclaimed room of the Honey Barn, the last vestige of bachelor influence on the farm is the Man Cave the Farm Handy installed inside the projected brood den. He was only here for a few weeks, but his Man Cave is already cluttered, disorganized and thick with dust from the dirt floor of the barn and the summer dust blowing in through the open south wall of the barn. For now, I believe the poults will be okay in the warm summer nights of drought season, but it would be nice if the added protection of the brood den was available for them. Do I have the stomach to clean up after yet another middle aged child? We see how the days go. For now, it isnae high on the worry list, but it would be nice to have the brooding options free of the middle aged child blockage.
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Sounds very stressful. Birds are comforting tho. I miss having baby chickens in the house. Not baby people tho. Mom used to have a daycare I had to work in. I don't miss that. Good luck.
Happy for your New Brooding babies!! Even MORE Huge, you and Hubby are Harmonizing once again....it's been a road, no maps, a determination to find, refurbish house and home at the designated spot...what an achievement over the past couple of years!!!
Wondering if as John has said to me, his depression and his anxiety are like both feet are in cement blocks, In high school, he came home one day with the phrase ""'don't let negative energy be your friend'"""..profound words, a life lesson from a 14 year old...not sure if the sage advice came from his school psychologist, or if he came up with the words...his 'ole soul' per another therapist, well I'm .thinking he needs to hear them again. Not verbal, written in a letter that he can 'take in' if he chooses.
I can't do much, yes Prayers Are Strong, I want to offer a Negative Energy Shield to protect your heart from breaking emotionally, and the daunting task of three little babies....at 65 no less! You at 65, me just at 66, we are stronger, have more back bone at our beacon call than many I could think of...dear son one of them.
I too need to learn how to not be friends with negative energy....my projecting hamster wheel, I do believe is my cement block.
((((((Arfie)))))). The journey into the familiar and yet also unknown is challenging indeed, but it sounds as if head, heart, hearth, and home are harmonious as you begin. Triple hugs of support as you venture~
Hugs, love, blessings and support Arfie. What a lot of things to sort and ready. I have confidence in you though Arfie.
Early birthday wishes and blessings. The additional brood sounds exciting.
Hugs and love my friend.
Sending Light and Love Arfie through all of your upcoming trials and Happy Early Birthday to you. I hope I make it to 65;)
I think that being able to farm your own eggs is cool.
Among the bigger questions on the foster care applications is, "Extra Curricular Activities." I hated being a Sports Mother for sons. I hear tell Sports Mother means something entirely different for girls, but on the Boy Teams, it felt like humiliation unleashed. Please spare me further time in the concession stand, distributing flyers, etc. with nothing more to show than missing my sons' action on the field and dysfunctional, middle-aged adults. These days I'm the quietest person in the Ladies Room when the *liberated* women start bandying sport stats.
I am thinking the chicken and turkey coops will look even sexier with 4H signs in front of them. I've never tasted a turkey egg. Does 4H still count as an extra-curricular activity? Even here in this agricultural community, the 4H Clubs are taking the back seats to the jock shows.
Heh, I remember 4H. I was at a few meetings at someone in my old neighborhood house. Meh. I became disinterested shortly after a few meetings. I am sure others liked the meetings.
I have seen people cook ostrich eggs on TV. You need a hammer to break those. I would stick with chicken eggs.
Am I supposed to be surprised that you would stick with what you know and lose interest in all else, Stigmata?
I haven't pondered the potentials for raising ostriches yet. So many critters and so little time. . . Think I'll focus on the turkey poults and still young chicken flock before I ponder further potentials.
Arfie, honestly I should actually get away from the computer. It's a vicious circle with me. Personally, I am nervous of face to face communication. I stick with my monitors.
Turkeys sound cool. They are kinda pretty with their tail feathers. I can't say much about their neck and heads.
Sounds like you have everything you can in order. In laws had ducks and geese. Goose eggs were bigger, and taste was richer. No hammer needed. Yes, 4H counts. It's in the same league as boy and girl scouts as character builders. Hoping all goes well tomorrow. Thinking it will. Hugs to all.
4H sounds good! it is still a big deal in my town, i think. i don't hang out with anybody, nevermind people with kids, but they always have 4H kids at the fair with their sheep or their pigs..., what else? rabbits, steers - they must do chickens and turkeys/poultry! and sewing/quilting, they have cooking contests - like making jam - i don't know if that is 4H.
that is wonderful to think of the gks having the op of raising livestock/poultry, etc.
There is a show on...I think it is on Discovery channel, but not sure - called The Incredible Doc Pol - he's a verterinarian and he takes care of lots of 4H animals : ) it is a current show - so it is happening now.
Healing hopes on the nervousness of life outside virtual reality, Chris. In my personal herstory, computers are only how I pay my bills. Critters are my social anxiety shield. Seeking the balance.
Not counting the 6 broadbreasted turkey poults who were murdered by snakes a month or two ago, this is my first foray into turkey world. The first thing I learned is that broadbreasted turkeys are bioengineered for meat production far more than personality. It is possibly a blessing that they were murdered by snakes.
The poults on order are hatchery surprise Heritage Turkeys. The "hatchery surprise" means they are giving me their surplus poults but they guarantee at least 4 different breeds in the mix. With my chicken adventures, figuring out the breed is half the fun, so I am going to let the breed-guessing adventures continue on with the turkeys. I've been warned that heritage turkey nature is closer to canine than chicken. Expect bonding action from day one and don't be surprised if they follow you everywhere as soon as they are able. So I've been told. I'm looking forward to the first-hand discovery.
So much to look forward to! Hugs