Mother’s Day Weekend in NC

I read online today that Mother’s Day has the record for lowest crime day of all holidays. It’s because most mothers are out eating brunch and therefor aren’t committing crimes. Makes sense. I was out eating brunch and not committing crime this morning. 

The family went to Homestead, a place that Julia had been wanting to visit. The owner had been a chef at some pretty high end restaurants before coming to the country and opening his own little place. It only serves breakfast and lunch two days a week, and it is pretty much always packed. We got there before the crowd.

We had ordinary food, but it was served and presented interestingly. It was exactly what I would have expected from an experienced, fine dining chef. The decor was also worthy of examination. I loved the repurposed church pews and the diagonal siding on the walls. It was a nice start to Mother’s Day weekend. 

Earlier in the morning I was not as happy. I awoke during a nightmare about my upcoming wedding. My heart was pounding and my head ached. For some reason I dreamed that the wedding was starting and I couldn’t find any of the things I was supposed to be wearing. The things I could find were either ridiculously unsuitable or stained and unwearable. I was frantic and so frustrated. It didn’t help when I looked out the window and saw no one had put up the tent, or brought the chairs. I was glad to wake up.  It made me long for the original, tiny plan of having maybe a dozen people standing under Mom’s balcony for a 20 minute ceremony. But the plan has grown. 

The dream was probably because of recent talks about clothing choices for the wedding and the shopping I have done while here in North Carolina.  I picked out a suit coat and pants, and shirt for Kevin. He was going to get something new anyway and I thought we might as well look coordinated.  I’ve bought clothing for a birthday present before, but this was more and felt kind of special, intimate even. So many crazy feelings  are coming up around this event. It’s a different brand of crazy, but significant just the same. 

Tomorrow is my last day at Riverbend Farm. We will go to church together and I will give Julia her Mother’s Day card and a little houseplant.  I helped Gwennie make a card for her as well. It has been a good two week visit. I love feeling reconnected with the place and the people. It has also been good to be here where it is definitely spring, the garden is growing, the trees are fully leafed out and we don’t have to wear coats. I’m hoping it has quit snowing by the time I’m back in north Wisconsin. Yeah…

My little North Carolina farm girl

Adventures: Minding the Farm

My 6 month old granddaughter’s surgery is this coming Thursday. Both parents are taking time off to stay with her in the hospital for the expected 3 – 5 days in ICU and step down units. I am staying home to mind the farm. My goal is that all animals be alive and where they are supposed to be when Julia and Kevin return.

You’ve heard enough about the dogs. Of course, they get fed every morning and evening (and anything they can get in between).

I’m writing this to see if I remember all the instructions I’ve been given.

MORNING CHORES

In the barn:

1. Feed Rosie the horse, 3 handfuls of horse feed (1 from her previous kind, 2 from the one she’s transitioning to) plus a squirt of some kind of goop

2. Feed Kita the horse, 3 cups of her feed, 2 doses of supplement, 2 scoops of diatomaceous earth, wetted down with a little bit of water. Hay for the day, and check water.

3. Feed Heidi the goat. Small scoop of goat feed, water, hay as needed.

4. Prepare feed for field animals. 2 buckets with 2 large scoops each of horse feed for horses, fill with water and let soak. Also a bucket of all stock feed for sheep – 1 large scoop.

5. Put halter on Rosie and lead her to pasture for the day. Leave halter on gate. Clean her stall.

6. Put buckets and bales of hay in Mule

Rosie, out to pasture
The Mule (an indispensable helper)

In the field:

1. For ponies, goats, rams – throw hay in two or three spots, at least half a bale

2. For horses – dump the two buckets in separate feed tubs, make sure donkey gets a little from the sheep bucket. Hay in hay box, about 3/4 bale. Check water.

3. For sheep (ewes) – dump their feed in feed tub. Put hay in for sheep and Rosie (they share a pasture). Check water. (Question: how do I keep Rosie from eating the sheep feed?)

Field horses and Carlos the donkey, finishing their morning hay

EVENING CHORES

In the barn:

1. Feed Kita, same as in morning, more hay if it’s really cold. Check water.

2. Feed Heidi. Check hay and water

3. Go get Rosie from field, feed her medicine with a handful of her food. Put rest of her food in the stall with her. Hay, couple flakes, and water.

4. Prepare feed for field animals as in the morning.

5. Buckets for horses and sheep in the Mule, along with hay for all in the field

In the field:

1. Toss hay to ponies, donkey and goats, at least half a bale. Check water.

2. Feed horses their buckets as in the morning. Hay again, 3/4 bale. Water should be good if checked in the morning.

3. Feed sheep their bucket and some hay, check water.

Sheep, doing their thing