…My heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, health for better living, for my club, my community and my country.
Oh yes. I was in 4H. It’s the fall fair this morning and while I do get quite excited about fancy chickens, my favourite part of the fair are the 4H kids leading their animals around the ring. I assume that my kids will be in 4H, I just wonder what they’ll want to do. Will they want their own sheep or goat? Will they want a dairy cow? Time will tell.
Scott is off goose hunting at the moment. I am wondering if we’re going to have to clean geese before the fair or not. I am wondering if goose liver pate is as good as chicken liver pate? We helped some friends of ours with their chickens the other night and collected the livers to give to my mother to make pate. MMM. Pate.
Marie’s head is presently deep in our compost pile, but I think this weekend we are going to go for a combo of boiling and pressure washing to clean her up. The friend Scott is off hunting with drives around with a rubbermaid tub and a saw in the back of his truck, so I think we’re going to encourage his assistance. I was very surpised how small her head was when not attached to her body.
Below is a picture of Bucky, who thinks he’s a house goat. He is so enthusiastic with his quest for attention he borders on nuisance. Then there’s a picture of Marie’s head resting where my garlic used to be, before she went into the compost. I personally think it’s very peaceful and pretty in it’s own way. I appreciated her when she was alive, and I continue to do so now. A little life and a little death. It’s the way things work.
I’m sorry, but you might just have two of the cutest kids EVER. Or maybe I just want to make nibbles on their cheekums. Whichever.
your children are so gorgeous they look like they just dropped in from fairyland.
you really brought back my 4-H memories with that pledge! my brothers were always the goat kids and i was hardcore chickens and rabbits ~ Silver Martens and Dark Brahmas baby!! i still remember my mom ordering our chickens and going with her to pick them up at the post office. so weird to hear the little peepers waiting in the back.
Adorable!
I see Meeps has on an amber necklace. Is that for teething? If so do you find it helps her?
I’m also curious how Marie was turned into food. I’m assuming you guys would choose to have it done in a way that is easiest on the animal.
I really enjoy reading your posts – this was a good way to begin the week!
i was just going to ask about the amber necklace, too. i have heard of them for teething – but when can they start to wear them? a year, earlier? and tell me why i shouldn’t be afraid of my guys hanging themselves from them! love the idea, but am just a wee neurotic unfortunately.
Teething necklaces — http://hyenacart.com/inspiredbyfinn/
Best amber necklaces. They seriously work. They couldn’t hang themselves, it’s just a little string, it’d break. And you take them off the kids when they sleep. Each bead is individually knotted, so if it does break, kiddo may only eat one bead.
Meeps chews on hers (though she shouldn’t) hasn’t broken it yet. Both our kids wear them and I have loaned and gifted them, and everyone I know has much success.
Buy them as light and opaque as possible (dense white amber) as that has the most succinic acid, which is the analgesic. We have others, more for fashion wear. Cannot recommend enough. I bought a bunch of bracelets and I swear I get less headaches now.
In a lot of EU countries apparently they sell amber teething necklaces in pharmacies, who knew.
Try a diluted solution of drano if you have problems getting that skull clean – I hear it works wonders!
You brought back memories for me too with that 4-H pledge. I haven’t forgotten it after all these years. Wanted to give a shout-out to Ivy, as my daughter is named Ivy. I wish I would have known about the amber necklaces when mine was a bit younger.
I had never heard of the 4H club before. Their motto really got my attention. I chose to look it up and read more about it. Maybe with the hope of teaching my daughter to be a better person. Manners, kindness and courtesy seem to have slowly dissapeared, so any new ideas are welcome in our home! Unfortunately, their NB website hasn’t been updated since 2007!
Joanna – I bet there are still groups somewhere in your area. Start calling any numbers listed on the website, I would think they’d be happy to direct you! 4H-ers are really helpful in my experience! Good luck!
Jill – great for headaches in adults too!! Ivy is a beautiful name.
Isn’t a bit trippy to see your goat’s head just laying there without a body? I don’t like any amount of death, though I know it’s all part of it (life). The death part of living on a farm makes me scared enough to probably never fully venture that way in this lifetime.
Nice one. I was christened Elizabeth Ivy (both family names, after my grandmas) but often use my middle name. If I ever have a daughter it’ll be passed down.
is that a reflection in your front door or did you hang something in your window? it looks really cool! kinda like ‘the scream”!
Wow, very interesting picture of Marie….it is very peaceful like. I never would have thought to take a picture like that in a million years but it is nice in it’s own way. I hope that your able to “get-r-cleaned” up really nice and I look forward to the pictures. Very unique and interesting topic.
4-H is one of the best programs for kids and teens (and in some cases, even adults as wonderful leaders). I was a VERY shy girl from a small town in Alaska when my family moved to Oregon and I joined 4-H. The skills I learned helped me in so many ways. It was extremely fun and taught me so many “values” and skills. I showed sheep and the pride that you develope in your projects is wonderful. You learn to work hard and look forward year after year to the fair (no matter how chaotic and exhausting they can be). The fairs, 4-H meetings and friends made, are some of my fondest memories. 4-H isn’t just animals and “farm” things either. I was in leadership (among other things) and my sister even did flower arranging. I cannot say enough about how wonderful the 4-H program was for me.
Your kids are looking adorable as usual!!
Hope the “fall” is treating you guys well!
~M~
“A little life and a little death. It’s the way things work.” Wow, that is soooo true!