By Leslie Neff
Spring has sprung in this valley of the stars. Things in bloom everywhere, sans the old walnut tree. Its leaves some of the last to arrive, it certainly doesn’t have the trust of the willow growing on the farm. I can always count on that willow to have green frawns earlier than any other tree.
Graduation ceremonies have also started. We have three to attend all for the same child. Families have seasons it seems just as nature does on the outside world. I once was a mother to a family of small children. Like little ducklings in a row that I managed. Now they are all nearly adults and forging lives of their own. I’ve often been in awe of them, any parent whose put a lifetime of care into raising another little human has truly known sacrifice and love that defies reason. Theres nothing more rewarding than having an older child choose you to come to. Simple conversation or life advice. It’s a gratifying experience to have.
Big decisions were made regarding the goat herd. We’ve been a 4H and FFA family for the last thirteen years. The goat heard was a love of my oldest daughter and she’s heading to university in the fall. So, we loaded the trailer full and reduced the herd to ten and even they may go. I kept enough back in case I had sellers’ remorse. She picked her senior fair projects out and has two lambs as well. She has always kept the vaccination schedules, worming regimens and I did all the feeding etcetera while she was in high school. Another chapter almost closed.
The breeder broiler poultry operation that I raised my children on has seen another season and we will clean out in May this year. Our integrator has a system that backs us up around six weeks each year, so we are down and getting cleaned out about a month earlier each year. I have to admit I’m not a fan at all of hard winter cleaning and the misery of trying to keep equipment up and running in freezing harsh temperatures. The good Lord knows that diesel certainly can be cantankerous when it’s cold outside.
I brought four hogs home to fill our freezers this fall. Grocery shopping sure does look different when your living life out here. We’ll split the meat and the work with my best friend and her family. She’s Hispanic and her husband loves to cook. I’m excited for carnitas come butchering day. It’s been the biggest blessing to have them as part of our extended family. Every project each family has, has had an army of help getting things done. She also has younger children; I certainly miss having littles of my own.
Hopefully we don’t see the drought we’ve had the last few years. A bountiful hay season, enough rain to keep the wine berries shining and the local ponds full. As always, its fresh grass season don’t forget to put out your high magnesium minerals for your livestock to prevent grass tetany. An ounce of prevention is considerably cheaper than one vet visit! Oh, and don’t forget to order your scrapie tags for your lambs and goat kids if heading to the sale barn. They cost a tad extra if the sale barn has to put them in.
As always here come the county fair. There’s so much to see and do. We generally start planning next year’s fair the day its over. Raising my family at the fair each year has provided them with a privilege that I am almost envious of. How grand must that be to be a kid at the fair all week. My years at the fair are almost over now. I’m not even sure what I’ll do with myself having the entire month of August with no regimens and routines, no planners or shearing days. I’ll be grateful in some ways but sad in others. I’ve built a lot of friendships and memories there. I’m thankful to everyone whose been helpful and kind to us over the years. There are so many I’d have to write a thesis to thank them all.
Welp, chores are calling and it’s starting to rain. Time to get to the barn and feed the creatures. Probably wear my mopping arm out this week battling the mud and farm puppies that track it in. Have a wonderful spring everyone, oh and come see us at the fair. I hear the livestock auction is on Saturday this year. I’ll confirm and get the dates next month. Gotta get planning!
Peace
Leslie
