Being a mother is the Best

I am such a "Mother Hen," I need my baby chicks around me to feel at peace:)
The problem is...most of them have "flown the coop!"
Saturday I was driving down a semi-country road and Megan and I noticed something large and black in the middle of the road. Was it a dog? NO. Was it a man? NO. A tire that got loose? Heavens NO!! It was a 30# turkey!!!! And it was NOT happy when I honked at him to direct his way to one side or another of the road. His feathers ruffled and he gave a loud "gobble," threw back his head and he became the perfect picture of a live Thanksgiving turkey.
I was worried for this bird, so I stopped and blasted on the horn several times so the owner of the "farm" would see that not only had his prize turkey escaped, but the other (not-so-pretty), turkeys and a dozen chickens were jumping up and down with glee as each one realized the prison gates had fallen and they were ALL free. I could picture in my mind's eye the very humorous cartoon Walt Disney would have created with this scene!
This all happened in under 2 minutes, and then I went on my merry way. When I returned home 30 minutes later they were all safely gathered in.:)

The scene actually made me think of many things. First, how fun to live in an area where turkeys roam wild, (although this one happened to be home-grown), and how one minute I am surrounded by farm country and in ten minutes in be in the midst of a large city.
Second, how grateful I was to SEE the turkey before I hit it!
And third...how pitiful it was that my life was very parallel to that barnyard:)
I tried to keep all my little chicks safe & loved while they were home, trying to teach them everything they needed to know before going out into the world. I hated to see them leave, but the minute the gate was open each were SO eager to run into the street and experience the world! I could not, and did not want to stop them. They had to learn for themselves that there are honking idiots out there, and the pavement wasn't as soft as the coop, and feed wasn't as easy to find. The best part is that they all have done so well. They all found their way home (so to speak...their own homes:), and although life is still crazy at times, I still feel at peace knowing they are creating their own safe coops and I have done my best.

Next week Justin will be married, we will add one more to the flock and I will get to squeeze and hug them and put them under my wing, even if for a minute.
Being a mother is the BEST!

A Feeling of Accomplishment!

I don't know what it is about seeing bottles lined up on my kitchen counter filled with food that gives me such great satisfaction. It could be the feeling that "I did it myself," or "now my family won't starve." What ever the reason, the feeling is amazing!
I watched my mother and grandmother carefully plant, harvest, and preserve food my whole life. When I was married I, of course, did the same. I taught my children the whole "law of the harvest" also. This week I feel like I did the first time I canned my own peaches 25 years ago. I bought a Pressure Canner about a year ago. (I must admit they scared me a bit, I was always sure they would explode on me!) But to my delight my dear friend came over and I pulled out the fresh boneless-skinless chicken I had just purchased and vola! By the end of the day I had bottled 25 lbs. of chicken and several quarts of white beans! My family will not starve this winter!:).
I think the part I love the most are the secondary lessons learned while trying to do something worth while.
It took me several hours, but in order to have them turn out perfectly it took patience.
It took asking my friend for help and inviting another to create a few hours of fun and teaching the importance of building relationships.
It took a bit of faith to taste what I processed, but it was wonderful. Somehow it tastes so much better when you do it yourself. No more store-bought canned chicken for me!
Confidence grew, and now there are stacks of recipes I am anxious to try and bottle.
We grow with every attempt we make to do a little better, but the key is starting with good fruit in the first place, (or chicken, as the case may be:), and ending with lessons learned and becoming a little wiser and happier in the process!

Well...I must begin sometime. The kids are giving me a hard time for not posting anything.

I just turn on the blog and listen to the music I like, look at the picture of my wonderful family and balance the checkbook, but I guess more is required than that when you are in the "blog" mode:)

It's a new year and time to raise the bar in my life and one of those ways is to "Just Do It" -(Thanks to Britney who reminded me that this should be EVERYONE'S New Year's resolution!)

The best part about the new year for me, (being a pretty "blue" personality), is to ORGANIZE!! I love seeing how I can simplify my life, do things quicker, and relieve stresses. I thought I never succeeded because I do this every year...in the same areas, but I realized today that I get closer to my goal every year. My biggest flaw has to be that I am a bit impatient, especially with myself. I want success in all I do, and I want it done NOW!

My New Year's resolution should be revised a little. I think instead it should be "line upon line", giving myself some time to achieve my goals.
So here goes...I AM going to DO IT...just one step at a time! :)