Mud

My table is often full it is the second stopping point after the shoe drop. Lately, these lovely flowers have been adding color and love. Addie brought home the Christmas centerpiece from her ag class. These are nice reminders that life can be beautiful. 

Because just underneath the flowers are the mud crusted clothes drying for another days use. The weather is the worst right now. Not freezing continually raining and just sloppy. Last night we loaded cows for the sale always an exciting time. I could feel my adrenaline pumping as I entered the farm yard, you never know how cooperative the cows or kids will be. I enjoy working with my children and seeing them gain confidence and show their strength and courage. We work together guiding and coaxing the cows from one barb wire fence to a steel bar pen. The inches of manure and mud were an extra difficulty as it is slippery.  

Addie was out building foot after foot of fence. The cows sqaush the cornstalks into the mud in this weather so the fence building goes all the time right now. We are so thankful for good boots. They mostly keep our feet dry and are pretty comfortable. A yearly gift is rubber boots because they get torn up and worn out in a years time. 

And the assorted gloves drying on the stove to be useful later today. 

With the right gear, it's not terrible to work in the elements. They say it's very good for mental health to be in the fresh air, accomplishing tasks. 

Last night Millie, Bruce, Reed and I were working to keep a lone cow in the steel pen she was very nervous being a part from her herd. The rain was a drizzle the ground was a mix of mud, manure, left over hay, and some gravel. As the cow circled and tried to wedge itself through the steel polls she got sick of us hiyaahing her back to the top of the pen. She rushed me and when she was a foot away I decided she wasn't turning and I didn't want a ride I dove away landing on my side in the slop. To get up I had to roll over getting more wet and covered in stuff. Reed came over to check on me and gave me a compassionate squeeze on my shoulder as I told him that was scary. I was laughing because it was funny. I've never had a turn in the slop before this. The kids were surprised but reassured when I laughed. I did not cry although it was a consideration. We got all the calves loaded in the dark. The more awrnry ones made another cut of not going to the sale although we all would love to get them gone. Another day another try in the future. 

I was speaking with someone earlier this week about the differences in farm kids and I think a major factor is responsibility coupled with accountability. Having real duty and then maybe more importantly having to account for the way the duty is performed. Get the job done correctly all the way ie. keep the fences hot, don't let them short out, keep the fencer plugged in- means 95% of the time the cows stay in. If the fence is cold for whatever reason the cows get out. If you do your irrigating on time and check the rows the crops are pretty good. If you don't and cause floods the ditch washes away and you get to fix the cement and the dirt and replant the crop. This real cause and effect and having to solve the problems you make is very grounding. Meaning we never leave the ground we work on. But it also teaches the reasons to do jobs correctly. We aren't travelers, or known for fun, but the moments in the dark all a little bit soaked singing silly songs about mud and cows to my kids and the cows, working together are pretty special and unique to us. 

Life is good and we are blessed to be together.