Work is sending me to Pittsburgh, PA for a week of training. I am really excited about it! I will be leaving for a week and returning on the Friday of Nathan's 6th birthday.
Now, Nathan is a very precise child. He will make an excellent engineer or architect someday. He comes to me with a piece of paper, nicely folded, and on this paper he has written "Energon HotShot Transformer" in his best 6 year old handwriting. This is the only thing on the paper. He hands the paper to me and says: "Dad, this is my birthday list. Put it in a place where you will remember it!"
A list? A list of one thing? Wow, does this boy know his parents, or what? I can just hear his brain going "If I tell them three things they won't get any of them, but if I tell them only one thing, I just might have a shot!!"
Anyhow, as I proceed to put the "list" in my pocket, he tells me: "DAD!! you can't put it in your pocket or you'll loose it! Here," as he grabs the list from me "put it somewhere safe."
"OK, son, tell you what, I'll put it in my wallet. You know I always have my wallet with me, right?"
Nathan nods his head, "Yeah, I guess that's good."
"Do you know what Nathan? I am going to go all the way to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to bring you back a birthday present, how does that sound." I ask him.
"DAD!! They have it right at Meijer it's only down the road." (insert look on face: My parents are hopeless!!)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Love and Marriage
I'm a private kinda guy when it comes to my family. I don't post about them much. I don't spend too much time talking about the number of diapers I may have changed or how much my wife means to me. When I run across blogs like that, I usually . . . well . . . run. But occasionally, because it means so much to my wife whom I love, I need to spend some time telling you about her, and how I feel about her.
My wife is stubborn, proud and has a short fuse. Oh and she throws things. And let me tell you . . . those are her best qualities!
She is stubborn. Often times as stubborn as a mule!! In her devotion to our children, stubborn. In her efforts to form meaningful and lasting relationships with friends and family, stubborn. In defence of her friends and family, stubborn. In her commitment to make a happy life for all of us, stubborn. Yes my wife is stubborn. But she takes even that stubbornness and turns it into a virtue.
She is also proud. As proud as a peacock. But her pride is also a virtue. She is proud of her children and rightly so for she has done amazing things with them; proud of her many accomplishments; proud to be a stay-at-home homeschooling mother; and proud of every smile she can bring to any one's face.
Ask anyone who knows her, she does have a very short fuse. But even her temper has a touch of grace. She will not tolerate other people being treated with disrespect, even the people she doesn't like. She is contemptuous of anyone who looks down on the weak or treats the defenceless with contempt. She will not abide the haughty or the brute.
Yes I live with a stubborn proud woman with a short fuse, and I love every minute of it (I'll just have to watch out for flying objects after she reads this . . .)
My wife is stubborn, proud and has a short fuse. Oh and she throws things. And let me tell you . . . those are her best qualities!
She is stubborn. Often times as stubborn as a mule!! In her devotion to our children, stubborn. In her efforts to form meaningful and lasting relationships with friends and family, stubborn. In defence of her friends and family, stubborn. In her commitment to make a happy life for all of us, stubborn. Yes my wife is stubborn. But she takes even that stubbornness and turns it into a virtue.
She is also proud. As proud as a peacock. But her pride is also a virtue. She is proud of her children and rightly so for she has done amazing things with them; proud of her many accomplishments; proud to be a stay-at-home homeschooling mother; and proud of every smile she can bring to any one's face.
Ask anyone who knows her, she does have a very short fuse. But even her temper has a touch of grace. She will not tolerate other people being treated with disrespect, even the people she doesn't like. She is contemptuous of anyone who looks down on the weak or treats the defenceless with contempt. She will not abide the haughty or the brute.
Yes I live with a stubborn proud woman with a short fuse, and I love every minute of it (I'll just have to watch out for flying objects after she reads this . . .)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Livestock Breeds Conservancy
So I am working on a new concept for the farm. I am thinking about raising threatened and endangered livestock. Many people do not know that certain breeds and types of livestock animals are no longer considered valuable to comercial farming so they are becoming all but extinct. Breeds like the large black pig (raised in the past for lard, they also produce excellent hams), Milking Devon Cattle (a breed brought to this country by the pilgrims), Tenessee Fainting Goats (a good meat goat) and the San Clemente Island Goat (a milking breed), American Karakul Sheep (a multi-purpose sheep, formerly prized for its wool), The Java Chicken, the Beltsville Small White turkey and the Sliver Fox Rabbit.
All of these breeds are listed as either Thretened or Endangerd with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (http://albc-usa.org/). They tend to be breeds that are dual or muli-purpose(meat and whatever other advantage each offered). They were orginally breed for the small-holder family farms of the early 20th century.
I am thinking of maintaing two female and one male of each of the larger breeds and prehaps 10 - 20 of the poultry and rabbit breeds. That should fill up our five acres (and our freezer) pretty well.
Any Advice?
All of these breeds are listed as either Thretened or Endangerd with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (http://albc-usa.org/). They tend to be breeds that are dual or muli-purpose(meat and whatever other advantage each offered). They were orginally breed for the small-holder family farms of the early 20th century.
I am thinking of maintaing two female and one male of each of the larger breeds and prehaps 10 - 20 of the poultry and rabbit breeds. That should fill up our five acres (and our freezer) pretty well.
Any Advice?
Everything Changes
Well, my work for the state government seems to be coming to a close. But have no fear, I now have an opportunity to work within the company as an advocate, coach and trainer for a major paradigm shift in project management. I don't know how much I can reveal here so I'll just say this new process will fundamentally change the way that projects are structured and applications are delivered. I can't wait to start! I love watching things change!!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Animals
We are considering the following animals to keep on the farm:
1) Knue-knue pigs. A grass fed smallish pig that does not root.
2) Fainting goats. They don't jump fenses are are easier to catch.
3) Miniature Cattle. They are small and easy to manage on a smaller amount of pasture land.
1) Knue-knue pigs. A grass fed smallish pig that does not root.
2) Fainting goats. They don't jump fenses are are easier to catch.
3) Miniature Cattle. They are small and easy to manage on a smaller amount of pasture land.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Hope this christmas season finds you well and that you take the time to slow down and enjoy the holiday. Remember, its not a season about shopping but about giving. Make sure you take time to enjoy the giving!!
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