What's Your Need

Have recently been working with a teaching tool, that I call "wants or needs". This "game", has a list of 50 or so, things that the population cannot live without. Each person marks these items as a need or a want, depending on their personality. After you mark all of them, pretend that your income has dropped by one third. Retake the excercise, deleting more of the items. Most folks end up with 10-16 things, that they just can't live without. Depression era women are around 6 to 8 items. Country folks, 8-11 items (and that includes feed for livestock), city folks 16-18 items (or at least most of them, that I spoke to). I have discovered that lipstick and expensive hair care items are a priority to many city folks, but they do not understand why someone would need to buy feed. Oh! cell phones are "way up" on the list with all demographic areas.

At the end of the game today, I asked my favorite Senior Clara, a question. Being a newly married woman during the Great Depression, what were the most important things any person would absolutely need. Clara responded, "food, water and a warm place to stay...everything else is just a WANT".
So what are your needs?

Life Is A One Way Street

The trees are in bloom, grass is green and all is well here in my neck of the woods. Did have the temperatures go low for a couple of days, but could have be worse.
Heard someone say today... "well, you know, life is a four way stop". I replied, what? He said again, "Life is a four way stop". Don't you mean, life is a one way street? He answered, "it never has been for me!"

Many families are worried out here. Have been asked if we have enough ammunition and food, "just in case". I ask, in case of what? You know, if the Country starts falling apart. If WE have another depression or if people just start stealing from each other, or worse. My answer is always the same. Heck yes! We live on a farm. Plenty of food, plenty of ammo, plenty of water, plenty of wood. Anyway, that is why I live in the country. Figure that all hell will break loose in the cities first...at least we will have a warning.

That is unless, of course, "life is a four way stop".

Rescued Mule

Her name is Miss Mary. She came to New Beginnings Animal Shelter this very week.
I realize that times are tough. Around here, jobs are being lost, pretty regularly. This is still no excuse for neglecting animals. As a plea, take care of them! Ask friends to take your animal, feed your animals first, call a shelter, sell him or her or if they are in horrible condition, ask a vet to put them down...do not let them suffer. My husband and I, regulary go to a local auction house. We will purchase animals others do not want. New Beginnings will do the same, on a larger scale. Others purchase too. There are answers to your dilemma!

Miss Mary has a horrible infection in her eyes. Would you like a condition such as this? Not me.

Please go to www.nbarefuge.com and take a look at how Miss Mary the mule is doing. Make a hay donation, or for meds. And NO, this is NOT my white mule!!!

Midwest Ice Storm

Back again. Have been without phone service and computer for over two weeks, due to our recent ice storm.
We were lucky. Only out of power for 5 days. Had a few rough nights, with below zero temperatures. Mind you, we are no Minnesota, but we are also not used to what we got with this storm. At our house, 8 inches of snow and 1.5 inches of ice. Needless to say, everything shut down.
This is the situation that I was so worried about this summer, when the Hurricane Ike outage happened. Our county opened one warming center (care of the Red Cross). 155 people utilized the facility. Many younger families, took in Seniors for a few days. Our Milltown Fire Department went door to door checking on folks. Our Senior Apartments were visited, by their respective fire departments, checking on residents. If you lived out in the country, you were on your own (unless family and friends banded together). It is still my opinion, that we need more organization. Most of the folks at the warming center, were brought there by fire or police.
Most people did not know that the center was open. If citizens were not able to get down the roads, they did not know that many of the small water districts were under "boil only" regulations.
I have less to say about this emergency than the last one, because I could not get out. Therefore, I did not see much first hand.
I have added a few pictures of our place, 3 days after the storm. Enjoy! They look pretty, looking back on them!

Many Apologies

Many apologies. I have been out of commission since mid November. Have had a very bad case of pneumonia, in both lungs. Back to almost normal now... with a word of warning. I have been told by two doctors and a pharmacist, that there is an upper respiratory infection "floating" around the Midwest. This infection is turning into pneumonia quickly and is killing, even fairly healthy middle aged people. So, I guess that I am to consider myself lucky. Lucky indeed!

Don't Be A Goat-Hater

Goats...people either love 'em or hate them.
The usual stereotypes. They stink, they are mean, they will eat anything, they destroy everything and they just look evil.
On the other hand...goats are curious, friendly, can clean up your property, get along with other animals and if kept properly, can feed your family and do not smell that bad! Now, they will eat just about anything and will jump up on anything that doesn't move. If you do not want them to do this, keep those kinds of food sources and gym equipment away from them!
Many a country boy or girl will tell you about their pet goat, when growing up. A goat raised from a kid, CAN be a wonderful childhood friend. If you neuter your males when young... a wether or doe, will follow you around like a puppy. They eat out of your hand, come when called, cry when you ignore them (or they think you are), play with the children endlessly and have enough curiosity for an entire family! I think that this is the perfect description of a playmate for a boy (or girl).
Fair warning. Every goat I have ever had, is a break out artist. Make sure your fences are sturdy, your locks secure. They will get out, if they can. They are curious. Just want to see what's next door, or the yard next to that.
Now for the biggest problem people think, that goats possess. They just look so evil!
This is because goats have been long held in religion, as being associated with the devil or witchcraft. It's their EYES! The pupils are horizontal. It just doesn't look "natural". Ah... get over it. Buy them a pair of cheap sunglasses.

Horse Auction Barn

Went to our local auction barn last night. This is something we do just about every week. A place to socialize with like minded folks. This is our "night out", so to speak. Unlike a club or whatever, the barn has an entire mix of people. Young, old, rich (relatively) and poor. Everyone interacts with everyone else. Other than teens, groups mix readily and well.
Vendors sell new and used items. From boots to blue jeans. Reins, saddles, wormer and household bric-a-brac. Then there is the livestock.
Some weeks the horses and livestock, look good. Even great. Pride in ownership, is apparent. Sale prices are more than fair. Everyone goes home happy.
Then there are nights when all of the livestock appear to be sick, mistreated, near death or all of the above!
Sometimes the sellers know that they just need to "get rid" of their animals. They give them away for free, or next to nothing. Other times, these owners (and I use that term loosely) will be asking ridiculous prices for mistreated livestock. They may "ace" their animals, so that they are more sell-able, a horse trader trick.
Hmmm...I believe that I own one of the animals that had been "aced". You can see her picture here, as my guard mule. I love her for what she is. Loaded with personality and intelligence, but also, can be mean as a snake.
Last night, there was a mix of animals. I saw a few horses, one donkey and a pygmy billy goat, that were outstanding examples of animals that had been taken well care of. Then, there was a sick colt. He kept going down, apparently of colic. A set of donkeys that were all scarred up and timid and a jenny that had horribly overgrown hooves. I am a sucker for the "hoof problem". The last time a donkey showed up at this auction with very bad feet, I talked the rescue into buying her. They worked for months, attempting to correct the overgrowth and related infection. Unfortunately, Rosetta, eventually had to be put down. One foot just was not fixable. Last night, I recognized the problem, and passed this poor jenny by. Money is tighter right now. I could not afford vet bills for an animal that may not survive.
I am going to appeal to people again. Take care of your livestock. If not, give them to someone who will or have them put down! Out of their misery. It is far more humane than letting them starve to death, live in pain or both! Consider donating time, money or feed to a local rescue. My choice out here is, New Beginnings Animal Rescue. You can reach them by the link provided farther down on my blog.