My brother...........

I have not seen my brother in six years.  Life happens, time passes, blah........ blah ......... blah.

I will never let that length of time pass again.  I don't know what it is about him, but I need him.  I need his hugs, I need his laugh, I need his love.

Jim and I leave on Thursday to fly to Florida.  Jim has not met Paul Allen and it was really beginning to bother me.  In addition, I just needed to see my brother.

Jim and I have to go to the airport separately. I arrive first and find out our flights have been delayed.  Jim arrives at the airport just in time.  He immediately works on calming me down.  He is such a good husband.  We find out there was a complete shutdown of flights in Dallas so our flight from Dallas to Tallahassee was also delayed.  Whew....  St. Louis to Dallas.  Dallas to Tallahassee. We finally land in Tallahassee and head west in our car.  We are in contact with my brother and sister-in-law constantly to let them know our status.  We meet them an hour west of Tallahassee at a gas station.  Around 11:00 pm.

Emotional moment.  Jim pulls up next to them to park.  I jump out of our car before the car has stopped to run to my brother.  I hug him and can't seem to let go.  I am crying and telling him we can never go this long without seeing each other ever again.  I think Jim and Cece introduce themselves.  Then I hug Cece and can't let go of her.  Again, Jim is his wonderful, sociable self and introduces himself to my brother while I am basically breaking down.

Ok, emotion part of the story is over.  We follow them to their house.  Cece is the best sister-in-law a person could ask for.  Ever.  I just can't say how much love I feel for her and from her.  I enjoy her as her own person and I am so thankful that she and my brother love each other so much.  She takes such good care of us while we are there.......... while we continue to ask that she just let relax.  Not her style.  She manages to stay involved with our conversations as well as cooking, cleaning, etc....
Cece rocks!

We spend 3 days talking.  And that's about it.  Except Saturday.  My wonderful nephew, John, drives from Alabama with his wife to visit and join us for dinner in Tallahassee.  SO MUCH FUN!!!!

We truly spend most of our time talking though.  And laughing.

Jim is the best husband in the world.  He lets me be "me" the entire weekend.  He is a wonderful conversationalist but lets me connect with my brother at the same time.

A summary of the weekend would be:

1) My brother makes me whole.  He is my rock.  The person that loves me no matter what.  There is no judgement with him.  I know that he will love me till the ends of the earth and I will love him just as long.

2) I find out stories about my past.  About my dad.  My brother tells me I was my dad's "Princess".

3) I find out my brother is a farmer!  Holy Cow!  I guess it's in the Lanigan blood!

4) Jim and Paul Allen  hit it off as if they have been friends forever.  I am so proud of both of them and I am so excited that they immediately have a connection.

5) Cece and I have a great time together.  Again, if I could pick a sister, it would be her.

6)  I still love dogs.  Maggie and Muenster are Boxers. Jim (and I) fall in love with them.  Such gentle sweetness. Maggie connects with Jim and they form a special bond.

7) Jim driving a tractor tilling up the peas.  (watch out!)  Oh my gosh, I  cannot stop smiling!  He is really cute on a tractor!


We had an amazing time.  There is no way to describe the talks, the fun, the laughter.  So much laughter.  So many private jokes...........

- Jim's piece of gooey butter cake that Cece left for him in the refrigerator for his midnight snack.
- Cowboy hats and tractors
- alligator sightings (or not)


I cried when we left.  Jim tried to tell me that I needed to focus on the fun we had all weekend and look forward to the next time we visit.   Good advise.  I tried.

I can't wait until we visit again.  I vow to once a year......... at least.

The love I have for my sister-in-law is amazing.  Alone, she is an amazing person.  Caring, fun, personable.  Plus, my brother is so in love with her.  I love seeing them so happy.

The love I have for my brother.  I can't describe.  He truly makes me whole  With him by my side I can conquer the world.

The love I have for Jim.  Wow!  Can't imagine my life without him.  No one has ever been this "right" for me.  For my brother and sister-in-law to approve - and more importantly, the dogs! - is a true testament to his goodness.  He is the one for me!

In closing - you may not always have that connection with all family members.  When you do - HOLD TIGHT.

 Photos from the weekend below:

 

Off the Grid - Day 7

Another wonderful day at the farm.  I have taken today and tomorrow off from work.

Jaimey came out this morning to spend the day relaxing and enjoying the farm.  It is her first day of Spring Break.  What a great way to begin a break.

Very few eggs today.  Only four.  Hopefully I haven't done anything to offend them! :-)

Each day continues to bring a new learning experience. Today as  I am walking around I see the bee hives.  One of them has bees swarming around it.  I begin to think about the bee keeping process.  Do the bees leave for the winter?  Do the same bees come back?  Do they hibernate? Jaimey and I discuss the topic and neither of us has any clue!  So of course tonight, I use "The Google" and find out that bees stay where they are in huddle formation and keep the Queen Bee warm  (at least that's what I have read). Fascinating!  I will have to ask Korey and Anna more about this when they return.

Another learning experience:  Chickens can get hurt and the miraculously mend.  I walk outside today and one of the hens is laying on the ground.  She is still pecking at the ground so I don't

think anything of it.... until about 4 minutes later when she is still laying on the ground. I walked over to her and realize she is hurt and can't get up.  Normally if I got that close she would have moved away.  What to do?  I call Anna.  Anna walks me through options but basically tells me to pick her up, put her in the spare coup and monitor her.  This actually scares the "you know what" out of me but I keep my cool and ask "Can  I actually pick up a chicken?"  Anna replies "Oh, sure!" - easy for her to say.:-)

I hang up with Anna and walk outside.  Luckily Jaimey is here so I don't have to go it alone.  I look down and the chicken, call for Jaimey, look back at the chicken and watch her walking around like nothing happened.  What the heck!?  So I have been in near-panic for the past 20 minutes for no reason.

I am also learning more about the behaviors of chickens/roosters.  Wow.

- They do have individual personalities.
- The dominant roosters will bully the other roosters.
- They will jump in the feed barrel while I have my head in the barrel scooping up feed!  They are fascinating!

On another note, the newborn babies are getting cuter by the minute.  They are going out in the yard and playing.  On top of that, they walk over to the fence to introduce themselves to the bigger pigs.

Jaimey and I take a great hike today around the property and had a great time.  Nothing like being out in the fresh air. We see a bunch of little frogs hopping around.   Who could not love this place!

We end the evening by starting a fire out in the firepit.  Life is Good!

Off the Grid - Day 4

Fog, fog, fog!  I wake up and realize I haven't heard the roosters. Then I open my eyes and really can't see out any of the windows.  The fog was quite intense.

Today I have to go into work.  I really want to stay here but I know I have other responsibilities.

I feed the dogs, feed the pigs and then get ready for work.  I want to wait until the last minute to let the chickens out.

When I finally have done everything I can, it's time to go let them out.  Opening that door is always a joy.  They all run out of the coup for about twenty feet and then stop.  I can almost hear them saying "We're Free!!"  I walk in to see if there are any eggs.  There are only 2.  :-(

I regrettably leave for work.  It's 9:00 and I hope to be back by 4:00, which I make.

It feels so good to arrive back at the farm.  I drive around the pig area to see how things are going.  Some of the toddler pigs are rooting very deeply around the fence.  I decide I should probably check it out.  I park the car and take everything inside.  Next, gear up.  boots and a old shirt.  I head down to the area I saw the toddler pigs and yep, they were still there.  Rooting away. It looked like they were trying to escape.  At least to me that's what it looks like.  What's a girl to do?   I finally decide to get some rocks and block the holes.  I watch the toddlers acting like, well, toddlers. They take off running for no reason and then stop as if nothing had happened.  I was laughing out loud at them.

After I realize everything is okay, I decide to come inside for a while.  Do some yoga, relax.  After  a while, I decide it's time to go feed the pigs.  I'm gettin' in the groove and even petting the pigs when I feed them.  The babies are doing wonderful.

After I finish with them, I give the scraps from the kitchen to the chickens,  I feel like the pied piper!  they are running all around me and talking away.  I throw the scraps out to them and they go crazy!

They are so much fun to watch!

I take a nice walk around the farm and end the evening relaxed.  Photos below:

Off the Grid - Day 3

Another drizzly day but it's still beautiful.

Today I have company coming!  Jim, Claire (Mom) and Jaimey are coming out.  We are going to take Jaimey out for her birthday in Washington.

I gather only 7 eggs this morning.  I'm a little disappointed but still so thankful that the ladies are laying for me.

Everyone is doing well.  The babies are getting much more active.  As I am in the barn, one of the babies is actually making his way back into the pin.  He is so cute coming back in. A little fumbley, but cute.

I walk the yard, do some yoga, read and relax.  What a great day!






The gang shows up around 3:30.  We go to the barn (all of us) and visit with the pigs.  The chickens follow us around as we walk.  Jaimey explores the barn and amazingly finds two eggs up in the rafters.

We leave to go into Washington so we can get back in time to feed the pigs and put the chickens to bed. Washington is always enjoyable and we have a fun time. We get back in plenty of time to finish my chores.

Now to let everyone see what it's like to feed the pigs. Jaimey helps me feed them.  Everyone gets to hear intensity of the noises they make. It goes from very quiet to very loud!

And then it's time for the chickens to go to bed for the evening.  Of course, that consists of nothing more than closing the door.  They have all politely strutted into their coup and are ready for us to shut the door.  So cute!

We end the evening by watching a beautiful sunset.  Beautiful day, beautiful sunset!

 

Off the Grid - Day 2

The answer to last night's question is Yes!  The rooster woke me up.  6:52.

I don't care though.  Today is my first full day at the farm and I want to enjoy as much of it as I can.

I get up and start thinking about what I get to do first. The good thing about being on a farm is you don't have to worry about anyone seeing you before you've brushed your hair, washed your face, etc.......

I step outside, put the muck boots on and take a walk around the farm just to see how everything looks.  The roosters that live in the barn are out and about already, crowing to their hearts content.

Very dreary day but everything looks peaceful.  I come back in the house and make some tea.  It's so quiet.

After my tea it's time to get busy.  Out to the barn I go.  I tell them all good morning and check on the babies before I feed them.  Everyone is doing great.  I get them all fed, check the water spouts bring some wood in to start a fire.  It's one of those days where it's not really cold but there is a chill in the air that makes it chilly.  It's been drizzling all morning also which made the chill worse.

I have to wait until late morning to let the chickens out so I come back inside to do my inside work. Feed the dogs, water the plants.





Finally, it's time to go let the chickens out and collect the eggs!  I am so excited to see how many eggs there will be.  First I have to find something to gather them in.  Decisions, decisions.  I end up throwing a towel in a pan and going out there. What an experience!
I open the door and they all run out the door.  It's like a chicken stampede. They all run over into the grass and stop in a big group. Now for the eggs.  I go in the coup and take a quick glance.  There's a lot!  I start collecting, being very careful with them.  Some of them are still warm.  I admire each of them as I collect them.  All different colors, all different sizes.  Nature is amazing.


After collecting them all I have a total of 12 eggs!  I am so happy. Somehow I feel that chickens liked me so they all were comfortable laying.

Guess what I am having for breakfast?!


As the day goes on, I check on the pigs, I check on the chickens, I walk around the farm.  Some of the things I am finding myself doing and saying are quite funny!  Time to take the scraps out to the chickens.  They seem to know what I am doing as soon as I walk out the door.  As I head to the chicken coup they all run in before I even throw the scraps in their bowl.  As I walk away, I turn and see one of the dogs standing in the doorway blocking a rooster from going in.  I find myself saying, "Hank, get out and let the rooster in."   How many people have an opportunity to say that?!

I take a walk this evening before I feed the pigs and shut everything down.  The dogs are with me of course. My protectors! Beautiful walk.  Still a dreary day.






Some sights from around the farm....

My Journey off the Grid

My journey starts with dear friends needing a farm sitter.  "Would we be interested ?"  ABSOLUTELY!   (My heart instantly jumped.....Is this really happening?  Do I really get to go stay on a farm and work with the animals?)  We work out the details and the plan is in place.

Two weeks before, I head out to the farm to get lessons on what to do. I take notes and try to think of as many questions as possible so I am fully prepared. It doesn't take long before I feel very comfortable with everything on the farm, so now it's just a waiting game.

Finally, the day arrives.  I've packed the night before so I can leave straight from work and head out of the city.   As I head out of town I am reminded of one of the many reasons I want to be out of the city......

STUCK IN TRAFFIC!


Luckily, not for long.  The drive to the farm is peaceful and uneventful with the exception of my anxiousness.  I just want to be there.  About 45 minutes later I arrive.  I've turned the radio off about 15 minutes prior just to start disconnecting from everything.  As I turn into the drive I am filled with a sense of calm.

Since it's my first evening, I want to try to get everything done by dark.  Just to make sure I don't have any problems.  I unpack the car as quickly as possible.  The dogs are happy to see me and follow me back and forth. The chickens are still out so they are talking and following me around also  (of course I am talking back).

Now it's time to head to the barn.  I'm in a dress and white sweater and dress boots.  I decide a white sweater was not the greatest choice so I throw a red vest over my dress, put on muck boots and head for the barn!  Woo Hoo!

The pigs are first.  8 scoops of feed into the troughs.  This becomes hilarious.  The chickens are following me through a narrow path to get to the troughs every time.  So when I put the feed into the trough and turn around to go back and get more feed, the chickens all have to turn around and go back also. We had a game of follow the leader going on.  And then the dog began going back and forth also.  It was like a family affair.  Everyone had to help feed the pigs.

Next came the new momma with her babies.  She seemed very happy to have dinner.  I'm sure the babies are wearing her out.  As for the babies, ADORABLE!  Baby pigs are the sweetest looking little creatures.  Momma moved out of the way once so I was able to take a couple photos, but most of the time her large body was blocking my view.

By this time it is getting to be dusk and the chickens have already put themselves to bed.  Well, most of them.  I didn't realize that some of the roosters actually lived in with the pigs.  So many things to learn!

At this point all is done with the exception of feeding the dogs and myself.

I spent a very relaxing evening reading blogs of other farmers.  I've found these through friend recommendations or searches on either "farming" or "homesteading".  I learn so much from these and truly enjoy the stories.

The evening is over and it's time for bed.  I wonder if the rooster will actually wake me up in the morning by crowing?  :-)

A few photos from the evening:

The path where the chickens followed me

Fashion Statement

The chickens welcoming me.

Rooster eating the pig food. 

The Babies!