Custom Butchering, Hard Things, Some Further Words
For those who have been asking for eggs, we don’t have eggs, but we did get about 70 egg laying chicks this week. We should have eggs this fall. Hallie still has her few layers in the backyard. We purchase eggs from her for our own consumption. She’d been subcontracting out some of her chicken chores to Hasten and Wren, offering them a free egg if they go collect eggs or take the chickens the kitchen scraps.
We also got another batch of meat bird chicks in the brooder. We didn’t process any of our own chickens this week, but we did do some custom killing for some neighboring farmer friends and 4H kids that raised their own meat birds.
Amy and the kids delivered meat to Knoxville on Monday and brought three nephews back to the farm with them on Tuesday. They spent a few days with us and went back this morning. Nothing like cousin time. I remember the excitement and anticipation of seeing cousins when I was their age. Good times to log in the memory file.
As a family we’ve been doing a “hard thing” every month. Not really all that hard, just something we probably wouldn’t have otherwise done. We want the kids to gradually learn to step outside of their comfort zone and commit to doing something they don’t really want to do. We want them to embrace and eventually look forward to doing hard things.
Our nephews joined us on this month’s “hard thing” which was a 3 mile walk in the dark without flashlights. We started at 9:30 and got back at 11:00 Wednesday night. It was the perfect night to be out. With no moon and a clear sky, the stars were on display as magnificently as I’ve ever seen them. So many stars. So bright. How many nights do I not even look up to notice? Crickets, bull frogs, unfamiliar sounds of the night. The kids all experienced mixed emotions of nervousness, excitement, and awe. After getting back to the house, they all felt tired and accomplished. Which is how we hoped they would feel after checking off a “hard thing.”
Yesterday after moving chickens, I actually spent most of the day off the farm helping Marion with a wrestling clinic. I got back to the farm in time to rake and roll the last few acres of first cutting that I mowed on Tuesday. I would typically say that I’m thankful to get the hay up with no breakdowns, but I’ll have to say I’m thankful to get the hay up even with breakdowns. The tedder and baler both are going to need some work before anymore hay gets made. It feels good to have the first cutting rolled up.
This’ll be my last reference to The Mad Farmer Poems by Wendell Berry. Here’s a short section from “Some Further Words”
“We are what we have done,
which includes our promises, includes
our hopes, but promises first. I know
a ‘fetus’ is a human child.
I loved my children from the time
they were conceived, having loved
their mother, who loved them
from the time they were conceived
and before. Who are we to say
the world did not begin in love?”
These words especially ring true for us as Amy currently carries our fifth child. Due next spring. Hallie’s response to the news was, “It’s about time!” Carter stood up straight and tall asking, “Am I big enough to be a big sister now?” We are overjoyed. And overwhelmed. And all the things. Prayers appreciated for Amy and growing baby.
Have a good week.
Will