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We Have A Duck Problem
This time I don’t mean the Ducks from the University of Oregon. These are actual ducks.
My daughters brought them home as ducklings. They were cute, fuzzy little critters, and we thought they’d be great with the chickens. But they grew at an unreal rate, quickly overtaking the size of the chicks who are at least six weeks older.
I discovered another duck issue when we started taking the chicks and ducklings to their outdoor yard during the day. These birds have some serious claws. It took a few good slices on my hands before I started wearing gloves.
My husband kept waiting for the ducks to quack. Well, it turns out they’re a breed that’s kinda like the mule of the duck/goose world. They don’t quack. Sometimes they open their mouths and a quiet hissing sounds snakes out. It’s creepy.
We started letting the ducks and chickens wander around the farm during the day. Acres and acres these birds had available to explore. They were immediately drawn to the deck like it was some kind of duck-magnet. One day while I was writing at my outside table, the ducks crept right into my kitchen. Seriously!
The ducks no longer go into the chicken coop at night. Mainly, because the chickens are not fans of theirs either. Biting makes quick enemies.
They used to sleep on the horse’s fence, then they moved to the roof over our kitchen. Now, they sleep all the way on top of our chimney.
When they aren’t making the climb to their roost, they keep busy landing on our cars and “decorating” them.
Now, these ducks aren’t what we expected, but they have some good qualities. I can’t think of any right now, but I know there are some.
Anyone want a couple free ducks?
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Big News!
Time to Celebrate!
After waiting for what felt like eternity, I’m finally able to tell you the big news. I’ve signed a contract with Kregel Publications. They will be publishing my novel, The Lost.
Like just about every up and down in my writing career, this didn’t happen how I’d imagined it would.
A wonderful woman who’d been my mentor for about ten years passed away in early June. After the memorial service I wandered out to the field where our horse lives. Bella is good company even on days when I am not. As I was lovin’ on the horse, pondering the events of the day, my phone rang.
And it was my agent.
I answered, but of course, the connection was horrible and we couldn’t hear each other. Ugh!
She called again. Same thing.
Finally, on the third call, we’re able to communicate. When she told me Kregel wanted to offer me a contract, I was stunned. This news really took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. What a day!
As you can see, it’s now August. Turns out there are a lot of steps between being offered a contract and completing the process. Overall, it’s not a bad way to spend a summer.
In true writer-form, I think we should toast this occasion with…Coffee!
Or at least a coffee cup.
Recently, I discovered a company with unique and quality products. Tiffany and Jacob, of Camplight Apparel, believe in a positive message and giving back to the world. With each purchase from their online store, a donation is made to aid children in need. Camplight is currently donating to Harvest107, an organization working to build rooftop gardens for orphanages in Haiti.
To celebrate the new contract, I’m giving away one of the mugs shown above. All you have to do is be a subscriber. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re already entered. Drawing will take place on September 1, 2016 at 5:00pm pst.
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Home from Fair
There’s been a bit of a lull here on the blog due to the county fair, but now I’m back and almost rested.
Fair is a four day event that sometimes feels like months then ends with me wondering how the time went by so quickly. It’s at fair that I catch up with old friends, watch my kids achieve the rewards of their hard work, and remember the best days of my own growing up years.
I did something different this year. I judged the marketing contest. Junior 4H members came to me over the course of four hours and attempted to sway me with their sales pitches. What an honor it was for me. Somewhere between fifteen and twenty kids came through with animals like a bald guinea pigs and a llama. Some were nervous and some were seasoned professionals, but each of the kids had clearly worked hard to bring a solid project to the fair. I loved every presentation.
My kids did well with their steers, bring home blue ribbons. The cattle were sold at the auction Saturday night. While we’ll miss the crazy critters, it won’t be long before the new calves move onto the farm.
So, we’re home. Cookies have been baked for the auction buyers. Thank you notes have been written. Most of the laundry has been washed, but the house is still needing a good cleaning. And another county fair is closed. Time to start the preparations for next year.
I can’t help wondering what I’ll do when my youngest daughter graduates from 4H.
We even saw Benny the Beaver!
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Preparing for Fair
This week on the farm is all about fair preparation. My girls have steers weighing well-over a thousand pounds each. That’s a lot of animal to wash, train, and trim. There’s also time setting up the pens at the fairground, helping younger 4H members, and working on records. It makes for long days as we go through the lists, but this year is nothing compared to the many before it.
“Feed me!” ~Mooshoo
We’ve come to the point where my role in all of this is relatively light. Two of my kids are grown, no longer able to participate in 4H, and the two still involved are no longer little kids.
It makes me think back to that very first year. My oldest son had a couple sheep to show, and I had three younger kids to keep track of. It was crazy-hot and crazy-busy. My husband’s work is the most demanding during the first week of the month. That’s usually the week fair lands on, which left me to do much of the management on my own. I ran around the fairgrounds, trying to make sure my oldest had everything he needed while not losing any of the others. If you know my second son, you know this was a challenge. He was a very social little guy who ran off toward any familiar face.
For years now, I’ve watched my kids take on new projects, win, lose, and grow from the experience. One year I had two kids showing beef, one with pigs, and another with lambs.That makes for very little downtime.Though it wasn’t always easy, I’m grateful for the program that helped us teach our children how to work hard and see the benefit of their efforts.
But here we are with only a few more years remaining in our family 4H adventure. I’ll miss this whirlwind of excitement. Time slips away too quickly.
This year my girls raised Baxter and Mooshoo. While Baxter is more reserved, Mooshoo is like the beef version of a puppy. He greets me at the fence, always hoping for a handful of blackberries or an extra horse treat. The girls have done a great job with their animals, I just wish I could hit the pause button.
