mustering chutzpah

Ugh! Today is a day that I will never forget, though at least one part I sincerely wish I could. If they can come up with an easy button, why can't they come up with a do over button? The kids headed out to the barn to do morning chores a minute or two before I did this morning because a friend had called and I was on the phone trying to help her with a question she was having. They came back into the house with a chicken, one of the laying hens that were hatched out this spring, it had to be a hen, couldn't have been a rooster! Ugh! Well suffice it to say I was pretty certain, like 99.9998% sure it's neck was broken, it's neck had been stuck in the chicken coop door and the rest of the details are a mystery. So here I was trying to remain calm and not vomit because of the circumstances that were inevitable were swirling around in my brain, this was not going to be a good day. I called Ron at work and told him about the hen and what was coming, ugh! was all I could think. We talked about which way would be the fastest and least painful, after all it was clear that she was in pain and it tore me up to see it. I got off the phone with him and took the hen outside and placed her on a hardwood stump that we got last year when we took care of the huge dead hemlock in the backyard. I had Andrew head into the garage to get my axe. She really seemed to be at peace in the sunshine. She just laid there on the stump in the sunshine with her eyes closed, Andrew handed my the axe and headed inside with Faith. I took a measurement of where I needed to land the axe and placed it in the grass. I headed inside too. I loaded the rifle, just in case I missed and there was another situation I needed to suddenly deal with took a few long inhalations of lavender to calm my nerves. I had never done anything like what I was about to do and never in a million years did I ever think I would be able to! I'm a vegetarian for crying out loud!! I'm also a caretaker of creation and this poor helpless creature I'd been entrusted to care for was in pain and there was nothing I could do for her expect to end her pain. So I took another few whiffs of the lavender and headed back out to the stump. She opened her eyes for a minute to see what had changed then quickly closed them and went back to peacefully laying there. I propped the rifle up within easy reach and picked up the axe and thanked her for her life and thanked her for eating lots of bugs for us. Took another measurement of where it needed to be placed and with one swift motion it was all over. I will spare you all the gory details but it's not something I ever care to do again. I'm just glad I was able to muster up the chutzpah to get the job done. I've only ever killed bugs; like mosquitoes or black flies, or mice; once I ran over a garden snake with the lawnmower because I was terrified of snakes and was sure it was after me! (I shudder to think of it!) I have never taken a life like this; I am ok with doing it because I know she is out of pain but I feel so bad that it had to happen. I'm not one to panic in situations like this; pretty level headed but I've wondered in the past level headed to what point? It there a point when level headedness goes out the window? It was nice to realize that when I wasn't sure this was something I'd ever be able to to I was! I was able to reach way down in a place I didn't know I had and do what needed to be done, I know that I got that strength from my Father and I am grateful!

It doesn't just happen in the show ring

As I mentioned before, we've been going to the dairy barn this week so Faith and Andrew can work with their calves. The goal is to eventually be able to show them in a dairy show, but that doesn't just happen. There is so much more to it than simply washing them and walking into the show ring. They are working hard on getting them ready. Not only do the kids need to work on getting the cow clean, they actually need to teach the cow to walk. I know it may seem odd, teaching the cow, excuse me, heifer calf to walk but it's an important thing for them to learn. When the judge says stop, they need to be in position within about two or three steps. Then when the judge asks you about your calf, you'd better be prepared, that all takes time and practice and a level of self confidence I've seen Faith gain already! (Self confidence has never been an issue with Andrew.) That being said, these calves are babies; 200- 450 pound babies, and they can give you an attitude. They've been known to step on feet and decide not to go where asked to go and have taken correction and redirection beautifully. Everything is new to them and it can be a big scary world out there, but in the hands of a confident handler the world isn't so bad. It's a beautiful thing to see these babies gain trust, knowledge, confidence, experience, patience and understanding. Nice to see it happen to the calves as well.

Faith leading her heifer...
...and brushing her...

Andrew leading his heifer...

...and bonding with her...

and brushing her...

and more bonding...

and more bonding...

Andrew has always been the cow nut, any type of cow he's always loved, Holsteins and Texas Longhorns being the top two, and he is really the one that wanted to join a 4-H dairy club. In fact Faith had very little interest in it but went to the first meeting because she had no choice, she had to go because I was not returning home before the meeting started. Surprisingly, she loved it and was totally on board with it and even looked forward to showing! I was floored. It's been really nice to see her try something she wasn't really into and gain a level of self confidence that she really needed.