Yup, that's Lilith. She smacked me good on two fingers on the right hand, when I was trying to get her off the inflation tubing. Whoops, she kicked, caught my hand, and the back of my hand caught a metal post. Swollen knuckles, and I feel lucky (albeit a bit stoopid). I yelled, and put the inflation back on her, and tried my best to figure out how to get milk out of a horse, I mean, cow. I made one dumb mistake after another, and ended by losing my temper, and telling her rather strongly what I thought of her, while I let her out of the barn.
That was yesterday morning, and I went back in yesterday evening with Debbie, one of the supermilkers of the universe, and she had similar problems, minus the dumb mistakes. And this morning, Rusty (one of the other supermilkers, and more) came down and showed me how to milk a horse, I mean cow. Holy spumoni. She's a two-person cow, it turns out.
She's wonderful, Lilith is. She's a big healthy Holstein, in her first milking. And hopefully she'll unlearn her fighting. Me, too. I hope to unlearn my fighting. Fortunately, Rusty and Debbie are good at teaching. I feel bad, because she'd been making progress, learning to settle in, and then I come in with been-away-at-camp brains, and boom, lose it. At least I knew I'd been doing something wrong -- I'd been tying the training rope incorrectly, and basically milking her sans rope.
Okeydokey artichokey, I'm sure Lilith will learn, and I hope she learns faster than I do!
much love,
Kelpie
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Blueberries, conferences, buildings
Another hot day, but at least better than yesterday. And Zadek, Biddy and I went blueberrying then, so now I've got a tubful of yummmmmm. It's making us pretty happy. Big ol' cold bloobs. We had them for breakfast.
Biddy's a new member, and she can sing just about anything, and when she does, you want to listen. She's got an amazing voice. Wow, that's very exciting.
And what else? The Communities Conference is starting on Friday, so there'll be many many people at the conf site, and there'll be a whole bunch of women at the conf site... um... the weekend after, I think. For the Women's Gathering. I don't go to that Gathering much anymore. My family can't go, 'cause they're all boys, basically. Oh well. Then in October, there's a new gathering, of permaculture folks starting to build a strawbale shelter. I've been in strawbale shelters, but haven't watched them go up. It'll be interesting.
Years ago, I helped stuff leaves into walls, to make a wonderful house bigger and better. That was really fun, and a lot of work. Took a lot of chicken wire fencing, and some two-by-fours. The structure's still up and looking good!!
Okey dokey artichokeys, looks like I'm off to the races. Hope my pony wins. So far, I'm feeling pretty lucky.
much love,
Kelpie
Biddy's a new member, and she can sing just about anything, and when she does, you want to listen. She's got an amazing voice. Wow, that's very exciting.
And what else? The Communities Conference is starting on Friday, so there'll be many many people at the conf site, and there'll be a whole bunch of women at the conf site... um... the weekend after, I think. For the Women's Gathering. I don't go to that Gathering much anymore. My family can't go, 'cause they're all boys, basically. Oh well. Then in October, there's a new gathering, of permaculture folks starting to build a strawbale shelter. I've been in strawbale shelters, but haven't watched them go up. It'll be interesting.
Years ago, I helped stuff leaves into walls, to make a wonderful house bigger and better. That was really fun, and a lot of work. Took a lot of chicken wire fencing, and some two-by-fours. The structure's still up and looking good!!
Okey dokey artichokeys, looks like I'm off to the races. Hope my pony wins. So far, I'm feeling pretty lucky.
much love,
Kelpie
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Sup
Ok, Mom, I'm writing, I'm writing. Look at me writing!!
Knowing now what it is to be a mother, I have more sympathy, of course. Empathy, even. Yup. AND I got an email from Rowan last night, that asked me "sup" and told me that he loved me. I'm not bragging or anything. It's true. And "sup," for those of you who don't know, is short for "what is up?"
I'm home from camp. I was gone for about a very long time (decades, at least), and am ticked pink to be back. I found a new ability to shine, which is the whole point of going to camp. My family's pretty happy to have me home again, also. And I went to the ZK dance floor last night and danced and danced, so I really feel home again.
What will next year's camp bring, I wonder? I'd like to bring Rowan, or Arlo, but neither can go until they're 18. Maybe 16 (if I pull some strings). I'd like to bring Keenan, but then who stays with Arlo and Rowan? At least I have Wild Child for Rowan to attend with me.
okey dokey artichokeys,
much love,
Kelpie
Knowing now what it is to be a mother, I have more sympathy, of course. Empathy, even. Yup. AND I got an email from Rowan last night, that asked me "sup" and told me that he loved me. I'm not bragging or anything. It's true. And "sup," for those of you who don't know, is short for "what is up?"
I'm home from camp. I was gone for about a very long time (decades, at least), and am ticked pink to be back. I found a new ability to shine, which is the whole point of going to camp. My family's pretty happy to have me home again, also. And I went to the ZK dance floor last night and danced and danced, so I really feel home again.
What will next year's camp bring, I wonder? I'd like to bring Rowan, or Arlo, but neither can go until they're 18. Maybe 16 (if I pull some strings). I'd like to bring Keenan, but then who stays with Arlo and Rowan? At least I have Wild Child for Rowan to attend with me.
okey dokey artichokeys,
much love,
Kelpie
Friday, June 12, 2009
If it's not the heat,
It's the humidity. And right now I can see it on the inside of the windows as Ez makes noodles. I can see the tomato plants out the window, and they're looking good! No ripe ones, yet. That won't be for a while. Our blueberries aren't ripe yet, either. Looks like that will be in a couple of weeks. And none of the shiny little beetles that drive me bonkers -- that will be in early July, I think. Hopefully they won't eat too much.
I've caught four field mice in four days. Cute little buggers. In live traps! And each one is named, and then let go, far far away. Today's mouse, "Mothra," got little dark blue dots on its tail, thanks to Keenan, who believes that we're catching the same mouse each day. I know Bartimaus Catslayer, day 2 mouse, hasn't returned -- that one had a ripped up ear. Could be Bart's somewhere around, we may never know....
Okey dokey artichokey. How many more mice can I catch?
I've caught four field mice in four days. Cute little buggers. In live traps! And each one is named, and then let go, far far away. Today's mouse, "Mothra," got little dark blue dots on its tail, thanks to Keenan, who believes that we're catching the same mouse each day. I know Bartimaus Catslayer, day 2 mouse, hasn't returned -- that one had a ripped up ear. Could be Bart's somewhere around, we may never know....
Okey dokey artichokey. How many more mice can I catch?
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Hot and muggy
So, it's June, and I'd like to take some pictures, but I'm not sure how to get the pictures from my very nice new camera that my father sent me into the various forms needed for whatever thing I want to do with it. If that sentence didn't make much sense, it's because I was raised in the age of FILM. That's different than the age of DIGITAL, whatever that means. No, I have no anti-computer bias whatsoever. Why did you think that? No doubt if I understood all these doohickies and and whatnot, I'd be much better at sending pictures to my relatives, who are longing to see pictures of their grandchildren. Arrgh. Or their own children. Anyway.
It may be time for more coffee. I can put coffee in a mug, and I just need to decide if I want it hot or cold. But I may want a hot and muggy coffee, to go along with the day.
much love,
Kelpie
It may be time for more coffee. I can put coffee in a mug, and I just need to decide if I want it hot or cold. But I may want a hot and muggy coffee, to go along with the day.
much love,
Kelpie
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Green. old friend, Lawrence
Seems like summer's in full bloom now, and it's been great on the commune. Lots of flowers and green, and the steam table has been full of truly amazing freshness. The sugar snap peas are my favorite. They're green, so I think I'm getting nutrition, and they're sweet and crunchy, which is what I really want.
My ol' buddy Steve came to visit yesterday with his wife, and we walked around the farm for a few hours, catching up and touring. Our conversation made me miss Lawrence, but more miss the Lawrence of my misspent youth. I feel so lucky to have grown up in such a progressive town, and very grateful for the educational opportunities handed to me on a plate. Now when I go back, I see a lot of economic boom, which in some respects seems a bit empty to me -- I understand there's a second Wal-Mart now, and that's discouraging. But in many more ways, Lawrence is fundamentally solid in its values, with green growing things all around, and people working together to make it a peaceful place of learning and art. I miss that.
Don't get me wrong -- Twin Oaks is chockful of growing and art. Sometimes though, it's just a bit... hmm.... constricting. I'm laughing at myself, because I remember a time when I thought Lawrence too constricting. In the ways that really matter, Twin Oaks and Lawrence are more similar than different. For example, growing up, I thought every town had a coop grocery store -- it just makes sense. Now of course, I realize what a treasure the Merc is. People just need to have control over their food source, over what actually goes in their actual mouths. And unfortunately, in this day and age, most folks are limited in their choices. Don't get me started.
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
My ol' buddy Steve came to visit yesterday with his wife, and we walked around the farm for a few hours, catching up and touring. Our conversation made me miss Lawrence, but more miss the Lawrence of my misspent youth. I feel so lucky to have grown up in such a progressive town, and very grateful for the educational opportunities handed to me on a plate. Now when I go back, I see a lot of economic boom, which in some respects seems a bit empty to me -- I understand there's a second Wal-Mart now, and that's discouraging. But in many more ways, Lawrence is fundamentally solid in its values, with green growing things all around, and people working together to make it a peaceful place of learning and art. I miss that.
Don't get me wrong -- Twin Oaks is chockful of growing and art. Sometimes though, it's just a bit... hmm.... constricting. I'm laughing at myself, because I remember a time when I thought Lawrence too constricting. In the ways that really matter, Twin Oaks and Lawrence are more similar than different. For example, growing up, I thought every town had a coop grocery store -- it just makes sense. Now of course, I realize what a treasure the Merc is. People just need to have control over their food source, over what actually goes in their actual mouths. And unfortunately, in this day and age, most folks are limited in their choices. Don't get me started.
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Rainy day, finally!! And, Kapowie!
Hurray! The rain is falling and the plants are happy. Most of the people seem happy, and the cows, too, seemed mostly happy. It's good to have a lot of water falling from the sky, as a gift to our sun-soaked soil, this time of year. It's a time of abundance and plenty, and mostly we seem pretty busy taking care of plants to eat later... and it's definitely the best time of the year to eat. We're eating well now, and there's the joy of anticipation, too. Our spinach is still yummy, and there's asparagus, yum, and soon... strawberries!!!
It's a good time specifically to look on the bright side, because we did have a not-so-wonderful event a few days ago. Our tobacco barn... blew up! Yes! It was not filled with tobacco -- Oakers have long since given up that endeavor. Nope. It was filled with... no, not explosives, of any kind... it was filled with... no, not anything particularly flammable... it was filled with WATER. Yup, and it burned to the ground pretty fast. The water was held in a gigantic pressurized (somehow) plastic tank. I don't really understand it, but I'll try to explain.
Back in '02, we put in a new well, and a tank to hold water, aboveground. The well's fine. We put the tank in the old tobacco barn, where it shared space with some stuff, and cow slaughtering equipment, and also chick incubator equipment. Somehow, a small fire was started, and then spotted around 6am, and while folks were gathering to put it out, kapowie! And a peice of the tank blew over the trees. No one was hurt.
So, we're using our old well. So far, so good. We'll see what happens....
much love,
Kelpie
It's a good time specifically to look on the bright side, because we did have a not-so-wonderful event a few days ago. Our tobacco barn... blew up! Yes! It was not filled with tobacco -- Oakers have long since given up that endeavor. Nope. It was filled with... no, not explosives, of any kind... it was filled with... no, not anything particularly flammable... it was filled with WATER. Yup, and it burned to the ground pretty fast. The water was held in a gigantic pressurized (somehow) plastic tank. I don't really understand it, but I'll try to explain.
Back in '02, we put in a new well, and a tank to hold water, aboveground. The well's fine. We put the tank in the old tobacco barn, where it shared space with some stuff, and cow slaughtering equipment, and also chick incubator equipment. Somehow, a small fire was started, and then spotted around 6am, and while folks were gathering to put it out, kapowie! And a peice of the tank blew over the trees. No one was hurt.
So, we're using our old well. So far, so good. We'll see what happens....
much love,
Kelpie
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Party, poles, and water
Happy happy joy joy. I went to a most excellent party last night at Tupelo, with live music! Charlie's Steel Errection played, and I played tambourine (duh). It was pretty fun. It was a party to celebrate the erection of a new Oz, for Emerald City. Our last Oz burned down last June, and we (finally) got a steel building and had it erected by... yes, Charlie's Steel Erection. Or maybe it's Joe's? Can't remember. Anyway, it's an insulated shell on a pad. A lot of people worked very hard to make it happen. The band did not put up the building... a local biz did that.
Tupelo parties typically are a lot of fun. Trout put up the decorations and wow, that was really amazing! We danced under a spiderweb of white rope held up by a salvaged light pole. The light poles used to be on the downtown mall in C-ville and were salvaged years ago. It's good to see one of them put to use -- we don't have much call for light poles here at TO, and they've been lying out in the woods for a while.
Spring is springing up all over. The grass suddenly turned green, the cows are giving a lot of milk, with that delicate scent of onion grass, and we're gearing up for Rowan's b-day. THAT's going to be next weekend, with a big waterfight in the backyard. There's been a little bit of testing already, and I can tell we'll have to give a safety lecture about the squirt that comes out of these things...
Okey dokey artichokey,
Kelpie
Tupelo parties typically are a lot of fun. Trout put up the decorations and wow, that was really amazing! We danced under a spiderweb of white rope held up by a salvaged light pole. The light poles used to be on the downtown mall in C-ville and were salvaged years ago. It's good to see one of them put to use -- we don't have much call for light poles here at TO, and they've been lying out in the woods for a while.
Spring is springing up all over. The grass suddenly turned green, the cows are giving a lot of milk, with that delicate scent of onion grass, and we're gearing up for Rowan's b-day. THAT's going to be next weekend, with a big waterfight in the backyard. There's been a little bit of testing already, and I can tell we'll have to give a safety lecture about the squirt that comes out of these things...
Okey dokey artichokey,
Kelpie
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Monetize??? WTF? Cows and weather
Well, it seems I can add my own ads to this blog. How exciting. It's "monotizing." That's different than "monopolizing," although they somewhat sound the same. Okey dokey. I don't think I'll do that. Sounds to monotonous. Now where's my spellcheck when I need it? Ah well. C'est la vie.
It's another beautiful day, this one is rainy and cloud-covered and I'll need to wash the cows' teats off thoroughly this evening, because they'll lie down and get muddy. Darn cows. Darn flies, more like it. It's also the beginning of fly season, and they can really hurt a cow, and bother me.
Y'all will be happy to hear that we seem to have lost the field mouse problem. The weather's sufficiently warmed up enough that they can go outside and find things to eat, hurray! We did have one trap mishap. The trap lost a mouse and a piece of wire when it was dropped, oopsie, on the road. Again, c'est la vie.
Sometime maybe I'll attempt to write a whole blog in French, wouldn't that be a project? C'est la vie, c'est la guerre. C'est moins interessant sans le doohicky pour les accents. C'a m'est egal. Tant pis. Now you have to imagine me shrugging my shoulders and saying, "Bof, sais pas, moi." Or something like that.
Anyhoo. It's another loverly day, and there's many a thing to do in it. I gotta go make a list.
much love,
Kelpie
It's another beautiful day, this one is rainy and cloud-covered and I'll need to wash the cows' teats off thoroughly this evening, because they'll lie down and get muddy. Darn cows. Darn flies, more like it. It's also the beginning of fly season, and they can really hurt a cow, and bother me.
Y'all will be happy to hear that we seem to have lost the field mouse problem. The weather's sufficiently warmed up enough that they can go outside and find things to eat, hurray! We did have one trap mishap. The trap lost a mouse and a piece of wire when it was dropped, oopsie, on the road. Again, c'est la vie.
Sometime maybe I'll attempt to write a whole blog in French, wouldn't that be a project? C'est la vie, c'est la guerre. C'est moins interessant sans le doohicky pour les accents. C'a m'est egal. Tant pis. Now you have to imagine me shrugging my shoulders and saying, "Bof, sais pas, moi." Or something like that.
Anyhoo. It's another loverly day, and there's many a thing to do in it. I gotta go make a list.
much love,
Kelpie
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Spring, labor credits, and ??
Beautiful day, lots of blue sky and the trees are not leafed out much. It's really pretty out, and there's flowers blooming, and somewhere in the distance I can hear some kind of engine -- is it a tractor?
I'm sort of trying to find labor credits until my assigned work at 4:30pm, which is a fabric bed date with... someone. Gosh. I wonder what sort of fabric beds, and what sort of thing will be going on there at that time. I've been learning how to sew... again. Very long seams, most are ones that show.
Ezra's in the kitchen with Zadek and Nana Anna, and maybe I'll get to do something... hmmm... like clean the bathroom or get pics put online. Which?
Anyway, that's the sort of day it is. Why are y'all inside reading this? Everyone should be outside glorying in the day -- the sun is shining and there are a million birds out there waiting to be discovered.
much love,
Kelpie
I'm sort of trying to find labor credits until my assigned work at 4:30pm, which is a fabric bed date with... someone. Gosh. I wonder what sort of fabric beds, and what sort of thing will be going on there at that time. I've been learning how to sew... again. Very long seams, most are ones that show.
Ezra's in the kitchen with Zadek and Nana Anna, and maybe I'll get to do something... hmmm... like clean the bathroom or get pics put online. Which?
Anyway, that's the sort of day it is. Why are y'all inside reading this? Everyone should be outside glorying in the day -- the sun is shining and there are a million birds out there waiting to be discovered.
much love,
Kelpie
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Headache, crowding, springtime
I slept the afternoon away, escaping from a migraine. It's the only way I know how to do it, unfortunately. Take a lot of pain killers and curl up in bed. I've missed our ceremony for the first day of spring, but at least I'm no longer in pain.
Our house in crowded!! In a good way. Many friends and relatives are coming to see the new baby and stay awhile. I love it, but my animal nature does feel it. I've been having dreams of overcrowding for the past week, and woke up last night after getting separated from Keenan and Rowan on an overcrowded boat that was sinking. Two-story inflated boats are just a bad idea, and I'll have to speak to the dream fairies about it. I got up to get a drink of water and clear my head, and found Ezra's brother sleeping on the couch! Luckily I didn't wake him up.
It's good that warm weather's coming. The cows already have green grass to eat, which is a couple of weeks early. They're happy. There are flowers of all sorts just bursting out all over, and it's only the beginning. Truly marvelous! And spring peepers are out full force, as well as a couple of other kinds of frogs. Rowan's birthday is coming up, he'll be 13 on April 11, and he wants a water fight in the backyard, so it's time to find your watergun. Cake and ice cream will be provided, of course.
Okey dokey artichokey! That about wraps it up for today!
much love,
Kelpie
Our house in crowded!! In a good way. Many friends and relatives are coming to see the new baby and stay awhile. I love it, but my animal nature does feel it. I've been having dreams of overcrowding for the past week, and woke up last night after getting separated from Keenan and Rowan on an overcrowded boat that was sinking. Two-story inflated boats are just a bad idea, and I'll have to speak to the dream fairies about it. I got up to get a drink of water and clear my head, and found Ezra's brother sleeping on the couch! Luckily I didn't wake him up.
It's good that warm weather's coming. The cows already have green grass to eat, which is a couple of weeks early. They're happy. There are flowers of all sorts just bursting out all over, and it's only the beginning. Truly marvelous! And spring peepers are out full force, as well as a couple of other kinds of frogs. Rowan's birthday is coming up, he'll be 13 on April 11, and he wants a water fight in the backyard, so it's time to find your watergun. Cake and ice cream will be provided, of course.
Okey dokey artichokey! That about wraps it up for today!
much love,
Kelpie
Friday, March 20, 2009
Baby, music, labor hole woes
Wow, it's been a while!! Sorry about that! Eep!
Sooo... catching up... well, the biggest news of course is that we have a baby in the house again. Samir Ghoshal Freeman, born about 7:30pm on St. Patrick's Day (also his father's birthday), to Mala and Ezra, and three year old Zadek is now officially an older brother. Mother and baby are healthy and happy. Samir was born at home, as most Twin Oaks babies are, and chose to come into the world in the middle of a traditional Irish music concert. They weren't actually at the concert, of course, and Ezra's upright bass was missed. Ez showed up at the end, to play a song we'd saved for last, hoping he'd make it. A rousing rendition of "The Rocky Road to Dublin," followed his joyful announcement of his son's birth. He was out of breath, having run all the way to Tupelo, where the concert was.
I had a great time at the concert, having wormed my way into playing the tambourine! Trout, the very talented musician who put the thing together, is as sweet as can be, and graciously let me bang happily away. Sometimes I wonder if people really want a tambourine... I tried to play with taste and discretion. But there's no better seat in the house than behind a tambourine, and I was especially blown away by Kassia's fiddle playing -- WOW is all I have to say. WOWW wow wow wow. She and Trout on guitar rocked Tupelo. And Keith played a modified ashiko (made by my buddy RJ!), and kept me in line. (Thank goodness). And a fellow Kassia brought from C-ville, Tommy, who we kept wanting to call Commie, played mandolin, and something called a "hoodoo." A hoodoo looks a bit like it should have wine in it... it's a kind of percussion instrument that Wikipedia doesn't know about yet, and defies easy description, so I'll pass.
In other news, I signed a labor contract, and missed my first month's quota by one lousy labor credit. So shoot me. Or sue me. Or whatever. I was sick, and not allowed to make overquota. Caught in a catch-22 by the labor system, whatever. I'm a bit bitter about it, because it means I cannot take part in Wild Child in May, the 3-day family camp. Grrr. But whatever. Live and learn, eh? There have to be some sort of consequences to being a slacker, and not getting to go to fun stuff is one of them. It's too bad in several different ways, because I was going to hang with the little kids in the mornings, and now the (very patient) organizers must scramble to find a replacement. I really dislike making problems for other people, and it's another lesson for me about how my irresponsibility affects others. Ah well. Life will be different once I'm out of the labor hole, which should be in June.
Okey dokey artichokey! I won't let so much time go by again! Hopefully I won't get as sick again!
much love,
Kelpie
Sooo... catching up... well, the biggest news of course is that we have a baby in the house again. Samir Ghoshal Freeman, born about 7:30pm on St. Patrick's Day (also his father's birthday), to Mala and Ezra, and three year old Zadek is now officially an older brother. Mother and baby are healthy and happy. Samir was born at home, as most Twin Oaks babies are, and chose to come into the world in the middle of a traditional Irish music concert. They weren't actually at the concert, of course, and Ezra's upright bass was missed. Ez showed up at the end, to play a song we'd saved for last, hoping he'd make it. A rousing rendition of "The Rocky Road to Dublin," followed his joyful announcement of his son's birth. He was out of breath, having run all the way to Tupelo, where the concert was.
I had a great time at the concert, having wormed my way into playing the tambourine! Trout, the very talented musician who put the thing together, is as sweet as can be, and graciously let me bang happily away. Sometimes I wonder if people really want a tambourine... I tried to play with taste and discretion. But there's no better seat in the house than behind a tambourine, and I was especially blown away by Kassia's fiddle playing -- WOW is all I have to say. WOWW wow wow wow. She and Trout on guitar rocked Tupelo. And Keith played a modified ashiko (made by my buddy RJ!), and kept me in line. (Thank goodness). And a fellow Kassia brought from C-ville, Tommy, who we kept wanting to call Commie, played mandolin, and something called a "hoodoo." A hoodoo looks a bit like it should have wine in it... it's a kind of percussion instrument that Wikipedia doesn't know about yet, and defies easy description, so I'll pass.
In other news, I signed a labor contract, and missed my first month's quota by one lousy labor credit. So shoot me. Or sue me. Or whatever. I was sick, and not allowed to make overquota. Caught in a catch-22 by the labor system, whatever. I'm a bit bitter about it, because it means I cannot take part in Wild Child in May, the 3-day family camp. Grrr. But whatever. Live and learn, eh? There have to be some sort of consequences to being a slacker, and not getting to go to fun stuff is one of them. It's too bad in several different ways, because I was going to hang with the little kids in the mornings, and now the (very patient) organizers must scramble to find a replacement. I really dislike making problems for other people, and it's another lesson for me about how my irresponsibility affects others. Ah well. Life will be different once I'm out of the labor hole, which should be in June.
Okey dokey artichokey! I won't let so much time go by again! Hopefully I won't get as sick again!
much love,
Kelpie
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Cold, Drums, and Drama
I was going to work in Richmond today, housecleaning for a friend, but woke up with my cold settling in my throat and chest. Arrrgh. So it's a sick day for Kelpie, with lots of hot fluids and rest. I'm hoping to get some laundry done too, and repair work on my wardrobe. I may venture out to find myself another pair of pants in Commie Clothes. The ones I'm wearing have defied my patching ability.
We had a good time drumming and dancing yesterday evening in ZK after dinner. Drumgasm has been a wandering gypsy experience for a while, but maybe ZK will be our wintertime home. We seem to get more participation when we're there, just because, well, there we are. And we don't have to monopolize someone's living room that way. Degania may evolve into a happy Drumgasm place, but it didn't work for us the last time we were there... When we're finally Utopia, of course, we'll have a round yurt that's always the perfect temperature, and there'll be all sorts of treats available, too, for the taking.
In other news, the farm's drama continues, with soon-to-be-ex-member Woody as our focus. I'm very grateful to not be in the hoopla of it all, and have merely been asked my opinion (along with all Twin Oakers) if Woody should have a feedback only, or a feedback on the road to expulsion. He's planning on leaving soon, so the difference is mainly symbolic, but significant (as most symbols are). He would lose the right of return, as well as some allowance money, since he has a vacation balance, if he is expelled. It'll be interesting to see what happens. In many ways, his case is similar to Kodiak's, from the early 90's.
Okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
We had a good time drumming and dancing yesterday evening in ZK after dinner. Drumgasm has been a wandering gypsy experience for a while, but maybe ZK will be our wintertime home. We seem to get more participation when we're there, just because, well, there we are. And we don't have to monopolize someone's living room that way. Degania may evolve into a happy Drumgasm place, but it didn't work for us the last time we were there... When we're finally Utopia, of course, we'll have a round yurt that's always the perfect temperature, and there'll be all sorts of treats available, too, for the taking.
In other news, the farm's drama continues, with soon-to-be-ex-member Woody as our focus. I'm very grateful to not be in the hoopla of it all, and have merely been asked my opinion (along with all Twin Oakers) if Woody should have a feedback only, or a feedback on the road to expulsion. He's planning on leaving soon, so the difference is mainly symbolic, but significant (as most symbols are). He would lose the right of return, as well as some allowance money, since he has a vacation balance, if he is expelled. It'll be interesting to see what happens. In many ways, his case is similar to Kodiak's, from the early 90's.
Okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Sunday, February 22, 2009
More mice and Andromeda
So, I wrote a note to Grayson, our House Manager, and told him our kitchen was infested with mice, and he said, buy a live trap, so I asked the Louisa tripper to get one, at Southern States, and Elsa brought back a Havahart. Mouse-sized. Also vole and shrew sized, according to the directions, which were given in English, Spanish, and French. The French word for shrew is a long word (which I can't remember now), that starts out with "mus," which is Latin for "mouse." So I'm guessing the rest of the very long French word means something like, "really tiny mouse, but not really a mouse, really." I'm too lazy to look it up; the word itself, or its origin.
So, we set the trap -- or rather, Keenan set it (not because he read the directions), and the next day, we had a mouse. I took it down to the dairy barn and let it go out in the yard. I took the trap home, and Keenan set it again (he's good at it) and the next day, we had a mouse. I took this one down to the river field and shook it out of the trap near a rotting log. It was a peaceful sort of day, and the mouse gathered its wits and soon disappeared down a hole that may have been occupied. I hope it and the barn mouse have long and happy lives far from Beechside kitchen.
So, I took the trap home, and set it myself, and today there is no mouse. First day of no mouse for several days, actually. I'd caught five total with the snap traps, two of which were, um, mice which may be three-legged at this point, or may be part of someone's digestive system. I sincerely hope that there are no more mice, or that the mice have decided to move to less dangerous neighborhoods (the Bijou kitchen?). The peanut butter in the trap hasn't been nibbled, otherwise I'd wonder if I set the trap right... I didn't read the directions either.
So, in other news, we ate Andromeda today, or parts thereof. She was a great milk cow, giving to the last, and still giving. It's a unique experience for an American, and I'm very honored and lucky to be able to eat the cow that gave the milk that nourished me, my family, and my community for many years (seven?). I think perhaps my grandparents could have had such an experience, but I sorta doubt it. It's more possible that my great-grandparents did. So long, Andromeda. You've taught me more about the cycle of life than any other non-human animal, and I'm grateful for you.
So, we set the trap -- or rather, Keenan set it (not because he read the directions), and the next day, we had a mouse. I took it down to the dairy barn and let it go out in the yard. I took the trap home, and Keenan set it again (he's good at it) and the next day, we had a mouse. I took this one down to the river field and shook it out of the trap near a rotting log. It was a peaceful sort of day, and the mouse gathered its wits and soon disappeared down a hole that may have been occupied. I hope it and the barn mouse have long and happy lives far from Beechside kitchen.
So, I took the trap home, and set it myself, and today there is no mouse. First day of no mouse for several days, actually. I'd caught five total with the snap traps, two of which were, um, mice which may be three-legged at this point, or may be part of someone's digestive system. I sincerely hope that there are no more mice, or that the mice have decided to move to less dangerous neighborhoods (the Bijou kitchen?). The peanut butter in the trap hasn't been nibbled, otherwise I'd wonder if I set the trap right... I didn't read the directions either.
So, in other news, we ate Andromeda today, or parts thereof. She was a great milk cow, giving to the last, and still giving. It's a unique experience for an American, and I'm very honored and lucky to be able to eat the cow that gave the milk that nourished me, my family, and my community for many years (seven?). I think perhaps my grandparents could have had such an experience, but I sorta doubt it. It's more possible that my great-grandparents did. So long, Andromeda. You've taught me more about the cycle of life than any other non-human animal, and I'm grateful for you.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Office shift and blue sky
It's a lovely day outside, with a warm breeze and a beautiful sky. I'd think it were spring, and in some ways, it is. A week or so ago, we had some crocuses blooming -- purple ones, which I saw, and some snowdrops, which I didn't. Everyone seems to be happy and mostly healthy, and I realize once again how my moods change with the weather.
I'm on an office shift, which means I'm the community's receptionist for three hours. Fortunately I know enough to be as helpful as possible without getting too stressed out. I answer the phone (which omigosh has an annoying ring, why can't we change that thing?), and I do cash transactions, so in some sense, I'm also a clerk. Mostly I love jobs like this -- I've always liked playing with money, and everyone who walks into the office is a friend. I remember with fondness my job as a barrista at the kosher bakery in Minneapolis. The glory of Twin Oaks, of course, is that shift work doesn't become onerous. There's a list of oh, 10? people who do office shifts. Yup, and there's chaos, of course. A different sort than the chaos which happens when you're stuck in a job.
After lunch, I'm cleaning the barn. I'm looking forward to some scrubbing!
much love,
Kelpie
I'm on an office shift, which means I'm the community's receptionist for three hours. Fortunately I know enough to be as helpful as possible without getting too stressed out. I answer the phone (which omigosh has an annoying ring, why can't we change that thing?), and I do cash transactions, so in some sense, I'm also a clerk. Mostly I love jobs like this -- I've always liked playing with money, and everyone who walks into the office is a friend. I remember with fondness my job as a barrista at the kosher bakery in Minneapolis. The glory of Twin Oaks, of course, is that shift work doesn't become onerous. There's a list of oh, 10? people who do office shifts. Yup, and there's chaos, of course. A different sort than the chaos which happens when you're stuck in a job.
After lunch, I'm cleaning the barn. I'm looking forward to some scrubbing!
much love,
Kelpie
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Mourning and Looking Forward
I had a good talk with Shakti last night. She's talked to me about the tree destruction, and said she offers tobacco to the tree spirits (she considers herself a "white Indian"), and said tobacco's offered because there's not any in the spirit world. I'm not a tobacco person; my heritage offering would probably be whiskey. I could get some, or I could sing and drum, which tends to be more my style, or my path (sez Shakti). That would be better than going through the emotional ups and downs I've been experiencing, along with the grouchiness.
I'm very lucky also to live with understanding people who've given me a hug when I've needed it. One friend told me, well, at least Twin Oaks doesn't cut down all the trees, like some of the clearcuts we drive by in Louisa County. She said she didn't think Twin Oaks is an eco-village, either, though, since we're still on the grid. I guess we're more "eco" compared to some. My personal definition of "eco" includes a friendliness and companionship with trees and the community of plants and animals that they support.
On a different and related note: I sent in my registration for Witchcamp yesterday, and am looking forward to going to Four Quarters Camp in PA. I've never been there, but I've heard a lot about it. It sounds good on paper, and online, but I've learned about advertising and propaganda (Twin Oaks says it's an eco-village, for example). Still, I'm excited. The theme is Brigid, the triple-goddess of the British Isles. (Can you see her name in the title of those lands?)
I gotta learn some songs...
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
I'm very lucky also to live with understanding people who've given me a hug when I've needed it. One friend told me, well, at least Twin Oaks doesn't cut down all the trees, like some of the clearcuts we drive by in Louisa County. She said she didn't think Twin Oaks is an eco-village, either, though, since we're still on the grid. I guess we're more "eco" compared to some. My personal definition of "eco" includes a friendliness and companionship with trees and the community of plants and animals that they support.
On a different and related note: I sent in my registration for Witchcamp yesterday, and am looking forward to going to Four Quarters Camp in PA. I've never been there, but I've heard a lot about it. It sounds good on paper, and online, but I've learned about advertising and propaganda (Twin Oaks says it's an eco-village, for example). Still, I'm excited. The theme is Brigid, the triple-goddess of the British Isles. (Can you see her name in the title of those lands?)
I gotta learn some songs...
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Bitter Kelpie
Today, the forestry crew continues its task of cutting trees down. They usually do this far from the residences, and the wood is cut and stacked for firewood. We have enormous stacks of firewood by our residences, enough to last us several years. These trees are not coming down for firewood, they're coming down, goes the reasoning, (put forth on the land use proposal posted by a Morningstar resident and approved by the Land Planner, after input was gathered for 10 days), so that "mold won't grow in Degania and Morningstar. There's been about 10 trees downed so far, and another dozen or so are doomed, with ropes around them, between Morningstar and Kaweah, and behind Degania.
We've been discussing "solar clearings" for years, here at Twin Oaks, and this one, in addition to killing mold, it is said, will let more sunlight hit the roof of Morningstar, where maybe someday there'll be solar panels of some sort up there, doing something groovy and money saving, for the people of Morningstar and Twin Oaks.
Not up for discussion is all the homes destroyed by tree cutting. I'm wondering how many birds, and what kinds of birds, are being displaced, for one. And it's strange to me that everyone seems to believe that cutting these trees down will reduce mold growth. I believe they're in for an unpleasant surprise. The buildings are old, and never have been air conditioned (although there are a couple of dehumidifiers running constantly, now, for the past year or so). The arguement has been that children need to live in buildings that are not moldy, for their health. Cutting down trees seems to be more politically acceptable than air conditioning. Hmm. Now Morningstar and Degania have a lot of stumps and tractor ruts around them.
Oh well, I tell myself. We killed a lot of trees and remade the local world when we built the pond. But I'm still angry at the sound of chainsaws and the sight of stumps. Have you ever had a lot of trees cut down by your house against your will? I feel bitterness creeping upon me. Phrases like, "how can this be an eco-village?" are running around in my head. "What on earth were these people thinking?" and mostly, "why didn't I oppose it when I had a chance? When was that chance? I seem to have missed it."
Oh well. Keenan tells me that blueberries and peach trees will be planted there, and I hear the stumps will be inoculated with mushroom spore so they rot faster. WTF. I'm so angry I could spit. Ok, I gotta go milk some cattle now. And, you know, we kill them, too. It's part of life, I guess, if you're an Oaker.
We've been discussing "solar clearings" for years, here at Twin Oaks, and this one, in addition to killing mold, it is said, will let more sunlight hit the roof of Morningstar, where maybe someday there'll be solar panels of some sort up there, doing something groovy and money saving, for the people of Morningstar and Twin Oaks.
Not up for discussion is all the homes destroyed by tree cutting. I'm wondering how many birds, and what kinds of birds, are being displaced, for one. And it's strange to me that everyone seems to believe that cutting these trees down will reduce mold growth. I believe they're in for an unpleasant surprise. The buildings are old, and never have been air conditioned (although there are a couple of dehumidifiers running constantly, now, for the past year or so). The arguement has been that children need to live in buildings that are not moldy, for their health. Cutting down trees seems to be more politically acceptable than air conditioning. Hmm. Now Morningstar and Degania have a lot of stumps and tractor ruts around them.
Oh well, I tell myself. We killed a lot of trees and remade the local world when we built the pond. But I'm still angry at the sound of chainsaws and the sight of stumps. Have you ever had a lot of trees cut down by your house against your will? I feel bitterness creeping upon me. Phrases like, "how can this be an eco-village?" are running around in my head. "What on earth were these people thinking?" and mostly, "why didn't I oppose it when I had a chance? When was that chance? I seem to have missed it."
Oh well. Keenan tells me that blueberries and peach trees will be planted there, and I hear the stumps will be inoculated with mushroom spore so they rot faster. WTF. I'm so angry I could spit. Ok, I gotta go milk some cattle now. And, you know, we kill them, too. It's part of life, I guess, if you're an Oaker.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Mice and Communards
Lovely day, with squirrels and birds and mice. I've seen our mouse, or its friend, several times now running across our counter. Maybe we need a pet blacksnake.
Yesterday we went to Acorn for Kassia and Sky's slideshow of their European communities tour. I hadn't been to Acorn in a while, not since we were having trouble with troubled teens, a couple of summers ago. Twin Oaks is such a lively place, it can swallow us up!
The slideshow was fun, and they have a website too, to help disseminate their info: http://sites.google.com/site/eurocommune/
Okey dokey artichokey, time to get dressed and go sign Validation cards. I've only 30 to go....
much love,
Kelpie
Yesterday we went to Acorn for Kassia and Sky's slideshow of their European communities tour. I hadn't been to Acorn in a while, not since we were having trouble with troubled teens, a couple of summers ago. Twin Oaks is such a lively place, it can swallow us up!
The slideshow was fun, and they have a website too, to help disseminate their info: http://sites.google.com/site/eurocommune/
Okey dokey artichokey, time to get dressed and go sign Validation cards. I've only 30 to go....
much love,
Kelpie
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Cats and Mice
There's a mouse in our kitchen, right behind the dish drainer. I don't mind mice, really, but I don't like their poop on the counter. I don't think they should be in the house. We don't allow animals other than our selves in the house. Oh, Valerie's cat can go in her room and the airlock, but that's on the far side of the building. That cat might be able to catch this mouse, if circumstances were right.
I'm pretty happy these days with my own circumstances. The weather's been warm, the food's been good, my boys are happy and healthy and I'm getting out of the labor hole pretty easily. Soon we'll have Validation Day, and I've been busy signing cards. Last night, someone in my dreams was telling me I wasn't writing enough specifics in them. I'm at least indicating positive feelings, though.
I've found that I must sometimes consciously maintain positive feelings towards certain people and circumstances, otherwise the negative will collect in a pile and bury me. I hate that when that happens, ack! So, I've started labeling complaining, as in "can I complain?" when I'm talking out loud, or watching when I'm feeling complainy. It works pretty well, because there's usually something I can do to remedy the situation, or at least fantasize about remedying it.
Can I complain about the mouse? I'm feeling less positive towards this mouse and its family. Its presence is an insult to our housekeeping. I could get over it by thinking happy thoughts about how cute it is (it's not), or I can ask Keenan to set a trap. I tried to set it yesterday and nearly snapped off my finger, so it's time to ask for help.
How can I be setting traps in a "non-violent community" you might be thinking. Come here to my house, then, and catch this mouse. Or think back on what you do with mice in your house. Or mosquitos. Or flies. Or spiders. Or, if you're not into killing things, then think back on who does the killing in your house and how it's done. Personally, I wish we had a mousecatching cat.
okey dokey artichokey,
Kelpie
I'm pretty happy these days with my own circumstances. The weather's been warm, the food's been good, my boys are happy and healthy and I'm getting out of the labor hole pretty easily. Soon we'll have Validation Day, and I've been busy signing cards. Last night, someone in my dreams was telling me I wasn't writing enough specifics in them. I'm at least indicating positive feelings, though.
I've found that I must sometimes consciously maintain positive feelings towards certain people and circumstances, otherwise the negative will collect in a pile and bury me. I hate that when that happens, ack! So, I've started labeling complaining, as in "can I complain?" when I'm talking out loud, or watching when I'm feeling complainy. It works pretty well, because there's usually something I can do to remedy the situation, or at least fantasize about remedying it.
Can I complain about the mouse? I'm feeling less positive towards this mouse and its family. Its presence is an insult to our housekeeping. I could get over it by thinking happy thoughts about how cute it is (it's not), or I can ask Keenan to set a trap. I tried to set it yesterday and nearly snapped off my finger, so it's time to ask for help.
How can I be setting traps in a "non-violent community" you might be thinking. Come here to my house, then, and catch this mouse. Or think back on what you do with mice in your house. Or mosquitos. Or flies. Or spiders. Or, if you're not into killing things, then think back on who does the killing in your house and how it's done. Personally, I wish we had a mousecatching cat.
okey dokey artichokey,
Kelpie
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Breakfast and CMT
Happy dreams! Mala and Ezra and Zadek come down and have coffee every morning, and sometimes we talk about our dreams. Mala says she had a great dream with food and coffee and a library and New College. Ezra's discovered the comic books of Bone, which Rowan had checked out from the library (again). We've been Bone fans for a while, now. Libraries are great. I think I could live in one and be quite happy, as long as I was given food.
What did I do yesterday? I worked a lot, but didn't milk cows, and so got to wear pretty clothes! I spent the day in meetings; first, an interview with a visitor, and then a membership team meeting (Community Membership Team). I've been on the membership team for years, and it's my third stint. I do sometimes wonder if it's time to get off the team, but mostly it's ok. I don't like it so much when we forget little details. There are six of us, and we've all got busy lives, and I have ideas about what we should be doing, but then oops, the laundry the boys the cows, and I lose focus. The team's pretty lively, too, and of course we've all got our own ideas about how things should go. Fortunately, we don't mess up very often. And we're not entrenched (well, maybe I'm entrenched) and there's lots of turnover on the team. But we do have a dizzying array of policies to follow which we have to interpret. Fortunately, they're not written by me!!
Okey dokey artichokey, time to go sign Validation Day cards!!
much love,
Kelpie
What did I do yesterday? I worked a lot, but didn't milk cows, and so got to wear pretty clothes! I spent the day in meetings; first, an interview with a visitor, and then a membership team meeting (Community Membership Team). I've been on the membership team for years, and it's my third stint. I do sometimes wonder if it's time to get off the team, but mostly it's ok. I don't like it so much when we forget little details. There are six of us, and we've all got busy lives, and I have ideas about what we should be doing, but then oops, the laundry the boys the cows, and I lose focus. The team's pretty lively, too, and of course we've all got our own ideas about how things should go. Fortunately, we don't mess up very often. And we're not entrenched (well, maybe I'm entrenched) and there's lots of turnover on the team. But we do have a dizzying array of policies to follow which we have to interpret. Fortunately, they're not written by me!!
Okey dokey artichokey, time to go sign Validation Day cards!!
much love,
Kelpie
Monday, February 9, 2009
Pump and Poop
Yesterday was a gloriously warm day. I had a lot of work scheduled, with a break in the middle. Fortunately, when I'm milking, I'm in and out of the barn, so I was able to be in the sun for bits of time. The morning milking went very well. That's different than the day before, when the milking went just "well." The pump had gone out again, and we had to hand milk. I don't mind hand milking, but I was the one who discovered that the vacuum pump wasn't sucking, and that sucked. We finally called the Surge tech (and I'll do that first thing instead of last, next time), and found that a tiny piece of ice was keeping the pump from creating a seal. There's a pvc tube with a rubber flap on it that lets water trickle out when the pump's not going, and has to close and seal when the pump's on. Though it was warm outside the day before yesterday, it wasn't warm enough for the pump on the north side of the building, and the trickle condensation made ice, a teeny weeny bit. Easy to fix, once you know what to look for.
So I milked again in the morning yesterday and was happy, and then ate a lovely brunch with Rowan at the diner at Tupelo, did some sewing on fabric beds in the afternoon, (with less success), and then another milking in the afternoon. The whole time I was sewing, I felt a pull to the barn, and quit early to find that there had been no barn clean, and so did most of it myself, and then milked. That went mostly well, but good ol' Beru had to let loose with a splatter poop of the worst kind, in the barn. Yuck-ola. Fortunately none got in the milk (it got on me, instead).
Okey dokey artichokey, that's cows!
Kelpie
So I milked again in the morning yesterday and was happy, and then ate a lovely brunch with Rowan at the diner at Tupelo, did some sewing on fabric beds in the afternoon, (with less success), and then another milking in the afternoon. The whole time I was sewing, I felt a pull to the barn, and quit early to find that there had been no barn clean, and so did most of it myself, and then milked. That went mostly well, but good ol' Beru had to let loose with a splatter poop of the worst kind, in the barn. Yuck-ola. Fortunately none got in the milk (it got on me, instead).
Okey dokey artichokey, that's cows!
Kelpie
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Day In the Barn
I spent practically the whole day in the barn yesterday. Ok, not the whole entire day. I left to eat and say hi to my kids and greet the new family that's going to move to TO... someday. I milked the cows in the morning, cleaned the barn, and then milked the cows in the late afternoon, and made it to dinner, and what did I do after dinner? I watched a movie with Rowan and Keenan, called "Stranger Than Fiction." It was ok, although I found it a bit shallow. Lots of timeless themes and whatnot, but no character I really could connect to. Oh well, it was good to veg on the couch after a day of lifting and hauling. "Barn clean" includes finding enough cans and making sure they're all washed for the next two milkings. There's a lot of milk these days, with four cows fairly recently freshened.
Our new family's from Kansas, and they aren't really ours yet, they're Little Flower's, the Catholic Worker Farm a few miles away. It's a very long involved process for a family to join TO, and I'm guessing that from the family's point of view, it's a two year process from idea conception to settling in to TO with the rooms you like. Our family's got a mom and dad and a sweet baby, and I hope they like Little Flower and vice versa. I'm sure everything'll work out one way or another. Holy spumoni. ("Spumoni" is a flavor of ice cream -- it's one of the striped kinds, with nuts, yum).
Okey dokey artichokey, I need to go make some labor credits.
much love,
Kelpie
Our new family's from Kansas, and they aren't really ours yet, they're Little Flower's, the Catholic Worker Farm a few miles away. It's a very long involved process for a family to join TO, and I'm guessing that from the family's point of view, it's a two year process from idea conception to settling in to TO with the rooms you like. Our family's got a mom and dad and a sweet baby, and I hope they like Little Flower and vice versa. I'm sure everything'll work out one way or another. Holy spumoni. ("Spumoni" is a flavor of ice cream -- it's one of the striped kinds, with nuts, yum).
Okey dokey artichokey, I need to go make some labor credits.
much love,
Kelpie
Monday, February 2, 2009
Ponzi and Fire
Mom asked me on the phone, "hey! What's the calf's name?" Ok, the calf's name is Ponzi. We'll never forget what year he was conceived and born in! I do feel sorry for all those folks who lost money in the latest Ponzi scheme... hope they all get enough to eat and adequate housing. I could say more about it, but then I couldn't write about the fire.
Yup, another fire. And waaaay too many firetrucks, but of course, you never know. We're very grateful that the fire dept. gets here quickly. This fire started in the carcass pit, and we've been doing a lot of slaughtering lately -- oops, guess I should've given the Gruesome warning. Too late. Anyway, the pit's right to the right of the hay barn, and we were all worried about that catching fire, which it could've done if the wind were coming from the right direction. Fortunately all that was burned or damaged was about 2 dozen bales of mulch hay, and Casey, Rusty says, will be able to tell us more about hay needs later in the year.
I managed to help out a bit -- just enough to get in the way. I drove a car around the block with Rusty to find Casey on the tractor, which we did. We also found a lost pumper truck, looking for 138 Vigor Rd. Oops. That address does not exist. Well, I managed to put the car between that truck and two others, with Casey behind the pumper with the tractor pulling the auger. Did I mention the auger? It's a big thing for getting beans out of a silo. It was pulled by the tractor. And the poor fellow doing the traffic directing was bamboozled, so I jumped out of the car and let Rusty drive, and walked to my meeting, and made it there on time. Ez and Bucket didn't -- they were helping with the fire.
Okey dokey artichokey. I'm glad we live where there's not a water shortage and it's going to rain maybe soon,
love,
Kelpie
Yup, another fire. And waaaay too many firetrucks, but of course, you never know. We're very grateful that the fire dept. gets here quickly. This fire started in the carcass pit, and we've been doing a lot of slaughtering lately -- oops, guess I should've given the Gruesome warning. Too late. Anyway, the pit's right to the right of the hay barn, and we were all worried about that catching fire, which it could've done if the wind were coming from the right direction. Fortunately all that was burned or damaged was about 2 dozen bales of mulch hay, and Casey, Rusty says, will be able to tell us more about hay needs later in the year.
I managed to help out a bit -- just enough to get in the way. I drove a car around the block with Rusty to find Casey on the tractor, which we did. We also found a lost pumper truck, looking for 138 Vigor Rd. Oops. That address does not exist. Well, I managed to put the car between that truck and two others, with Casey behind the pumper with the tractor pulling the auger. Did I mention the auger? It's a big thing for getting beans out of a silo. It was pulled by the tractor. And the poor fellow doing the traffic directing was bamboozled, so I jumped out of the car and let Rusty drive, and walked to my meeting, and made it there on time. Ez and Bucket didn't -- they were helping with the fire.
Okey dokey artichokey. I'm glad we live where there's not a water shortage and it's going to rain maybe soon,
love,
Kelpie
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Groundhog Day???
Today's Feb. 1!! Happy Feb, everyone. According to my calendar, tomorrow is Groundhog Day, Candlemas, Imbolc, Brigid, ... and a lot of other things I haven't found out yet. I like groundhogs, although I've watched them roll cantaloupes down the road so that they can take them home to their babies. Candlemas... well, I'm not Catholic, but I do understand the need to consecrate candles. Imbolc is something I start to understand, but I call the holiday Brigid, myself.
We had a good ritual last night, here in Chesterfield, south of Richmond. It's traditional to make a pledge on Brigid, so I did. I'm getting better at making pledges that won't tie me down too much. My pledge was, "more music!" and I let go of fear. These are ongoing projects of mine, so they won't be too hard to remember. I used to make pledges like, "I'll clean my room!" but it's harder to keep that one. My room is full of clutter, and it's all mine... where does it REALLY go? The real question is: How can I get a room that doesn't hide my things when I need them? There's a few lost treasures in there... and I'm glad I know where my musical instruments are. Mostly.
I'll be home this evening, after another ritual (I seem to be a ritual junkie). It'll be good to be home, and I'm glad I'm here, too. Looks like the weather'll hold for awhile. I haven't seen a groundhog all day, nor a cantaloupe.
much love,
Kelpie
We had a good ritual last night, here in Chesterfield, south of Richmond. It's traditional to make a pledge on Brigid, so I did. I'm getting better at making pledges that won't tie me down too much. My pledge was, "more music!" and I let go of fear. These are ongoing projects of mine, so they won't be too hard to remember. I used to make pledges like, "I'll clean my room!" but it's harder to keep that one. My room is full of clutter, and it's all mine... where does it REALLY go? The real question is: How can I get a room that doesn't hide my things when I need them? There's a few lost treasures in there... and I'm glad I know where my musical instruments are. Mostly.
I'll be home this evening, after another ritual (I seem to be a ritual junkie). It'll be good to be home, and I'm glad I'm here, too. Looks like the weather'll hold for awhile. I haven't seen a groundhog all day, nor a cantaloupe.
much love,
Kelpie
Friday, January 30, 2009
'80's Dance Party!
Yesterday there was an 80's party at Tupelo. When I was in grade school, we used to have 50's parties. Everyone would dress up and we'd listen to music and maybe dance, if we were allowed and were brave and the desks weren't in the way. The party at Tupelo was pretty different from those parties. Half remembered dancing to 80's music in the '80's, and the other half were born in the 80's.
I went in a dress that I actually wore then, with my hair in a ponytail on the side. Other people mostly wore clothes you'd see on aerobics instructors. I very much liked the swirl of my dress, and tried to swirl and twirl as much as possible without falling down. Other folks fell down and became break dancers and that was fun to watch, too. About the only music I didn't dance to was the Beastie Boys. I just never got into the Beastie Boys, although I can see why folks would. One fella really was going with it.
It was a rockin' party, and I wish everyone reading this could've been there. No one got hurt, no one threw up, everyone looked like they were having fun, and if they weren't, they had someone to talk to about it. There was a guy in the kitchen being encyclopedic about bands and dates, which is always helpful. I tried to listen to him as much as I could, given the volume and the lure of the dance floor. He says he'll DJ a 60's dance party -- I'm looking forward to that.
okey dokey artichokey,
Kelpie
I went in a dress that I actually wore then, with my hair in a ponytail on the side. Other people mostly wore clothes you'd see on aerobics instructors. I very much liked the swirl of my dress, and tried to swirl and twirl as much as possible without falling down. Other folks fell down and became break dancers and that was fun to watch, too. About the only music I didn't dance to was the Beastie Boys. I just never got into the Beastie Boys, although I can see why folks would. One fella really was going with it.
It was a rockin' party, and I wish everyone reading this could've been there. No one got hurt, no one threw up, everyone looked like they were having fun, and if they weren't, they had someone to talk to about it. There was a guy in the kitchen being encyclopedic about bands and dates, which is always helpful. I tried to listen to him as much as I could, given the volume and the lure of the dance floor. He says he'll DJ a 60's dance party -- I'm looking forward to that.
okey dokey artichokey,
Kelpie
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Calf and Legos
The new calf was born, and is about half a week old, and darned cute. He didn't know how to suck (I'm sure he's gotten it by now), and looked ridiculous with his large tongue hanging out, gulping milk from the bottle. He was born after the all-day dairy day (say that 5 times fast), the warm day of hand milking when the pump broke, in the late evening. Debbie told me they couldn't find the calf in the dark -- Willamette had gone against the fence and dropped her calf (he doesn't have a name yet) on the other side of the fence. There's a slope there, too. Apparantly he got up and walked off. He's a strong little bugger. He needs a name that begins with a "P," and is a villain or superhero. "Pluto" is one suggestion. Hopefully someday, if we're lucky and he isn't, we'll eat him. I kind of like the idea of eating Pluto... (it's a planet, not an asteroid. I don't care if I'm wrong).
Speaking of cute young things, I hear the patter of small feet upstairs. Zadek, our three and a half year old. I hope he comes downstairs soon, and, yup, there he is!! He likes the lego tower on wheels with the propeller on top that's on the table, and we're both wondering what it is. He would like it to be able to fly. His poppa made it.
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Speaking of cute young things, I hear the patter of small feet upstairs. Zadek, our three and a half year old. I hope he comes downstairs soon, and, yup, there he is!! He likes the lego tower on wheels with the propeller on top that's on the table, and we're both wondering what it is. He would like it to be able to fly. His poppa made it.
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Pump broke
It wasn't 'cause the vandal took the handle, for you Bob Dylan fans. It was some kind of roter in the motor.
What it meant was that about half a dozen or so of us human beings had to milk by hand the half a dozen or so cows, each with three or four teats and 20-30 pints of milk per udder. I'll let you do the math. What it meant to me was good company, a common goal, and sore muscles. So, yes, I had fun, and yes, I'm glad the pump is fixed now.
I was surprised at how strong my right hand is, compared with my left. I am right-handed, so that makes sense. I also play the tambourine, and hold it with my left hand while I drum with my right, and I use the same muscle groups drumming as I do milking. I'm not going to milk or drum today -- even typing is somewhat of an ordeal, I'm that sore.
I rewarded myself with a treat -- I watched the mid-70's movie, "Network." I really liked it. I'd heard it was good, and it was! And, although I'm not currently outwardly mad as hell and can't take it anymore, I can certainly work up that feeling without much effort. I like to think that milking cows and living on a commune is a good way for me to deal with my anger about bullshit. I certainly am living a real life, and I certainly know what it's like to live an inauthentic one. What a good movie -- funny and true. My favorite kind.
okeydokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
What it meant was that about half a dozen or so of us human beings had to milk by hand the half a dozen or so cows, each with three or four teats and 20-30 pints of milk per udder. I'll let you do the math. What it meant to me was good company, a common goal, and sore muscles. So, yes, I had fun, and yes, I'm glad the pump is fixed now.
I was surprised at how strong my right hand is, compared with my left. I am right-handed, so that makes sense. I also play the tambourine, and hold it with my left hand while I drum with my right, and I use the same muscle groups drumming as I do milking. I'm not going to milk or drum today -- even typing is somewhat of an ordeal, I'm that sore.
I rewarded myself with a treat -- I watched the mid-70's movie, "Network." I really liked it. I'd heard it was good, and it was! And, although I'm not currently outwardly mad as hell and can't take it anymore, I can certainly work up that feeling without much effort. I like to think that milking cows and living on a commune is a good way for me to deal with my anger about bullshit. I certainly am living a real life, and I certainly know what it's like to live an inauthentic one. What a good movie -- funny and true. My favorite kind.
okeydokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Cows and hoses
So, anyone who'se taken care of animals knows that you must have a steady supply of fresh water. And cows drink a LOT of water, especially the pregnant and lactating ones. So, when the long hose was frozen this morning, I knew I was in for a long morning. Rusty had hooked up a series of hoses for the two pastures where the pregnant and the milk cows are kept, after the hydrant out there froze. It's still frozen, if you were wondering. I actually wonder when it's going to thaw.
I milked last night, and filled the tanks and drained the hoses. Or, I thought I drained the hoses. But no, they were full of ice this morning. So I took them in the barn to thaw, and in moving them, two broke. Arrgh. So I spent a good chunk of time unattaching and reattaching hoses, and trying to thaw out the ice dams, and got good and wet (did I mention it's cold?), and finally succeeded in getting water in both tanks, hurray! And I feel that my character has grown and is strengthened. There's nothing like a little wrestling with obstinate inanimate objects to strengthen your character, I've found.
And that on top of getting up at 2am to make sure our pregnant cow wasn't calving. She wasn't. She wasn't this morning at 6am, either, and it may be that she won't for a while...
Okey dokey,
much love,
Kelpie
I milked last night, and filled the tanks and drained the hoses. Or, I thought I drained the hoses. But no, they were full of ice this morning. So I took them in the barn to thaw, and in moving them, two broke. Arrgh. So I spent a good chunk of time unattaching and reattaching hoses, and trying to thaw out the ice dams, and got good and wet (did I mention it's cold?), and finally succeeded in getting water in both tanks, hurray! And I feel that my character has grown and is strengthened. There's nothing like a little wrestling with obstinate inanimate objects to strengthen your character, I've found.
And that on top of getting up at 2am to make sure our pregnant cow wasn't calving. She wasn't. She wasn't this morning at 6am, either, and it may be that she won't for a while...
Okey dokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Insulation installation
Wow, today I'm dealing with upper respiratory problems, due to 71/2 hours of installing cotton insulation yesterday. I looked online at cotton insulation advertisements. They actually say that you don't need any safety equipment for installation. That's just not true -- cotton batting is much much better than fiberglass, for oh so many reasons, but you still want dust masks and goggles. The cotton dust is hard to take, and it just goes everywhere. I'm glad I only had one day of it. As it is, my eyes are still burning, and my lungs are still working at expelling. I can't imagine going back and doing it day after day, but I'm sure there are people who do.
I went with three other Oakers to a small house outside of Afton to install the batting. It was fairly easy to install, and compared to fiberglass, well, there's just no comparison! If I'd spent all day yesterday installing fiberglass insulation, I'd have all sorts of skin prickle problems. Blech.
We got home finally at 7:30pm, too late for dinner, and half an hour before Drumgasm, which Keith and I had to cancel, as we were both too tired. He had been one of the Oakers who worked on the insulation.
The good thing is that Keenan and Rowan and Elijah had a great time at the Inauguration. They had no difficulties with traffic or crowds whatsoever, and came home safely, also exhausted. I'm glad they went, it's a lifetime opportunity. Arlo chose to stay at home.
It's still cold, and a heating pipe burst in Morningstar, so that whole building has no heat, and won't, while the pipes are being repaired. There's been several pipes bursting from the unusual cold spell, with water messes to clean up. I'm glad my house hasn't experienced that (yet!).
okey dokey,
much love,
Kelpie
I went with three other Oakers to a small house outside of Afton to install the batting. It was fairly easy to install, and compared to fiberglass, well, there's just no comparison! If I'd spent all day yesterday installing fiberglass insulation, I'd have all sorts of skin prickle problems. Blech.
We got home finally at 7:30pm, too late for dinner, and half an hour before Drumgasm, which Keith and I had to cancel, as we were both too tired. He had been one of the Oakers who worked on the insulation.
The good thing is that Keenan and Rowan and Elijah had a great time at the Inauguration. They had no difficulties with traffic or crowds whatsoever, and came home safely, also exhausted. I'm glad they went, it's a lifetime opportunity. Arlo chose to stay at home.
It's still cold, and a heating pipe burst in Morningstar, so that whole building has no heat, and won't, while the pipes are being repaired. There's been several pipes bursting from the unusual cold spell, with water messes to clean up. I'm glad my house hasn't experienced that (yet!).
okey dokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Monday, January 19, 2009
Bragging on Rowan
It's warmer today, and overcast. Maybe it will snow!! We've not had snow yet this season, and I miss it. I would like to be able to sled down Pagan Ridge just once this year...
Yesterday, Keenan and I went on a double date with Keith and Claire, and we took Rowan and Arlo! Rowan is quite the social animal. We went to Roma's for dessert (yum, btw), and then Rowan insisted on going to CVS, which in our family stands for "Candy Very Sweet." But CVS was closed, so we went to Walgreen's instead, and waited in the car for Rowan, who came back and gave us all candy!! Wow!
When we got home, Rowan and I went to a farewell party for Ivy and Daniel at Degania. They're flying back to California today, where Ivy's in school. It was good to see them for the short time they were here. Rowan again was quite social, making friends left and right, and then, after a reasonable time, asked to go home. At one point, I saw him across the room pour a glass of wine. Hmmm, I thought. And he took it over to Daniel. Pretty cool kid...
okey dokey, off to the races,
Kelpie
Yesterday, Keenan and I went on a double date with Keith and Claire, and we took Rowan and Arlo! Rowan is quite the social animal. We went to Roma's for dessert (yum, btw), and then Rowan insisted on going to CVS, which in our family stands for "Candy Very Sweet." But CVS was closed, so we went to Walgreen's instead, and waited in the car for Rowan, who came back and gave us all candy!! Wow!
When we got home, Rowan and I went to a farewell party for Ivy and Daniel at Degania. They're flying back to California today, where Ivy's in school. It was good to see them for the short time they were here. Rowan again was quite social, making friends left and right, and then, after a reasonable time, asked to go home. At one point, I saw him across the room pour a glass of wine. Hmmm, I thought. And he took it over to Daniel. Pretty cool kid...
okey dokey, off to the races,
Kelpie
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Cold and dreams
It's been really cold here, although it's warmer today, all the way to freezing! There's ice you can play on at the pond, and the hydrant for the cows is frozen shut. I had to haul a hose from the barn out to the cows to fill up their tanks. It's so cold that the mud is frozen and it's hard for the cows to walk on. I also brought in a load of wood for the woodstove, after making a fire with the last of the wood.
I got up this morning, early, to milk the cows, after a night of not sleeping very well. Just at dawn, I had a dream that Willow, who's in Europe with his family, came to visit me and was crawling on me. I told him his mother would be here in a couple of weeks (which is true). There were also people running in circles around the house, and peeping in the windows. Several more children! When I went to the door, a woman was there, who said her name was Lily. I gave her a big hug, which seems weird to me now, but appropriate at the time.
So now I'm very tired, and I'm going to take a mid-morning nap!
much love,
Kelpie
I got up this morning, early, to milk the cows, after a night of not sleeping very well. Just at dawn, I had a dream that Willow, who's in Europe with his family, came to visit me and was crawling on me. I told him his mother would be here in a couple of weeks (which is true). There were also people running in circles around the house, and peeping in the windows. Several more children! When I went to the door, a woman was there, who said her name was Lily. I gave her a big hug, which seems weird to me now, but appropriate at the time.
So now I'm very tired, and I'm going to take a mid-morning nap!
much love,
Kelpie
Friday, January 16, 2009
Trigger?
It's a mighty cold day on the ol' commune. The water in the dog's dish is frozen solid. I'm not sure where the poor dog is. He's not allowed inside anymore, but he manages to find warm hidey holes anyway.
Keenan is busy making plans to take the boys to the inauguration. The plan is to leave at 3 am, drive to Maryland to a friend's house and park, and then take the hike and bike trail to the Mall. The boys are pretty excited. I'm not going, it just sounds like torture to me.
My friend Mala, who lives upstairs, had an ultrasound yesterday and was told she's carrying another boy. Keenan and I have been thinking up names: Trigger is our current favorite. Mala and Ezra don't agree. The baby's due in mid-March, so we've plenty of time to annoy them with weird and inappropriate names.
Looks like today's a day for the hammock shop. Hope the furnace is stoked. I'm glad I don't have a milk shift today (although I think I do for tomorrow...).
much love,
Kelpie
Keenan is busy making plans to take the boys to the inauguration. The plan is to leave at 3 am, drive to Maryland to a friend's house and park, and then take the hike and bike trail to the Mall. The boys are pretty excited. I'm not going, it just sounds like torture to me.
My friend Mala, who lives upstairs, had an ultrasound yesterday and was told she's carrying another boy. Keenan and I have been thinking up names: Trigger is our current favorite. Mala and Ezra don't agree. The baby's due in mid-March, so we've plenty of time to annoy them with weird and inappropriate names.
Looks like today's a day for the hammock shop. Hope the furnace is stoked. I'm glad I don't have a milk shift today (although I think I do for tomorrow...).
much love,
Kelpie
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Eighteen Years
Today's my 18th Anniversary of joining Twin Oaks. I was shown two rooms: one in the basement of Morningstar, that was tiny and painted dark blue, had one small window and a loft bed, and was claustrophobia inducing. The other was on the second floor of Tupelo and had no furniture and smelled like cigarette smoke. I took that one, despite the smoke, and later was woken up in the middle of the night by yelling. The woman in the next room was having a hard break up with her girlfriend. People at Tupelo ignored me and one woman remarked to me that she was surprised a new member had been put there. Needless to say, I was unsure I'd made the right decision in moving to Twin Oaks.
My main work was construction, doing the dry wall and painting at our new building, Nashoba. I moved in to an open room there after 3 months of living at Tupelo. This was after one member informed me that I probably would not be allowed to move to Nashoba, since I was a new member.
The habit of treating new members poorly has been addressed over and over again, on the O&I and in conversations. We now have a "New Member Liason," whose job is making sure new members have what they need and have their questions answered. I had no "new member liason," although the new members did have a once a week meeting, in which we mostly listened to the fears of one member concerned that she would not pass her 6 month poll. She did pass.
January is also not the best time to join Twin Oaks. It's cold, there's not a lot of work to do, and people are crowded indoors. This January, we have a waiting list, and no open rooms, as we also have a few long term guests. Keenan's put a couple of beds in upstairs Degania, to house guests, and has gotten in trouble for that. The message of "no more people" is loud and clear, and it has not changed since I moved here 18 years ago, even though there's only about a dozen of the same people left from that time. I truly think it is the wintertime blahs that descends upon the commune, and most of us just should hibernate and wait for spring and warm weather.
much love,
Kelpie
My main work was construction, doing the dry wall and painting at our new building, Nashoba. I moved in to an open room there after 3 months of living at Tupelo. This was after one member informed me that I probably would not be allowed to move to Nashoba, since I was a new member.
The habit of treating new members poorly has been addressed over and over again, on the O&I and in conversations. We now have a "New Member Liason," whose job is making sure new members have what they need and have their questions answered. I had no "new member liason," although the new members did have a once a week meeting, in which we mostly listened to the fears of one member concerned that she would not pass her 6 month poll. She did pass.
January is also not the best time to join Twin Oaks. It's cold, there's not a lot of work to do, and people are crowded indoors. This January, we have a waiting list, and no open rooms, as we also have a few long term guests. Keenan's put a couple of beds in upstairs Degania, to house guests, and has gotten in trouble for that. The message of "no more people" is loud and clear, and it has not changed since I moved here 18 years ago, even though there's only about a dozen of the same people left from that time. I truly think it is the wintertime blahs that descends upon the commune, and most of us just should hibernate and wait for spring and warm weather.
much love,
Kelpie
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Cows and drums
I'm pretty happy, 'cause Katydid the cow did not kick me this morning! That is a first. She's been very kicky, and I've been developing a dislike for her, and worrying about that, and today, hurray, she swished her tail but she kept her feet (mostly) on the ground! Hurray!
I'm also happy because I figured out how to thaw hoses to the water tanks. It's so cold, the hoses were frozen. Unfortunately, the tanks were empty and the cows were obviously thirsty. I was flummoxed, until I decided to use my brain, and took the hoses inside the barn and ran hot water through them. Voila! Suddenly they work!
The other reason I'm happy is we had a terrific time drumming last night, and achieved drumgasm several times, hurray! If you're ever in the neighborhood, come and drum or dance with us on Tuesday nights at Tupelo, in the living room.
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
I'm also happy because I figured out how to thaw hoses to the water tanks. It's so cold, the hoses were frozen. Unfortunately, the tanks were empty and the cows were obviously thirsty. I was flummoxed, until I decided to use my brain, and took the hoses inside the barn and ran hot water through them. Voila! Suddenly they work!
The other reason I'm happy is we had a terrific time drumming last night, and achieved drumgasm several times, hurray! If you're ever in the neighborhood, come and drum or dance with us on Tuesday nights at Tupelo, in the living room.
okey dokey artichokey,
much love,
Kelpie
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Catching up a bit
Wow, it's been a while since I posted last -- and in the meantime, the Dakota family computer died and was resurrected. Meanwhile...
We took the boys to see Terry McAuliffe's announcement that he's running for Virginia governor. I've probably misspelled his name, oh well. He was speaking in a restaraunt in Charlottesville, and was pretty convincing. Afterwards, the boys went up and shook his hand, and Rowan got a book autographed. I imagine Keenan and I will vote for him in November... which is a long way away.
I liked that McAuliffe spoke about renewable energy, several times. He wants Viriginia to be in the forefront of development, and so do I, so that's good! I've been enjoying working for EarthStar, a local solar energy company. I'd like to be working for them today, but it's not happening, due to a miscommunication. Oh well, these things happen.
What else has been going on? Katydid the cow is still kicking, and I'm developing a dislike for her, which I'm sure will vanish as soon as she stops kicking. It's just tiresome to milk a cow that continually harasses me, both with her tail and her legs. I imagine she's feeling a lot more harassed. It's getting to the point that when I see her, I don't think, "milk;" I think, "hamburger." Hmmm....
Our labor balances were published, and there is good news: I'm slowly and steadily working my way out of the labor hole, and at the rate I'm going, should be out in a couple of months, hurray!!! I want to not stop, so that I can build up a nice cushion for future vacations.
Okey dokey, January's cold and somewhat boring....
much love,
Kelpie
We took the boys to see Terry McAuliffe's announcement that he's running for Virginia governor. I've probably misspelled his name, oh well. He was speaking in a restaraunt in Charlottesville, and was pretty convincing. Afterwards, the boys went up and shook his hand, and Rowan got a book autographed. I imagine Keenan and I will vote for him in November... which is a long way away.
I liked that McAuliffe spoke about renewable energy, several times. He wants Viriginia to be in the forefront of development, and so do I, so that's good! I've been enjoying working for EarthStar, a local solar energy company. I'd like to be working for them today, but it's not happening, due to a miscommunication. Oh well, these things happen.
What else has been going on? Katydid the cow is still kicking, and I'm developing a dislike for her, which I'm sure will vanish as soon as she stops kicking. It's just tiresome to milk a cow that continually harasses me, both with her tail and her legs. I imagine she's feeling a lot more harassed. It's getting to the point that when I see her, I don't think, "milk;" I think, "hamburger." Hmmm....
Our labor balances were published, and there is good news: I'm slowly and steadily working my way out of the labor hole, and at the rate I'm going, should be out in a couple of months, hurray!!! I want to not stop, so that I can build up a nice cushion for future vacations.
Okey dokey, January's cold and somewhat boring....
much love,
Kelpie
Monday, January 5, 2009
Magical box brought by friends
Last night, I dreamed there was a flood in my backyard. The creek was rising as my friends and I looked on, and then decided it was time to head for higher ground. I woke up, it was still early, so I went back to sleep and dreamed I was heading to a ritual with a friend, telling her to dress warmly because our rituals are always outside. As I woke up, I realized I'd forgotten an important box, that I really needed for this ritual. I wondered a bit about why the box was so important, and what that could mean. Then fell back asleep to find that my friends had brought the box to the ritual after all. The ritual was on a barge, on the flooded creek from my first dream.
Now I think the box is the important parts of myself that I tend to forget about. And it's no accident that it was my friends who brought this box to me. I think that's what friends do -- they remind us of the important parts of ourselves that we forget about, and that we need. Certainly that's what my friends do. The best part of my dream was the feeling of relief and gratitude that they'd brought this very important box with them. Oddly enough, the box was a plain cardboard box, filled with white sheets.
So, to my friends who are reading this: Thank you!! You bring me back to myself, and I'm very grateful.
much love,
Kelpie
Now I think the box is the important parts of myself that I tend to forget about. And it's no accident that it was my friends who brought this box to me. I think that's what friends do -- they remind us of the important parts of ourselves that we forget about, and that we need. Certainly that's what my friends do. The best part of my dream was the feeling of relief and gratitude that they'd brought this very important box with them. Oddly enough, the box was a plain cardboard box, filled with white sheets.
So, to my friends who are reading this: Thank you!! You bring me back to myself, and I'm very grateful.
much love,
Kelpie
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Year!
I'm somewhat embarrassed that I didn't go to the party at Tupelo for New Year's. My friends put a lot of energy into decorating it, and I had been looking forward to going and dancing a lot. First I had a date with Keenan, and, well, Keenan and I kept saying to each other, we need to go, and then we didn't go. Finally I went to sleep at 10:30, and then Rowan woke us up just before midnight, outraged that we didn't stay up. But the four of us sat in the living room and waited for the exact stroke of midnight (give or take a second -- I don't know what our clock did with the extra second tacked on to 2008), and yelled Happy New Year to each other. We opened the door, briefly, to see if there was any noise from outside, but no.
I milked cows both New Year's Eve morning, and New Year's morning, so that also contributed to my less-than-party mood. I had a good time milking, as always. I don't get tired of the routine, and the cows are very good company. I believe they like me, too. They're pretty good about pooing before they get into the barn, and I always say thank you. I talk to them the whole time they're in the barn, too. They don't say much, but they have very expressive eyes and tails.
Poor Katy is still very unhappy with us messing with her udder, and is still kicking. She always swishes her tail first, so you have some warning. Rusty came down and showed me how to tie the belly rope to be more effective. That does seem to help. I'm sure she'll grow out of it.
We have another new calf, too, and so now there are two! And soon there'll be three. That's a lot of milk! The new calf got sick, and so Rusty gave him some medicine, and fed him himself. New Year's Eve morning, the calf wouldn't get up, and, more alarming, wouldn't suck and just let the milk fall out of his mouth when I put the nipple of the bottle in his mouth, poor guy. He was better the next day.
There was an illness at the Tupelo party, too, with one of the guests having a seizure. Fortunately everyone helped and the rescue squad came and the young man was taken to the hospital, where he still is. We're waiting to hear more. It seems like the seizure was not party-related.
All-in-all, the reports are of a very satisfactory party, and I've heard no complaints at all. Sounds like a good new year's was had by all!
much love,
Kelpie
I milked cows both New Year's Eve morning, and New Year's morning, so that also contributed to my less-than-party mood. I had a good time milking, as always. I don't get tired of the routine, and the cows are very good company. I believe they like me, too. They're pretty good about pooing before they get into the barn, and I always say thank you. I talk to them the whole time they're in the barn, too. They don't say much, but they have very expressive eyes and tails.
Poor Katy is still very unhappy with us messing with her udder, and is still kicking. She always swishes her tail first, so you have some warning. Rusty came down and showed me how to tie the belly rope to be more effective. That does seem to help. I'm sure she'll grow out of it.
We have another new calf, too, and so now there are two! And soon there'll be three. That's a lot of milk! The new calf got sick, and so Rusty gave him some medicine, and fed him himself. New Year's Eve morning, the calf wouldn't get up, and, more alarming, wouldn't suck and just let the milk fall out of his mouth when I put the nipple of the bottle in his mouth, poor guy. He was better the next day.
There was an illness at the Tupelo party, too, with one of the guests having a seizure. Fortunately everyone helped and the rescue squad came and the young man was taken to the hospital, where he still is. We're waiting to hear more. It seems like the seizure was not party-related.
All-in-all, the reports are of a very satisfactory party, and I've heard no complaints at all. Sounds like a good new year's was had by all!
much love,
Kelpie
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