Category Archives: Itsnotta farm

Pecking Order

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Oh my beloveds! As I chat with you, my chickens are wandering around my living room. If you’ve been following mittonmusings for any length of time, you’ll know: it’s a dream finally fulfilled! The hubby and kids already think I am turning into the crazy chicken lady… alas, I fear it is true! I ordered wallpaper and toys for the coop. My instagram is loaded with tips and tricks. I have been monitoring growth charts and stages of development. They have grown into full-feathered ladies now and really need to move outside to the coop… only it’s not quite ready yet! Almost, but not quite! So, as any good mom, as any good new chicken mom, I indulge in their baby needs a little longer. I’m allowed – it’s my dream – don’t judge!

The Ladies … each with their own personality!

Seriously though, the chickens have been so fun to watch. They definitely have distinct personalities: Mort is my weakest link, and Mavis is the boss lady. The rest fall into line in perfect chicken “pecking order”. I can see where the term comes from. In six short weeks, my little flock has fallen into their own rituals and routines as they follow each other around — exploring — but at their own pace and personality. I hope to be at the top of the food chain (after all, I have the treats!) but we’ll see how it all pans out once they are out on their own! I may be chasing crazy hens all over the yard soon.

I suppose my little flock is like any other herd or family. Kids, chickens, mother-in-laws, we’re all the same. Cows, offices and schools – same deal. Principals, roosters and work wife… we all play our roles and fall into place as we grow together. That’s just life, isn’t it? Sibling rivalry is part of growing up, right? I’m guessing it is. And the muse this week? What about the followers of Jesus? Did the twelve have their own pecking order? How did all the early Christians get along?

I’m guessing that thousands of years haven’t even put a dent in human nature. Jesus’s disciples had their own pecking order as well. Peter, the Rock. John, the beloved. Biological brothers and lifelong friends. Women. Certainly there was a motley crew of followers, each touched by a savior, but with their own unique personalities and backgrounds. Not unlike our churches of today, eh?

How did this motley crew ever get along? Photo Credit: The Chosen

Yet, our human nature was tested by a new set of rules. Jesus’ agenda didn’t fit the rules of pecking orders. He demonstrated this so clearly when the boys questioned who would be at His right and left hand in Heaven. They didn’t get it. It’s not about who is right or left… it’s who will be willing to serve. The last shall be first. The pecking order is reversed. The weakest hen must be the leader.

Of course, nature is so designed that survival of the fittest keeps everyone safe. My chickens must rely on alarm calls from a leader. And I suppose, leaders must do their God given gift of leadership, too, but our attitude about it must be kept in check. We must learn to be humble and tactful. We must learn to lead in love… for the protection of the flock, not for our own selfish gains. Sometimes, it’s only through God and lots of prayer that we can be part of a “coop” where we don’t gel with those around us. We learn to love the unlovable.

So, as much as I am enjoying watching “my ladies” grow and mature, and laugh at their silly antics, I must look beyond the pecking order and appreciate each one for their own personalities. Not only in the coop, but in my own circle of influence as well. Join me as we grow together here on #itsnottafarm! Crazy chicken lady, here, at your service!

Living Water

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Well, my goodness, it has been busy here the last few weeks. Rural spring sure is hopping amongst the farmer neighbours. A few days ago, a large trailer was travelling back and forth several times along our otherwise quiet road. Several times. I know this because the dog has now taken to chasing slower moving farm vehicles, and I am beside myself that he is going to get killed under a large tire. He’s slow, and likely would never catch anything, but … well, you know. A Momma’s heart worries. Anywhoo… we discovered that it is “hay season” and the trailer was carrying large quantities of feed to be bundled for storage at the neighbouring dairy farm. Apparently, this is a very specifically timed event as the hay must be completely dry before storing… in case of mold and other nasty things that would obviously hinder long term storage under plastic wrap.

The rains have been frequent in recent days, so the farmers were under constraint to take advantage of the dry days. And so they have! Those rains also meant our own “hay field” (aka our front lawn) was also in need of some harvesting… which was a challenge with our broken down lawnmower. Nevertheless, we are tackling the yard one step at a time, including our pond. Some lovely ladies came out last week to install our pump and some plants to “get the water flowing”. I am super excited! We now have a beautiful sounding waterfall and the pond is beginning to clear. We have a tonne of tadpoles, and a pair of ducks and several butterflies have been visiting, so it must mean something is working!

A “Before” shot of the pond.

When we first moved in, the pond was quite overgrown. We knew little of what it held and how to return it to its former glory. At that time, we did hire a crew to dig it all out and give us some idea of what we had. It was late in the season by then, so installing any sort of filter was not worth overwintering… which brings us to now! There are two levels to our oasis, and we discovered somewhere between 12-14 goldfish survived in the 3 or so feet of nothing. Spring budget included a pump to cycle the water up and flowing nicely over the “spillway” waterfall from a shallow “bog” to the deeper fish pond. The “bog” will be filled with oxygen producing plants that will be a natural filter for the fish below. Once everything hits that magic “balance” of nature’s perfection, all should be a wildlife paradise!

A work in Progress

Like most starts in life, it is currently a work in progress. The pond is still murky. We don’t have full plant coverage yet. The pump is working but we have to make sure the water levels don’t fall too low or get too high. Quite a bit of soil has leached down around the pond liner and my experts tell me it wicks the water out and seeps into the ground. This isn’t what we want. Yet, we need some plants to “have their feet wet” (i.e. be planted just off shore to be boggy but not in the water). It’s all very complicated. Nature is fascinating. I continue to be amazed and challenged by it at the same time.

And so my muse this week is about water. One of the most basic elements on earth… and yet, oh so profound! Learning more about wells and pools and ponds has taught me water is most precious. It seems to be in abundance… until it’s not. And then you panic. On more than one occasion we have had a ‘stop’ in our well and water doesn’t make it to the faucets. It’s just not something we had to deal with in the city. And so you begin to be aware of water and how valuable it really is. It just amazes me that fish and tadpoles and grown frogs and birds and plants all seem to exist when we just leave them alone. Yet order always seems to run to chaos. Left alone too long and plants seep into lining, water wicks up into thirsty soil, balance goes off and things begin to fall apart.

We have a waterfall!

And so it is with us. There is no wonder that so many Biblical references revolve around water. Living water. A never ending cycle of ebb and flow… yet in perpetual balance keeping everything alive and in sync. Until a drought comes along. Or thirsty soil wicks it away. Or too many fish and tadpoles compete for resources. Plants stop thriving and can’t do their part in keeping the balance. So often our relationship with God is similar. When all is “flowing” things go well. It only takes one little thing to go off balance to disturb the whole ecosystem. One temptation leads to lies, deception, mistrust. One comment wicks away at the good stuff, and you are no longer just getting your feet wet… you are drowning in despair. Or you’re not connected in properly and the pipes are leaking. Do you see it? As we have discovered, a once tranquil oasis often takes a lot of hard work and budget to get back to that peaceful balance. Will our pond be the same as it was when the original owners put it in? No, of course not. My landscape tastes will be different. My goals for what I want out of the pond may not be the same as the original designer. Still, I start with keeping the water flowing.

It’s been a pleasant reminder to me to try and balance my spiritual life with the rest of my life. When I am connected to others who encourage me, who pray for me and who lead me in the right direction, I keep living water flowing. Christ refreshes my soul. His living church keeps things oxygenated so that baby tadpoles grow, fish thrive and the system “stabilizes” so that more life can be drawn in and spread out. When the lining of our souls get a puncture wound, or the connections aren’t right, the system breaks down and we leach out all the good stuff. It’s a work in progress, but I hope you get a moment this summer to appreciate some water. Fresh, flowing water. Take a moment to reflect on how such a simple thing can be so profound. I’ll keep you updated on the tadpole count !

Tadpoles

The Ultimate Toolbox

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As I sit here to write again with a chocolate chip cookie in my hand, I’m kinda bummed. Did anyone even care there was no post last week? My mother and the hubby were probably the only ones who noticed. Not that this is the reason for my downed attitude. Writing is fun, but I have allowed myself time off before. It’s just been a difficult few days. It’s no ones fault but my own. I am sure it’s perimenopausal mood swings, and a poor diet, and my stubborn attitude, and a hardened heart, and lack of sleep. Yeah. Yeah. I’m going with one of those. Hold on while I grab another cookie. No excuses. In true Taylor Swift form, I take all the blame…. “I am the problem, it’s me.”

However, this self pity party must be looked at further. So, sorry, you’re about to get a journaling session to assist my attitude. Maybe it will help you, too. In addition to all the above factors (which I really do attribute to many of these days), I think the base of my “funk” is frustration. Frustration at the fact that I am not where I want to be. Oh… I want to be HERE, believe me… this is the dream that has been perpetuating in my head for years now. I have it. There are chickens in my living room as we speak. Bucket list check. My kids are relatively healthy and content. I am happy with my relationships, and at a good place with friends and family. God has blessed me with much, and I am thankful. But the world is an evil place.

THIS IS NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE…

You see, us middle aged moms have an ugly side that creeps up beside us and whispers that this is not the right place. Those cute Southern mothers with their summer dresses and flowery front porches have it better. Those enterprising working moms with the great ideas and smart business plans have it under control and got all the lucky breaks. They are going to make it big. Those fit cowboy mommas out West who have the perfect veggie gardens and can still look good in tight jeans are seeing the Northern lights when all you get are cloudy nights filled with mosquitoes. They still wake up early enough to make perfect sour dough, too. That creepy voice tells us that despite where we are… it’s not where we need to be. Social media drives us to want it all. My head tells me it’s not true. Our hearts wish for bigger and better though, don’t they? Even if our motivations are good… we easily get sucked into the void of comparison and contrast. This church has better programs. These mission groups are seeing more growth. This couple have great Bible studies in their home. Now that guy can sing. How patient is that mom?

So what is one to do? I’m sure a few of you are going to say get off Social Media and avoid the temptation and FOMO it brings. Realistically, we are bombarded with it everywhere… even my grocery store tells me I need this or that. Shall I hide here in my little country home and simply hang out with my chickens more? As much as I wish that would work, I know my family would disapprove. The extroverts in my life tell me I need to be more social. Perhaps a deep colon cleanse and less cookies. And don’t start with the fresh air. The windows are open. No, I think what I need is more tools in my toolbox. Let me explain with a little story:

We have had a lot of rain in recent weeks. The rain makes the grass grow. We have a lot of grass. We have a riding lawn mower. The riding lawn mower died. Bless his heart, the hubby watched hours of YouTube, ordered the part, spent many brain cells pondering and configuring, dirtied a complete outfit in the (again) rain to repair said broken riding lawnmower. Hooray! Until another part on the lawnmower died. This time we are sending it out to be fixed. Our grass has grown again. You see, if you don’t have the tools to deal, then life gets overgrown and frankly, a little messy. I’m seeking the tools I need to keep my attitude cut short.

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.” Galations 6:4,5

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works in all of them. ” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

God’s kingdom is so much bigger than my tiny toolbox of gifts. I have tools. I am good at using the tools God has given me. Still, I easily get frustrated when I don’t have the tool I need “fix” where I am at. And that’s where other people come in. I need encouragement. I need to hear good words and challenging motivation. I need compassion. I can take pride in the things that I am good at… and seek help when I need it. I need to communicate those things clearly to the ones who can give me the help I need… when I need it. Sometimes a whisk is useless in the garage… but it is perfectly useful in the kitchen. Time and place also play a roll here. “Tools” are used most where they are needed, and when they are needed. Heaven forbid you misplace one of those tools! Make sure you take care of them and keep them safe! (ever lose a pair of good scissors… then you know what I mean!)

We are learning that taking care of a big property is like living … it takes the right tools to keep it from getting too much to handle. The vines creep in, the pool gets green, the laundry piles up. Sometimes you don’t have the right tool to do the job. You need to borrow one or develop it enough in yourself to get the job done right. It needs to be ready, with battery charged, for when you need it most. That means you gotta take care of it, and put it back when you are done. Allow that battery some time to recharge. Then it will be back at it and ready to do the job, and do it well.

Be proud of your toolbox. Seek to borrow one if you must. Don’t forget to return the favour when you need to, and be sure to take care of all the rusty ones who require a little love. Above all, take lessons from the most valued Repairman, who could post a billion YouTube instruction videos on how to keep life free from all those breakdowns. He’s got the ultimate toolbox. Feel better? Yeah, me too. See you next week, my beloveds.

Photo by Antoni Shkraba on Pexels.com