Category Archives: Pets

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

Overcoming Overwhelm: Tackling Life’s Challenges One Detail at a Time (or How to Eat an Elephant)

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Oh friends! Have you heard the saying “It’s all in the details?” I’ve been feeling it this week. All the tiny things that have added up. Perhaps details are not the right thing to describe all those little nuggets of the day to day that need to be done but just eat up time. Mother’s day weekend has passed and we’ve all heard the stories of moms who need a break from all the things they do all day… and it’s true. My Pinterest board is loaded with things I’d love to try but never seem to get around to. There always seem to be dishes to do, or laundry, or a meeting, or a stupid walk for my mental health…

It’s not that I am bitter about it, it just seems to be fact that there is always some little thing. A form needs signing. A call needs to be made. A shelf fell down in our bathroom. It sat for days on the counter while I found proper hooks and measured and stuck it back up. It’s more than likely too high, but I am not fixing it again. Even tonight, a belt broke on our riding lawnmower, and the hubby had to hook it back up (with much fiddle-dee-dum frustration I may add to get it all aligned and working). It was a task that seemed to take way longer than it should. A hook. A lost button. And don’t forget to feed the dog. Empty the dishwasher. Is it me? Am I so disorganized I never seem to be up to date? Or is that just life?

Speaking of life… that comes in little things, too! If you have been following mittonmusings for any period of time, you know that one of the goals, one of the bucket list items, one of the long sought after tasks were chickens! WELL THEY ARE HERE!! Six beautiful little babies arrived on Thursday. Even then, there were tiny glitches. They were supposed to arrive on Tuesday, but the hatchery didn’t get orders and so we were postponed a few days. Don’t ask me what happened to the day old chicks that were born on Tuesday?! Maybe I don’t want to know. Anyway… teeny little peepers are now running around my living room (well not literally running around, but they are contained with lots of space in my living room). Again, they have been an example to me of tiny details making all the difference. They each have their own markings and personalities and have grown so fast in less than a week! Tiny wing and tail feathers are starting to show, and their legs and necks are stronger than the day I brought them home all snuggled together in a cardboard box. I am beside myself with joy. So is the dog. Beside himself that is, I dunno about the joy part.

Six baby Chicks have Arrived!

Even my momma robin nesting in the barn has chicks now! Tiny buds are sprouting in my flower bed. Thousands of tadpoles are lining the edges of our pond. The mosquitoes are returning, too. Billions of tiny things are springing right now! What are some of the small, seemingly insignificant things you have noticed in your world today? Have you taken the time to seek them out? Or are you feeling the crunch of all the details in a different way?

I suppose, therefore, it is ones perspective of the details, or “little things” that produce the outcome of our emotions behind the events. Do we struggle and feel overwhelmed that there are too many little things that need to get done? Or are we patient and take one thing at a time and enjoy it ? Savouring the details like fine wine. They say that the easiest way to eat a giant elephant is one bite at a time. And so it is.

As I ponder these things, I am reminded about the story of the mustard seed. Jesus explained that even if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can move mountains! I’ve been looking at our property … and we are learning there are a lot of details in maintaining such land… not to mention an old house and a bunch of creatures. I can easily get trapped in the frustration of pride, jealousy, anger etc. that the world view puts on home ownership. Keeping up with the Jones’? Ha! Let’s just focus on getting the grass cut. Of course, I want to have the beautiful gardens and whimsical bunny hotels and bird baths, but these things take work (and cash). Should I be so focused on the big picture? Or is God asking me to eat my elephant one bite at a time? Is it possible to have all I want in under a year of living here? My guess is that it’s not going to work out that way.

Let’s go back to that mustard seed. Perhaps my theology is all wrong in my comparison between faith and house chores. Maybe I shouldn’t compare earthly things to heavenly. Yet the tiny mustard seed… in fact all the seeds I have been looking at lately… are an example to me of how much potential are hidden in the small details. An acorn becomes a mighty oak. My little peeps will grow and produce eggs soon enough. The surrounding farmer fields will soon be higher than me. Things around here will get done, eventually. I have faith. I read somewhere that the meaning of the mustard seed is that our faith is only as strong as the One it’s placed in. And my faith is in a great big God who has blessed us with Itsnotta Farm. So many prayers of petition went in to moving here. Prayers for not only the physical, but that we would do God’s service here with this space and for this time in our lives. It’s an adventure I asked God for. Therefore, I am confident He will see us through it… and all the details that go along with being here.

I’m feeling like this post is a little convoluted. My A.I. assistant is going to tell me I’m not fluent and should “create headers to make my readers understand my message better”. Another detail to worry about. So, you’ll forgive me if I am just throwing you in my messy musings without clear and concise thoughts and conclusions. After all, I am trying to eat an elephant over here this week. Perhaps it will taste better with some mustard.

Burdens and Birdhouses

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Welcome back. As I sit here, the wind is howling all around me, and our old house is creaking and complaining at the disturbance to its peaceful existence in the world. So many times I wonder why things have to change. I wonder why do we have to grow old, and why does the world not appreciate age for its wisdom and value it for its shear survival? I suppose change is good in some ways. Technology has moved us forward. We live longer. Without change there would be no seasons. No progression, I suppose. I muse, but I know better. We’ve been designed to have our moment, and then it’s over.

Many of you know I am a thrifter. I love a good second hand store. Partially, because of the simple fact I am “frugal” and refuse to pay retail. I suppose the environmental impact influences me as well. Recycle, reuse. Rednecks recycle because they’re cheap though! 🙂 I love a good find… especially if the store doesn’t know the item’s value and it’s reflected in the price tag. Other times I wonder where on earth the staff pulled their number from. I’ve yet to be a “professional” though. I wait for the day that I walk out with a piece that I can envision on one of those road side antique stores where diamond rings are encrusted into the back of some obscure framed piece of cats drinking tea. Turns out it was painted by some turn of the century artist who died tragically, mauled by his tea drinking cats, and his works are now worth millions. Never happens to me.

Nevertheless, sometimes a thing just strikes my fancy and I want it. The hubby often laughs, because occasionally I pick weird stuff. Old “junk” that I hope will be used and transformed into something beautiful. (Like an old century farmhouse in the middle of no where… just teasing!) This was the hope at a recent thrift visit. I found an old wooden bird house on the shelf. The wood was well weathered. The paint irrefutably peeling and well worn. It was five bucks. I hummed and hawed. I walked around the shelves some more. As I placed it on the check-out counter, I asked the cashier if she would consider a lower price. It was clearly some redneck farmer’s excuse for firewood. She could not negotiate, she says. Five bucks. It came home with me.

Was it worth the $5??

I can clean it up and fix it, right? Old farmhouse deserves a weathered old birdhouse, right? It was crusty — but the back was held on by a secret hatch — I pulled out all the remnants of a past inhabitant and scrubbed and sanded and dumped all the dirt and debris. My craft room lacks descent lighting, but after it was all dry I hiked upstairs to give it a fresh coat of paint. I wanted to keep it “rustic”, so it isn’t perfect. I thought I might add flowers or something to brighten it up, but old wooden snowflakes worked better… so it’s going to turn in to a winter ice palace for the birds!

I’m sorry to say the project isn’t completely finished yet, so I can’t show you a “before” and “after” only a “before” and “work in progress”. Perhaps it will draw you back to visit us again… I have several bird feeders and houses around the property. Some were here, some I brought with me, some we’ve purchased. Others we thrifted. I’m hoping all the birds will come to my yard. A pair of mourning doves have been hanging around. I haven’t seen them before, so I am thrilled. I hope spring brings some nests! And baby birds to share with you!

“Work in Progress”

Are you a bird watcher? I miss my big picture window of the old house. I still can see the birds and squirrels here, but I have to go from spot to spot to catch them all. Warmer days will find us on the front porch where we have a better view. Not that the birds need my help. I marvel time and time again how teeny tiny little fragile bodies survive our harsh Canadian winters. Bird bones are fragile. Bird bodies are full of air. You can literally crush them with your hand. And I worry about my bunnies under the heaters all winter.

Oh my beloveds, may these thoughts be encouragements to you this week. Things change. Things get old and are different, yet there is still value in the change. We must embrace it, encourage it, with a splash of new paint and wishes for more time to be used by God. Maybe things are not the same as they were, and we creak and moan with the annoying wind, but we stand firm. We are sheltered by His hands from the harsh realities of life. We appear fragile and worthless. Easily crushed. And yet all our needs seem somehow provided for.

Sometimes we get a little help from others. And that’s okay. We are a community and we must look out for one another. The wind is gonna be fierce some days. Perhaps you need to just hunker down for a bit and wait it out. Perhaps you need to seek shelter or be the one who creates it for someone else. I don’t know where you’re at today, but I’m thinking about you. May you sparkle like my new (old?) ice palace birdhouse!