animal kingdom / children and nature / DAILY FARM LIFE

hello again

red as a radish
I disappeared for awhile last week, didn't I? Just feeling bogged down with the usual–getting close to the big move, Dan working long and late, homeschool review, "working" the farmers' market, and other things that would make a real downer of a blog post.

We did not move in this weekend. It was a break your back trying to move in this weekend, or have a smoother move in a little later. We opted for later. I'm so ready for this to be over. It is really wearing on me lately. It's been a rough few days, for some reason. Without getting into the details I've had two people say different things to me in the last few days that really hurt my feelings and offended me. One about my parenting, the other about my struggle with missing Dan while he's working at night. So this morning while my kids play outside and Elizabeth naps, I'm escaping to the comfort of my blogging friends, and then I'll probably call my sister and wah-wah to her about my woes. And then, I"ll shake it off and move on.
 
from feral to friend

But, BUT on a happy positive note…we've officially adopted our first new member of the Thomas Run four-legged community. "Rosie" was one of the first batch of kittens we found born here on the farm this spring. Emma and I loved her from the start. But then, her mother moved her kittens away and we didn't  know where she was. Several weeks later, we discovered that she had moved them to some brush across the road. We watched and waited and hoped there would be some way to catch this wild little kitten and give her a good home.

A few days ago, Emma came running inside to tell me that the mother cat had moved the kittens back into the milking barn but they were still wild and impossible to catch. But the night I walked up to the barn to look at them, Rosie just happened to scurry into a tube that was blocked on the other end and we scooped her up. She came home hissing and spitting and growling–scared and fending for her life. But after some good food, the comfort of our tiny little bathroom and Emma spending a whole day sitting on the bathroom floor cooing and calming her, she has gone from feral to friend.
 
from feral to friend

Emma has this knack with the kittens and cats around here. It is almost magical to watch. She is patient and quiet and calm…For five! hours on Friday, she sat on the bathroom floor making potholders, thinking of names for her kitten and making a fast friend.

Yesterday Rosie fell asleep on my neck while I read and napped. I woke up to her licking my cheek, chewing on my earrings, and purring at deafening levels. Welcome to the family little Rosie.

This afternoon we're headed over to the house to put down some rugs and move around some furniture. And then we'll have our own little party on the back porch, I think.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Happy Monday, friends. Thanks for listening.

 

red as a radish
I disappeared for awhile last week, didn't I? Just feeling bogged down with the usual–getting close to the big move, Dan working long and late, homeschool review, "working" the farmers' market, and other things that would make a real downer of a blog post.

We did not move in this weekend. It was a break your back trying to move in this weekend, or have a smoother move in a little later. We opted for later. I'm so ready for this to be over. It is really wearing on me lately. It's been a rough few days, for some reason. Without getting into the details I've had two people say different things to me in the last few days that really hurt my feelings and offended me. One about my parenting, the other about my struggle with missing Dan while he's working at night. So this morning while my kids play outside and Elizabeth naps, I'm escaping to the comfort of my blogging friends, and then I'll probably call my sister and wah-wah to her about my woes. And then, I"ll shake it off and move on.
 
from feral to friend

But, BUT on a happy positive note…we've officially adopted our first new member of the Thomas Run four-legged community. "Rosie" was one of the first batch of kittens we found born here on the farm this spring. Emma and I loved her from the start. But then, her mother moved her kittens away and we didn't  know where she was. Several weeks later, we discovered that she had moved them to some brush across the road. We watched and waited and hoped there would be some way to catch this wild little kitten and give her a good home.

A few days ago, Emma came running inside to tell me that the mother cat had moved the kittens back into the milking barn but they were still wild and impossible to catch. But the night I walked up to the barn to look at them, Rosie just happened to scurry into a tube that was blocked on the other end and we scooped her up. She came home hissing and spitting and growling–scared and fending for her life. But after some good food, the comfort of our tiny little bathroom and Emma spending a whole day sitting on the bathroom floor cooing and calming her, she has gone from feral to friend.
 
from feral to friend

Emma has this knack with the kittens and cats around here. It is almost magical to watch. She is patient and quiet and calm…For five! hours on Friday, she sat on the bathroom floor making potholders, thinking of names for her kitten and making a fast friend.

Yesterday Rosie fell asleep on my neck while I read and napped. I woke up to her licking my cheek, chewing on my earrings, and purring at deafening levels. Welcome to the family little Rosie.

This afternoon we're headed over to the house to put down some rugs and move around some furniture. And then we'll have our own little party on the back porch, I think.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Happy Monday, friends. Thanks for listening.

 

34 comments on “hello again”

  1. Not usually a commenter but I had to say I love your blog. I am sorry some people said offensive things. From my little peak into your life you seem to be an awesome mother. To take on the job of homeschooling 2 little ones is such a big challenge and such a wonderful thing to do for your family. Mothering can be such a hard thing sometimes but you seem to approach it with such joy that it really inspires me. Thank you for sharing with us.

    By the way, Rosie is super cute. Makes me want to go get a new kitty friend for our family!

  2. Oh sweet kitty! Snuggling her can help make the mean people go away. You’re a wonderful, caring mother and you and your husband are great partners. It’s okay to miss him. Remodeling and moving are incredibly stressful. It’s okay. Take a deep breath and shake off their negativity. Have a happier week!

  3. I don’t know how you manage to do everything, homeschooling, organising 3 children and spending the nights without your husband. I think I won’t be the only one to leave a comment and say I think from reading your blog for a little while now you seem such an amazing mother and someone I kind of look up to as I find it difficult to be at home with two and one of those goes to school in the week. You are so much of an inspiration when I feel a bit down I come on your blog and look at your lovely family and your thoughtful words and it makes me feel so much brighter. You have so much going on at the moment it is no wonder that you would feel some pressure. You should ignore those unkind words as you really seem to me to do a super job!!

  4. Unkind or unthoughtful comments often arise from an unhappiness within the speaker themselves. I’m so sorry that you were the object of the comments; you have many readers here who know you are a terrific, loving and energetic mom with a lot on her already full plate at the moment.

    Perhaps if it becomes clear that the speaker(s) were coming from a place of hurt themselves, it will be easier to forgive them and speak edifying things back to them.

    Your children have exactly the parents God wants them to have. Abide in that.

    BTW, adorable kitty. I love kitties, but alas! I hate cats. Go figure.

  5. You know, we all have difficult moments and could all use more supportive people around us. I never quite understand how some people can be so insensitive and negative.

    You are obviously a devoted and loving mother. Truly, an inspiration!

  6. Every comment I have ever left here have been because of your lovely mothering qualities. You are a wonderful role model to your daughters and many more. You and your husband have invested yourselves in a beautiful family life. Dad, otherwise occupied for any reason takes a toll. You are stretched right now, and even being stretched for a good reason gets old! Can’t wait for photos of you all in your new old home.

  7. i am a huge fan of this darling blog, and everyone in it and am almost as exctied about the move as you are!! don’t sweat it over the negative comments, if some one is saying something that i think is out of turn i always ask them to repeat it, sometimes more than once, just so that they can hear the ugly that is coming from their mouth. you can always follow it up by telling them they have spinach in their teeth or that you think that hair is falling from their head.either way, the world won’t glitter itself and you bring a little more light to mine when i log onregards catherine (uk)

  8. Words are so potent– too bad we don’t carry all the words we could say around in a bottle marked, “Caution, Handle with Care!” When we are tired or stressed or just feeling the strain of upheaval in our routine, hurtful words can sting even more than they usually would.

    Thanks for all the lovely words and pictures and “atmosphere” you make here on the web. If you were here I’d encourage you to have a little nap on my guest room bed, and wake you with mid afternoon coffee and lemon cake.

    Since I can’t do that, be kind to yourself, and patient with all the changes. You seem a loving, purposeful and gracious mama, and missing Dan as he is working on the house evenings is only a mark of your connectedness. (My husband is in his yearly season of long evening hours after a full day at work, so I am feeling a bit bereft myself.) Wishing you finally all the lovely memories yet to be made in your nearly new home.

  9. A lot of times people say mean hurtful things because they are jealous. I realize that does not make it hurt any less but you need to realize that it is not YOUR problem. It is theirs.

    And they have a lot to be jealous of when they look at you. You have a wonderful family and you are HAPPY. You cannot beat that sweetness!

  10. Oh, how sweet! We love the barn cats in my friend’s barn. They’re so sweet when they’re born.

    Now I have to figure out if I’ve met you already–at the market. Which farm? I took Brooke a week ago and we got chocolate covered strawberries and yummy scones. We stopped at every stand. Especially the beef stand–love love love red meat and that stuff was awesome!

  11. Oh Molly, Sorry to hear about the verbal lashings you have been receiving, people can be so careless with their words. You know of course that you are an amazing mother to those girls and a wonderful wife for missing Dan the way you do!I’m so sorry things are feeling rough right now. Hang in there girl, I think it’s all about to turn around. As soon as you get your family in the new house and have a second to catch your breath I think all of this will feel worth it!!

    Welcome to the sweet new kitty… so cute about Emma and her patient wooing.

    The farmers market website is Wonderful, by the way, great job!

  12. I don’t know if this will help, but someday, I aspire to be as wonderful a mother as I think you are. You are flexible and warm and spontaneous and wise and all things a good mother should be.

    Seems like Emma has picked up her kitten magic from watching you parent.

    And I completely understand missing your husband. I miss mine so much it hurts sometimes and that’s only when he’s just at work for the day!

  13. hey, sorry you’ve had a couple of blah days. in a few weeks it will all be behind you!

    aw, your new kitten is so cute .. and the kitten whisperer. ;^)

    xoxo

  14. So sorry to hear you’ve had some horrible comments this week. I for one love reading your blog and of course i would love for you to submit more to Mixtape Zine. We have a special kids issue coming out in December that i love to have some of your writings in. 🙂

  15. big hugs, molly. no one deserves to have her feelings hurt, especially not you.

    hug that kitty for me. you are making me want another, but i think one is enough in reality.

  16. Sorry your move didn’t happen this weekend, and yet…that’s probably okay. Sometimes little by little is better. Hope things transition well. And don’t worry about your lovely blog! Lovely, truly. Those radishes look great. We just put ours in (a bit late, I think) and other things as well. Hope everything takes.

  17. What a sweet post about Emma and her kitten. I’m so glad she was able to rescue her and tame her. The pictures are too sweet. I was very much like her at that age- huge love for animals and a special way with them. I suspect you may have quite the menagerie by the time she is 12!If that little kitten hasn’t warmed your heart and helped you shake off the yuckies, you should know that there are a lot of us out here that have an enormous respect for the way your approach to parenting. And, I think you have been a super trooper with respect to the lack of Dan over the last ….YEAR! Geez, I’d be worried if you didn’t miss having your husband around and whine about it a little…you are entitled!Hang in there!!

  18. That is just the cutest thing – Cat and Kitten whisperer. And if a sweet kitten isn’t just the thing to make all the blahs go away!

  19. So sorry about the crappy comments you’ve gotten. Those “bad parenting” comments just make you wanna spit don’t they. Spit and hiss just like Rosie, huh? Nothing like a sweet kitty to make all you stress melt away. Petting cats is supposed to lower your blood pressure!

  20. Looks like you’ve gotten plenty of sage advice, Molly. I’m the same way as you when it comes to my husband–when I have to go away for work for even just a few days I miss him terribly. I’m such a sap at heart 🙂

    Chin up! It’s coming together!

  21. Hang in there, sweetie. Not long now.

    Don’t let anyone make you feel bad. Just because your troubles may seem silly to them, they’re still your troubles and YOU are going through them. And nagging at you certainly won’t make you feel better, will it?

    Hugs to you!

  22. There’s nothing like a purring kitty to make the woes of the world go away-it’s a little magic that only cats have. Just know that we all think you are great! Hope the rest of the move goes well, just know that soon it will be all worthwhile.

  23. What a cute kitten! I’m glad she settled down — Emma looks smitten. So sweet. hhh, I hate when people make comments that are insensitive (especially when the idiot is family!)

  24. It seems that everyone else has said what I would think to say so I’ll leave it at a “I’ll second that!” The cat is cute, my girls would be jealous, they have been pining over kitties for months now. Take a deep breath and you are doing a great job!

  25. reading you’d had a bad comment about parenting made me shout “what?” at the laptop. Enter 3 children wanting to know why i yelled. i told them that someone had been mean to you(they know you well!)They had an answer…so please imagine 3 incredibly animated, loud, e-number fuelled kids with thumbs in ears, rest of fingers waving, toungues out, shouting “nuh, nuh, NUH!” at your commenter!They hoped they helped!How did your review go? xxx

  26. Sorry you have had a rough go of it friend. Moving is so stressful and as someone who knows what it is like to miss your hubby…hang in there. It will get better. It is just hard when there is so much up in the air and to not have your “partner in crime” there to walk with you through it all makes it double hard. Squeeze on that sweet kitty a bit and know so many of us think you are doing a great job of juggling it all.

  27. well, from reading your blog, you seem like you are a great mom. and judging from the actions of your daughter with that sweet little kitty, i’d say we have proof. that takes a kind heart and a gentleness that the meanie who criticized you is lacking somehow. glad you are feeling better – i just love reading your blog. congras on rosie – she is just the cutest kitten ever! 🙂

  28. i’ve never before commented, though i’ve enjoyed this space of yours so very much. but today i feel compelled to comment after reading your ‘3 Things…’ post to say ‘hello!’ and that it really, really stinks when people say callous and insensitive things. it’s painful to be a sensitive creature (i know!!), but it’s awesome too — because the little things, the wonderful things, the things that really matter get seen by you and that is a very big and beautiful deal. hope that brings you comfort and that you get into your new home with that cutie new kitten in tow at just the right time (which will be whenever you get there, right?!)with appreciation,jessica

  29. I’m late to this I know. But I just had to say that something similarly hurtful happened to me a couple of weeks ago. A person I considered a good friend really blew me off and for a moment my emotions were completely plunged right back into middle school. I realized that she had wanted to hurt my feelings and she did. It took me several days to put it into perspective. I try to live my life in the best way I know how, and I’m taking the moral high ground, as I know you have to. It still stings though, big hug to you.

  30. I’m sorry that you’re having a crap time of things lately! Moving sucks, to put it bluntly, it always brings out so much tension.

    I’m happy to see that you have a little spot of kitty brightness in your life though. Oh my – is she ever a cutie?!

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