Skunker has been sick for sometime now.  He has never been a "healthy cat", but he has always been the most lovable creature I've ever known.  When we were still milking cows, he would follow me down through the barn and at every opportunity, climb up my body to sit on my shoulder.  There he would perch and snuggle and purr.  Of course this never lasted more than a few minutes before I'd have to sit him down to tend a cow but it was always an enjoyed moment that broke up the drudgery of milking.  Therefore, it only stood to reason when we moved from the farm last March, Skunker was one of five cats that we brought with us.  He easily adapted to his new home and was often found sunning himself on the back deck or playing in the woods with one of the kittens.

Shortly before New Year's, Skunker got sicker than I'd ever seen him.  I was certain he wouldn't see the New Year, but his determination to live was amazing.  He actually seemed to be improving, though definitely "not right", yet.  He held his head to one side and was very skinny, but just as lovable as ever.  I decided that a trip to the vet was in order to finally figure out what exactly was going on.  But the vet could give us no encouraging news.  Skunker tested positive for feline leukemia.  Further more, he had breathing problems, his kidneys were failing and there was suspected problems with his Thyroid.  The best option was to put him down.  But I had all three of my children with me, and I knew I couldn't withstand it myself (I struggle with SADD, which is at it's high point right now).  My husband was at work and wouldn't be home for hours, but I felt that someone needed to be with him when he died.  In retrospect, I believe the need to have someone with him was more for my peace of mind than any other reason.  Ultimately, I decided to have the vet keep him over night, and my husband would come over in the morning to be with him when they put him down.  All night was a struggle for me.  My husband is more practical, where I am more emotional.  I don't like being in a position where I am to be "God", making a decision whether someone "lives" or "dies". 

I was awakened this morning by the phone ringing.  The vet was on the other end.  "I'm afraid I have some bad news.  Skunker passed away through the night."  On one hand I was relieved, God had taken the decision out of my hands.  On the other hand, I felt tremendous guilt.  He didn't seem nearly as sick when I had taken him in than he had appeared on New Years.  So, why did he die now?  Did he think we gave up on him by leaving him at the vet, so he gave up too?  I'll never know that answer :(  Farewell my friend, our deck and our lives are a little emptier without you... you are missed by us all.

Boy, did we get a surprise at morning chores!  Meet Spirit, our new baby calf.  She decided to come 11 days early.  Both mom and baby are doing well, though baby is a little slow to learn to nurse.  We have been milking Lexi and giving Spirit a bottle, but I'm sure in a day or two she will have it all figured out on her own :)

Oh my, can it be?  Is it true?  I started with the best of intentions January 1st and yet, here it is the 4th of July and I'm just now posting my second entry.  Shame on me!

Where to begin?  So much has happened.  The property settlements went well.  The cows didn't get sold until February 4th and our equipment sale was March 22nd.  It was bittersweet saying farewell to the highschool helpers who were more like family than farmhands.   They still stop by from time-to-time to say "hi!"

Despite the reduction of acreage (went from 55 to 1.69!) we can still proudly proclaim ourselves farmers.  God has such a sense of humor!  First off, we became the proud owners of two chickens that came with our new house (what a deal, buy a house-get two chickens free!).  But they looked so lost by themselves in the barn, so we bought 10 more to make an even dozen! Then one of our cows suffered an eye injury days before the herd was to go to sale.  We couldn't send her with the herd because it looked like pinkeye, even though we knew it wasn't.  To send her would hurt the sale of the other cows because they would think the entire herd was exposed to pinkeye.  We didn't want to send her through a slaughter auction because she was 4 months "in calf".  What to do?  You guessed it, we brought her with us (did I mention our new house came with a small pasture and horse barn?  God knew our needs even before we did!).  She is happily living a very relaxed life waiting for the birth of her calf, due July 16th.

To round out our happy little "Funny Farm" we thought a few sheep were in order, so we invested in 2 Dorper ewe lambs (you know you can't say "Dorper" without smiling-it's just one of those words that makes you chuckle!).  They are a "hair" breed which means they shed their coat each year.  Works for me :)  Then we went to buy some homeschool supplies at a consignment shop.  One thing led to another and before we knew it we were discussing sheep.  The shop owner asked if we would be interested in two more sheep-FREE!  They were changing the focus of their flock and they had two sheep they wanted to find a new home for.  Free?  Well, the price was certainly right!  So a few weeks ago, Amelia and Alanna came to join our little farm family.  The Dorper babies took to their new "mommies" immediately.  Of course, we brought Cain (our dog) and 5 farm cats along with us with us.  The only thing missing are some Alpacas (I love Alpacas, I think they're so cool!)

So to make a short story long, we have happily settled in to our new home.  We are loving the more relaxed lifestyle and we are eagerly anticipating our first-ever family vacation near the end of July!  (we thought a trip to Williamsburg, VA sounded good :)  "The Farmer" is nervously anticipating his new job as a grinder in a bearing factory starting August 6th and I am both anxious and excited at the thought of homeschooling all three of our children this coming school year.  That's all for now.  Hopefully I'll do better at posting entries to our blog (is there such a thing as a 4th of July resolution?)

Happy New Year!  And what a New Year it promises to be for our family.  We are selling the farm that has been our home for the past 12 yrs. and most of our children's lives (our oldest was just learning to walk when we were moving in!)  The cows will be leaving and we will be literally "moving down the road" to a new home that we have a contract on.  Both settlements are expected to take place, as well as the cows leaving, by the end of January.  We have until late March to move into our new house, clean up the farm and have our equipment sale.  YIKES!!  It's all sometimes very overwhelming when I think of all that needs done in such a short time.

I am nervously anticipating the change that is coming.  I am praying for a bright, new beginning and a happier less-stressed, more God-focused and family-oriented life for us all.  But leaving farming is bitter-sweet.  Farming isn't just an occupation, and it's more than a lifestyle.  Sometimes I feel it defines who I am.  To think of changing all that is scary.  If I am no longer a "farmwife", then what am I? 

There is no doubt in my heart that the Lord has been pushing us this direction for sometime, we just didn't want to admit it.  Now that we have given ourselves over to His will, it is amazing how He has caused everything to fall so perfectly into place.  I just need to remind myself to continue trusting Him.  After all, He knows the plans He has for me ... :)