My Final Reflection!

 By Linda Patton ~ July 19, 2015

I have mixed emotions of joy and sadness as I write this final Blog. Joy, because I have almost made it through my first semester of college. Sadness, because this reflection blog will be the last required blog.

In the beginning of this class, I established the goal of learning to blog. After 7 weeks of continual blogging, I have reached that goal. I fully plan on continuing a blog of some sort. My friends are patiently waiting. Speaking of friends, let me start out with the challenges that I have faced during this blogging experience. When we moved to the country, I began telling a select group of friends all about my new life. There were plenty of fun things to learn, and hard things to deal with. My friends enjoyed hearing about them all. I wrote to someone nearly every day. I thought only a few very close friends read my emails. That thought turned to mortification when I found out they printed them off and passed them around the school where they teach. Gulp! I am a rather private person, and my self-confidence in writing mostly stayed at the non-existent level.

My mortification turned out to be a positive change in me. My audience grew and went so far as to call me if they did not get the latest story, or if I fell behind in writing them. Everywhere I go, people refer to me as the chicken lady. I tried to get my car into the shop yesterday, and they couldn’t find the warranty on our car until I told them I was the chicken lady. Being assigned to write every day, along with the two other classes I carried, meant I didn’t have enough time to keep up with my stories. My friends are all very encouraging and support my decision to return to school. They assure me they will wait, and express hopes of an upcoming blog.

Another challenge I face still had to do with the time factor. Some days, I barely had time to sit down and get it written. I missed a couple of days all together and had to catch up the next day. I did not spend as much time as on some blogs as I needed to. At times, I noticed errors when I reread them the next day, and simply did not have time to go back and correct these errors that had already been posted for the world to see. And honestly once or twice I did not think another sentence could cross my mind, much less my fingers.

Enough of the challenges, now onto the good stuff. I loved the Fluency Blog Assignment! It accomplished more in me than I ever dreamed possible in such a short period of time. While I usually succumb to severe perfectionism, I learned for the sake of the next task, that I must let it go when I found already published mistakes. The ability to do this came from practicing the things I have learned. I am practicing how to make better paragraphs, better descriptions, less “wimpy” verbs, and by all means, to be more decisive and write with some confidence. Practice! Practice! Practice! Not only have I noticed a difference in my writing, but my speech has improved tremendously.

I appreciate the extra credit opportunity of the blog logs. It served to teach me far more than earning a few points. Reading classmates’ blogs gave me a chance to get to know my peers, which prepared me to start seated classes this fall. It also exposed that I enjoy being surprised by comments other students posted in response to a blog. When I see the comment alert, my heart leaps with excitement, alongside of a healthy dose of fear, humility and satisfaction. Reading classmates’ blogs provided a powerful source of encouragement, as well as critique. I attempted to read and reply to at least one of each classmates’ posts.   All of this practice helps the decision making come faster. I know longer sit at the computer for hours trying to find the right word. I allow only a few moments to think, then I pick one and move on. Later I will go back and review. Nine times out of ten, a more suitable word, phrase, sentence, or even total change will be waiting in my mind before I can get it highlighted. Also, I have learned to write amidst more distractions. I don’t have time to let anything interfere.

And for the grand finally – the greatest thing I noticed during the fluency blog practice. Whenever the workload or complexity of other classes overwhelmed me with worry or frustrated my every thought, I would fall into English. The opportunity to do something I love waited to save me from the jaws of defeat. As I opened my mind and turned on my fingers to let my thoughts come gushing out, the world around me faded into the background, taking away the power it possessed to haunt me with fear of failure. The ability to put my thoughts into words, and examine my life left me with a glimmer of hope and a sliver of fulfillment, imparting the fight and determination I needed to press on, to finish what I started. To achieve the one thing I long for – success! The same success that Lucas asked us to define in the very beginning of this class.

The next semester already waits, not so patiently, around the corner. I will face this semester more knowledgeable thanks to this experience. I also look forward to the rewards that await as I continue to blog my journey. 

Mission Complete

by Linda Patton ~July 18, 2015

     I awoke this morning and ran to the bathroom window. I didn’t even take time to turn on the light. I brushed the curtain aside to confirm my suspicions. For the last two weeks, we investigated the chicken house every morning to find signs of a visitor seeking a free meal during the night. The extra precautions we added to the chicken house did their job and the visitor’s plot to eat my chickens failed. Two weeks ago, we lost a guinea to such a visitor. The varmint waited until sleep invaded and then took the mother to be from her nest of eggs. We employ dogs for such a time as this, however, the predator managed to evade them while they were off chasing something else in a different part of the yard. We quickly invested in another dog along with a live trap.

     The first night came and went with no signs of progress. The second night sleep detoured us from remembering to set the trap, and last night was night three. There sat, a sweet, beautiful raccoon, snuggled up like the most adorable kitten in the world.  That was only a ploy. Its teeth sharp as razors and its goal to slaughter my chickens. No amount of “cuteness” made up for the fact that raccoons will kill chickens just to murder them. They will eat chickens, but mostly they assassinate every bird in the house and just leave them for farmers to find the next morning. Occasionally, someone will tell us that one hen barely survived, but only after horrific terror incurred.

     Chickens must be locked up every night. Their chance of survival is extremely low if not tucked in, securely away from predators such as this. We cautiously relocated this snuggly looking creature to a nearby Conservation area, where he will no longer endanger the lives of any local chickens. 

A Morsel of Understanding

By Linda Patton ~ July 18, 2015

     Blog, Blog, Blog! I am a day behind. This week, my world revolves around finals. One down, two more to go. One of which is an essay involving a thesis based on Eric Greitens’ book, “The Heart and the Fist.” It has become my favorite book of all time, and if you need something to read, I highly recommend this one.

     However, today, I’m discussing the process of learning. I don’t know how many times this week I have heard someone say, “Enjoy the journey.” I think this message is for me.  This being my first semester in college, finals week has proven to be every bit as difficult as its reputation. Nevertheless, I’m holding my own. Because summer school is shorter, I don’t have time to do any differently. No time to worry about slacking in my everyday duties and being a terrible wife, mother, daughter, or friend. No time to help my family with vacation projects, or go to the pool or lake. My only goal -- survive!

     In English, we were assigned a research project over various things. The assignment was meant to teach us more about research. That seemed simple enough. Ha! Only until I got to the half way point. By the time I hit the three quarter mark, I sat at the computer, my eyes squinted, my head aching, trying not to scream, pulling my hair out, and ready to give in to mediocrity and laziness.  I didn’t have time for this, I had a research paper to write. Frustrated and overwhelmed, I took a deep breath. I will not allow myself to be lazy. My work may be mediocre, or even not very good, but as long as I have breath in my body, it will be my very best. So I pressed on. Fifteen minutes later, my fingers were speeding across the computer, research articles lined several pages of my internet browser, and I didn’t want to stop.  It was at that point I learned the purpose of the assignment. After finally understanding and finishing this assignment, the research on that final essay is going much faster. I am able to better focus my searches on the necessary topic, and I have learned to take better notes throughout the process. Ultimately, the end of the assignment, taught me how to do the middle. I will not soon forget this lesson, and I will try to do a better job of settling in and enjoying the journey.

I am left trusting that each morsel of understanding I gain from assignments will combine into one large piece of knowledge, leaving me further educated, and accomplishing the overall goal of going to college. Now, onward and upward. An essay awaits! 

Exploring My Mind-Proceed with Caution

By Linda Patton~July 16, 2015

                   For today’s blog, I am going to take advantage of the true meaning of “Freewriting.” My brain hurts from worrying. How am I ever going to find a thesis topic? But wait! I remember our first assigned essay giving me the same trouble, so I’m not giving up yet. For this exercise, I am going to shut off my worry, close down my “thinking” and begin to sort thoughts. So many things have trampled through my mind that I can no longer find what lurks in the corners, waiting to be thrown out or written down. Here goes nothing, and boy do I hope it turns up something.

                  What things did I want to know more about? I want to know more about how the people of Bosnia, Croatia, and Rwanda had survived such horrible times. How are they living today? It’s been so many years, are they still in refugee camps? What could possibly turn someone to torture or murder another human being? What would it be like to compare a life of an average American child with that of one from any one of those countries? Maybe I should explore the life of a child from a few different countries. What could have been done to prevent the terror of the genocides in so many countries? What is being done now in countries such as Rwanda and Bosnia where the genocides ruined lives as well as societies many years ago? Have they recovered? What hopes of recovering do they have. I realize that these ideas are vague, but there are so many that I can’t possible explore each one to the fullest. What organizations are present in Rwanda, Boliva, Bosnia, and Croatia at this point in time? How are they making a difference? How can that translate back to an everyday Missouri resident who wants to help and does not know how?

                    I also would like to explore what affect the discipline of Martial Arts training, as well as Boxing has on how one handles fear and courage. Does it affect each participant the same as it affected Greitens? How does education affect one’s ability to make a difference in others’ lives? Or to bring about change? How does financial stability help? Would Greitens’ story have been different if he were an OTC student who struggled to make ends meet? How much of our lives turn out the way they do because of a “calling”?

                     And my final thoughts: Can the genocides that occurred in Rwanda, Bolivia, Croatia, and even Germany be compared to the threat of ISIS that faces Christian people today? What are the differences? What are the similarities?

                      Now that I have swept out my brain, I am going to do an assignment from another class, then I am going to watch some mindless tv show, that I will pay no attention to, and doze off to sleep. I have every hope that throughout the night, my mind will roll all of this around, spitting out the bad, polishing the good, and I will awake with a sense of where to focus my research. Other posts from the week would be more suitable to turn in for evaluation, but since this is an English Class journal and I value Ms. A’s opinion, I think I will turn this blog in as week 7’s blog of the week. It may only show my weakness, but how much strength do we actually start out with?  

My Miracle

By Linda Patton – July 15, 2015

Choices, Choices, Choices! Today, I really want to write about chickens, but I know I should write about the thesis I am supposed to come up with. After weighing the options, I have decided to do further research and write about the thesis tomorrow. The chicken yard is changing, and I love this time more than any other.

Falina’s first brood hatched on February 6^th of this year. Unbeknownst to us, we gave her eggs that had not been fertilized, and we had not yet learned the importance of candling eggs. By candling eggs on certain days, we can tell if the egg is viable and the chick is growing.  We throw out any “duds” and replace them with eggs started in the incubator the same day as the hen started setting. Miracle got her name for being the only chick that hatched on Falina’s first try. The standard rule of thumb states that every brood is half roosters, and half pullets (young hens). We have to wait for at least 6 weeks, and sometimes longer before we know the males from the females. For eight weeks, I told my family that it would be a miracle if Falina’s only chick, turned out to be a pullet.

Falina gave that baby her very best. She didn’t complain about only having one, or that she looked nothing like her. She taught her everything a chick would need to know. Miracle mirrored her every move. Eventually we knew that she was a pullet, and her given name would be Miracle from then on out. As she got older, she tagged along with her cousins, whom Falina’s twin sister had hatched the week prior to Miracle. Two of them looked exactly like her. They eventually came to be known as Waffles and Shadow.

Falina loves to be held, but she could not pass that on to Miracle. Miracle has always been afraid. Until yesterday. Something changed. Miracle has talked nonstop to me for days now, and yesterday, she walked up to me and asked politely for me to pick her up. It took every ounce of courage that she could muster. But she did it. She sang and sang, and let me know she didn’t appreciate it when I put her down. One after another, all of the hens gathered around me, asking for me to hold them. Hannah and Falina learned that behavior at birth when I held their little eggs in my hand, gently opened the shell, and they pushed their way into the palm of my hand for their very first breath. The rest of my pullets did not have that experience. Some hatched under hens, and others hatched in an incubator without complications that required assistance. Only one, Snowbell, would even consider letting you touch her. Until yesterday that is.

As I sat by their house, one after another asked to be held. One after another sang to me, and then one after another let me put their feet on the ground. They didn’t fly away as the scared chickens they were before. Oh how soft they were, and how sweet it felt when one would lay her head on my shoulder. I love their beautiful voices, each one different, as though she had something special to say. Their feet clutch my fingers, as their trust in me builds moment by moment.  I have held Miracle no less than 6 times today. She just cannot get enough snuggles, and I just cannot get enough of her singing.

What made such a difference? For the last three days, there have been tiny little pullet eggs in the nests. Hens are loving creatures. When the first egg appears, every hen goes through a change. She proves herself as an adult and the other hens accept her as one of them. The adult hens go from pecking her, and squawking, to encouraging her, cackling for her, and teaching her how to lay. She becomes one of the flock. Finally her struggle to become an adult suddenly snaps to an end. I love these amazing creatures so much. How did I get so blessed? 

A Few Crazy Things to Learn.

By Linda Patton -- July 15, 2015

What a crazy week! This week I am learning what it really means to be a college student. This week I am learning that it doesn’t matter if everyone else is on vacation, Mom must finish her assignments and not go help with the numerous projects going on around the farm, no matter how much I want to.

Some other things I have learned this week:

•  There is not enough data in the country to keep up with online classes, but OTC provides a great place where a student can go and download all of her power point notes, videos for discussion, and numerous other online projects in order for her cell phone provider not to charge her phenomenal prices for exceeding the data limit in her contract.
•  My family can find things to do on their own, as well as do dishes (who knew) and laundry.
•   It feels wonderful to take a class final and finish the course for the semester, leaving me more time to focus on English research.
• Life goes on if you miss a few questions on the final and did not meet the final goal that you set for yourself.
• I must put a GIANT TESTING SIGN on the door in order to remind my nieces and nephews that they can’t come in every time the wind blows.
•  A broken toe is a magnet, everyone will run into it at least once a day, and all dogs everywhere will want to lick it. Ouch!
• f I don’t feed my family – they don’t eat. Even though they are 15, 23, and 53, they still wait for mom to fix supper, even when she warned them that she had a final due.
•   I see a difference in my writings. I went back through some stories from years ago and I am beginning to see small differences of techniques we have learned in class.

       Finally, I am learning that it’s not pleasant to be up at 12:40 catching up on blogs. I must correct this issue. And now I think I will go to bed and start fresh again in the morning learning new and exciting things and knowing I now only have 2 classes! Woohoo! 

Cherished Moments

By Linda Patton ~ July   15, 2015

I had a wonderful evening! The plan changed several times. After going back and forth, over and over, I finally said “That’s enough!” The home we had picked out for Waffles did not turn out to be in his best interest. I happened that another family wanted him very badly, but there was a catch – they didn’t have a car. After being strung along by the previous buyers, I decided that I just felt good about him going to live with the family that didn’t have a car. So my son and I loaded him up, and off we went.

He was so sweet, he laid his head on my shoulder while I carried him to the car, where a cage awaited. This boy was hatched in my chicken house under one of my hens and has never been off this property, much less in a vehicle. He looked nervous, and told me about it as I shut the cage door that waited in the back seat of the car on a tarp. You must also understand that this “boy,” although only 5 ½ months old is HUGE! I can barely get both my arms around him. He stood up and looked out the window, asking me what on earth we were doing. I comforted him the best I could and pulled out of the driveway.

       We would drive thirty miles to deliver him to his new home. On the way, we stopped to make a quick delivery at a friend’s. This family of friends has listened intently to every story I have ever told about my chickens. They ask about them when they see me, and they feel as if somehow they know them individually. However, they had never actually seen one in person.

       In retrospect, it might not have been the most accurate definition when I asked, “Haley, would you like to see my baby?” One by one, they visited the back seat of the car, which of course I left running for air conditioning purposes. One by one they gasped, “That’s not a baby. He is huge!” And my personal favorite, “That’s not a chicken, that’s a bear.”

       Waffles, a gray and white striped Standard Sized Cochin, his feet covered with beautiful feathers, his undercoat of fluff peeking out from under his slick gray feathers, making him softer than any teddy bear I have ever held, enticing you to snuggle your head on his neck for a nice long nap, his bright red wattles hanging half way down his chest, and his golden eyes sparkling as they take in every little detail of his surroundings, stood patiently waiting through each visitor.

       The stop took only minutes and we headed in the direction of the town still 15 miles away. Waffles was taking it all in, no longer upset. The music we turned on, may have had something to do with that. When I tried to turn it down, he would cackle from the back seat until I turned it back up. We pulled up in front of a meager home in need of some repair and a coat or two of paint, tall grass no doubt due to the quantity of nonstop rain we have been blessed with this year, and two dogs tied up out front. Only a few feet further, I noticed the chicken coop with a run full of the happiest hens I have ever seen. That would be his new home, his family, and more importantly – his wives!   

       We made our introductions and I passed him off into the arms of who would be his new farmer. He never once complained. I have no doubt that he knew better than I did how happy those hens were. And I am certain he could tell how much his new farmer already loved him. We were surrounded by such joy. The farmer explained to us that her chickens were spoiled. She stood out with them as they free ranged in case a predator should come along. She continued on to tell us that the dog closest to us, did not like people or other dogs, but those were his chickens, and he knew it. She told us how he would go in on occasion and lay down in the run while the chickens pecked at him or snuggled him. He loves it. How fun! Our dog Kaci has him trained for that, from the time his first feathers arrived, he shared her doghouse. All of our chickens do. Those are her chickens and she intends to take care of them. Waffles would be just fine.

       

       

        On the journey home, my son and I did some sight-seeing, stopped at a new grocery store along the way, and even stopped for a soda at a gas station. We said very little, as if each of us knew the other’s thoughts. I finally broke the ice, “This has been the happiest trip.” He agreed. Had it been the joy of the farmers that we visited, the happiness of the hens, the beautiful scenery, the short visit with friends, or would we ever know? We both understood plainly, this trip would be one of those times we remember forever. And for that, I am thankful. I love my son and cherish times like today when we share a common experience of joy. 

Begging For Breakfast

by Linda Patton~ July 12, 2015

I suppose with any pet the owner develops a certain dialogue. Chickens are no different. The amount of communication possible with your flock directly relates to how you treat them. At our house, each chicken receives individual attention, along with a handpicked name relating specifically to her personality. To be honest, I spoil them rotten. They eat out of my hand, sit on my shoulder, and stand at the gate saying, “Wawk! Wawk! Wawk!” when they want to go for a walk with me.

I have had five people send me pictures of chicken harnesses. I always respond the same, “Who needs a harness? My girls follow me everywhere.” And they do. When I walk out the door, they come running, and will follow me all throughout the woods. They don’t even need treats to enjoy the walk They enjoy the adventure of searching through the woods finding whatever bugs and other delicacies await them.  I will admit the chicken stroller photo that someone sent me the other day is tempting. I have wondered about taking my girls to the park, or a parade. I think they would love it. Lacy, a beautiful, large, gold-laced Cochin hen, sat on my mother’s lap in the front seat of the car all the way to town. She watched the world pass by with great wonderment. She was on an adventure and she intended to enjoy every second. When we tried to get her to lay down, she would inform us that she intended to see the world and she couldn’t do that laying down.

This morning, I let the girls and all 19 babies out as usual. I put hen scratch in a variety of places for them to find, I filled their outside feeders, filled their water, and talked to them as I do first thing every day. Chloe came waddling up to me with her two little babies peeping close behind her. She hopped up on a board, looked up at me, and made some chicken noises. Once positive that she had my full attention, she looked me in the eyes, took her beak and very…slowly…drug it back and forth across the ground. I knew what that meant. When they rub their beaks on the ground it means “Would you please bring us some of that sloppy stuff that gets all over our beaks?”

Yes, I most certainly do fix my chickens breakfast. Not every day, but occasionally, at times more often than others. However, they never tell me slowly like she did. I am pretty sure she was saying it as though she feared I might not understand, and she really wanted some porridge. I have refrained from giving them any in the last couple of weeks, due to the unexplained deaths of two little ones. I am almost positive that they choked and I’m not taking any chances. Who could resist that begging? Not me! I rushed inside and cooked them some oatmeal and scrambled eggs. It will take a while to cool, then I will go put it in all of their little chicken dishes and make certain that everyone gets some. In the heat of the afternoon, I will treat them with the frozen watermelon pieces that I have in the freezer. That will keep them cool, and give them something fun to do. When they are all done eating, they will come up next to me and sing. Chicken singing is so amazing.

Yes, I spoil them rotten. Yes, I take a lot of time with them. No they don’t have to have that much attention, but I can’t imagine my life without them.  

Things to Do Without Electricity

By Linda Patton ~ July 11, 2015

Today I read Kristian Hansen’s Blog Post “Things to do Without Electricity” and it inspired me. I think it would be interesting to hear how different people would pass the time without electricity, so my post today will list different things I like to do when the power goes out.

1. Cooking-My family loves to camp. When the power goes out, we light up the grill or, even better, build a fire. Having no power gives us a great excuse to cook those camping recipes that we’ve always wanted to try. I love this time because everyone chips in and we work as a team. Sometimes we even find new foods we like to eat.

2. Experimenting-my bunch loves to experiment, and this gives them opportunity to try out all of their fun gadgets. Whether a Coleman stove, an air mattress inflator, or a battery powered television, they enjoy learning how to use them. Even if these gadgets have nothing to do with electricity, the outage seems to spark a desire to try them out.

3. Playing games-We break out the candles and whatever games we unearth from the closet. I like playing games because it brings my entire family to one “level”. When we have electricity, my son loves video games, and we all go off by ourselves and do different things on the web or our phones. When the power goes out and we get out that board game or deck of cards, everyone plays the same game.  If someone has more experience, they still depend on strategy and choices made by humans.   

4. Puzzles-Something we rarely take time to do. Not one of us can walk away from an unfinished puzzle, which means we spend an entire afternoon relaxing together.

5. Talking-The silence that stems from the lack of electricity also triggers communication. The quiet time seems to promote thinking, which in turn gives them something to discuss.

 6. Hobbies- Each member of my family has their own creative talent along with many shared interests. I like to crochet, and most of us like to build things. Sometimes we will work on a project together. Most of the power outages that we have lived through happened during the winter, which means making Christmas presents together. Playing musical instruments is something we can do. My son and daughter both play the alto saxophone, what a perfect time for them to pull them out and play together. Other instruments we play include guitar, bass, piano, and drums.

7. Reading-Every one of my crew loves to read. The kids love to set up a hammock, or climb a tree and read outside-during both the winter and the summer. I prefer going to my room to read, and my husband reads wherever he feels comfortable at the time. Having a group quiet time somehow brings us closer as a family.

Electricity does have an impact on our world, as would the lack of it. When we go camping, we set up a tent without electricity. If you ask any member of my gang what they would most like to do on any given day, they would say, “Go camping.” They don’t mind leaving behind their electronic devices, although it makes them all too happy to pick them back up again when we get home.  We never truly appreciate something, until we have to be without it for awhile. 

The Day Waffles Moved Out

By Linda Patton ~July 10, 2015

My least favorite part about raising chickens comes when the mothers wean their chicks. She suddenly decides that they can candle life on their own. They go from snuggling under her numerous times a day, to finding food and sleeping on their own. This creates an uproar in the chicken house. In order to wean them, the mother pecks them away from her. For some reason, the other hens decide they should help with this and proceed to run them off from the food, the roosts, and everywhere else they take a notion to be. The babies peep and cry. My heart breaks as I see their little worried looks.

The second worst part comes when the rooster decides he is a man. If other roosters live in the flock, the power struggle begins. Size usually makes the decision on who will be the boss, although putting up a good bluff will win a lot of battles. And then there is the matter of the hens. They have no intention of becoming a wife. If the rooster learns to patiently woo the hens by feeding them and dancing for them, the process goes smoothly. If they chase them all over and force them to submit, the entire barnyard suffers.

Today I learned a valuable lesson. I feel every pain a chicken could possibly feel, whether they do or not. We have a rooster we call Waffles who turned 5 months old the last of June, and has already grown larger than all of the hens. This put the smaller girls in danger so I decided to move him away for their sakes. I carried him and Shadow, a hen the same age and breed, to a new part of the yard, where they have their own little jungle and house. Chickens move easier at night, once they go to sleep, it relaxes them and makes it easier to adjust to their new surroundings. They awake already knowing that they have someplace safe to sleep. Most of a chicken’s worry is finding where they will be safe. Since they see very little at night, they have nothing better to do but sleep. This also makes a chicken more susceptible to predators. They never see them coming.

Following the rules, I moved them late in the evening. I opened their door this morning, but they did not come out. I fed them, encouraged them, and coaxed them only to finally leave them alone to run my errands, and let them explore on their own.  Much to my surprise, when I returned in midafternoon, those poor birds still sat on that roost. They had not eaten, or had anything to drink all day. I crawled in and pulled out Shadow. She squalled, scaring poor Waffles half to death. I pushed her towards the chicken door. She immediately perked up with delight. The new place was like a beautiful jungle compared to where they had been raised. He followed her out without any help from me. I left them alone in order let them find their way, checking on them throughout the day.  

My emotions reeled at the thought of how they must be feeling. Snatched from the only home they have known and moved to someplace unlike anything they have seen before, they have no idea what to do. After hours of heart wrenching worry, it finally occurred to me. As a toddler, my son disliked going any place new. He didn’t like being around many people, and people he didn’t know petrified him. Keeping him involved in everything made it easier for him to accept new things. If I did my best to give my child every opportunity to overcome his fears, then maybe I should consider this course of action for Waffles as well. I know that he has everything he needs. Food, shelter, protection, and even a hen. It will take a few days, but he will be a better rooster for it in the long run. And I have learned something new – how to cope with chicken empathy. 

BEST DREAM EVER!

By Linda Patton~July 9, 2015

To fulfill the writing prompt I received today, I am going to tell you about one wonderful, glorious night, when a dream entered into my sleeping mind, never to leave again. It haunts me to this day.

            My husband hired a sitter and took me to a very nice restaurant for an exquisite meal. The wait staff took very good care of us, making every effort to make the evening perfect. It had been so long since we went anywhere without our two young children. 

           As they cleared the last of the dinner dishes, a nice young man pushed a cart up to our table. “And now for the best part.” My eyes turned to the cart which held the most beautiful creations I had ever seen. Three shelves full of cakes, pies, and desserts of all kinds, no doubt made to perfection and decorated with sheer beauty. However, I cannot tell you what the tray actually held, because peeking out in the middle stood the most amazing piece of cheesecake I have ever seen, drizzled ever so lightly with a sauce made out of a variety of berries, and topped with perfect curls of white chocolate.

            That piece of cheesecake would complete a perfect evening. Really good cheesecake is my biggest weakness, one I rarely allow myself to indulge in. Tonight was special. Tonight I would throw all caution to the wind, and eat the cheesecake. My husband spoke up, “She will have the cheesecake,” but was interrupted by the waiter. “Yes sir,” and he looked at me. “But you cannot have the cheesecake until you have eaten every other dessert on this cart.”

            I laughed, but I could tell he meant it. I looked at it again. Never had such a delicacy tempted me like this perfectly baked, creamy cheesecake with strategically placed berries on top, sauce drizzling down the sides so that every bite contained a perfect blend of flavors. “Why not!” I said.

            Piece after piece, they sat each one in front of me. I ate every bite with determination, I would have that cheesecake.  Even in my dream I felt sick, Finally, the cart was empty, and there… alone…stood my precious cheesecake. The waiter reached to pick it up. He placed it in front of me on the table, where all evidence of any prior desserts had vanished. I picked up the fork and watched with delight as it cut out the first bite, I lifted it to my lips, opened my mouth, and “LINDA?” my husband said as he shook me awake.

            NOOOOOO! This could not be happening. “It’s time to get up,” he continued. I repeated, aloud this time “No!” All that effort wasted. I must go back to sleep. I must! And boy did I try. I tried all day. In the years that have past, I have often tried to put myself back in that moment, but never have I succeeded. Never have I tasted that delectable, fantasy cheesecake.

            So while this dream is one that I actually experienced, I will always wish to have that one more moment of sleep. 

"Why does weather have to be wet?”

By Linda Patton~July 8, 2015

The Daily prompt I received fits today very well. "Why does weather have to be wet?  Write a story or poem that begins and ends with rain or fog." Rain! Rain! Rain!

Falina paced as the farmer came near. Back and forth, over and over, desperately wanting the door to open and release her into the open green grass. Her eleven half-grown babies tried to stay out of the way, as they begged the farmer to open the door for the day.

As the farmer opened the door, she stepped out onto the ramp and fell to the ground. The ramp had broken and fallen to the ground unnoticed. The weight of the coon who had taunted Falina in the middle of the night, had caused it to break in half and fall to the ground. The babies watched, peeping loudly, asking their mother what to do, afraid to step out of the house. They were still unsure of their ability to fly, and it was a long way to the ground.

She regained her balance, only to realize that the rain still trickled from the sky, droplets landing on her dry, neat feathers.  This would make for a long day. She ran immediately to the open barn, leaving the babies milling around outside. After a quick look around, she ran back to them. The babies began to scatter, walking through the tall wet grass. The farmer had not mowed in days. He never let it get this tall, but the rain refused to cease.

The rain brought out a smorgasbord of worms and bugs, which kept the babies occupied. The torrential downpours also left puddles as big as ponds all around the yard. She would have to watch that the little ones didn’t wade out too deep and drown. The feeders, which usually held so much dry food that it bordered on spilling over the top, now sat empty, except for the water that the buckets of rain had left in its place. She would have to eat from the feeders in the barn.

In her little hutch, Falina had been safe from predators, safe from rain, and safe from the biggest issue-the Rooster. He insisted on her attention. She loved the barn. She couldn’t wait until her babies were big enough to move there safely. The rain meant that the barn would not be the peaceful shelter that she usually enjoyed. The rooster would pick at her, getting on her every nerve, and the other hens would be cranky. She would seek shelter for herself and the babies elsewhere.

When the rain slowed to a slight sprinkle, she and half of the babies stood together on a board to preen their wet feathers. One little one, couldn’t stand it, she jumped onto Falina’s back and rested while they watched the farmer. He drug his hoe through the deep water the rain had left by the barn. With each swipe of the hoe, the water decreased as it ran off into the woods, leaving a smaller river to cross to get to the barn.

As they watched with their feathers dripping wet, the sky suddenly turned loose another round of water. Rain! Rain! Rain! Will it ever end? 

Small Act of Kindness

By Linda Patton ~July 7, 2015

We may never know exactly how one small act of kindness will affect someone’s day. However, occasionally the immediate response to the deed will provide a sense of fulfillment and joy to the person who put forth the effort.  

Just another trip to the grocery store turned into one of those mornings. With my cart half filled, I made my way to the canned goods.  My list ordered tomatoes for making chili. Standing in front of the numerous choices, a woman whom I had never met faced the same dilemma that awaited me. Should I choose diced or whole tomatoes? Which brand would fit my budget? I smiled at her, and happily said, “So many choices” as I reached past her to pick up a can to inspect. She half smiled back and made an attempt at a reply. She apologized and explained that she had been standing there for 10 minutes, but she could not focus.

The next thing I know, there we stood in the middle of that aisle, hand in hand, tears rolling down our faces, as she went on to tell me that she was waiting to hear from her granddaughter who at that very moment fought for her life hundreds of miles away. Severe complications during pregnancy had forced labor and delivery, and the odds of either mother or baby surviving were very low. Does anyone really know what to do in that situation? I did all I knew to do-I listened and prayed with her. After thirty minutes, the tears subsided. She hugged me, gave me another half-smile, and said, “I’m sure they will be ok. Waiting is hard.”

The simple gesture of smiling and speaking to her, had given her the opportunity to tell me of her fears, which in turn helped her to pass the time. I have been through situations where time seems to stop and minutes turn to days, those times when all you can do is wait and pray. I never knew how things turned out for that family, but I knew I had been given a purpose for that day. LOVE NEVER FAILS! 

When Love Didn’t Fail Me

By Linda Patton ~June 6, 2015

       In English, Ms. A assigned us to read and critique our classmates’ essays.  I dreaded judging the work of others. I received a few comments back that helped me tremendously. In these comments, more than one person mentioned that they would like to hear more about some way that I have shown an act of kindness that supports my creed. Tonight, I would like to spend some time exploring two instances that I am considering adding to my essay.

       Many years ago, some of our dearest friends were in a bind. They needed a few hundred dollars to fix the urgent problem they were facing. My heart broke. How could we possibly help? I had $20 which wouldn’t even begin to give them any relief. After praying about it, I remembered the verse in the bible where the man hid the talent so that he wouldn’t lose it. He told the master, “I knew you were an austere man and you reaped where you did not sow. Therefore I hid it that I might not lose it.” The Master was very displeased. With that in mind, I approached the couple with tears in my eyes and explained that I knew it wouldn’t come close to helping, but I needed to offer that. They accepted after graciously trying to refuse. Only a few hours later, they called me in tears. They had received a refund check from something unexpected in the mail that took care of the entire need. With tears rolling, the woman expounded to me. “I know the Lord took that $20 and multiplied it.” That lesson rings in my heart yet today. LOVE NEVER FAILS!

       My brother, his wife, and 4 small children lived in Iowa and we lived in Republic. Complications during a medical procedure left him with MRSA in his arm. He nearly lost his arm and a horrific scar now reminds him of that every day. So much trauma and medical expenses had quite an impact on their budget. With Christmas a short time away, I knew they would struggle. My husband had recently changed jobs and we kept a pretty tight budget. Nevertheless, I saved and put back every dime I could. I intended to make sure those kids had something for Christmas.

       The week before Christmas, our Pastor announced that we were going to adopt 5 families. Their need was great. Being a small church, we knew the congregation well. We were aware that they all faced the same challenges in their budgets. Some struggled with illness, others had lost their jobs, and some took their grandkids to raise. But Pastor felt the Lord had urged us to help all 5 families. I went home and hit my knees. I asked the Lord what we could do to help. I felt urged to take the money I had saved, add some to it, and shop for these families. My heart ached as I prayed “Oh Lord, there isn’t enough to help them all.” I had a pretty good idea what I needed to do, but I began to worry. I finally took a deep breath and gave in, “Lord, I’m going to spend all that I have on these families, will you please take care of my brother’s kids?” And we did just that.

       Sunday morning, we carried wrapped gifts in to each pile in the church. The families had been invited to attend a fellowship dinner with us that evening, where they would get their gifts and hopefully feel as though they were loved. When it came time to leave, my truck decided starting wasn’t on its list of things to do that day, so we said a prayer and stayed home. We later heard of the wonderful blessings the families, as well as the church members had experienced. I was so thankful.

       Christmas morning came and my heart was heavy. Finally the phone rang and my mother cried as she told me what had happened. She began with, “The Lord is so good.” A church close by had been given their names and adopted them for Christmas. She related to me how he had cried, humbled by the generosity of the church people. I remember her words plainly. He was still crying when he told her, “But Mom, you can’t imagine. They gave us such nice things. We couldn’t buy those things even if I weren’t sick.” The tears that rolled down my face were filled with joy and humility. The Lord had done even more than what I had asked, and not only that, but He multiplied the love to several more children.  LOVE DIDN’T FAIL!  

       I do not tell these things with any pride, or to be noticed. I tell them because I honestly believe that the Lord took what I had and made something better out of it. I tell this of my experience that LOVE NEVER FAILS!

Threat Neutralized

By Linda Patton ~July 5, 2015

The day finally came. I waited for Ziggy to arrive, standing in the kitchen, knife in hand, with the terror from the previous night laid on the cutting board, awaiting its doom.

He walked cautiously up to the counter, held by his leash, stretching his tiny body as far as he could manage, to get the offender in sight. Rachel reached down and picked him up, holding him closely to the threat. His ears perked up, his eyes danced, and his body tensed as he gazed at the watermelon.

He tilted his head as if to say “What is this? Why is Grammy standing so close? What is that thing in her hand? ” He never raised his voice, he only watched.

I placed the knife at the end of the green skin and sliced. Ziggy froze, his ears perked and his eyes grew larger, as the end fell from the juicy watermelon, revealing a red colored flesh, slightly rolling from the pressure.

Suddenly his demeanor changed, his body loosened, and we noticed something so intriguing that it made us both stop to watch.  His lips parted, and an obvious smile crossed his face. His tongue was hanging slightly out of his mouth, not in the way in which a dog would beg for food or attention, in a way that showed sheer pleasure.

He remembered that watermelon. It had scared him so badly the night before that it left him barking for what seemed like hours. Grammy had captured and was now executing the menace. He watched intently as slice after slice fell from what had once been a very unusual ball.

Rachel took a piece of the red flesh and held it down for him to eat, but he gently sniffed, then refused. Satisfied simply by the fact that the threat had been neutralized.

 LET FREEDOM RING! 

By Linda Patton ~ July 4, 2015

This Independence Day I’m more thankful than I ever before. Everywhere I look I find something else that I have because I live in a Nation where we are FREE!  

We are free to choose whichever god we think is worthy of our praise. I choose to worship the God of the Bible. The “I am” that created heaven and earth. The God who created man, and then sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins, making a way for all who choose to worship HIM. I believe I have this right because I live in the United States of America, just as I believe each individual has a right to choose whom he will serve.

We are free to have families. My husband and I have two children. We have friends who have 1, 3, 4, and even some who have 11. In the United States of America, we are free to make this decision for ourselves.

We are free to choose what house, city, and state we live in. We have lived in town, as well as the country. I love them both. We choose to live in a rural area in Missouri, where we are free to have chickens, goats, dogs, cats, turkeys, and guineas. Our neighbors are free to have their donkeys, cows, horses, rabbits, and any other livestock or pets they like.

We have the freedom to eat what we want, buy what we want, do what we want, and work where we want. We can try our hand at any hobby or activity that makes us happy. We have the freedom to travel anywhere in this Nation to see the mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans, deserts, and many other amazing sights that make up our Great Country.

Today, I enjoyed a wonderful day with my family. I will share tomorrow with a larger part of my extended family, sharing fish that my cousin caught while exercising his right to fish. Others will bring vegetables grown in their gardens, fruit from their bushes, baked goods, and salads, all things that remind me of our freedoms in the United States of America.

We must appreciate the simple things in our lives. These simple things make America worth fighting for.  As we celebrate our independence today, please look around and find the things in your life that remind you of the Glorious Freedom we have been given in this great country - The United States of America.

And by whatever means you choose, please - LET FREEDOM RING!

Threat Detected!

by Linda Patton~July 3, 2015

Today has kept me busy. Outside of homework, I have only checked on my chickens a few times. I had to put one hen in chicken jail because she refused to let the 6 others go to roost. Oh my goodness! They are three times larger than she is. She earned herself a night alone.

While finishing up essay responses, I noticed that my tiny little grandpuppy would not stop barking. Ziggy, the puppy, requires constant attention to keep him from tormenting the world. He will grow out of it-we hope! The barking continued, laced with uncontrollable giggles from each member of the family. I finally stopped to see what could possibly be such a threat.

Laying silently on the kitchen table was the culprit. The loud, high pitched barking alerted us of the danger to which engaged him in an ultimate stare-down. What should we do? How would we survive this threat; this large round green threat?  This WATERMELON!

My laughter melted in with the rest, as my daughter insisted I bring it toward him. I gently picked it up and headed for the chair. He immediately jumped to his feet, still not breaking eye contact with the large, round watermelon that has been sitting on the counter for 4 days now awaiting the purpose for which it was created…the celebration of our Independence.

The worst was happening, it crept closer to him. He jumped off the chair and under my husband’s feet, still barking ferociously. This poor dog. We have yet to find anything that makes him afraid. He will fight with our giant German Shepherd/Mastiff dog and never flinch. But he is afraid of a watermelon?

His fears will be put to rest tomorrow as my daughter holds him tightly in the kitchen, probably still barking, still engaged in the stare-off,  as I neutralize the threat by slicing a knife through it, revealing its dark red center.  I wonder how he will take it when we put a piece in his doggie bowl?

Mean Aunt Linda

By Linda Patton – July 2, 2015

Kids are so amazing. You just never know what they are going to say. Last night, we had a last minute sleepover with my nieces and nephew who range in age from 4-13 years old. In one of my summer classes, we are discussing chronic disease prevention. After reading the chapter on Cardiovascular Disease, I decided that I was going to have to make some changes in the way my family eats. It doesn’t matter how many vegetables I fix, my husband still doesn’t eat them.

Yesterday, we had a discussion and made a plan to correct this.  When suppertime came, I gave everyone, including the children, a salad to eat while dinner was cooking. “Is this all we are having?” the eight year old asked.

“No,” I replied. “We are going to start something new. This is our clean food. Foods that we eat to help our bodies prevent disease and keep us healthy. We are going to eat it first and then have our supper.” I sat out fresh vegetables and even their favorite dip and salad dressings to make it fun.

Out of five kids, I heard a variety of excuses. “I don’t really want any.” And “I don’t like carrots.”  And my favorite, “I’ll just have french fries.” The more they complained, the more I talked. That’ll teach them. It wasn’t long before they lost track and ate all of their veggies, and some even asked for more. They had a blast thinking they were on a mission to eat clean food. We discussed fiber, and how to make choices, and get a good balance of foods that will help your body do its job.

The game continued this morning at breakfast. After much discussion, we decided on oatmeal with raisins, and Fiber One waffles with nuts added in. We would have to eat our oatmeal first, before we could eat waffles, because oatmeal was our clean food. We giggled and had a big time before they returned home to their parents.  

Their mother came to visit this evening. When the subject of our game came up, she laughed and said, “Well, Everett wouldn’t eat his chicken tonight, because he said it wasn’t clean and it didn’t have fiber in it. He decided that he would just eat beans and corn.” I love these guys so much. They aren’t likely to forget this lesson, I just hope someday we get them to understand what the lesson actually is.