We're not feeding hogs...or are we?

I remember when I was a young girl that my Daddy often would say to me, "Remember now, we're not feeding hogs."  I had no idea what he was talking about.  I knew we were not feeding hogs.  We didn't have any swine on our farm.  We were operating a dairy farm.  We raised Holstein heifers and milked Holstein cows without a pig in sight.

So, finally one day I asked Daddy what he meant by that.  He said, "Have you ever been to a feed lot?"  I had not.  So, after the morning chores, followed by breakfast, we climbed into the pickup truck to go down to Nashville to get some minerals or a load of corn or some such and Daddy stopped off at a feed lot where they were feeding out pigs for slaughter.

We got out of the truck and walked over to one of the barns where hundreds of pigs were kept in narrow pens leading down into a lot away from the shelter of the barn.  The smell was overwhelming.  Pigs creating a strong and pungent odor.  The guys working at the feed lot were putting a grain mix of corn and such out for those feeder pigs.  They drove by on a tractor with a mechanical wagon that spit out the grain mix into a trough for those pigs.  Some of the pigs would come running and would dash from place to place lapping up the grain mix.  Some of them would lumber slowly up to the trough and push other pigs out of the way to get a lot of the grain mix.  Some of the pigs came to the trough but didn't get a lot because the other two types kept pushing them away.  Yet others just stayed back until all the other pigs ate their fill and then they came up and licked up the few crumbs that were left. The guys feeding, however, just slowly drove down the long row of troughs and kept the wagon spitting the grain mix out till they got to the end of the barn.  Then, they turned and came back down the other side of the barn to feed the pens on the opposite side.  Once they had finished with that barn, they drove the tractor pulling the wagon on to the next barn and never looked back.

After watching a while, Daddy and I climbed back into the truck and he pointed it toward home.  Once we were settled in and on the highway headed south, Daddy asked me what I noticed.  In my youth, I simply said, "There were a lot of pigs and only a couple of guys feeding them."  Daddy said, "Yep.  What did you notice about those pigs?"  So, I sat and thought and described the way the pigs responded in four general categories.  I was asked, "How do you think each different group produced with that kind of atmosphere."  After thinking a bit, I explained, "Well, those who rushed up to the trough and dashed from place to place got a good bit to eat. Those who lumbered up there and pushed the others away got a lot to eat.  Those who simply came to the trough got a little to eat but not enough to really flourish and those who held back probably didn't gain much weight or grow at all."  Daddy said, "And what was the goal for the pigs?"  I just looked at him like he'd lost his mind and finally said, "I think they were all expected to grow and thrive and gain weight so they can produce a lot of ham and sausage and pork chops."  Daddy said, "Yes, and how do you think our cows and calves would do if we took care of them like those guys were feeding those hogs?"

That is when the lesson really hit home to me.  We looked at each animal on our farm as an individual who was going to work hard to produce a lot of milk and provide us with a good living.  If one didn't come to the trough and eat well, we took a bucket over and fed her individually so she could continue to grow or so she could continue to produce as much milk as possible.  If one pushed the others away from the trough, we would move her to another place to eat alone so that the ones being pushed away could get more and the push-away cow would not get too much.  If one ran from place to place to eat, we made certain that there was grain in more than one place for her to eat.  We treated each individual like she was special because she was.  She was our livelihood and there were not hundreds more in the next pen to take her place.

Throughout my career as a teacher I have kept my Daddy's lesson in mind.  I haven't been just throwing corn out to the hogs and hoping they produced sausage and ham and porch chops.  I've tried so hard to meet teachers and students where they are and support them and nudge them and encourage them to grow to where the needed to be.

Yet things have changed since schools were closed and we began distance learning.  So very many people needed extra support and needed to quickly grow their digital skills that we have been working for the masses.  This week, especially, I feel like I've been feeding hogs - just taking a bucket and casting the corn into the trough and hoping for the best.

Genetics

My hairdresser called to let me know that she would be glad to reschedule my appointment for a later time.  Yet, we had no idea when would be a good time to reschedule.  How long will we be staying home?  So, we exchanged pleasantries about our families and promised to stay in touch and just schedule later. 

I may be Rapunzel before this is all over and I'm able to get a hair appointment for all I know.  I just know that I cannot schedule something when there is so much unknown.

My hair has been a wild mess, for the most part, ever since we have been staying at home.  You see, I have a lot of hair.  It is thick.  It is coarse.  It has just enough curl or body to it to be unruly.  I'm not one who is into spray or products that hold it just so.  So, it gets a little out of hand.

When I get out of bed each morning, I think something beyond bedhead is what I would classify it.  I generally laugh and refer to my morning look as Medusa Head.  Yep.  Imagine that wild look of monstrous snakes going in every direction.  That is the look every single morning.

The children have been sharing photos of our granddaughters during this time of staying at home.  Mike made the comment the other day that he thought my granddaughters must have inherited my hair.

Here is an example of how Lillie has tamed hers as best she could without having to go into a deep dive of products and tools to tame it.

When my  hair is long enough to contain with a ponytail holder, that is exactly what I've done.  Just sort of wad it up into a knot and keep it away from my face. 

Luci also has demonstrated a bit about how being active and busy can sometimes cause her hair to escape the confines she attempted.  Her hair can get a little bit unruly like mine.

When I've worked outside and get a little wind-tossed or am doing a chore like picking up fallen limbs, mine can get a bit out of hand as well.

Then, Linley recently demonstrated a look that I have gotten at times.  There is just enough curl that it flips here and flips there and some is in her eyes and some is curled out there.  Nothing tame and styled.  Just a bit of everywhere.

Even though I don't have a photo of Lydia with a wild hairdo, I know that she has a good look like us every now and again.  I think Mike might have a point about them inheriting that hair thing from me.  I apologize to their mothers and to them about it sometimes. 

Then, I think, at least that is not an awful thing to have inherited from me.  It certainly could have been a lot worse!

Easter Sunday

This Easter is different. 

I wonder how many times that statement has been uttered today and during the past few days.  It is different.  We still celebrate the intention of the holiday - Jesus.  However, we celebrate and honor it so differently. 

At our house it has been quiet with the exception of the falling rain and thunder.  No excitement and anticipation over gathering lots of eggs from the grass or flowers or numerous other places they might be hidden.  No eggs to hide or hunt.  No little feet running and squealing.  No little voices giggling.  No teens or tweens rolling their eyes when we ask them to pose for a photo.  No photos. No grandchildren or children here today.

It has been quiet here today.

We are all staying home.

While, we miss seeing the grands and our children and we miss sharing a feast and fun time with them.  We know that such is the way it is today.  Quiet. Staying home.

You see, today, we are not only celebrating and honoring the sacrifice made for us, we are also honoring the sacrifice asked of us to stay home in hopes of preventing the spread of this dreaded virus.  We are celebrating the health of our family.  We are honoring those who are sacrificing for us so that we might be healthy and stay healthy. 

Mike and I sent treats to the grandchildren and they have shared their thanks and how they have enjoyed them this week.  It is not quite the same as sitting on the porch watching them dash round the front yard as they gather up the colorful treats.  Yet, it is better in some ways because we know that they are safe and healthy in their homes with their parents. 

It has been quiet here today but it has also been a day of rejoicing and celebration for all the blessings we enjoy as a result of the ultimate sacrifice as well as the current sacrifices.

We hope your Easter has been one of celebration and honor and that you and your family are healthy and safe staying home.

Activities

Shortly after Harris started going to Preschool a couple of days per week - well after the crying stopped, he and I had a conversation about what school was like.  He explained to me that they have story time and play time and lunch time and did some activities.

I asked a bit more about these activities and was informed that it is when you make stuff and sit and do stuff and paint stuff. School activities. 

Soon preschool took a break and Harris was home again with his mom.  One day when I talked to him on the phone, he let me know that he and his mother had done an activity the day before.  You see, he had a newborn sister and I think mother needed a bit of quiet, still time out of the little fellow. 

I asked Harris about it and he informed me that he did a color sorting activity.  Then, when I talked to his mother, she let me know that she might run out of fresh ideas because he didn't like to repeat the same activity.  So, I made a suggestion and Harris wanted to know if I had some activities. 

Well, tradition continues and now that we are staying at home, like I shared yesterday, Harris is doing a little school work and Linley now is doing some activities, since she is at home from preschool as well.

I learned that one of her favorite activities is a color sorting one.  Again, tradition continues.  Only, this time, the color sorting activity doesn't involve little cars and colored stickers.  This time Linley is sorting colored cereal pieces.

Look at that little genius!  I told her mother that my grandchildren were destined to be true geniuses!  After I got the photo above, I got another message from her mother:

And then there were a couple of photos.

And a message from her mother, "true talent!"

I think she inherited that talent from me!

The Rules of the Classroom

I am an educator and my family knows that I put a lot of stock in reading, writing, and learning.  I also know that keeping the learning going while we are staying at home is very, very difficult.

I've checked in on a pretty regular basis to make certain that everybody is doing alright.  I've inquired about everyone's health and that of their extended family and asked about their food and toilet paper supply.

Sometimes I'll ask about their continued education but lots of times I let that go because...well...we are staying at home.  School and learning is hard enough to do when you go to school and learn.  So, when everybody is home and they have to be home ALL THE TIME, some things have to be let go at times and that is all right.

I checked in this morning with my son's family.  I hadn't talked to Jessica in a while and I cannot even imagine being at home ALL THE TIME with a six-year-old-boy who is full-of-energy and a two-year-old girl who is two years old.  I remember those years of having two littles at home with you and it was probably some of the hardest work I ever did.

Anyway, I digress.  Knowing that school is usually a part of the morning routine, I asked if they were having school this morning even though it was Good Friday.  Jessica assured me that they were and reiterated with, "We tend to work better when there is structure and a routine."  I get it. Rambunctious.  Busy.  Boisterous. Bouncing. I get it.

Linley was working on one of her favorite activities - color sorting - but that is another story for another time.  What I was intrigued by is that Jessica informed me that she was really learning a lot from Harris and the curriculum that he has as a kindergartner.  She said they'd had to Google something yesterday to be sure they had gotten it correct.  But that's not all!

She also informed me that when they started using the bonus room as the school room, Harris let her know that they needed some rules.  He liked the rules they had in his classroom at school.  So, he wrote them out and asked her to post them on the wall.

I kind of expected rules like Be Nice To Your Sister or Do What Mama Says.  These rules were all business, though.  The rules involve Hand Signals.  You see, if you need to go to the bathroom, you hold up one finger.  If you are in need of a wipe to clean something off your work area, you hold up two fingers.  Hold up three fingers if you need a pencil.  Four fingers signifies that you need some water.  If you have a question, hold up five fingers.

Jessica let me know that she has a difficult time remembering the rules.  She sees Harris following the rules and sometimes she is attending to Linley and her activity and cannot see the rules posted on the wall to clarify the difference between two and three or something like that and it is a struggle for her.

She sent me a photo of the rules and this message: "Just in case you and Mike need some rules around there."  I think I would be lost in keeping up with the rules, too.  I tried to text her back but I was laughing so hard I could hardly see my keyboard.  I said that maybe I just needed to start waving my hands in the air!

She said, "That should cover it!"

Early Delivery!

Since we are staying home, our family Easter gathering has been called off and we are hoping for a family get-together later this year.  I'm not sure if an egg-hunt will be involved but I am sure giggling and high-jinks will be if everybody can come together because that is just what happens when the ten grands and their parents are together.

We turned to online order and delivery for the treats this year.  When I was ordering, the companies were telling me that delivery might take longer for non-essential items.  Well, evidently chocolate coated cookies are deemed essential for some of the grands.  Abby Lee seems to concur with the early delivery!

By the way, I think one of the big brothers is enjoying one of the treats in the background as well!  I tried to capture the looks on their faces by getting a screenshot from the video. They all seemed to think the treats were a good deal.

Dare Devils on Wheels!

We always love getting photos of the grands!  Each of the random photos below brings a smile to my face every single time I see them.

Every.

Single.

Time!

My first thought when I saw this one of Levy with his helmet, elbow and knee pads, and sporting Spiderman ensemble from head to toe made me smile.  Doesn't he look like a dare-devil.  We would have called him Evel Knievel back in the day.  Bicycle training wheels and all, this five-year-old looks like a wheeled sport to be reckoned with!

Then, there was this guy!  At the top Easton was shown riding his dinosaur four-wheeler with superhero knee and elbow pads, dino helmet, and swinging a badminton racket to heard goats out of the yard and back into the pasture.  The close-up just does not do justice to this dare-devil's speed and flexibility with those scampering goat kids!