We had our first cattle drive here at the farm and it wasn’t pretty. Okay, we only have one cow so it was more of a ‘cow drive’ and to be honest, it looked a bit more like a cow ‘pull’, as My Loving Spouse had to put a rope around her hind quarters to ‘encourage’ her to move. Our cow, Elsie Gump, did not want to be moved, as I’m sure she did not know we were moving her to a new field with even more green grass. As she only moves on three legs, she used that to her advantage to not be ‘driven’ and I couldn’t help but wonder what we were going to do when she is 1000 pounds. All in all, she acted like a stubborn toddler, moving very quickly when faced in the wrong direction, stopping to pee and poop and then cleaning her nose with… her tongue. Yes, it was gross. Farm life, it’s not all pretty.
I’ve been stretched in so many new ways in the last 6 months, it boggles my mind sometimes. I expected to learn about tractors, animals (poop) and growing ‘stuff’. I might even have imagined the opportunity for new creative endeavors, but I would not have expected to put them ‘out’ there for the world to see and critique. Managing to just navigate the computer learning curve to open our Glory Farm Shop was enough to cause hours of exasperation, complete with plenty of huffing & puffing. With a long history of being criticized, putting myself in a new field is scary. Pat (yes, his real name) is my encourager, supporter and the one who puts the rope around my ‘hind’ quarters to help me move to a new field. Resting in his belief in me is truly a greener field and why I call him My Loving Spouse.
Over the last 6 months, I have been watching our sweet new church wrestle with a big decision, one that affected everyone. As we did not have a ‘history’ yet with the congregation, we purposely stayed out of the process and the conversation. It was not our place to tell them where to ‘go’, but we knew we’d go with them, whatever the outcome. I watched this weekend as the final decision was made and have been bowled over, not by the decision itself, but the manner in how it was reached. There was no ranting, no raving and certainly no one was drug by the hind quarters. It was an experience of a difficult process handled gently, in a manner without criticism, yet with respect to all. This new field had me awed. It is one of grace. Truly, to God be the Glory.
Found out how to move a cow: Grab its tail, give it a yank back towards it’s head, i.e. in the opposite direction of how it (the tail) wants to go. This gets the cow to raise its head, then you can lead it. This is a tried and true method – ask Ed if you have any questions!
Woo Hoo, thanks Heather! We’ll try it!
Pat aka the loving spouse says he will enjoy that cow a lot more when he goes to the freezer and pops it on the grill!
Great creative, salvaged items for sale! You better get busy, cuz they are going to go fast!
Good luck with the new shop on Etsy! You will do so well! I’ll ask Ed about moving cattle, he did that at college…..and what you said about Pat and your new life and how he encourages you, SO great. I am so happy for you!
Saw your shop tab and clicked to see what I would find. You are SO creative and it is very impressive what you two have created. I so look forward to you updates and LOVE seeing the photos of everything but especially seeing the “kids”. So glad you started a new adventure and are taking us all along for the ride. PS we can’t tell that the computer is not always behaving. You do a great job. PSS I am glad it is you in the New climate and not me. Burrrrr!
Glenda,
Miss you people! Hope to see you in May and thank you for the kind words!!