Opossum!

In March and April of this year, I decided to set our box trap in the woods down by the creek. I wanted to see what I could catch. After baiting the trap with a little dog food, I left it there for the night. The next morning, I went down to see if I had caught anything, and as I got near the trap, I saw a clump of white fur sitting in the trap! As I got closer, to my excitement. I saw that it was an opossum! I picked up the trap, then I noticed something hanging out from under the opossum. Wondering what it was I saw, I looked and to my surprise the opossum had a pouch full of babies!

I took the opossum up to the house and asked Dad if I could keep it for a while. After getting his permission, I went down and fixed up one of the rabbit cages for the opossum’s new home. After putting her in, the opossum walked right into the nest box I had prepared for her.

Every day I gave the mama some dog food and filled her container with water. I never got to see her eat because opossums are nocturnal animals and come out at night. Even though I did not see her eat, the food was still gone every morning.

Every day the babies were getting bigger. Sometimes I would go down to check the opossum, then I would see the babies out of the pouch, and some days I would not see the babies at all. Baby opossums leave their mother’s pouch after 60 or 70 days. They still go into the pouch when the get cold, or when they’re hungry. Eventually they got too big to fit in their mother’s pouch, then they started exploring their cage. That is when I knew it was time to let the mother and her babies go.

I released the mom, and her eight babies down in the woods, but I kept two to raise for a while. The two babies are now big enough to eat dog food, and other things. 

An opossum has more front teeth than any other animal. These teeth are used to hunt other small animals. I will keep the two opossums for a while, then let them go.

I am glad I caught and kept the mom opossum. It was exciting to watch her babies grow. 

I enjoyed learning new things each day, and I hope to learn a lot more as I watch them grow and change.

~Jonah

Post script-  Jonah's possums have since been released into the woods.  

My Exploration Buddy

We sat quietly, scarcely moving. The deer lifted its nose and sniffed the air. There was no noise. Everything was quiet. The deer waved its tail twice, then very slowly it turned and walked deeper into the woods. We continued to sit quietly, and soon the birds began singing again. The squirrels also returned to finding nuts.

My partner was eager to get to our destination, so after sitting for a while, we continued down the path. As we began to move, the squirrels all ran up the trees, and the birds stopped singing. We heard the deer in the woods give a loud snort and then run off. We could see its tail waving as it ran through the woods. Once we arrived at our destination, I led my buddy to the barn, unsaddled him, and gave him a good brushing down. My exploration buddy is our mule, named Spanky Hank.

Spanky is a full-size mule. He is about the size of a full-size horse. Spanky likes to travel through the woods. He also likes walking on the roads. He has a white patch on his back, and a little white on his face.

      

I like riding Spanky through the fields and woods. Everything looks a little different from the back of the mule. You can see a lot farther, and you can get a little closer to the wildlife. I enjoy following the creeks, or riding around the trails. I like scouting around our property looking for small critters and other cool things. I can cover a lot more ground with my exploration buddy.

Not too long ago, Spanky and I went out to the backside of our property to do some exploring! Spanky enjoyed walking along the top of the big hills. He got excited when we turned off the main trail and crossed the creek. Spanky likes to walk inside the creeks and follow them.

I am very thankful for Spanky; it is more fun to ride while exploring. I can’t wait until the next time I head into the woods, with just me and my exploration buddy.

~Samuel

No Good Ends

If you’ve seen one, you know. The anomaly is startling and somewhat revolting. Some say it’s bad luck. She lifts her head in the usual manner, but the ensuing blast is a mockery. My mama always said that whistling girls and crowing hens always came to no good ends. One old wives’ tale said that when a hen crowed, there would be a death in the family immediately.

A hen that attempts to crow is generally an older poultry, often nearing the two-year mark. She isn’t a rooster, and she makes an awkward screechy noise that sounds awful. She has stepped outside of her nature and is now only useful for the stewpot. 

Otherwise, hens typically only crow when there is no rooster in the flock. Some folks will try to shuffle the pecking order by putting a crowing hen into “chicken prison” to attempt to stop the aberration.

Isn’t it peculiar that when something refuses to act according to nature, they seem harsh and repugnant? The shriek the hen makes while trying to perform a rooster’s business isn’t pretty at all. Her crow serves no real purpose. Crowing hens have usually surpassed their peak egg laying days. She isn’t protecting the flock nor waking the farmer as her squawk isn’t loud enough to do either of those jobs. While these types of hens will often even grow long spurs, they otherwise only incompetently take on rooster-like qualities in their unnatural show of dominance. There may be explainable reasons a hen might take on the role of her counterpart, however it is undoubtedly unattractive, and always a mere curiosity.

The fact is that hens are happier with a rooster in the flock. They experience a state of order and liberty that they didn’t have without him. 

In the absence of a rooster, the more aggressive hens frequently become bullies and attempt to take over the flock. Roosters, while not designed to lay eggs, do perform an important service in the flock. While a hen can lay an egg even without him, his presence lends a peaceful existence to the ladies through his protection and provision.

It is said that a rooster was historically used atop weather vanes to remind the faithful of Peter’s denial of Jesus; denial thrice before the cock crowed. God provides us with so many lessons from nature, doesn’t He? We understand what we see around us as it is played out. We find that the best solution to a crowing hen is to introduce a rooster into the flock. Another best practice is to have an axe handy near the henhouse.

~Rhonda

Afraid? Never!

“Are you ready?”

Isaac pulled on his second shoe and nodded in the affirmative. We stepped off the porch and headed for the woodpile. It had been a full day. We had started out expecting to brave the wilderness, five companions, all ranging from nine to four years old, ready to prove our fortitude, ingenuity, and courage over the course of twenty-five whole days. 

Now, here we were. Only Isaac, second to youngest, and I the oldest were still resolved enough to spend at least one night outside.

Earlier I had contemplated joining our three companions, who had given up the excitement of a challenge for the warm security of the house, but I couldn’t let myself give in. 

Determined, Isaac and I headed for a place to camp, not in the deep wilds of course; not with only the two of us. It was good judgment that made us choose to stay within a safe distance of the house. We had given up on every other part of our original plan, even eating supper with everyone else inside, instead of foraging for the wild edibles I had claimed to know so much about. Besides, Dad promised to keep the front door unlocked in case we needed anything in the night. Perhaps we might even decide to come back inside permanently. We didn’t think there was any chance of that happening, but if he was going to keep the door unlocked, we might as well be as close to the house as we could.

We set to work rolling some unsplit chunks of wood in a circle around our chosen site. If we couldn’t build shelters, as the flimsy products of our limited architectural skill had proved that afternoon, at least we could feel like we were protected.

“You guys have fun,” our eldest brother Trey called out as he and his wife passed, heading out for a night walk on Minikin Rill.

“Don’t let the coyote’s get ya’,” Clair exclaimed playfully as the pair vanished into the blueish-black darkness.

“We’re not scared of coyotes, are we Isaac?” He grinned as if I had just suggested something ridiculous. Us? Afraid? Never.

We gathered leaves and piled them in the middle of our safe place for warmth. We probably didn’t need them; it was only late summer. Everything prepared, we crunched and crinkled around in the dry leaves until we were comfortable, spread our blankets over us and discussed our situation. It really wasn’t bad. We were warm, relaxed, and sheltered. In the morning the others would regret they hadn’t joined us.

Slowly we became conscious of the night sounds. They were different when you were outside, but it was fun calling out what creatures made those sounds. Crickets. Owl. Horse. Whippoorwill. Coyote.

We bolted upright. From the direction of Minikin Rill came two strains of the high, wailing, varied song of the coyote. For a moment we gripped one another’s hands and then we realized …

“It’s only Trey and Clair,” I whispered.

“They tried to scare us,” Isaac whispered back.

I nodded, and we both settled back down. They weren’t fooling anybody now. A little later both “coyotes” emerged from the woods and laughed with us over their little joke before saying goodnight and heading home.

Peace and quietude returned. We gazed at the stars, sometimes visible through the leaf filled branches of the trees. Yes, it wasn’t so bad after all. A few minutes passed in silence, and then the whole night calm seemed to explode. Hundreds of short howls punctuated by staccato yips and barks pierced the stillness. There was no joking going on this time; we knew it was the real thing.

We sat there only a second, listening to those eerie calls which sounded so close. It wouldn’t have been surprising to have seen two glowing yellow eyes peering down at us over our barrier of logs. We looked at one another and without saying a word, grabbed our blankets, tripped over the wood, raced each other back to the house and didn’t give one backward glance until the front door was securely closed behind us.

No one was in bed yet; we hadn’t been outside for little more than ten minutes. They all looked at us wonderingly while we stood panting beside the door, eyes wide, hair disheveled, our blankets trailing in with them bits of bark, dirt, and leaves. We explained. Our three former companions, lingering on the stairway to hear our story, wanted to smile at our apparent faintness of heart but refrained. They hadn’t been brave enough to join us in the first place. Later, in bed, I was free to reflect calmly on what had happened. Prudence had brought us to the house, I concluded. Afraid? Never!

-Halayah

Quit Ye Like Men!

One of my Christmas presents I got this year was a chisel set that came in four varied sizes. I was excited! For this was going to be put in the toolbox I have sitting at the end of my bed.

The last many years, I have gotten all kinds of tools, and my toolbox is full of different items. 

I have a hammer, screwdrivers, a wrench set, a level, vice grips, pliers, a saw, a tool belt, and lots more objects in my box. This year I got to add a chisel set!

Dad and Mom started gifting tools when their first grandchild was born. They wanted to give their future generations something that would help them later in life, so they decided to provide each of them and us with a basic set of tools. 

The first year they start out with a toolbox, then each year for Christmas they give everyone one or a couple of tools to add to their box.

All the girls get other tools like paint brushes, measuring cups, and knitting needles. They also have a toolbox to store these things in. Theirs are called Titus 2 Kits, and the boxes that we boys receive are called Quit Ye Like Men toolboxes. 

These tools help us all become men. In 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 it says: Stay steadfast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

It is always thrilling to use my tools. I used my tool belt, hammer, and tape measure while repairing the granary roof. I used my square and level while we built the deck on the back side of the house. I am glad Dad and Mom had the idea of giving these kits as gifts. I am excited to see the next item I acquire!

~Jonah

So Much More

As of 2012, my parents have blessed (and continue to bless) their daughters and granddaughters with Titus 2 kits. Every Christmas from birth to age twenty, a young lady receives an item for her kit. The first year, a toolbox is given. In the years to follow, high quality items are added to the kit that are to better the life of her as a homemaker. 

Titus 2:4-5 directs older women to encourage the younger women to be keepers at home. Our Titus 2 kits are a step in the right direction for honoring the word of God! Preparation from birth is beneficial and advantageous. I always find it VERY exciting to store away a precious item for the betterment of my future life.

So that they (older women) may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:5

Right now, while I am yet unmarried, I learn everything I can about everything I can, while helping with the family ministry. Though I hope to marry, there are many works that can be undertaken as a single young lady for the greater glory of God! The family and farm is a ministry in and of itself.

In our kits, there are many items to support the encouragement given toward our future home. To name a few of those objects…

There are measuring cups and spoons to help provide delicious food for my family. Sewing supplies are given to hem too-long jeans or curtains with, make blankets, or craft a teddy bear waiting to be loved by a child.

I have paintbrushes to paint my own art for room décor, stationary for a letter of encouragement to a friend or family member, or even a child’s clothing. (Some of my favorite sweatshirts when I was little were the ones Mama painted a fun picture on!) 

Stapler, tape dispenser, hole punch, first aid supplies, crochet hooks and knitting needles, house tools, mortar and pestle, rotary cutters, scissors, the family cookbook, icing bags, tips and spatulas, and many more items are all in a box in my closet just waiting to be put into use someday in my future. These items may seem small and insignificant in part, but I treasure each and every one of them. What makes icing tips so important? They are not going to make or break you in your married life. No, but, when lit by the light of birthday candles you see the pure joy of a child who adores the beautifully decorated cake set before him, you realize that all that time spent learning everything you can about everything you can, and the gift of icing tips were a tool of making such a precious memory…And it is all worth it.

The idea of our Titus 2 kits is so much more than being able to make good food, beautiful art, clothing and quilts. It is the idea that we can make use of them all for the glory of the King!

~Jayla