Lovely Weekend

This weekend was lovely. We spend a lot of time hanging out at home, letting the animals explore under supervision. The back pasture is rather steep, and forested, so it was with a bit of trepidation we let the horses graze up there. We need not have worried, as they had a wonderful time.

The goats had a wonderful time in that pasture. I'm pretty sure they'll eat all the bushes, brambles, and grass down so we won't have any sort of fire hazard there.  

The chickens also had a great time, wandering around the upper pasture and the our yard, eating bugs and generally having a good time. We have three sets of chicken, and two of them are out wandering around on their own. The layers are wandering in the upper pasture, and the 'blues' (blue orpingtons) are wondering in the lower pasture. Our Dark Cornish (velicoraptors) are not allowed to wander, as they're generally too slow moving and too sweet to not get hurt.

As for the humans, we sat around some, we worked some. I spend a lot of time in the shade, just watching the animals. The kids were variously visiting friends and working on projects around the house. We got more unpacked, we got some cleaned up, and we did our first 'room inspection'. The kids rooms at both rentals we've had were atrocious when we moved out, so we've instituted a weekly clean and look at to make sure it's staying vacuumed, laundry is being done, and garbage is being thrown away.

I think it's a good idea in general, and metaphorically as well as materially. Once a week, pause, and make sure the general maintenance is being done. The rooms are cleaned, the kitchen is mopped, the floors are vacuumed. Make sure the basics are being taken care of, so you can move onto the improvement projects.

So much has happened in the past week that is tragic: The shootings in Charleston, the prison escapes in New York. So much seems to be spiraling down: Greece and the Euro, Syria, Ukraine. So much seems designed to distract: Taylor Swift vs. Apple, Caitlyn Jenner (which is a personal matter), etc.  The more I read and take in, the more I want to retreat to what makes sense: goats eating leaves, chickens scratching for bugs, the llamas contentedly munching on the grass. I want to maintain what is home, and enjoy it while it's here. I turn inward.

Update! I forgot to mention this was the BEST FATHER'S DAY EVER!!!!!!11!!!! because I got to watch Big Trouble In Little China with the family!  WHOO HOO! Rocking it David Lo Pan style...