I've Been Accepted

I have been officially accepted in the the Parish Ministry Associate (PMA) Program through the Central States Synod of the ELCA church. I received my letter today. Yippee!!!!!!! After years of sew sawing back and forth on whether I would continue my theological education and deciding that yes, the time is right. I then spent months researching options which would work for my family and myself at this time. And for me, that means the PMA program where I can serve in many ways with in the church without having to go to seminary. That is still an option that I'm considering, but this is a good first step in that direction, plus in a smaller congregation I could serve as a pastor with a pastoral mentor if I ever decided to go in that direction.

Now I wait to see when my first class begins. The classes happen in various parts of the synod depending on the location of the instructor and the majority of the students. So now the waiting begins on when the first class will be, where it will be, and what the topic is. There are a total of 9 classes (27 credits) that I have to take in the next 3 years to complete the program. There are also required PMA convocations I must attend as well. But I'm so excited. I feel like I'm finally going the way I've been called for years. (The thought of seminary has been on my brain for almost 20 years now.)

-Myrtle

Spinning

My first official try at spinning on my new drop spindle went fairly well. I learned several things as I was going along but the biggest was don't try to spin until you complete all your prepared. It just doesn't spin well when the spindle is full. That is when I started having a lot of fiber that wasn't spinning completely. I'll probably try spinning that portion again.


However, after taking it off the spindle I could tell that my first spinning on it was quit good and consistent, even if it might really be tighter than it's suppose to be. Next time, I plan to only spin about half the amount on the spindle that I did this time, so my spinning will remain more even and not have fewer unspun areas.

Now to just figure out what I'm to do next with what I spun. I know that people set the twist, but I'm not sure what they do to do that. Off to the Internet for research. (Note: after searching the Internet I found this site which explained the steps well for me to understand how to set the twist. Setting the twist.) Now I just need to decide if I really need to learn how to ply or just enjoy my singles for now, most likely what I'll do, and learn to ply some other time.)

Oh, and for those interested the drop spindle is a Schacht Hi-Lo Spindle from the Loopy Ewe. I actually spin in the high whorl position, but want to learn the other way as well to decide which works best for me.

Portable Pasture

Today we set up a portable pasture area. Basically it's plastic stakes with spikes on the end, which you put into the ground. Then you take electrical wire and string it on the stakes and hook it up to your electricity. In our case, it's a solar powered electrical panel. Once set up and turned on it works like a charm to give extended pasture areas to the horse. In our case it's a way to graze down areas around our pasture without having to hold the horses on a line as they do it.



As you can tell in the picture, they are happily munching the tall grass and weeds. When this area is grazed down, we'll unhook the electrical fence, move the stakes and put them in a new area, rewire it all and start again. It took maybe 2 hours to set up a 1/2 acre area and now that we know what we are doing it will be faster the next time.

NOTE: Cibola has learned quickly that the wire is not to be touched. She tried running under it and shocked herself. She now looks on it with respect. :)

-Myrtle

Pests

Living out in this beautiful area I have discovered the down side of nature living so close to me. First it was the black snake eating my first guinea chicks to hatch from the brooding hens. Then we discovered huge (1.5 inch long) horse flies with in hours of bringing Tini and Izzy home.



(Note: the reins are .5" in width and the fly is wider across then the reins are.)

And finally I have lost my entire corn crop to the squirrels. They made my corn patch appear as if a mini tornado had come through.


(Note: the corn in the foreground was 5+' tall two days ago. It's now maybe 18". The corn in the back part of the picture (where the ground looks barren), was maybe 4+' tall and now is a few inches off the ground. The squirrels decimated the corn, stalks and all.)

Children in Common Socks

These are the socks that I knitted up over the past 3 days to ship off tomorrow for Children in Common. They are knit with donated tapestry yarn using about 120 yards for each sock. The sizes range from 6-7" in length. I'll be shipping them out priority mail tomorrow.

Now back to my regular knitting.

-Myrtle

Multiple 'M's

Margotlotta and Manchego


Manchego guarding the yarn



Montague and Magnolia
















My daughter decided that since I have the blog ID of Mavis that the other members of the family needed blog IDs beginning with the letter M as well. Introducing daughter Margotlotta, son Montague, dog Manchego, cat Magnolia, degu Moonstruck (and her deceased sister MisStella), and fish Marauder-of-the-deep.

-Mavis

pet photos by Margotlotta
human + pet photos by Mavis

Lots of Babies

Well, I'm feeling better today. Yesterday we had a few babies which had hatched after the unfortunate black snake incident. Today we have LOTS of new babies. I have absolutely no idea how many because mama guineas don't let you near and it's been a challenge just to make sure the little ones have constant access to food and water, much less trying to count. I do know they don't like me picking the little ones that get too far astray up to put back with them. And the mamas have VERY sharp beaks.

So today I'm feeling less stressed by the black snake, although I don't want him to return. And excited about so much new life in the coop.

-Myrtle

Frustration with Wildlife

I love living here. I enjoy watching the wildlife on our property and feel it's where I belong. However, when the wildlife invades my animal space I feel totally at loss and frustrated with what is their natural behavior.

Last night we had a 6-8' black snake invade our coop. It ate the newly hatched guinea(s), upset the birds, and wanted to stay around for another snack or two. DH removed the snake (not far enough away for me), righted the turned over feeding and watering containers, and tried to calm the birds down as he locked things tighter down to keep the snake out.

Now I know snakes eat baby birds. It's just the way life is and I accept it. I have no problem with keeping this snake alive to eat mice, baby rabbits and squirrels, and even wild birds. But I DO NOT want it in my hen house attacking MY birds, especially my newly hatched ones that had no fighting chance.

This morning life in the coop has calmed down, but the broodie guinea hens are still agitated although back on their nest. I continue to hope for more chicks to hatch for them. But now to figure out how to keep the black snake from returning for further snacks without killing it. I'd much prefer the black snake to copperheads, but personally I'd like them all to stay out of my sight. I'm just not a snake person.

-Myrtle

Brooding Guineas

I discovered a new baby in the coop today. The first of the brooding Guinea chicks has hatched. I will admit I was surprised because he was under the hanging feeder and I thought at first I had a mouse in the hen house only to discover a newly hatched chick. I maneuvered her back to the moms, without getting my hand pecked to shreds and she was immediately put back under one of the broodies, so I couldn't get a picture of her. Now I get to wait and see how many more eggs hatch and if any of them end up being the chicken eggs that were laid in their nests.

-Myrtle

Two New Blessings

After multiple delays and a very long day, DS2 and I arrived home from Oklahoma with two new blessings at 4:50 am for our homestead. We like to introduce you all to Tini and Izzy. They are 3 year old Palomino Quarter Horses, who happen to also be half sisters.

First is a picture of Tini. She has several large with patches and appears as if a painter accidentally spilled a can of paint on her. At this point she also is the more out going of the girls and enjoys coming to her name and getting her head rubbed.
And then there is Izzy. She is a little more shy, but has a gorgeous white diamond on her pink nose.


DS4 had fun today as he was lead around the pasture multiple times on Izzy. DS4 definitely was enjoying himself and seems to have a nature ability to ride with the horses gait.



Not to be out done by his youngest brother, DS1 took multiple loops around the pasture on Tini. As you can see even I can handle the idea of leading two horses at once and Cibola enjoyed her new friends.


After the girls had been lead around numerous times by different humans inhabitant, they were bridled and had some learning time with bareback riders. Izzy, who feels fairly comfortable with the bridle and how it works, spent time with DS2 riding her around the pasture. At times she was uncertain about what was happening and decided it was time to practice backing up with DS2 really was trying to turn her, but over all she did well for her first time exposure here. However, Tini is still learning about bridle etiquette and especially that humans are truly suppose to be on you and not only nest to you. Hence, DS1 worked on having Tini feel the appropriate rein directions, while I listened to his directions and used the lead rope to ensure she listened to his directions.

Both Tini and Izzy will spend numerous more hours learning appropriate responses to their human leaders over the next year, but it was a good end to a long journey for today.

-Myrtle