As usual around our little homestead, there is never a dull moment. 2018 into 2019 has been a very challenging year. However, with every challenge comes an opportunity to grow, learn, re-evaluate and keep going. While we had a challenging year of reassessing our little homestead, and learning of changes that needed to be made, and of situations beyond our control; there were so many promising opportunities foreseen, and even a few compromises that were made.
For 8 years, we attempted multiple avenues of potential profit for this little farm. Since there isn't much for timber or for putting in crops. Each of the potential profit avenues came back to bite us, every time. Between wildlife killing animals, animals not being what they were said to be, and market prices falling off; we just could not absorb the expenses. While those were huge hits in the expenses, they were great opportunities to learn. Unfortunately, with those kind of losses, the budget went out the window along with attitudes. As someone who thrives (usually) on a challenge, those were challenges I couldn't wrap my head around let alone come up with a solution. In my business trainings, it was always said you have to spend money to make money. That's a great thought until you spend money and the very expenses end up costing you for 6 years and the potential profit has been eaten by coyotes and eagles...it's hard to swallow.
I won't dwell on those bad memories. What I am looking at now is, it's time that our little farm is back in the black so maybe we can begin to feel on solid ground again. We let go of a lot for a couple years, attempting to salvage what we could, now though...life has taken on a life of its own. It will take some time to hopefully see the benefits but I keep praying that it all works. We have several small projects we are working on and a few larger ones. Now that our oldest is 18, he has been instrumental in helping us with a different thought process. Many people believe there is a way to do things, that has always worked, but a fresh point of view has helped us "old folks" think on different lines.
Our biggest changes have been going from having a single cow, to having 2 bottles calves, then the cow had her calf, and now we have been able to rescue another little calf that wasn't being accepted by its mother. So, we went from a single bred cow to having a cow and 4 calves on the ground. Even though the newest little calf is a stubborn one, our oldest has always been fantastic with animals and I know he will make it all work.
A few of the options coming on, involve a possible survey of our land since the current assessments are showing substantially less than what it was supposed to be. We have several repairs that came about during the past 2 years, the remainder of the fence on the perimeter of the land has to be built, with the harsh winter this year, we have to get wood stocked up to avoid running out again too. We have a chicken coop that has decided to fall apart with the horrible winter this year, and being so wet all fall, has several fence posts leaning. We have several repairs, but this is expected.
We have been blessed beyond reason to be able to become a host family. We are excited to host a beautiful girl from Italy this year. We are really excited about this opportunity for her but also for our family to learn from her culture. I believe it will be beneficial to all of us. She will be with us from August until May, and we look forward to including her in our family.
As life goes, it's constantly changing. The challenge is accepting what is, letting go of what was, and looking forward to what is yet to come.
Since our winter has been pretty rough this year, there have been so many things cancelled, and many days of being iced in. While some of the main roads are open, many of our secondary roads have made it too difficult to try to get to the main roads. I have spent a lot of time home, had a few fundraisers cancelled and it now appears that my trip to Southern Missouri will not be able to happen because of the weather. I am very sad about this since I have put forth a lot of effort, but I know those that will be there will get along just fine. As our big thank you event of the year, THANK YOU!!! to all our veterans for their service to country and their communities!!!
Salli
No comments:
Post a Comment