Thank You, Mr. Allshouse

Celestial events are fascinating and exciting to me. In August, you can find me lying on a blanket on the driveway or in the field, watching the meteor shower. My family has become accustomed to my random facts about the moon's phases, what kind of moon we can expect to see, the name of the moon we are viewing, and what we should do during each phase. It has become a personal challenge for The Bean to identify more constellations than me and share facts about the night sky in season. To say we are excited about the solar eclipse that will happen this afternoon is an understatement.

Several weeks ago, I purchased a pack of ten solar eclipse viewing glasses and declared that we were going to have a picnic in the front yard and view the eclipse. The Bean's school district canceled school so the students could safely watch the eclipse. With school being canceled, it feels like a holiday. If it's a holiday, we have to celebrate. I planned a simple menu consisting of sandwiches, coleslaw, and chips. What makes it unique is sitting at a table set up in the yard, wearing funny paper glasses, and watching an event that will only happen once in a lifetime.

My fascination with stars, astronomy, and the heavens began in fourth grade. Our school district is fortunate to have a small planetarium. As elementary students, we would file into this small room single-file, find a seat in the circular recessed center, lean back, and look overhead into the white dome above us. The lights would go down, and suddenly, we would be transported into the fascinating world of astronomy. Mr. Rodney Allshouse was the official planetarium teacher. He would take his laser pointer and outline the constellations in the night sky. Along with identifying stars and constellations, he would point out planets and star clusters and tell us stories about how the constellations got their names. I loved going to the planetarium. The only thing that stole the joy from these lessons was each student had to take their turn with the laser pointer. Mr. Allshouse would ask each student to point out a random constellation. I have always been an introvert and extraordinarily uncomfortable when put on the spot in public. The one downfall to my enjoyment of the planetarium was that cursed laser pointer. Sigh...

Beginning in fourth grade and lasting through maybe ninth grade, we would spend at least one nine weeks in the planetarium. As a child, I did not appreciate the opportunity to study the skies in such a unique setting. As an adult and a former educator, I now realize what a special and unique opportunity it was to spend time in our planetarium with a knowledgeable teacher willing to share this knowledge. Thank you, Rodney Allshouse, for instilling this love of astronomy into generations of students. I am not the only one who remembers and appreciates Mr. Allshouse. When I speak to Marion Center graduates from my era, we reminisce about the planetarium and Mr. Allshouse. We all agree our time in the planetarium was a fantastic educational opportunity.

Currently, the school district does not utilize the planetarium. Rumor has it it is being used as a storage closet. I am incensed that our small local district does not take advantage of this unique and valuable educational tool. Although I am not a joiner, I threaten to run for the school board to reopen our planetarium and give a new generation of students the wonderful opportunity to study the stars. One would think this would fit in with S.T.E.A.M learning and create endless possibilities for curriculum development. Sigh. Perhaps my friend Jenna, who loves to be in the spotlight and is a total joiner, will run for school board and reinstate the use of the planetarium. One can hope.

On this unique and memorable day, I hope you have an opportunity to view the solar eclipse. Please don't look at the sun without special viewing glasses. I'm pretty sure retinal burns are much worse than getting soap in your eye (insert a wink from my undamaged eye). Thank you, Mr. Allshouse and all the other teachers who have instilled in so many people an interest in astronomy. You are appreciated. Stay safe, be smart, enjoy the eclipse, and keep washing your hands.

Foodie Friday: Impromptu Hamburger Soup

Last night, dinner was an impromptu concoction of whatever I had on hand. After a week of fighting the flu, lying on the couch, not going grocery shopping, and being avoided like I had the plague, I needed to feed everyone who helps us make what we do work. I looked for a recipe, but I did not have the ingredients to create any tasty creations that looked appetizing. So, I did what I do well; I made the best of what I had and made it work.

Fortunately, the soup turned out better than okay. It got two thumbs up from The Bean, who is a very picky eater. The Bibbed Wonder declared he would be happy to eat the leftovers for lunch, and Jenna and Ray told me it was really good. The fact that The Bean didn't pick out everything she doesn't like and The Bibbed Wonder volunteered to eat the leftovers tells me it was indeed delicious. After the week I have had, I will take it as a win.

Impromptu Hamburger Soup

1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef

1 large white onion

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. thyme

2 bay leaves

4 cups vegetable stock

1 can condensed tomato soup

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded carrots

1 10 oz. can green beans

1 10 oz. can corn

2 cups water

2 cups small pasta

1 tsp. sugar (optional if tomatoes are too acidic to your liking)

2 TBLS. Better Than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Flavor

Brown the ground beef in a large stock pot. Add the onion, pepper, and thyme.

Drain the ground beef, then add the tomatoes, tomato soup, vegetable stock, water, bay leaf, and Better Than Bouillon. Mix thoroughly and bring to a boil.

Add the pasta and cook until firm. Add the vegetables and sugar, if desired, and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Serve hot with a side salad and breadsticks.

The soup was delicious, filling, and comforting. It was perfect for feeding a small group, easy to make, and made with pantry staples. I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend. According to the weather forecast for Southwestern Pennsylvania, it will be a good weekend to enjoy an easy, delicious pot of soup.

On this snowy Friday, stay safe, be smart, enjoy delicious, comforting soup, make the best of what you have on hand, and keep washing your hands.

Farm Update

Although our kidding season has been blissfully uneventful and easy, on Friday, we experienced our first stillbirth of the year. A complicated or worse, stillbirth always saddens us. Merribelle, one of our Boer does who was raised as a bottle baby, gave birth to a very large, beautiful, spotted doeling. Unfortunately, the extra large little girl was born dead. The Bibbed Wonder had to help Merribelle deliver her little one because she was so large. Although we hate to see a loss of life, especially the loss of a new life, we have come to understand that this is simply part of the reality of farming. Understanding this does not make it any easier.

As human beings, we tend to think of ourselves as superior to all other creatures. After experiencing years of caring for animals, my unpopular attitude that all creatures are sentient beings capable of love, devotion, happiness, sadness, grief, and depression is confirmed. Our little Merribelle clearly expressed grief, despair, and loss over the death of her baby. These creatures feel a wide range of emotions. If you don't believe me, spend some quality time with them, and I am sure you will change your thinking. Poor Merribelle cried out and called for her kid. The Bibbed Wonder gave her time to sniff the baby so she could understand it was gone. However, this did not ease her loss. For two days, she appeared confused, depressed, and sad. It breaks your heart to see a mother, any mother, in pain.

We tried to have Merribelle adopt Fergus, our bottle baby, but even with her afterbirth rubbed on him, she knew the difference. Sometimes, a grieving doe will readily adopt an orphaned kid, but I believe Fergus is too old to fool Merribelle. We gave Merribelle all the extra comfort and care we could, but we knew only time would heal her loss. After almost a week, Merribelle continues to appear depressed. Her health is good; we have kept a close eye on her. However, sadly, it is her mental state that concerns us. She will be given extra attention and care as she moves through the grieving process. We understand that her loss is real, her feelings are valid, and her pain is palpable. Time is what our sweet girl needs to heal.

When we first got our girls, we removed the babies from them as soon as they nursed and took in the life-giving colostrum. We did this because we were newbies. Removing the kids from their mothers was how the breeder raised them. After a year or two, it just didn't feel right to remove babies from their mamas. I believe it is an unnatural process that is cold and callous. Yes, we step in and help if we are needed. However, our girls all seem to benefit from raising their kids, and no doubt, the kids benefit from staying with their moms. We don't get nearly as much milk from the girls when they are raising their kids, but it is natural and the way God intended. I can't in good conscience remove babies from their mamas so that I can have more milk for my products.

You may notice our moisturizer inventory is low or even out of stock during this time. Be patient with us and our girls. They are doing the more important job of raising little ones. We need fresh milk for our moisturizer. Moisturizer cannot be made with frozen milk; it turns runny. Until the girls decide to wean their babies, and yes, we leave this decision up to them, we will have limited fresh milk available. In several weeks, most girls will decide they have had enough of their little ones nursing, being lifted off the ground by babies too tall to nurse, and the constant suckling of multiple mouths. We will see them push their kids away, head butt them, kick them, or run away if their kids approach. At this time, we will gather all the weanlings and separate them from the herd so their mamas get some peace. There will be a few days of constant calling for their mamas, but eventually, they will settle down and realize it is natural for them not to nurse. The kids go from sweet little babies to the equivalent of tweens at this age. They are rambunctious, often slip out of the fence, don't want to be handled, and are into everything.

Overall, we are pleased with the path this kidding season has taken. Although loss is difficult, it is part of the process. We will continue to care for our babies and mamas the best we can. We treat the girls and their little ones with love and respect, giving them the freedom to forge bonds, experience motherhood, and decide when it is time for their little ones to move on. It may not be the most productive or lucrative approach to farming, but it is natural and the way God intended. For me, it is essential to honor the natural process of all our animals. You will never find us tricking their internal system so we can profit. We won't push our girls to produce more milk. We won't overbreed or take advantage of their natural system. I don't believe I am smarter than Mother Nature. Who am I to mess with nature?

On this rainy spring day, stay safe, be smart, honor the natural process, don't be greedy, know your farmer and their practices, and keep washing your hands. (By the way, soon you can wash your hands with honeysuckle-scented and almond-scented Foaming Hand Soap!) Go ahead, dance, squeal, clap, whatever you need to do! Also, Honeysuckle and Lilac soaps and moisturizers are now available exclusively on the website!