The Goat Woman

Well, it’s been eons since I’ve written my blog -

My heart is so heavy after reading Grandpappy’s website and a Katrina review from people that actually lived thru it. . .

I have a few questions for you – as we are soon approaching bad weather time around here. I’d like to know if you have 3-4 days worth of food for you/your family for when the power goes off. It often does you know. Diapers, paper products, medicines, water, etc. What do you have to cook with and drink if the power goes off for a few days? Do you have charcoal and cast iron and know how many briquettes it takes to cook a dinner in it? Do you have a camp stove and a sheltered, but not enclosed place to use it safely? Have you PRACTICED??? Do you have a hand operated can opener with those cans of food?

What if, God forbid, like in Katrina that the “help” arrives after 4-7 days and doesn’t start with any emergency supplies until the 7th-10th day after a disaster? Now I know that this doesn’t happen often, but we could be awaiting a very large earthquake – maybe of Biblical proportions. Maybe a huge tornado will not go around us this time but hit dead on . . . lots of maybes and still we’re not living in fear. Hopefully Godly wisdom instead – learning from others mistakes. Like not depending on the water supply to operate if one of the electric stations goes down for any period of time. Happened here in the ice storms – no water and the people were completely cut off from help for weeks. Are you preparing for anything like this?

OK, last question: Here’s a true story from Katrina with a make-believe name to protect my source. Say we call my example person Ken. Ken was located nearby, but not in where Katrina hit. He told two families about his ability to take care of them “if it got bad’. These people told 14 families about this nice offer. 30 people showed up at his door right as Katrina hit. They brought things with them – trailers full of it – but nothing practical to save their lives. After a few days his entire house was emptied of all the provisions he had saved up. These people had credit cards and checks from banks now under water. They had no cash. This ended up being a very long term situation that Ken thought he was prepared for. The additional people caused a life threatening situation because they did not prepare and assumed Ken’s preparations for his family of 2 would see them thru the duration of the emergency.

Any slight bump in the system and we’ve got trouble in the U.S. Just-in-time-inventory at the stores means 3-4 days supplies only – ever. If a large storm is coming the stores do not stock up extra anything. Have you ever been to the store right before a storm and seen how fast things leave the shelves? What if you can’t get to the store? What if the “something” hits and you didn’t prepare? Where would you go for help? Are you sure “they” will help you? Can you depend on the government to supply all your needs and when will that start? Are you depending on someone else to prepare for you?

After reading “Ken’s” story of Katrina’s troubles – I am sure now that I don’t want to wait until a disaster to try to rely on FEMA or someone else to help us. I’ve got to figure out what we would need now and get it, use it, practice and rotate it in/out. I think we need to practice. I think we need to figure out what long term camping looks like. What a time without hot showers would be like.

And last thought: how long does it take people to start looting after they feel an injustice has been done to them???? Last few instances – less than 12 hours before the stores are looted, banks are destroyed and the “system” breaks down.

Please, think about this and do something . . .

Here's a picture of the cream crock and skimmer that she gave me. What's interesting is that the skimmer is extremely light - aluminum I think

I have to tell you about a HUGE blessing that I received from a very
special friend. Joyce comes every week to get her eggs and things from
us. Last week she was watching me skim the cream off the milk. I asked
her again how they used to do it. (My "always" question to her). She
told of this special crock called a cream crock with a skimmer that
her family always used. It was so much easier than the way I was doing
it. I went on-line and researched it and while I saw a lot of things,
I wasn't sure any of them were what she was talking about. Today,
Joyce came and had me meet her at her car. She was feeling terrible
and didn't want to have to walk. Yes, Joyce is about my mother's age -
but my dear friend. She had brought me her cream crock! And that's not
all - she brought me the special skimmer and a meat grinder (we'd been
making turkey sausage the week before with a much smaller electric
grinder)!!!! I tried not to cry. She's moving out of a farmhouse and
if I need it and the kids don't want it, she knows it'll be used and
loved here - isn't she sweet, kind and just the best????

I have done nothing but mock set-ups, packing, re-packing, labeling of bags, etc., etc. to get ready for this show coming up.
Ryle HS in Union, KY is by far the biggest show we do all year – It is the only Tri-State show so far that is inspected by the Health Dept.  It is finally paying off to have gone through all the leaps and bounds of the licensing hurdles to have become the First(!!!! Yeh!!!) Licensed Cosmetic Manufacturer in KY. This is so exciting to me – can you tell??? LOL.

We are still trying very hard to get into the KY Proud Market in the Shops at Lexington. It’s been a LONG process. Now, instead of waiting for “them” to come and check out the farm, I will be taking in a selection of products to the store itself. I am also waiting for the final application for the Equestrian Games for the 16 weeks it will run in 2010. The will have a KY Proud Pavilion at the games to showcase KY products . . .

So, you can imagine the state of the farm here . . . the animals are top priority and everything else takes a 2nd or 3rd seat.

My lemon tree is almost done ripening its first lemon. I think it will be perfectly yellow by the time Christmas comes around. I can’t wait. It was a lovely anniversary present from my sweet Pat – 2 years ago. A little reminder of all the citrus we had available to us in Fall/Winter in AZ.

This year of course was the addition of Fern, the Miniature Jersey to our family of animals. (My 12 year old has already claimed Fern as his own – - – I’ll remind him, but since he’ll be milking and teaching her more than I am, I’ll share!!!).

I hope to visit with you all soon . . . December thru February is a little bit more relaxed around here after the shows are done the first week in December.

Blessings – Marilyn