A couple days ago my brother called me because he had heard (from my dad's scanner) that there was a structure fire near our house. I looked outside, in all directions, and could not see a thing. Assuming that they got the wrong address, I went about doing my stuff. About 30 minutes later Dennis noticed that there was smoke coming from the hay barn across the field from us (about 1/2 mile) and there was a squeeze taking the hay out.
For those of you unfamiliar with haying, if the hay in the barn is baled just a bit too wet (not dried enough, or too much dew) it can start to smolder. It can do that for days without anyone noticing because it is deep inside a very large hay barn. Soon there is enough of it smoldering that the hay catches on fire. I have seen a few hay barns completely engulfed in flames. They just combust from the inside. This is especially bad at night because no one is around to notice those first signs of smoke coming out of a hay stack. This is bad for many obvious reasons, but also the money that is lost when that hay is destroyed can be quite remarkable.
Well, this is what was happening in the neighbors barn. The volunteer fire department made it to the scene and so did 5 or 6 guys with their squeezes. (Large forklift-type vehicle, specifically used for loading hay on trucks, in barns or wherever you want to put it). A little dance began to take shape. The men driving the squeezes started on the outside, and were pulling cubes of hay out of the barn. If there was a hot spot the firefighters sprayed it and then the guys went back in for another cube. From a distance, it looked like a well choreographed display, but, no, just skilled neighbors helping out a fellow farmer. In the end there was very little damage to the hay, considering it was on fire and no damage to the barn or any other building.
The main point of this blog, is that it warmed my heart to see the small town spirit in action. Not one of those people helping got paid, not one of them received anything more than "thank you." But, that was enough. I thanked God for great neighbors, and I thanked Him for allowing me to live "out in the middle of nowhere." I have no doubt that if one day it were our barn, we would have plenty of people there to help. Sometimes people talk negatively about living in small towns and everybody knows your business. That does have some drawbacks at times, but in cases like this, I am sure the owner of the hay was pretty happy that everyone was involved in his business.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Football
Every year, right around this time, we embark on another Lost River football season. Two weeks of daily doubles in the midst of farming means that if we want to spend time with daddy then we had better head to the field. Most of the time that means the football field. The boys love running around the big boys at practice. Those older, tough, too cool high schoolers are so good with our boys. Our boys get to play catch with them, tackle their legs and drink their water. It has become a family time for us as crazy as that may seem.
Being a girl, I never played football, but I do have a deep love for sports and a bit of a competitive side. I think that there are life lessons learned on a sports field (or court) that cannot be taught anywhere else. I know I am a better person for having been involved with my teams, and I want that same thing for my boys. They are hearing some of these lessons already as daddy coaches, and they are only 7, 5, 3 and 1.
Football offers even more opportunity for life lessons than many sports. There is nothing like getting knocked down over and over again and having to choose to get up each time. There is nothing that shows that 2 is better than 1 and 3 is better than 2, than seeing a good line doing their job. Football has its glory boys and its boys who work in the shadows. And every good glory boy knows exactly where their bread is buttered, and they will not hesitate to give Kudos to the boys in the shadows. All of that teaches these young men how to be men. To think beyond themselves and think about the team. It will help make them better college students, better friends, better husbands and better dads. What mom doesn't want that for her boys?
Those latter goals are what makes our family so into football. Some people wonder if it gets old for me. Honestly, for the most part, it doesn't. It is not the sport itself that grabs me, but the idea of "team" and the etching away at boys to make them better men. Dennis works very hard to try to help "his boys" think about the bigger picture. So when we are hanging out at football practice it is not just about the pigskin, it is also about watching daddy teach and being a part of those young mens lives. Of course, it is also about catching, passing, running, tackling and all things that make them "boy." I am so thankful to God that we get to do these things. What a wonderfully blessed life we have. And maybe the reason he did not give us 4 girls:)
Being a girl, I never played football, but I do have a deep love for sports and a bit of a competitive side. I think that there are life lessons learned on a sports field (or court) that cannot be taught anywhere else. I know I am a better person for having been involved with my teams, and I want that same thing for my boys. They are hearing some of these lessons already as daddy coaches, and they are only 7, 5, 3 and 1.
Football offers even more opportunity for life lessons than many sports. There is nothing like getting knocked down over and over again and having to choose to get up each time. There is nothing that shows that 2 is better than 1 and 3 is better than 2, than seeing a good line doing their job. Football has its glory boys and its boys who work in the shadows. And every good glory boy knows exactly where their bread is buttered, and they will not hesitate to give Kudos to the boys in the shadows. All of that teaches these young men how to be men. To think beyond themselves and think about the team. It will help make them better college students, better friends, better husbands and better dads. What mom doesn't want that for her boys?
Those latter goals are what makes our family so into football. Some people wonder if it gets old for me. Honestly, for the most part, it doesn't. It is not the sport itself that grabs me, but the idea of "team" and the etching away at boys to make them better men. Dennis works very hard to try to help "his boys" think about the bigger picture. So when we are hanging out at football practice it is not just about the pigskin, it is also about watching daddy teach and being a part of those young mens lives. Of course, it is also about catching, passing, running, tackling and all things that make them "boy." I am so thankful to God that we get to do these things. What a wonderfully blessed life we have. And maybe the reason he did not give us 4 girls:)
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Never let them see you scared
Today there were a couple of interesting "firsts" at the Dunlea house. I know my life will be full of these with the boys.
I was in the laundry room trying to get a handle on the mountain of dirty clothes that seems to find its way there. My dirty clothes bin is a rolling contraption that has three bags hanging from the frame,a bag for towels, one for whites, and one for darks. The bags velcro to these cute little metal hangers and then hang from the frame.
I started a load of laundry and left for a second to answer the phone. When I came back one of the metal hangers was gone. I looked in the bag, under the bag, moved the entire cart, just about everywhere and could not find the hanger. I was concentrating so hard on finding that dumb thing that I didn't hear Grady walk up behind me. He said "Mom look what I found." Just hearing him made me jump a little, but then when I saw the live, wiggling snake in his hand that made me jump just a bit more. I quickly gained my composure, because there is one thing I do know, as a teacher and a mom of 4 boys, I cannot let them know that anything bothers me or grosses me out. Because that will give them ammunition I do not want them to have. I calmly said "Grady, we do not bring snakes into the house." His response, "Ok, can I go show dad before I take him out?" "Yes," I said calmly, "just don't drop it." Grady showed daddy and bragged about how he made me jump, and then took the poor snake back outside and let him go in the weeds. I am happy that Grady loves animals and wants to investigate and collect them. I do draw the line at keeping snakes for any length of time.
You wonder why I had to go into great detail about the laundry cart and hanger. Well, after the snake had left the building, I asked Kellen "Do you know where my hanger is to my laundry bag?" (Notice I went straight to him, I had a feeling he might know a thing or two about this). "Yes," he says, "buried in the dirt." Just like, duh, mom where else would it be. Well, why didn't I think to look outside in the flowerbed for a part to my laundry bag. I asked him to go get it for me and told him that if he ever took my laundry bag apart again, he was going to be in big trouble. "OK" he said, as he was running away from me. No big deal.
Just another day in the Dunlea house......what will a little girl do with us?
I was in the laundry room trying to get a handle on the mountain of dirty clothes that seems to find its way there. My dirty clothes bin is a rolling contraption that has three bags hanging from the frame,a bag for towels, one for whites, and one for darks. The bags velcro to these cute little metal hangers and then hang from the frame.
I started a load of laundry and left for a second to answer the phone. When I came back one of the metal hangers was gone. I looked in the bag, under the bag, moved the entire cart, just about everywhere and could not find the hanger. I was concentrating so hard on finding that dumb thing that I didn't hear Grady walk up behind me. He said "Mom look what I found." Just hearing him made me jump a little, but then when I saw the live, wiggling snake in his hand that made me jump just a bit more. I quickly gained my composure, because there is one thing I do know, as a teacher and a mom of 4 boys, I cannot let them know that anything bothers me or grosses me out. Because that will give them ammunition I do not want them to have. I calmly said "Grady, we do not bring snakes into the house." His response, "Ok, can I go show dad before I take him out?" "Yes," I said calmly, "just don't drop it." Grady showed daddy and bragged about how he made me jump, and then took the poor snake back outside and let him go in the weeds. I am happy that Grady loves animals and wants to investigate and collect them. I do draw the line at keeping snakes for any length of time.
You wonder why I had to go into great detail about the laundry cart and hanger. Well, after the snake had left the building, I asked Kellen "Do you know where my hanger is to my laundry bag?" (Notice I went straight to him, I had a feeling he might know a thing or two about this). "Yes," he says, "buried in the dirt." Just like, duh, mom where else would it be. Well, why didn't I think to look outside in the flowerbed for a part to my laundry bag. I asked him to go get it for me and told him that if he ever took my laundry bag apart again, he was going to be in big trouble. "OK" he said, as he was running away from me. No big deal.
Just another day in the Dunlea house......what will a little girl do with us?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Rodeo Results and mounds of paperwork
Hello Sports Fans, Some of you might have tuned in earlier this week to the blog that talked about taking our dog to the vet. Well, in the end Dennis and I managed to stay on the 8 seconds and have come up with the victory: immunized pets.
In all seriousness, Rambo did quite well. Once he was in the car he was quite the gentleman. Previous attempts to put him in the car had resulted in Dennis being scratched and bitten (that is why the muzzle was great). At the vet's office, he was not totally interested in them examining him, but once a fox tail was discovered in his ear and he got some drugs, he was chill.
Poor Todd the cat watched on from the cat carrier not really sure what all the fuss was about. Oh, what we do for our animals and for our adopted daughters.
We are just about done with the first set of paperwork that needs to be done for our adoption. We are waiting for our FBI and Oregon criminal checks to come back stating that we are not felons or criminals in hiding. It is unbelievable the amount of paperwork. Everyone thinks there would be a lot, but when I start to describe in that is involved, most are amazed. I do understand it, but wow, adopting is not for the faint of heart. I guess they make sure the process is crazy enough, that only people who really want to adopt can endure to the end.
We pray each night for our little one and ask God to protect and provide. This phase is a bit like carrying a biological child to term, although the gestation maybe a bit longer with this. It is exciting and a bit stressful, but in the end we will be united with the newest member of our family. That definitely keeps us pressing on.
In all seriousness, Rambo did quite well. Once he was in the car he was quite the gentleman. Previous attempts to put him in the car had resulted in Dennis being scratched and bitten (that is why the muzzle was great). At the vet's office, he was not totally interested in them examining him, but once a fox tail was discovered in his ear and he got some drugs, he was chill.
Poor Todd the cat watched on from the cat carrier not really sure what all the fuss was about. Oh, what we do for our animals and for our adopted daughters.
We are just about done with the first set of paperwork that needs to be done for our adoption. We are waiting for our FBI and Oregon criminal checks to come back stating that we are not felons or criminals in hiding. It is unbelievable the amount of paperwork. Everyone thinks there would be a lot, but when I start to describe in that is involved, most are amazed. I do understand it, but wow, adopting is not for the faint of heart. I guess they make sure the process is crazy enough, that only people who really want to adopt can endure to the end.
We pray each night for our little one and ask God to protect and provide. This phase is a bit like carrying a biological child to term, although the gestation maybe a bit longer with this. It is exciting and a bit stressful, but in the end we will be united with the newest member of our family. That definitely keeps us pressing on.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Rambo Rodeo
Today we are taking our cat and dog into the vet. This should be quite the adventure getting Rambo, the blue-healer cross, to go anywhere. We got Rambo 3 years ago when he was 2. He is a nice, fun dog and is really good with the boys. I must admit he is not the most intelligent dog God has ever put on the planet, but he is loving. Well, he hates, HATES to ride in vehicles. We think something traumatic happened to him before he came to us. He will not go with Dennis working, will not jump into the back of the pickup, will not get in my car...he is having none of it. If there were a delicious Tbone steak, he still would not get in. However, today he has to go.
He has a foot he has been hopping on a bit. I am pretty sure there is a thorn in there, but he won't sit still long enough to let me look. So that is good enough reason to take him, but we also need to update his shots. Why, you ask are we doing this now since we have put it off for years. Well, we have to have a letter from our veterinarian for our adoption, Home Study paperwork. I guess they want to make sure you can take care of a dog before they entrust you with a child:) The real reason is to check and make sure our pets are immunized and have a decent temperament.
So, in about 30 minutes we are going to do all we can to get Rambo into the vehicle. Dennis is going to be Rambo's driver, and I will escort Tod the cat. We borrowed a muzzle from a friend and think we might put it on him from the start, just to ease some of the craziness. We are hoping for the best! I will let you know how this all turns out!
He has a foot he has been hopping on a bit. I am pretty sure there is a thorn in there, but he won't sit still long enough to let me look. So that is good enough reason to take him, but we also need to update his shots. Why, you ask are we doing this now since we have put it off for years. Well, we have to have a letter from our veterinarian for our adoption, Home Study paperwork. I guess they want to make sure you can take care of a dog before they entrust you with a child:) The real reason is to check and make sure our pets are immunized and have a decent temperament.
So, in about 30 minutes we are going to do all we can to get Rambo into the vehicle. Dennis is going to be Rambo's driver, and I will escort Tod the cat. We borrowed a muzzle from a friend and think we might put it on him from the start, just to ease some of the craziness. We are hoping for the best! I will let you know how this all turns out!
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