Got Milk?

I was out dragging heavy objects around in the garden when my husband suddenly appeared and said:  “How’d you like to go on a field trip to see MTSU’s dairy farm operation?”  (He’s just romantic like that…)  Of course, since I’ve been pushing for a dairy cow for our own hobby farm, I readily agreed.

MTSU (Middle TN State University, in case you’re not from these parts) was having an open house at their Ag Learning  and Research Center.

Since I’m strongly invested in the farm to table concept, I wanted to learn more about the whole dairy process.  It was fascinating enough that I wanted to share it with you.  Not my usual blog, but hey, I think you’ll enjoy the trip.

Upon arrival, we both marveled at the long concrete driveway.  Most likely your tax dollars at work, but all farmers know how important a concrete driveway is when you’re bringing in heavy loads and livestock.  And this one was jaw-dropping!  Most of you probably don’t have concrete envy like we do, so I’ll move on.

First, we viewed the milking operation, which was in full swing.  It amazed me that the cows were never touched by human hands.  Everything was automated and digital; the science was dazzling!  There were people making sure the mechanical milking attachments went on correctly, but their hands still never touched a cow.

Chutes opened automatically and the cows marched right in to milking stations, knowing, I guess, that food awaited at the end of the line.  Notice the cows in the photo above that are waiting (eagerly, it seems) to enter.  Their individual production was displayed above and recorded digitally.

After being milked, they went into more chutes to enter the feeding area.  I couldn’t figure out the unusual smell, but my husband advised it was silage, which is a special high protein diet that the milk cows were enjoying.

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And by the way, this was definitely the cleanest farm I have ever set foot on.  The only cow pies I saw were in the pasture where we parked the truck!  The setting was just gorgeous.

Two things did bother me about their operation, though.  Perhaps most disturbing was the fact that they pull the baby cows from their mothers on Day One.  The babies are then housed singly in these (clean and nice) plastic enclosures.  The wood partitions are there to keep the babies from suckling each other, since their nursing instincts are so strong.  The babies are bottle fed and have no further contact with their mothers.  Maybe it’s just my hobby farmer instincts, but I didn’t feel like this was fair to the babies.

I know it’s a business and all that, and a very knowledgeable ag student explained to me that milk cows are not known for their maternal instincts, and babies are sometimes found wandering alone in the pastures.  But to segregate them across the board?  That just bothers me.

Oh, and there was a cow with a window in its stomach-- I assume for teaching purposes.  I don’t suppose the cow had any say in that.

But overall I must say the cows seemed quite content and extremely well-tended.  And we learned so much!  Ironically, I think we’ve decided on beef cows, but isn’t that what this kind of field trip is for? :)

All photos in this blog post are by Dwayne and Marianne Smith.

I'd love to hear your comments, and if you aren't already a subscriber, how about it?  Just click the "Join this site" button at the top of this post, or click the "Subscribe by email" link at the bottom of this post.  And thank you for reading!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

The Importance of Celebrating Small Victories

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This week I achieved a small but important victory, self-publishing a short ebook on Kindle for the first time.  I knew that I would figure out the process sooner or later, but when I actually did it was a Eureka moment.  I instantly felt flooded with happiness, so much so that my second thought was that a celebration was in order.

While my idea of what a real celebration looks like (these days, anyway) isn’t too over the top, it seemed important to me to savor the victory.  Too often I think we are so obsessed with getting somewhere--accomplishing something and then moving even further down the road, that we don’t take time to simply BE and enjoy (and share) the happy moments.

With world chaos rampant and our current economy in shambles, it’s easy to get depressed and discouraged.  Embracing the positive moments, in its own small way, is good therapy for our distressed souls.  Not that my publishing moment was more important that what’s going on elsewhere (good or bad); but I think we feel so small in the face of global disorder that we don’t truly celebrate much anymore.

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And what is life, if not a series of small but important moments to celebrate?  If we really believe in the idea of the journey versus the destination, mile markers are pretty huge stuff.  And conversely, when we can’t figure something out or don’t reach a designated goal, we sure can be hard on ourselves.  So why suck the joy out of happy moments by thinking that we need to (quickly) move on?

Have you properly celebrated a recent victory of your own?  If not, there’s still time.  Feel free to share your latest accomplishment in the comments.  I’d love to hear from you.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Standing Your Ground

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I just got pushed.  Hard.  I then asked nicely for what I needed and got shot down.  I asked again.  Received an incredibly loud but silent response.  And then, because what I was requesting was essential to me and my well-being, I walked away.  And yes, I was angry and spent, but it suddenly dawned on me that I had done a good job of standing my ground.

Usually I attempt to avoid confrontation and “make nice,” even when people are walking all over me.  Maybe it’s the wisdom gained from getting older, or just a significant hormonal imbalance J, but lately I’m finding that I need to defend myself and sometimes others when lines in the sand are drawn.

I’m not talking about launching a world war because I didn’t get what I wanted for dinner.  I’m talking about standing my ground when the issues are really important—when boundaries are crossed or someone is taking unfair advantage of me or anyone else I care to go to bat for.

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You might ask why it matters in the big picture.  It matters because standing your ground keeps your integrity intact.  It matters because it shows you give a damn about yourself and others.  It matters because it keeps you from feeling like a victim.

Are there consequences?  Heck, yes.  I lost some much needed income.  I will likely have to tap dance to get paid for the work I’ve already done.  My blood pressure went up considerably, and I’m still agitated.

But I feel empowered and whole.  And that feels good.  That’s worth standing my ground.

Are there situations in your life right now where you need to stand your ground?

As always, I’d love to hear your comments.  And thank you for reading!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Why I Think There Is Something Very Wrong With Me

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I’ve just returned from online auction Hell.  I bid on a small structure in a construction auction to serve as the base for a chicken tractor we are building.  I realize that’s probably weird enough by itself. (In case you’re not familiar with chicken tractors, think small chicken coop on wheels that you can roll around the yard-- keeping the grass greener, the chickens full, and the cleaning chores simpler.)

But the deal with these online auctions is that you must take everything in the lot.  From the photos, I knew we purchased several structures, but we really weren’t prepared for what we “won.” J 

Today was pick-up day.  We kept staring at all the stuff, and even though we brought a pickup truck and a flatbed trailer, it was definitely overwhelming.

Photo by Dwayne Smith:  Can you find the chicken tractor in here?  And yes, we did strap it all down.

And right off the bat, my dear husband almost knocked me off the loading dock head-first, which would have sent me sprawling on the concrete several feet below.  However, I am (almost) sure he wasn’t aiming for me when he turned hastily with the large chicken coop structure that I was presently attached to.

Mind you, it took us several hours to load this stuff up, and head back home Beverly Hillbillies-style .  All the while we were doing our usual dance of careful admonitions and reckless driving.  People were staring and pointing wherever we went.  And did I mention that the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac was chasing us down the freeway, on the only day that we were allowed to pick up the load?

I’ve heard that normal people go to Lowe’s and buy building materials.  Or better yet, they order chicken tractors and have them delivered.  The really normal ones probably buy eggs at the grocery!  But I am far from normal.  In fact, I am beginning to think there is something very wrong with me.

For months I have been preoccupied with chicken coop plans—reading chicken e-zines, spending hours on chicken boards on Pinterest, and eyeing every roadside castoff as the possible start of my chicken coop project.  I think the word I am looking for is obsession.  And all because I just want a few fresh eggs.

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It’s not that my unbridled enthusiasm hasn’t gotten me into trouble before.  But this project seems to be a hands-down winner.

A new friend even hatched my chickens for me in her incubator and was hand-raising them until they were big enough to come home.  But they were eaten by a predator that snuck into her chicken barn.  My sister claims this was a sign from God to stop the chicken madness.  I was saddened, of course, but not deterred.  We will begin again, and we will prevail.  Like I said, there is something seriously wrong with me.  Don’t you agree?

Right now I’m dreading unloading the flatbed trailer, as I’m already having trouble standing up after jumping up and down off the loading dock that had no stairs.  After we unload, the real work of building the chicken tractor can begin.  Stay tuned for how that turns out…

If you’d like to weigh in on how crazy I am, please feel free.  Or even better, please share the craziest thing you’ve done lately in the comments below.  You know you want to.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Good Things I’ve Learned from a Bad Economy

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The current economy is definitely not my friend, but it has taught me some valuable lessons.

Here’s my top ten list:

1.       I don’t have to have the latest and greatest gadget/clothes/furniture/whatever.  I probably never did.

2.      I can grow my own food, which is much healthier and tastes better.  I’m also into growing things I’ve never eaten before.  It’s *almost* like going out to a fancy restaurant and trying something novel on the menu.

3.      Creativity is a viable strategy for dealing with chaos.  The nuttier things get, the more creative I become. (Necessity really IS the mother of invention.)

4.      Hand-crafted goods are amazing.  We’ve made interesting and unique furniture from pallets, cable spools, and whatever else we can find in our barn.  Upcycling is cool!  When something breaks or wears out, my first thought is:  “What can I do with this next?”

5.      Barter is a great way to get what you need or want.  If you missed my blog post on bartering , be sure and give it a read.

6.      Keep your sense of humor.  Some days it will be the only real defense you have.

7.      Community is important.  Stay in touch with those who matter to you.  If you missed my blog post on Why Good Friends Are More Important Than Ever, read it here.

8.      I have cemented my earlier conviction that self-reliance and sustainability are good and necessary.

9.      I’m finding novel ways to foster optimism, even when it is illogical.

10.   I constantly remind myself that I’m making a life, if not a living.  I may not have as much paid work as I'd like, but I’m keeping busy with meaningful hobbies and expanding my knowledge base.



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I’d love to hear your take on how you deal with the current economy.  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Why It's Cool To Be Imperfect

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After a rather dismal response to last week’s blog post on What Makes a Champion , I’ve decided to give equal time to my audience of apparent underachievers J.  Hence, this post on why it’s cool to be imperfect!

Actually, I was inspired after running across a blog called the Imperfect Gardener.  Its’ writer, Carol Davis, mentioned how much love and support she has received from the gardening community.  Now this lady is truly a gardening SME, but presents herself (humbly) as an imperfect gardener.  And people embrace that!

So I started considering the top reasons people embrace imperfection:

1.      There is less pressure when you allow for imperfections.  Sometimes it really is ok to be “good enough.”  After all, perfection is, at best, a temporary state.

2.      Everyone loves an underdog.  We all cheer for those who haven’t made it yet…

3.      There is great humility in imperfection.  Humbleness sells.

4.      Accepting imperfections allows you to chase more dreams.  If one doesn’t work out, you can happily move on to another.

5.      Flaws make us more interesting characters.  After all, being predictable can sometimes be insanely boring.  None of us are perfect people, anyway.  We are imperfect people with a few perfect moments.

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When you’ve accepted your imperfectness, your attitude is more laid-back in general.  If you don’t get it right, you just try again.  That’s very freeing.  And full of permission.  And who doesn’t like that?

And if you’re still being too hard on yourself, do go back and read my blog post on Cutting Yourself Some Slack.  Because the Olympics are over, right? ;)

I’d love to hear your thoughts about what I’ve written, and your own experience of imperfection.  Please feel free to leave a comment.


Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

What Makes a Champion



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We all want to be champions, right?  Like many of you I’ve been watching the Olympics nightly, and I find myself wondering why some people are champions, and some never rise above mediocrity.  I’m not talking about the difference between Gold, Silver, or Bronze.  If you’re even at the Olympics, you’re probably in the champion category.  And to my mind that even extends to being in the stands!

I’ve been pondering what makes a champion, Olympic or otherwise.  Is it focus? Intention? Desire? Raw talent? Practice? Determination? Relentlessness?  Coaching? Support from others? Luck?

I genuinely believe we all have unique talents, even if we haven’t discovered them yet.  But what makes some pursue their dreams, and others give in?  Is there an achievement gene?  What makes some content to cruise through their day, while others are attempting to achieve a personal best or world record?



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We cheer for champions and cheer even louder when new records are set, and the old are broken.  We want other people to be winners and champions.  But most of us have the misguided idea that we are not of that same caliber.  “JUST DO IT” and “Be All You Can Be” are slogans for other people.

Maybe we have been fed this misinformation by parents, siblings, our spouse or significant other, classmates or friends.  Or maybe we have embraced it as a result of our own (current) established mediocrity.

You might be beyond running a record time on the track, but what would being a champion look like in your own life?  It’s a question worth examining.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about what I’ve written, and what your own experience is.  Please feel free to leave a comment.


Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com