Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Feline in the Family

Our newest member of the Doerksen Funny Farm...a young female kitty that Hanna named Toupee after her favorite Treehouse character.



We were very surprised one evening, coming home from a walk, to find a kitten in the kennel where I was housing a recovering chick. The chick was perched on the front step rather than on its stuffed animal in the kennel. I just scooped up the chick and put back in the kennel only to have it scurry out as fast as it could go. I repeated the same scenario and then crouched down to look in. I startled as a kitty got up and came out purring. Hanna was so surprised and I figured out where it came from as it was the same kitten Hanna's been playing with at her Auntie's house. She had dropped it off while we were out and said later that she thought we might want to try having a kitten for the weekend to see how it would go.




Well it was getting dark and I didn't know how to come up with a cat house at the moment. She couldn't be in the house because I was already sneezing due to allergies. She couldn't be out in the open for the night due to the stray cats and didn't want to lose her on her first night here. So where to go but back into the kennel with the chick. I was hesitant because there were two options, they either sleep together or the kitty has a meal during the night. I was hoping to come across two live animals in the morning.




They made through and several nights after. I guess cats aren't that tempted by chicken dinner.They didn't hang out during the day although the kitten tried play pouncing a few times only to send the chick flying away beneath the patio.




Hanna has spent so much time with her kitty. She made it past the weekend and has made herself really at home. Due to alot of petting (even from myself), stroller rides, invites into the house at times by Hanna and a lot of space to herself, she purrs all the time and seems really happy. Sometime she seems to need her own time away from Hanna and the many positions that she carries that kitten in.




The chick had a sad ending after all either due to a visit from the prowling fox or a mean stray tomcat because I forgot to close the kennel one night. I'm not to heartbroken because I wasn't sure how to deal with the chick for the winter because it was rejected out of the hen house. Now we have to create a warm place for this kitty for the winter. I just can't have her in the house or my sinuses will go wild. I had better not throw her in the hen house or I may have too many stressed out chickens that won't lay any eggs. They don't come by the house anymore now that a cat has taken claim.



Came across this adorable scene the other day. Jake laughs every time he sees Toupee especially when the kitty rubs around his legs. She decided to hop into the exersaucer with Jake and they were both very relaxed and content in there. Guess she's a keeper! Now to work on the next addition to the funny farm :)


Christina










Thursday, August 18, 2011

Summers' Progress

This Summer is flying by so quickly and cool evening air reveals that the next season is around the corner. I have to admit that I'm looking forward to Fall. It almost feels like I've committed a crime saying that as we waited so long for Summer to really begin. I must admit that I was somewhat naive as to what precious few months would be like. In late spring I had visions of me working the days away in amongst flowers and veggies with my children contentedly enjoying the outside air. I mean Jake would hardly be sitting on his own so surely he'd be the happiest baby cooing from his stroller; and Hanna would be my little helper or entertain herself happily. All would be well, landscaping, mowing, bonfires and etc. Well, sleepless nights grew even more sleepless, teething pain quite altering the happy constitution of my little one(I won't even mention what my mood was like), and wiping, changing, feeding taking away much more of that outdoor time that I anticipated. I watched weeds grow higher than all else from my kitchen window, landscaping plans remain a thought in my head and with much thankfulness my Hubby announcing his plans to make and tend a garden. Just a bit jealous though that his garden looked much healthier than the measly three rows of essentials I had planted. It took me the whole month of July to rid our fruit garden of weeds. But all was not tiresome and toil. Thanks to an abundance of rain I watched my lilies put on a beautiful display, the lawn much more lush than usual (although countless hours my hubby put in mowing), and four pails of strawberries from my garden for the first time, picnics on the deck with Hanna, anticipating the arrival of nine adorable baby chicks and family time spent outside on the warm, calm evenings. Progress I'd say.



August now has brought hindrances and milestones. Outside we watch the earth grow drier and sprinkler turned on more often. Mildew has attacked my grapes, strawberry patch and other perennials. I have a bottle of fungicide spray and hardly the time to deal with it all. Snakes are seen too often for my liking and the chickens have to stay in the coop due to a very hungry fox living in our bush. On the brightside my Pinky Winky Hydrangea is blooming profusely and we have a very cuddly kitten thats made itself quite at home with us.

August has brought me a little more sleep due to two teeth that have finally cut through although I still anxiously await a full nights sleep. It's progress though; two teeth down and several more to come. Jake has changed so much over the summer. From lying helplessly to sitting, jumping and reaching for everything in sight. He's so observant and focuses a long time on an object he's curious about. At the beginnng of summer it was pablum and puree to now eating everything I put in his mouth. He chomps an arrowroot cookie down in a big hurry. He's chubbier, laughs at every thing Hanna does and screams with all kinds of attitude.

Hannas' conversation these days is mostly about starting nursery school and sunday school. She is so excited about it and I don't think there will be many separation issues when leaving her there. I can hardly believe though that the school years are so close already. Time flies so swiftly that I hardly remember when she's done so much growing. It seems clothes that are too small seem to leave the drawers quite often. Her and I have clashed a lot this summer, me with impatience and her unwavering determination. Ah what a battle it is at times and there's many a days I wish I hadn't spoken so strongly or maybe used different tactics. I've worried that I'm just not being a good mom to her. However, recently she came to me and put her hand on the left side of my chest and says 'mom that's your heart, and you have to give your heart to Jesus and then we can see Heaven' She certainly doesn't comprehend everything she talks about but my heart warms that her impressionable mind soaks up the good things. Hearing those words makes me feel like God helping us get something right in this thing called parenting.




I'm still struggling feeling like I have so much to do and not enough time to do it. I've realized that when I'm feeling anxious about it, my children end up getting the least of quality time with me. Things just snowball from there: I eat less healthy, pray less, grumble more and find that rather that reaching a goal it becomes an endless circle of anxiety breeding more anxiety. Isn't realizing all this progress though? I concede that the yard doesn't need to be tip top to enjoy it. What doesn't get done today will still be there tomorrow. My children need me to focus on them, there is Godly work to do in processes of childcare and homemaking. Sometimes its a big load to bear but I realize I'm not bearing it alone. I've had a hard time sacrificing my freedom since the day Hanna was born and it still is a struggle. I feel guilty saying it out loud because it make me feel so selfish to still desire my own time so much. I'm coming to understand though that these seasons of my life require different things from me. It is in this season that much physical and mental energy is needed of me to care for my small children. There will be a season again with more time for me to focus on other interests. I seem to be very slowly learning this but I am learning daily. That's progress for for all of us; to be willing to learn daily from what God teaches us through this thing called life.




Christina




















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