THE BEGINNING OF “THE END”

Tonight is Prom.  That’s cool...prom happens every year, everywhere….to everyone.  I went to prom, so did my parents, my siblings, my older kids, etc…..but this one is different….it’s my BABY’s SENIOR prom….and I honestly thought I was ok with this…glad, in fact….and I am….sort of.

You see, I have managed to avoid thinking about this being her LAST year of high school to this point….yes, it’s close to the end of the school year, I’ve known it was coming for quite some time…yet those things like senior pictures (scheduled for 2 weeks from now) , a GRADUATION party   (yeah, that’s scheduled too) and Prom are the things that are starting to shake me into reality….It’s over.   It’s over , and it’s ok. My daughter is (almost) grownup…she is smart, and beautiful, and creative….and everything I’d ever hoped she’d be and more…and I got to be a part of shaping that…how could I not be ok with THAT…

 Yet, as she got all fancied up tonight in her beautiful dress, and “blingy “ ( yes, that is now a word) shoes, and pinned a flower to her young mans’ lapel…. I felt just a little crack in my armor…. Maybe this is going to be a littler harder than I thought……

..AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL

 What a weekend!!  Friday started off with a bang as I got to go to Simply Iowa's open house weekend with Tamara Dirks Houseman .  As we were getting out of her truck...who should we see parked directly in front of us but Cathy Linker Lafrenz and Honey...couldn't have planned that any better....always more fun when you can antique with friends ....and more expensive as well...as we "encourage" each other..." Oh yes, Tamara,you DEFINITELY need at LEAST eight of those windows!"....we concluded our outing by taking a "detour" into lovely Mt. Vernon , visiting a wonderful antique shop and eating lunch at a restaurant ( the Lincoln Cafe) which shall surely have a repeat visit from us.....great atmosphere, even better food.


Saturday ...ah, Saturday....a WHOLE day spent with friends knitting, laughing, visiting, eating, more laughing.  It was another "meeting" of the official, yet un-official, fiber guild known as Sisters of the Soil... We met at the beautiful Spear House and Barn Bed and Breakfast in Tipton .While we were busy having a gay ol' time...my dear friend Amanda was busy birthing her second child... She WAS going to come knit with us...but her sweet new son Jude decided he'd rather have her undivided attention.  Congratulations Amanda and Isaac ( and big sister Peaceful). We love you guys! 


Sunday saved the best for last.....church in the morning was awesome as always.  This afternoon was incredibly special... My Mom and Dad came out.....for the first time since October 2010.  I'll give you the "Reader's Digest Condensed Version " here...but in December of that year, my mom ( who has Alzheimer's) took a fall down their basement steps in a fluke accident that resulted in a broken leg, and arm, a hospital stay, lots of rehab, and ultimately, her sentence in a wheel chair.  Dad has taken such wonderful care of her through everything.... and this meant even more changes in their household...handicapped access in and out of the house (which HE built..yes, he IS awesome) ,a handicap van for her transport...and an abrupt halt to most of their comings and goings. They used to come out here and spend the day at least once a week...maybe twice. Today was an extra special day.  Mom did really well, so did the van....both  things Dad was concerned about. I know he enjoyed it. He always did..We spent alot of time talking, and mutually enjoying the country air. He spent alot of the afternoon out in the pasture and barns with Daron checkin out all the changes since their last visit....nodding his approval. That meant alot.  You see...my dad is the King of  looking at something...analyzing it,.....and then figuring out how to do it. During much of our building and project list over the last year and a half, we've been consulting over the phone, visiting him, sketching things out, having him call to edit his drawing or calculations.  I know it did him good to see that everything turned out well, and that we are at least KINDA capable...(yeah, as far as the "control" thing goes THIS apple doesn't fall far from the tree...Daron's always sayin..."Jeesh, you are JUST like your dad!") .......I can only say, .....I hope so.

            ON PLANNING …..AND GETTING STUCK IN THE MUD

I like to think of myself as a spontaneous person.  In fact I tell people that…I’m “laid back, spur of the moment, adaptable”…truth is, I’m a planner, a detail obsessed, overthinking, research hound, PLANNER.  In theory, this is not a bad thing.  I want to, after all, make sure I am thoroughly educated on some new venture so I’m not embarrassed.  Who wants to fall flat on their face, or run out of money in the middle of a project, or be working on something and have to come to a screeching halt because “Gee,,,,I never thought of THAT” (yes, all of those things HAVE happened) Sooooo, I plan, I research (to death), I internet “window-shop” , I read magazines (lots of them), and eventually, I talk myself out of it,…OR, despite all planning and still not feeling entirely armed and dangerous.. I just DO IT.  Case in point, “The Great Chicken Adventure”.

Since we came to the farm, I knew I wanted to raise free range organic chickens for eggs only.  Having only gathered my eggs from the refrigerator aisle at the grocery store, I naturally felt some “planning” was in order…so I read, and studied, and sketched, and ordered catalogs, and picked the brains of my very patient chicken raising friends.  I knew everything had to be perfect.   Then,despite all the quest for order in my universe, I walked out of Theisen’s 3 weeks ago with 8 chicks.  My new babies started their life at Caden’s Moon housed in a make-shift “brooder” in my sewing room with a lightbulb through an old window screen in a large clear plastic tote, with a latch on the outside of the door to keep out my now very curious cats. In the words of my dad (who’s sage wisdom will no doubt be quoted often) “It ain’t right…but it works”…Yeah, despite my obsession with a perfect word...most of the time I wind up just “winging it” (pun intended)

This story brings me to now…I’ve also known I needed a website, blog, internet marketing material for Caden’s Moon Alpacas.  Me, being such the techo-savy lady, I jumped RIGHT on that….not…

It’s been 3 years since we came here to this cornfield in Cedar County to raise alpacas for their incredible fiber, and I’m still “thinking about that website” (Honestly, I’m surprised any of my children have NAMES….I only had 9 months to come up with those) Last week I took the leap.  My friend and farm mentor Cathy Lafrenz  (also known as Miss Effie of the “Country Flowers and Garden Stuff” fame) held a “farm marketing class” at a local college.  I left feeling inspired, equipped and totally stoked (as I always do after a pep talk from Miss Eff!) to be able to put my internet presence together.  Soooo….here it is folks..I’m stepping into the water..one..toe..at..a..time….Be looking for Caden’s Moon website soon…………unless I decide to think about it for awhile.