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.