The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[Leahs Mom]

 

[Leahs Mom]

My parents had a revocable trust. I'm very glad he did. I'm living in their property now.

 

[speckledhen]

My parents had a revocable trust. I'm very glad he did. I'm living in their property now.

Wonderful! Thank you for telling me that. I think one son would sell this place fast, thinking money will get him out of his troubles, but the other has handled his life a tad better (though he had a bumpy few years at the outset) and come out on top and he thinks he might like to live here one day. I'd rather it be appreciated than just dumped, though I realize we cannot make them love what we love.

 

[speckledhen]

I found the story! This is not the original article I read that said a 12 year old cow named Antonia stopped the bull at some point during the attack, though it mentions the cows around her. The bull was a Highland bull. http://www.lancasterfarming.com/new...cle_42139946-5060-11e6-b9ee-ffbd83337aa3.html

http://www.lancasterfarming.com/new...cle_42139946-5060-11e6-b9ee-ffbd83337aa3.html

And a video about the same story:

 

[Leahs Mom]

I do have some thoughts that might be helpful.

My mom liked the idea of surprise. Like a gift. That's not a good idea when it comes to a will or trust. It's best for the author of the will or trust to let the family know what it says ahead of time so there are no surprises.

I have 3 siblings; the 12 acres were divided between one of my bros who lives next door and has used most of the property for Christmas trees for years (you cut). The house, buildings and about 6 acres went to me. The other 2 siblings got plenty of $$, but it was still a strange feeling, and there was some disappointment as the typical expectation is that property would first be offered to family members to purchase and the $$ divided equally, or property sold and money divided equally. it's good that they know what's happening up-front.

Then there is the emotional attachment. What if the person that was willed the property doesn't want it, sells it, and is away with the $$? Another upset for the remaining heirs and potential division in the family.

 

[speckledhen]

I do have some thoughts that might be helpful.

My mom liked the idea of surprise. Like a gift. That's not a good idea when it comes to a will or trust. It's best for the author of the will or trust to let the family know what it says ahead of time so there are no surprises.

I have 3 siblings; the 12 acres were divided between one of my bros who lives next door and has used most of the property for Christmas trees for years (you cut). The house, buildings and about 6 acres went to me. The other 2 siblings got plenty of $$, but it was still a strange feeling, and there was some disappointment as the typical expectation is that property would first be offered to family members to purchase and the $$ divided equally, or property sold and money divided equally. it's good that they know what's happening up-front.

Then there is the emotional attachment. What if the person that was willed the property doesn't want it, sells it, and is away with the $$? Another upset for the remaining heirs and potential division in the family.

Excellent points. When we get it done and settled, we do plan to tell the boys what we have done and expect. As I said in my video, one son has a cheating wife, but his 80 hr per week restaurant manager job is tenuous since someone bought a block of their restaurants and is making changes that affect him negatively, including losing his health insurance. He is preoccupied with keeping his job while looking for another so has pushed her infidelity to the back burner and is acting like he believes she is only flirting with men online (as in sending nude photos and racy videos and has been caught three times, doesn't see why he's so upset, that kind of "flirting"; I'm not naive and never thought he would be, either, but where there's that much smoke, a fire is burning). Anyway, we barely tolerated her as it is,even before she insisted he marry her immediately after his college graduation, which is why he got stuck in the food industry in the first place-she is 9 years older than he is and very immature. So, needless to say, I'm telling you all this to explain one reason we prefer to have a trust and not a will, to make sure she has no part of this place if she still has her hooks in him legally.

There are a couple of other issues with him besides his wife, but won't go into those other than to say he's always in financial trouble, though that is a lot to do with her spending and him not being able to put his foot down with her and take the bull by the horns, no pun intended referring to our bull conversation, LOL. My other son has had his own issues, but he has made tremendous strides in character-building and getting his life in order, while my older son, the one I thought would have a great and successful life, is having serious troubles now. We will have to have the discussion about the trust with them, why not a will, and the ins and outs of it all.

Honestly, if they want to scream and complain about it being in a trust and not just willed to them to do with as they please (sell and pocket the $$), I guess I can remind them that there is no law that says my children have to inherit my homestead at all. We have nephews and nieces, too, who have their own families. Neither of my sons have children so I can't skip a generation and leave anything to grandchildren. My best friend has serious health issues, though she is younger than me by a few years and may not even be around by that time. If my husband precedes me in death, I will never have another man in this house so there will not be any question about a new husband getting any part of this. So, it would be my two sons being named in the trust and hopefully, one will live here. It may be close to being paid off or even paid in full by then and they'd be nuts to let that go, IMO. Houses on acreage in the future may be extremely difficult to find.

On one hand, I battle with thinking why should I even care what happens after I'm gone and on the other, wanting this place we've created over time to be appreciated and loved for the self-sufficiency it can bring to my sons.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I found the story! This is not the original article I read that said a 12 year old cow named Antonia stopped the bull at some point during the attack, though it mentions the cows around her. The bull was a Highland bull.

http://www.lancasterfarming.com/new...cle_42139946-5060-11e6-b9ee-ffbd83337aa3.html

And a video about the same story:

Never get in with a bull. She's very lucky.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@oldhenlikesdogs
Do you feel the same way about your goats?

I had the 2 Spanish mix wethers that were very big boys. Even though they were wethers, I was always very cautious around them and if I was in with them, I started carrying a pole. There was a time when I walked out to the back part of the wooded area to find them, then they decided to follow me back up front. I could not turn my back on them. They would stop now and then to browse, then come running up behind me to catch up. Then they might get head butting with each other right near me and I knew if I was in the wrong place I could be in big trouble.

I was able to pick up a large fallen branch and just keep distance between them and I, but after that I always carried a portable fence pole with me if I was in with them. They did seem to respect the pole and would only come so close, but I had the feeling that I really needed to 'watch my back" - even through they were friendly boys.

A large friendly boy with full horns wasn't something I wanted to get knocked over by!

 

[speckledhen]

That woman was too comfortable with the Highland bull. The original story I read, which I cannot locate now, said he had always been friendly before that day, but hey, he's a bull and you can never predict what one will do. Big goat bucks would also make me cautious, like Leah's Mom said. All it takes is one knocking you off your feet, even if his intention was not to harm.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@oldhenlikesdogs
Do you feel the same way about your goats?

I had the 2 Spanish mix wethers that were very big boys. Even though they were wethers, I was always very cautious around them and if I was in with them, I started carrying a pole. There was a time when I walked out to the back part of the wooded area to find them, then they decided to follow me back up front. I could not turn my back on them. They would stop now and then to browse, then come running up behind me to catch up. Then they might get head butting with each other right near me and I knew if I was in the wrong place I could be in big trouble.

I was able to pick up a large fallen branch and just keep distance between them and I, but after that I always carried a portable fence pole with me if I was in with them. They did seem to respect the pole and would only come so close, but I had the feeling that I really needed to 'watch my back" - even through they were friendly boys.

A large friendly boy with full horns wasn't something I wanted to get knocked over by!

View attachment 1113831 View attachment 1113833 View attachment 1113836

Some of my current goats are big boys, a mistake on my part. I don't go in with them without a stick, not because they come after me with any aggression but because they are big and rowdy like you mentioned. From now on I will go back to pygmies or fainting goats which are completely harmless.

A few of my bigger boys we have been trying to remove their horns with castration bands. We have another 4 horns to bad. One goat is currently a unicorn as only one side worked, so his remaining horn will get banded again.

My 2 la mancha boys are also smaller and more gentle, so picking the correct breeds will be important in the future for me.

Your boys look like they were trouble makers.