The Front Porch Swing

[Blooie]

<yawn> The worst thing about morning is that it comes in the middle of a good night's sleep. Staggered into the kitchen and looked out the window. That was a mistake. Snowing and blowing so hard I can't see the mountains on either side of us. Rats! We were gonna take the pickup to Billings today and pick up materials for starting the coop so I can get these feather dusters out of Ken's office and into the great outdoors.

Boy, these little critters put out a ton of dust! And it's like talcum powder! I still have no "chicken smell" in the house, but that ain't because they aren't trying. I hoped to get the big girls out by the end of next week (they'll be 4 weeks on Monday and really feathered nicely) but keep the four little ones inside a bit longer.

Ken is going to hard wire the coop so I can have lights, an outlet, and some heat for the girls the first week or so. Gee, its' great to be married to a professional electrician! If it's got wires, he can build or fix it. If someone wants something wired or repaired, he does it strictly to code - no shortcuts regardless of what the people want - or he won't do it. He was the electrical officer on board an aircraft carrier and a battleship, then worked as an electrical contractor when we retired. But we ain't carpenters. Between the two of us we can barely stack a straight sandwich. Should be interesting. I'm taking bets on how soon into the project we have our first argument.

Ah, my coffee's ready. Did somebody say Rice Krispie Treats?

 

[Beekissed]

I think my expectations are too high! And I've been single for now on 11 yrs and I just done think I can do it again. At 51 I'm pretty comfortable in my singleness. If I can't fix something I can always find someone who needs to make a little extra $. Or it just doesn't get done.
The men I've had the pleasure of knowing are either already married, gay, or just want someone to take care of them. This really isn't what I had envisioned when I was a teenager with stars in my eyes, but it's the path God has put me on. Besides I've got an 8 yr old I've raised since she was a baby and most men my age aren't willing to take that on.

I agree with all that...there aren't many who are able to stand on their own and also have the courage to stand with a single mother also. All those movie guys???? Only in the movies or so rare that they are tucked away in the bush of Australia or are already someone's husband.

Addressing the men in our lives..... Most of the single ladies on this site are smart, independent ladies who are not afraid to take care of themselves. If you have a problem you face and figure out/overcome it or pay someone to do it for you.

A woman that thinks on that level is a scarey thing to the average man.

I thank God for Mike every single day. He is amazed at the number of things I can do/make/devise to fix problems in day to day problems on the home front.

You are so right and it's so very sad...too bad there are so many average men in this world. To me, I would think a capable woman would make the most excellent partner in life...she's adaptable, versatile, not a cry baby or helpless to the point of annoyance, she's a strong mother and can work alongside of a man instead of standing back and waiting for the man to do it all.

But..that's never the case. Men are intimidated by such women. You have no idea how many times I've been told by my female friends that their husbands are afraid of me. Barely met the man, was polite and didn't engage in more than a surface chit chat, but they are intimidated. When I asked why I was told that they are afraid that she will think she can do all the things I do and not need him anymore!!! Is their egos that fragile that they need a helpless clinging vine to validate their manhood??? Pathetic.

Do they think I do all the man stuff to prove something??? It's because there was never a strong enough man around to do any of it! Who is going to do it then? Should a woman wilt into obscurity and helplessness in order to attract a strong mate? Is he really strong if he needs that level of weakness to make him appear strong?

A life long of these scenarios and questions have left me with the conclusion that some women just do not have an equal on this Earth and so they must go forth as a single entity.

Don't get me wrong here...it's not just the men that hate a capable woman. I've had women at church get onto me for weedeating the hill by my house and "doing man's work" because their husbands drove by and saw me doing it and came home and asked them why they couldn't do such things too! The women don't like a strong woman either because it shows too much in comparison.

Why cannot a man...or a woman...drive by that house and see a single mother raising three young boys and say, "Kudos to you! You are doing the best you can in a rough situation and you aren't waiting for someone to do it for you!" and be done with it. Never happens. Or even...imagine it!...stopping by as a couple and asking if this single mother needs any help with anything..anything at all? Fixing things around the house? The car? Teaching the boys man skills?

Nope...I've lived long enough to know that no matter how feminine you dress, no matter how demurely you may speak, if you do not display the proper amount of helplessness as a woman to suit society's picture, you are an outcast in so many ways. Oh, they will invite you for work days~use your hard work~ and say things like, "I wish I could do the kind of things you do!" or even, "I wish you'd come over and teach my wife how to do this or that (said in a joking manner)." but they don't really mean it....they are just remarking on your difference and if they admired it so, they would make you feel welcome and normal. They don't.

A single woman doesn't set out to intimidate anyone...she is just doing all she can to survive and has no thoughts about one upping any sex in this world. Just surviving the best she can. Intimidation is for those individuals who have time for it.

 

[perchie.girl]

I too am off running sixty miles east to meet up with the farrier..... Gotto love that guy and Katee Loves him..... She follows him all over trying to empty out his Tool bin or stealing his hammer.....

He used to live in Mexico. Now hes moved his whole family up to Palm Desert to be closer to his real job..... Heavy equipment opererator for building roads. His Father was a farrier and he learned from him.

Katee has never had shoes but I am told that she would wear size fives. Most horses were size 0-2.... Regular shoing for a light horse runs about 100. Last time I checked on Shoes for Katee it was about 400 for a set. This guy only charges sixty for a trim.... Most farriers here wont even do drafts. Because their hooves take bigger tools and many drafts cant stand for long periods of time on one foot in the front.

Johnny does a very good job too.

Katee


deb

 

[TexasLisa]

I too am off running sixty miles east to meet up with the farrier..... Gotto love that guy and Katee Loves him..... She follows him all over trying to empty out his Tool bin or stealing his hammer.....

He used to live in Mexico. Now hes moved his whole family up to Palm Desert to be closer to his real job..... Heavy equipment opererator for building roads. His Father was a farrier and he learned from him.

Katee has never had shoes but I am told that she would wear size fives. Most horses were size 0-2.... Regular shoing for a light horse runs about 100. Last time I checked on Shoes for Katee it was about 400 for a set. This guy only charges sixty for a trim.... Most farriers here wont even do drafts. Because their hooves take bigger tools and many drafts cant stand for long periods of time on one foot in the front.

Johnny does a very good job too.

Katee


deb

Deb, that is a beautiful horse. Please bring her by. I am positive we have treats for her.

Lisa

 

[love2grinchicke]

Our blue Maran, Daisy, is going broody. I also have a picked chick who is in a box by himself, and doesn't want to be there.

 

[enola]

She is beautiful! But someone please explain the bales of hay on the porch are for sitting on not treats.......

I don't want to balance on the porch rail. .......

 

[Triple Willow]

Ohhh good post!!!
You are so right and it's so very sad...too bad there are so many average men in this world. To me, I would think a capable woman would make the most excellent partner in life...she's adaptable, versatile, not a cry baby or helpless to the point of annoyance, she's a strong mother and can work alongside of a man instead of standing back and waiting for the man to do it all. 
I couldn't agree more! It looks to me like if I am pretty dang good and he is pretty dang good , TOGETHER we ought to be really dang good!

But..that's never the case.  Men are intimidated by such women.  You have no idea how many times I've been told by my female friends that their husbands are afraid of me.  Barely met the man, was polite and didn't engage in more than a surface chit chat, but they are intimidated.  When I asked why I was told that they are afraid that she will think she can do all the things I do and not need him anymore!!!  Is their egos that fragile that they need a helpless clinging vine to validate their manhood???  Pathetic. 
I believe that is so true! I remember in college one of my professors was talking about marriage and all that. He pretty much adopted me as his own. I think he was trying to explain to me that I was going to have a hard time in finding a good man, because as he explained it - I intimidate men. I was like, "why???"

Do they think I do all the man stuff to prove something???  It's because there was never a strong enough man around to do any of it!  Who is going to do it then?  Should a woman wilt into obscurity and helplessness in order to attract a strong mate?  Is he really strong if he needs that level of weakness to make him appear strong? 
My dad died when I was really young. I was raised by a strong woman so it was just natural to do whatever you needed or wanted to do. I was always amazed at those women who "just can't" do anything. I am like "Bullcrap!!! Just do it!!!

A life long of these scenarios and questions have left me with the conclusion that some women just do not have an equal on this Earth and so they must go forth as a single entity. 

Don't get me wrong here...it's not just the men that hate a capable woman.  I've had women at church get onto me for weedeating the hill by my house and "doing man's work" because their husbands drove by and saw me doing it and came home and asked them why they couldn't do such things too!  The women don't like a strong woman either because it shows too much in comparison.


Why cannot a man...or a woman...drive by that house and see a single mother raising three young boys and say, "Kudos to you!  You are doing the best you can in a rough situation and you aren't waiting for someone to do it for you!" and be done with it.  Never happens.  Or even...imagine it!...stopping by as a couple and asking if this single mother needs any help with anything..anything at all?  Fixing things around the house?  The car?  Teaching the boys man skills?  
AmenX1,000 to that one! WHY doesn't anybody want to help!!!

Nope...I've lived long enough to know that no matter how feminine you dress, no matter how demurely you may speak, if you do not display the proper amount of helplessness as a woman to suit society's picture, you are an outcast in so many ways.  Yep!!! Oh, they will invite you for work days~use your hard work~ and say things like, "I wish I could do the kind of things you do!"  or even, "I wish you'd come over and teach my wife how to do this or that (said in a joking manner)."  but they don't really mean it....they are just remarking on your difference and if they admired it so, they would make you feel welcome and normal. They don't.  

A single woman doesn't set out to intimidate anyone...she is just doing all she can to survive and has no thoughts about one upping any sex in this world.  Just surviving the best she can.  Intimidation is for those individuals who have time for it.   
Agree!

 

[Triple Willow]

I too am off running sixty miles east to meet up with the farrier..... Gotto love that guy and Katee Loves him..... She follows him all over trying to empty out his Tool bin or stealing his hammer..... He used to live in Mexico. Now hes moved his whole family up to Palm Desert to be closer to his real job..... Heavy equipment opererator for building roads. His Father was a farrier and he learned from him. Katee has never had shoes but I am told that she would wear size fives. Most horses were size 0-2.... Regular shoing for a light horse runs about 100. Last time I checked on Shoes for Katee it was about 400 for a set. This guy only charges sixty for a trim.... Most farriers here wont even do drafts. Because their hooves take bigger tools and many drafts cant stand for long periods of time on one foot in the front. Johnny does a very good job too. Katee deb

He must be really good if Katee likes him too. A good farrier is hard to come by. Katee is really pretty!

 

[Triple Willow]

Oh! Oh! Somebody save me a seat on a hay bale I am off work today and will be popping in and out in between chores.

Better hurry, no telling what you might miss! lol

 

[Triple Willow]

Good morin good mornin!

Hey there WindStep!