The Front Porch Swing

[LeslieDJoyce]

I often wonder what it would be like to not have kids. I love mine dearly, but because I have obeyed God's call to take care of my youngest, I am unable to leave Katy. I do not have legal right to her and so I have to stay where she can go visit her dad, when he decides he wants her to visit.
My older 3 are grown, and yet often still act like kids. Tiffany is 23 and says she is moving out this summer as she has just got a job teaching kindergarten. But we will see! She and I butt heads about who should clean what and my dining room is a total wreck from all the stuff she is buying for her classroom. I don't know...sometimes, I just want to sit down on the swing, glass of tea in one hand and Ben's head under the other and just-be.

I think pretty much everyone has similar dreams of having some free time.

 

[RachaelS]

I am sorry I created a stir on the porch. Hope everyone has a blessed day

.

 

[LBejaran]

Good morning everyone. I haven't been on for a couple weeks and part of it was because I was dreading something and couldn't bring myself to say much about what has been going on.

No one is dead, I am moderately healthy, the flock is fine, I'm getting about six darn eggs a day now (and I don't know what the heck to do with them all). I guess I'm just still reeling.

In a week's time, I'll be leaving my hometown and moving to Austin. My boss decided after I started working for him that he was moving away to better support his family (the dude has 9 kids). About a week ago and a half ago, he asked me if I had other job plans once they left and I said I wasn't sure. I'd have to look because graphic design jobs aren't necessarily easy to find around here when you have a bunch of unregistered artists making cash and not paying taxes on the jobs they do.

Well, he said that he wanted to hire me in Austin. He said I could stay with his family for a couple months and see how I liked it and I could get the print shop started for him while e's off working construction. If it's successful, I can start earning more money than I make right now. If I don't like it, I can just call my sister and she said she'd drive up and bring me back home.

At first, hearing it from him, I was about to say no. I have my entire family here, I'll miss them, I can't leave them here. Then I thought of my chickens and thought, Oh no, I spend about ten hours a week on my chickens, not including feeding and watering. How will they be able to deal with them if as soon as they get home, they just pass out on the couch?! I work forty hours a week too and I still spend about 20 hours outside playing head rooster and cleaning up and watering and socializing the chicks so they don't become evil hens in the future. My Mom doesn't know nest eggs from real eggs! Nest eggs are wooden! What the heck is gonna happen to the flock once I'm gone?!

But then I talked to Mama. She's got quite a head on her shoulders and as a teacher, her common sense comes by the bucketful.

She said that if I was excited about going (I was), then I could go and she'd finally have the incentive to not fall asleep as soon as she got home from work. She'd work with the flock, keep 'em clean and fed. And she wouldn't sell them off (which I was worried about because we have a lot of chickens).

A lot of my plans for this year are gone. I wanted to have my garden, raise meat rabbits, hatch 3 dozen Muscovy ducklings, start engraving EE eggs. So much I had wanted to do this year is based on me living here.

However, I HAVE wanted to move to Austin. I do need a decent paying job and not having to pay rent would be awesome (I don't pay rent now, but still!). Also, I need friends. Like, actual friends who I can't meet up with for coffee and can talk to about current events and art and heck, I'd love to start dating! I was flirted with this week and you know what I did?

I freakin' ignored it and started talking about how I only use hi-resolution photos in my work. That, my friends, is flirting from a girl so out of touch with males that she has never dated. Whoop-dee-freaking-doo!

I'll likely be visiting the front porch as often as I can for the familiarity and comfort. I'm from a fairly small town and I love my home. But meeting new people and seeing a new place might be just what I need. Of course, I'm kinda limited because my boss does have a large family and they are super religious. Nothing wrong with that, but creature comforts like watching ghost shows with my Mom will be gone. Or singing my music or painting abstract art, or questioning things. That's gonna be hard. Mom taught us how to think, so we question loads of stuff. It's in my nature to question ideologies (respectfully) but I won't be able to do it there for fear of influencing his children in a way he or his wife won't like.

I guess I'm just a little sad and I didn't want to share that sadness with anyone for awhile. I've been spending lots of time with the birds. I don't want them to forget about me.

 

[Triple Willow]

@Ibejaran... There is one thing you can depend on in life, you never know what is right around the corner. Life is kind of like we have always said about the weather where I live, "If you don't like it just hang around a little while, it will change." It sounds like to me that you have a really great opportunity! I'm glad you're going for it!

@lovingmyhens... you are a very wise and kind woman. I'm glad you are in a position to have such an effect on kids lives. YAY YOU!!! I know exactly what you mean. I was raised by a widowed mom. My dad died when I was a little over a year old and my mom never remarried. She just set her sights on raising her two kids, and she did. She did it all and I'm sure a lot of it was a true struggle. You are so right about words.

(I'm not referring to what happened because I don't know anything about it nor need to. God bless you all! )

 

[lovingmyhens]

Yes, it is definitely not expected here either. I would love her regardless, but I never want her to think it is ok to get pregnant outside of marriage. Our church also teaches purity and the day my husband took her on her 14th birthday out to dinner and gave her a purity ring and had 'the talk' with her, I cried like a baby. If only maybe my mom or dad had cared enough to talk to me like we talk to her, maybe things would've been different, but then I wouldn't have her in my life and I wouldn't be who I am today. That kid changed my life. God is sooooo good, even when I don't understand what He is doing, He is always working things out for my good. What's even better is that on this thread, we have prayer support and can openly talk about God. Most people don't want to hear that. I now have the most amazing husband and 5 kids! We are always broke, but always blessed Here is a pic of all my kiddos taken yesterday. My oldest son hates having his pic taken, so don't mind him lol.

Beautiful!!!

 

[LindaB220]

Good morning everyone. I haven't been on for a couple weeks and part of it was because I was dreading something and couldn't bring myself to say much about what has been going on.

No one is dead, I am moderately healthy, the flock is fine, I'm getting about six darn eggs a day now (and I don't know what the heck to do with them all). I guess I'm just still reeling.

In a week's time, I'll be leaving my hometown and moving to Austin. My boss decided after I started working for him that he was moving away to better support his family (the dude has 9 kids). About a week ago and a half ago, he asked me if I had other job plans once they left and I said I wasn't sure. I'd have to look because graphic design jobs aren't necessarily easy to find around here when you have a bunch of unregistered artists making cash and not paying taxes on the jobs they do.

Well, he said that he wanted to hire me in Austin. He said I could stay with his family for a couple months and see how I liked it and I could get the print shop started for him while e's off working construction. If it's successful, I can start earning more money than I make right now. If I don't like it, I can just call my sister and she said she'd drive up and bring me back home.

At first, hearing it from him, I was about to say no. I have my entire family here, I'll miss them, I can't leave them here. Then I thought of my chickens and thought, Oh no, I spend about ten hours a week on my chickens, not including feeding and watering. How will they be able to deal with them if as soon as they get home, they just pass out on the couch?! I work forty hours a week too and I still spend about 20 hours outside playing head rooster and cleaning up and watering and socializing the chicks so they don't become evil hens in the future. My Mom doesn't know nest eggs from real eggs! Nest eggs are wooden! What the heck is gonna happen to the flock once I'm gone?!

But then I talked to Mama. She's got quite a head on her shoulders and as a teacher, her common sense comes by the bucketful.

She said that if I was excited about going (I was), then I could go and she'd finally have the incentive to not fall asleep as soon as she got home from work. She'd work with the flock, keep 'em clean and fed. And she wouldn't sell them off (which I was worried about because we have a lot of chickens).

A lot of my plans for this year are gone. I wanted to have my garden, raise meat rabbits, hatch 3 dozen Muscovy ducklings, start engraving EE eggs. So much I had wanted to do this year is based on me living here.

However, I HAVE wanted to move to Austin. I do need a decent paying job and not having to pay rent would be awesome (I don't pay rent now, but still!). Also, I need friends. Like, actual friends who I can't meet up with for coffee and can talk to about current events and art and heck, I'd love to start dating! I was flirted with this week and you know what I did?

I freakin' ignored it and started talking about how I only use hi-resolution photos in my work. That, my friends, is flirting from a girl so out of touch with males that she has never dated. Whoop-dee-freaking-doo!

I'll likely be visiting the front porch as often as I can for the familiarity and comfort. I'm from a fairly small town and I love my home. But meeting new people and seeing a new place might be just what I need. Of course, I'm kinda limited because my boss does have a large family and they are super religious. Nothing wrong with that, but creature comforts like watching ghost shows with my Mom will be gone. Or singing my music or painting abstract art, or questioning things. That's gonna be hard. Mom taught us how to think, so we question loads of stuff. It's in my nature to question ideologies (respectfully) but I won't be able to do it there for fear of influencing his children in a way he or his wife won't like.

I guess I'm just a little sad and I didn't want to share that sadness with anyone for awhile. I've been spending lots of time with the birds. I don't want them to forget about me.

Austin is a lovely city. Outskirts are even better. My daughter Jenny lives south a few miles in Kyle. Both still work in Austin. If this is what you want, go for it. How much feed back have you got from boss' family. (wife, kids) Lot of people in one house. Open yourself to friendship. It's hard to start but so rewarding.

 

[RachaelS]

In a week's time, I'll be leaving my hometown and moving to Austin. My boss decided after I started working for him that he was moving away to better support his family (the dude has 9 kids). About a week ago and a half ago, he asked me if I had other job plans once they left and I said I wasn't sure. I'd have to look because graphic design jobs aren't necessarily easy to find around here when you have a bunch of unregistered artists making cash and not paying taxes on the jobs they do.

Hey girl! Long time no talk. You are leaving your hometown and moving to mine

Hope to see you here!

 

[rrrmamma]

Today is such a spectacular day. I have been outside most of the morning. Just don't feel like doing housework and being inside. I am really excited and blessed,because they are coming Wednesday to build my new coop. A present from my hubby, because he just does not have time to do it right now and I don't have the physical strength to do it anymore. It is 16 x 20 and will have a cupola for decoration. We have bought barns from this Amish builder before and he does really great work. We will be finishing the inside ourselves. The builder is also building a run-in for the cattle and re-roofing the building my husband wants to put his machine shop/ gunsmithing business in. Any ideas on insulating? Our winters are pretty cold and we have a lot of wind. My coop now is falling apart. We cobbled it together when I first got chickens and we were very broke. It has held together for 4 years, but it is time for an upgrade. I want to use the hanging feeder idea and use the nipple waterers. Roll out nest boxes are a must and at a height I can reach without getting on my hands and knees like I do now. I must be a sight trying to get back on my feet, holding eggs. I have cracked a few in the process. LOL. I have been following everyone's coop builds here and getting lots of great ideas. I will finally have a place to brood besides the house, and space for the fermented feed in the coop instead of the back porch, Since I can't make this program upload pictures I will use hubby's computer to post them as we work on it.

9

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Today is such a spectacular day. I have been outside most of the morning. Just don't feel like doing housework and being inside. I am really excited and blessed,because they are coming Wednesday to build my new coop. A present from my hubby, because he just does not have time to do it right now and I don't have the physical strength to do it anymore. It is 16 x 20 and will have a cupola for decoration. We have bought barns from this Amish builder before and he does really great work. We will be finishing the inside ourselves. The builder is also building a run-in for the cattle and re-roofing the building my husband wants to put his machine shop/ gunsmithing business in. Any ideas on insulating? Our winters are pretty cold and we have a lot of wind. My coop now is falling apart. We cobbled it together when I first got chickens and we were very broke. It has held together for 4 years, but it is time for an upgrade. I want to use the hanging feeder idea and use the nipple waterers. Roll out nest boxes are a must and at a height I can reach without getting on my hands and knees like I do now. I must be a sight trying to get back on my feet, holding eggs. I have cracked a few in the process. LOL. I have been following everyone's coop builds here and getting lots of great ideas. I will finally have a place to brood besides the house, and space for the fermented feed in the coop instead of the back porch, Since I can't make this program upload pictures I will use hubby's computer to post them as we work on it.

9

I hope your coop building goes well! I've built so many coops--it's not the most fun thing in the world XD.
~ ~
I'm thankful it is such a sunny day, again! Although, the day would be a lot better if I didn't have this horrid cold encumbering me. I've had it for a week now--can't wait to get better! I'm slowing improving from it, but that's better than no improvements! Right?!

 

[perchie.girl]

I think there are a number of single moms in this thread. I'm single, but I don't even have kids.

Sinlge here too.... never been married. Nor have I ever been asked.... Been in love three times... first one broke my heart. Second one I ran from because I started wanting to change him. I was taught not to try to change people.... they have to want to change on their own. Third and last... Was a broken soul..... from family abuse and self abuse. He pushed me away because he felt I deserved better.

deb