The Last of High School

My brother graduated high school on June fifth. It was so great to see him in his cap and gown, for the first but not last time.

Even though he is a good foot taller, I will always remember him as our little bubala. He was so cute. I had asked for a baby brother as my own. My parents were content with just one little troublemaker running around, but I wanted someone. At least one ally. One year after, nearly my own birthday, John was with us. And now he is embarking on the world. Watch out. Seriously, he is really big and way to smart, so watch out.

John graduated with more units then any other high school student in district history. I haven’t checked other districts, so I won’t presume.  He also finished 29 UC/USC transferable G.E. units (college). Working five days a week as the morning news anchor for our local television station, filming before most people are even waking up. I just couldn’t be more proud.  John has several local acting awards, and will be pursing a Master of Fine Arts in Acting.

Congratulations John!

John is the tallest. One of the first in line, a welcomed change for a Y last name.

My proud dad with John

Mom is so happy

John with some of his pals.

Wasps

A lot has gone on in the last few weeks, but for right now I will began with the current. Wasps. They have taken over my home, which happens to be a small camper trailer for the present time. Behind our trailer is vent for the microwave, and a small flap covers it. This was our weak point. The wasps thought they had found a great home. Until they migrated down the vent area through the cabinet which holds the microwave, they were right.

As I washed some dishes, the running water must has disrupted my roommates. The heard a buzz, and looked over my shoulder to see a paperwasp staring at me. For those of you who don’t know, wasps has the look of pure evil in their eyes.

I had to make the call. I can’t leave the goats alone, because we are not currently fenced in and Samson, well, there is no fence. This means I must put them away, and then go into town for some chemical reinforcements. After a few hours, and trying to make peace with the wasps, my decision was made. Reinforcements, here I come!

It was on my way home that I realized I had a small branch in my hair from brush work, my clothes don’t match, and I am still covered in poison oak. Real attractive.

Now, it’s dusk….

I used painter’s tape to cover their entrance to the interior.

Try to get in now!

Now I headed out back really do some damage! Ladder, check. Stick, check. Spray, wait, not just any spray. “Real Kill” spray, none of that faux kill spray here!

They have no idea how prepared I am... even I don't!

Oh mask, check. Can’t be too safe, it is toxic. And now the game face. I tried to make peace, I was downright polite, but you wasps had to push me. Well, fine.

Watch out wasps!

With the stick I left the flap, and … AND  nothing. I step off the ladder, and decide a practice spray is in order. Turns out you really need to push hard to spray an extremely toxic substance. A good thing, most likely.

Round two and it is a direct hit. It sprays up to 22 feet away, so at 2 feet away, it did some damage. The nest was nearly demantled, and I was nearly on my bum. I caught myself, don’t worry.

Now I wait. I can hear some tapping on the tape. Creepy.

For Crying Out Loud

Yesterday we moved our camper trailer to the property. I love it out here, but I think Samson is a bit in shock. Samson has either lived in a home with Will and I, or with my brother’s dog, 1Z. And never sleeping alone is a problem.

Last night we set up the kennel; with his toys, igloo, and bowls. He is literally feet from our trailer. We even left a porch light on for him. (If you want to hear a monster leave Samson in the dark) It started with a humming, then quiet whimpers, and in no time, pouring out of him was the crying. Finally around 2am he fell asleep. 2AM! We have no children for crying out loud, and we are being denied sleep. Will leaves for work in a few hours. I have a full day of work around the house, and then I work at night in Stockton. Ekk!

Currently Samson is napping at my feet. Gee I wonder why he is tired? It amazes me how 90lbs of Rottie mix can be so needy. Tonight will be different; whether good or bad, I do not know. You see the goats are moving into the kennel space next to Samson. Hmmm

Career Moves

A lot of Will freelance work was…”can we pay you in a few months?” work. Which is fine when we have other income, but eek now. That was until this morning. Will was offered a fantastic position at very nice company. They even have an in-house usability specialist. Which may not sound special to most people, but it is a amazing for Will. The relief is so very nice. I feel so much better about everything. Just when I thought I was losing a grip on life.

There is another firm that wants Will on a contract for part-time. We are considering both for a year or so to really get stable.

Meat Hooks

Working day and night.

We have been preparing an abandoned deli for lease. Five years of flour, rust, and grease. In need of scrubbing, prying, painting, and repairing. Cleaning was obliviously not a general part of business. The back room looked like the prefect set for a horror flick. Hanging rusted meat hooks, busted equipment, damp, and dark.

Fast froward to now. Bright, shiny, and clean. New flooring, painted walls, and clean equipment.

Success is not luck, it is being willing to scrub walls of rusted, dirty walk-in refridgerator with rusted meat hooks swing around your head and with only a flashlight for light.

Yesterday

Yesterday was a busy.

Will’s parents and brother, Spencer, were coming over to help with siding and painting. I found out that they would be there around noon. That gave me just enough time to run over to the Cal-Am Dairy Goat Show in Plymouth. A friend of mine had invited me and I so wanted to go.

It was great. I watched the youth showmanship, and my heart went out. I remember my years in youth livestock (mostly 4-H). I was dedicated and loved it, but I was always so very nervous during shows. You’d think they were judging your soul.

Then the pros were judging. The awards were given with great detail as to how the they came to a desision. Fantastic for the learner I am!

I was very good and didn’t purchase the $4 raffle tickets for some baby Apline, but boy were they cute!

-

Three hours pasted and it was time for me to leave.

I got to the property right before Will’s family. They brought a spray rig. Oh man, that is the only way to paint. I can’t wait to post pictures of the progress. Before a jam in the rig, we got at least a hundred pieces done. I’d say a few more days and we will be ready for an inspection, and drywall!

Sticks to a House

Okay, I need to play serious catch up in order get the blog rolling smoothly.

We start the actual house building at the end of January. And currently we are putting the siding on. So, yeah. I haven’t brought you up to speed.

So here it goes.

We finished the foundation. Installed the joists. The HVAC guys came and installed their lower duct work. Hart Plumbing (Will’s Cousins) came over and did the rough plumbing. We insalated and decked the subfloor (Will, Dad, Mom, Me, Londa). Framed the back  portion of the house; that way it supported and balanced the extremely tall walls in the front room (Will, Me, Mom, Dad, Rico, Spencer, Jesse).

We had the large cottonwood tree trimmed. Half was dying and I didn’t want it the spread.

Then on a horribly rainy and cold day we framed the main area (Will, Me, Mom, Dad, John, Rico, Spencer, Jesse, Quinton).

We craned in a 8″x18″x40′ beam that runs the length of the house. Sheeted the sides, and framed the roof. Fowler’s Roofing came over and roofed it in one day! Thankfully Rico, Will’s dad, provide our roofing.

That should give you a general break down. So now I can just report as it happens.

Oh, and here is the photo evidence! I added the “stairs” or “ladder” we used to walk up to the house. We are finally beyond them.

That’s odd

What’s odd? I’ll tell you.

I feel I have failed.

I didn’t halter break and tame Tulsa into a lap goat. No. I mean, sure she eats out of hands and she doesn’t freak out every time someone is around her, but still I feel I let her down.

No.

Wait.

Really I let down the dream I had for her. Of her being a truely domestic goat. Yale loves attention. In fact, she is flat out annoying at times. Tulsa just like things her way; eating her clover, playing sticks, and most importantly not bothered. No matter she is going to a good home. I put her up for sale yesterday, and I got several responses. I believe I have sold her to a man in a near by town. I say believe instead of have because he comes with the deposit tomorrow. He seems nice, and has a boy who will take the time to win her over. She will be a breeding doe in a larger herd. It really is best.

Before anyone worries Tulsa doesn’t leave until I have decided her kids are weaned. They are already eating grains and brush and drinking water. But they still nurse and I want to give them the chance for a few more weeks. Eight weeks old and they will be ready.

I am also selling Little Man, and most likely Yale’s buckling too. We will see.

Notes of living in 200 square feet on wheels

As a person living with my spouse in under 200 square feet (Oh, and it has wheels) I have come to these 5 notes to remember. There are more but these are in the forefront of my mind.

1. Grocery shopping is a daily activity due to lack of space.
2. Sneezing creates an earthquake.
3. One article clothing strewn on the floor gives the appearance of a pigsty.
4. Physical fitness is needed to pass another person in the “kitchen”.
5. If you need a private moment to yourself, you out of luck.

Yale’s Triplets

April 7th around 7am I put the goats to pasture, and checked Yale’s hip pins. They were fading, so I knew birthing was near. I had assumed it was within the week because she was extremely needy, aggressive, and was licking everyone. At 8am her plug was releasing. Then 9am I decided to go see if her pins were gone. Labor was beginning.

Tulsa round her babies up and had them lay down. Then she laid down, blocking them from bugging Yale. Usually nap time is her time to get some peace, but this was way early. Unlike Tulsa, Yale is very vocal. She screamed and wailed her way through the first phase. She laid down and got up with every contraction, pacing and pawing the ground. At one point she just stuck her head to the ground and screamed. The neighbors horses came down to check, as did the dogs. All keeping a great distance. Gingersnaps escaped and came running. Yale just sat there licking her senseless. Ginger didn’t seem to mind.

Finally, the first bubble. I could see a hoof and nose. Yale walked over to a large patch of clover. It was ten minutes before I would meet the little one. Tulsa and her crew immediately came to check her out. Rodeo was hooked. He didn’t leave Yale until she birthed all three, and even then he checked on her and the babies every few minutes. It was really sweet.

The first one was a runt at 4.5 lbs. She is brown and white, and by far the spunkiest.

The second and third came out almost at the same time. Although it took a half hour after the first, mainly because the first was so needy.

Second one is a boy. He is black and white, and weighed in at 8 lbs. Third is a gray girl with black markings at 8 lbs, too.

They look completely different from each other.

Yale was completely overwhelmed, and had a difficult time caring for them. She cleaned them, and tried the nurse. I aided as best I could. I moved them to the stall, and there they stayed for two days. It wasn’t until Tulsa and her crew were out to pasture, and she had a whole day to rest, eat, and bond that she seemed to get a groove going. Her last and first pregnancy was a single and I think she just didn’t know what to do with triplets. She would care for one, then another would cry, and she would look at each and back away. Then sit and cry at me. Now she is still nervous but mostly about them running in three different directions.

Yale screaming into ground

Our spunky runt is born

Yale checking out all three

The three little ones tucked in for their first night