The "Throes of Deep Depression"

Kris just got up, went to the bathroom (figuratively speaking, we don't really have a bathroom), weighed herself, sighed heavily, crawled back into bed and announced she was in "the throes of deep depression". From that, I assume things didn't go very well. Maybe her day will perk up after she gets up and does some dishes.

I believe I will try to be outside and out of sight when she rises. I like to err on the side of caution. If I were to make a perky remark without thinking...well, things might get out of control. I better type quickly.

Yesterday, Alex (grandson) was out for a visit. He is eight and the farm is a great place for him. He was antsy to meet the new pup and after a bit of advice on how to interact with the dog, we all went down to the goat pen to take the goats and their new guardian dog for a walk. Anatolian shepherds love kids and they hit it off immediately. Eight year old boys and dogs were made for each other and it is fun to watch. I am sure we made quite a sight--six adult goats, two goat kids, one human kid, two dogs, and two adult humans-- all out for a morning stroll on a cold, but pleasantly sunny day. It was great fun.

Goats tend to clump and surge as their need to eat gives way to general jumpiness and fear of being eaten by predators. When they surge back for protection, they get under foot and make walking impossible. Alex weighs a lot less than some of the does and takes a bit of a buffeting as they brush by. It makes it a contact sport for him and is part of the fun. He tends to walk ahead with one dog or another beating rocks or ice or whatever with a stick he carries. The dogs and goats both give him enough room to flail away as we troop along slowly. The object, ostensibly, is to let the goats browse on anything they deem edible. Yesterday, the real object was to get Alex outside with his stick, the dogs and his imagination. Normally, like most kids, he would be inside most of the day at this temperature.

Kris and I try to stop where the available browse looks good for the goats. Alex moves along until something captures his interest or requires beating and is often out of sight for short spells. So it was a surprise to find him sitting triumphantly up on top our former summer shower enclosure, a framework of logs with a platform to shower on and another platform above to hold the water barrel. We had hauled it out to the woods with the tractor seeing a potential to use it as a deer blind. It was laying on its side and Alex was astride one log support, sitting on one the edge of the platform. He was looking down at us from his perch, pleased with himself for climbing on top of the structure.

It is hard for kids to get out of an adults sight these days. Living in cities with traffic and strangers every where, there isn't much opportunity to be free and use their imaginations. This simple thing struck me as a reminder how important it is for kids to be left on their own some. His proud smile caught Kris's eye too and we exchanged knowing looks. This was one of the reasons we wanted a farm. It could be a safe place where the grand kids could have unstructured play with lots of interesting things and places. Each kid's different and some need constant supervision longer, but when the time is right and they can be trusted, it's important for them to test their wings.

We lingered at Alex's conquest until he had exhausted his conquests possibilities for that particular day and moved on. It was a delightful time on a delightful day and it didn't last long enough. We went in for lunch and I read him a bit of Tom Sawyer. The story of a boy who is naughty--perfect for a boy who can appreciate the finer points of naughtiness. It was a good visit all around.

Today, the weather is supposed to be gray and bleak, Alex is home, and Kris is "the throes of depression". I better go check on the goats.