The Maiden Voyage

I am a covert farmer.  This is an odd statement for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is that at the moment, I am farming nothing.  Added to that is the obvious fact that one cannot operate covertly and at the same time publish his doings for all the world to see.

So then why the pretentious assertion?  I will soon be trying my hand at making a living as a farmer, but I don't want anyone to know it...yet.  Right now, I am a gainfully employed father of five, living a pretty darn good life. I go to work at a place where I am valued and I come home to a loving wife and children.  A paycheck is automatically deposited into my bank account twice a month. There is a surplus left over after paying all of our expenses to do things like eat out or go to the movies (or buy a gun ;).  I work for a school, so I have almost every weekend off and most of the summer months.  My health insurance is payed for and I am eligible for "free" money to continue my education.  If I opt to go the route of some of my colleagues, I could potentially have the letters P-H and D chiseled after my name on a gravestone one day.

Small-scale farmers, on the other hand, don't get the weekends off. The cow doesn't care if your grandpa died or Jesus was born, it still has to be milked.  One's income is dictated by the unfettered market (in theory anyways), and a bumper crop doesn't necessarily mean that there will be a fat wad of cash sitting in the bank.  In fact, take a check from the wrong person and you might be out inventory, labor and cash.  Health insurance is having extra bottles of Advil in the house.  And as for going to town to catch a movie, according to the Godfather of sustainable farmers, Joel Salatin, you're better off watching the mating rituals of your poultry.

And my crazy ass wants to trade the first choice for the second!  Yeah, I'd better keep this one to myself, at least for a while, unless I want my mother-in-law to come cash in my life insurance plan early for her daughter.  This blog, dear reader, may well be the virtual equivalent of watching a car crash happen in slow motion before your very eyes.  Or it might be a record of God's providence as He continues to take care of idiots, drunkards, children and the United States.  Time will tell.

Happy Birthday, my Big Game Hunter!

XOXOXOX

Happy Birthday to my Most Capable Protector, Provider & Love-Of-My-Life!

XOXOXOX

The perfect birthday present.  A pair of white tail deer.  Fresh, wild, free, wholesome meat.
Provided by the Good Lord, reaped by a skilled hunter.

"Who's ready to shoot something?"

BestFest- What a Fest!

SO, 

our local Knights of Columbus hosted another Sausage Cook Off this year, and we were there! (All you-can-eat delicious varieties from a few different companies and vote for your favorite, hence the title 'BestFest') 

What a great afternoon of tasty German fare, polka music, kid's games and high hopes of winning raffle prizes but the real treat was right here:

 

Oh yes!!  After finding this authentic German Leiderhosen at an Antique Mall in town, 

what else could we do but buy it for our Little Schnitzel? 

...little leather pants, wool lined straps, woolen coat with carved antler buttons, felt hat...

...the outfit was AMAZING! And Michael was in a great mood to match, flashing smiles at all the people who wanted pictures of him.  :)

And let me tell you, when the Polka Band started up, so did Michael!

 He danced,

 and danced,

and danced!

The admission price for adults was $10.00 but I'm pretty sure that when everyone paid their entry, they had no idea of the treat they'd get in watching our little 'junge' turn circles on the dance floor!!!

+ + +

Birthdays & Such

Cupcakes from Anne's birthday- using fondant icing to cut out designs was great fun and enjoying them with her class at school was even better!

A birthday trip to our favorite frozen yogurt shop

 is getting to be a fun tradition in our house! 

Now, on to Lily's 2nd birthday!  

Cool, cool birthday girl and big brother on the way into town

 for good times with grandparents and their long, lost Uncle Sam!

Beautiful butterfly face paint from a suoire at Oktoberfest!

....and a smiling baby brother, happy as a bug

in a rug amidst all the commotion of this bustling household!  

Deo Gratias

Recent Pictures...

Baptized Into Christ

Welcome to the Family of God Little One!

With Elizabeth's Parents

The Ferguson 'Men'

+ + +

Baptized August 14th at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

Anthony Travis

Announcing the birth of Anthony Travis Ferguson.  7 lbs., 20 inches, born at 10:25 pm on 7 August in our home.  Momma is fine and his big sisters and brother are overjoyed.  Thanks be to God for all of you who supported us by your prayers, sacrifices and gifts.  Te Deum laudamus! His baptism is scheduled for next Tuesday at St. Francis Xavier.