Rope Haltering A 3 Month Old Calf

Dear Reader;

 This week I managed to drop off 8 large bags of clothing at the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Charlottetown. I did feel a little anxious because I had some very nice coats and sandles and silk shirts,purses and jewellery....but I don't wear any of those beautiful things in my new farm life. Getting rid of things that are no longer useful frees up space for things that you will actually use.....such as a new pair of Hunter boots. I have already worn out my other boots that I bought last fall:(

 I also started trying to train Gopal to a halter this morning. Calves are very much like human toddlers when you try to dress them or get them to go someplace that they don't want to go. You know what I mean....the toddlers make their bodies go all "boneless" and  flop to the floor.....well...baby calves do the exact same move:) Gopal is so cute and highly amusing. His character is very sweet so I think that he will make an excellent oxen. Here we are in this short video that I took this morning.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Raw Milk and Stuff

Dear Reader;

 Getting milk from a cow isn't quite as simple as I thought that it would be. We are on day 4 and I managed to milk 1 cup out of one teat while fighting off two very lusty calves. Yesterday I managed to milk over 1 quart. So tonight I am going to put all four calves into a separate pen and then keep Saci by herself. She ought to be alright with this plan because she can still touch her calves but they won't be able to nurse for the night. Then early tomorrow morning as soon as it gets light I will hurry out to the barn with a bucket of grain and milk her!

 This cold weather is getting me down...it is so uninspiring....I mean it is March for goodness sakes....our faces should not be freezing off. The calves that are inside the barn are unhappy and they are getting tired of the same ol' hay. The cows outside of the barn are also getting bored with hay and want to eat some fresh grass. I know this because they give me "The Look".

 Even though we are feeling unmotivated.... I did manage to get a few coats of paint on my future altar. I will paint it white for now and when the weather improves my plan is to take it outside and give it a fabulous coat of silver! I bought this piece for a cool $25 from my friend Al. Until next time...sigh.......

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Cardboard Furniture

Dear Reader;

 Do you require furniture but you have no money? Check out this guy. He makes cardboard furniture and  it is eco friendly.... reusable, light weight and the best part....free!

 Did you build yourself a house from a  cardboard box when you were a child?

 I did. My cardboard box came from our new refrigerator. I distinctly remember that I had many happy days in my box house. I loved the new clean smell and pristine look of my cardboard box. I was also a budding Minimalist because I kept my furnishings simple and I did not use crayons to draw flowered wallpaper and I did not add curtains.

 Fast forward to the present. I was wanting carpet underlay for the newly finished livingroom but our budget is basically nonexistent. As we pondered the problem my very practical husband said, "We could use cardboard instead."

 I remembered my childhood house and also the video that I posted...up there. So off we went to Home Depot and G rummaged around their storage space until he found exactly what we required.
Here are a few pictures of a job well done:)

  Mmmmmmm......soft carpet!

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

 

 

 

 

 

Music Lessons

Dear Reader;

 The tallest building in my little hamlet where I grew up was the Roman Catholic Convent. I was very impressed by this building and I got to visit the basement on a regular basis because I would wait for my best friend Michelle to finish her weekly piano lesson.

 I was secretly jealous of her because I also wanted to learn how to play the piano. Unfortunately my foster home did not have the extra money to pay for such a luxury.....but...it's completely possible that I did not even ask to take lessons. You see when you are a foster child you are in that home on a temporary basis. It always feels as though there is a guillotine  hanging over your head...so you try not to be to much of a nuisance. I have to say "not to much" because I know that I was quite the handful and I drove my foster mother nuts...but...fortunately I also made her laugh.

 I harbored this desire to play an instrument...something very simple...because I can't read music or carry a tune. I thought a little harp would be perfect. About the time that I decided on a harp...a $50 one in my mind...my husband and I were visiting this store in England and it specialized in harps. My husband wanted to encourage my instrument idea and bought me this beautiful lap harp. Unfortunately I was intimidated by it and never learnt to plunk or plink the strings. I just lugged it around from country to country as a decoration. That is until a few weeks ago. I finally decided that I was never going to play the thing and I was tired of feeling guilty about it. It was better off in the hands of someone who would use it and appreciate it. The harp needed to fulfill it's destiny so we put it up for sale.

My harp.....goodbye....

 The lady who bought it, sight unseen was so excited and I have great faith that my harp has found a great home and the music that they make together will be beautiful.

 I feel a certain sense of freedom and calm. I can even breath a little deeper. Perhaps in my next life I will be a musician......hmmmmmm.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

New Milk Cow:)

Dear Reader;

 We are so excited to have a new Jersey milk cow. She arrived today with her son Nimai and foster son Nitai. Nitai was going to be sent to slaughter so the owner decided that she preferred to give him to us after we explained to her that we protect cows.

The calves are beyond adorable and their mother is a very nice cow. We will keep them inside the barn for a day or so until she regains her strength after the ordeal of  moving...from one farm to another.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Mantra Powered Floor Polisher

Dear Reader;

 The living room and dining room are almost done! Today we were making beeswax floor polish and finishing the job. I decided that I would add Dragons Blood essential oil to the wax so when you enter the house...the scent is very grounding.....it's a combination of honey,beeswax and spices.... very exotic!

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Ron Finley: A Guerilla Gardener

Dear Reader;

  Here is a man worth listening to because he isn't just a talker...he is also an unstoppable doer with a truly honorable vision!

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Simply 55

Dear Reader;

  Today I turned 55 years old. 55....55....55.....I've being saying that number from the moment I woke up this morning. For me turning 50 was a big one and now 55 is another big number. I'm alright  because for the first time in my life I'm feeling ok about being me. I feel as though the youthful angst is gone...pooooooffff...not overnight...but over the past couple of years. I don't feel so concerned about peoples opinions of me or if they "like" me or not. I'm not feeling so angry about the world....even though there is so much to be angry about. The more that I minimize my life in all aspects..the more I feel in control. No need for frustration...so no need for tantrums. I'm not saying that I don't experience that flash of anger...I just don't feel the need to throw stuff around and swear like a sailor anymore. I've gotten to that place where I can say..."No" and "I don't care."

 For so many years I thought that I was that person that everyone said that I was....."The Artist"...spaced out ....starving...emotional...creative...artist! I am a creative person and I can do some drawing and painting but I never felt passionate about art. In my mind I felt like a "pathetic artist". I like my world to be neat and tidy but an artist requires a lot of "things" around for inspiration. I would decorate with sarees and "stuff" only to take it down and feel like I was trying to live two lives.On the other hand my husband creates art in everything he does....building houses or tiling floors or gardening. He is the artist!

 A week ago I came across this video on Youtube and a big part of the jigsaw puzzle of my journey to simplicity fell into place. I am by nature an organized person...a counter clockwise left brain person. There is no right or wrong with either being a right or left brained person. After understanding that my husband is a right brained person and I'm the complete opposite ...peace...came over our home. Nothing changed....yet...everything changed because now I understand that his leaving his stuff everywhere is "normal" for him.He is not purposely sabotaging my clean house. He is not being an irresponsible child...it is just not one of his priorities. His not ever washing the vehicles is fine for him but not for me. He doesn't cut grass but I do. I've always found fault with his habits but now I feel at peace  because I actually enjoy "cleaning and organizing". We make a "perfect" couple because he is always creating things and I set the boundaries and help him to keep the place and projects in order. This realization has allowed me to let go of so many more "things' that fit with my "I'm an artist persona".

 Here's that video.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal
 

 

March Lion?

Dear Reader;

 I woke up this morning and  found our world transformed into a winter wonderland.

 I would say that the month of  March came in like a lion and  hopefully out like a lamb but time will tell.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Sachi Gives Birth (Video)

Dear Reader;

 Two days ago I was telling my husband that "Twinkies" are approved by the FDA but raw milk is considered dangerous. Apparently this must have been the tipping point because he then said..." That's it.....we are getting another milk cow!" Within hours he had located a Jersey cow who was due to give birth in one week. We hopped into the truck and drove a little over one hour away to Clyde River to see this cow.

She was very friendly and peaceful as we fed her turnip peels. The weather was chilly and damp so you will see nearing the end of the video...the picture starts to get quite shaky.....that was me.......shivering:) We had spent about two hours discussing the cow..politics and then OMG......the cow started to give birth.....and I caught it all on video. My battery was almost dead but it hung in there for all the most important bits. Birth truly is miraculous and to witness the birth of a calf is considered very auspicious.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal