Vikki's Verandah

PLANNING A WEIRD SPOT ON OUR PROPERTY

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:20:00 +0000

We have only 2 acres, here in Zone 5, the plains of Colorado. Sandy loam (mostly sand!). Most of our space I can easily plan... paddocks for the goats and chickens, with crops growing in some of them. Areas for a small orchard, berry brambles, nut trees. But there's one place that stumps me.

That red line ... we are gonna put telephone poles where that line is ... we park right there anyway. The driveway goes down to the right, which is west. Notice the really weird front door of the house: open the door and try to hold the dog's leash as I hold on to the railing to get down the (now) icy steps ... very difficult. We can't move it to there the pentagonal window is because there's a heat vent on the floor right there. So as much as I hate it, the door has to stay where it is. Grrr.

When we have money, we want to replace the steps with a handicapped ramp (since I have problems walking).

That being said, we need a place to sit and look out at the mountains (to the west). Beyond beautiful view. Very very hot in the summer, not to mention the bugs. VERY windy. Would like to enclose a part right against the house (see the blue lines in the below pic, #2). The green lines show my son's service dog's "business" area (how he managed to train himself to do everything in that one spot, I'll never know!)

In this third pic, I've added a white line which shows where we plan to put up a big 4-6 foot solid fence, white, so that the back acre will be completely cut off. Just to keep the front acre animals separate from the back acre animals! Where the blue lines and white lines meet, will be the gate to that section plus to the back yard. Well, one of the gates.

Working with a limited budget.

Anyhoo, in that front area, it's rock and some dirt on top of landscaping cloth. The last owners ruined original landscaping ... scooped up almost all rock to sell for money. Wondering if we could do like an outline of where we want the enclosed porch area to be when we can afford.

Thought we'd scoop up the rest of the rocks (and hopefully landscaping cloth that's really in tatters), then dump top soil on the area, and maybe build some planters. We want edible landscaping, but between the house and those two trees, we get only about 5-6 hours of sunshine there (in the summer, about 2-3 in the winter). Will wrap around another 30 feet towards the side of the house, which is the south side and gets a LOT of sun.

Recommendations for herbs or berries that would do well there? Maybe some roses too? Something that's easy-care because I have two other acres to look after PLUS lots of animals and a special-needs child.

Would you recommend pots or making planters with concrete blocks or bricks with dirt in the middle for plantings? Or straight in the ground once we dump the top soil there (I'll amend with chicken and goat poop).

Help! I want to start sketching it out so we can budget then start in the Spring.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
p.s. Our oldest doe (girl goat) just had TRIPLETS on Monday, Dec 5! I'll write about that soon, with graphic pictures that I'm sure (ha ha) you'll love! Here's a couple of cute pix as a taste!

DECIDING WHAT NUT TREES TO PLANT

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:10:00 +0000

We have SOME sources of protein here on our tiny property. We have goats (milk and meat) and chickens (eggs and meat) and plan to add rabbits, ducks and possibly pigs. But we don't eat a LOT of meat so plan to eat nuts, seeds and beans for protein too.

In Zone 5. Finally should have the money by Spring to plant berries, fruit trees and nut trees. The berries and fruits were easy: so many fruit trees come in dwarf and really dwarf sizes so I can fit them in here and there, not casting shadows on where we plan to plant grains.

But the nut trees have me a little stumped. There are a couple of almond trees that only get 10-15 feet tall so we'll be doing 3-4-5 of them. I don't want only almonds for our nut protein source! When I eat too many, it makes my throat itch.

Pecans won't grow here, so I understand although am highly disappointed. Same for pistachios and such. And we don't really like chestnuts.

Deciding between butternut and english walnuts. Both nut trees get between 30-50 feet tall so I can only have 3-4 total on our itty bitty property. Probably shading the goat and chicken pens.

For those of you who have experience:
-which has more protein?
-which is easier to harvest?
-which bears nuts fastest?
-which is more versatile (in cooking)
-which is easier to de-shell and freeze, dehydrate or can?
-oh, and we haven't eaten butternuts but they are supposed to be really buttery .. are they?

Thanks.

WEATHER VS LIFE

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:07:00 +0000

Weather here is sooo messed up! Two blizzards so far, and expecting more snow tomorrow through Wednesday. Glad there's nothing coming down tonight (Halloween). But yeah, we're almost 100% ready for all of these colds temps. Wednesday night expected low should be 16 degrees F. All of our chickens have a solid roof over their heads (except for the 12 we butchered last weekend). Our goats are all set up ... with the girls in their separate pen eating good healthy portions of goat feed to help make healthy babies (both girls due around Thanksgiving).

The garden really sucked this year but we KNOW next year will be better. More space. Good solid garden beds. Goats in separate areas with lots more room. Maybe make places for ducks (I understand duck meat is delicious) and meat rabbits (very lean protein but excellent eating).

Also planning the orchard too ... apples, pears, peaches, almonds, walnuts, butternut. Lots of space for 3-sisters (corn, beans, winter squashes), 3-cousins (sunflowers, cucumbers, melons) and possibly even some grain like wheat, amaranth, millet, milo and some alfalfa for the goats for next Winter.

Things are definitely looking better ... now, if only my leg would let me walk! Basically, I'm gonna have to pretty much stay off it for the next 3-4 months if I want to avoid surgery. So, once a week I do laundry and big chores and cooking. The one other day I do errands, grocery shopping, library, etc. The rest of the time I need to stay off my leg. Not great for my diet, but necessary.

Life. Right?

WINTER STORM COMIN

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:18:00 +0000

We already had our first snow a couple of weeks ago. About 3 inches of heavy wet snow. Here one day, gone in 2 days. Weren't quite ready, but since it never got much below 32 degrees, even at night, I wasn't too concerned.

The winter storm coming tonight, however, will bring a temp tonight of about 17 degrees F. That's cold! So Hubby, Kid and I worked hard for the last several days, winterizing all critter homes. Everyone has a roof now, with plastic on the boards to help protect the wood. The goats are now happy in their separate pens: boys in one and girls in another. There is, of course, more space in the girl goat pen because they'll be having babies soon.

Goats can tolerate very low temps but they can't really get wet. A lean-to would have sufficed but yes, we baby our animals just a tad. No door on their homes but a good roof does wonders.

The chickens, however, need not only to stay out of wet (rain and snow) but also out of the wind. They all have roofs, and 3 sides to their coops but no front (except for wire). I'm sure they'll be fine but to help keep blowing snow off of them, I put up shower curtains (yes, I'm cheap) up for rain storms and blizzards.

Tonight, before I go to bed, when we collect eggs, we'll put the shower curtains over the fronts, and safety-pin them in place.

Meanwhile, we have eggs comin' out of our ears!!!

Ready in other avenues: ability to heat our home, food, water, gas for the vehicles. We're all set. Bring it on!

I CAN GROW GARLIC IN POTS (and more)

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:17:00 +0000

Browsing online. Not a usual thing for me these days because I'm so incredibly busy. Happened across this: How to grow garlic in containers ... wow! Thinking I'll get some bulbs from the health food store and give it a try. Anybody else tried this yet?

In other news, a huge windstorm we had about 2 weeks ago blew down what we thought was a very sturdy chicken coop we'd just finished. Lots of braces and beams. A good solid roof. Waterproofed. Roomy. But no, an entire day of continuous strong wind gusts brought it down.

I called my husband at work, panicking, as my son and I held on to the remnants. Help! Come home!

By the time he got there, my son and I had given up. One at a time, we moved the chickens here and there, anywhere there was room. Over the next 2 days, two guys built a stronger double chicken coop. Set in concrete this time. Nothing short of a tornado will be moving this sucker. But there went the last $700 we had.

Then last weekend, Hubby and I got busy on the goat accommodations. Needed to separate the girls from the boys, since the girls are due to kid (give birth) around Thanksgiving. Created two separate (but small) fenced areas in the backyard, moved the dog houses to provide shelter, and are still constructing a small "kidding kennel" in the girl's area. The new pens are fairly small, but will be sufficient for winter housing. Especially for the girls, because once the babies come, I'll be able to look out of the kitchen window any time and see them. LOVE it!

We're also in the midst of a mouse invasion. Sorry, PETA, but we've put poison all over our house. Well, in places where the puppy can't get to it. Necessary because I'm real tired of finding open/spilled bags of popcorn or crackers or flax seeds.

Guess that's it for now. Gotta go put things in canning jars to keep them safe from the meeses!

FARMETTE NEWS

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Caught one of my leghorn chickens eating an egg yesterday. Really ticked me off ... her running around with a half-eaten egg, playing keep-away with the other chickens. Even after I caught her, she refused to give it up. Put her in isolation and will be including her with the others that are bound for "freezer camp". Then thoroughly cleaned the nest box because there was raw egg all over it.

Hope she didn't teach the other chickens in that group about eating eggs.

HUGE wind storm today. Big weather system moving in. High on Saturday isn't expected to get out of the 50's. I'd forgotten how much I hate this wind out here.

Person expected to come out on Sunday (60's and clear, supposedly) to finish the chicken house and do the goat pen. Good. My poor 2 roosters in the goat pen are freaking out about the wind! Once the roof and walls are up and solid, we can move the rest of the hay into the goat pen. Easier for us to feed the girls during the worst blizzards.

Got a bunch of pea seeds in the mail yesterday. As soon as Hubby runs the Mantis through the garden, I'll sow them. Might eat some but for the most part, it's for fodder and green manure.

Two cords of firewood were delivered last weekend. Enough for us for the entire Winter. Almost have enough propane for the Winter too, but still need to get some more hay. Hay is in short supply around here, and what's available is really expensive. Putting up a stock of alfalfa pellets in case we can't find more hay that we can't afford.

I'll be glad when everything that absolutely necessary to be done is actually done. I want to relax at least a little bit during the Winter.

THEN I'll plan next year's fencing and gardening projects!

I LOVE that part!

CHRISTMAS MONEY MAKERS

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:48:00 +0000

Money is tight this year. Oh heck, isn't it always? Yeah, we've laid in firewood, a little hay, alfalfa pellets, and propane, but still ... need to do some fencing, new goat paddocks (before Spring) and still need to get holiday gifts.

I take this to YOU!

We're going to be selling at a huge local flea market the 2 weekends before Thanksgiving in November. Wondering what we can sell that will bring in a good profit, and is easy to do.

Thinking ...

I have a laminator and some laminating sheets. What about a single lam sheet, front and back, for most-cooked Thanksgiving recipes? Christmas gift ideas? Gluten-Free Party Ideas? Colored card stock, with colored ink. Three hole punched. etc.

How much would YOU pay for a pretty laminated sheet of the above? $4.99?

Other ideas?

A GARDEN MAZE OR LABYRINTH

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:47:00 +0000

Trying to figure out how to make our little farmette somewhat profitable so Hubby can quit job in a couple of years. Since we might not be getting any cash inheritance from FIL's estate, thinking thinking thinking.

We have about 1/2 an acre in the front that has nothing on it but a small tree. Now, since we're already planning on planting lots of berry brambles, how about we plant them in a maze or labyrinth of some kind? People will have to "be in the moment" to walk through it, to be mindful of the thorns and can even pick some to take with them. In the center could be a nice little sitting area with sculpture or that little tree (no idea what kind) or a big beautiful rose bush.

Nothing complicated. Plenty of room in the rows for lawnmower. Just blackberries and/or raspberries. Maybe grape vines along an arbor-entrance.

Charge $5 or $10 per person to walk it? Plus extra for picking berries or up the price and include the berries in the admission (one bucket per person for say $20 admission).

Would people be willing to drive the hour from the big city to walk the maze? To pick a few blackberries?

Thoughts?

UNBEFREAKINGLIEVABLE!

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Hubby finally back from getting the last of his "stuff' from his dad's farm. Not much: freezer, clothes, hats, couple of Coleman stoves.

As we're getting the last box from the u-haul, he casually mentions that he probably won't be getting any money. That the property probably won't sell for much.

WTF!?!?!

Three properties (1 with a house and huge metal workshop)
1 van
1 pickup truck
1 tractor
and probably $30,000 worth of really cool and huge tools!

No money?!?!

I think next week I might be calling a lawyer.

MANY CHICKENS GONE

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:56:00 +0000

We've put a lot of extra chickens for sale. As of last night, when another 10 left here, we have only two bantams left to be sold. And they don't eat a lot so if they stick around, that's ok.

Hubby is bringing home a freezer from his dad's place this weekend, so as soon as we get it cleaned up, plugged in and working, we'll take about 20 black australorp chickens to be processed for "freezer camp". Then, we'll have a manageable number of chickens for winter care. Including when (or if) I'm laid up with knee problems.

We made enough selling our chicks to pay for several bags of feed during the winter. That helps knowing we'll be able to care for them appropriately. Keep them happy and healthy.

Peace of mind.

CHANGE OF PLANS

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0000

Looks like we won't be getting the tractor or tools or anything else from my husband's deceased father's farm. His sister seems to be saying no way ... FIL's friends and local townspeople deserve it more.

At least, that's how it's coming across.

I've never seen my husband as hurt as he is right now.

We may have our problems, but I support him completely. Fine. His sister doesn't want to divide up property and give him his 50%? I don't like her anyway: too snobby. And his mother is way too controlling. Guess from now on, my son (who they hate anyway) and I (don't like me either) will NEVER attend another family function: holiday, birthday... doesn't matter. If Hubby wants to, that's his choice. But son and I won't.

Okay, so now we probably won't get the tools or tractor or whatever, so we won't be able to make new paddocks and raise more of our food or do woodworking or the other things we planned... we'll get by.

Always do.

WHO TO TRUST

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:42:00 +0000

Gone for a few days for Hubby's dad's funeral. Made arrangements for someone to stay here, to care for the livestock, and someone else to milk the goats.

Came home to find the people responsible for the feeding and watering of the livestock did only a half-assed job. These people have alpaca, dogs and cats, and they'd helped us out before but this time, they forgot to feed the goats their hay. No hay at all in 3 days. If you knew goats, you know that they need at least forage if they don't have hay.

They got so hungry that they figured out how to escape, ate most of my garden (squash, strawberries, blueberries and corn), got into the chicken food (so the chickens practically starved too) and were found a couple of properties away.

Furious doesn't begin to cover it!

Guess we can never all be gone again at the same time.

Left a few summer squash, zucchini and cucumbers plants. Hope to nurse the other plants back from mere stems.

It's not just that I lost food that I was going to put away for us to eat this Winter. I mean, that's part of being self-sufficient, right? Growing your own food so we can eat year-round? Like our ancestors did. But it's also that my poor goats and chickens feel like **I** deserted them. That **I** abandoned them.

At least we know who we CAN'T trust now.

DEATH IN THE FAMILY

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:24:00 +0000

My husband's father passed away yesterday. Luckily, I'd pushed Hubby to go straight after work on Friday so he had spent most of Saturday with him (and his sister and her husband).

Gotta figure out what to do with the dog and my kid.

And I have a chicken who got his eyes pecked out last night.

Already found someone to come feed and water the livestock, and collect eggs. Another person will come over and milk the goat.

Can't find our suitcases. Need more feed. Hay needs to be moved closer to the goats. Need to get keys made. Somebody staying in house this week.

So much to do.

Hubby is heart broken but at least his father is not in any more pain.

BOYCOTT PRODUCTS NOT MADE IN USA

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:58:00 +0000

Got this on a forum that I read regularly ...

AUGUST 1st to Sept. 1st

Did you see Diane Sawyer's special report? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA .

There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..

It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like

200,000 new jobs!

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA '

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '

I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF.

Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think. The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets.

70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.

Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !!

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!

Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on Aug. 1st and continue it until Sept. 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

Remember, August 1st to Sept. 1st !!!!!! START NOW.

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Pass it on,friends

Well instead of doing it for just 1 month why not try to do it all the time.

I agree ... from now until the end of my days, I will look at everything I buy to make sure it was produced / grown / made in my country. USA. Maybe if we all do this, we might be able to bring our country back from the brink of total financial collapse.

MIGRAINE

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:56:00 +0000

Between this blinding migraine and accompanying nausea, light sensitivity, etc. AND this very hot weather with no rain, I'm really not getting much done.

How did the old timers do it?

GARDEN AND PUPPY AND CRITTERS

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:41:00 +0000

Harvested another tomato. That's right. ONE. Singular. ARGH! Sounds like lots of people are having a bad garden year. Difficult to put up tomatoes for sauce during the winter if there aren't any tomatoes. Might find some at the farmer's market on SAturday.

Training the puppy is doing well. Knows his name and "sit". Working on "mat" (a special mat we'll take with us so he'll sit there while he waits for us to eat at a restaurant or whatever).

Puppy visited the chickens and goats today. Just love seeing our wether goat touch noses with the puppy ... they are still a little leery of each other but willing to explore their relationship. Helps when I hold the puppy and pet the wether. The chickens don't let the puppy get too close but luckily the puppy demonstrates only mild curiosity towards them. Yippee!

The training schedule might change, but still will cost a lot. Now that my deadline for the cookbook has passed, I'll be working hard on getting it ready for publication. Love it!

Stay cool.

SNAKE

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:07:00 +0000

Found a snake by my house this morning. Just a garter snake as I later discovered by googling "colorado snakes" but still is freaking me out. Especially since I found it by the back door, and after I screamed, it slithered under my garage. MY GARAGE!

I'm still freaking.

Yes, I know they aren't poisonous but still, I hate snakes.

This weekend we're mowing, trimming and cleaning up all yard area near the house. And from now on, my son (and, of course all of us) are NOT allowed outside without wearing boots.

Hope my chickens go after the snakes and eat them. Especially hope my mama hen with 6 2-week-old babies keeps them safe.

WILTED GARDEN

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:05:00 +0000

Trying so hard to keep up with the garden, but it's soooo hot that I just don't want to go outside except to feed and water the critters (chickens and goats).

Have harvested a few tomatoes and some blueberries. Nothing else so far (unless you count the weeds that I pull and feed to the goats). Summer squash are finally taking off. With only another month in the growing season, not sure how much we'll get before the first freeze.

How is everyone else's garden doing this year ... what with this crazy mixed up weather and massive heat wave?

GOAT BABIES

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:33:00 +0000

I miss my goat babies. Didn't think I would, but I do.

Hope they are all happy in their new homes.

BTW ... anybody want a beautiful white lab puppy? Very sweet, smart and loving but he just doesn't work with my kid. Not sure what to do.

Autism Meltdowns

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:42:00 +0000

Just wondering what would help to mitigate (slow down, reduce or even stop) my kid's meltdowns? He doesn't realize he's having them until they are over. It's like a fog he goes through, an out-of-body experience where he can see himself getting out of control, but can't do anything about it.

Afterwards he apologizes but during them ... well, I usually end up crying. Then it takes me hours and hours to get out of my crisis response mode while it takes him only a few moments to apologize and get back to his wonderful sweet self, leaving me in the dust.

Not sure a puppy is the way to go. Not now when he can get pretty violent during episodes.

Found this online:

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TANTRUM AND A MELTDOWN

The meltdown is a common autistic characteristic feared and dreaded by both caregivers and autistics. Not to be confused with a temper tantrum. There are differences that are easy to spot if you are looking.

1. During a melt down, a child with autism does not look or care, if those around him are reacting to his behavior. A child having a tantrum will look to see if their behavior is getting a reaction.

2. A child in the middle of a meltdown does not consider their own or others safety. A child in the middle of a tantrum takes care to be sure they won't get hurt.

3. A child in the meltdown mode has no interest or involvement in the social situation. A child who throws a tantrum will use the social situation to their benefit.

4. Meltdowns seem to move along under their own power and wind down slowly. With a tantrum, it will end suddenly when the situation is resolved.

5. A melt down gives the feeling that no one is in control. A tantrum will give you the feeling that the child is in control, although they are pretending they are not.

6. The meltdown usually begins when a specific want has not been permitted and after a point, nothing can satisfy the child until the meltdown has run its course. A tantrum is thrown to achieve a specific goal and once the goal is met, things return to normal.

THE MELTDOWN CHARACTERISTICS

There is nothing amusing about the meltdown. It is every known form of manipulation, anger, and loss of control that a person can muster up to display. It is loud, risky at times, frustrating, and exhausting. It is scary. The best definition is a total loss of behavioral control.

The problem is that the loss of control overtakes the child. They need their caregiver to recognize this behavior and help return them to control as they are unable to do so. A child with autism in the middle of the meltdown desperately needs help to regain composure.

As a caregiver of a child on the autism spectrum, you need to help the child learn to recognize when the meltdown is imminent. In this way, you can both work to avoid a meltdown. Remember the scary part mentioned above, think about an adult going out of control in a similar manner. The child needs to learn to recognize and learn to defuse this type of unacceptable behavior before they reach adulthood and are able to do more damage.

Carefully observe your child if they are experiencing meltdowns. Does the meltdown have a brief period before onset where your child spaces out? Do they get totally uninvolved with their environment prior to a meltdown? What are the signals?

WHAT TO DO

When your child launches into the meltdown, remove them from any areas that could harm them or they could harm. Glass shelving and doors may become the target of an angry foot. Try to avoid having objects at hand to throw at people. Try to separate them from other people. Avoiding injury is the top priority during the meltdown.

Don’t try to reason with them. They aren’t listening and too much talking just adds to their sensory overload. There will be plenty of time to discuss it after they calm down. Remember, they aren’t like a puppy and their behavior doesn’t have to be dealt with immediately.
From http://www.autism-causes.com/the-meltdown.html

I do think that we'll work hard to focus on what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Look for/discern what his triggers are. When it begins, decide if the meltdown is worth not giving in on whatever he's requesting or refusing. Work on positive reinforcement.

Persistence, practice, patience, and consistency are the ingredients to succeed in teaching your autistic child acceptable social behaviors.

So ... thoughts? You know, for when he's past the point of no return ... until we can figure out what his triggers are?

Maybe an MP3 player with certain calming sounds or songs on it? A "worry stone" and accompanying "chant"?

Help!

ANOTHER BABY GOAT GONE

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Sold another baby goat yesterday ... the little doeling. While they were here, they so very nicely offered to band my boy baby so he would be a wether (a boy who can't produce kids). Poor little boy is still in so much pain.

Then the new owner of the baby girl goat called and said she's really lonely. That the other 2 baby girls she has won't let her into their little goat "clique". Would I consider selling the boy, her brother, for half price?

I said, uh, yeppers! She'll call me later after discussing with her hubby.

Meanwhile, my own hubby is two states away, getting his dad settled in the hospital, and closing up his farm and house. His Uncle took some stuff that important to my Hubby .. to his own home. That's not right! It's a difficult-enough time right now.

And very very hot. Scorching. Not doing diddly squat today. Reading e-mails and mostly lounging around. Too hot to do anything.

DHS IS MESSED UP

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:28:00 +0000

This was an e-mail I received a couple of days ago. While I believe that everyone is entitled to practice whatever religion feels right to them, this e-mail disturbed me so much that I had to post it here, even tho I try to keep politics and religion off my blog.

Do what you need to do.

Stuff like this is NOT why we work to become self-sufficient, with our garden and goats and chickens, but it certainly could become YOUR reason.

Here is the e-mail:

================================================

THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW!!!

We now live about 30 miles from Fresno . We are up in the Sierras and Fresno is the first big town we encounter when we leave the mountains. We shop there often. I received this from my ex-homicide partner who is still active in law enforcement circles in the Fresno area.

Excuse the language, but don't excuse the facts. Don't give up your guns, and buy necessary ammunition if you can find it. Be cautious and alert. Be ready if, God forbid, we need to protect our families and loved ones.

If you weren't at Rotary meeting on Friday, you missed the only decent speaker we've had in more than a year. LTC John Cotter is the 144th Fighter Wing's anti terrorism officer. John had a two-part presentation. First part was describing his job as the units anti terrorism officer. Pretty standard stuff.

The second part was information that will curl your hair. A Part-time air guardsman works as a checker at local Von's. Two women in full burkas buy every pre-paid cell phone in the store. Clerk/airman gets to thinking about it. Goes to Cotter and reports incident. Cotter asks store for surveillance video. It's scary enough that he contacts Fresno FBI.

FBI investigates and determines these women have been doing this all over the Valley. Cell phones shipped through Canada to Iraq/Afghanistan where they become triggers for roadside bombs.

The Shell station at Peach and Shaw. Every time a local GI goes there in fatigues they are asked specific questions. What is your unit? When are you deploying? How many aircraft are you taking?

The F-16s out of Fresno fly CAP for west coast. As such they are the first line of defense so they have the US 's most sophisticated air-to-air missiles. Foreign governments would like to get their hands on those missiles or at least learn how to build them. Also how many we have, etc. Two spy groups are working on it, one based at Fashion Fair Mall (the F-16s take-off pattern) and one based at Sierra Vista Mall (the F-16s landing pattern).

Cotter said the ragheads (But we don't profile) are always probing the base. Two dorks in a pickup show up at the front gate wanting to deliver a package marked Air National Guard, Fresno .. No postage, no UPS, no FedEx, no DHL, no nothing. Just a probe.

I asked Cotter why we haven't seen anything about this in The Bee, on KMJ, on local TV news. He said they're not interested. Since Friday I've learned of two other things. My brother-in-law, Frank, (management at Avaya) had a Muslim tech who took a leave-of-absence for 6 weeks in Afghanistan . After the 6 weeks were up he called from New York requesting an extension. Frank (who does profile) said, you're fired, and called the Fresno FBI who were very interested. Don't know the outcome.

A Muslim who owns a liquor store in my former hometown of Kingsburg was constantly bugging customers to buy guns for him. Finally one of the guys I grew up with called the FBI.

We are a country at war and the enemy is among us. I don't care what Janet Napolitano says, it's a fight to the death and we should be prepared as possible. Brother-in-law Frank has a theory and I think it may be closer to the truth than Homeland Security wants to admit. See note below in red. There are a certain number (probably a large number) of Muslims among us who are awaiting the trigger date and will begin randomly killing as many of us as they can, sort of a Fort Hood on steroids. I know I'm getting prepared to shoot back.

Two items of interest: Sheriff Margaret Mims wants to grant concealed carry permits to all who are qualified. Columnist Jim Boren, among the most bleeding of the bleeding heart liberals, says it's time for Fresno residents to arm themselves. LOAD up, you can bet this is happening in places other than Fresno ...David RayburnI was asked to send this to everyone in my address book. Some of those I'm sending it to WILL NOT forward it! To those I say, Get your head out of the sand and look around with an open mind or before
you know it we will no longer be living in the land of the free and the brave!"We are under attack from a hidden enemy that is everywhere. They are a cancer that WILL attack us and KILL as many as they can to further the Islamic doctrine of Shiria law. They behead, cut off limbs, stone people to death and worse. Beware, there IS a holy war coming. The signs are everywhere if you care to look and listen.

What do we expect from Homeland Security not wanting to admit anything since they are being run by devout Muslims in charge of Homeland Security Posts.

Well, boys and girls, today the fox is guarding the hen house. The wolves will be herding the sheep!

Obama appointed two devout Muslims to homeland security posts.

Obama and Janet Napolitano appointed Arif Alikhan, a devout Muslim, as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano swore-in Kareem Shora, a devout Muslim, who was born in Damascus, Syria, as ADC National Executive Director as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC).

NOTE: Has anyone ever heard a new government official being identified as a 'devout Catholic," a "devout Jew" or a "devout Protestant"...?

Just wondering.

Devout Muslims being appointed to critical Homeland Security positions?

Doesn't this make you feel safer already?? That should make our home land much safer, huh!?

Wasn't it "devout Muslim men" who flew planes into U.S. buildings 8 1/2 years ago? Wasn't it a "devout Muslim man" who killed 13 at Fort Hood ?

Please forward this important information to any who give a rats about the future of our Country.

See http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/dhs.asp

CELL SERVICE GOOD PAYMENTS NOT REPORTED

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:42:00 +0000

I've been a Sprint cell phone customer since 1999 or so. For many years, I haven't had a missed or late payment. I expected that the good customer rating was being reported to the credit bureaus.

Sooo wrong. I was so wrong.

They only report missed or late payments or when someone completely stops paying. I checked with other cell phone services. Same answer.

NO!

NOBODY.

I stayed with Sprint for no reason, when I could have possibly gotten a better deal elsewhere.

So much for building my credit rating.

That sucks.

OUR FIRST 2011 HARVEST

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Was out watering the garden yesterday. Hadn't had rain in about 2 days and even tho it had rained for 10 days straight before then, last night it was dry as a bone. So for out the hose, filled up the chicken pens' waterers and goat water, then started in on the garden. Was very surprised when I looked down and found blue blueberries staring up at me. Beautiful rich-blue berries, ready for picking. Still there even tho we have lots of chickens and lots of wild birds (who stole our ripe strawberries!).

So I picked them. Just about 20 but it was enough for a dinner snack for my Kid and I. Delicious. Sweet and a bit tart. Juicy. Totally worth it. Tell you ... if we need to move from here, I'm soooo digging up and taking these bushes with me!

The summer squash and bush cucumbers are finally growing. It took all of those days of rain for things to finally get going. We've had 2 (or is it 3) days of very hot and dry weather so just about everything I planted is going through a growth spurt. I was really late in getting things going so it's doubtful I'll harvest any corn or winter squash or melons before the first frost; that's disappointing. But we finally have a tomato that's turning red, and a bell pepper is about 2 inches long.

We have 4 mini egger chickens who have started laying eggs. Woohoo! 3 blue and 1 green. Love it. Then one of our chickens we hatched from our own eggs this past February laid her first egg yesterday .. it was blue! I do think that one of my chickens got eaten night before last. Found a pile of feathers outside of their new pen. Hope I'm wrong. Haven't looked this morning; kinda afraid. Obviously have more securing to do with the new pen, especially around the bottom. Would hate to lose these chickens that I've spent so much time, money and energy on.

BUT Lola is our newest mother hen. Out of the 8 eggs she started sitting on 32 days ago, she hatched 6. One we threw out and the other we can't find (probably a mouse or chipmunk or something ... I did find a tiny bit of yolk in the nest box). The 6 chicks are adorable: mostly brown with a little tinge of burnt sienna (red) in them. I'll try to take pictures soon.

If it wasn't for the constant family arguments, the heat, the flies, and the lack of money and support, I'd love this life!

KRYPTO IS COMING HOME

noreply@blogger.com (Vee and the Kid) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:53:00 +0000

The dog trainer, Laurie is on her way with Krypto, the Super-Service-Puppy! I'll be sure to take pictures. (Pic to the right is who our Krypto is named after)

My Kid is sooo excited about getting a dog. He helped me clean the upstairs today, and even volunteered to vacuum! Carried things downstairs, and brought laundry back upstairs. Took the wrappings off Krypto's toys, and found a crate to hold them. Even picked the crate's spot!

If only my kitchen sink hadn't exploded (ok, it didn't really explode but still, I can't use it!) then I'd fix dinner for us. I'm thinking it'll have to be pizza.

Oh well.