Monday, October 26, 2020

Church meetings and Primary, in the midst of a pandemic

 


When covid-19 swept onto the scene in mid-March, everything came to a screeching halt - especially where church was concerned. Church abruptly stopped.  Meetings were cancelled.  Schools shut down and took to the internet. Businesses closed, hoping to weather the storm.

I live in a township with 11 people per square mile. We are living a socially distanced life! We home-school and live a half hour from the nearest town (population 3,000) where we can shop for groceries and attend church.

My bishop (leader of our local congregation) was on top of things! We were up and running with leadership meetings online without skipping a beat. Throughout the previous months of life affected by covid, we have turned to the Lord and sought His guidance.  We have reached out to many, we met needs as best as possible as they presented themselves, and we reported back.

I am the Primary president in our ward. Our Primary presidency decided to DO the following.

1. ask and encourage teachers to reach out to the children in their classes on a regular (weekly if possible) basis. (Calls, texts, letters, but not lesson material, just fellowship. - "Family centered, church supported")

2. ask the activity leaders to make contact to express love and encourage goal setting

3. to keep in contact, and check up on the families with primary aged children as a presidency. (Our secretary made assignments and we rotated every couple of months or so.)

All contact was intended to express love, grow and continue to build relationships, to encourage daily immersion in the scriptures and use of the Come Follow Me program.

That's it. Super simple.




PRIMARY MUSIC WITH SUNDAY HOME/FAMILY WORSHIP:

I am also the Primary music leader. 
(This could be an entire series of posts - Music leader was not my choice,  I am practically tone deaf.  I am by far the weakest singing link in my family.  Yet the Holy Ghost appointed me.  I am EXTREMELY self conscious about my lack of singing ability.)

Each week, I sent out an email with the songs we would have been singing in Primary along with some ideas of how to "teach it" at home. This gave me weekly communication with the parents of the Primary children, and an chance to communicate any announcements, changes, or spiritual thoughts I felt impressed to share.  It also provided a weekly reminder to listen to gospel music.

Teacher contact and music continued even after we were meeting online for Sunday worship.




Then.....
I found myself thinking about the possibility of a Primary Program.


A PRIMARY PROGRAM 2020?

We counseled as a Primary presidency and came up with the idea to have families present the songs followed by the Primary aged children sharing a few words with the congregation. This met the social distancing guidelines and followed the Primary Sacrament meeting Presentation guidelines.  And it would allow us to move forward whether we were meeting online or in person. We presented it to the bishopric and it was approved.

You can read the initial letter I sent to the parents here.




MEETING IN PERSON:

We received authorization to meet in person in September. The councilor in the bishopric over Primary asked me for a plan (with back-ups) to return to church, full church, including Primary. I initially looked to others and asked others for ideas in order to formulate some ideas.

NOTHING.

I did not find anything online. I didn't (and still don't) know anyone personally who is meeting in person for both hours of church. Many people I know are attending Sacrament meeting and a shortened version at that. And some have recently started other Sunday meetings online.



We pondered and discussed as a presidency, and came up with the best way we thought would work for our Primary to meet when considering the covid guidelines for resuming in person meetings at church. We decided it was best to separate the children by family rather than by age. We contacted the teachers and leaders to see who would be joining us and consolidated classes which required fewer teachers while still maintaining 2 deep leadership, utilizing the Primary presidency. 

Our back up plan was to group children by family and use the classrooms as before,  switching between music time and lesson time.  That meant more rooms, more staff, more movement, and cleaning in between.



I strongly believe that no one should have to choose between their health concerns and serving in a calling at church.  Health and concerns about personal or family health come first!  I made it clear to each teacher that their health came first, and that if there were any concerns, that they should not be in Primary on Sunday.

You can read the portion of the letter sent out to parents about returning to Primary here. The teachers also received a similar letter.





WARD LOGISTICS:

We are utilizing our church building rather differently than we have in the past


Sacrament meeting: chapel and cultural hall

1st and 3rd
Sunday School - chapel
youth classes (3 classes with about 12 youth per class)
    Relief Society room
    Cultural hall
    Large "scout" room
Primary - Primary room


2nd and 4th
Relief Society - chapel
Elder's Quorum - cultural hall
Young Women - Relief Society room
Young men - various larger rooms
Primary - Primary room



I am in a relatively small Primary. We have just under 30 children attending. We have a plan to split the Primary and use the Young Women's room and have 2 music leaders and have 4  classes rather than our current 3. The Primary room is at capacity, but we have a plan if attendance increases. Every organization is where they are based on adequate space to accommodate them.

It is not my ideal, but we are making it work. The teachers are being super flexible, teaching lessons to greatly varied ages. The ward counsel reports on how things are going each week and we discuss solutions as needs arise. We are coming up with creative ideas to make meeting in person a continued possibility for our ward.

I know not all wards can do this because of numbers and space limitations, local covid guidelines, and other circumstances. Many other solutions are being implemented. I am just sharing my situation.




PRIMARY SACRAMENT MEETING PRESENTATION:

The Primary presidency decided on guidelines for talk content and length. We asked for a copy of each talk to assist in creating an order to follow and an idea for time. Turning in the talk was a requirement for participation. You can read the letter sent out here.


Notes:
Of the families not singing, none of the children or families elected to share a talk.

We based the talk guidelines on the number of children in each age group participating and also what an appropriate expectation would be. 
 
We offered a single practice after church the Sunday prior to the program for families to practice with the piano. Some chose to practice, some did not.

I also provided a flip chart of the words to the families that needed/wanted the words.

I have a friend who is also a Primary President. I shared my idea with her. She took it to her ward and they decided to have 2 to 3 families sing and share talks spread over a few weeks throughout the last quarter of the year.

I made some mistakes, a couple of really big ones.  Things did not go "perfectly."  And I learned a lot about myself and others in the process.  




PRIMARY PROGRAM REFLECTIONS

I LOVED IT!

One of my counselors spoke about our year in general, shared what we had been doing in Primary while not meeting in person, and introduced our Program. Then the families got up one by one.

I enjoyed seeing the dynamics and varying personalities in the different families.

My heart melted and emotions surged as these families, probably less comfortable than myself, got up and sang a song in front of the entire congregation. 

A mom whose husband was out of town picked up not one, but two of her little boys so they could be seen while singing.  

One family sings daily and their love of the song they sang was evident, The youngest boy was jumping and so excited about God! Another of their boys sang out loudly on his favorite part. They added sign language. The enthusiasm was awesome! I witnessed another boy in this family really struggle during the Primary program a couple of years ago. This year he was smiling, singing, and got right up to the mic and said his part. Wonderful!

A couple of families were a bit timid.  I can certainly relate to that.  The Primary children sang out and knew the words.

A family who is in the process of moving and doesn't have a permanent address even participated.

Another family filled the rostrum with youth and Primary children. It was a beautiful sight.  I could barely see one child.  Another experimented with the mic.  Others sang so nicely.  They did sign language too.  It was a real team effort.


The whole experience was truly inspiring: it was a showcase of how different families go about teaching and living the gospel in their own unique way - all different, striving for the same goal.  
So often we look to others for answers, or how to do things the "right way."  I tend to do this a lot.  However, I was reminded that when I turn to the Lord, He will guide me in what is right for my situation.  
It's not about the "right way."  It's not about what you think it should look like.  It's not about how things have been done in the past. 


As Elder Holland said:
“We are witnessing an ever greater movement toward polarity. The middle-ground options will be removed from us as Latter-day Saints. The middle of the road will be withdrawn.
“If you are treading water in the current of a river, you will go somewhere. You simply will go wherever the current takes you. Going with the stream, following the tide, drifting in the current will not do.
“Choices have to be made. Not making a choice is a choice. Learn to choose now.”


I choose the gospel of Jesus Christ. I choose worshiping my God. I choose sincere prayer and acting on the revelation (the ideas, thoughts and feelings that come as answers) that I receive when I ask.  I choose repentance and forgiveness.  I choose the harder right, rather than the easier wrong.  



Sunday, July 12, 2020

It's just a mask..... Right?..... Not for me.


We resumed Sunday worship with much anticipation and an approved plan on July 5, 2020.
Masks were optional.  Few people wore masks. (9 out of over 60)


Then....
I received an email from my bishop on Wednesday.
                The Stake President "has requested that all members please wear masks to 
                Sunday meetings."

Up until now, I have been largely unaffected by covid-19 and all the regulations imposed by state and local governments and freedoms stripped from us.  We live in a rural area that has 11 people per square mile.  We are geographically distanced already.  I choose to avoid establishments that require masks as much as possible.  I am not sick, nor am I exhibiting "symptoms."

My first reaction was panic!
I was shocked that we would be subjected to the practice of mandatory mask wearing.  I was confronted with the fact that we are becoming subjects of tyranny.  This is all too real for me, not because of the mask request, but because of what the first step of a very slippery slope implies.  I am heartbroken that our country is no longer free.  I am heartbroken at the realization that the persecution has truly begun. 

During the last couple of weeks, I have had discussions with Eric and the onions about where to draw the line in preparation for when we are confronted with making tough decisions that seem to be coming.

I decided that I would draw the line at the ability to obey the commandments and keep my covenants.  

However, when the first sign of infringement on my individual rights was issued, I was overcome by the implications.  
Mentally I knew I had already decided that I would comply, but emotionally and spiritually I know what is happening is wrong and that it will only get worse.  I could understand, accept, and even expected a government issue.  
I had a plan: I would write letters to my elected leaders, mayor, state legislature, governor, and federal representative and senators.  (I did call the mayor, but he was not available).  I will write to my leaders, to let them know how I feel and where I stand on the issue of masks and diminished freedoms proactively rather than reactively.

I think my bigger issue was that the restriction of freedom came from the church!  I didn't expect it at all.  I thought we would comply as a church, not encourage or be proactive in the narrative. 

Tears, anxiety, overwhelm. 
It seems silly that I would react this way.  It it so much bigger than "just a mask."
This is a new experience.  I have always been in agreement with church policy.  I personally oppose wearing a mask.
 I wore a "face covering" to take Naomi to a doctor's appointment.  I felt stifled, hot, and uncomfortable wearing a mask, and my glasses kept fogging up.  I soon become a little light headed.  
Also, I am hard of hearing.  I was deaf as a child and learned to read lips.  I rely on reading lips in everyday conversation.   Masks muffle speech, making it almost impossible to understand anyone wearing a mask.

I thought I would write a letter to my bishop and stake president "letting them know my concerns."  I spent hours on this letter, and nothing seemed to convey well.  Eric suggested that he send an email.  RELIEF!  



BUT.... What am I missing?  What do I need to learn?


As part of my scripture study time, I was rereading a BYU speech: "In Him All Things Hold Together”  NEAL A. MAXWELL of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles  March 31, 1991

Elder Maxwell begins with:

                I wish to talk about your unfinished journey. It is the journey of journeys... 
                It is an arduous journey. The trek awaits—whether one is rich or poor, 
                short or tall, thin or fat, black or white or brown, old or young, shy or bold, 
                married or single, a prodigal or an ever faithful. Compared to this journey, 
                all other treks are but a brief walk in a mortal park or are merely time on a 
                telestial treadmill.
                                                Becoming Men and Women of Christ

His words inspired much introspection.  He talked about the attributes of Christ, what they are and what they are not.

He quotes this scripture:
Mosiah 3:19 
                And becometh a saint . . . submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, 
                willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him.


I also watched a July 5 2020 video of Rev. Danny Jones making all kinds of connections that I needed to apply to my life.
There are many parallels between Jeremiah's day and ours.  
Paul suffered much persecution, counseled several groups of people in his day and saw our day.  Romans 12 is particularly helpful.  Paul provides guidance for how to act and be. 
Daniel is a great example of one who knows when to draw the line.  He was subjected to many injustices and only drew the line when it came to worshiping his God.

As I read in the Book of Mormon daily, it is ever evident that there are parallels from their day to ours in almost every chapter.

Elder Holland's talk from April 2013 "Lord, I Believe" was exactly what I needed to be reminded of.
Elder Uchdorf's talk from October 2017 "Three Sisters"  was so very insightful and helpful.


Eric Informed our bishop that I was extremely anxious about the request to wear masks.  He asked if speakers would be wearing masks and if we had to wear a mask while seated 6 feet apart.  Answer:  The speakers will not being wearing masks at the pulpit, and I could remove my mask while seated.  
Deep Breath.  My concerns were no longer concerns.  

But the principle of wearing masks still lingered.


The words:
"Brace yourself, brace yourself."  from the preacher Dana Cornerstone come to mind.  

While some of our church leaders have said that we will overcome covid, my question is: "at what cost?" 

I am saddened that people are dying from covid.  I am saddened that people die of cancer and heart disease and accidents.
I am concerned about our freedoms, about the freedoms we have lost and are losing.  That we, as a society seem to distrust our neighbors, but choose to trust corrupt bureaucracy and experts to tell us what is best.  Millions have given their lives for the ideals and freedoms that our constitution provides.

If we do "go back to normal" I will be pleasantly surprised and extremely grateful.  Yet, my feeling is that our society will likely never be "the same."  Kind of like TSA after 9/11.  It is still around as a false sense of security at the price of our bodily privacy, and a REAL ID is required if you want to travel by plane.



Whatever the reason, we have been asked by church leaders that we wear masks.  I don't want to be a "sheeple."  I refuse to follow blindly, and I know my perspective is small.  I trust that they have a bigger picture, inspiration and stewardship.  I do not think they take these requests lightly.  I sustain them, and, I will be obedient, even if my personal beliefs and scientific knowledge are in disagreement.


I have accepted that being awake and aware does not have to mean resistance.  So many disciples and Christ Himself were persecuted.  
It can mean acceptance.  It can mean bearing injustice meekly.  
And it's okay to mourn the loss of freedom.  It's okay to be angry.  It's okay to allow myself to be overwhelmed at the implications of oppression. 

When it comes down to it, I would rather be righteous than right.

A beautiful friend worded it this way:
                I have strived to make my trials come from living but hopefully not from sin.  
                I want to repent quickly that my hard things in life are just the casualties of 
                mortal life in hope to purposefully avoid them from coming from the 
                consequences of willful wrong doings.  I know I'm not perfect but I hope with 
                this as a focus that I will do less and less to offend God.
                I want Him to accept me, and lead me and guide me.  I don't want to wander 
                where He cannot find me.  I want to listen to my Master's call!  I love Him.  
                I want to worthily be His!

So I Some positives have emerged:

I went from focusing my energy on overwhelm and anxiety, to focusing on preparing and doing what I can to provide for my family and set a better example for them.  I am not happy about what is going on.  I am concerned.  But I can do my part and strive to be faithful and be counted in the "remnant" of the righteous disciples of God.  

I hope to be like the people of Alma, always having a prayer in my heart and being blessed with the strength to bear my burdens.



At least this is how I feel now, anyway.






***************Information on masks. Please skip to the bottom if you don't care.

 I grew up in a family owned manufacturing company. Different masks for different purposes.  I currently wear a respirator when working with cleaning agents or construction materials because I am extremely sensitive to the chemicals in those products.  The following is not written by me, but I agree.  You can do a little research to disprove, verify, or strive to discern the truth.  I am sure several points of view are out there.


So Masks?
I am OSHA 10&30 certified. I know some of you are too. I don’t really know WHY OSHA hasn’t come forward and stopped the nonsense BUT I want to cover 3 things
• N95 masks and masks with exhale ports
• surgical masks
• filter or cloth masks

Okay, so upon further inspection, OSHA says some masks are okay and not okay in certain situations.
If you’re working with fumes and aerosol chemicals and you give your employees the wrong masks and they get sick, you can be sued.

• N95 masks: are designed for CONTAMINATED environments. That means when you exhale through N95 the design is that you are exhaling into contamination. The exhale from N95 masks are vented to breath straight out without filtration. They don’t filter the air on the way out. They don’t need to.
Conclusion: if you’re in Target and the guy with Covid has a N95 mask, his covid breath is unfiltered being exhaled into Target (because it was designed for already contaminated environments, it’s not filtering your air on the way out).

• Surgical Mask: these masks were designed and approved for STERILE environments. The amount of particles and contaminants in the outside and indoor environments where people are CLOGGING these masks very, VERY quickly. The moisture from your breath combined with the clogged mask will render it “useless” IF you come in contact with Covid and your mask traps it, YOU become a walking virus dispenser. Everytime you put your mask on you are breathing the germs from EVERYWHERE you went. They should be changed or thrown out every “20-30 minutes in a non sterile environment.”

• Cloth masks: I can’t even believe I’m having to explain this, but here it goes. Today, three people pointed to their masks as they walked by me entering Lowe’s. They said “ya gotta wear your mask BRO” I said very clearly “those masks don’t work bro, in fact they MAKE you sicker” they “pshh’d” me. By now hopefully you all know CLOTH masks do not filter anything. You mean the American flag one my aunt made? Yes. The one with sunflowers that looks so cute? Yes. The bandanna, the cut up t-shirt, the scarf ALL of them offer NO FILTERING whatsoever. As you exhale, you are ridding your lungs of contaminants and carbon dioxide. Cloth masks trap this carbon dioxide the best. It actually risks your health, rather than protect it. The moisture caught in these masks can become mildew ridden over night. Dry coughing, enhanced allergies, sore throat are all symptoms of a micro-mold in your mask.

-Ultimate Answer: 

*N95 blows the virus into the air from a contaminated person.

*The surgical mask is not designed for the outside world and will not filter the virus upon inhaling through it. It’s filtration works on the exhale, (Like a vacuum bag, it only works one way) but likely stops after 20 minutes, rendering it useless outside of a STERILE ENVIRONMENT (correct Becky, they don’t work in a bar, not even a little bit).

*Cloth masks are WORSE than none. It’s equivalent to using a chain link fence to stop mosquitoes.

The CDC wants us to keep wearing masks. The masks don’t work. They’re being used to provide false comfort and push forward a specific agenda. For the love of God, research each mask’s designed use and purpose, I bet you will find NONE are used in the way of “viral defense.”

Just like EVERY Flu season kids, wash your hands. Sanitize your hands. Don’t touch stuff. Sanitize your phone. Don’t touch people. And keep your distance. Why? Because your breath stinks, your deodorant is failing, your shoes are old and stink, that shirts not clean, & I like my space. Trust me I can hear you from here. Lots of reasons to keep your distance and work on body hygiene. But trust me, the masks do not work.

*Occupational Safety & Hazard Association sited.
The top American organization for safety.
They regulate and educate asbestos workers, surgical rooms, you name it.

I know, facts suck. They throw a wrench into the perfectly (seeming) packaged pill you are willingly swallowing. Facts make you have to form your OWN OPINION, instead of regurgitating someone else’s, and I know how uncomfortable that makes a lot of you. If your mask gives you security, by all means wear it. Just know it is a false sense of security and you shouldn’t shame anyone into partaking in such “conspiracies.”

If select politicians stopped enforcing it, no one would continue this nonsense.
**************


I resolved that I would wear a "mask" to church today.  Everywhere I have ever gone that required masks, accepted "face coverings."  AKA my bandanna.  I jokingly threatened to wear my respirator to church.  But this morning, on my way out, I felt impressed to take the respirator.

There are SO many varying degrees of obedience and personal opinions on the efficacy of wearing a mask.  I walked into the church building wearing my respirator.  One person was caught by surprise and gasped while laughing at me.  I was not required to wear my mask in ward council this morning. But I dutifully put it back on the exit the room to walk to the assigned room where I was to sit for Sacrament meeting.



My family had arrived.  My husband had a bandanna around his face.  He was told that it was not good enough and he switched to a synthetic mask.  Had I not been wearing my respirator, I would have left because I was not going to wear anything else.
I observed people wearing N95 type masks - knowing that their breath is spewing out, unfiltered, all over the place.  I saw cloth masks of all kinds.  I'm not sure I saw any surgical masks.
And then there was me.  Many gave me curious looks, but none questioned my mask.  I sat down and in a middle row.  I didn't want to be shunned if I removed my mask.  I use it when I need to and I am comfortable wearing it, so I kept it on. 

My mask is a P100, particulate filter (99.97% efficiency level).  Effective against all particulate aerosols. For chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, organic vapors.  This mask makes life bearable for me.  Just this week Eric was using a chemical reaction of 2 liquids to join pvc pipes.  I walked into the house and felt like I hit a brick wall.  I immediately put on my mask and was able to breathe without being overcome by chemicals.  Yay!  It really does work for what it is designed to do.  My mask is old, and while it works, I looked into replacing it.  They are scarce!  But I haven't seen anyone wear anything similar to it in public.


I was apprehensive about church.  I sincerely wanted to be uplifted and spiritually fed.  I did not want to sit, festering and focused on my resentment of "being obedient" when I disagree with wearing masks.  I was pleasantly surprised that I was ok and readily attentive.  But I heard SO many remarks implying that the whole mask thing is ridiculous.  I probably inadvertently said a few things I would regret as well.   (I don't remember).  

I got to thinking... do those types of comments sustain our leaders?  I will be better about that next week.



This week has been one of the most confusing, crushing, and conflicting weeks of my life.  To be in opposition with my church and it's policy is something I have never experienced before.  I am not a sheeple!  I will not blindly follow, I never have.  I strive for personal revelation and confirmation for myself.

I have created a measuring stick using Daniel as my example.  He drew the line when what he was told conflicted with keeping the commandments.  
Do I disagree with wearing a mask?  YES!  
Does wearing a mask (whatever the reason) prevent me from worshiping my God?  NO!.
So I choose to bear my burdens humbly.  I look forward to the lesson I will realize and the perspective I will gain as a result of my choice to continue to sustain my church leaders and wear a mask to church on Sunday as long as they ask me to do so.


If you are in conflict over this issue, I hope something I have written helps in some small way.  
I implore you to turn toward to Lord and not away from Him.









Saturday, April 18, 2020

Spring Projects

The last 2 weeks or so have been non stop go, go, go.....



We had a tree next to our driveway and our electric pole that was hollow at the base; so hollow that I could see through it!  I called the electric company and they cut it down. 
 We cleaned it up and are in the process of splitting the wood.   Some pieces were so big, we wondered if the log splitter could handle it.


Yep: chopped it right up.

Before

After

Scott could not resist climbing it!  It's still about 18 feet tall



The original plan was to FINISH the inside of the house, THEN address the outside.  Well, I got impatient.


I decided I want goats!  So I bought fencing.

We cleared the brush where we decided the goat pen fence line would be.  Even the missionaries came to help!  FYI.  Our Elders rock!  They put in T-posts beautifully.

We had to regroup: we ran into some rocks, more like a ledge of continuous rock. Well, I want a fence around the garden.  
Putting up field fencing is a bit different than cattle panel fencing.

We put up the garden fence and we are using it as a temporary pen, until we figure out the goat pen area.
We got Nigerian Dwarf goats!  A momma, "Momma Llama" and her doeling, "Lani." (lawn-ee)



If we are going to have goats, we need shelter for them.  I got pallets, lots!
Eric made this shelter out of a few pallets and some left over lumber and metal laying around.

AND... if we are going to have goats, we need a livestock guardian dog (LGD) to keep them safe. He's a 6 month old Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd mix. 
We named him "PomoQudjm" - Amelia, need I say more.
We call him Poe-Moe.



As if the first tree was not enough, we decided it was time to have the HUGE tree closest to our house removed.  This one was not free.


The right equipment makes all the difference!


The onions were so interested, they took their book learning outside.

The trunk measured 56 inches in diameter!

I wanted to make a coffee table out of it, but it is rotted out in a few spots.


Before                                                                      After

Before                                                                          After
 

The small stuff was chipped up.  But we get to chop up the firewood and clean up the shavings from the stump grinding.

Elms peel!  Wood braided rope!



I thought I had a pretty big pantry....  until I filled it up.  The room adjacent to it is bigger!
"Honey, can you switch it for me?" 

So the very first 100% completed room (the pantry) got a doorway, and I got a new pantry.




Our tractor has been out of commission since the beginning of last summer.  Foliage GROWS out here.  I wanted a running tractor this summer!  And so did Elanor!
She pressure washed the tractor so our neighbor could see what needed attention,

With a few new parts and fuel and oil, the tractor is up and running!




In the middle of all these projects, the hot water heater started leaking.  EEEK!

All of the camping gear was immediately removed.  The wet stuff laid out to dry.

Eric put in a new hot water heater, with a pan under it!



I have put off painting my bathroom for ever......  I was painting the new pantry and bedroom walls, so I finished the bathroom too.

I had painted the cabinets and some on the walls, and then left it for quite a while.


Before

After


Now... back to work!  
Animals - find or hatch chickens
Inside - stairs, entry way
Outside - goat pen/s, water drainage and earth regrading, chop wood, lot's of wood!
I'm sure I am forgetting so much....

Seth is still at horseshoeing school and is doing well.  We visited him on Easter.

During this time of self isolating, we have been blessed to have a very similar routine, except for attending church and church activities.  God is good and He answers prayers!



Thursday, March 26, 2020

BURN IT UP!

In the west, which is generally brown, the challenge is to get things to grow.  In the east, generally green, the challenge is getting things to stop growing.

We moved to a property that has not been cultivated for pasture or animals in decades.  Aside from the dead end access road through the middle of the south part of our property, the brush is so thick that we have to bush wack our way through the areas we want to explore.

Shortly after moving here, our neighbors, the Tuckers, suggested one solution: BURN IT.
What?,
No!
No, no, no, no, no.
Fire Bad!

As time has passed, I have warmed up to the idea of burning our property.  We witnessed the Tuckers burn part of their land.  We even saw it up close.  So this winter we were eagerly ready to give it a try, but only with their help.






I decided to reclaim the path along a fence line.  We can use this as an access path, to assess our fence line, and as a firebreak.  We cut, clipped, sawed, and hacked our way through to make a loop, connecting to the access road.  We estimate the loop is about 6 acres.

Before:

During:




After:




OK, let's burn it!

The conditions were never just right:  dry, a few days of no rain, low humidity, low wind.

A couple of weeks ago buds began to emerge on our trees.  The thorny bushes were waking up too.  But.... the weather forecast was 5 days with no rain.  It was our last chance of the season.

We were ready and the Tuckers took pity on us city folk and showed us how it is done.

The Tuckers had already started burning when got there. 


The first thing to do is to create a fire break.  Mr. Tucker has an awesome blower and he made a clear path to keep the fire from continuing to burn the leaves and jumping across the path we had cleared.

Then you start the fire at or near the line.  If you start it on the side of the direction the wind is blowing, you can monitor the line while it burns back slowly.

As you make your way around to the other side, if the wind kicks up and/or the fire rapidly burns, it will burn to meet up with the fire you already set and it is much less likely to jump the fire break.

We started at the SW side of our property and headed north around the loop.


There is an art to starting and spreading:




We worked into the dark.




"Ok kids, have fun, just don't set each other on fire."


It was a long evening of work.  Fun and exciting at the same time.  Some picked up spreading and setting fire easily.  Me.... not so much.
Once the sun went down and the humidity increased, we had a difficult time getting the brush to burn.  But it was counted as a successful first burn.


DAY 2:
Well, the old RV was finally removed.  And the next day was dry.
  Let's burn more!
We planned to burn one loop, but there was a narrow path down to the road that could serve as a fire break.  We decided to burn the other half of the south end of our property!

The access road through the middle.

Eric trying to burn some of the brush that would not light the night before.


"Try hiding in the tall dry grass" (from the movie: The Croods)


Standing dead that caught fire and burned at the top.

AFTER:
It might be hard to tell if the fire actually burned anything except for the black patches on the ground to let you know where the fire was.  Some things burned better than others.  But on thing is certain.  We have a LOT MORE ROCKS!

Both sides burned.




As we were finishing up the 2nd day of burning, Mrs. Tucker said that if we burned it again in the fall, then we would really be in good shape.
WHAT?
I did not anticipate that this would be a multi-month two step process. 
What did not burn well this year will hopefully burn next time! 
We shall see.