Goats and Things - May 2-8

 

May 2nd... the (silly) ropes were taken down.

Cute couple! :)

May 2nd - hopping into the pool to start the cleaning process. 

My 4 youngest participated in a 6 week Catechesis of the Good Shepherd class. Our local program (and several others in the area) are absolutely excellent. Ours is very unique as it offers both the new liturgical calendar and the traditional calendar/Mass. Of course most areas of the Faith are universal to both rites, but where the Mass and calendar are concerned, we have the 2 options. 

There is an absolutely shameful article out there that criticizes CGS in the most ridiculous ways. I'm sorry (if he ever even stepped foot in a CGS atrium) his experience was negative, however, there are kooks on any and every platform for any kind of Catechesis, whether it be the extreme traditional or the extreme liberal. Perhaps hands-on style of learning and engaging children in a Socratic method of learning isn't appealing to some, it doesn't make it bad. We happen to like hands-on learning. Some children are more easily engaged in tactile learning. There are many, many different ways of learning. It's perfectly fine to suit learning styles to different styles of children.... actually, it makes sense. In our house we have every different king of learner.... anyway.... What matters is the teaching of truth, learning it, applying it to our lives, and making it one in our lives. Living the Mass. Living the Catechism. Living a life of virtue... well... striving for it anyway... who is actually truly virtuous in every aspect? We must live the Faith not the dichotomy of preaching Faith and being a white washed sepulcher. That's not living the faith. One can read all the books in the world and be a mean person (I don't mean moments of meanness, we all do that sometimes, we are all weak mortals).  Our CGS program is so engaging, encourages the children in discussion to more deeply internalize some of the many tenets of the Faith. I really miss the full CGS atrium which hasn't happened since the covid-1984 but the short outdoor version was refreshing. 

My goats are the most friendly, maybe too friendly, little things. Do I like goats? Not particularly, but we have them and I plan to make the best of them.  No idea what our future plan is but I would love to learn to make a beautiful goatmilk soap. For as much as I don't care for goatmilk cheese, goatmilk soap is a lovely soap!

Morels had a very poor season this year, too dry and cold. (I think?) We have regulars who come buy pounds and pounds of them but this year we couldn't deliver the goods :( Some people were selling them for $85/pound! Yikes!

Using up the last of a very generous gift card on some Chinese food, some just don't get the proper use of chop sticks... they are more like poker sticks.

During Covid-1984 our TKD school added in an extra belt, the candidate belt. It's between red/black (first degree black belt recommended) and first degree black belt decided. This just helped to divided up the many stripes that need to be earned for the final testing. (It's since been discontinued with the updated drop in artificially inflated "safety measures"). This cycle we had to learn a kamas form (a section of the very lengthy black belt kamas form) in addition to a warrior combo and of course the first half of the black belt form (shim jun). (first half 41 moves to earn 1st degree, all 81 moves to earn second degree)

Our dear niece L was the understudy for the lead female role in "Oklahoma!" so we attended the understudy performance. She was absolutely excellent. What a voice! We were all very proud of her!