The baby ducks are getting bigger. This is a good thing. We want to move them outside because they are making a huge mess.
I put them in a cage outside while I cleaned out their tub this weekend. They seemed to enjoy it so I left them all afternoon.
They had a larger water container and spent a lot of time running back and forth in the cage.
It makes me smile. Hopefully it makes you smile also.
We need to smile a lot these days.
I was talking on the phone with our oldest daughter last week and lamenting all the changes that have had to take place recently. She is expecting their first child in July so is already changing many things in her life. It is stressful.
As we talked, I noticed a bird carrying sticks into the bush in our front window. I commented on it, and Brian said from the other room “It’s building a nest.”
I was struck by the contrast. Our world seems to be falling apart and this bird is calming building a nest and preparing to lay eggs.
Brian reminded me of the verse in Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
I tried to get a picture of the nest through the window.
Brian was mowing the front yard last week and the momma left the nest to get food. He was able to get a better picture with the eggs.
I’m going to make a card with this picture and the verse from Matthew. I’ll put it on the fridge to remind me not to be afraid. I am worth more than many sparrows.
We recently hatched duck eggs on Miller Farm. When Beekeeper Brian set the eggs, the world was a much different place. He was going to work and I was teaching music at school. Now we are sheltering in place and having lots of video meetings.
The ducks provide a welcome distraction.
At first there were five and they all looked like Cayuga ducklings which would have come from Lucy and Ricky, our two grown ducks.
They all snuggled with the stuffed cat.
It reminded me of the children’s book Are You My Mother?
Then two more hatched two days later. And just as Brian was ready to clean out the incubator, one more hatched.
We call him Leo the Late Bloomer from another children’s book. He’s gray and yellow and came from eggs we got from a friend.
I put water in for them to drink but, being ducks, they play in it.
The one with the yellow beak also has yellow feet which are a stark contrast to the black legs. They are really fun to watch.
Anytime I get discouraged or worried, I go watch the ducklings. It’s duck therapy and it works really well.
When I first began to teach music in the classroom, I would lose my voice once a year. Laryngitis is hard for any teacher, but for a music teacher it is particularly challenging. It takes much longer to regain the ability to sing than to talk.
I would spend weeks teaching listening lessons and doing rhythm activities. Before it was all over, I would find myself sad and out of sorts. I realized this was the result of not singing regularly.
This feeling of sadness is being felt on a much grander scale by musicians around the country as they are prohibited from meeting in ensembles to make music. The Toronto Symphony found a way around these restrictions.
As I listened to this wonderful music, I was overcome by joy and amazement. I could just imagine each performer in their own home playing their part without being able to hear the others except in their minds. I have no idea if this is actually how it happened but it really made me think.
We can all do our part wherever we are and trust that God will eventually put it all together to make something beautiful.
Hopefully, one day, we will see the finished product and all the sadness and loneliness will have been worth it.
In the meantime, we can enjoy the creativity of musicians who can’t help but make music together. Here’s another example:
I believe I have two of the best jobs in the world.
First, I get paid to stand in front of groups of children and lead them in silly songs. At least that is part of my job. As a music teacher I have the privilege of introducing them to all my favorite games and action songs. Of course the older kids are not quite so enthralled but all in all it is a great job.
Then I come home and have piano students file into my home all afternoon each with their own special talents and their parents. They come in as many shapes and sizes as the students. Parents usually ask at the first lesson if it is necessary for them to sit in on the lesson. It honestly does not matter to me as long as they are not a distraction.
I did have one mom that took to thumping her son on the head when he made mistakes. I politely asked her to wait in the car. Others have come in and read or worked quietly on their laptops. A father who was a school bus driver would regularly fall asleep during his daughter’s lesson. I was quite impressed.
One of the most creative uses of this time is by a mom who entertains herself with Eeyore – the donkey from Winnie the Pooh. My mom found a stuffed Eeyore at a garage sale years ago and it has made its way to Miller Farm via the “obligatory bag.” It talks if you push its nose, squeeze its belly or pull its tail.
This, however, would be quite distracting so this mom makes sure to keep Eeyore very quiet. Instead she arranges his hair. She then takes pictures and labels them. I was so amused that I asked her to send them to me.
Now that my secret is out, everyone is going to want to be a music teacher/piano teacher! Oh, well, I’m sure there are enough students and parents to go around.
Beekeeper Brian recently began some renovation work in the chicken yard. Since we no longer have bantam chickens, he dismantled several of the smaller runs and stacked the coops.
The big chickens had a grand time scratching through the bugs that had taken up residence under the coops. They also enjoyed roosting on the stacked coops.
It seemed to turn into a game of “queen of the coops” – kind of like the children’s game “king of the mountain” only with chickens.
Also like children, there is always one who has to show off.
Now if I ever miss the excitement of sibling rivalry, I just look out back.
Another one of the great things about convention, other than the exhibit hall full of cool stuff, is the chance to learn fun new things to do in the classroom.
This year the first session I attended started with… a chicken song! It is a Liberian folk song entitled “Kokoleoko.” The last line says “chicken crowin’ for day.”
One of the activities was to have the students tell what else the chicken could be crowin’ for: popcorn, ice cream, chocolate, etc. This is chanted in between repeating the song. The students love to make up parts to songs, so this is sure to be a hit.
There were also harmony parts to sing. There is nothing quite like a room full of music teachers singing in three part harmony. I’m not sure my classes are ready to try that yet and I don’t want to spoil the memory of the beautiful sound.
Another session included the song “Shanghai Chicken.” This is a song I have actually done before but this presenter had a new take on it. On the words “hoo day, hoo day” you toss a rubber chicken across the circle.
As the game progresses you add chickens.
The teachers had a great time with this.
I can’t wait to try it in my class.
After all, what can possibly go wrong in a middle school class tossing rubber chickens?
I had an absolutely fantastic time at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention last weekend. I attended nine different workshops where I was inspired, encouraged, educated and reminded why I teach music.
Then there was the exhibit hall. Every imaginable music related business was there. I worked very hard to stay focused and only purchase useful items.
For example, I found googly eye rings. Given my love of googly eyes https://judythewriter.com/googly-eyes/ this was an absolute necessity.
Then there was the dachshund slide whistle. What self-respecting, dachshund-loving music teacher could resist such a useful instrument.
Of course I also purchased books, rhythm sticks and egg shakers. Overall it was a very successful time at the exhibit hall.
Next week I’ll share some of the songs I learned. Hint, hint – they are about something else near and dear to my heart J
Chicken Wrangler Sara is in San Antonio at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention where she will be reminded why she teaches and inspired to continue.
Please tune in next Friday for your regularly scheduled installment of Miller Farm Friday.
When Rachel moved out, she could only take one of her dogs. She chose to take Penelope, the younger, more flexible dog.
Sadie seems quite content to have remained with the rest of the pack.
Part of my routine every time I leave the house is to count the dogs. I don’t want to leave one outside to bark and annoy the neighbors.
Of course that reminds me of a song I used to sing to our children.
So my day now starts with a children’s song. Oh wait, my day has always started with a children’s song – I am a music teacher. In this case, however, I am singing to the dogs.
