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One morning, having finished devotions and still enjoying a cup of coffee, I found myself doodling.  Often my doodling amounts to a thought for an article or even a new book.  Sometimes it's a sketch for a drawing or painting, I'll probably never get around to; but not that morning.  In less than 10 minutes, there was a picture, as well as a list of supplies.  I sat back and looked.  What I had drawn was what would become new shelters for the goats.  When relocating to Goshen, I decided I didn't want a big barn or pole shed, as too much heat is lost in the winter.  A local flea market had these wonderful wooden boxes that made the best goat sheds, but since they were boxes, there was no watershed and the elements have taken their toll.

I figure the current boxes, pictured above; have one more winter in them, providing the snow isn't too heavy.

The new design has already been prototyped and is now slated for mass production.  So far, there are only two, but two more are cut and ready to be assembled.  This teepee design is great for heat conservation, as well as watershed.  The design has no waste in production and there's even a special little spot for babies to tuck in a corner with minimal heat loss.

As you can see, the doorway is on opposite sides, so these can be placed nearly face to face with walking room only, to offer windbreaks at the openings.  I'm pretty much picturing about a dozen of them randomly placed in each pasture.

The greatest thing about these structures, as if more is needed . . . They are portable, which means no muck!  Just pick them up and move them to a new clean spot, scatter some clean straw and voila, nice clean accommodations without shoveling!

The Joy of YHWH

This week has been, in a word; difficult!  Funny, even as I type the word, I can honestly say, by difficult, I don't mean bad.  This kind of difficult is more like stretching . . . and a change of perspective, also not bad!    I'm feeling a little bit more "called out" and at first I wasn't sure I was hearing correctly, but I did.  This isn't an Elijah syndrome.  I don't think I'm the "only one."  I think many of us are being called out to a place of just alone with YHWH to come into a fuller covenant relationship with Him.

Whether America faces economic collapse, martial law, a military invasion, more wildfires, or a meteor that divides the continent, judgment is coming.  For those of us who are aware and sounding the warning, it's just not always easy.  The direction from which the arguments come can be a bit discouraging and yet, I can't be quiet.  It is fire in my bones.  Not only am I sounding the warning, I also have the answer!  The world has only existed in this present state for a little over 100 years.  Before that, since the dawn of creation, humanity lived agriculturally and as hunters and gatherers.  There was craftsmanship and artisanry, but the craftsmen and artisans were dependent upon those who would bring food to trade for wares.  We didn't have all this stuff that could come tumbling down on us!

There was a time before the industrial revolution and the technological age of instant gratification in which decent shelter, food on the table and clothes on one's back was a good life!  For men, providing that for his family meant he was successful.  For women, taking care of that and raising children to be respectable adults was her success!  Before this time of owning so much we care about nothing, there was a true sense of gratitude and accomplishment.  For years now, I've cringed at the mantra "work smarter not harder."  I have nothing against intelligence, but I'm not so sure what actually happened was so smart!   Workers negotiated with business owners to make more money while working less, and now we have few independent businesses and shuttered factories.  Before this time in which we are now living, there was a contentment in life and a feeling of satisfaction in true accomplishment.  Once being paid for absence became an accomplishment, our society began to silently crumble.

I simply do not have words to express how good my life is and how content I am in what I do.  It's not perfect, I'm in it . . . and there are things that could be better, but I have need of nothing.  I do work every day except Shabbat, and I still check on the critters then.  There is no hourly wage and there are no paid sick days.  If I don't get something done, it's simply not done.  There is no A for effort and no participation trophy.  Accomplishments are required!  I am warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  The past six years my garden has produced bountifully, and I enjoyed a blessed resting of the land this year.  The ministry has expanded while my books and businesses are meeting needs.  The flocks and herd keeps me in eggs and milk and provide pretty good company . . . I have work clothes, chore clothes, town clothes, and night clothes, with the added blessing, I've enjoyed this style for so long, it's actually now back in style.  Most importantly, though, I have the joy of YHWH for my strength and His shalom fills this place.

The difficulty has been in how to convey to others, that this lifestyle works!