I will not milk the cow!

We have a dream... one day we will have a small farm. We want some acreage, we want to be able to turn the boys loose and let them run to their hearts content.

We talk often about what we will have on our farm. Everything from the types of vegetables we will grow, what trees we will plant, and the animals we will have.

You see we would like to be pretty self sufficient. I'm practicing canning and bottling. I am working on new recipes that I can use my food storage with. I am trying to cook with the seasons so I'm not paying an arm and a leg for strawberries in the winter. I'm trying my hand at once a month shopping. I'm working on having a green thumb and being pleased with the things that I have not killed... grown.

We would like to use solar  and wind energy, we hope to have a pond or a water source.

We would also like to have some life stock. Chickens of course, we would like to have the eggs and meat. We are going to have some pigs.... everything is better with bacon! And possible even a cow.... to butcher... for meat.

The boys, however, are wanting to milk the cow. Now I'm not a big milk drinker but I do like heavy cream, I like butter, and I like ice cream... all those things require milk. I am all for going to a local co-op farm and picking up some fresh milk.

The boys still want to milk a cow. I try to explain that the dang thing will have to be milked every day... twice a day. They still want a cow. Even on rainy... cold... snowy... dark days. They still want one.

But I know what will happen, people will get sick and I'll have to milk the cow. The boys will all go to scout camp and I'll have to milk the cow. Some one will break a leg or arm, and I'll have to milk the cow. Jobs, friends, girls will come and guess who will be responsible for the cow... yup... me.

I am already responsible for so many things... family, house, dog... you get the idea. I really don't want to nag make sure that it's getting done.

Now I know that most of you will say "oh... well don't let them go until they milk the cow" Which yes... good in theory, but how many of you give in and feed the dog because the poor thing hasn't been fed in 2 days and he looks at you with those pleading eyes. What do you do??? You feed him.

I'm just saying loud and clear right now... I WILL NOT MILK THE COW.... {or the goat or anything else we may or may not get that lactates}

Dated: 7-12-2011
{I'm just making it official.... does anyone think I should get this notarized??}