Power of Design

Notice It

I used to be the worst at performing tasks that are tedious, time-sucking and just plain hard - all without even noticing that it was highly inconvenient.  I did it all the time, and the worst part was that I don't even notice that I was making life harder than it had to be. Doing things the hard way became a habit. Even something as simple as moving the toothbrush holder from one side of the counter to the other weren't always things I readily thought of. Little changes can make a big difference in your day. It was 4 years ago that I started making changes to my DNA by asking myself a very important question: "How can I experience the world better?" (i.e how do I not have to work so hard around here)

Tuning My Eyes

Come on, Cyndi. In the barn, garage, pastures, and coops, aren't you tired of moving fences yet? Aren't you tired of taking the feed farther away than it really needs to be? Aren't you tired of performing tasks that could be so much simpler if you would just notice it. But really, it took me awhile to realize I even had a problem. I wasn't noticing design flaws. I wasn't noticing my habits and all the extra work they created. I told myself I liked doing all this extra work. I had lost control to these things thrust upon me or that I created myself. I was doing way too many things the hard way because I had designed it that way.

12 Step Program

Once I accepted the reality that I had a design problem with many things on the farm, and when I acknowledged it to my husband was when I could begin the recovery process. First, I would need to tune my eyes to it all, to notice it. Is that gate really working well? Would a henge on the other side be better? Can I automate this or that? It's hard to see the world more clearly when your bogged down. Wrenching my control back of design flaws was certainly needed. I needed to be able to recognize and say "I can do this better". I had to acknowledge that I needed to make changes to do things differently, and not fall into those same time-wasting habits. I needed to try and save my body, my time and my mental health. It was a slow progression, but it's also a slippery slope. Once you start down this road of innovation and better time management, there's no stopping it. I look at all gates, fences, structures, tools, feed containers, etc differently now. How can those things work better?

Teach yourself

I have done many physical task in my life over and over mindlessly. No matter what the tasks, I wasn't always the best at recognizing that I could transform it, make things better or easier - unless it happen to jump up and slap me in the face. The habits of my life had taken over, and I was not terribly creative with solutions. Until, I woke up to it all. Now, there's no stopping me. One of the greatest gifts I've given myself is to try and solve really "great" problems in my day to day life. When something I'm doing is driving me crazy, notice it. Why does it have to be so hard? Oh, it's a really great problem, and I should try and solve it. And the answer always seems to lie in the design. No more just accepting it - do something about it and make it better.

I need an example, please

It goes something like this.......every time you reach to eat an apple, you begin to wash it and there's that stupid sticker on the apple. Sure, it's nice because when you're checking out at the grocery store, the code number (sticker) is ON the apple and it's easy to check out at the grocery store. But once you get home, it's not that great. You have to peel the sticker off with your fingernail, breaking the flesh of the smooth apple skin. Then, you have to flick the sticker off of your finger, hopefully hitting the trash can. And the first time you ever do this, it's highly annoying. The 10th time you've taken this stupid sticker off your fruit, you're less upset about it and beginning to accept it. Then, by the 100th time you've taken that stupid sticker off with apple-flesh under your fingernail and picking the sticker off the floor for the second time because you accidentally flicked it there, you actually just do it without thinking that innovation is needed here, people. We just keep doing it and become desensitized to the bad design of it.

But I can't change the sticker-on-the-fruit issue

But I can change the daily tasks, gates, fences, animal shelters, and water sources around me to be better. It took ALOT just for me to realize I had a problem with not fixing problems. It took a lot for me to see these habits, the little details and all the frustration I have. I had become desensitized to a lot of it. This has been a big Ah Ha moment for me in my life. It's been a 4 year progression of waking up to 'Hey, What's wrong with you? You can do that better, girl.'
I recognized that I've not been open to seeing our farm operation from an outsiders perspective. I've not seen the value. I've been overworking instead. Silly me. Thank goodness I woke up from this. Granted, aging and mindfulness helps this process. I'm happy to say that once this idea of taking the power of design into account in all I do, that it's changed the way I look at most things. Now, I'd like to fix something once. I'd like to think it through, and may even have tweaks on it, but let's not do it over and over in a bad design way. I've done that too many times - yes, I've learned a lot - but using wisdom and innovation over physical and time-consumption methods is optimal.

Stay beginners, my friends

Steve Jobs used to tell his employees to 'see through the eyes of the customer'. 'Staying beginners is how we will succeed', he told them. Beginners don't want to have to charge their new electronic device before they use it. They don't want to have to wait to use their new electric toy they've saved for 3 months to buy. Let's package our products with a battery fully charged, so that when the box is opened, the electronic is usable at that time. It's the little things that make a difference. No more "charge before use" stickers! How about no more (real) apple stickers, too.

Satisfaction please

After demanding days, inundated with life, going through the motions, losing track and control of what I'm doing is how I happen to get myself in this situation. A little satisfaction please, a little more action. I've committed myself to being mindful in the moment to say, "Hey, Cyndi! Find your eye for design. See the value. Find the design flaws and bring a better experience to your life."
Creating that as a habit has changed the lens in life. Don't be a settler. See the world more clearly. You can do better, girl. I'm trying, man oh man am I trying.

Nature's Playbook

It's with this new lens that the last year or two has been less taxing on the farm. I've seen the improvement in my ability to mange issues and problems that arise. And they arise, trust me. David and I both strive to use nature on our side. Which animals are best with who, which pasture has the best growth for food, and are the fences secure. There's a whole college degree on how humans look to nature for design, and I can't even possibly even go into all those details. I'll just sum it up by saying we try to consider that in our projects by up-cycling materials and mimicking strategies found in nature. If nature uses raw materials around them for all the things used and built by nature, it's certainly a wonderful incentive for us to do the same.

Sum that up please

This acknowledgment of my awakening to the value to good design is just that. It may come naturally for some people, but for me, it's been a process of "getting there". I'm happy to say that farm life has brought me this understanding of the importance of good design. I now look at life differently - How can I experience life better? How can I make processes better? How can I make this less frustrating? I apply this to big and small things in my life. Sometimes I miss the bus, but I'm trying to catch it every time and it's a habit I'm forming. I feel it deep in my soul, and the more I practice, the better I get.


Where's the fun stuff

We welcomed Hope (mama) and Faith (daughter) to the Graves Farm recently! They are two mini horses that were awaiting a new home at a local Rescue. Welcome Home!

I love Hope's "Chaka Khan" hair!

Their ages are a little vague, but Hope is maybe around 8-10 years, and Faith is maybe around 4-5 years (right around Diego's age). No one seems to know much about them, as they came from a Kill Pen in California and have been in Texas for a year looking for a home. They are not halter broke, never tamed or seemingly even around people for a long period of time. I will say they are loving, sweet-natured and learning to trust us. So far, they will take treats out of our hands (Hope does with extreme caution, but Faith is willing to give us a chance readily). Their sweet and kind disposition make them wonderful additions to the farm. I would give them about a year to settle in and realize that they are home. Although they do get along well with Dora and Diego (and the goats), we have recently moved them to the front of the property, up by the pond so they can adjust and have special attention from us without the goats, Diego and Dora influencing them. They love long walks by the fence, shade by the pond and treats whenever possible. And so far, their favorite things are the mineral block and salt block. A side note: we also moved them because Faith was incessantly fence-walking in the back pasture. It's said that horses do this when they are nervous or anxious. We are hoping the new view up front will eliminate this behavior.

Faith has the light nose (farthest right)

So while the two new mini's are up front now, Dora and Diego (along with the goats) are doing wonderfully as well. Speaking of habits, Diego is a little mouthy/bite-y so we were given some advice to give him some toys to play with. I introduced him to his very own ball.

Diego has really gotten super friendly. Almost dog-like friendly. Dora is sweet - but also in charge, one eye and all. She's alpha horse, fo sho.


Special Mowing Unit

Lawn and Order

With the growing and mowing season upon us, we work our grass off getting it done. We are truly grateful for nature to grow upwards and feed the sheep, goats and horses (and chickens!). With 2 mowers, David and I are better equipped to spend less time on mowers and more time enjoying the farm.


Fowl Play



The Nursery is where we typically keep the little chicks. Like the ones on the top left who are tiny and needing special care (warmth, extra protection, and an older chick to keep them warm and comforted). What we find happening is the prior residents (now teenagers) like to go back and revisit their first home, The Nursery. They are not little anymore, but they still like the feel of where they were raised. Almost like the times you drive by your childhood home and reminisce. Except they chase the occupants out and hang out like they own the place. It's hard being a teenager, as you're not a child, and not yet an adult. They are finding their way in this universe of Chicken Land around here.

From l to r: Hippie House (silkies area), our house, our garage, Guest (chicken) House, and Nursery Area (not pictured)

We have made a few more tweaks to the silkie Hippie House area. We fenced off Post Malone (silkie rooster) on his own, and will give him a playmate when we would like to have some silkie chicks again. Chompchi will be first in with him, as we would love to have some lavender splash silkies. This change enables us to use the eggs the silkies lay, as there are 5 little silkie hens that lay almost every day, and if Post is around, the eggs are fertilized and not able to be sold.

Maybe and Sugar frequently hang
with the chickens.

Whisper tries to nap in the fire pit,
but the chickens want to dust bathe there.

The one thing that stands out (besides the chickens) around here, is the fact that the dogs do not eat the chickens. This in itself is very unusual. We have had visitors come to our farm, and bring their dog(s) thinking that's a great idea. It's usually not, as we've had friends dog's kill the chickens. It makes for discomfort in relationships. Kind of like when your best friend in high school ran off with your boyfriend......but worse.


Bust a move

As we prepare for what May will bring and what life will throw our way, we continue to spot our design flaws more readily (design flaws = bad decisions). I just like the way design flaws sounds. We are trying hard to work easier. We are observers of ourselves. We undo things, sometimes a lot. The doomsayers will forecast clouds and storms are in our future. God's forecast is sunny skies and a new future ahead. The waters are unchartered, but somehow we will all find our way. My recipe includes a heaping pint of love, a cup of eating well, a generous portion of moving (exercise) and a dash of less stress on top.
We look forward to lambs late May early June. The sheep are being sheared in May and they will be most grateful to lose their wool coats. There's likely new fencing around the property, as it's much needed. We will continue to love on the animals as they provide comfort in these uncertain times. While we all undo, redo and revamp ourselves, we are provided an opportunity of a lifetime to stay home and enjoy. When your housemate gets rowdy, mouthy or annoying - that's when it's time to maybe appreciate their special 'design flaws'. Just so you know, those design flaws of others are not open to change, as I have enough of my own to work on.

Its times like these that Young MC brings me home with, 'From fustration first inclination is to become a monk and leave the situation, but every dark tunnel has a light of hope'......Break it down, Fellas! I feel a dance party coming on......now Bust A Move......

Farmer Graves and I will continue to bust a move here on the farm.

Thinking of you all,

Cyndi