I've been sitting here most of the day...surfing for news on Sandy. We don't have TV so this is how we get info. And scanning Facebook. Not much going on there. Looked on Pinterest. Even looked at the local news website. When what I should be doing is updating my blog. I have people concerned (Love YA!) that I haven't updated.
Last week, I had a major flare up of my Trigeminal Neuralgia. And I mean BAD! The doctor gave me some (great!) heavy duty pain killers and told me what I already knew...I just have to ride it out. So here I am about 10 days later. Feeling some better, but much weaker and more prone to pain. UG!
So...as far as what's been going on....as little as possible! The last of the garden (except the Brussel Sprouts) have been brought in. All the tomato cages (110+!!) have been taken up and stacked in the barn. 40 bales of hay line the wall of the barn for the winter, along with 10 bales of straw.
I've "officially" been terminated from my job. I've been working with a person in HR to try to find something that I could do from home and/or part time in order to stay with the employer I've been with since 1998. Unfortunately, my time was up and nothing was found...and sadly, I didn't find out from the HR person or anyone else...I received my COBRA paperwork saying "...due to your termination on 10/16/2012..." Yeah, even when you know it's coming...still bites! And it came right as I was having the major part of my attack, so....yeah, that's where am. Having the worst time then finding out my insurance will be gone in 10 days if I don't pay $1100 MORE than I am currently paying> $1400 per month! Really!! OMG! More than our house and my car combined and then another $200! Not including dental or vision. Only thinking about dental because Boy is 6 months into his Orthodontics (out of a 48 month plan...)Sigh.
However, I just found out yesterday that I will finally have my hearing with the judge for SSDI on January 28th, 2013. This kind of came as an answer to prayer. I was trying to figure out what the next move should be....should I try unemployment, try to sell more stuff on Craigslist/eBay? How do you legally (and morally) come up with another $1100 a month? Good question! (if you know, clue me in) And if this had come a month ago, I was feeling pretty ok, and was considering how I could maybe go back to work, not doing anything that requires a lot of thought or lifting or sitting or standing or talking or....heavy machinery. But now, I understand AGAIN why I and my doctors started down this road. Yikes! So, I have 3 months to wait to see if something can be done with my SSDI, otherwise....
I do have some "farmy" updates, but I will post them seperately, so you can just see all the fun stuff!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Bunnies....bunnies....bunnies!
We have lots of baby bunnies! Now not so much babies as they are old enough to go to new homes. And it looks like 3 of them may be going home later today, so I thought I better get these pictures posted: Here is the craigslist ad:
http://columbus.craigslist.org/pet/3382802322.html
http://columbus.craigslist.org/pet/3382802322.html
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Odyssey of Snowball AKA Wiz
Odyssey: a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune .
When we first got Snowball, the white lionhead bunny, it was because we bought more cages and she came with the purchase. Lionheads were not in the homestead "plan". Nonetheless, she came here to live..Man has always called her Wizard (or Wiz) which is bizarre as we are not into "that" kind of stuff, but he says that the eyebrows and hair going every whichway made her look like a wise old wizard. And Wiz stuck, and somehow we got it into our mind that she was a he....
After about a week, I came into the barn to milk at O'dark:30 only to find Wiz's cage open. Great! About a day later, Boy saw him outside and tried to chase him down, only to have him run inbetween rows of our woodpile. Then part of the pile fell and an upset boy thought he had crushed Wiz.
Fast forward another week, Man calls me on the cell phone while I was at Ace Hardware. Using his "I don't have good news" voice, he starts a story (also usually not a good sign). "I went out to check on the rabbits, on my way back from the barn..." He saw Wiz in the cow pasture!!! WooHoo!
When we got home we tried to catch her. Well, yeah, she's been eating on the pasture and say possibly the 80 acre soybean field around us. So not so interested in the pellets in the have-a-heart cage. We thought we might put a girl bunny out to entice "him" into the cage...only to remember....despite the name "Wiz" it is a girl.
Everyday we see Wiz as we walk to and from the barn. Sometimes she even comes all the way over to the fence near the chickens. But still WAY too fast for anyone to catch. And off into the weeds and soybeans. I took comfort in the fact that she was fine and still around and held the hope that eventually we will catch her.
Until this past Monday, this past Monday was different. I was on the phone with my cousin....and I looked over and I am sure I heard her (the rabbit, not my cousin) snicker at me. She stood very tall and proud....and mockingly. Yes, the rabbit is mocking me!
And the Odyssey continues......
When we first got Snowball, the white lionhead bunny, it was because we bought more cages and she came with the purchase. Lionheads were not in the homestead "plan". Nonetheless, she came here to live..Man has always called her Wizard (or Wiz) which is bizarre as we are not into "that" kind of stuff, but he says that the eyebrows and hair going every whichway made her look like a wise old wizard. And Wiz stuck, and somehow we got it into our mind that she was a he....
After about a week, I came into the barn to milk at O'dark:30 only to find Wiz's cage open. Great! About a day later, Boy saw him outside and tried to chase him down, only to have him run inbetween rows of our woodpile. Then part of the pile fell and an upset boy thought he had crushed Wiz.
Fast forward another week, Man calls me on the cell phone while I was at Ace Hardware. Using his "I don't have good news" voice, he starts a story (also usually not a good sign). "I went out to check on the rabbits, on my way back from the barn..." He saw Wiz in the cow pasture!!! WooHoo!
When we got home we tried to catch her. Well, yeah, she's been eating on the pasture and say possibly the 80 acre soybean field around us. So not so interested in the pellets in the have-a-heart cage. We thought we might put a girl bunny out to entice "him" into the cage...only to remember....despite the name "Wiz" it is a girl.
Everyday we see Wiz as we walk to and from the barn. Sometimes she even comes all the way over to the fence near the chickens. But still WAY too fast for anyone to catch. And off into the weeds and soybeans. I took comfort in the fact that she was fine and still around and held the hope that eventually we will catch her.
Until this past Monday, this past Monday was different. I was on the phone with my cousin....and I looked over and I am sure I heard her (the rabbit, not my cousin) snicker at me. She stood very tall and proud....and mockingly. Yes, the rabbit is mocking me!
And the Odyssey continues......
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Lots of little things....
Today was a catch up kind of day. Got lots of little nagging things done.
Milked X2
Made a batch of cheese.
Ground wheat
Made bread
Used the ham bone to make stock
Made bean soup
Put away laundry
Folded socks
Straightend up the living room
Worked on decluttering laundry room
Cleaned out catch all bag.
Cleaned off desk
Emptied Boy's school desk onto my desk
Cleaned off my desk...again
Filed bills
Filled out insurance paperwork
Got 3 rebates ready to mail.
Made chef salads for dinner
Planed wood with Boy for Man to use tomorrow.
Swept shop
Emptied 3 gallons of water from the dehumidifier in the pumphouse
Hauled water to chickens
Gave chickens whey!!
Fed & Watered all the animals
Made butter.
Bean soup into jars. (Quart for us, Quart for Dad-it was his hambone, and a Pint for my landlady who had surgery today)
Emptied dishwasher X2
Worked on packing a care package-will mail before 9/20
Read a (short) book
BLOGGED ! (well, kinda!)
Now it is 9 and I am beat...off to bed!
Love you! Thank you for all your encouraging words! they made ALL the difference.
Oh, and here is a few pictures of my new daily "norm" Yes, that is my son's Little Tykes chair from when he was 2!!
Milked X2
Made a batch of cheese.
Ground wheat
Made bread
Used the ham bone to make stock
Made bean soup
Put away laundry
Folded socks
Straightend up the living room
Worked on decluttering laundry room
Cleaned out catch all bag.
Cleaned off desk
Emptied Boy's school desk onto my desk
Cleaned off my desk...again
Filed bills
Filled out insurance paperwork
Got 3 rebates ready to mail.
Made chef salads for dinner
Planed wood with Boy for Man to use tomorrow.
Swept shop
Emptied 3 gallons of water from the dehumidifier in the pumphouse
Hauled water to chickens
Gave chickens whey!!
Fed & Watered all the animals
Made butter.
Bean soup into jars. (Quart for us, Quart for Dad-it was his hambone, and a Pint for my landlady who had surgery today)
Emptied dishwasher X2
Worked on packing a care package-will mail before 9/20
Read a (short) book
BLOGGED ! (well, kinda!)
Now it is 9 and I am beat...off to bed!
Love you! Thank you for all your encouraging words! they made ALL the difference.
Oh, and here is a few pictures of my new daily "norm" Yes, that is my son's Little Tykes chair from when he was 2!!
I made a grown up decision...
...I decided that there was no way I could get the stuff tagged for the 3Bags Sale, so I withdrew....gasp!
And my Man, knowing this was a dramatic turn, told Boy that they needed to pray for me. Snort.Grin!
So I have a pile of kiddo stuff that is pulled out and cluttering up my bedroom (laundry room, etc) that I'm not sure what I'm doing with....I could put it in the Delaware 3 Bags Sale next month.....
In the meantime...I am a bit bummed not to be able to get into the Hartford Sale early because I'm a consignor/worker. My kid is in dire need of clothes and shoes!!
We will be going to Athens to deliver a bed on Thursday (and that is the preview sale) so I wouldn't be able to go anyway. (No, not bitter....grin)
And my Man, knowing this was a dramatic turn, told Boy that they needed to pray for me. Snort.Grin!
So I have a pile of kiddo stuff that is pulled out and cluttering up my bedroom (laundry room, etc) that I'm not sure what I'm doing with....I could put it in the Delaware 3 Bags Sale next month.....
In the meantime...I am a bit bummed not to be able to get into the Hartford Sale early because I'm a consignor/worker. My kid is in dire need of clothes and shoes!!
We will be going to Athens to deliver a bed on Thursday (and that is the preview sale) so I wouldn't be able to go anyway. (No, not bitter....grin)
Sunday, September 16, 2012
I'm...I'm....chagrined!
cha·grin
(sh
-gr
n
)
Anyway....I have not been blogging as I had hoped. Here's the thing...if I could find a brain to blog app life would be awesome. I compose so many posts as I am milking the cow (hands a bit busy) or driving to the city to help my mom (eyes kinda busy...ok hands too). Or trying to fall asleep....mind not supposed to be busy.
This summer has gone by in a blurr....so much to do and I haven't done much of it. We haven't gone swimming. I haven't canned. The farmer's market has been very neglected as has the garden. I may have mentioned that my mom tore her rotator cuff (shoulder) completely off and had to have surgery to reattach. I've been going down to town (37 miles each way) to help her and my dad three times a week. No, not because I am an awesome daughter, but because I should and my parents do pay me for my time. It's nice that I can take Boy with me and occasionally do a load of laundry while there. They don't mind if I'm late or have to leave early. And I love them, so I really do wish I were just an awesome daughter and could just do it for free.
That is 3 days a week that I'm basically not here on the farm. The inbetween days I am frantically trying to get the other stuff done. While I was on steroids, I could do it. Now not as much. Right now, I am in the midst of trying to get 7 loads of laundry done. (And my washer currently leaks....I've been praying for it to be healed, but I think it's telling me that I need to get on Craigs to see if I can find another....)
All the stuff on my 101 list that I wanted to get done with my kid didn't happen either. The days of childhood are almost past and I have missed most of his childhood, either by working nights, being unconscience waiting for surgery, or just being busy with stuff that in the long run is probably not important. Boy is growing beyond quickly. He's over 5 foot tall (I think 5'4" now) and over 110 pounds. Wearing size 8.5 mens shoes!! He's not going to fit in the hammock with me for my 101 list!!
OK, enough complaining about what I cannot do and how fast life is passing by. I went to the doctor on Friday. (Both were late by 2 hours...I spent almost 8 hours sitting in waiting rooms or the office on Friday). Found out that my vitamin D is still dangerously low. Had another round of blood tests, new meds to try, a new doctor with still more blood tests and a follow up visit in two weeks....
We've been puppy sitting for the last 10 days...but he is going home tonight. Ah...the buzzer on the dryer...be back soon....hopefully!
-grn)
n.
A keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or
embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event.
Yep, that's me....not..
Anyway....I have not been blogging as I had hoped. Here's the thing...if I could find a brain to blog app life would be awesome. I compose so many posts as I am milking the cow (hands a bit busy) or driving to the city to help my mom (eyes kinda busy...ok hands too). Or trying to fall asleep....mind not supposed to be busy.
This summer has gone by in a blurr....so much to do and I haven't done much of it. We haven't gone swimming. I haven't canned. The farmer's market has been very neglected as has the garden. I may have mentioned that my mom tore her rotator cuff (shoulder) completely off and had to have surgery to reattach. I've been going down to town (37 miles each way) to help her and my dad three times a week. No, not because I am an awesome daughter, but because I should and my parents do pay me for my time. It's nice that I can take Boy with me and occasionally do a load of laundry while there. They don't mind if I'm late or have to leave early. And I love them, so I really do wish I were just an awesome daughter and could just do it for free.
That is 3 days a week that I'm basically not here on the farm. The inbetween days I am frantically trying to get the other stuff done. While I was on steroids, I could do it. Now not as much. Right now, I am in the midst of trying to get 7 loads of laundry done. (And my washer currently leaks....I've been praying for it to be healed, but I think it's telling me that I need to get on Craigs to see if I can find another....)
All the stuff on my 101 list that I wanted to get done with my kid didn't happen either. The days of childhood are almost past and I have missed most of his childhood, either by working nights, being unconscience waiting for surgery, or just being busy with stuff that in the long run is probably not important. Boy is growing beyond quickly. He's over 5 foot tall (I think 5'4" now) and over 110 pounds. Wearing size 8.5 mens shoes!! He's not going to fit in the hammock with me for my 101 list!!
OK, enough complaining about what I cannot do and how fast life is passing by. I went to the doctor on Friday. (Both were late by 2 hours...I spent almost 8 hours sitting in waiting rooms or the office on Friday). Found out that my vitamin D is still dangerously low. Had another round of blood tests, new meds to try, a new doctor with still more blood tests and a follow up visit in two weeks....
We've been puppy sitting for the last 10 days...but he is going home tonight. Ah...the buzzer on the dryer...be back soon....hopefully!
Maxx
I mentioned that we were puppy sitting for 10 days. Here is our guest...Maxx.
Maxx is a 4 month old Samoyed purebred puppy. He is very sweet and loves to harass the black cat. And black cat loved it right back. I think the cat has been a bit depressed to have no one to hiss at since Maxx went home last week.
Maxx is a 4 month old Samoyed purebred puppy. He is very sweet and loves to harass the black cat. And black cat loved it right back. I think the cat has been a bit depressed to have no one to hiss at since Maxx went home last week.
Boy really enjoyed playing with Maxx. After awhile, Danny would play with him as well. Kristl...well she is kinda cranky and anti-social....
Thursday, September 6, 2012
OK...to do list....take 2....
Home again today...still have most of my list from Monday to do...plus some...AND a friend is bringing over her 16 week old puppy for us to puppysit for 10 days...so I need to "Puppy-proof" And the "3 bags" sale is in 10 days....and I haven't even started to tag items....Man. So....not much in the way of blogging today.
Make bread
milk/cheese/butter
roast peppers
make bean soup
make salsa
pick cabbage
make saurkraut
make coleslaw
make cabbage rolls
clean out garden
mow garden
rototill garden
replant beans
take coveralls and Iona's blanket to laundry mat
find out what is leaking on washer
laundry (4 loads)
price 12 items for 3 bags full
answer business emails.
call Aunt S about banty's
get sweet feed and chicken feed
go to the grocery store
go to Meijer
put out chair
clean laundry room
picture of Danny
brush Kristl (shedding-bad!!)
clean out fridge
straighten front room
vaccuum steps
Added today:
Home again today...still have most of my list from Monday to do...plus some...AND a friend is bringing over her 16 week old puppy for us to puppysit for 10 days...so I need to "Puppy-proof" And the "3 bags" sale is in 10 days....and I haven't even started to tag items....Man. So....not much in the way of blogging today.
Added today:
- Bread (again)
- Milk / cheese / butter
- 2 more loads of laundry
- vaccuum downstairs
- puppy-proof
- tag 30 items for 3 bags
- brush Kristl
Monday, September 3, 2012
Day off? Um.....not so much.
Saturday was supposed to be "Get the garden under control" day. Worked on it after milking for about an hour until thunder took me under the porch cover. I still worked on pulling old beans off the plants that I had yanked. These will be next season's seeds.
Then....we discovered something on the well pump burst. And it ran all night....and emptied the well. So no water to the barn and coop and everything in the pump house was wet and a mess. And let me just admit. You couldn't even really get into the door because we've (me and Boy) have just been putting stuff "temporarily" out there. So then I spent the rest of the day (and man, it was hot and humid) cleaning out the pump house. I filled up both trash barrels, the wheel barrel, and a huge pile.
Last Thursday, I filled 12 feed sacks of dirt, nails and junk from the tool room in the barn. The trash guy will LOVE us on Wednesday.
So here is my list for today:
(I know that if I have a plan, it will get changed!)
Saturday was supposed to be "Get the garden under control" day. Worked on it after milking for about an hour until thunder took me under the porch cover. I still worked on pulling old beans off the plants that I had yanked. These will be next season's seeds.
Then....we discovered something on the well pump burst. And it ran all night....and emptied the well. So no water to the barn and coop and everything in the pump house was wet and a mess. And let me just admit. You couldn't even really get into the door because we've (me and Boy) have just been putting stuff "temporarily" out there. So then I spent the rest of the day (and man, it was hot and humid) cleaning out the pump house. I filled up both trash barrels, the wheel barrel, and a huge pile.
Last Thursday, I filled 12 feed sacks of dirt, nails and junk from the tool room in the barn. The trash guy will LOVE us on Wednesday.
So here is my list for today:
(I know that if I have a plan, it will get changed!)
- Make bread
milk/cheese/butterroast peppersmake bean soupmake salsa- pick cabbage
- make saurkraut
- make coleslaw
- make cabbage rolls
- clean out garden
- mow garden
- rototill garden
- replant beans
- take coveralls and Iona's blanket to laundry mat
- find out what is leaking on washer
laundry (4 loads)- price 12 items for 3 bags full
answer business emails.- call Aunt S about banty's
get sweet feed and chicken feedgo to the grocery store- go to Meijer
- put out chair
- clean laundry room
- picture of Danny
- brush Kristl (shedding-bad!!)
clean out fridge- straighten front room
- vaccuum steps
Friday, August 31, 2012
Quick update!
Are you wondering what is going on? Three posts in ONE NIGHT!
This evening while I was milking, my Man told me that two of our 6 pregnant bunny mama's have kindled!
Boy's Lucie had 2 kits.
Mopsy, Sr (my Red NZ that we've had the longest) had her litter (her third). This time she had 5 kits. 3 black, 2 grey.
Right on time....tomorrow we should have some more!! I'll update then.
This evening while I was milking, my Man told me that two of our 6 pregnant bunny mama's have kindled!
Boy's Lucie had 2 kits.
Mopsy, Sr (my Red NZ that we've had the longest) had her litter (her third). This time she had 5 kits. 3 black, 2 grey.
Right on time....tomorrow we should have some more!! I'll update then.
You need cheese.....
OK...now that you are totally cracking up!!
(Shout out to DH for finding this video tonight!)
Almost everyday, I make farm cheese. I haven't gotten the courage up to make any of the other kinds. (OK, I made Motzerella one morning and even took pictures for a tutorial...but it totally flopped, so those pictures are currently in limbo).
However farm cheese, you can't really mess up.
Heat your milk up to 160* to 180*. Pull it off the heat. Put a splash of vinegar in it. Stir until it clabbers (seperates). Let it sit for 30 minutes. Pour off whey. Pull the cheese apart, salt. Smush back together and put into cheese bag. Let drain for 30 minutes.
Eat! Defeat mouse traps!!
(BTW, the cheese actually squeaks!)
Progress on 101....
We're past the half-way point of my 1001 day challenge...gulp. Need to kick it in gear!!
Out of 101 items....
14 completely done
30 in progress
57 not even started (GULP)
With $10 on the line for each unfinished item...I don't have $570....yikes!! So....
Without looking....pick a number between 1-101 and put it in the comments!
By the way....17 weeks until Christmas......
Out of 101 items....
14 completely done
30 in progress
57 not even started (GULP)
With $10 on the line for each unfinished item...I don't have $570....yikes!! So....
Without looking....pick a number between 1-101 and put it in the comments!
By the way....17 weeks until Christmas......
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