20-20 Vision

As of tomorrow, we will have a new month, new year, new decade.

While it won't necessarily be a clean slate for me, when I look back on the past decade, it comes pretty darn close.

Because, lemme tell ya', the twenty-teens  and pre-teens were a bitch.

There were so many many things going on in my life and the lives of my children.  

A short list, in no particular order...

driving lessons, marital troubles, homework battles, college, counselling, new kids in the family, soccer games, high school, surgeries for the kids, surgeries for myself, IEP meetings, braces, hormones, graduations, teenage relationships, animal acquisitions, animal deaths, children moving in (sometimes not my own), children moving out, new old friends, middle school, divorce, proms, downsizing, building fences, building chicken coops, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, runaway ponies, moving, mental health issues, re-entering the work force, death of my mother, Residential Treatment Programs, changing jobs, new old name... 

I honestly don't know how I made it out alive.

But here I am, alive and well.

More grey hair than a decade ago.

Healthier in many ways than I was a decade ago.

Ok, parts of my body are literally falling apart and in need of replacement, but that aside...

So with all the change, did anything stay the same?

Yes.

Resoundingly, yes.

My own inner strength and stability.

God in my corner.

Children and animals all around me.

My own unique, creative perspective.  It is mine alone.  Everyone has their own, I get to claim mine and I will be forever grateful for it.

Hope.

Love.

This time ten years from now, I will be on the cusp of 65.  

An empty-nester (except for maybe Bella?).

Retired (in the name of all that is good and holy, please). 

By the grace of God, still in my beautiful home, petting the ears of a dog as I sit by the fire (as I am at the moment), gathering eggs, and enjoying creative pursuits. Only not all at the same time.

As long as my things-that-stay-the-same list.... you know.... stays the same, I can weather whatever the twenty-twenties throw at me.  I've seen worse.

So bring it.

Farm Friday. In a Wordless Wednesday Kind of Way.

One of my iddy bitty widdle biddle ducklings.





















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Farm Friday on a Sunday: Chicken Surgery

I was doing some barn chores yesterday.

In the course of events, I saw one of our little hens settin' off by herself, real quiet like.

So I picked her up, and noticed something looked off with her foot.

At first glance, I thought she had a bit of a manure ball stuck to her claw (it happens).

But, horror of horrors, I realized it was not a manure ball, but rather some baling twine that had gotten wrapped around her feet. And the baling twine had gotten all frayed and tight and tangled, and

HER TALON OR CLAW OR TOE OR WHATEVER WAS NEARLY AMPUTATED!!

I brought her in the house and called Daniel over. Nugget is, after all, his chicken.

I sent one of the kids to the pantry to get the surgery bin.

Doesn't everyone have a surgery bin in their closet?

I put a surgical drape in Daniel's lap and set Nugget down on it.

I cut the twine off from around her feet with some bandage scissors and reassessed her talon. It was dead, but still attached to her foot by a bit of live flesh.
I don't know, is that what you're supposed to call it, or did I just coin a new phrase?

So I got a scalpel out of a wrapper, had Daniel hold on to her pretty tight, and cut the talon off.

I. Cut. The. Talon. Off.

Where else can you read stuff like this?











Look at all that stinkin' blood. Is that not disgusting?







That is a TALON.

In my HAND.





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Sweet Sophie

The worst part of having a pet, by far, is saying goodbye.

We had to say goodbye to one of our most cherished pets last night.

To make matters worse, we were completely blindsided. We had just returned from vacation, and we were greeting all our dogs, when we realized our little Sophie Cakes was not among the horde. I sent someone outside to call her, and Daniel went into the Dining Room and Game Room to look for her.

He saw her lying next to the door in the Game Room, and thought she was asleep. He walked over to her, excited to say hello. He called her, and reached down to pet her and nudge her to wake, and realized she had died.

Needless to say, we were all traumatized, and what followed was much crying and questioning and hugging and comforting and more crying and more hugging and so much sadness.

Since we had someone coming over twice a day while we were away, and it didn't seem like she had been gone long, we think she had died earlier that day. By all appearances, she died in her sleep. There was no sign of struggle or trauma. Her belly was not enlarged and we saw no blood or evidence of anything out of the ordinary. Stroke? Aneurysm? Heart attack? We'll never know.

What we do know is that we are all left with an empty space that hurts.

We will miss her bat ears.

Her spins.

Her cuddliness.

Her couch potato ways.

Her silence.

Her big melty eyes that said so much.

Her trust in us.







For those of you not familiar with her story, you can read about her here.

But in a nutshell, we got her from the shelter about 5 1/2 years ago. We were told that they had tracked down her previous owners, but they didn't want her back because she was always running away. Well, judging by the scars all over her head, we think we had a pretty good understanding of why she ran away.

She took to each and every one of us right away, and was content to stay with us. She formed a strong bond with James, and went up to his room every night to sleep cuddled up next to him. Silent, and with a history of trauma, they had much in common.



I'm glad to know that the bulk of her life was happy, and that she was loved and cherished.

But we will miss her.



So, so much....

Farm Friday: Allergic?

The chicks and ducklings continue to grow.

The chicks and ducklings continue to be adorable.

I can't hardly stand it.


Here is a picture of the chicks that I promised you from last week.

The goldish ones are the Buff Orpingtons, the whiter ones are the Cornish Rocks.

Don't get too used to those Rocks, they'll only be with us another six or seven weeks.

Well, they'll still be with us, but in the freezer or on the table, not in the barn.





And here is a picture of the ducklings. See the one on the right with the afro? That's the crested runner I was telling you about that I got by accident.

I love her.




Her days might be numbered, though. This morning I put them in the kiddie pool for the first time.

I no sooner put her in then she started flopping all around, twisting and writing like she was possessed.

I think she confused exercise with exorcise.

So I immediately picked her up, and her head continued to spin around.

I put her back in her hutch and she started flopping and twisting and spinning in her bedding.

But I turned my attention to another duckling that had gotten out of the pool and wedged into a little impossible to reach space, and by the time I got her squared away, the crested was upright and looking pretty OK.

I think maybe she had an anaphylactic reaction to water.

I have a duck that's allergic to water.

Figures.



Here are the other three ducklings acting like normal ducklings do when they are placed in water.





This one saw her sister freaking out and just said,

"Really?"

It came out sounding more like a little quack, but I knew what she meant.













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Wordless Wednesday

Sorry, no time for a Weight Loss Wednesday post today. Back to Wordless Wednesday for now. Returning to more weight loss tidbits this time next week.

And now for some wordlessness....









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If you'd like to vote for me, just click on the image below, then scroll down till you see my blog, then click on the vote button. You can vote once a day till the contest ends on 7/24. If I can keep in the top 25 I can get a cool badge to wear proudly on my blog!




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Farm Friday: Empty Nest for Miss Kitty

Poor Miss Kitty.

All her babies have gone on to their forever homes.

My sister Veronica took Eenie. She is now Lilly and she is bffs with their dog Casey and my three year old nephew Evan.

Mo went on to his home with two little boys, a cat and an older dog.

Meenie went to her home with two bigger boys.

Tiger was taken by a wonderful woman and her son, but when she saw Miney, she couldn't resist her and ended up taking both. They are now Tigger and Taylor, and they're doing great!

This is the last picture I took of the group, although Mo had already gone on to his home.






Miss Kitty has an appointment with the vet in about a week and a half, and she'll be getting spayed, checked for feline leukemia, and get all her vaccinations. After that, she'll be ready for her new home.

I have to find that home for her first, but I remain optimistic.






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Pet Organization Ideas

Pet Organization Ideas

For most pet owners, their animal friends bring joy to their lives. Some people consider their pets to be a member of the family. When you consider this idea, it makes sense that your pet seems to be accumulating toys at about the same rate as your children. In the same way that your family’s items get displaced and are in need of a home, so are your pet’s belongings. You may be running out of space for all of your pet’s supplies and are in need of a storage solution.

There are a number of options as far as organization goes. The goal that you should focus on is the ability to maintain specific places for all your dog’s items.


Dresser
A great idea is to take a dresser and dedicate it to all things pet-related. While one drawer may contain your pet’s medicines, another might include all of your pet’s toys.
Each drawer will house a specific item such as your pet’s veterinary papers. A planner that includes important dates for your pet could be included among other items.


Image source: Pinterest

Grooming Supplies
Your home can get cluttered when it comes to all the grooming supplies you purchase for your pet. Whether it’s a brush or bottle of shampoo you need a place to store it. Large wicker baskets are decorative units that can be used to store your dog’s grooming products. These baskets are convenient because you’ll always know where your pet’s cleanup kit is located.

Leashes
It is likely that you own more than one leash for your pet. If this is the case, you may also be wishing for a designated area where you can store your pet’s leashes. A great idea is to install hooks in your entryway and place your leashes there. Now your leashes are in an easily assessable area near your front or back door. Once opened, a door grants your pet the freedom of playtime in your yard or a walk around the neighborhood. Leashes and doors were made for one another.

Feeding Time
Leaving your pet’s food in its original bag can be a bit of a hassle because insects could possibly make their way into it. Bags not only take up space but they often tear, leaving spilled food on your floors. Try placing food in a storage bin created especially for your animals. Many pet stores provide a large selection of food storage containers. Your pet’s food will be sealed and can be easily served.

Appointments
Did you forget that appointment for your pet’s annual shots? You could probably use an organized system in order to keep track of all the important to-do’s for your pet. In the same way that a calendar is helpful in remembering events for you and your family it can be useful in staying on top of your pet appointments. Place colorful stickers on dates that are important such as a day at the groomer. You wouldn’t want to miss out on giving your pet their medicine either. Mark the date on your calendar. Store your calendar in a visible area to ensure that you will see it and recognize each date. This method can also translate to your computer in the form of reminders. Most phones have a calendar feature that gives you the ability to enter in information for reminders as well.

Whether you have a new puppy or you have had a loyal cat by your side for years, you want to spend time enjoying their company. Organizing your pet schedule and supplies will help save time. You will no longer have to guess about the location of their belongings or whether or not you missed their appointments. With these items in order, you are free to cuddle up next to your buddy.




Author Bio: Karla Jennings is a handy woman to have around the house. She runs her own home improvement blog about her passion for home living and organization. She is also a freelance writer for Maid Brigade, a professional maid service for your home.




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Farm Friday: One Down, Four to Go

The first of our kitties went to his new home this past week.

Our little boy tuxedo Mo has gone on to be Kitty Cat Extraordinaire to two little boys about a half an hour from here. He joined a fur family of an orange tabby cat and an older dog and I'm sure he will bring them many years of fun and cuddle-buggedness. God speed Mo!

That very evening, we got a taker for Meenie, though she'll stay with us for a couple weeks till her family can get her. And Eenie and Tiger are also spoken for, so now all are claimed except sweet little Miney.









Who can open their heart and home to this little sweetheart???

They've all had their first distemper shot and a worming. They are all using thie litterbox consistently, drinking water and eating solid food. They will be eight weeks old in a few days and are ready to go on to new adventures with their family to be.

Let the offers come rolling in!!!





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Rudeness disclaimer:

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I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Farm Friday: Kittens at Six Weeks

They are cuddle muffins.







They are capable of inducing diabetic coma with one look.





They are rascals





They are dirty.





They pounce, they hog her food, they nurse from one end while she eats from the other.




They are finally beginning to eat solid food.




But at the end of the day, they're still Mama's babies.









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Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Farm Friday: One Month Update

The kitties are one month old already!

SO cute.

Playful.
Curious.
Love muffins.

I could squeeze 'em all day long, but nobody's about to pay me for that, so I still have to trudge off to work.

Here. I wrapped you up a little cuteness to go.





















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Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Farm Friday: Grumble.

Bleh!
Whine.
Grumble....

I had a post all written up with the kitten update. And I had pictures, but now I can't find the stinkin' memory card.
No memory card, no pictures.

And I canNOT bring myself to post a kitten update without showing you their toxic levels of adorableness. Can't be done.

So I'll try to post that tomorrow or something, and in the meantime I bring you some choice rehash of farm-like material.

Hope you don't mind too terribly.







So a good friend of mine is putting her house on the market because she wants a place in the country where she can keep her critters out in the open, and not hidden away in a secret chamber like Anne Frank.

The realtor came by to appraise her house and saw chickens in the garage.
Told her they must go.
She has some notion that potential buyers might not want to look any further once they saw chickens in the house. Sheesh.

So anyway, needless to say, I am now chicken-sitting said poultry. I took receipt of them a couple days ago, and felt like I was part of the underground-railroad.

We quickly got them settled into the Henhouse with the others.

Others being my 13 layers, 10 meat-bird chicks, and 6 layer-breed cockarels that I had heretofore described as styrofoam packing peanuts.

We oriented them to the feed and water, and sat back chattin' like the overall-wearin', hay-chewin' farmgals that we are, and watched the hens get acquainted with their new digs.

To no one's surprise, a fight broke out between one of the newcomers and one of my Wyandottes.

Me: Do you think we should break it up?
T: No, let's see if they can resolve this on their own.
(we're mothers first, chicken stewards second)

And we watched them fly at each other, puff up, peck at each other's wattles and combs, and cuss at each other.

At one point, in the thick of their squabble, they both stopped and turned to look off in a corner, with one neck twisted under the other and talons outstretched mid-strike.

Me: They need a thought-bubble above them that says, "I'm gonna rip you limb-from...Look! A squirrel!"
T: I think our chickens have ADHD.

Image courtesy: SydesJokes on Flickr
via Pinterest



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Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Farm Friday: Kitten Update

Geeze Louise they're growing fast.





Holy cow.

And cute?

Please.

They're starting to walk now, as opposed to belly crawling.

You know, that funny brand-new-legs walk that kittens do, one foot at a time, tail pointed straight out behind them, shaking like a junkie.



They're also beginning to groom themselves and even to play a bit.

Also? They're starting to develop personalities. Well, kittenalities, I suppose, if you want to get all technical on me.

Eenie: Thinks outside the box. Literally. Yesterday Miss Kitty and all her babies were in the box, but Eenie was just outside.




Meenie: Not a meanie. A sweetie!




Miney: This joker is a jokester.




Mo: He's my laid-back little dude. Doesn't say much, just sits back and looks at you with those eyes. At two weeks old, he's already heavily contemplated life.




Tiger: Biggest. Furriest. Leader of the band.






I've moved their box into a bigger enclosure so when they're big enough to leave the box they'll have a safe place to play.






I made the move a little sooner than I had planned, b/c when I went to check on them yesterday, I discovered Miss Kitty had moved them. She put them all in a desk drawer. They were all jumbled up in a pile on a bunch of pencils, peering out and saying, "Meow?"



And I said, "Miss Kitty, I've been there, honey. I know there are some days you just want to hide your kids away in a desk drawer or a closet or something, but you just can't do that, darlin'."

And she sighed a very heavy sigh as she watched me place them back in the box.

She's feeling a bit like a factory these days, poor girl.


That's OK.

I know she loves the little parasites....











They'll be ready in 5 1/2 more weeks! Taking orders now.....



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*************


Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.