Moping With My Back

My back is just so painful that I did not even put the chickies out this morning. I ambled down to the garden and brought them back some fresh chard and little tomatoes.

I worked aon their little taxie carrier and made it more study - I hope.

I had finally got a little stapler so I went to work on the last run that I built but was needing the fencing put up around it.

I needed it completed because this coming Tuesday is when the eggs in the incubator are due to hatch. This time it looks like I might have some success.

If none of them hatch then that's it for this year. I will not try anymore with the incubator.

It does not look like much since I have recycled all of the wood framing in the runs. There are two of them and each one has a window for light. If the babies hatch I will put a lamp or maybe two in there for warmth as it is getting very chilly at night now. I do not like it when it gets down in the 50's. Br.

I went to the garden and picked a small basket of tomatoes and some peppers. I worked on chopping the peppers up and in the freezer. Then Tim helped me cut open a baby coconut so I could get the water from it. I have read that it is so good as eye drops for your eyes so I am going to throw that at my "dudding" eyes.

I sanded a tiny bit on my wood stove that has been covered up beside the house for about ten years now. The cover was getting very thin and it has rusted up. I finally had to give it up and go feed Yukon the donkey and close the chicken building up for the night.

When your back hurts you just hurt all over. I wish I could have got more accomplished but that is just how some days are. Tomorrow it is calling for rain and then the next day the phone man is suppose to come work on the phone that has been out of order for two weeks now. It is hard to get them to fix things . They have just got too big.

The Chimney Is up

Well, the chimney is up and the scaffolds are gone. I can hardly believe what my eyes are seeing? It was a lot of hard -hot work in the sun from these two young men who volunteered their time and knowledge and muscle-lots of muscle. Plus. that corner gets the full blunt of the hot day sun - so they really cooked those 3 days.

Now to clean up all the mess and get the stove hooked up to it and see if it will operate like it use to - about ten years ago?????? That will be another lot of back breaking work and that leaves my back out of commission. I pulled that muscle on the one side but I think this other side is still the neuropathic pain from the shingles. I just know it hurts. I did not carry the chickens out today at all.

I had to go to town to run a bunch of errands . One of them was to pick up an immature coconut that a lady had ordered for me. I have read that you can use the coconut water inside of it for eye drops to help the macular degeneration and I am willing to try? First I have to figure out how to get  that water OUT????????????? ~smile~

The Chimney Still Continues

I don't think any of us realizes how much work goes into building a chimney unless you actually see the process. The boys are cleaning up the old blocks and that takes time and muscle. Then they erected a scaffold - I had never seen that before either-but it is still very scary as the boards that we found for them to walk on are not the strongest and the blocks are Very Heavy to be hoisted up.

Then Jimmy climbed Up on Top of the Metal roof to remove the panel there where the chimney has to come through. I was SOOOOOO Scared . That metal roof was HOT and Slick! If he were to fall it would break his back - if he lived through it. I kept praying for his safety.

Tim said he was being the laborer today and he carried the blocks to the scaffold and cleaned the blocks of the old cement . He mixed the mortar also . Jimmy packs the mortar and heaves the blocks in place. He smoothes the joint and uses a level to level the blocks-each one as they go up. It is very Heavy work. I wonder if their back and shoulders hurt at night?

I told Tim that I had proof that he sat on his butt! LOL He said that was one of the perks of being a "Laborer"- you got breaks in between times to mix and lift?? LOL

Miss Callie was allowed out with us today because Miss Rosie said there was just TOO Much going on and she would stay in her room for the day. So Callie enjoyed herself for quiet a while.

The guys got higher and higher and it took two to lift the blocks over their heads.  I was still so scared for them.

I did ask them to take a break for a late meal. I fed them fresh green beans, potato salad and my first tomato pie. We all got stuffed.

Tim had to turn his head  while Jimmy was cutting a block as the dust was so bad. They had to stop to go pick Crystal up from work.Then they worked until after dark-putting blocks up by flashlight. It only needs one More Block and it will be completed.  So maybe tomorrow we can all rejoice and the hard work will be over and hopefully they will not get hurt. That is the important part.That they do not get hurt.

The Chimney Is Going Up

My daughter's boyfriend, Tim  and his best friend, Jimmy  have generously volunteered to build me a new chimney. There use to be one on the side of the house but a chimney fire many years ago cracked it all the way down and my DH had yanked it off the side of the house. He never dreamed we would need it again because he hooked up the outdoor wood stove -which was wonderful - - - - - Until after he passed away and the thing cracked open in two different places and the water all ran out of it!

So then Last winter I had a propane furnace installed and tried propane for heat. It was so expensive that it ate up all of my savings and I still froze and was miserable -as were my pups.

So, with everybody's help they are getting it ready to bring back in the old wood stove that raised 3 children and kept us warm for many years.

I knew I had to leave to go for my acupuncture treatment for my eyes so I ran around snapping pictures trying to record their hard work.

And while I was gone it got Hot on them because the sun comes around that corner for the hottest part of the  day! Isn't it looking neat and see they are putting in a little door that I will be able to clean the ashes out !

When I got back home my daughter came in from working at the Post Office early. Their air conditioner system had broken down and they were attempting to work in a brick building with no air flow and everybody was getting sick from the heat.

They got their scaffold set up as they moved up higher than their waist.  I am worried about them - I do not want them to get hurt doing something sweet for me.  I am so very grateful to them.

Is IT Really Sunday Already????

I just plain ran out of daylight-the day just flew by. I did all my chores and put the chickies out and then picked a big mess of beans . Had to climb on the ladder to reach the top of the vines because they are one an upturned stock panel . Kind of a pain to reach, but nice when you have a small space. It took me a couple of hours to string and break and cook them and then it was time to go haul all the chickies back in the building.

My dear daughter and her boyfriend hauled down the flu blocks to work on the chimney tomorrow.

The idea is to install a double insulated pipe through the wall and then add the flu blocks on top of that all the way UP past the roof top! I am so very grateful for them hoping to do that tomorrow as I am not strong enough to heave them up that high. Shoot , I can barely drag those heavy things anywhere?

She is putting one in her "tiny house" also -so we are both hoping to stay warm this winter. Then we have to get her wood truck fixed . Something broke and it will not pull out when you put it in four wheel drive and we need that to get back in the woods and back out .

But it was a beautiful , productive day.

Friday

A morning is a new chapter in our life , a chance at entirely new adventures ahead of us that we have yet to see. I have discovered that I Really do not want to plunge out that door and start-but - after I finally drag myself out it takes on a whole new appeal. I mean one of the reasons I keep my chickens is to force me to get exercise and fresh air-not counting the extra treats of eggs in the kitchen .

This morning I remembered that IF I take my camera along for the trip I manage to discover I do more in my day than I would remember normally -thus, wondering where did my day go to?? So I put on my little fanny pack and took off. I was putting my first little chickens out and wanted to snap a picture of them for their "cute-ness factor" when I discovered I had put on my fanny pack - Up-Side down???? Hum?????  Wonder if this was a warning of the days events yet to come?

Then the camera flashed me a message of batteries dead!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! So, I track back inside the house to grab the batteries ONLY to discover that they are not where I thought I had put them????????????????? After all this was before my Summer took an abrupt left turn and left me in the ashes of "What Happened"""""". I am lucky and have a pack of cheap little batteries I can fall back on, but I had just bought these other batteries SPECIAL for my camera???? Darn it. Yep- a new unplanned chapter?????????????????

Well, I got lucky and found my batteries under a folder- yea.

I carried my next group out -these are all just babies.

Then I stopped and admired the work that another group had done on a  hill that the weeds had taken over while I was sick. I wanted to pull them all out but decided to let the chicks start the job for me.

So I moved their corral and plopped them in a new spot full of fresh grass. Then I went back and worked on the other spot.

Now it looks like this-I started to water it and plant some ground cover in there, but decided it was hot today -to let the sun bake some of those darn weeds and see if I can whip them out a little bit first.

As I go up and down the hill carrying everybody I stopped to wrestle with this composter that I got at the Goodwill. I really do love it- But - it REALLY does whip me as I attempt to roll it across the yard to mix the compost. lol

Another group out - making progress!

                          Yes, the last major group is out in the fresh grass. Yea.

I stop to fed the turkeys and carry them a big armful of fresh grass.

Trying to get a picture of their baby is a nightmare. Every time I go to snap a picture the baby runs up under Daddy and my camera is so slow that the other times all it snapped was a piece of AIR. They did not take care of baby to start with so I had to take him in the building and have just brought it back out to them. They tried to hurt it to start with , but are adjusting now. I am so glad.,

My next chore is unloading the donkey's food into the building . My problem is  that I can make it to the step but cannot manage to lift me up with the sack of food?

So, I found this simple half block and add it as a step and low and behold I can now access the inside of the building. You would not think something so simple would be a problem , but I am finding out that age can pull tricks on you .

This is one of my babies who is not doing good. When a friend got her for me she was fine -then she went down hill. He had some that did the same thing and he changed feed and they all perked up. So I have got her the new food but she was so weak by the time I got it it has not had enough time to build her up. So, I am going to force feed her and see if I can get enough in her to save her. I Really am crazy about her. She is a lavender orpington and I want her to survive so bad!

Well, got that job accomplished - I sure hope it helps!

Bandit is checking up on me and offering me moral support along the way. I am getting tired and take a quick lunch break ok the last in the pot of the green beans from last weekend. Then back to the garden.

   
                                                To pick the tomatoes.

Now it is time to go change out everybody's water and carry them all back up the hill and put them to bed for the night! Also feed Yukon the donkey too and then I will be Pooped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guild Meeting Night

                                                       
This just seems to sum up exactly the way I see the animals in my lifetime. I had to have someone come look after me. ~smile~



It is a beautiful day - the sun is out nice and warm. All of my animals but one little chicken are feeling good and enjoying the day. I always admire the way they feel about a new day. They are always fired up to appreciate it and seem to take nothing for granted. After the chickens have fill their tummies you will hear them singing to the top of their little lungs -full of joy. That is the way I want to be- full of appreciation for my new day- a chance to write a new chapter in my life.

That has always been what my animals have done for me. They know when I need a boost and always have the time for me. They know how to put a smile on my face and lift my spirits when need be. They are always full of love and share it unconditionally.

This is a new project I am working on today. It is a strawberry-coconut cracker. It is not quiet ready Yet- but I just had to have a picture. I am finding there is a whole new world of things I never dreamed of in the realm  of dehydrating food.