Life, balancing itself out

Whew. Wouldn't it be nice for life to be calm, quiet and... empty, just for a day? One day of not having to get up to do flock and dog duties, one day of not worrying about anyone except myself, no chores or cleaning or talking or...

Sigh. Ain't gonna happen anytime soon so I better just not think about it.

Or maybe it's just the wet oppressive weather talking, I dunno.

I'm getting enough hours of sleep but the quality, meh. Not there. I feel tired all the time, achy bits and pieces, no gumption to cook hence not eating so well. And now snow, freezing temps and rain for the next two weeks. Kinda hard to swallow after so many days of early spring. That must explain my slump somewhat.

Anyhoo. Balance. Yeah.

The Bad: One of our favorite girls, a blue cochin pullet named Kiwi, hurt her leg about two weeks ago jumping out of a nesting box in the coop. She has been limping pretty badly, she was put in isolation with no change in her gait, so I put her back with her little gang in the coop about 4 days ago. Yesterday morning, her neck and most of her head had been plucked bare to the raw skin :-(

I drove to a vet the next town over in the afternoon, they're not supposed to treat chickens but I pleaded my case... They took two x-rays of her gimpy leg and the result is inconclusive - it's either permanent nerve damage or a slipped tendon, they don't know. No fracture in her leg or pelvis, no hip dislocation so that's good news.

Not sure what to do now, she can't mingle with the flock anymore as the law of nature is applied without mercy: the weak, the old and the wounded get dispatched. My heart is just broken for our poor gorgeous sweet girl. *cries*

The Good: Tyler finally came home yesterday! My little ragdoll roo, he's is soooo funny and sweet and has an enormous zest for life and a personality to match - instant love, I tell you! You should hear him crow, mutter and chatter - it's hilarious! Looks like my breeding plans are starting to firm up a bit, so that's good.

The Bad: The Black & Decker jigsaw I purchased two weeks ago broke yesterday afternoon, in the middle of a project. The dang blade keeps slipping out and I've no idea why. Of course I couldn't find the receipt to return it, either. Gaaah!

The Good: I called the 1-800 number that was listed on the instruction manual, detailed my problem and they are shipping me a free replacement, easy as pie! I have to say, I'm quite impressed with their customer service. Two thumbs up!

The Bad: Cold, soggy, snowy, freezing-rainy, slushy, freezing, grey and depressing weather scheduled for the next two weeks. I'm really, really fed up with this crap. My poor budding tulips!

The Good: Baby chicks are due to hatch tomorrow, if all goes well! That should keep me focused on happier things than the return of Mister Frosty-Go-Eff-Yourself. Please send all the good vibes you can muster for a healthy, successful hatch - I'm at the end of my nerves these days and cannot go through any more drama! Babies will be housed in the bathroom for a few days as the freezing temps could kill them in the garage brooder.

That's all she wrote for now, folks...

I asked the sales assistant in a book store where the self-help section was and she said if she told me it would defeat the purpose.