Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn't commit. ~Eli Khamarov, Lives of the Cognoscenti
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Layers of comfort
Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn't commit. ~Eli Khamarov, Lives of the Cognoscenti
Icky flashback
I'm in a really good mood today, just like that - for no real reason. It's still gray and wet outside, Vegas has been gone for almost a week and is only home in four days, the coop is under anarchy and my roo Sunshine started another cold but hey! I feel great, everything is under control.
Maybe it was the hot bubble bath at 10am... such a treat. I should do that more often, eh? So relaxing! :-D
Right now I'm sipping a hot apple spice tea and watching old Seinfeld episodes, it's awesome! Oh, how I miss that show... Just getting ready to take the dogs out for a nice long walk in the woods to round up the afternoon. Woo!
I've had an icky flashback from my old life whirling around my brain for a little while... I think it's because Vegas is traveling so much and I appreciate how rough it is for him as well as for myself, when he comes home I want it to be as welcoming as possible so he knows how much he is loved and was missed - you know?
Well this one time, when I was with my ex (about two years into the relationship) I had been working my ass off at a trade show for a week, was exhausted and ill and had flown home on the redeye from the west coast - not a direct flight, either - oh, I was just sooo happy to finally come home, it was Saturday morning and I couldn't wait to relax, have a hot breakfast and sleep!
Nobody was waiting for me at the airport, so I took a taxi home.
And walked into a stinking nightmare of a pig stye. My place, that I had lived in and decorated and nutured for years, had been trashed. The ex had just woken up (it was 9am, people), he hadn't showered or shaved in days. The stuffy apartment reeked of stale, horrible things. The bedroom was littered with dirty clothes strewn everywhere, the bedsheets oily and smelly. The living room looked like a bomb had hit. The kitchen garbage was over-flowing, the sink piled high with dirty dishes, the fridge was empty and the floor sticky with gunk. The toilet hadn't been flushed and there was a fresh puddle of dog shit on the guest room floor. The dogs' water bowl was empty.
The worst part? I had a total breakdown, there was a fight, he packed his bags and left for three days. Never answered his phone or returned emails. Yep. He stuck me with cleaning up his giant mess as well as taking care of the dogs, buying groceries and doing the laundry before I could fall into bed on clean sheets.
I caught bronchitis because of this and was terribly ill for a month, lost hearing in one ear for six weeks.
OK I lied about the worst part... the worst part is that I took him back, I begged for him to come back. That, my dear friends, is the lowest form of self-loathing imaginable. You think it's love so you wipe it under the carpet, you excuse it away - it's not his fault, he can't help it, you're too demanding, it was an accident.
Bullshit.
I could kick myself for not knowing any better, for putting myself last like that - sigh.
Sooo glad it's all over now, you've no idea. Life now is paradise, it's real and it's really, really awesome. I'm loved and appreciated and valued and respected, and it's a very mutual feeling. I still don't know how I got so lucky to marry the best man in the world, but I sure am enjoying every minute of it :-)
Anyways. Just wanted to get that icky flashback out of my head so that the day is sunny again!
On a parting note, I went to get three new pretty ladies yesterday! Here they are below, let's hope they give us some babies and lots of pretty eggs! Woo! More on them later.
Guess which one lays a green egg?
Happy rest of weekend, everyone!
/end of Happy Is As Happy Does post/
Maybe it was the hot bubble bath at 10am... such a treat. I should do that more often, eh? So relaxing! :-D
Right now I'm sipping a hot apple spice tea and watching old Seinfeld episodes, it's awesome! Oh, how I miss that show... Just getting ready to take the dogs out for a nice long walk in the woods to round up the afternoon. Woo!
I've had an icky flashback from my old life whirling around my brain for a little while... I think it's because Vegas is traveling so much and I appreciate how rough it is for him as well as for myself, when he comes home I want it to be as welcoming as possible so he knows how much he is loved and was missed - you know?
Well this one time, when I was with my ex (about two years into the relationship) I had been working my ass off at a trade show for a week, was exhausted and ill and had flown home on the redeye from the west coast - not a direct flight, either - oh, I was just sooo happy to finally come home, it was Saturday morning and I couldn't wait to relax, have a hot breakfast and sleep!
Nobody was waiting for me at the airport, so I took a taxi home.
And walked into a stinking nightmare of a pig stye. My place, that I had lived in and decorated and nutured for years, had been trashed. The ex had just woken up (it was 9am, people), he hadn't showered or shaved in days. The stuffy apartment reeked of stale, horrible things. The bedroom was littered with dirty clothes strewn everywhere, the bedsheets oily and smelly. The living room looked like a bomb had hit. The kitchen garbage was over-flowing, the sink piled high with dirty dishes, the fridge was empty and the floor sticky with gunk. The toilet hadn't been flushed and there was a fresh puddle of dog shit on the guest room floor. The dogs' water bowl was empty.
The worst part? I had a total breakdown, there was a fight, he packed his bags and left for three days. Never answered his phone or returned emails. Yep. He stuck me with cleaning up his giant mess as well as taking care of the dogs, buying groceries and doing the laundry before I could fall into bed on clean sheets.
I caught bronchitis because of this and was terribly ill for a month, lost hearing in one ear for six weeks.
OK I lied about the worst part... the worst part is that I took him back, I begged for him to come back. That, my dear friends, is the lowest form of self-loathing imaginable. You think it's love so you wipe it under the carpet, you excuse it away - it's not his fault, he can't help it, you're too demanding, it was an accident.
Bullshit.
I could kick myself for not knowing any better, for putting myself last like that - sigh.
Sooo glad it's all over now, you've no idea. Life now is paradise, it's real and it's really, really awesome. I'm loved and appreciated and valued and respected, and it's a very mutual feeling. I still don't know how I got so lucky to marry the best man in the world, but I sure am enjoying every minute of it :-)
Anyways. Just wanted to get that icky flashback out of my head so that the day is sunny again!
On a parting note, I went to get three new pretty ladies yesterday! Here they are below, let's hope they give us some babies and lots of pretty eggs! Woo! More on them later.
Guess which one lays a green egg?Happy rest of weekend, everyone!
/end of Happy Is As Happy Does post/
Friday, February 26, 2010
*yawn* type type *yawn*
The anti-sleep demons are having their way with me these days, hmmm! Nasty little critters. I need a shotgun and magic bullets or sumtin.
Yesterday had me shashaying a little victory dance as I finally finished my very first shop project evar, and I am so proud! Not bad for a first attempt at carpentry, is it?
Lacey loves his new home,
and tomorrow he gets a new girlfriend to go with it!
The coop is 4' long, 2' wide and 2' tall. Ventilated on both sides, re-inforced with 1/4" hardware cloth (that stuff is a nightmare to cut). Big door for more ventilation and ease of access for cleaning, large ledge to keep the bedding inside. Not too heavy so can be transported. I just need to add a roosting bar and it's all done!
Took me about 5 hours working with awkward panels, heavy machinery and recycled materials, trying to design and figure things out as I went along... But I had great fun and can't wait to make the next one, will try to improve on skills with practice :-)
The best part of the day though was ramming the car into the half-shoveled snowbank to finally have access to the grocery store, woo! I rewarded myself with cheese fondue for dinner and a little glass of red wine, it was tasty mmmmm.
I've got enough good, ready-to-go food in the fridge now to have NO excuse for cereal, crackers and toast 3 times a day.
Me and carbs, we're good buddies.
Time to get shake off the cobwebs and get this lovely new day started (did I mention all this rain is melting the dump of snow pretty quickly? Yey!), as a parting gift I'd like to point you to the funniest blog post I've read in a long time, please do take a minute to visit Jayme's blog and her awesome breakup with... well, go see for yourself!
/end of This Hour Has 6 Minutes post/
Yesterday had me shashaying a little victory dance as I finally finished my very first shop project evar, and I am so proud! Not bad for a first attempt at carpentry, is it?
The Silkie Condo!
Lacey loves his new home,and tomorrow he gets a new girlfriend to go with it!
The coop is 4' long, 2' wide and 2' tall. Ventilated on both sides, re-inforced with 1/4" hardware cloth (that stuff is a nightmare to cut). Big door for more ventilation and ease of access for cleaning, large ledge to keep the bedding inside. Not too heavy so can be transported. I just need to add a roosting bar and it's all done!Took me about 5 hours working with awkward panels, heavy machinery and recycled materials, trying to design and figure things out as I went along... But I had great fun and can't wait to make the next one, will try to improve on skills with practice :-)
The best part of the day though was ramming the car into the half-shoveled snowbank to finally have access to the grocery store, woo! I rewarded myself with cheese fondue for dinner and a little glass of red wine, it was tasty mmmmm.
I've got enough good, ready-to-go food in the fridge now to have NO excuse for cereal, crackers and toast 3 times a day.
Me and carbs, we're good buddies.
Time to get shake off the cobwebs and get this lovely new day started (did I mention all this rain is melting the dump of snow pretty quickly? Yey!), as a parting gift I'd like to point you to the funniest blog post I've read in a long time, please do take a minute to visit Jayme's blog and her awesome breakup with... well, go see for yourself!
/end of This Hour Has 6 Minutes post/
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Amen to that!
There's nothing better than good sex. But bad sex? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is better than bad sex.
~Billy JoelMerrrr sleepless night meerrrrr
Sometimes things just conspire against a good night's sleep:
Oh! Speaking of chicks... Well, they've told me what their new names are, I know there was going to be a vote and all but they vetoed it! :-o
More pics to come next week, they're growing so fast!
Too tired and fuzzy-brained to blog today, you'll have to forgive me, drink in the pics and run with it! Wishing you all a lovely Thursday, I'll be catching up with your pages tonight.
/end of Oh I Smell A Nap post/
- There's a train in your brain causing a drain
- Your bladder keeps filling up
- Funky dreams jolt you awake
- The wind slapping against the house at 5am
Oh! Speaking of chicks... Well, they've told me what their new names are, I know there was going to be a vote and all but they vetoed it! :-o
More pics to come next week, they're growing so fast!Too tired and fuzzy-brained to blog today, you'll have to forgive me, drink in the pics and run with it! Wishing you all a lovely Thursday, I'll be catching up with your pages tonight.
/end of Oh I Smell A Nap post/
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Mega snow day :-o
Holy snowflakes, batman!
Woke up to find about two feet of snow had fallen overnight, and there's another foot or so coming down on our heads today - mother of god, what did I do to deserve this?!
It's officially THE biggest storm to hit this place all winter, well since many winters, and of course it happens when Vegas is away in California... Oh, the bitter irony. It's warm-ish today, too, so the snow is very wet and super heavy - perfect for making giant snowpeople but impossible to shovel - I'm so discouraged, you have no idea!
Forget about walking them, too - the snow goes over my knees in most places, I broke out in a huge sweat just going around the house and to the coop laden with food and water buckets. Christ. I need snowshoes!
Mister snowplow was busy this morning making sure
All I can hope for is that the morons predicting the weather are right for once and rain is coming as of Friday to melt all this crap into a giant lake! Oh yes, this "two inches" of snow is right on target folks, thanks for warning us! NOT!
Mmmm melting snow + rain = mud, also = dirty dogs, dirty coop, dirty boots, dirty floors... Mmmmm! I love this country.
So what's a girl to do when her plans are scrapped thanks to asshat weather? She gets her chores done and then goes out in the snow towear the dogs out play!
Time for a rest now, everyone's good and tired out, my snowsuit is hanging to dry, the flock is in bed for the night and what's not to love about a good hot cuppa orange pekoe tea while the nana-cranberry muffins bake in the oven?
...and the finished yummies....
Do I post too many pics in my blog??
I'm getting this strange feeling... LOL!
Thanks for spending some time with me today, hope you enjoyed the snow more than I did (ha ha) - Vegas, are you laughing yet as you wave at the pacific ocean from Venice Beach? Well, you should. Lucky bastid. I do miss you though - sigh.
/end of Mishmash Snowballs post/
Woke up to find about two feet of snow had fallen overnight, and there's another foot or so coming down on our heads today - mother of god, what did I do to deserve this?!
It's officially THE biggest storm to hit this place all winter, well since many winters, and of course it happens when Vegas is away in California... Oh, the bitter irony. It's warm-ish today, too, so the snow is very wet and super heavy - perfect for making giant snowpeople but impossible to shovel - I'm so discouraged, you have no idea!
I couldn't even let the dogs out this morning
without digging a path first:
without digging a path first:
Forget about walking them, too - the snow goes over my knees in most places, I broke out in a huge sweat just going around the house and to the coop laden with food and water buckets. Christ. I need snowshoes!"Um, mom? Help!"
Mister snowplow was busy this morning making sureI can't get out of our driveway anytime soon:
All I can hope for is that the morons predicting the weather are right for once and rain is coming as of Friday to melt all this crap into a giant lake! Oh yes, this "two inches" of snow is right on target folks, thanks for warning us! NOT!Mmmm melting snow + rain = mud, also = dirty dogs, dirty coop, dirty boots, dirty floors... Mmmmm! I love this country.
So what's a girl to do when her plans are scrapped thanks to asshat weather? She gets her chores done and then goes out in the snow to
Goofy McFlapperlips and the Cool Wolves:
Please do ignore my awful voice and sound effects - oops!
Time for a rest now, everyone's good and tired out, my snowsuit is hanging to dry, the flock is in bed for the night and what's not to love about a good hot cuppa orange pekoe tea while the nana-cranberry muffins bake in the oven?
...and the finished yummies....
Do I post too many pics in my blog??I'm getting this strange feeling... LOL!
Thanks for spending some time with me today, hope you enjoyed the snow more than I did (ha ha) - Vegas, are you laughing yet as you wave at the pacific ocean from Venice Beach? Well, you should. Lucky bastid. I do miss you though - sigh.
/end of Mishmash Snowballs post/
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
For Vegas
Oft in the tranquil hour of night,When stars illume the sky,
I gaze upon each orb of light,
And wish that thou wert by.
~George Linley
The fun part - and you get to participate!
OK peeps - wanna put on your thinking hats and join the fun?
These babies need names, I'm a bit reluctant to be fixed-and-formal about it because there is one little roo that will for sure need to find a new home in a couple of months and one baby that I can only keep if it's a girl... Oh please let it be a girl!! So let's just have fun with it :-)
Please submit your suggestions via the comment form!
You can suggest multiple names per chick, too - I'll compile the best ones (per chick) and then you get to vote - yey! These little buggers grow and change so fast, next week's update pics will no doubt shock you... but in the meantime, please do give it your best shot!
/end of Thank You, Guys! post/
These babies need names, I'm a bit reluctant to be fixed-and-formal about it because there is one little roo that will for sure need to find a new home in a couple of months and one baby that I can only keep if it's a girl... Oh please let it be a girl!! So let's just have fun with it :-)
(pic clicks bigger)
Please submit your suggestions via the comment form!You can suggest multiple names per chick, too - I'll compile the best ones (per chick) and then you get to vote - yey! These little buggers grow and change so fast, next week's update pics will no doubt shock you... but in the meantime, please do give it your best shot!
/end of Thank You, Guys! post/
Monday, February 22, 2010
Who's up for an overdose of cuteness?
Raise your hands! :-D
I finally got some good pics of the babies today, I got peeped at loudly (they don't like being away from mama) but for the most part they were very good peepers.
This little mixed Easter Egger looks to be a girl but we'll know for sure in a couple of months - she's one of my favorites, so fluffy and sweet! If she's a girl she gets to stay so crossing fingers!
This little Rhode Island Red is a boy,
which is fine because I wanted a roo for my breeding plans:
This little one is pure Easter Egger, I really hope it's a girl
otherwise I can't keep him as I already have 3 EE roos...
No idea on the sex or the breed of this feisty mixed chick,
but it sure has a pair of lungs! LOL! PeepPEEPEEEEP!
Probably a boy, so it will have to go... :(
Last but not least, a pure black Cochin, not sure of the sex but either way it stays
as I have two blue cochins who need a boyfriend or a sister!
You can all wipe those silly grins off your faces
and just thank me with chocolate! LOL
Vegas is now gone for another nine long days... Sigh. Gonna be rough enduring this never-ending winter while he enjoys the California warmth and sun and sea - I'm so jealous I'm about to cry! Of course he's going there to work and it's not all butterflies and rainbows but still, come ON! If you had to choose, who the hell would choose to stay here in the cold gray wet winter with slobbery dogs and chicken poop?
So. Not. Fair.
I'm aching for escape, just me and my camera and new horizons, no obligations and no schedule, just for a few days... I feel like my brain is seizing up from repetition and routine. My souls yearns for sunshine, sunsets, the sea and the cries of seagulls.
Anybody have a remedy for that?
It's past dinnertime for the doggies, they're pacing like sharks - I better get to my duties. Dinner for one tonight will be an orange and a cup of tea, I'm not hungry... Got the blues. Good thing I had an awesome sushi lunch with two amazing friends, gosh I hadn't seen them in aaaaages! Sad we had to rush it (stupid city meters) but it was still lovely.
/end of Have You Hugged A Chick Today? post/
I finally got some good pics of the babies today, I got peeped at loudly (they don't like being away from mama) but for the most part they were very good peepers.
This little mixed Easter Egger looks to be a girl but we'll know for sure in a couple of months - she's one of my favorites, so fluffy and sweet! If she's a girl she gets to stay so crossing fingers!
This little Rhode Island Red is a boy,which is fine because I wanted a roo for my breeding plans:
This little one is pure Easter Egger, I really hope it's a girlotherwise I can't keep him as I already have 3 EE roos...
No idea on the sex or the breed of this feisty mixed chick,but it sure has a pair of lungs! LOL! PeepPEEPEEEEP!
Probably a boy, so it will have to go... :(
Last but not least, a pure black Cochin, not sure of the sex but either way it staysas I have two blue cochins who need a boyfriend or a sister!
You can all wipe those silly grins off your facesand just thank me with chocolate! LOL
Vegas is now gone for another nine long days... Sigh. Gonna be rough enduring this never-ending winter while he enjoys the California warmth and sun and sea - I'm so jealous I'm about to cry! Of course he's going there to work and it's not all butterflies and rainbows but still, come ON! If you had to choose, who the hell would choose to stay here in the cold gray wet winter with slobbery dogs and chicken poop?
So. Not. Fair.
I'm aching for escape, just me and my camera and new horizons, no obligations and no schedule, just for a few days... I feel like my brain is seizing up from repetition and routine. My souls yearns for sunshine, sunsets, the sea and the cries of seagulls.
Anybody have a remedy for that?
It's past dinnertime for the doggies, they're pacing like sharks - I better get to my duties. Dinner for one tonight will be an orange and a cup of tea, I'm not hungry... Got the blues. Good thing I had an awesome sushi lunch with two amazing friends, gosh I hadn't seen them in aaaaages! Sad we had to rush it (stupid city meters) but it was still lovely.
/end of Have You Hugged A Chick Today? post/
Sunday, February 21, 2010
You never know
People are weird.
The first house visitors yesterday morning were the promising ones after a long conversation on the phone, but they turned out to be jerks - who goes through someone's house, with them standing right there, and constantly keeps pointing out to stuff complaining loudly how "cheaply done" it is? WTF?
The second visitors turned out to be the nice, serious ones - whodathunkit? We really clicked, they seemed to like many things about the property and will be in touch as they are only starting their search.
Even if we never hear from them again, it was a relief to achieve balance in a day - you know? Our place may not be perfect but it's pretty nice and I'll be damned if I just stand there and take abuse from people who have no manners! I hope to never hear from those asshats again!
Still, two visits after being on the market for only three weeks is awesome, considering our location and price-point. Yey!
Today... is for resting. We're both pretty run down from the week-long lurgy and stress, tomorrow Vegas is off again for nine days on the west coast. Ugghh. Not a ray of sunshine in sight for here and he gets to see Venice Beach and the ocean...
*cries*
Will you keep me company to ease my misery?
----- pauses to squint at the blinding fresh white snow on the ground -----
My hens love to play tricks on me. A couple days ago I found a fart egg on the floor of the coop, no idea who laid this dark nugget but I had to share (a fart egg is a tiny, yolkless thing a hen will pop out once in a while):
Hilarious, isn't it?
Notice the gorgeous mint green egg? I only get one every other day so of course it had to be the one to roll off the counter and splat on the floor the second I had my back turned!!
I'm cursed!
I got another one today but it's been collected for hatching, I start my first incubation March 3rd so all green eggs laid between now and then aren't for sale. Sorry peeps!
Time to get my fat ass off the couch, prepare a loaf of bread and figure out what's for dinner tonight. This afternoon is for coop cleanup and stuff, a hot cuppa tea and a slice of cake, cuddles with Vegas and oh, another day just disappeared! Help!
/end Happy Sunlessday post/
The first house visitors yesterday morning were the promising ones after a long conversation on the phone, but they turned out to be jerks - who goes through someone's house, with them standing right there, and constantly keeps pointing out to stuff complaining loudly how "cheaply done" it is? WTF?
The second visitors turned out to be the nice, serious ones - whodathunkit? We really clicked, they seemed to like many things about the property and will be in touch as they are only starting their search.
Even if we never hear from them again, it was a relief to achieve balance in a day - you know? Our place may not be perfect but it's pretty nice and I'll be damned if I just stand there and take abuse from people who have no manners! I hope to never hear from those asshats again!
Still, two visits after being on the market for only three weeks is awesome, considering our location and price-point. Yey!
Today... is for resting. We're both pretty run down from the week-long lurgy and stress, tomorrow Vegas is off again for nine days on the west coast. Ugghh. Not a ray of sunshine in sight for here and he gets to see Venice Beach and the ocean...
*cries*
Will you keep me company to ease my misery?
----- pauses to squint at the blinding fresh white snow on the ground -----
My hens love to play tricks on me. A couple days ago I found a fart egg on the floor of the coop, no idea who laid this dark nugget but I had to share (a fart egg is a tiny, yolkless thing a hen will pop out once in a while):
Hilarious, isn't it?Notice the gorgeous mint green egg? I only get one every other day so of course it had to be the one to roll off the counter and splat on the floor the second I had my back turned!!
I'm cursed!I got another one today but it's been collected for hatching, I start my first incubation March 3rd so all green eggs laid between now and then aren't for sale. Sorry peeps!
Time to get my fat ass off the couch, prepare a loaf of bread and figure out what's for dinner tonight. This afternoon is for coop cleanup and stuff, a hot cuppa tea and a slice of cake, cuddles with Vegas and oh, another day just disappeared! Help!
/end Happy Sunlessday post/
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
It's... a snowball?!
No, literally - we woke up to a foot of the white stuff covering everything this morning. Ugghh. Perfect timing for tomorrow's house showing - not like we didn't have enough to prep as it is!!
But as fate wills things, we've got two back-to-back showings lined up!
How cool is that?
We only need the one buyer... So crossing fingers someone likes the place enough to move quickly on it, because if I have to go through this giant spring cleaning two dozen times before we sell I will seriously lose my mind. And the use of my arms.
You try living in an immaculate museum with three giant furry slobby dogs for longer than an hour without messing anything up and tell me how it goes!
Aye caramba.
I'm craving a hot loaded pizza for dinner - like, seriously craving. I wonder if Vegas will indulge me this treat for working so bleddy hard the past two days as Cleaning Maid Supreme... Hell, it's Friday night, why the hell not! Woo! As soon as he gets off his last business call of the day I'm breaking the news.
"Hunny? Please fetch us some pizza for dinner because you love me?"
He he - he loves pizza so it's no contest ;-)
I have to rehome one of my white silkie roos - been thinking about it for months now, gauging the situation, waiting and watching and re-arranging living situations as best I can but have finally hit that wall now. I have too many roos and not enough hens, the boys are all frustrated and having crowing competitions and fence-fights - they're not happy. My breeding plans include one roo and a few girls per breed (apart from my egg-laying girls) so I have to be hard-nosed about it if I want to get serious. It sucks though :(
I've placed an ad online and will be patient and wait for the right home.
Crossing fingers and toes...
Still have the English lurgy, sick and tired of being congested and stuffed up, ugh. What's the saying? A cold lasts a week with medication and seven days without?
Good thing I made chocolate cake last night.
Cake fixes everything!
/end of Yippee It's The Weekend Have Fun! post/
But as fate wills things, we've got two back-to-back showings lined up!
How cool is that?
We only need the one buyer... So crossing fingers someone likes the place enough to move quickly on it, because if I have to go through this giant spring cleaning two dozen times before we sell I will seriously lose my mind. And the use of my arms.
You try living in an immaculate museum with three giant furry slobby dogs for longer than an hour without messing anything up and tell me how it goes!
Aye caramba.
I'm craving a hot loaded pizza for dinner - like, seriously craving. I wonder if Vegas will indulge me this treat for working so bleddy hard the past two days as Cleaning Maid Supreme... Hell, it's Friday night, why the hell not! Woo! As soon as he gets off his last business call of the day I'm breaking the news.
"Hunny? Please fetch us some pizza for dinner because you love me?"
He he - he loves pizza so it's no contest ;-)
I have to rehome one of my white silkie roos - been thinking about it for months now, gauging the situation, waiting and watching and re-arranging living situations as best I can but have finally hit that wall now. I have too many roos and not enough hens, the boys are all frustrated and having crowing competitions and fence-fights - they're not happy. My breeding plans include one roo and a few girls per breed (apart from my egg-laying girls) so I have to be hard-nosed about it if I want to get serious. It sucks though :(
I've placed an ad online and will be patient and wait for the right home.
Crossing fingers and toes...
Still have the English lurgy, sick and tired of being congested and stuffed up, ugh. What's the saying? A cold lasts a week with medication and seven days without?
Good thing I made chocolate cake last night.
Cake fixes everything!
/end of Yippee It's The Weekend Have Fun! post/
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Meet the peepers :)
I think someone is stealing my hours.
Every time I turn around, POOF! Gone, just gone and I've no idea where to. Merr. Not liking this, not one bit! I want to sit for a bit with a hot cuppa and a book but that would be wasting time, can't do that.
OK fine, I'll take the time to brush my teeth but that's about it!
The peepers and their surrogate mom are doing great, which is a big relief! I'm suffering from cuteness overload, OMG these babies are amazing! I'd spend the whole day watching and playing with them if I could:
The red heat lamp makes it difficult to photograph or film but this gives you an idea of the sugarbabes:
I can't wait to hatch my own batch next month! So exciting!
Now back to reality...
There's another windstorm going on right now. Second time the garage door has been ripped from its frame, it's ridiculous. And of course we're showing the house Saturday morning, welcome to the White Trash Trailer Park!
*mutters and sighs and shakes fist at cold POS wind*
I need to get back to scrubbing the basement, doing laundry and getting this house presentable. Difficult with three big messy dogs and wind that keeps breaking stuff but oh well, what can you do? These people will either like the place enough to overlook small details or they won't and nothing I do will change that.
Right. Off I go - toodles!
/end of Crazy Day, Crazy Life post/
Every time I turn around, POOF! Gone, just gone and I've no idea where to. Merr. Not liking this, not one bit! I want to sit for a bit with a hot cuppa and a book but that would be wasting time, can't do that.
OK fine, I'll take the time to brush my teeth but that's about it!
The peepers and their surrogate mom are doing great, which is a big relief! I'm suffering from cuteness overload, OMG these babies are amazing! I'd spend the whole day watching and playing with them if I could:
The red heat lamp makes it difficult to photograph or film but this gives you an idea of the sugarbabes:I can't wait to hatch my own batch next month! So exciting!
Now back to reality...
There's another windstorm going on right now. Second time the garage door has been ripped from its frame, it's ridiculous. And of course we're showing the house Saturday morning, welcome to the White Trash Trailer Park!
*mutters and sighs and shakes fist at cold POS wind*
I need to get back to scrubbing the basement, doing laundry and getting this house presentable. Difficult with three big messy dogs and wind that keeps breaking stuff but oh well, what can you do? These people will either like the place enough to overlook small details or they won't and nothing I do will change that.
Right. Off I go - toodles!
/end of Crazy Day, Crazy Life post/
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Ah, medecine
I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do the operation on someone else, not you.
~Bill Walton
I'm in love!
For the first time of my life, I held in my hands this afternoon a day-old chick! Well two that are a day old, and three that are two days old :-D
They. Are. TINY!
And soooo soft! Wow!
We now have five babies in the garage brooder with mama hen who tried so hard to hatch some eggs, the poor thing, I thought it best to get her some chicks and have her raise them instead. I'm lucky that one of my "chicken friends" just hatched some babies via incubator and was willing to part with them - whew, awesome timing!
I just hope that mother nature stamped instructions on her brain because she seemed very willing but a bit bewildered, taking some under her wing to keep them warm but watching others stumble around peeping madly for help but doing nothing but clucking - I know she's gonna be a good mama but am still worried that one certain chick won't make it through the night, he seems weaker than the others and his eyes aren't open which is strange. Of course it's my favorite chick. Sigh. We'll see what tomorrow morning brings, if the cold humid garage wins over the heated, padded brooder box.
Yes, I will take pics tomorrow - how could I not? ;-)
Nothing much else new... Still have the lurgy and can't breathe or sleep (headcolds suck!), the post-op pain has diminished a lot but you should see the bruise spilling beyond the bandage (!), our contractor spent the morning here fixing up a bunch of stuff so that the house looks pretty swell for the Saturday showing.
Please send us all the good vibes you can spare - we need to sell this place asap!!
Woooo!
Damn, I'm worried about those newborn chicks. I might have to get dressed and trudge out to the garage to ease my fears...
Apologies for the dull post, my head's full of snot - blame Vegas for that.
/end of Dying For A Shot Of Dristan post/
They. Are. TINY!
And soooo soft! Wow!
We now have five babies in the garage brooder with mama hen who tried so hard to hatch some eggs, the poor thing, I thought it best to get her some chicks and have her raise them instead. I'm lucky that one of my "chicken friends" just hatched some babies via incubator and was willing to part with them - whew, awesome timing!
I just hope that mother nature stamped instructions on her brain because she seemed very willing but a bit bewildered, taking some under her wing to keep them warm but watching others stumble around peeping madly for help but doing nothing but clucking - I know she's gonna be a good mama but am still worried that one certain chick won't make it through the night, he seems weaker than the others and his eyes aren't open which is strange. Of course it's my favorite chick. Sigh. We'll see what tomorrow morning brings, if the cold humid garage wins over the heated, padded brooder box.
Yes, I will take pics tomorrow - how could I not? ;-)
Nothing much else new... Still have the lurgy and can't breathe or sleep (headcolds suck!), the post-op pain has diminished a lot but you should see the bruise spilling beyond the bandage (!), our contractor spent the morning here fixing up a bunch of stuff so that the house looks pretty swell for the Saturday showing.
Please send us all the good vibes you can spare - we need to sell this place asap!!
Woooo!
Damn, I'm worried about those newborn chicks. I might have to get dressed and trudge out to the garage to ease my fears...
Apologies for the dull post, my head's full of snot - blame Vegas for that.
/end of Dying For A Shot Of Dristan post/
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
First time for everything, happy kids and oh! the pain!
It's been a busy past few days!
I'm fighting off Vegas' lovely British cold (gee thanks hunny!) and I'm not sure which way it's going yet. Am really tired, sore throat, my head's all congested BUT I'm strong and refuse to get seriously ill (haven't had a real cold in years) so we'll see what happens.
*pauses to sneeze and blow nose*
The weather is beautimous, this is the 2nd or 3rd day the flock has been out free-ranging - no snow, blue skies, hardly any wind and you can feel the glowing warmth of the sun's rays. Yep, spring is on the way! Woohoo!
I just hope I haven't jinxed anything and we get a huge dump of snow later on... Yikes. I hear some parts of the US have been hammered with storms, the world is upside down I tell you.
On another note... Surgeries suck.
I'd managed to keep myself out of the operating room and stitch-free for 40 years but this morning I became "one of the assimilated", OK fine it was a very small and voluntary surgery but for sure it saved me from future misery, judging by the past two times this thing caused me weeks of agony. Our hospital here is just amazing, I must say: every staff member is courteous, gentle and caring, the place is super clean and service is quite efficient. A far cry from the shitholes I've been to in the big city :-0
Now the anaesthetic is wearing off, the bandage is soaked through and my hip hurts like a bitch. GaaaAAH! Just took some advil but doubt it'll do anything to ease the pain from scalpel and layers of stitches. Crap.
You know me, I hate being incapacitated in any way :(
Time for some distraction... I snapped these a couple hours ago when I was still mobile:
Two akitas VS one mastiff puppy...
Guess who wins? :-0
I'm a nice mommy and make the boys share!
While the girl just stands around looking all happy and stuff:
Flippin' hell I'm in pain, getting worse by the minute. I can't imagine what it must be like to go through a major surgery, I just can't. I hope to never find out :-o
Thankfully Vegas is home today to help with things, dinner's in the fridge (leftovers, yey!) and I get to wash my hair in the sink (no showers or baths for two days - abomination!). Tomorrow is a busy and exciting day - please stay tuned for news on the arrival of three baby chicks! Egg fertility fail for the broody mama hen = alternate solution for everyone's sanity. I'll explain tomorrow.
/end of I Wish I Had Vicodin post/
I'm fighting off Vegas' lovely British cold (gee thanks hunny!) and I'm not sure which way it's going yet. Am really tired, sore throat, my head's all congested BUT I'm strong and refuse to get seriously ill (haven't had a real cold in years) so we'll see what happens.
*pauses to sneeze and blow nose*
The weather is beautimous, this is the 2nd or 3rd day the flock has been out free-ranging - no snow, blue skies, hardly any wind and you can feel the glowing warmth of the sun's rays. Yep, spring is on the way! Woohoo!
Solaris leads his girls to the buffet!
I just hope I haven't jinxed anything and we get a huge dump of snow later on... Yikes. I hear some parts of the US have been hammered with storms, the world is upside down I tell you.On another note... Surgeries suck.
I'd managed to keep myself out of the operating room and stitch-free for 40 years but this morning I became "one of the assimilated", OK fine it was a very small and voluntary surgery but for sure it saved me from future misery, judging by the past two times this thing caused me weeks of agony. Our hospital here is just amazing, I must say: every staff member is courteous, gentle and caring, the place is super clean and service is quite efficient. A far cry from the shitholes I've been to in the big city :-0
Now the anaesthetic is wearing off, the bandage is soaked through and my hip hurts like a bitch. GaaaAAH! Just took some advil but doubt it'll do anything to ease the pain from scalpel and layers of stitches. Crap.
You know me, I hate being incapacitated in any way :(
Time for some distraction... I snapped these a couple hours ago when I was still mobile:
"Yo! Have space for my face?"
Two akitas VS one mastiff puppy...
Guess who wins? :-0
I'm a nice mommy and make the boys share!
While the girl just stands around looking all happy and stuff:
Flippin' hell I'm in pain, getting worse by the minute. I can't imagine what it must be like to go through a major surgery, I just can't. I hope to never find out :-oThankfully Vegas is home today to help with things, dinner's in the fridge (leftovers, yey!) and I get to wash my hair in the sink (no showers or baths for two days - abomination!). Tomorrow is a busy and exciting day - please stay tuned for news on the arrival of three baby chicks! Egg fertility fail for the broody mama hen = alternate solution for everyone's sanity. I'll explain tomorrow.
/end of I Wish I Had Vicodin post/
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy VD!
For the romantics: Valentine's Day!
For the rest of the world... Voo DooDoo? Vagina Diaries? Voluptuous Deer? Vulgar Depression? Virginal Dress? Veneered Dungarees?
*shuffles feet uncomfortably on floor*
Hubby and I opted out of the celebrations as we party way too much all year long plus he's still sick with the Man Cold, but we're not complete renegades so I got us this cute little ensemble for love crackin' fun:
Innit cuuute?
And inside were the paper crowns plus:
Guess which one I chose... he he!
Is it wrong to get attached to eggs?! LOL!
We have more clients than we have eggs for sale, it was made obvious last night at our friends' wedding party/reception (which ROCKED btw!!) so Vegas, being the perfect husband, said to me... and I quote...
"We need more chickens".
I may have to marry him all over again :-D
/end of What Was Your Weekend Like? post/
For the rest of the world... Voo DooDoo? Vagina Diaries? Voluptuous Deer? Vulgar Depression? Virginal Dress? Veneered Dungarees?
*shuffles feet uncomfortably on floor*
Hubby and I opted out of the celebrations as we party way too much all year long plus he's still sick with the Man Cold, but we're not complete renegades so I got us this cute little ensemble for love crackin' fun:
Innit cuuute?And inside were the paper crowns plus:
Guess which one I chose... he he!Dinner's in the crock pot, if I lift the cover it smells soooo divine the drool faucets spring open so let's be quick: I see deboned, cubed pork roast with chunks of yellow potato in a fragrant sea of red wine, chili flakes, coarse sea salt, tons of garlic and a hint of onion.
I'm so glad Vegas is back so that I have someone to cook for! :-D
I should get off my butt and get some laundry done, but oh the couch is so comfy and warm... I've got a busy week ahead (we're showing the house on Saturday, yey!) so am really enjoying the quiet day and trying to not feel too guilty about it.
You all know I'll do the laundry today, right?
Right!
Oh look what I had to pack up this morning... The girls have been working hard all week, I have six dozen perfect eggs leaving the house tomorrow. Sniff.
I'm so glad Vegas is back so that I have someone to cook for! :-D
I should get off my butt and get some laundry done, but oh the couch is so comfy and warm... I've got a busy week ahead (we're showing the house on Saturday, yey!) so am really enjoying the quiet day and trying to not feel too guilty about it.
You all know I'll do the laundry today, right?
Right!
Oh look what I had to pack up this morning... The girls have been working hard all week, I have six dozen perfect eggs leaving the house tomorrow. Sniff.
Is it wrong to get attached to eggs?! LOL!We have more clients than we have eggs for sale, it was made obvious last night at our friends' wedding party/reception (which ROCKED btw!!) so Vegas, being the perfect husband, said to me... and I quote...
"We need more chickens".
I may have to marry him all over again :-D
/end of What Was Your Weekend Like? post/
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Goodies and the man cold
Yey Vegas is back hoooome!
However he didn't arrive empty-handed, my hubby's way to sweet for that..!
Luckily he also arrived armed with a fistful of Yorkies (most amazing white-trash chocolate), warm hugs and an exquisite bath duo from Crabtree & Evelyn: Body Cream and Bath Salts in Spider Lily:
Yep, he got me spiders!
But they smell ossum so I'm a happy wife :-D
I hope hubby hurries up and gets better because we have a wedding party (evening reception) to attend tonight in the city, starts at 8pm and we're to dress up all fancy and everything... Of course it's freezing and gross outside and my evening wear consists of summer dresses, not sure what I'm going to do.
Am seriously starting to hate this never-ending cold winter, specially after being all masochistic and going through summer photos of green lawns, flowering gardens and free-ranging chickens...
*cries*
Wishing you all a good weekend, don't forget the chocolate!
/end of Rapiddy Rapiddo post/
However he didn't arrive empty-handed, my hubby's way to sweet for that..!
Exhibit A, The Man Cold:
Ladies, you all know what I mean eh? LOL!
Luckily he also arrived armed with a fistful of Yorkies (most amazing white-trash chocolate), warm hugs and an exquisite bath duo from Crabtree & Evelyn: Body Cream and Bath Salts in Spider Lily:
Yep, he got me spiders!But they smell ossum so I'm a happy wife :-D
I hope hubby hurries up and gets better because we have a wedding party (evening reception) to attend tonight in the city, starts at 8pm and we're to dress up all fancy and everything... Of course it's freezing and gross outside and my evening wear consists of summer dresses, not sure what I'm going to do.
Am seriously starting to hate this never-ending cold winter, specially after being all masochistic and going through summer photos of green lawns, flowering gardens and free-ranging chickens...
*cries*
Wishing you all a good weekend, don't forget the chocolate!
/end of Rapiddy Rapiddo post/
Friday, February 12, 2010
The evolution of shame
If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.
~Charles Darwin
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Kicking it up a notch
- Big, sweet, juicy seedless grapes... dipped in melted chocolate.
- Lightly steamed fresh broccoli... drizzled with spicy cheese sauce.
- Brand new bedsheets... fresh from the laundry, spritzed with lavender mist.
- Creamy soft body lotion... scented with vanilla spice, studded with glitter.
- A kickass bestseller... in hardcover, signed by the author.
- Naughty black high heels... with a little pink bow.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Here, there, everywhere
I simply believe that some part of the human Self or Soul is not subject to the laws of space and time.
~Carl Jung
Make it stop!!
Time! It's flying by too fast! Somebody slam on the brakes!
*runs around flapping arms like a broken fly*
For some reason the past three days have not gone at all the way I had planned and I just can't seem to get anything done - graaaah!
Monday morning, the dogs ran away - it consumed half the day with anguish and adrenaline that left me drained and useless for the rest of the day. OK I did some laundry and bathed the one grungy dog but nothing useful, you know?
Tuesday morning, my chicken breeder friend called to talk about the chick brooder I wanted built, he offered to show me how to build one so I drove over to his place, we purchased the material and spent 2.5 hours sawing and drilling until voilà! Done! I got home at 4pm after stopping at the co-op for some flock supplies and I then had to take care of the dogs, the flock, hoover the dog-fluff infested house, feed everyone, yadi yada - 9pm I was ready for bed so there went another day of not doing anything on my list.
And this morning, another of my chicken-enthusiast friends called to chat about the upcoming incubation (I'm getting a few eggs from his flock), he had to run some errands near here so he came by for a visit to meet my flock - lucky for me cuz I needed help to get the big heavy chick brooder pen out of the car. He also helped carry the 55 lbs bag of cracked corn to the coop, saving me back pain. Yey! I had already moved heavy bags of bedding and cleaned out the garage so couldn't do much more at that point... Whew.
He stayed for tea and chicken talk, by the time he left and I finally inhaled lunch it was again 3pm and my to-do list still untouched. Can you see where I'm going with this? LOL!
At least it was nice today, not too cold and quite sunny - the dogs spent almost four hours in the park and they're snoring right now. Awesome. I managed to finally finish the damn laundry and had to hoover the dog fluff again (gonna die with a vacuum in my hands), still have a chocolate cake to bake and a few knick-knacks no paddywhacks to take care of.
Vegas comes home tomorrow !!woohooo!! so the day will be devoted to a complete house cleaning before I head over to the city to get him from the airport. I hope to have time to squeeze some grocery shopping in there too, so that Friday is for relaxing and finally breathing.
Oh!! I got another gorgeous green egg today! I loves it :-)
So there you have it, nothing exciting to read about but it's what life is made up of: a series of "things" filled with "stuff" and embroidered with "fluff". In my case, dog fluff, lots of dog fluff. Sigh.
/end of Happy Hump Day, Peeps! post/
*runs around flapping arms like a broken fly*
For some reason the past three days have not gone at all the way I had planned and I just can't seem to get anything done - graaaah!
Monday morning, the dogs ran away - it consumed half the day with anguish and adrenaline that left me drained and useless for the rest of the day. OK I did some laundry and bathed the one grungy dog but nothing useful, you know?
Tuesday morning, my chicken breeder friend called to talk about the chick brooder I wanted built, he offered to show me how to build one so I drove over to his place, we purchased the material and spent 2.5 hours sawing and drilling until voilà! Done! I got home at 4pm after stopping at the co-op for some flock supplies and I then had to take care of the dogs, the flock, hoover the dog-fluff infested house, feed everyone, yadi yada - 9pm I was ready for bed so there went another day of not doing anything on my list.
And this morning, another of my chicken-enthusiast friends called to chat about the upcoming incubation (I'm getting a few eggs from his flock), he had to run some errands near here so he came by for a visit to meet my flock - lucky for me cuz I needed help to get the big heavy chick brooder pen out of the car. He also helped carry the 55 lbs bag of cracked corn to the coop, saving me back pain. Yey! I had already moved heavy bags of bedding and cleaned out the garage so couldn't do much more at that point... Whew.
He stayed for tea and chicken talk, by the time he left and I finally inhaled lunch it was again 3pm and my to-do list still untouched. Can you see where I'm going with this? LOL!
At least it was nice today, not too cold and quite sunny - the dogs spent almost four hours in the park and they're snoring right now. Awesome. I managed to finally finish the damn laundry and had to hoover the dog fluff again (gonna die with a vacuum in my hands), still have a chocolate cake to bake and a few knick-knacks no paddywhacks to take care of.
Vegas comes home tomorrow !!woohooo!! so the day will be devoted to a complete house cleaning before I head over to the city to get him from the airport. I hope to have time to squeeze some grocery shopping in there too, so that Friday is for relaxing and finally breathing.
Oh!! I got another gorgeous green egg today! I loves it :-)
So there you have it, nothing exciting to read about but it's what life is made up of: a series of "things" filled with "stuff" and embroidered with "fluff". In my case, dog fluff, lots of dog fluff. Sigh.
/end of Happy Hump Day, Peeps! post/
Monday, February 8, 2010
The tail end
You purchase pain with all that joy can give,and die of nothing but a rage to live.
~Alexander Pope
Never assume, never take for granted
My hands have finally stopped shaking enough for me to blog about this morning's events. I'm OK now but a piece of me died inside and I will never be the same again.
After the morning coop duties, I set out with the three dogs at about 8:30am for a short walk around the park in our back yard. I didn't think to put their collars on as we were only gone for a few minutes, the big walk was scheduled for later this afternoon - I was sleepy and tired and it was freezing cold in the blustery wind, snow squalls blowing left and right, hard to see anything. Walking in the deepish snow is hard work, specially on no breakfast.
Dante was good as usual, he never lets me out of his sight. Dakotah and Maika, the two akitas, took off in different directions and disappeared in the woods, no matter how much I called them back. They do that often so I wasn't too worried, just pissed off since I had to hang around waiting for them to resurface, panting and smiling.
Waiting... Waiting... Waiting. They usually come back after 10, 15 minutes max. This time: no dogs. 30 minutes. One hour. One and a half hours. Two hours.
You don't want to know what I went through in those agonizing moments.
I went out three times to try and follow their trails in the windswept snow. I yelled, I called, I hollered. I walked and walked and walked and walked some more. Nothing. I called local vets to see if anyone had called in for found dogs (there is no SPCA service in this town). I contemplated the worse: never seeing them again, them being lost, cold, laying hurt in the snow. Kidnapped. My knees buckled and I wailed with grief that I hadn't felt in many, many years. It was all my fault, I had failed them. I couldn't breathe through the sobbing, I couldn't see through the tears.
My world had fallen apart.
Dante stayed by my side the whole time, he wouldn't go to his bed even if I asked him. He leaned against me, slowly wagging his tail and licking my face, covering me with kisses, pushing his head against me. He walked gingerly with me in the woods, sniffing for trails, listening, looking, hoping.
On our last round, trudging through the back field to get home, he picked up a trail and started running. Then barking frantically: I knew he had seen his brother and sister, waiting for us near the front porch.
I collapsed in relief, called them over, covered them in kisses. Swore to them and to myself that I would never, ever let this happen again. They had just lost their freedom and my trust in exchange for their life.
Maika was a bit dirty but nothing major, Dakotah on the other hand was yellow, brown, sticky and smelly, covered in bright red splotches of blood like a dalmatian - they had gone hunting and some poor creature in the woods lost their life because of me. It just breaks my heart.
Of course they were starving and have been sleeping ever since. Lucky. Over two hours of adrenaline will do some serious damage to a person's system and it wrecked my whole day, I can't focus on anything. Dakotah will get a bath this evening as he is filthy and that's about all I can manage.
The irony?
Luna, my new easter egger hen who has been here for about three weeks now, decided that today was the day to grace me with a huge and most exquisite mint green egg:
I hold perfection in my hands :)
So yeah, today has been about extremes... Loss, grief, relief, tears, nightmares and a dream come true. Funny how life works out sometimes. Now I just want to go to bed and start all over again tomorrow, a clean slate. Erase this bullshit.
Am tempted to turn the comments off for this post but some of you would get mad at me for doing that, so maybe you could leave a joke or something to make me laugh? I need to forget.
/end of A Glimpse Into The Abyss post/
After the morning coop duties, I set out with the three dogs at about 8:30am for a short walk around the park in our back yard. I didn't think to put their collars on as we were only gone for a few minutes, the big walk was scheduled for later this afternoon - I was sleepy and tired and it was freezing cold in the blustery wind, snow squalls blowing left and right, hard to see anything. Walking in the deepish snow is hard work, specially on no breakfast.
Dante was good as usual, he never lets me out of his sight. Dakotah and Maika, the two akitas, took off in different directions and disappeared in the woods, no matter how much I called them back. They do that often so I wasn't too worried, just pissed off since I had to hang around waiting for them to resurface, panting and smiling.
Waiting... Waiting... Waiting. They usually come back after 10, 15 minutes max. This time: no dogs. 30 minutes. One hour. One and a half hours. Two hours.
You don't want to know what I went through in those agonizing moments.
I went out three times to try and follow their trails in the windswept snow. I yelled, I called, I hollered. I walked and walked and walked and walked some more. Nothing. I called local vets to see if anyone had called in for found dogs (there is no SPCA service in this town). I contemplated the worse: never seeing them again, them being lost, cold, laying hurt in the snow. Kidnapped. My knees buckled and I wailed with grief that I hadn't felt in many, many years. It was all my fault, I had failed them. I couldn't breathe through the sobbing, I couldn't see through the tears.
My world had fallen apart.
Dante stayed by my side the whole time, he wouldn't go to his bed even if I asked him. He leaned against me, slowly wagging his tail and licking my face, covering me with kisses, pushing his head against me. He walked gingerly with me in the woods, sniffing for trails, listening, looking, hoping.
On our last round, trudging through the back field to get home, he picked up a trail and started running. Then barking frantically: I knew he had seen his brother and sister, waiting for us near the front porch.
I collapsed in relief, called them over, covered them in kisses. Swore to them and to myself that I would never, ever let this happen again. They had just lost their freedom and my trust in exchange for their life.
Maika was a bit dirty but nothing major, Dakotah on the other hand was yellow, brown, sticky and smelly, covered in bright red splotches of blood like a dalmatian - they had gone hunting and some poor creature in the woods lost their life because of me. It just breaks my heart.
Of course they were starving and have been sleeping ever since. Lucky. Over two hours of adrenaline will do some serious damage to a person's system and it wrecked my whole day, I can't focus on anything. Dakotah will get a bath this evening as he is filthy and that's about all I can manage.
The irony?
Luna, my new easter egger hen who has been here for about three weeks now, decided that today was the day to grace me with a huge and most exquisite mint green egg:
I hold perfection in my hands :)So yeah, today has been about extremes... Loss, grief, relief, tears, nightmares and a dream come true. Funny how life works out sometimes. Now I just want to go to bed and start all over again tomorrow, a clean slate. Erase this bullshit.
Am tempted to turn the comments off for this post but some of you would get mad at me for doing that, so maybe you could leave a joke or something to make me laugh? I need to forget.
/end of A Glimpse Into The Abyss post/
Sunday, February 7, 2010
I believe that yes, we do
Alas! must it ever be so?Do we stand in our own light, wherever we go,
And fight our own shadows forever?
~Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton
With a glass of wine in hand...
Yep, I fed that week-long craving for cheese fondue and red wine and it was awesome!
Am nice and full right now, chilling out after another crazy busy day doing lord-knows-what, just had a nice online chat with Vegas (four more sleeps until he's home...) and am not ashamed to admit that another 9pm bedtime looks mighty fine to me.
I miss my hubby.
Sigh.
So, a couple pics of what's going on... This is the "chicken condo" our contractor built in our garage last Friday, to house our silkies until the weather is warm enough to move them into a chicken tractor (I ran out of place in the main coop):
These little guys seem to LOVE their new temporary housing! It's insulated, heated, ventilated, dry and comfortable - they even have classical music playing all day long... Yes it's a small space but I don't have a choice right now. Just a couple more months of crappy winter...
*crossing fingers*
My lovely chicken breeder friend called this morning, he had a surprise gift for me... A new girl for the flock! He went to get her on Friday for me from another breeder that he knows, I had mentioned wanting that particular breed for a while now and they're very hard to find around here (quality brown leghorn) so he got one for me - how sweet is that?
I'll try to take a photo of her tomorrow, she's 9 or 10 months old so I should be seeing lovely white eggs soon, once she's settled in her new life. She's sooo laid back and calm, I loves her! She'll need a sister soon though... He he.
New discoveries of must-haves:
So. What's new in your neck of the woods?
/end of Rambly Convo post/
Am nice and full right now, chilling out after another crazy busy day doing lord-knows-what, just had a nice online chat with Vegas (four more sleeps until he's home...) and am not ashamed to admit that another 9pm bedtime looks mighty fine to me.
I miss my hubby.
Sigh.
So, a couple pics of what's going on... This is the "chicken condo" our contractor built in our garage last Friday, to house our silkies until the weather is warm enough to move them into a chicken tractor (I ran out of place in the main coop):
These little guys seem to LOVE their new temporary housing! It's insulated, heated, ventilated, dry and comfortable - they even have classical music playing all day long... Yes it's a small space but I don't have a choice right now. Just a couple more months of crappy winter...*crossing fingers*
My lovely chicken breeder friend called this morning, he had a surprise gift for me... A new girl for the flock! He went to get her on Friday for me from another breeder that he knows, I had mentioned wanting that particular breed for a while now and they're very hard to find around here (quality brown leghorn) so he got one for me - how sweet is that?
I'll try to take a photo of her tomorrow, she's 9 or 10 months old so I should be seeing lovely white eggs soon, once she's settled in her new life. She's sooo laid back and calm, I loves her! She'll need a sister soon though... He he.
New discoveries of must-haves:
- Lindt Dark Chocolate Mint Balls
- An uninterrupted night's sleep
- Dr. Teal's Lavender Hand Cream
- One-minute microwave chocolate fondue
- Blue eggs
- Glitter Pink lip gloss
- What Not To Wear re-runs
- Dan Brown mystery novels
So. What's new in your neck of the woods?
/end of Rambly Convo post/
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Big day, sort of, not really
I'm just about to head off to bed, I can't seem to stay awake past 9pm these days. This is crazy - what gives??
Today was for, um, futzing around?
I finished up the coop condo details and let me tell you, it's no mean feat sawing and drilling in this damp siberian weather. I had to keep running inside the house to warm up my blocks-of-ice hands and feet every 10 minutes, what a joke. Snow pants, boots, coat, hat, gloves, scarf - for a total of thirteen times today.
That, plus a trip to Walmart on a Saturday - no wonder I'm exhausted.
Can it be spring now? Soon? Please? With a cherry on top?
I had visitors this afternoon so the doggies were really happy to play with a new puppy and get lots of cuddles and attention (the whores), they're all worn out and snoring so it's a good incentive. Zzzz. I loves them.
The house is clean, all that's left tomorrow is laundry.
Yay me!
And I'm totally splurging and getting that cheese fondue for dinner (yey for microwave goodness!) and a glass of wine. I'll buy one of those half-bottle thingies, I don't care - I miss my husband and I need to indulge in something!
The egg incubation project got pushed until next month.
I'm so crushed :(
The details would bore you so let's leave it at that...
I'm lucky enough that Blossom, my wonderful silkie hen whose sole purpose in life seems to be to want to hatch eggs, is desperately wanting to be a mom AGAIN so even if she failed last December (remember with the babies dead in their shells?) I'm giving her another chance with two or three eggs. Hey, you never know.
The current setup is perfect so there is nothing to lose. She's not going to lay anything for the next two months so I'll let her be useful for something, she's going to sit there in the nesting box like a giant fluffy pancake whether I give her eggs or not.
Silly hen.
/end of When A Door Closes, A Window Opens post/
Today was for, um, futzing around?
I finished up the coop condo details and let me tell you, it's no mean feat sawing and drilling in this damp siberian weather. I had to keep running inside the house to warm up my blocks-of-ice hands and feet every 10 minutes, what a joke. Snow pants, boots, coat, hat, gloves, scarf - for a total of thirteen times today.
That, plus a trip to Walmart on a Saturday - no wonder I'm exhausted.
Can it be spring now? Soon? Please? With a cherry on top?
I had visitors this afternoon so the doggies were really happy to play with a new puppy and get lots of cuddles and attention (the whores), they're all worn out and snoring so it's a good incentive. Zzzz. I loves them.
The house is clean, all that's left tomorrow is laundry.
Yay me!
And I'm totally splurging and getting that cheese fondue for dinner (yey for microwave goodness!) and a glass of wine. I'll buy one of those half-bottle thingies, I don't care - I miss my husband and I need to indulge in something!
The egg incubation project got pushed until next month.
I'm so crushed :(
The details would bore you so let's leave it at that...
I'm lucky enough that Blossom, my wonderful silkie hen whose sole purpose in life seems to be to want to hatch eggs, is desperately wanting to be a mom AGAIN so even if she failed last December (remember with the babies dead in their shells?) I'm giving her another chance with two or three eggs. Hey, you never know.
The current setup is perfect so there is nothing to lose. She's not going to lay anything for the next two months so I'll let her be useful for something, she's going to sit there in the nesting box like a giant fluffy pancake whether I give her eggs or not.
Silly hen.
/end of When A Door Closes, A Window Opens post/
Friday, February 5, 2010
Frozen in time
Days like these, it seems as if we're locked in a never-ending winter... We're in the middle of a long "(way) below average temperatures" spell and UGGHH, even the bright blinding sun can't compensate for the misery of cold, cold, cold.
I stood out in the garage chatting with our contractor for about 30 minutes and my feet are throbbing, burning blocks of ice that just won't heat up.
Misery, I tell you!
Today the chicken condo is being built and will be housed in the semi-insulated garage, separate from the coop as I ran out of space in there. I'll transfer one rooster and the two bantam (size small) hens there this evening so that Solaris, my new big roo, can be mixed with my egg-laying hens and fertilize some eggs with no bloodshed - well, at least that's the plan. You never know with the precious "pecking order" what can happen.
Not ground-breaking news to any of you but it sure is exciting for me!
We're using material that's laying around in the barn so all it costs is the labor. Of course I'll post pics later, just try and stop me!
*grin*
Oh and if anyone wonders what happened to my amazing birthday present, it's up and has been tested and runs excellently - just need to practice keeping the temps and humidity steady for a couple of days before setting in the eggs on the 17th, that's the fun and easy part! Here the 'bator, complete with egg-turner inside:
And that's all about the chickens for today ;-)
I have an appointment this afternoon with a therapist for my aching back, something about a Bowen technique? Hope it helps - at this point I'm willing to try anything for relief.
Oh and my hot date last night was awesome! She dolled herself up for me (so I like to think), got me some awesome Lindt chocolate and a sweet companion for my Rooster of Luck and Happiness:
...as well as the best tea mug evar as a bday present -
I loves it and it will get used every day, you can imagine!
No, I'm not sharing her. You get your own hot date.
Happy Friday, everyone - you only get one a week so be sure to make it ROCK!
/end of Soul Tea post/
I stood out in the garage chatting with our contractor for about 30 minutes and my feet are throbbing, burning blocks of ice that just won't heat up.
Misery, I tell you!
Today the chicken condo is being built and will be housed in the semi-insulated garage, separate from the coop as I ran out of space in there. I'll transfer one rooster and the two bantam (size small) hens there this evening so that Solaris, my new big roo, can be mixed with my egg-laying hens and fertilize some eggs with no bloodshed - well, at least that's the plan. You never know with the precious "pecking order" what can happen.
Not ground-breaking news to any of you but it sure is exciting for me!
We're using material that's laying around in the barn so all it costs is the labor. Of course I'll post pics later, just try and stop me!
*grin*
Oh and if anyone wonders what happened to my amazing birthday present, it's up and has been tested and runs excellently - just need to practice keeping the temps and humidity steady for a couple of days before setting in the eggs on the 17th, that's the fun and easy part! Here the 'bator, complete with egg-turner inside:
And that's all about the chickens for today ;-)I have an appointment this afternoon with a therapist for my aching back, something about a Bowen technique? Hope it helps - at this point I'm willing to try anything for relief.
Oh and my hot date last night was awesome! She dolled herself up for me (so I like to think), got me some awesome Lindt chocolate and a sweet companion for my Rooster of Luck and Happiness:
...as well as the best tea mug evar as a bday present -I loves it and it will get used every day, you can imagine!
No, I'm not sharing her. You get your own hot date.Happy Friday, everyone - you only get one a week so be sure to make it ROCK!
/end of Soul Tea post/
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