Consolidated Kansas

[michelleml]

Sorry sunflower I hope Sam is able yo pull threw.

Josie how does Linus do around dogs, kids? How far are you from Topeka? We have been talking about getting an indoor cat but need them to good around kids and tolerate dogs. How much would you want for him?


WELCOME frizzled pink

My little man was sick all night throwing up and woke up with a cough I hope it's nothing. We've been working on potty training and weaning from nursing he turned 2 in December so I felt it was time to wean plus my doc wants to change my hypertension medication. We have propane we feel like we are burning threw it like crazy. I bought 1000 gallons for $1450 I praying it last us the winter this our first time with propane

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Danz I have 66 now, mostly thanks to you lol. I got my incubator today. It was very emotional, my mother and I have had a very rocky relationship and she is notorious for making empty promises. It actually came so it meant alot, and not just the excitment of getting a proper incubator eith everything youcould need or want in one, inclucing a candler, but also the fact that she went thru with something. She is supposed to start coming to visit and help me on my little farm once a week. It would be nice is she actualy does, it would be good for the both of us. She bought me a metal sign to hang outdoors that says Welcome to Ambers farm. Maybe our relationship is actually turning around. I really want it to although I will be constantly cautious. I am going to plug this incubator in and start calibrating everything,, yay!!!

 

[JosieChick]

Sorry sunflower I hope Sam is able yo pull threw.
Josie how does Linus do around dogs, kids? How far are you from Topeka? We have been talking about getting an indoor cat but need them to good around kids and tolerate dogs. How much would you want for him?

michelle- Linus was outside with our dogs and very brave with them. In fact he would go on "walks" with Molly in the evening, it was very cute. I think if he had a safe place to get away from the dogs he would be fine inside. He is very shy around strangers just because he was out here for a few months in the sticks. A lot of people out here don't like cats and throw things or shoot at them to get rid of them so I think he was very mistrusting at first. He has never acted aggressively towards me in all the time I have been handling him. Once he realized that I just wanted to feed and pet him he turned into a total love bug and I can touch him anywhere. I always think this is important with kids because some cats don't tolerate being petted in certain places and kids tend to just grab onto whatever part of the cat is convenient so I always check for that when I am socializing a cat. I pet all over their body including their tail and their belly and rough them up a bit just to see if it ticks them off and he hasn't done anything in response. I think he would be a wonderful pet for someone. It might take him some time to acclimate to a new environment and maybe keeping him in his own room or a bathroom would help him adjust and get used tot the kids before he has freedom in the whole house. I don't want anything for him, just a good home. We were going to keep him as a barn cat because he is a pretty good mouser but I just can't bear to leave him out there because he is such a love bug and I think would make a great lap kitty with some time and attention. We are about an hour and a half from Topeka and would be happy to bring him to you and/or do a trial period if you wanted to see how it went for a few weeks.

 

[chicken danz]

I added new windows, insulation, and an entire new heating system in this house over the past 5 years. I didn't get a tax credit for the windows cause I had already used up my tax credit for the other things. When I put the heat system in they had an incentive to add a heat pump so I added it along with the propane system. I am so glad I had that propane. I lock the stupid heat pump out entirely once the heat comes on. I hate that money eating piece of crap. My bills here are over double what they were in my other house that was over twice as big, had old old windows and was 165 years old. I spent about $12,000 putting this heat system in. If I had it to do over I would definitely go geothermal in place of the heat pump. If I have to replace it some day I am definitely going to go that route. I'd do it now if I could afford to. I took out an equity loan on my old house to pay for the improvements on this one. I just paid it off in September when I closed on selling it.
Frizzled I think that is pretty standard to check the local comparable properties. I should be in good shape. Locally they have a 3 year project at the plant which has driven the cost of real estate up high again. I have some acreage here as well and the price per acre has also gone up considerably since I bought this place.
The market was at a high point when I bought unfortunately but I've made improvements so hopefully that will help me on value. I just hate to have to declutter and clean up for an appraisal. It does make a difference over all.
I would really like to add some $$ to the loan to do some more work on the house but I just can't afford to raise the payments when I am being forced to make car payments for the first time in about 20 years. I bought my last couple cars with cash. Sure wish I could still do that!!! I had my old house paid off for many years so I was able to save the money to buy vehicles.
I actually bought my other house like you would buy a car. I took out a conventional loan for 5 years with a balloon payment at the end. I made big payments but not much higher than real estate payments. I didn't have the tax advantages you would have on a home loan but I had kids at home so that made up for it. And with a stroke of luck before the 5 years was totally up I got a settlement for an injury and paid off the balance. If I could do that here I would. We are talking a whole bunch more money though and it would take my entire income to make the payments.
I honestly hate dealing with finances. It makes me a nervous wreck. I don't like borrowing money. I fret over making payments. I'm always afraid I will forget to pay something. Normally I pay in advance of due dates just so I won't worry about it. I do have excellent credit though because of my obsession to pay so I won't forget.

 

[michelleml]

Josie I will talk it over with my Dh and kids and get back with you. We've never had cat so I need to read up on what we would need for him

 

[chicken danz]

Michelleml I buy my propane on contract and it would have to be an awful winter to use 1000 gallons. I have maybe once in one of those super cold winters; but normally I use about 800 gallons for an average cold winter. Last winter I only used about 500 gallons. Think of the dollar amount per month and it isn't bad at all....especially compared to rural electric power costs. Of course you have to have electric to run the fan but it is far less than you would spend for electric heating. I hate the cool air from a heat pump too. When running it I just feel like I'm freezing all the time even though the room temperature reads the same.
Congrats Maidenwolf on your new incubator. You will love it.
I used to not get along with my mother. It seems unreal to think that, but that was how it was. It took some time for both of us to accept each other for who we were. Once we got to that point we developed the most loving wonderful relationship imaginable. I thought of my Mom as probably one of my very best friends. I just decided at some point I was just not going to try to defend my actions any more. That she could accept me for whom I was. It was the magical cure. She did. I wonder how many years I wasted arguing with her about what I did and how I lived. I learned much later in life that one of the reasons she was always harping at me was that she didn't want me to make the mistakes she did. I would have never thought it, but she and I were very much alike in some ways. Loosing her this year was the greatest loss I have had so far in my life. Unsolicited advice: Don't be on guard with your Mom. If she doesn't like your choices, just let it go. Treasure that she is trying now and look at her as a wonderful loving person who is trying very hard to get her daughter to love her. I know you didn't ask. I just hate the fact that I missed so many years of treasuring rather than resenting my Mom. Each year I had her was an extraordinary gift. There is nothing in this world more valuable than family.
Mammahen the peacock seemed to get better with just one dose of vetRX. I think he must have had a little sinus infection or something. He seems completely fine now. it's so good to see you back on here.
Another busy day here for me. I really need to be in town all afternoon but I hate to waste the warmer weather. Looks like this weekend it is going to be bitter cold again.
I got up late this morning so I am already behind. I still have to take my downtime though or I'll be grouchy all day.

 

[michelleml]

Josie I sent you a private message

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Danz- Very sound advice as always, your right. I have spent 12 years with only the last 3 in contact with her off and on. I think she is more accepting and in tune to my life since I have been raising chickens and finally after a year she is wanting to dive on in, I should let it happen . I miss her and want a relationship for sure. I am actually excited to have her here one day a week.

 

[chicken danz]

Michelleml, cats are so easy. All they really need is love!
I pamper mine like crazy. That I suppose is why they have lived to be so old!!! Of course you need a cat box. Although I have had cats that will only go outside; those are the rare but awesome cats. You will need some frontline to keep them free of fleas unless they never get outside at all or are exposed to other animals with fleas.
You will need to get some feed. We feed dry cat food and canned food. We give the canned stuff as treats but they have dry free choice all the time. I have a water fountain for my cats that they love but that isn't a necessity. Any small water bowl will do.
I like to brush my cats out but you certainly don't have to. They are extremely clean and groom themselves. I think it prevents some hair ball problems later on if they are brushed now and then. Mine prefer an old bristle brush if you can find one. I do have a ferminator but they don't like it as well. You can actually choose how much to pamper a cat or what to get for them.
I think you will find you love having a cat.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Cats are one of those animals that is very independent but when they want attention man they lay it on. My inside cat loves his belly rubbed ad will turn over on his back and let meow to get his belly rubbed. I have a couple outside cats that need homes too. One is a orange tabby male under a year and then momma cat 3 years old both love bugs like crazy.