There's so much going on right now on top of the usual depression and SAD. Dad's gone. The family is splintering over the will. My nieces snubbed us for Thanksgiving. My sons are spending it with their father. It's all I can do to hold on.
I know this may sound lame, but sometimes when I have gotten depressed like that & nothing is going the way it should, I dive into some sort of work, be it quilts, or painting, remodeling, upolstry, or something to occupy the mind.
In years past I could dive into my job...just work some overtime, or take on volunteer work at the animal shelter or the retirement home, senior center or schools.
Having grateful & fun people around you can often times take up some of the void your feel when family is missing.
Hope this helps.
It must be so much lighter, too! When we moved here, one of the first things I did was have a spruce tree on the south side of the house removed. I like summer shade, but I need light in the winter. I planted a deciduous tree in it's place.
For those with EGG ALLERGIES !!!! Check out (dare I say it) Duck eggs. Many people who can't eat chicken eggs can eat duck eggs or quail eggs. I can tell you I have eaten duck eggs and if somebody fed em to ya you wouldn't know the difference.
Um yeah...John's was also out of control. His was the worst. This is a pic of when it was NOT bad at all...it got much worse before we took him to the ER at Children's Hospital in Seattle only for them to tell us it was extremely angry eczema. WARNING: REALLY ICKY PICTURE! Scroll down or scroll fast to miss it
Imagine that nasty red eczema on John's leg... that's what my daughter's entire bottom, all the way around both of her entire legs from bottom to ankle, her feet, and part of her stomach and back... that was my daughter for the first few years of her life.
It was so bad one doctor had our entire family use a very expensive cream, that, turns out was highly carcinogenic, because he was absolutely certain she had been infested with some sort of insect that *everyone* in the family would catch from her. Every one of us had to cover our entire bodies with this dangerous cream that was about $200 per person, then wrap ourselves in plastic wrap and sleep in it. Not only did the nasty cream not help, but when the next pediatrician found out we had used that cream he was P.O.'d beyond belief. He said that stuff was so dangerous and our family should have never been exposed to it. Esp. since cancer runs in my husband's family. He said no doctor should have ever prescribed that for a family, let alone young children.
If they would have just tested her for allergies, we would have been saved so much grief. They didn't test her until she almost died from the Cashew Chicken.
Night two in the outdoors, and the chicks haven't figured out the whole roosting thing. I thought they had yesterday because they would go up on it while the lights were on, but when I went out after dark they were sitting on the floor. I checked tonight and once again, they are all on the floor. Is there a good way to help them figure it out, or will it just take time? At least everyone appears to be staying inside.
They prefer to stay indoors even during the day. I went out with some worms and got them to come out, but once the worms were gone they went back in. Here are the three biggest, who readily come out to see what treats I've got. I think all three are boys. What do you think?
I put the first coat of paint in my quarantine coop. I've got to put on more coats (as many as I can get done by Friday), replace the chicken wire (and it's going to be a pain to remove!), add a layer of treated 2X4s on the bottom, and put in a heat source. But hopefully it'll do:
I've got a whole list of improvements to make to the coop down the road to make it easier to use. Bigger pen (much bigger!), litter guard board across the front, cut open the side and add external nest boxes, restain the exterior, and move the pop door to a side rather than the floor. But hey, this thing cost a *tiny* fraction of what I'm spending on my big coop and pen, so I'm not complaining! LOL
Hi All,
Back in town and getting ready for Chehalis Saturday and I'm even bringing a good friend that also has chickens... fun day all around.
Now I need to know....
1. Are we doing a food related get-together? I need to know what kind of food to bring and when/where are we meeting?
2. Are we doing name tags?
3. Does anyone want red dahlia tubers, Liatris bulbs, a thyme plant, a lavender plant, cilantro seeds? I'd rather not drag them around if no one wants them.
I booted the chicks to the greenhouse, under a heat lamp again. The bigger boys (Cocoa and Rocha) got into a bit of a battle and were flying into things. I hope it's warm enough out there - in any case, I figured they needed to take a chill pill.
In the mess of it, I heard a sound that wasn't a peep - sound more like the beginning of a cock-a-doodle-do.
I hope it was just a grunt from someone slamming into something. I don't need any crowing until these boys are off lights... and able to handle a trip to auction.
Oh... funny story... I have to share, even though DH probably wouldn't want me to. Last week, with all the Cub Scout stuff going on (four events in one week), DH had to stay home from Cub Scouts to take care of Pack Committee paperwork. Right before we left, my SIL came by and told us that a cop was going through yards with a flashlight. I didn't think much of it (can you tell this is quite common?
). The cops are often looking for rif-raf in our neighborhood from the Casino. Police helicopters buzzing our house are common, too. People who are running from the cops think they can climb down the cliff and get away, which gives us a chuckle, because we know they're going to pay natural consequences that way - the cliff is steep and easy to fall down. So I'm thinking no big deal, cops again. They're on the lookout, they'll deal with it. Well, the kids and I went to Cub Scouts. DH kept hearing something over by the door and it was beginning to freak him out. He finally went and got his gun, loaded it, and sat at the table to finish his paperwork with his gun next to him. After a while, it dawned on him that we have chicks in a brooder right next to the front door.
The chicks had gotten into a bit of a tiff and were bouncing off the brooder walls.
Thought I'd take a pic of our lunch...that the kids specifically requested today. They opened the fridge and chose all this stuff! LOL Everybody is now chowing down and I wouldn't be surprised if I need to find even more for them to eat. Glad my kids like to eat healthy
Quote: I love red leaf maples!! They are gorgeous! We had a red leaf Japanese maple that we planted at the house I grew up in...I was sad to leave it behind when we moved.
Clearly those of you commenting negatively have NEVER dealt with food allergies or intolerances. It's not by choice that we eat the way we do. We were quite happy in our old lifestyle, minus the horrendous eczema that plagued every square inch of my dear children and the constant throwing up and diarrhea. Yeah...I'd rather eat the way my body needs to eat to be happy and healthy.
Jess can you guys eat any cheese ?
I have cheese (real cheese) with my fruit "platter" I have for lunch most days.
I try to get as much protein in as I can.
Often poached chicken breast, canned (Trader Joe's) Albacore Tuna, a hunk of smoked salmon...and so on.
But yes, your lunches there look a whole lot like mine !
