When it rains it pours

Our news is not good. We were totally blindsided yesterday when we went to Urologist before going to the hospital for Ron's procedure and we were told that Ron's bladder tumor is back and in the muscle of the bladder. Because of his other health issues the hospital would not do the nephrostomy tube procedure with a local as planned and we had to reschedule and will go back today with general anesthesia. Needless to say we are both devastated and will not know more before we see Ron's oncologist.

The appropriate devotional prayer for yesterday was: "Dear God, Help.  Amen"  

HOW FAST? THIS FAST!

Just a little touch up.

I work in permanent markers and am proud to be a member of  JKPP an online portrait party.  (I am their token, untrained folk artist.)  This was a rendering that I could not be satisfied with so I decided to work on the statue and make it appear more glossy.  Why I thought trimming it in paint would be a good idea is beyond me.  You see there is a reason I work in marker pens instead of paint.

To add insult to injury, these slight adjustments were made in my living room seated on my off-white couch.  The paint tip was clogged and instead of sticking in a pin, I decided to squeeze the bottle real hard.  In an instant POW!  It was like blood spatter from a crime scene.  Specks on the couch, the rug, me and the dog.

Still in shock I called my daughter (the real family artist) and inquired about how to remove the paint.  It seems I was using fabric paint.  Fabric paint is made to remain on fabric...of course.  Nothing to do.  I will reverse the cushions, flip the pillows and maybe when she comes next time she can turn the splatter into a design of some sort.  Meanwhile my once brown dog Slim and I are both spotted:)

BUTCHER, BAKER, CANDLESTICK MAKER

Question Of The Week 11-26-12

What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?

COULDN'T SKIP THIS ONE

Had to participate in this meme challenge from LL Cool Joe.

1.What was your favorite food when you were a child?
Fluffy and sticky white rice.

 2.What sound do you love?
The tractors running.  That means my husband is well.

3.If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?
Right now it would be an appreciation party for family and friends who are supporting us through these rough times of health problems. It would be very elaborate with lots of chicken wire and crepe paper.

4. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? and Why?
Hilda because she was my alter ego who helped me raise my children.  This imaginary character would take over when I was overwhelmed.

5. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
C.S. Lewis

6. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
Waltz Across Texas,  I Will Survive

 7. What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?
I am going to be truthful here but it is embarrassing.  I sat all the way through EVAN ALMIGHTY and could only think what a silly, idiotic movie it was and then found myself crying at the end.  Yikes!

8. What do you miss most about being a kid?
Family vacations.

9. The best part of waking up is?
Ron

10. What story does your family always tell about you?
The Brownie Parade always comes up.  I have never forgiven them for failing to wake me up in time to get to town and join my fellow Brownie Scouts in the annual parade.  If I start acting angry about anything, they will usually say, "It's the Brownie Parade again".

MURDERING TIME (a rerun)

Mame and Jack Bauer

Everyone knows that Rooster Jack Bauer crossed the road to live with the neighbors.  Mame was his best girl and she became the prize of Rooster Chicklet immediately.  Sadly, Mame was killed by an unknown intruder on Wednesday evening and I was reminded that Fall is upon us and decided to rerun a post from November, 2005,

Thursday, November 10, 2005

 

MURDERING TIME

It is that time of year again. The cold weather brings out the hungry, wild predators and they stalk my chickens. Last night I went down to close the chickens in their house, only to find the remains of the day. The living chickens were packed tightly in the house and I could not get an accurate count, but it appeared that two chickens were missing, though only one chicken body was on the ground. It is a sad event for me to find a murdered chicken. I have been so proud about my cautious care and attention to the 30 chickens, only to learn that the predators will prevail if determined enough.

This morning in the light of day Inspector Ron will join me in the pen to investigate and see if any tracks were left that will identify the assailant. I guess my only job will be to make the chalk outline of the deceased chicken, try to identify the body and count the survivors. I make light only because it truly pains me so.

On a happier note, we are expecting a blessed event as any day now the broody hen should begin hatching her chicken children. The cycle proceeds as new birth follows death.

BACK TO THE FUTURE 11-24-12

Finally managed to capture a photo of our youngest rooster, King Kong, who is a son of Jack Bauer.  He is going to be a giant of a fellow pretty soon.

 

SO MUCH!!!

Despite all our troubles, we still have so much to be thankful for.  Our day will be filled with loving family and we are both on our way to good health again.  Here is wishing all the best to you and yours for a Happy Thanksgiving.

MOUNTAIN OF TROUBLE

I made a mountain of trouble for my blog friend MOUNTAIN MAMA.  Please visit her if you can and let her know that her blog is working okay for comments.  It is a long story and has to do with unsolicited advice (from me) making matters worse.  Yet she has been kind and did not place blame.  And I have learned a valuable lesson...at least until next time:)

CHAOS AND HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Question Of The Week  11-19-12

The open book of our lives.

If your life was a novel, what would be the title and how would your story end?

EVEN THE BEST INTENTIONS

My big sister had "patient duty" last week.  She took me to my gynecologist appointment and to my cardiac appointment.  She has always been my caregiver since the day I was born.  The only restriction I have at this time is from the gynecologist to try not to lift anything much over 5 lbs.

We stopped at the grocery on the way home and I ran in for a gallon of milk.  When I carried it out of the store my sister went into panic mode.  The minute we reached my house, Sis grabbed up the gallon of milk and carried it straight to the bathroom.  She put it on the bathroom scales and pointed out the weight 8.6 lbs  that was beyond my limit.  I was very properly admonished and promised to exercise greater caution.  (My doctor had bluntly stated that violation of the rule could cause my guts to fall out.)

Sis's tour of duty was over and we said our good-byes.  She left with the assurance that all was well in my world of recovery.  Hugs, kisses and lots of thanks were said and done and she was out of our driveway and down the road.  

My next step was to go to the bathroom...where I found the gallon of milk still setting on the bathroom scales!!!  Very cautiously I carried it to the refrigerator laughing all the way.

BRIDGES FALLING DOWN

There is no bridge over our troubled waters. We cannot bridge the gap and we shall be a country forever divided by labels and name calling.

TODAY AND YESTERDAY
An adamant right
And an adamant right
Deadlocked
In an adamant fight.

Listing each wrong
Creating a song

Each quite certain
Who does not belong.

One says “I Win!”
The other “I Win!”
As they interpret
And categorize sin.

Neither admits a mistake
Both sincere -- not a fake.
None to bend,
Each attempting a break.

For the subject at hand
Each takes a clear stand
Determined to know best
For this land -- My land.

This adamant right
And that adamant right
Taking aim at a target
Moved out of sight.

Granny Annie aka
Angie Worth
© 11/07/02

I am weary of crying about it. I see that my friend Talon mentioned in my previous post had the correct idea to go into hiding.

WHERE O WHERE

Come back someday Talon,  You are missed:)

Looking toward
The moon
The stars
The birds that swarm
I miss our friend 
Who touched us

With nature links

Memories form.

A HORSE OF COURSE, OF COURSE

Where's Waldo the horse? Can you find him in this picture?

Posing for picture.

On the move...

What do you do when one of the neighbor's horses is living in your field for the third day and the neighbor's are not home?  You and hubby are both disabled and cannot return it yourselves.

First you think, the horse will be fine grazing in our field.  Suddenly you realize there is no water out for the horse and it could become dehydrated.  Then you realize your property is not fenced and if the horse get's thirsty enough it could head for the lake.  You also realize it could head for the well-traveled road in front of your house and be hit by a car resulting in a dead horse or a dead driver.

Perplexed you call another neighbor who brings the horse water.  The visiting horse, now rejuvenated decides to begin foraging near your barn and finds it can flip the lid off your chicken feed and help itself. We could place a large concrete block on top of the feed but  we are able to lift anything.   We both managed to hobble out to the barn.  I got on the tractor and Ron guided me to park it in front of the chicken feed so the horse had to stop feasting.  Meanwhile Slim held the horse at bay.

Our helpful neighbor finally got word to the owner's granddaughter and she came to get the horse after dark last night.  She was a tiny little thing having to retrieve this Goliath by herself.

It turns out that another neighbor's pack of dogs have been terrorizing the horses and caused this horse to jump the fence in an effort to escape.  

P.S. There is a day or two left to get in on 155 Dream Lane's Holiday Header giveaway.  See the link on my sidebar if you want to be entered in the drawing.

DEPENDS ON THE QUESTION

Question Of The Week 11-12-12

Where or who do you turn to when you need good advice?

Spouse, parents, children, business associates, church, pastor, friends, internet, gypsies, etc.?

KING KONG's WILD BUNCH

Here is Mr. Gibson with her seven last June.  Lucky is the one trailing behind.

May, 2012 Mr. Gibson hatched seven of eight Araucana eggs that had been fertilized by the famous counter-terrorist Rooster Jack Bauer.  (Remember Jack Bauer had crossed the road to live with our neighbors and they gave us these eggs.)  Very soon after these seven hatched and were starting to roost with the other chickens, Mr. Gibson became broody again and abandoned them to sit on another clutch of eggs.  I should not have let that happen.  

Finding themselves motherless too soon, this little band of renegade chicks left the hen house and began roosting alone in the barn rafters.  Only one of them had a name and that was Lucky.  She was the one I managed to save from drowning soon after they hatched.

Four of these six month old chickens remain and they refuse to interact with the other flock.  They are a feral renegade flock and they will not let me get near them. Their leader is a gorgeous rooster I have named King Kong.  Two of the hens are Chicken Little II, and White Shadow.  The third hen is Lucky. 

Chicken Little II, King Kong, White Shadow and you can just barely see Lucky behind and in the middle.  I had to zoom just to catch this snapshot.

  Rooster Chicklet would like to steal the girls and bring them in with the main flock.  Someday soon there will be a Clash of the Titans.  I hope they can agree to live in harmony. 

(P.S. On a very sad note, our dear Mr. Gibson died in a nest box last month trying to hatch another clutch of eggs. I believe she may have been egg-bound, She was like her mother Elenore Hen, a constant nurturer.)

A GOOD HEALING PLACE

Yesterday I took a brief walk around our property.  The changing leaves, the fresh air, the fleeting glimpse of birds, squirrels and once in a while a deer. This is definitely a healing place.

West side of our house.

South side of our house.

East of the house.  When I can make it to the trees at the back I will be able to view the lake

HOME ALONE

Parenting The Parents 101.  Our daughter Chelle left yesterday but really did not trust us to be home alone.  I promised not to do laundry but she left this reminder over the washing machine anyway. 

As well as the sign, don't you just love my dust paw?

She  left us with the house in order, the beds made and everything straightened.  She also left delicious spaghetti as well as chicken chili and a big salad in the fridge.  Plus she had pork chops and scalloped potatoes in the crock pot for our dinner last night.  I believe all of that will hold us until her return this weekend.

I had to promise many things.  And when I would ask why she kept making me promise, she would say, "Because I know you mother."

Hum...What can one very small load of laundry do if I gently lift the items out of the machine and move them to the dryer one at a time? 

CALIFORNIA LOVIN'

Our California daughter and grandchildren hit us with a big shot yesterday.  The florist arrived and began the parade into our home with floral arrangement after floral arrangement.  It was a shocking hoot.  They are so grateful for our caregivers who are close and they are sad to be so far away at such a critical time in our lives.  It was too much. 

It was wonderful.  Terri, you, Joey, Jacob, Jasmine are WONDERFUL!  Thank you

Beautiful bouquet for Mom's healing from two surgeries:)

Bouquet for Sister Chelle for her home care of parents -- perfect!

Something for Aunt Elenore and her care all week at hospital.  Couldn't have picked better.

Arrangement and box of chocolates for Dad for his birthday tomorrow.

Grill full of candy bars for brother Tandy for being a good helper to folks.

And I get to enjoy all of them until the other take theirs home.

ADDICTION NOT AGE

Question Of The Week 11-5-12

Oops, I got so busy I forgot.

Which activities make you lose track of time?

BLESS BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

My dear friends thank you for sending me off to my surgery with  your prayers and well wishes.  Those prayers were definitely needed as I went from a very successful robotic hysterectomy directly into a massive heart attack.  Just coming home after five days with two new stents in my heart.  It will be slow going but the good news is I'm alive and I'm home and I have the best family in the world surrounding me.  What about dear Ron, well he was supposed to try to manage one night home alone while I had the first surgery and ended up here for five days fending for himself, working through is own pain and depending on the kindness of neighbors. We are both richly blessed.