12-30-2012

 Once again fighting over a yeast infection. Denise says its the Prednisone so this time when I'm coming close to beating it I will either cut the dose in half or quit it all together, which Denise isn't fond of. She says the swelling will come back and the breathing and swallowing will be worse again, I say we will see. If it fails I can always start it back and if it don't I win and another pill I won't have to take or try and remember to take.    

  We have a calf to attempt to remove from the pond tomorrow, though I have no idea how just yet. This is a first for me, two days old and it drowns in the pond? That is the hardest part of farming, seeing animals die. That makes us 0 for two, one born dead earlier this month. This was her first calf too, she made trips to that side of the field balling to get attention, which she did. Mark and Bobbie called us. On the second trip to look and see after Mark and Bobbie called and told me she was looking again, I saw her looking at the pond. I don't know if it was her lack of experience, been chased, or knocked into the pond, but there it was. I kept her to start with because the prices had dropped and later because of her gentle nature and intelligence, a decision I still stand by. Most of the cows stood at the top of the hill looking down. I looked at her and shook my head no and done the other cows the same as I came back up the hill and they turned and walked back as if they knew what I meant. Maybe they did and maybe they didn't, but I think they did. Cows are intelligent. I think it will bring closure to her if we can get the body out tomorrow and bury it. She will know better next time.

  They say what you do on New Year you will do all year long. I plan to eat and go back on the Gluten Free diet, not because I'm Celiac but because I feel better and weigh less so more intolerant than allergic. Megan has already beat me to it and Denise is working her way back too. Megan's sinuses started bothering her again when she came off the diet, just as before. My sinuses and arthritis, and blood in the stools started back. We all three started back gaining again. I think that most of our health is in the food we eat. Funny how wheat has changed genetically like corn and almost everything else including meat. Factory farming just don't work and GM & GE foods create more than they could ever hope to help.

  Happy New Year  

Grab a glass of Tea, wish Happy New Year to the ones around you, call the ones that aren't. Then bow and thank God for the blessings of family and friends. We hit the bed then. :) Past our bedtime.  

12-23-2012

  Just in case I forget to log in tomorrow and the next day.

Happy Birthday Mom.

Merry Christmas To Everybody.

12-12-12

  After a long battle the last Peacock we had died today. He went all these years without a name. I knew he was worse yesterday evening when he let Megan catch him, I had enough of a hard time catching him myself usually. We gave him bread, cat food, scratch, regular feed, whatever he wanted yesterday.. he wasn't interested in much though. I've kept the truck parked out these last few nights, he wanted to stay in the carport where it parks. We set him up last night on his roost and again he came down. He was alive when I left this morning in the carport. Came home and he was standing in the driveway looking at the creek, so I took him a cup of water. I cut a slice of bread and Megan took it to him, he had moved over to the cattle trailer, one of his favorite spots. Megan came back in with the bread and shook her head with tears in her eyes. I buried him back here near the Garlic garden, but he preferred the Green Bean Garden. He did like my swing though that is back here, so that is where I put him. Looks like I'll be in the gardens alone next year. He followed and guarded one garden and his brother the other.

  This winter I need to build Megan her duck pen, they need the room, then a Peacock pen. January or February maybe we will be ready to find a pair or trio. Maybe later on rework the old aviary, but it needs a lot of work. They will not ever be replaced, followed me like dogs, I hatched them in an incubator and we bonded. But perhaps the next, though not the same, will be just as unique as these were. I found a breeder fairly close by but they seem to be more with Pied, Cameo, and Black Shoulder... say they have White, but I'd have to look at the eyes to see if it is actually White or albino. I'm just as happy with the India Blue and the Emerald Spaudings. It takes 3 years for the male to grow his tail, or reproduce and 2 for the female to be reproductive. They usually won't stay somewhere unless they grow up there. I may cheat and buy adults and clean up an incubator and hatch a few.

  On a positive note though I tore into the mower and it appears it just jumped time. Maybe tomorrow I'll try and get it back into time or figure out if the valves have burnt. I don't see a reason to get rid of it, it'll probably outlast me if I quit trying to mow the fields with it and use the tractor and bush hog instead. :) Depends on how cold it gets and what comes up between now and then. I still have a yeast infection in my throat but even when it clears I find too cold or hot just seems to close it off. I got a lot of plans, plenty to do, mentally I'm right there... just gotta get the physically to agree with it. At some point I'd like to finish at least one of the cars I started before I tore my shoulder out. It's not like we'd ever drive it much if any but since I've had all the parts bought for a few years now it would be nice to use them. I also sent my first successful text! Took me a while but I done it. We watched a bike build off and I voted for Paul Jr. He built a nicer bike but also I think he is a much nicer guy than the other three. I'm still figuring on what I'll grow next year and which grains I'll try and do, time to learn something new. 

 

12-11-2012

  Back to the old drawing board. Things are liquid that should be, Gluten? This Intestinal thing has been almost all week now, maybe longer, and today it shows back up. The last 4 or 5 nights I've placed our last Peacock we have left on his second choice roost. He has been sick, weak, and losing weight now for quite a while. Tonight 3 times I set up up and thrice he came back down. He have me a pitiful look and I think he was to stay down, so tonight I resolve to observe his wishes. He has had 20-21 years, mostly running free. Despite how I feel I'll check once more tonight. We went and fed the cows and a calf and found a calf born dead.
Looong Day

12-4-2012 I Think

  So far it's been warmer and dryer than I thought it would be, looks like the signs for a bad winter were wrong, but I ain't complaining. To be this warm the cows are putting the hay away, I can't imagine if it gets cold. Me and Megan worked on cleaning the Tomato garden area up yesterday and today we've both paid for it. Whatever don't like me don't like her either, had to be some kind of weed in the top soil I bought. Megan went shopping with mom and I came back and fed and done my first time ever, mixing and baking 2 loaves at the same time together. I baked mom one and us one using the recipe I came up with, even tweaked that a bit and had better results. Instead of 2 1/2 cups of the mix I used 2 cups, then used Sweet Sorghum Flour and Tapioca Flour for the last 1/2 cup. I've tried to eat little in the way of bread though, doing my last round once again for another yeast infection in my throat. Denise ended up with a Baking Stone from their company's Christmas Party. I intended on baking some cookies for them on it today, but I hit that wall. Maybe tomorrow. They had a nice Christmas Party and we all had loads of fun, good food, tea, and company. First time Dr Rama noticed my voice was like Wolfman Jack. I admittedly don't see him much, but he is my Cardiologist, the one that worked on me when I had my heart attack. I told him if I get sick again I'll come back, which over the years I've had to from time to time, especially to be cleared for surgery and stuff. The level of quality people they have there is astounding. Then again, I could be partial. :) 

  We also went to the Court House today, funny story. Mark called and they had 2 Barrels of fine sawdust again, so me and Megan went to get them. After we loaded up the 50 gallon drums we talked with Mark and Mark (cousin), which looks down and says, you got your money's worth on those tags. I had banged them up a bit and laughed. Then he said they're out. I told him in April they're out along with the other 3 trucks and bike. Then he said, it's December and laughed. So me and Megan head for the Court House today to buy tags, but I keep wondering if I'd bought them and misplaced them. I asked them to look it up to see, I hadn't. He asked if I'd got the slip in the mail. I told him I did, he done his part, apparently I failed to do mine. He asked if the truck was driven since April. I smiled and said everyday, thank God I hadn't got a ticket or had a wreck. I told him about tagging the other trucks. He asked if they'd been driven this year. Yep, not much but a few times. The dump truck (BUD) brought the top soil home, Big Ugly a few times for lumber, and Blackie to pick the dogs up 3 times. I think I got slightly confused and bought Big Ugly's tags, thinking I'd bought the Ranger's tags. Denise said I had to sell Big Ugly since I'd bought Bud (stands for Big Ugly Dump), so I didn't intend on tagging it. Big Ugly didn't sell, so its still here. I told him I must be gettin old. He smiled and said, "It don't get no better either." They were nice about the whole thing, which they're always nice, good crew down there. They probably figured I'd bought something again, lol. I've seen some good deals, but Denise would kill me if I drug something else home, plus my little retirement from UPS doesn't compare to what I made there. I miss the interaction with people and the money and if I was able to run like I did, the jumping and running. These days if I'm jumping and running it is either I've tripped and falling, or somethings about to eat me. :)

  I got my hair cut and I think Ron and Denise conspired to cut it short, lol. My beard and mustache is neat and trim, and my hair is short... feels good. We even found partly where my hair in front is locating to, my ears, lol.  I think Denise is getting use to the beard finally. I told her I said I'll take hair anywhere God puts it, and it started on my chin first. I keep my promises.