09-09-2012

  We went after the med for the yeast in my throat and they've started closing on Sundays. Denise asked if I wanted to go to the big box pharmacies, but I figured I'd just wait until tomorrow. Minnis Drug has been good so far and private owned. I went to mom's and she has something going on in her attic and her light went out. I replaced the light and the switch, even a plug. Power until a load hits it then it dies. I'm thinking a junction box is somewhere before that one, but I don't know how they wired it, maybe tomorrow.

  So me and Denise headed back to Lowes to get more shelves for her Pantry Cabinet, got them, came back home and it's finished and stocked. I baked 2 loaves of bread while we watched the Great Barrier Reef. Took one to om and kept one for us. Checked on Bailey and fed Rex. I'm still 2 days down on email, but it's bedtime. I hoped that I could research more on Gluten Free baking, oh well, maybe tomorrow. Denise enjoyed her drinks, Zevia Cola, I tried their Mt Dew version... It'd puke a vulture off a gut wagon. I'll stick with the real thing. And thats why I need to make sure I can make food that tastes good without Gluten, cause we won't eat it. :) Healthy don't have to taste that bad.   

9-8-2012

  I'm worn out. Tammy & Jerry brought 40 more rolls of hay, Jerry is sick too, bronchitis. Rain all day today, so Denise figured we'd shop, she needed her drink and since Shades Of The Past was in Pigeon Forge, we decided to head to Earthfare in Knoxville. From there we went everywhere, lol. It was an enjoyable day, even though I talk Denise to death sometimes, I do get her to laugh.

  At one point we ended up at Victoria's Secret. Denise found the one she liked and was looking through her size, pulling out a couple she liked. This one lady asked if she could hep her and Denise said she knew what she was and wanted. One color though in the next size she loved, so the lady asked if she'd like to try it on. This lady hovered about us like a worried bee, lol. She quickly grabbed a piece of paper and recoded what Denise took in, 2 bras. Now I've held a many a purse, and I ain't real comfortable with that, but like most husbands I do what I'm told. So here I stand with ladies and couple walking in holding 2 bras, by my self yet! Meanwhile the lady is trying to not look obvious watching me, then finally she asked. "How many bras do you have?" Holding her paper. I couldn't pass it up, she was just too nervous and overly serious. "Oh me? This is my first two. When you get my age you get wheat belly and man boobs, and I wanted something good that fit to hold them up." Not a smile came off her, but her eyes and face... priceless, lol.

   Denise finally came out and the lady was right on her, lol. One she could wear and wanted and the other not. The lady grabbed the one she didn't want and headed towards where I was, cautiously, but she came anyway. A clear bust of a bottom of a lady with thongs on was right between us. I again couldn't help it, lol. I said without a smile, "Bet those ain't comfortable. My drawers do that sometimes and I pick them out, those won't come out. I call 'em Indian drawers, the kind that creeps up on ya." I even got tickled the last few words. She was serious as a heart attack. The girl at the checkout thought it was funny though.

  Tomorrow we go get the stuff for the yeast in my throat again. But today... priceless.    

So Long Jack 9-7-2012

  

Well I sold Jack today, I'll miss him. I took 10 bucks less than I paid when I first got him but I think this guy will give him a good home. All Jack will need to get alone with is a horse, the man, and his wife. I think it shocked Megan and Denise that I sold him and while I loved him killing goats and sheep was getting too much. He provided a stress relief until he started that and then caused stress. I don't think it was his fault, testosterone levels seems to escalate in him from time to time and he was like a Bull Shark with everything except us and the other donkeys. Bailey though was the last straw. I'm still not sure if she will live through this one, but she's a fighter. It looks as though Jack broke bones in her face from the swelling, but she's still eating, just hard time breathing. She is a pain in the butt, times I'd like to kill her myself, lol, but she is sweet.

  Me and Jack made up and I loved on him until the man come, but Jack knew when he got in that trailer it was the last time we'd see each other. He was pissed. I put him a treat we all called a Jack Treat in there with him, hugged him and said bye. The guy wanted to buy the other 3 but I told him no. He seemed though like a good guy, a cop in Greenville and an officer that worked with the Humane Society on animal cruelty, I think Jack will be ok. Jack hooves needed trimming and come first frost his semiannual worming.

  Megan doesn't understand how I could get rid of him. I love Jack and he loves(d) me, loved it here and I loved him being here. But Jack didn't love the others that live in the field and it wasn't fair to them to live in fear. It wasn't fair to Jack to end up at a bad home, why I took so cheap for him to the right guy. She wanted to know if I'd miss him and think about him the next days. I think Jack is in the past now, and I was blessed to meet him. Remembering the past is good, sometimes it calms the waters when things get rough. Sometimes it brings a smile. Planning ahead is good, like looking at the past, but today is the day we live for. We don't dwell on either one, past or future, for today is what matters. We don't dwell looking back, we're not headed that way. We have no idea if tomorrow will come or what it brings. Today though is what we have to build a good past memory on and a good footing to tomorrow.

  Other than that, I still can't shake this thing. It doesn't seem to be any worse, maybe a little better congestion wise. Breathing and fatigue wise, worse. I'm guessing it's a wash. I think maybe next week seeing Doc Schindler if it isn't better. Me and Denise went and got a Pantry Cabinet for the Kitchen tonight at Lowe's, she is out of cabinet space. It's inside but not installed yet. I've still been researching little by little on getting the Gluten out of our diet. It's gotta taste good though or we will never stick to it. I had no idea there were that many flours out there, and I still keep misspelling it with flowers, lol. I've felt a little rough for a week or two so I've slowed down in physical things which has provided more time researching recipes. I think getting rid of Gluten and in my case Mt Dews too will help me health wise. It's a little on the late side for me health wise but for Denise and Megan it's not. The whole trick is to stay ahead, playing catch-up doesn't work too well. My motivation is that I pray they will never have to go through what I have. They were here for me and I will be there for them by trying to help all I can, that means making it taste good, selection, and the hardest part, being neat with it. :)

  I don't like wasting so we will start after I use the flour I have, maybe 4 or 5 more loaves of bread. Mom wants some tomorrow and we need a loaf. If Misty and the kids come over they will need a loaf, they ate the last one in a day, lol. Then I have about 5 loaves of premixed bread yet too. I like baking it and finally got good at it, now I'll have to start all over again learning.

  Rex got hung in the fence this morning and Megan and Ed got him out. He hasn't gotten out since. Me and Megan went Yardsaling today, didn't find much. Yesterday though me and Denise bought some old blue Ball Canning Jars, and some even rarer for a decent price. Denise wants to go to Knoxville tomorrow maybe, or Sevierville either one, to get the all natural soft drinks she likes. We got a few things to buy at Earthfare in Knoxville, though they're a little high. Need a few tools for the grinding, but we don't have enough spare money for that yet, we'll save up some. Mom has to take her ceiling light back to Lowe's and get another one, that one was a dud. I'll have to wire it in and set it up. Then finish attaching this thing to the wall. I'm seriously debating growing Buckwheat where the garlic is once we pull the garlic up an plant it there.

  But to my buddy Jack, I love you.

 

09-06-2012

  Still been down, can't seem to get back up like I should. Yesterday Jack was killing Bailey and I went after him, that didn't help so I got my truck. Even that he outgunned. The shotgun in the butt, he wasn't as fast as he thought he was. I felt so bad and was so mad I done it twice more. Burnt that butt for him, so now he is for sale. I love him but I'm getting rid of him, he ain't gonna stop.

  I've been researching om Gluten. That would explain the bloating after eating, blood in the bowels, fatigue, and acid reflux. I'm not sure I;m smart enough but I am going to try to make things Gluten Free and favorable.I sent Misty and the kids home with a loaf of Whole Wheat, then I find that ain't good for someone to eat, especially with Autism. It is nothing short of a miracle that we both hit at the same time. Maybe we ca work it out to where I can bake some for them. The kicker is that it's in everything these days. Misty was told to get Brandon on a Gluten Free Diet.I know me and Megan will feel better and I believe that she will too. So while I'm down I'm reading. When it calls for vegetable oil I'll use coconut oil instead.

  I don't know when they started adding that stuff to Ketchup and soup and just about everything else. Almost everything we buy in the store, even ice cream has it. I pray that I can share what I find and do with Misty for Brandon. His doctor wants him off Gluten and MSG.     

08-31-2012

   I went by today to see Don and Barbra, but Barb was taking chemo and Don was home cleaning. We chatted for a while, I could see in Don's face he was worried. He says Barb is holding her own, the tumors are still shrinking, but they think maybe it is in her bones (bone marrow) or something like that. It didn't sound good, but if anyone can beat this thing it's Barb.

  Tammy & Jerry started bringing the hay today, 40 rolls the last I counted and I think I told him 120, but maybe 140, I'm not sure. It will take him several trips to bring it, looks good so far. The Wooly Worms I've seen so far this year are black, Mark has seen the same too, signing a bad winter. With that many head plus what will be born we will need extra hay this year. I kept counting 24 cows/calves as I unlocked the gate, so I drove up to take a look see. First time for everything and today was it. One of the twins had somehow got stuck between 2 trees on the top of the hill. I'm not sure how long it had been there but it took some doing to get it out, lol. It went back to it's mom and sibling, weak but determined.

  Looking at a picture Megan took of me eating a Muscadine, I am going on a diet, less Mt Dew, smaller portions, and more movement. I can't fix the ugly part but I can the fat. :)    

08-29-0212

  Pushed about as far as I could, hit the wall today. It seems like this time of year I live on Prednisone and Benadryl (spelling ?). The gardens have all been out for a while now, and that ain't a bad thing, lol. Bush hogging though has begun again, and even with a bandanna covering my mouth it takes it's toll. I've learned to do it in increments. This will be the 3rd and hopefully final leg of it when I recover again, maybe 4 hours left and I'll skip the steep side of the hill. I have about 20 acres done so far. I get done with this I'll get to bless the dump truck again. I tried cussing it and that didn't work. :)

   Megan came up with a solution to a problem tonight. Most people who've had or have throat cancer have a hard time swallowing large pills, but also small. I have no idea why but small anything is a choker. Rice or stuff like that don't do well. Too stringy or too small or too smooth. The Prednisone is the hardest thing I have a problem with. Tonight Megan suggested Coconut Oil, and it worked great. It has no flavor at all. Good for you and could slide a cow out of a tree, though I've never seen a cow climb a tree. Today me and Megan just chilled, watched some TV (unusual for me), and baked mom some Sour Dough, Denise some Herb & Cheese, and me some regular white bread loaves. Denise wants me to go to the doctor, but the rotation of follow-ups start in October I think she said, I can wait. The little finger I broke I think I didn't do too well setting it, still a little tender and crooked.

  My oldest daughter Misty has started her blog and has had some hits. She wants to blog about Brandon's Autism and hopefully will find others and they can gather advice and strategies to help her and them with it. There is always strength in numbers and as prevalent as  Autism has become, many have wisdom to share. At the same time, it will let someone else know they are not alone. I think that is important in any battle because sometimes we feel so isolated and alone, even though we aren't. Battle anything long enough and you wear down.   

09-26-2012

  No sleep tonight, Aurthur has come home tonight, lol. I think I've looked about a dozen times to see if rain is near but it's not, so I guess the seasons are changing. If thats it I can expect this until it completes it and then only on wet cold days. Sometimes I wonder if Iron Man has this much metal in him, lol. I can set on the computer and guarantee I won't go to sleep or lay in the bed and toss and turn.  I bush hogged some more this week and it takes a few day to a week to get the swelling down in my throat, but I only lack about 4 more hours and the field will look good. Still need to mow the gardens up and have been prepping the one where the Garlic goes, that may be all I plant next year.

  I have a new link I put on these sites and I'll put one on my Facebook site, Moms Autism Journey. Misty called and said she was thinking about placing a blog up on Autism to see if she will have people respond back and maybe they could learn from each other. Misty is my oldest and her son Brandon is 10 years old and has Autism. He is actually smart and sweet, well sweet most times. I think we're all like that though. It's hard for a child to get the right help and hard for the parents when they don't. Personally I think it is a great idea. If for no other reason than to vent or say things she normally wouldn't say in person. Those feelings that come from way down inside that we all have to get out. Questions that arise. It's new so she hasn't put much up yet and she is a good writer, then again she has her teaching degree whereas I still think a pronoun is a noun that went pro. I am good at adverbs though, especially when working on something. I can add more verbs than one can could, or probably wish to hear.

  Please check out her blog and if you have a child or are an adult with Autism join it. There is always strength in numbers and enough people holding a small candle up can illuminate the world.