My life is definitely the sadder for the loss of my livestock, over the years,
Looking out of the bathroom window, over "my domain" of one acre, and watching Rammy, Cleo, Red and Sadie down in the field, and in Spring ,their babies, are just memories, as the babies were found homes for at a few months old, and my four went over the Rainbow Bridge years ago now. Sadie was the last, just before Christmas.
Of the 30 odd chickens, we now have only one survivor and she hangs out with the dogs when they go outside.
Of all the cats we fostered that didn't find homes, we now only have 4 moggies, and 3 of those are 14 years old.
And having just lost our beloved Angel July 5th, our doggie family now numbers only 3, Boo being almost 15, and Max and Mystery both 12.
The emptiness of that single acre field though, is beginning to ease.
We have 2 bunnies who regularly come out to munch on grass and weeds under the bathroom window, and now about half a dozen deer who wander in to eat. One mama with twin fawns, that are a delight to watch. One stays close to mama. She will come up from the field and stay over by the butterfly tree. Her other baby has no fear. He comes over under the window and munches, all by himself. Probably 30 feet from his mama and twin.
The other evening, there were 5 fawns running around the field, and not a mama in sight as thy gambolled about.
I just watch from the window, enjoying their peaceful grazing, it's as if they know they are safe on my little bit of land. They are a joy.
I watch the hawks as well, gliding and swooping. Over the years they have not been friends with my chickens, and one time I came out the front and one was on the ground trying to grab a hen from under a bush. When I came out, it flew off. Its wingspan was easily 4 to 5 feet! It was huge!
The crows love to roost on the persimmon tree and chatter away. When the hawks went after the jay's babies, in their nest in the butterfly tree, the crows joined forces and helped drive them off.
This year, the sparrow who nested on my front porch last year, did not come back. I have missed her, but am also thankful, as trying to keep the cats from getting on the front porch, had been a constant source of stress , last year.
I do love my animals though, both the tame and the free wild ones. They give me pleasure and light up my day. It's a blessing that I am always thankful for!
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Saturday Morning Thoughts
I love to read. Always have. At 6 and 7 I'd have a Ladybird book in my hand most of the time, and loved my Bunty and Judy comics. My favourite book back then was Brighty of the Grand Canyon, by Marguerite Henry. My nan had bought me a copy and I read it over and over.
I'm surprised to see that it is now recommended for grades 3-5, so ages 9 to 11 ... by that age we were reading the classics like Dickens, the Bronte sisters and Captain Maryatt, in original versions, not paraphrased. It's only when I think back, like this, that I realise how much "less" is expected of children in primary education these days.
Just as I have always said, that a good teacher can make the worst of subjects palatable, and a bad teacher can make the best dull and boring, so can an author make a book, a journey of pleasure or a struggle to enjoy. Such it is with the book Empire of the Summer Moon, by S C Gwynne.
I had been so looking forward to reading this book about Quanah Parker, who has gone down in history books as the greatest Comanche chief of them all, but was disappointed that I found it very heavy going, fact after fact about Comanche history (albeit well researched) but with no "personality" in how the knowledge was imparted. I would read a page or two and be tired, the dull presentation forcing me to put the book down and driving away my interest, instead of making me crave more.
Finally, I gave up and dipped a few times into later segments, but am left with a sadness that a book I'd looked forward to reading turned out to be so dull and uninteresting. It's also odd as apparently all who reviewed it found it a wonderful book, so they obviously found more to it than I did.
I'm surprised to see that it is now recommended for grades 3-5, so ages 9 to 11 ... by that age we were reading the classics like Dickens, the Bronte sisters and Captain Maryatt, in original versions, not paraphrased. It's only when I think back, like this, that I realise how much "less" is expected of children in primary education these days.
Just as I have always said, that a good teacher can make the worst of subjects palatable, and a bad teacher can make the best dull and boring, so can an author make a book, a journey of pleasure or a struggle to enjoy. Such it is with the book Empire of the Summer Moon, by S C Gwynne.
I had been so looking forward to reading this book about Quanah Parker, who has gone down in history books as the greatest Comanche chief of them all, but was disappointed that I found it very heavy going, fact after fact about Comanche history (albeit well researched) but with no "personality" in how the knowledge was imparted. I would read a page or two and be tired, the dull presentation forcing me to put the book down and driving away my interest, instead of making me crave more.
Finally, I gave up and dipped a few times into later segments, but am left with a sadness that a book I'd looked forward to reading turned out to be so dull and uninteresting. It's also odd as apparently all who reviewed it found it a wonderful book, so they obviously found more to it than I did.
***
It's raining outside, and with the ac on, I missed hearing it. It was only a particularly loud roll of thunder, that made me aware, and Mystery's plaintive whining. We have a deluge though, for now, but it hasn't really brought the temperature down, just made it even muggier, I think.
***
I've had another AVON customer ask why we no longer have our fragranced talcs, and had to explain that the company stopped making them over the controversy of talc supposedly causing cervical cancer, and my thoughts that they were trying to avoid getting caught up in a spurious lawsuit like Johnson & Johnson.
Every time I see the lawyers on tv begging for clients to claim against them, it irks me so much. I realise that juries can be swayed by tearful victims and smarmy "experts" but I also fault J & J for not having someone give a basic biology lesson that the jurists could understand. Then they might have been able to disprove the allegations that it was their talc that caused cervical cancer.
I'm 63 years old and have used talc for most of those years. Now, the fragrance I like is in a cornstarch "talc" which is actually not a "real" talcum powder.
I remember being taught "Health" in school, at age 11, and learning about the cervix, learning about sex, learning about drugs (and the chemical make up of them!), toxic shock, menstruation, and a whole lot of other info.
Although not being unheard of, cervical cancer has a very low incidence among nuns and, this ties in with what we were taught years ago, that it is "activity" on and around the cervix that aggravates the cells to become cancerous. Things that may "bruise" the neck of the womb. The fact that married women, and those having (or who may previously have had) regular sex, are more than twice as likely to get it than those who are single, has been found in various studies. We had been told that there was something in a man's semen that aggravated the cervix. However, human papilloma virus can also do the same, as can bacteria, or "mechanical" actions such as the insertion of a tampon, use of a douche or of a vibrator.
Although not being unheard of, cervical cancer has a very low incidence among nuns and, this ties in with what we were taught years ago, that it is "activity" on and around the cervix that aggravates the cells to become cancerous. Things that may "bruise" the neck of the womb. The fact that married women, and those having (or who may previously have had) regular sex, are more than twice as likely to get it than those who are single, has been found in various studies. We had been told that there was something in a man's semen that aggravated the cervix. However, human papilloma virus can also do the same, as can bacteria, or "mechanical" actions such as the insertion of a tampon, use of a douche or of a vibrator.
The idea of talc being inserted into the vaginal tract is rather odd to me, I do not understand why somebody would do that. Somebody tried to school me that, no, it wasn't inserted, it was used in the genital area ... to which I ask, then how did it reach the cervix? Bacteria, viruses and sperm are all live and can move in the natural lubrication of the vagina, so yes, I understand how they can reach there but talc is inanimate, a powder. So it cannot "swim" upwards, rather natural gravity would wash it away from the vagina in natural secretions. And whilst acknowledging that some talc does contain some cancer-causing agents, the American Cancer Society states that it sees only a very small chance of talc being a factor in cervical cancer.
My take is that it's yet another lawyer contrived scam, as I cannot believe that, in this lawsuit, in this day and age, every claimant had never had sex, used a tampon, douche or vibrator, and I bet J & J never asked each of those claimants whether they had or not.
***
I am thankful that last night I had a good night's sleep. figuring the connotation between my BP meds, body temp, heart rate, blood pressure and everything, I tried something last night which I'll repeat tonight and tomorrow, and if all remains well, will let my doctor know of, on Monday.
***
I'm actually looking forward to my cardiologist appointment in 10 days, as I only weigh myself at doctor visits, so have been without a weight loss update for quite a few weeks now, but my tape measure was very friendly and showed me 4" and 5" losses on thighs, under bust and bust, so I'm hoping the scales will tell a similar tale.
***
So those are my morning musings on this wet, grey Saturday. nonetheless, have a great day and don't let it rain on your parade!
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Life Goes On
Summer has begun, and already the temps are up high. I am seriously hoping we do not have a humdinger of a Summer like we did the other year, with a month of 100+ degree days. I hated that my hubby was outside working n it. Every time I opened the door to let my dogs out, it was like walking into an oven! I am praying that it does NOT get that bad this year.
We collected Angel's ashes from the vet's office last Friday, they came in a beautiful little cedar chest and with a ceramic print of her paw. Doesn't seem like 2 weeks have passed since we lost her. We have so many memories of our "Brat", she definitely left her mark on our lives, that's for sure.
This has been an odd week. I've had 2 nights where bradycardia has reared its head and caused issues, and where I've headed into the living room to doss on the couch so as to not disturb hubby. Trying to keep it above 50bpm was an issue, and in the 40s it is such a horrible feeling. During the day I pedal on my elliptical bike when it drops, but that's not always feasible throughout the night.
I have noticed a correlation between my body temperature and the slowing, but also, that sometimes - even when I feel warm in myself - my skin can get cold to the touch and that also brings it on. I have a cardiologist appointment at the end of the month and will be discussing it with him.
Well, I have AVON to sort, bag and invoice my customers, and then to arrange deliveries from Friday on.
One of my team members has hooked us up with an event to do in November, so I am busily planning parts of that. I'm looking forward to it, it's been so long since I've done one because of my health. I do hope it's successful for us.
That's how my life is plodding along right now, just one foot in front of the other, lots of prayers and I somehow keep on keeping on.
Have a great day, my friends!
We collected Angel's ashes from the vet's office last Friday, they came in a beautiful little cedar chest and with a ceramic print of her paw. Doesn't seem like 2 weeks have passed since we lost her. We have so many memories of our "Brat", she definitely left her mark on our lives, that's for sure.
This has been an odd week. I've had 2 nights where bradycardia has reared its head and caused issues, and where I've headed into the living room to doss on the couch so as to not disturb hubby. Trying to keep it above 50bpm was an issue, and in the 40s it is such a horrible feeling. During the day I pedal on my elliptical bike when it drops, but that's not always feasible throughout the night.
I have noticed a correlation between my body temperature and the slowing, but also, that sometimes - even when I feel warm in myself - my skin can get cold to the touch and that also brings it on. I have a cardiologist appointment at the end of the month and will be discussing it with him.
Well, I have AVON to sort, bag and invoice my customers, and then to arrange deliveries from Friday on.
One of my team members has hooked us up with an event to do in November, so I am busily planning parts of that. I'm looking forward to it, it's been so long since I've done one because of my health. I do hope it's successful for us.
That's how my life is plodding along right now, just one foot in front of the other, lots of prayers and I somehow keep on keeping on.
Have a great day, my friends!
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Making it through
The house is quieter, and I've been dealing with doggie depression and grief over losing their matriarch.
I realised yesterday, that when each of the others had moved into our family, Angel was already here. They had never lived in this house without her presence. She had always been our "accepter". She had taken in all the waifs and strays we had brought, puppies and kittens. She'd helped clean foster kittens when we'd been the "go-to" home for the ones needing 2 hour feedings, her tongue big enough to swallow them whole, and yet she, so gentle with them.
Max just seemed confused. He had tussled with Angel to be "top dog" in the house, when he was a teen, and had been forced to yield the challenge. She was not giving up her alpha spot, ad he was more of a lover than a fighter. Now that she's gone, he's just "not sure" what comes next.
Princess, our Miss Boo and Boofalicious, had such a sad, pinched look on her face when we came home. She had lain close to Angel earlier that day, and I guess knew more than we did about what was really going on, as when Dr Keller examined her, she couldn't hear Angel's heartbeat due to her loud breathing, and said she thought there was a mass growing in her stomach too.
My real worry had been Mystery, our little wild one, who (for many years) seemed autistic. Angel had been the one she had cleaved to, in her fear, when she first came to us. The one who, if Angel had already been outside (and refused to come back in), would immediately look for her when she ran out the next time, and would bark and give her a stiff talking to, when she found her in her favourite spot.
She was very morose that first day. She ran out and looked, sniffed where Angel usually lay, and lay with such a pained pose, not relaxed at all, very dejected.
I wanted to mop floors, but didn't. That way, she, and the others, could still smell Angel where she had lain. I didn't want to just wash her scent away, I thought it might help them come to terms with her no longer being here.
Yesterday, I did mop the kitchen floor. Later today, I will do the hallways. They are coming to terms with her being gone.
This morning Mystery told me to hurry up, as I was letting them out at 5.30am, with an insistent barking as I tottered down the hallway. She had been silent much of Thursday and yesterday.
Boo's face is not as pinched, although her eyes are still sad. I think she feels that she will be next (she and Angel were the same age, 14 and a half, so over 100 in doggie years).
And Max, he has the sad eyes too. And still the confused look some of the time, he isn't bothered in being the alpha dog now, he's 12 and just wants a peaceful life.
They are making it through.
Last night, as I sat in the living room, I sensed Angel standing in the doorway peering in, how she used to (it's our only human-only space).
Life goes on. We are all the better for having had her in our lives, but we miss her. And that's ok. We're getting through it. She was our "old lady" and we loved her.
I realised yesterday, that when each of the others had moved into our family, Angel was already here. They had never lived in this house without her presence. She had always been our "accepter". She had taken in all the waifs and strays we had brought, puppies and kittens. She'd helped clean foster kittens when we'd been the "go-to" home for the ones needing 2 hour feedings, her tongue big enough to swallow them whole, and yet she, so gentle with them.
Max just seemed confused. He had tussled with Angel to be "top dog" in the house, when he was a teen, and had been forced to yield the challenge. She was not giving up her alpha spot, ad he was more of a lover than a fighter. Now that she's gone, he's just "not sure" what comes next.
Princess, our Miss Boo and Boofalicious, had such a sad, pinched look on her face when we came home. She had lain close to Angel earlier that day, and I guess knew more than we did about what was really going on, as when Dr Keller examined her, she couldn't hear Angel's heartbeat due to her loud breathing, and said she thought there was a mass growing in her stomach too.
My real worry had been Mystery, our little wild one, who (for many years) seemed autistic. Angel had been the one she had cleaved to, in her fear, when she first came to us. The one who, if Angel had already been outside (and refused to come back in), would immediately look for her when she ran out the next time, and would bark and give her a stiff talking to, when she found her in her favourite spot.
She was very morose that first day. She ran out and looked, sniffed where Angel usually lay, and lay with such a pained pose, not relaxed at all, very dejected.
I wanted to mop floors, but didn't. That way, she, and the others, could still smell Angel where she had lain. I didn't want to just wash her scent away, I thought it might help them come to terms with her no longer being here.
Yesterday, I did mop the kitchen floor. Later today, I will do the hallways. They are coming to terms with her being gone.
This morning Mystery told me to hurry up, as I was letting them out at 5.30am, with an insistent barking as I tottered down the hallway. She had been silent much of Thursday and yesterday.
Boo's face is not as pinched, although her eyes are still sad. I think she feels that she will be next (she and Angel were the same age, 14 and a half, so over 100 in doggie years).
And Max, he has the sad eyes too. And still the confused look some of the time, he isn't bothered in being the alpha dog now, he's 12 and just wants a peaceful life.
They are making it through.
Last night, as I sat in the living room, I sensed Angel standing in the doorway peering in, how she used to (it's our only human-only space).
Life goes on. We are all the better for having had her in our lives, but we miss her. And that's ok. We're getting through it. She was our "old lady" and we loved her.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
This morning we said goodbye to Angel
Dogs are our 4 legged children, Angel was a brat among brats, and was much loved and will be so missed.
She was only 6 weeks old, and had been spayed the day before, when we adopted her from Greenville Humane all those years ago. A ball of fur with such sad eyes. The note on the cage said "couldn't handle her any more". I guess she was the last of the litter, and having puppies had been a tiring experience.
She was so small she couldn't get up and down the front step, at first. She slept between us on the bed, and thought we were her personal chew toy. We crated her during the day while we were at work and she delighted in greeting us at the door, crate either intact or collapsed flat, with a grin that was like "ok, next trick?"
We thought maybe she needed a "sissy", so we went back to Greenville Humane and adopted Princess, also known as Boo, and they became partners in crime.
Boo hated travelling, it stressed her and made her sick, whereas Angel loved it, so Angel became her daddy's partner in crime. When the truck was laden with trash in the back, Angel rode in the passenger seat. After "helping daddy" they would stop by McDonald's or Burger King and grab burgers, always bringing one home for her sissy.
When we got the Jeep, she and her daddy went to Lowe's and TSC together and she rode in the front. If we went out places, she rode in the back. One day, she was already in the front seat when I came out of the front door. It was like watching a disappointed child, her eager bounce deflated as she dropped her shoulders and sighed, it was like "oh no, she's coming".
She loved being the center of attention. She had her fan club wherever she went. The fast food drive thrus, many of the cashiers knew her by name.
She did the Paws for the Cause walks in Greenville for 4 or 5 years with her daddy, proudly strutting the route and lapping up all the praise and comments of "oh, what a beautiful dog".
She was obstinate.
She drove me crazy when my mobility got poor. She wouldn't come to me when I called, if she was out in the yard and wanted to stay out. If I tottered towards her, she'd let me get maybe one step away, then would walk 3 or 4 away from me and look at me as if to say "ok, I like this game".
The UPS man had no worries coming by her when he delivered my AVON packages, and when my friend Dimple and her family would come to clean for me, she'd lap up all the attention and grin at the camera.
She was a definite character.
Considering she was 14 and a half, she had lived a long and good life. Recently she had started having issues with one back leg, and becoming very picky about eating, then this past week she had gotten listless and her breathing had become laboured. Yesterday she wouldn't eat or drink.
This morning, we took her to Simpsonville Animal Hospital, and Dr Keller and her team helped her cross the rainbow bridge.
As we came out, in tears, it was pelting down. Even the Heavens were crying, it seemed.
She will be missed by us all, her doggie and feline family, and her mummy and daddy. Our beautiful girl.
She was only 6 weeks old, and had been spayed the day before, when we adopted her from Greenville Humane all those years ago. A ball of fur with such sad eyes. The note on the cage said "couldn't handle her any more". I guess she was the last of the litter, and having puppies had been a tiring experience.
She was so small she couldn't get up and down the front step, at first. She slept between us on the bed, and thought we were her personal chew toy. We crated her during the day while we were at work and she delighted in greeting us at the door, crate either intact or collapsed flat, with a grin that was like "ok, next trick?"
We thought maybe she needed a "sissy", so we went back to Greenville Humane and adopted Princess, also known as Boo, and they became partners in crime.
Boo hated travelling, it stressed her and made her sick, whereas Angel loved it, so Angel became her daddy's partner in crime. When the truck was laden with trash in the back, Angel rode in the passenger seat. After "helping daddy" they would stop by McDonald's or Burger King and grab burgers, always bringing one home for her sissy.
When we got the Jeep, she and her daddy went to Lowe's and TSC together and she rode in the front. If we went out places, she rode in the back. One day, she was already in the front seat when I came out of the front door. It was like watching a disappointed child, her eager bounce deflated as she dropped her shoulders and sighed, it was like "oh no, she's coming".
She loved being the center of attention. She had her fan club wherever she went. The fast food drive thrus, many of the cashiers knew her by name.
She did the Paws for the Cause walks in Greenville for 4 or 5 years with her daddy, proudly strutting the route and lapping up all the praise and comments of "oh, what a beautiful dog".
She was obstinate.
She drove me crazy when my mobility got poor. She wouldn't come to me when I called, if she was out in the yard and wanted to stay out. If I tottered towards her, she'd let me get maybe one step away, then would walk 3 or 4 away from me and look at me as if to say "ok, I like this game".
The UPS man had no worries coming by her when he delivered my AVON packages, and when my friend Dimple and her family would come to clean for me, she'd lap up all the attention and grin at the camera.
She was a definite character.
Considering she was 14 and a half, she had lived a long and good life. Recently she had started having issues with one back leg, and becoming very picky about eating, then this past week she had gotten listless and her breathing had become laboured. Yesterday she wouldn't eat or drink.
This morning, we took her to Simpsonville Animal Hospital, and Dr Keller and her team helped her cross the rainbow bridge.
As we came out, in tears, it was pelting down. Even the Heavens were crying, it seemed.
She will be missed by us all, her doggie and feline family, and her mummy and daddy. Our beautiful girl.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Yesterday we said "hello" to July
The first 6 months of this year whizzed by and now the final 6 have begun. This month will see "Christmas in July" posts all across social media, from those in business, as we race to make goals in 2018.
I look on each new month as a new beginning, a chance to challenge myself to step on farther down the road ... to better health and mobility, greater success in my business, becoming a better Christian, and achieving those small goals that say "success" to me - being able to sweep and mop my floors with less breaks and in a shorter time than before, or being able to make it all the way down to the other end of the house and do a load of laundry. Each month is a new chance for me to "become" more than I am, and to "regain" some of the things I once took for granted. Nobody likes housework, but it only becomes of value, when the power to do it is lost. As I take steps to regain that "power" I realise how much it means to me, to be able to do so.
June was a hot month for SC, and I had to run my air conditioner constantly. The "cool mornings" I so love, edged into the 60s and by the afternoon 90s were the order of the day and on a couple, we hit the 100s. This morning we awoke at 73, and today will be 90, but somehow, I think it will be a hotter month and I dread those high temps, I do not do well in the heat and hate paying huge bills to Duke Power.
Last month hubby worked away for 3 weeks. I didn't tell many people, as I didn't want to make myself ,or my home, a target for those who prefer to steal rather than work. I'm too old for nonsense any more, and despite my dogs and hubby's guns, it was easier just not to advertise his absence. I know, if I ever shot someone, I would have severe emotional issues dealing with it, let alone that someone might lose their life, rather not to invite the chance of that becoming a reality. Protecting myself would be tantamount, but at what cost?
So, he was gone for 3 weeks, and in that time, I struggled. Boy, did I struggle! I made it through though and was well pleased with myself. I did a lot of praying to the Almighty, and He was definitely with me. I did pretty well, at keeping up with things, and had my little helper (my girlfriend's daughter) come over and help me one day, and we did my living room shelves and ornaments, she did my bathroom, and then we distributed AVON brochures in a local subdivision.
AVON is a lifesaver for me, and since I don't get disability, provides my share of income towards our household's finances. It has paid for a lot of things over the years, it helped pay off my Land Rover that we gave away last year to help someone else have a vehicle, it bought a cabin-type shed, it has bought tickets for local shows and concerts at our local theater The Peace Center, helped pay bills, paid off lots of medical bills, LOL, bought gas and groceries, and yes, we are stocked with AVON ... shampoos and conditioners, shower gels, bath oil, Bug Guard, his after shave, my fragrance sprays, and body lotions, and every year, many of my Christmas and birthday gifts for others, are AVON. I use my commission to pay for them, so essentially, they are free.
One of my best investments out of my AVON money was my rollator, and it has made so much of a difference in my life, helping me regain some of my mobility and being able to get out and about more again. Until walking and standing becomes difficult, we do no realise how much we took it for granted for so many years, and that's the truth. I used to love to dance, and lost that ability as my standing and walking basically came to a standstill, and I ended up basically bedridden for a few years. If I went out anywhere, I had to use a wheelchair. My rollator helped me reverse that, and I now walk, with its help, although in some stores (particularly when grocery shopping) I do use a ridearound.
I wish you all a wonderful July ... there are 30 days left to use as you will. Use them wisely. Take steps to achieve the things you wish to change, to improve on talents you may have, to get healthier, to try something new. God bless and keep you safe.
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