Saturday, January 30, 2016

I Think I've Caught Something.....

The past couple of days have been kind of strange ones for me.  I thought it was the cold weather but I actually think I have some kind of *bug*.  It's not a bad one, mostly it's annoying and uncomfortable at times.  First, I have kind of lost my appetite.  Nothing appeals to me now that my split pea soup is gone.  Even the idea of chicken broth doesn't appeal.  I tried eating a slice of the Chicago Italian bread that the Beast buys because it's just so delicious and fresh but with a great crust on it.  I admit that it's one of my favorites for any kind of sandwich or just plain with (real) butter on it.  But I managed to eat about half of a slice and ended up throwing it up later.  

I thought at first that it may be that my sugar is screwing up but, when I checked it, it was about where it should have been (like my count after a night's rest).  Then I checked my temperature and found out that it was up whenever I started getting *that* feeling.  After I would vomit, my temperature would go down.  However, I was suffering from an elevated temperature while sleeping because I woke up a couple times and was just covered in sweat.  This was without using my electric blanket (it wasn't even covering me).  But the fever would abate and I would be fine.  What the hell is going on?  I can't even get in to see my regular doctor until Tuesday now (I did leave a message for his nurse).  It's not bad enough to bother the emergency room doctors.  Besides, I am almost superstitious about going there.  They always seem to find something wrong with me...LOL.  I am not up to a hospital stay right now, TYVM.  Especially since it's more bothersome than scary.  I really feel like I have a touch of flu but, if I do, it's mild because I got my flu shot a couple months ago.  

Oh, don't worry...if it gets more persistent or worse, I will make that trip.  I won't like it but I will do it.  I intend to live longer than the Beast, after all.  LOL!

I am shocked at the way the chickens are growing.  I may go out to the coop and take some more pictures tomorrow afternoon if I am up to it.  I went out there today and I think they've grown a couple inches in just a few days.  They also seem to be starting to *bulk* up a bit.  I'll post the pics on here (I may have the Beast hold one so you get some idea of perspective).  You be the judge.

The Beast hasn't said anything....yet....about baby goats or anything else that's crazy.  I had once posited the idea of getting ONE goat to keep the grass down on both our lots and save him a bit of mowing.  He thought I was nuts then and I will remind him of that if he ever brings up the idea.  I do NOT want him to act like we really have a farm here.  We don't have 10 acres of land like the Princess and Johnnycakes does.

She posted pics of miniature cows (I hadn't seen them before) and they are so damn cute!  But they remind me of sturdy dogs and are very long haired.  They look *fluffy* and cute.  But I can't even imagine that here at our house.  No way!  And eating them?  Impossible to think of when you see their cute faces.  The Princess could manage them at their place...with some fencing...and I could enjoy seeing them there.  That works for me.  I'm actually looking forward to seeing the baby goats.  They are the miniature ones and I've seen them on TV and at petting zoos.  I think they are cute.  I just don't think they should keep them too close to the house.  Their poo DOES have an odor.  And it attracts bugs.  Yuk!

The Beast found out that he will have to open up the vents in the barn.  He blocked them off to help keep the cold out when the chicks were not fully fledged.  As it is, they still haven't gotten all the feathers on their necks.  But the reason for that is the gas that their urine emits as it accumulates.  That's one of the reasons you need to let the birds outside as much as possible.  

One more interesting thing we found out was that the birds will share their nesting areas.  We won't have to put up individual boxes for each of the chickens once they start laying eggs.  You can figure that each box will accommodate up to six chickens each.  They don't lay eggs on a schedule so you probably won't find two birds in one box together.   Wonderful!  So when is a good time to check for eggs?  Or do you do it several times a day?  All questions we need to find out or else just take a *wait and see* stance on that.

Did I tell you that raising chickens that aren't bred for commercial use and fed the same kinds of feed have thicker shells than the eggs you buy at the store?  I kid you not.  It's the reason you don't have to refrigerate them and they will even keep for a couple weeks on your counter.  That was shocking to me but even the Princess' neighbors told her that when they were sharing information with her about what to expect and what to do with her chickens.  

They also kill and clean their chickens and other things that they shoot.  They eat what they kill so they aren't dumb about how to prepare them.  Johnnycakes is excellent at field dressing larger animals since he's an experienced hunter.  His father bragged to us about that once.  I'm sure the Princess will do just fine...eventually...as a *farmer's wife*.  There are a few things she will have to learn as she goes but she's young and has the energy that it takes.  I am so jealous of the *young* and *energy* part of that.  *Sigh*  I remember MY days of that.

Well, bedtime now.  We just had a short power outage here.  No apparent reason for it unless some jerk hit a power pole after leaving the bar (it IS Friday night, after all!).  Love you all.  Remember to laugh as often as you can.  Let it out and don't worry about what others think.  It's good for your health, believe it or not.  It releases good endorphins and makes you feel better overall.  Have some fun.  Today is the only day you can be sure of.  Leave the past in the past.  Don't worry about the future.  Live your life to the fullest.  Love with your whole heart.  ***Hugs***

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