I'll tell you what they do after a little explanation.... The Beast usually goes out around dusk to shag them all back into the barn and usually there are a few that don't want to go in but they finally do with just a little bit of *herding*. Tonight it was fully dark before he realized that he hadn't put them away for the night and there was no light out there because he had disconnected it when he mowed the lawn out back. Ut oh!
Around here it is REALLY dark once it's full night so he grabbed his flashlight and headed out to get them safely into the barn. When he shone his light around the fenced yard, there were NO chickens outside...and no light inside either so he had to use the flashlight to secure the doggie door. When he first shone the light around the barn so he could see where they were, they were all huddled together in the far corner and acting very afraid. When he shone the light over to where they were, they made a mad dash towards him like they were all glad he finally showed up. It made him laugh but it also made it hard to him to count them since they kept moving all around him.
They were all safe and sound (and probably wondering why they had been forgotten!) so he finally closed it up for the night. He did make sure the light was plugged in while he was in there and got the connection for it plugged in when he got back to the house. We wouldn't want to traumatize them when it's what they are used to. I don't think they have good night vision, either, so the barn would be scary for them if they banged into any of the things scattered around in there.
I guess they headed for the barn for security since they've been used to being in there since they were about a month old. And, of course, they huddled together for comfort until *Big Daddy* showed up....LOL. I'm just glad we didn't have a visit from a possum or raccoon that might have been looking around for some eggs. THAT would have shocked both them AND the Beast.
The weather here, although a bit cooler than *I* like, was really pleasant. I didn't sleep well last night so I spent a good deal of today (well, that's yesterday now) napping. I was dogged tired just from the inability to sleep along with having to get up and walk around to get rid of a leg cramp behind my knee of all things. I ended up having a loaded baked potato for my dinner just because it sounded so good to me and was really tasty. I warmed up some of the leftover corned beef, too. I thought about a sandwich but decided against that additional starch. I am trying to be good about that.
The Beast has done it again and I know just why. He bought an electric percolator today. All because his buddy from church told him about coffee being better when it goes through the grounds several times instead of the one time that drip coffee pots do. I am so upset with him over that, you have no idea. I HATE an electric percolator. I told him...look, if it meant you can use less coffee, that would be great but you have to use the same amount of coffee so how do you figure it is really better? The only way you use LESS coffee is if it doesn't make the same amount as the drip one does.
I will just let him find out for himself the reason we stopped using one years ago. He thinks that today's technology has made them better. He needs to find out that it will still make it taste *burnt* after a couple hours of sitting with the heat that is keeping it warm on. Even if they no longer perk if you forget to take the centers out after it's *done* perking, it will still get that taste, I'm sure. The warmers that many of the commercial Bunn makers do that if the coffee sits for longer than a half hour. You can tell by the smell of the coffee even.
We now have three different drip coffee makers out in our garage. Yet the Beast keeps going back to the Bunn every time after a while so all I have to be is patient. It won't take him long. He likes his coffee almost as much as I do and he won't like it if it makes our Kauai coffee taste bad. I have faith in that much...LOL
Okay, going to make another attempt at sleep now..or at least a good nap. Love you all. I need to be up in about four hours to get dressed and go out to feed the chickens their cracked corn. ***Hugs***
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Friday, March 18, 2016
A Day Late And A Dollar Short.....
LOL...that is me in a nutshell. I meant to do this post a lot earlier but got caught up in FB and reading a lot of the more interesting posts. If I read it in the evening, it always seems to have thousands of posts...truth! But if I read it before noon, I get finished in no time because there are fewer on my page. Why, I have no idea.
My days have become busier as my allergies are under control and I am sleeping better. Today, when I went out to spread the cracked corn and entice the chickens outside in the fresh air, I found they seem to have already developed a taste for it. I spread out a lot of it and we had the chance to see more of them staying out. When I first spread it around, I had all 12 of them out at once! That was a landmark. I never saw less than 8 of them outside all afternoon. It was fun to watch them.
The Beast and I fixed the bird feeder that had a broken (we thought at first) side. When we realized it had been either hit by something..hard...or pecked hard (probably in frustration since the Beast occasionally forgets to fill it). We filled it up with both types of seed that we have for the various birds that visit it once we got the side back in place securely. When I say we filled it up, I mean we FILLED IT UP! It is up to the top of it. The birds are going to think they've found Nirvana....LOL. That should last them a few days...I hope. They seem to eat a LOT of the seed. I don't think they are finding their normal food these days but that's what happens once you start feeding them. We even put out suet for them during the winter. Well, actually, we start doing that in the Fall....just because we have so many birds that stay during the winter and they need it to help stay warm.
I made corned beef and cabbage. The Beast kept saying it was going to be fantastic for sandwiches (while he was eating it) but it wasn't all that big and we both had seconds of it. It was sooooo good and so tender! The cabbage, potatoes and carrots turned out really good, too. The cabbage actually was a little overcooked because just when it was ready, the Beast decided he had to go to the store for something that couldn't wait. *Sigh*
I put it on low (I cooked it in my Dutch oven) but he was gone a full half hour! I blame it on HIM. It was quite a bit softer than I like but it still tasted good. Oh well. Know what he bought? A loaf of rye bread (that could have waited until later or even tomorrow), some coffee filters for the perculator that we just HAD to try to make our coffee with since his buddy told him that was how to make better coffee than our Bunn, and a coffee cake!
Nothing he bought couldn't have waited. That's a man for ya!
He actually offered to clean up after dinner which also meant putting away the leftovers! I had to redo the dishes he had in the dishwasher to make room for what he said *couldn't fit*. But I do seem to have a knack for that so I didn't complain. I just did it and then turned on the dishwasher when I was done. It saves making two loads because he doesn't know how to really put items in correctly. But he tries at least. I was just glad he hadn't started the dishwasher. Do you think he just might have been waiting for me to *fix* it? Hmmmm.
The Beast and I talked about the rooster that the Princess says is ready for us. He needs to buy a carrier type container for it. When I said that was good because, if we ever had to take one of the chickens to the vet, it would be a lot easier than carrying it under our arms. He laughed and said, *Yeah, and if they want to go to the zoo or something.....* I laughed at that. Like it could ever happen! LOL
Let me say this now that I am a day late....I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day. I do have a couple things to add. First, an Irish Blessing....*May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door*
Secondly, look after your friends. Make sure they are okay. Sometimes they are going through things that are really heavy, but they might not say anything. It's another type of kindness that we give to our friends....and our family.
Time to go. Love you all. Lastly, another thing Irish. This time it's a proverb: A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything! ***Hugs***
My days have become busier as my allergies are under control and I am sleeping better. Today, when I went out to spread the cracked corn and entice the chickens outside in the fresh air, I found they seem to have already developed a taste for it. I spread out a lot of it and we had the chance to see more of them staying out. When I first spread it around, I had all 12 of them out at once! That was a landmark. I never saw less than 8 of them outside all afternoon. It was fun to watch them.
The Beast and I fixed the bird feeder that had a broken (we thought at first) side. When we realized it had been either hit by something..hard...or pecked hard (probably in frustration since the Beast occasionally forgets to fill it). We filled it up with both types of seed that we have for the various birds that visit it once we got the side back in place securely. When I say we filled it up, I mean we FILLED IT UP! It is up to the top of it. The birds are going to think they've found Nirvana....LOL. That should last them a few days...I hope. They seem to eat a LOT of the seed. I don't think they are finding their normal food these days but that's what happens once you start feeding them. We even put out suet for them during the winter. Well, actually, we start doing that in the Fall....just because we have so many birds that stay during the winter and they need it to help stay warm.
I made corned beef and cabbage. The Beast kept saying it was going to be fantastic for sandwiches (while he was eating it) but it wasn't all that big and we both had seconds of it. It was sooooo good and so tender! The cabbage, potatoes and carrots turned out really good, too. The cabbage actually was a little overcooked because just when it was ready, the Beast decided he had to go to the store for something that couldn't wait. *Sigh*
I put it on low (I cooked it in my Dutch oven) but he was gone a full half hour! I blame it on HIM. It was quite a bit softer than I like but it still tasted good. Oh well. Know what he bought? A loaf of rye bread (that could have waited until later or even tomorrow), some coffee filters for the perculator that we just HAD to try to make our coffee with since his buddy told him that was how to make better coffee than our Bunn, and a coffee cake!
Nothing he bought couldn't have waited. That's a man for ya!
He actually offered to clean up after dinner which also meant putting away the leftovers! I had to redo the dishes he had in the dishwasher to make room for what he said *couldn't fit*. But I do seem to have a knack for that so I didn't complain. I just did it and then turned on the dishwasher when I was done. It saves making two loads because he doesn't know how to really put items in correctly. But he tries at least. I was just glad he hadn't started the dishwasher. Do you think he just might have been waiting for me to *fix* it? Hmmmm.
The Beast and I talked about the rooster that the Princess says is ready for us. He needs to buy a carrier type container for it. When I said that was good because, if we ever had to take one of the chickens to the vet, it would be a lot easier than carrying it under our arms. He laughed and said, *Yeah, and if they want to go to the zoo or something.....* I laughed at that. Like it could ever happen! LOL
Let me say this now that I am a day late....I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day. I do have a couple things to add. First, an Irish Blessing....*May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door*
Secondly, look after your friends. Make sure they are okay. Sometimes they are going through things that are really heavy, but they might not say anything. It's another type of kindness that we give to our friends....and our family.
Time to go. Love you all. Lastly, another thing Irish. This time it's a proverb: A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything! ***Hugs***
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Chickens Have Taken Over Our Life....
Today I was out in the garage and I discovered that the Beast has bought several bags of the feed for the chickens and some more of the wood chips that we spread around the floor of the barn for them. It helps because it absorbs their urine and the feces sticks to it. I now must sweep the stuff up every week and then we replace it with more.
The Beast has taken it upon himself (he gets up much earlier these days) to open up the barn so the chickens have access to the fenced in yard. Of course, only a few venture out while the sun is bright and shining on the yard. I don't know why but most of them prefer to bask in the sun that comes into the barn with the doors open. However, they prefer to use the doggie door that we installed to get in and out of the barn.
The Beast has decided that he put the nesting box too high and is going to bring it down closer to the floor of the barn so they don't have to fly up to it (using the taller perch that he made for them). I was surprised at his making it so tall. But then I realized he has no idea that they may not like having to use their wings in order to use it. He has no experience at all with any kind of poultry except for the duck he once killed by accident when it was attacking him at a local park when he was a teenager. But that's another story altogether....LOL.
I remember my great-grandfather's farm and the chickens they had. When I would stay with them during the summer (I was sickly at the time and everyone thought it would be healthy for me *out in the country*). That was my great-grandfather's idea. He once put some warm whiskey in my ear one night when I had a severe earache and, in our darkened house, he would hold me in his lap and rock me. I still can see the kitchen in our apartment with a single light on from our stove and the sound of my great-grandfather singing me Irish lullabies.
Once, when the Beast and I were in Orlando at Universal Studios, we stopped in the Irish Pub that is there for a drink. The Irish group that was playing at the pub started singing something that I sang along with them and it surprised me. I mean that it was one that my great-grandfather sang to me and, even though I didn't think I had absorbed anything, I instantly remembered it. It was a shock to me. I told the Beast about how I remembered the words and even he laughed at my surprise. I wish I remembered the name of it but it happened so long ago. All I remember is how I just sang along with it and my surprise that it just instantly sprang into my mind.
Back to the topic....the chickens. I used to go out with my great-grandmother to spread the crushed corn for them and bring them out of the coop so we could check for eggs. They laid them in some surprising areas. We would have to go over every inch of the coop to find them. I thought that was normal until I realized that they didn't have nesting boxes. They had hay on a shelf that was located just about a foot off the floor of the coop with a ramp leading up to it. We would find eggs underneath the ramp, in the hay but with hay that the chickens had covered over them. They were tricky. Some were laid underneath the shelf. Others were in different corners of the coop. It was like an Easter egg hunt without the colored eggs.....LOL.
I tried enticing out chickens out of the barn with the cracked corn but it didn't really work like I had hoped. It was a totally unfamiliar taste for them and then I realized that they had to discover it and have it be a treat for them. That will take a bit of time. I'm just going to have to do it daily for a while before they all develop a taste for it and just be patient.
When the Beast went to close up the barn later in the afternoon (around dinner time), there happened to be about eight of them in the yard. He went to close the doggie door thinking they would just jump up into the barn with the door opened but they were ticked off at the idea of his closing up the doggie door and made a run for it...all eight of them at the same time.
They were pushing and shoving each other and ended up bunching up so much that none of them were going through it. They finally started getting through and the Beast was able to close off the doggie door access. It has a cover plate that slides down over the flap so that no one and nothing can get through it. It will keep predators out of the coop through that opening.
Well, time to post this. Love you all. Be happy. Stay healthy. Most of all, be kind to everyone. We are all fighting battles of one kind or another that we don't always share. Sometimes, an unexpected act of kindness can make our day! ***Hugs***
The Beast has taken it upon himself (he gets up much earlier these days) to open up the barn so the chickens have access to the fenced in yard. Of course, only a few venture out while the sun is bright and shining on the yard. I don't know why but most of them prefer to bask in the sun that comes into the barn with the doors open. However, they prefer to use the doggie door that we installed to get in and out of the barn.
The Beast has decided that he put the nesting box too high and is going to bring it down closer to the floor of the barn so they don't have to fly up to it (using the taller perch that he made for them). I was surprised at his making it so tall. But then I realized he has no idea that they may not like having to use their wings in order to use it. He has no experience at all with any kind of poultry except for the duck he once killed by accident when it was attacking him at a local park when he was a teenager. But that's another story altogether....LOL.
I remember my great-grandfather's farm and the chickens they had. When I would stay with them during the summer (I was sickly at the time and everyone thought it would be healthy for me *out in the country*). That was my great-grandfather's idea. He once put some warm whiskey in my ear one night when I had a severe earache and, in our darkened house, he would hold me in his lap and rock me. I still can see the kitchen in our apartment with a single light on from our stove and the sound of my great-grandfather singing me Irish lullabies.
Once, when the Beast and I were in Orlando at Universal Studios, we stopped in the Irish Pub that is there for a drink. The Irish group that was playing at the pub started singing something that I sang along with them and it surprised me. I mean that it was one that my great-grandfather sang to me and, even though I didn't think I had absorbed anything, I instantly remembered it. It was a shock to me. I told the Beast about how I remembered the words and even he laughed at my surprise. I wish I remembered the name of it but it happened so long ago. All I remember is how I just sang along with it and my surprise that it just instantly sprang into my mind.
Back to the topic....the chickens. I used to go out with my great-grandmother to spread the crushed corn for them and bring them out of the coop so we could check for eggs. They laid them in some surprising areas. We would have to go over every inch of the coop to find them. I thought that was normal until I realized that they didn't have nesting boxes. They had hay on a shelf that was located just about a foot off the floor of the coop with a ramp leading up to it. We would find eggs underneath the ramp, in the hay but with hay that the chickens had covered over them. They were tricky. Some were laid underneath the shelf. Others were in different corners of the coop. It was like an Easter egg hunt without the colored eggs.....LOL.
I tried enticing out chickens out of the barn with the cracked corn but it didn't really work like I had hoped. It was a totally unfamiliar taste for them and then I realized that they had to discover it and have it be a treat for them. That will take a bit of time. I'm just going to have to do it daily for a while before they all develop a taste for it and just be patient.
When the Beast went to close up the barn later in the afternoon (around dinner time), there happened to be about eight of them in the yard. He went to close the doggie door thinking they would just jump up into the barn with the door opened but they were ticked off at the idea of his closing up the doggie door and made a run for it...all eight of them at the same time.
They were pushing and shoving each other and ended up bunching up so much that none of them were going through it. They finally started getting through and the Beast was able to close off the doggie door access. It has a cover plate that slides down over the flap so that no one and nothing can get through it. It will keep predators out of the coop through that opening.
Well, time to post this. Love you all. Be happy. Stay healthy. Most of all, be kind to everyone. We are all fighting battles of one kind or another that we don't always share. Sometimes, an unexpected act of kindness can make our day! ***Hugs***
Ack! Summer Can't Get Here Fast Enough.....
I am a big fan of summer. That is when I feel the best. That is when my allergies seem to go away. Today something new was added. I don't know what it was for sure but I think it's the pollen from the fir trees starting. I had to take double doses of my OTC meds because my sinuses went NUTS and started to drain down my throat causing me to choke a lot.
I had NO appetite and didn't even realize I hadn't eaten anything all day until the Beast came home from church and had stopped at Burger King to get us something to eat. I actually got nauseous and had to go lay down until I stopped sweating. I checked my blood sugar and it was down to 60! Did I eat? I sure did and had to take a glucose pill to bring up my blood sugar reading. I was finally able to eat without feeling like I was going to barf.
It actually got up to 85 degrees here today. It felt wonderful! The chickens were having a ball out in their *yard*. The cats kept going over to the fence and going nose to nose with the chickens. The little female (I checked and she IS female...LOL) actually climbed a tree just outside the coop and you could see her thinking about jumping into the coop. I was watching her from the deck and wondered if I was going to have to rescue her or the chickens. But she didn't have the nerve and finally started the climb down, then jumped back down off the tree.
It's funny how fast cats can climb a tree. She almost zipped up there so fast it was incredible. But coming back down is different. They have to back down because of the way their claws are bent. Since they can't see where they are going, they are much slower and cautious. When they get to what they consider a *safe* spot, then they make a slight turn and jump down.
I had seen a program about just that on Animal Planet. Cats that climb too high are the ones that have to be rescued just because they don't want to make that backward trip DOWN the tree. For an animal so smart most of the time, that seems incredibly stupid to me. Thankfully, only a few of our trees have reached any great heights and I haven't seen the cats try climbing those....yet. The Beast has plans to cut down a couple of those because the fungus has started spreading over their bark. *Sigh* I wish we had better ground here, without the fungus in it. If only we had known.......
Dennis and Diane have planted several dogwood trees along one side of their long drive to their *barn* that they originally built for their RV. I've seen several homes around here that have done that and it looks spectacular when they get bigger and fuller. It's amazing how beautiful they look when they are in bloom. The blooms stay for 6-8 weeks. So pretty. Right now, they look more like big sticks with branches because they are young plants. But in a few years....wow! I can't wait to see that.
I actually haven't been on FB for three days. That's the longest for me in many a moon. I just didn't feel like spending the time for some reason. But I will check it out after I post this tonight. It's how I keep up with what is going on in everyone's life. I miss that.
Today is my niece, Tara's, birthday. I'm not sure just how old she is at the moment. I know she's now over 40..LOL...what I used to think was middle aged. Now I would love to be that young again. If she reads this, *Happy Birthday, Tara*. May you have many more and much happiness. I DO love you.
Time to post this. Love you all and know that I feel much better now. My OTC meds seem to be working well now and I should be able to rest much better tonight. Remember, be happy. It's your choice. Don't let negativity get to you. Surround yourself with people that you love and those that make you laugh. We all deserve happiness. ***Hugs***
I had NO appetite and didn't even realize I hadn't eaten anything all day until the Beast came home from church and had stopped at Burger King to get us something to eat. I actually got nauseous and had to go lay down until I stopped sweating. I checked my blood sugar and it was down to 60! Did I eat? I sure did and had to take a glucose pill to bring up my blood sugar reading. I was finally able to eat without feeling like I was going to barf.
It actually got up to 85 degrees here today. It felt wonderful! The chickens were having a ball out in their *yard*. The cats kept going over to the fence and going nose to nose with the chickens. The little female (I checked and she IS female...LOL) actually climbed a tree just outside the coop and you could see her thinking about jumping into the coop. I was watching her from the deck and wondered if I was going to have to rescue her or the chickens. But she didn't have the nerve and finally started the climb down, then jumped back down off the tree.
It's funny how fast cats can climb a tree. She almost zipped up there so fast it was incredible. But coming back down is different. They have to back down because of the way their claws are bent. Since they can't see where they are going, they are much slower and cautious. When they get to what they consider a *safe* spot, then they make a slight turn and jump down.
I had seen a program about just that on Animal Planet. Cats that climb too high are the ones that have to be rescued just because they don't want to make that backward trip DOWN the tree. For an animal so smart most of the time, that seems incredibly stupid to me. Thankfully, only a few of our trees have reached any great heights and I haven't seen the cats try climbing those....yet. The Beast has plans to cut down a couple of those because the fungus has started spreading over their bark. *Sigh* I wish we had better ground here, without the fungus in it. If only we had known.......
Dennis and Diane have planted several dogwood trees along one side of their long drive to their *barn* that they originally built for their RV. I've seen several homes around here that have done that and it looks spectacular when they get bigger and fuller. It's amazing how beautiful they look when they are in bloom. The blooms stay for 6-8 weeks. So pretty. Right now, they look more like big sticks with branches because they are young plants. But in a few years....wow! I can't wait to see that.
I actually haven't been on FB for three days. That's the longest for me in many a moon. I just didn't feel like spending the time for some reason. But I will check it out after I post this tonight. It's how I keep up with what is going on in everyone's life. I miss that.
Today is my niece, Tara's, birthday. I'm not sure just how old she is at the moment. I know she's now over 40..LOL...what I used to think was middle aged. Now I would love to be that young again. If she reads this, *Happy Birthday, Tara*. May you have many more and much happiness. I DO love you.
Time to post this. Love you all and know that I feel much better now. My OTC meds seem to be working well now and I should be able to rest much better tonight. Remember, be happy. It's your choice. Don't let negativity get to you. Surround yourself with people that you love and those that make you laugh. We all deserve happiness. ***Hugs***
Monday, March 14, 2016
A Much Better Day!!!!
I didn't suddenly lose my allergies but I did start on my OTC remedies that I have learned work for me. It takes a while for it to kick in but I had a wonderful day today. Especially compared to the way I felt yesterday.
Cee called me to see how I was feeling today and she was glad I was feeling better. We had initially planned on her coming over on Sunday but then decided to put it off until next weekend since she was still working on her own Spring cleaning.
Today I finally got all my clothes folded and put away plus I folded some things the Beast had washed (and forgotten he had in the dryer). I had found them, put them in the basket and then went ahead and folded them for him. I kind of took that job on a long time ago when I was recovering from the first of my surgeries. It was about all I could do at the time because I couldn't walk.
I don't mind it. It's not like ironing....which I hate. I avoid it at all costs. If I buy something that looks like it might need ironing after it's washed for the first time...out it goes! I am grateful that the Beast is picky about his shirts that sometimes need a touch-up and he does it himself. I ironed for years (mostly when watching the football games on Sunday) and blessed the person/company that came up with Permanent Press!
I talked the Beast into buying some cracked corn for the chickens. I wanted it to scatter for the chickens so they have something good for them to peck at in the yard of the coop. It was funny to watch them when I first scattered it in front of them. Only two of them were curious enough to see what it was. When they started looking for the corn, the others came rushing over......LOL! Just like a bunch of kids.
It was a beautiful day today. Earlier in the week, they had predicted rain for us but that changed a couple days ago (well, on Saturday night). But I am always tongue in cheek about their predictions since so many areas around us were having really awful weather.
More good weather tomorrow and for the next few days, too. I'm so happy about that even if it DOES mean that I have to remember to keep taking the meds for my allergies. I just sneezed so hang on...must be time to take one of them. Back. When you feel good, it's sometimes easy to forget the reason WHY you do....LOL.
I even ended up sleeping well for a change...once the OTC meds kicked in. You can't keep sneezing and be asleep at the same time. It's just impossible.
Time to get this posted. Love you all. Choose to be happy. If something upsets you that you cannot change, let it go. Life is too short for that. Smile, be kind and enjoy your life. We all have the right to be happy. ***Hugs***
Cee called me to see how I was feeling today and she was glad I was feeling better. We had initially planned on her coming over on Sunday but then decided to put it off until next weekend since she was still working on her own Spring cleaning.
Today I finally got all my clothes folded and put away plus I folded some things the Beast had washed (and forgotten he had in the dryer). I had found them, put them in the basket and then went ahead and folded them for him. I kind of took that job on a long time ago when I was recovering from the first of my surgeries. It was about all I could do at the time because I couldn't walk.
I don't mind it. It's not like ironing....which I hate. I avoid it at all costs. If I buy something that looks like it might need ironing after it's washed for the first time...out it goes! I am grateful that the Beast is picky about his shirts that sometimes need a touch-up and he does it himself. I ironed for years (mostly when watching the football games on Sunday) and blessed the person/company that came up with Permanent Press!
I talked the Beast into buying some cracked corn for the chickens. I wanted it to scatter for the chickens so they have something good for them to peck at in the yard of the coop. It was funny to watch them when I first scattered it in front of them. Only two of them were curious enough to see what it was. When they started looking for the corn, the others came rushing over......LOL! Just like a bunch of kids.
It was a beautiful day today. Earlier in the week, they had predicted rain for us but that changed a couple days ago (well, on Saturday night). But I am always tongue in cheek about their predictions since so many areas around us were having really awful weather.
More good weather tomorrow and for the next few days, too. I'm so happy about that even if it DOES mean that I have to remember to keep taking the meds for my allergies. I just sneezed so hang on...must be time to take one of them. Back. When you feel good, it's sometimes easy to forget the reason WHY you do....LOL.
I even ended up sleeping well for a change...once the OTC meds kicked in. You can't keep sneezing and be asleep at the same time. It's just impossible.
Time to get this posted. Love you all. Choose to be happy. If something upsets you that you cannot change, let it go. Life is too short for that. Smile, be kind and enjoy your life. We all have the right to be happy. ***Hugs***
Sunday, March 13, 2016
The Start Of My Allergy Season....
Figures! The one time I managed to watch a bit of the weather channel, it said that TOMORROW marks the start of the allergy season. Wrong! It started today. I woke up feeling just miserable and couldn't even manage to drink a cup of coffee for several hours. The only reason I DID, finally, was in an effort to try to rouse myself and feel better. I did not realize that it wasn't my cold making me feel so lousy. It wasn't until it dawned on me that my eyes were watering and my sinuses kept filling up plus I was doing a lot of sneezing. Then, with the vision of the peach blossoms in my mind, it finally dawned on me. My allergies had kicked in full blast.
I tried taking a couple of Dristans before I realized that they didn't work for me last season and that's why there were so many of them left in the bottle. Duh! After taking them, I couldn't/didn't dare take anything else so I just had to suffer. I did manage to rouse myself a bit and set the clocks to the correct time ( the Beast left it to me since he had to leave early) then was back in bed until I figured I had better make something to eat for me and the Beast when he got home.
I actually got dressed and drove down to Dollar General to pick up a couple things I needed for the Shrimp Scampi I planned to make (you can't make it with Angel hair spaghetti...not for me, anyway) and we were out of parmesan cheese. I would have preferred fresh but no way was I going to drive anywhere else.
I even looked out at the chickens a few times to check on them but they were enjoying themselves with the decent weather we were having. There was no rain and almost no wind to speak of.
After the Beast got home, he came in to compliment me on how good the scampi was. I told him he should have made himself a salad from the fixings in the fridge but he said he wasn't that hungry and the scampi tasted great to him. I didn't have that much of an appetite and only ate about a half bowl but was still blowing my nose every 15 minutes or so. At least I seem to have stopped sneezing since I used the Allerest nasal spray but it has only slowed down the need to blow my nose. Good thing it's done that much because my nose was starting to get a bit sore. The outside, not the inside.
I know it's the pollen from the trees and I expect to start finding that yellow stuff covering the deck, table and chairs out there any time now. I hadn't even considered my allergies. This year seems to be one of the worst I've suffered in a long time. Maybe it's cyclical. I just know that I hate feeling this way. It will be a couple weeks before the worst of it is over. I truly think it's all these pine and spruce trees around us that is doing it to me. My allergist in Florida never wanted to give me full allergy testing because he swore it makes allergies worse and it's better to treat the symptoms as they happen. I trusted him and I still do so I will suffer this through until it eases up. I'll feel better in a day or two, actually. It gets better as I use the nasal spray as far as all this damn mucus goes. That's the part that I hate.
I'm heading to bed now. You'll pardon me for that, won't you? Love you all. Be happy. Watch out for any allergies YOU may have. It's that time of year....or almost anyway....for many areas. ***Hugs***
I tried taking a couple of Dristans before I realized that they didn't work for me last season and that's why there were so many of them left in the bottle. Duh! After taking them, I couldn't/didn't dare take anything else so I just had to suffer. I did manage to rouse myself a bit and set the clocks to the correct time ( the Beast left it to me since he had to leave early) then was back in bed until I figured I had better make something to eat for me and the Beast when he got home.
I actually got dressed and drove down to Dollar General to pick up a couple things I needed for the Shrimp Scampi I planned to make (you can't make it with Angel hair spaghetti...not for me, anyway) and we were out of parmesan cheese. I would have preferred fresh but no way was I going to drive anywhere else.
I even looked out at the chickens a few times to check on them but they were enjoying themselves with the decent weather we were having. There was no rain and almost no wind to speak of.
After the Beast got home, he came in to compliment me on how good the scampi was. I told him he should have made himself a salad from the fixings in the fridge but he said he wasn't that hungry and the scampi tasted great to him. I didn't have that much of an appetite and only ate about a half bowl but was still blowing my nose every 15 minutes or so. At least I seem to have stopped sneezing since I used the Allerest nasal spray but it has only slowed down the need to blow my nose. Good thing it's done that much because my nose was starting to get a bit sore. The outside, not the inside.
I know it's the pollen from the trees and I expect to start finding that yellow stuff covering the deck, table and chairs out there any time now. I hadn't even considered my allergies. This year seems to be one of the worst I've suffered in a long time. Maybe it's cyclical. I just know that I hate feeling this way. It will be a couple weeks before the worst of it is over. I truly think it's all these pine and spruce trees around us that is doing it to me. My allergist in Florida never wanted to give me full allergy testing because he swore it makes allergies worse and it's better to treat the symptoms as they happen. I trusted him and I still do so I will suffer this through until it eases up. I'll feel better in a day or two, actually. It gets better as I use the nasal spray as far as all this damn mucus goes. That's the part that I hate.
I'm heading to bed now. You'll pardon me for that, won't you? Love you all. Be happy. Watch out for any allergies YOU may have. It's that time of year....or almost anyway....for many areas. ***Hugs***
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Turn Clocks Ahead....Payback For That Extra Hour You Got Last Fall
The Beast went to bed early tonight after he realized that we turn our clocks AHEAD an hour tonight (or at 2am Sunday, depending on when you read this). He has a special church get-together Sunday and it requires him to leave the house around 7:30am. He does NOT do mornings well and needs to get up early so he can wake up before he gets dressed, especially for a church function. That requires dress pants, dress shirt, tie and a sport jacket. Let's not forget the dress socks and shoes, either.
He's having a really tough time getting his shoes on these days. I usually end up having to help him with that, even his sneakers now. It's like he's stiffening up more on his left side (the one that was paralyzed after his strokes) so he can't reach them. We tried using a shoe horn, including one with a long handle but that didn't do it. For whatever reason, he can't get the right angle to make them work for him. Oh well. I don't mind. It gets him out of the house for a while.
I went over to Cee's today (finally) and we just sat and talked about things like Spring cleaning and family. We had a few laughs (we always do) and then the Beast called to have me stop at the store on my way home. We just needed some bread, mayo and some soda. He plans on packing a lunch to take with him since there's no kitchen at the place they are gathering so it's either try to find a restaurant nearby during their *lunch break* or bring your own lunch with you.
I made some ham salad when I got home which is always one of his favorites so he can make up a sandwich for his lunch, bag some potato chips and he'll have a couple sodas to take with him. IF I wake up as early as HE gets up (none of the clocks are turned back yet....I'll do it when I wake), I'll add either an orange (peeled for him) or a cored and sliced apple. It all depends on how I feel. I don't peel the apple because he likes it with the skin left on. I'm just as glad since I hate peeling an apple so damn early in the morning anyway.....LOL. It's bad enough when I decided to make a pie and HAVE to do it.
I am going to be doing a bit of Spring cleaning in my computer room. I need to wash my window, clean up my fan, vacuum behind my desk...and the rest of the room, too, of course! I want to try to straighten out the closet in here so I can put some things in there to get them out of the way but still be accessible. Not sure how THAT is going to go but I have to try. I forget what's on the floor in there and don't want to go look at the moment.
We found out something I thought was interesting to know about the chickens. It wasn't very windy today and, although it was overcast, the chickens came outside and were pecking around and exercising their wings. It started to rain...and gentle one...at first...but the chickens weren't the least bit bothered by the rain. That is, until the rain got heavier....then they all fled inside. It was another rush for the doggie door and, of course, several chickens tried to go in at the same time another chicken was trying to. Result? The two bodies blocked the door and the chickens behind them got upset and pecked their behinds to separate them. They finally figured out they had to go in one at a time....took them long enough!
The rain never did get to be a hard rain and it tapered off to nothing so we left the doggie door open. But, when we didn't see any chickens outside for the couple hours until the Beast went to finally close it for the night, he found them all settled in for bed! He laughed and said they must have heard about losing an hour tonight so they are going to sleep early! Funny guy!
I decided to go ahead and do my wash tonight so I wouldn't have to worry about it tomorrow when I am doing my cleaning. But then I thought about my summer clothes and realized that I was going to have to think about washing them.....soon, I hope. With all the weird weather, you just can't be sure of anything so I figured I could wait and see what happens over the next week or so.
The Alberta peach tree has started to blossom! That shocked me because it usually doesn't do that until April. It's all the warm weather we've been having that has the trees all confused. My dogwood trees have buds that look like they are going to bloom soon. Dammit! The earlier they bloom, the sooner the blossoms will be gone. They only last about six weeks. I love seeing the dogwood outside my computer room when it's in bloom. The other one is across the yard so I have to be on the deck to see it. That's the red one. Funny, but when the bees cross-pollinate them, some of the blossoms on my white dogwood are pink!
Time to get this posted so I can go to bed. It's late and I am tired. Love you all. Be happy everyone. Dance like no one is watching. Love with all your heart. Love given is not wasted and comes back in many different ways. ***Hugs***
He's having a really tough time getting his shoes on these days. I usually end up having to help him with that, even his sneakers now. It's like he's stiffening up more on his left side (the one that was paralyzed after his strokes) so he can't reach them. We tried using a shoe horn, including one with a long handle but that didn't do it. For whatever reason, he can't get the right angle to make them work for him. Oh well. I don't mind. It gets him out of the house for a while.
I went over to Cee's today (finally) and we just sat and talked about things like Spring cleaning and family. We had a few laughs (we always do) and then the Beast called to have me stop at the store on my way home. We just needed some bread, mayo and some soda. He plans on packing a lunch to take with him since there's no kitchen at the place they are gathering so it's either try to find a restaurant nearby during their *lunch break* or bring your own lunch with you.
I made some ham salad when I got home which is always one of his favorites so he can make up a sandwich for his lunch, bag some potato chips and he'll have a couple sodas to take with him. IF I wake up as early as HE gets up (none of the clocks are turned back yet....I'll do it when I wake), I'll add either an orange (peeled for him) or a cored and sliced apple. It all depends on how I feel. I don't peel the apple because he likes it with the skin left on. I'm just as glad since I hate peeling an apple so damn early in the morning anyway.....LOL. It's bad enough when I decided to make a pie and HAVE to do it.
I am going to be doing a bit of Spring cleaning in my computer room. I need to wash my window, clean up my fan, vacuum behind my desk...and the rest of the room, too, of course! I want to try to straighten out the closet in here so I can put some things in there to get them out of the way but still be accessible. Not sure how THAT is going to go but I have to try. I forget what's on the floor in there and don't want to go look at the moment.
We found out something I thought was interesting to know about the chickens. It wasn't very windy today and, although it was overcast, the chickens came outside and were pecking around and exercising their wings. It started to rain...and gentle one...at first...but the chickens weren't the least bit bothered by the rain. That is, until the rain got heavier....then they all fled inside. It was another rush for the doggie door and, of course, several chickens tried to go in at the same time another chicken was trying to. Result? The two bodies blocked the door and the chickens behind them got upset and pecked their behinds to separate them. They finally figured out they had to go in one at a time....took them long enough!
The rain never did get to be a hard rain and it tapered off to nothing so we left the doggie door open. But, when we didn't see any chickens outside for the couple hours until the Beast went to finally close it for the night, he found them all settled in for bed! He laughed and said they must have heard about losing an hour tonight so they are going to sleep early! Funny guy!
I decided to go ahead and do my wash tonight so I wouldn't have to worry about it tomorrow when I am doing my cleaning. But then I thought about my summer clothes and realized that I was going to have to think about washing them.....soon, I hope. With all the weird weather, you just can't be sure of anything so I figured I could wait and see what happens over the next week or so.
The Alberta peach tree has started to blossom! That shocked me because it usually doesn't do that until April. It's all the warm weather we've been having that has the trees all confused. My dogwood trees have buds that look like they are going to bloom soon. Dammit! The earlier they bloom, the sooner the blossoms will be gone. They only last about six weeks. I love seeing the dogwood outside my computer room when it's in bloom. The other one is across the yard so I have to be on the deck to see it. That's the red one. Funny, but when the bees cross-pollinate them, some of the blossoms on my white dogwood are pink!
Time to get this posted so I can go to bed. It's late and I am tired. Love you all. Be happy everyone. Dance like no one is watching. Love with all your heart. Love given is not wasted and comes back in many different ways. ***Hugs***
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