Struggling To Find Ourselves

As I sit here and watch the much needed cold rain fall on our pastures, I sit here and realize that sometimes it is easy for us to take things for granted in our every day lives.  Today, I would like to bring to light how easy it is to take living without pain for granted.  I know people that have some sort of real pain EVERY day of EVERY week of EVERY month…and they have been dealing with this pain for literally MONTHS.  I can only imagine that it would be very difficult to imagine a day without pain if you are dealing with it on an all-day-every-day basis.  Would YOU be able to remember days without pain if you had to deal with pain EVERY day?  How would YOU keep your sanity?  One thing I would like to know the answer to is this:  Why do the modern “Doctors” insist on treating the symptom instead of finding the root of the problem?  Is it because they are at such a loss to explain that they REALLY don’t know what the problem is?  Is it because Doctors really don’t have ANY clue sometimes?  Or is it because the rumors are true and the Doctors do REALLY get a kick-back off of the prescriptions that they prescribe?

Just the ramblings of a Kansan on a rainy afternoon!

God Bless!

That’s what it’s turning in to here in Kansas.  The wind has been howling since before dark, which hasn’t helped the restfulness that we all hope to acquire in the quiet of the evening hours.

Not alot going on here, in some ways.  My days are about the same, day after day.  I DO live on a working farm, so ALOT of my time is spent taking care of the farm, after I have successfully taken care of my husband and son.

Cooler weather has come to Kansas.  The temperatures have been Fall-like, but they also remind us that snow could be coming at ANY time now.  We have about half of the hay that we wanted to have.  We will be getting more hay next week at some point, or the week after.  The grain for the rest of the animals will do us until towards the end of November or into December, so we will be okay there for a bit.  We will probably need one more order of grain to get us through the Winter, if I keep feeding at the same rate I have been.  We will be laying in lay mash for the chickens in the next two weeks, as well, which means the rest of the grain should last us even longer.

I AM kind of concerned, though.  One of our goats that we hadn’t meant to breed until next year appears to be pregnant with her first babies.  Goats are breedable at 4 months old or so, from what we’ve read, but we had basically decided to not breed our younger doelings until NEXT year….to give them a little time to grow some more.  So, now, after having done all the calculations as to when she MIGHT have been been bred, we wait….and count the days….and see if she really IS pregnant….or whether she is just a bigger pig than we figured.

The horses are doing good.  I was able to get up on Alice here a few days ago!  It seems like a LONG time in coming, since that has been one of the goals on my to-do list since we moved in here two years ago.  She was calm and collected.  I had my husband out with me, to make sure that, IF anything happened when I got on her, I would have someone there to pick up the pieces.  And I put a lead rope on Alice and he led her with me on her without ANY trouble!  That is a BIG step for her!!  I need to change the bit on the bridle that I was using.  I don’t think she likes my mechanical hackamore that I had on her.  It has been apparent that she is used to having an actual bit in her mouth.  So, I will be taking the curb bit off of one of my other headstalls and cleaning it up (it was doused in Neatsfoot Oil the last time the bridle was oiled) and trying it the next time I ride her.  She might respond a little better.

On another horse note….or two…..we acquired another horse when we went on vacation.  His name is Rusty and he is completely broke to ride already, so I have been able to ride him several times since we got back from vacation.  I have taken him out and up the road twice without too much trouble.  I have figured out that he hasn’t seen a culvert before, so the next time I take him up the road, I will probably have to take the time to let him investigate the 4 or 5 culverts on my riding route.  He rides nice, though.  I even had him into a canter for a short distance a few days ago when I rode him.  That was a BIG step for us, as I had shied away from letting him canter because, when he tries to play that he is spooked, he will try to run.

We will probably be getting rid of Pheline…probably at one of the livestock sales before long.  I have been having some challenges, and just don’t have the inclination or patience to try to train her to ride at this point, and, at this point, I’m not even sure she could handle being ridden.  She has VERY poor confirmation, as well as a bad hoof or two, and she’s not all that healthy.  I am not even sure that the sale is the best way to get rid of her, if she’s not going to be of any use to anyone.  We will have to see, though.  We have put the word out that we are trying to get rid of her, so we will see if anyone wants her in the next week or two.  By getting rid of her, that means we have one less productive mouth to feed through the Winter.  The direction that we are taking the farm in the coming months will be even more towards the producing-side of things, so if it’s not producing something for the farm, then it won’t be here very long.  There will be an exception or two….but not too many.

Well, I think it’s time to see about doing something else….now that I’ve rambled for a bit on one of the longest entries that I have done in a long time.

Have a BLESSED weekend!

With the coming of cooler weather, it has made a realization be brought closer to home in the last couple of days that Christmas is right around the corner.  And, with Christmas comes the holiday rush to get gifts for everyone that you love, and sometimes those that you don’t love.  I have to say that, if I was going to be spending alot of money on people for Christmas gifts, I believe one of my Brother-In-Law’s that is a member of one of the gold prospecting associations might like to get one of the  waterproof metal detectors.  Where could he NOT hunt for gold with one of those?

God Bless!

…is rv repairs.  Now, I might need car repairs, washing machine and dryer repairs, lawn mower repairs, pick-up repairs, horse trailer repairs, refrigerator repairs, dehumidifier repairs, and many more, but I don’t have an rv, so I don’t need any rv repairs, which is a good thing!

In this day and age, I find it interesting that, every time we turn around, it seems like we need to be getting something repaired.  What ever happened to the days when people fixed their own items when they were in need of repair?  Of course, in that day and age, whatever it was that was needing repaired was normally something that helped keep the family fed and the household running smoothly.

God Bless!

I am not sure about you, but there are ALOT of men out there that are looking for anniversary present ideas for their significant other.  Some of them wonder about clothing….or kitchen stuff…..or even an apple ipod touch screen….or perfume and make-up….some wonder about a day at a spa….or a hairdresser’s appointment….or a manicure….some wonder about a cruise….or diamonds and rubies or other precious gems.  I think the most important gift you can give your significant other for your anniversary is the gift of your presence….and your gratefullness at how much she really does for you….and that you love her for who she is and what she does.

God Bless!

How much money could we save if we used urban outfitters coupons?  I am not a big one to use coupons, so I would want to make SURE that it is going to be worth the time and annoyance factor for me to actually USE these coupons.

In other news, we have received word that a co-worker of my husband’s and his wife are at one of the nearby hospitals because she was struck by lightning over the weekend.  We have received word this morning that she has taken a turn for the worse during the overnight hours, and that she is apparently on 5-times the normal amount of swelling reducers, as her brain has started swelling.  It sounds like there is already an army of support up there for the husband, though, so we stay where we are and pray for them….pray for comfort and peace among the entire family…..comfort and peace for her…..and that they are both right with God, and KNOW with0ut-a-doubt that the other is right with God too so that they can be reunited in Heaven when God’s timing says.

And THAT news is on top of me stumbling across a link from one of MY friends that died a year and a half ago.

Been a LONG morning already and I need to get off of here and get some more stuff done, as we will be having company in a few days, and this is one of my few days when I am actually home and the husband is working, so I can work in the house and on the other things that I need to do, instead of helping him work on fence or whatever outside.

More later….God Bless!

It seems we have been doing quite a bit of rearranging….and planning for more rearranging the last few months.  As we make changes to our property and find out what is working for us and what isn’t, we are making a list for other things we might need.  This list has grown to include kitchen pans and utensils, computer cabinets, clothing, insulation, panelling, plumbing stuff and many more.

God Bless!

I have made kind of a connection in my mind in the last little while.  I have come to realize that, sometimes, car accessories are like things in my life.  My husband and I were in a jewelry store here last weekend….just window shopping.  What we were shopping for has SOOOOOO many possibilities that I am not super sure where to start.  And, of course, the sales lady was somewhat helpful, but I’m NOT sure that she FULLY understood what kind of life we lead.  When I look at rings or anything else, jewelry-wise, if it’s going to be something that I wear EVERY day….ALL day….there are certain requirements, such as having to not catch on the inside of gloves….or catch on the fence when I’m working with fence…..it can’t be easy to lose stones out of….or bend the settings on.  I guess it could be described kind of like this too:  If I live in the country….and drive gravel roads 75% of the time…..and need something in my vehicle to catch all of the dirt and gravel and such off of our shoes and boots, would it make more sense to put in something like jeep rubber mats that can be taken out and hosed off when they get dirt?  Or to put in something like a satin Porsche mat that needs dry cleaned?  I hate to say it, but I’m not super big on wearing jewelry anyway, but if I have something that I can wear ANY time….ANY place….doing almost ANYthing, I am MUCH more apt to wear it than I would be if it catches when I put gloves on….or when I’m working with fence….or when we are giving uncooperative goats shoes and trimming feet…..or any number of other activities.  I DID give us an idea of what we wanted, I think, but I can’t say we will be buying from there any time soon.

Have a BLESSED week!

Yep, I think that pretty well describes things, at least before a drink or two and a shower.  The contrast thing on this screen is FUBARRED and therefore is not showing the proper colors and such, or all of the typing boxes.  4 out of 6 of my goats kicked the bucket over when I was milking tonight.  I have had a feeling for what seems like YEARS that just keeps getting worse, and I have NO idea how to get rid of it……and, to top it all off, it was 102 degrees again today.  The heat has been awful this year.  I had to fill the horse bucket and the chicken buckets 4 times with water today…..I guess it’s a good thing I was home so I COULD fill them 4 times!  How do I get rid of this feeling that I’ve had for an immeasureable amount of time?  How do I change the way I’m feeling?  I pray and pray and pray and pray…..and never seem to get much in response lately.  But then again, that’s nothing new either.  I have had that same feeling for what seems like years too!  How do I CHANGE that, though?  I spent about an hour sitting in silent prayer in the church today, and still don’t feel any better.  I guess it’s time to do some soul searching….some DEEP soul searching…..Maybe it’s time to hit the saddle 7 days a week and see if I can find ME again?  We’ve got a horse that we KNOW is rideable now that we brought back my husband’s Dad’s horse.  We also have Alice, who I suspect is rideable……an hour session will tell me ALOT with saddle blankets and such where she is concerned…..and Pheline NEEDS to be rideable, as she is supposedly 3 in October.  But we have a horse we KNOW is rideable….that will be here….every day…..for the unforeseeable future……Maybe it’s time to hit the saddle and see if I can find me?  I rode Rusty for about an hour here on……Saturday…and MAN, it felt GOOD to be in the saddle again, even on a horse I haven’t ever ridden before!!!!  I can only imagine that it will get better as we get used to each other!!  Time to hit the saddle and do some soul searching and see if I can find ME again, I think……

Blessings in abundance!

It won’t be too long after we get back off of vacation in the middle part of August that I will be hitting the saddle.  Not only will I be working with the two horses we have, I will also be working with someone else’s horse that just doesn’t get ridden enough.  I will very probably be looking into getting some horse riding apparel, in addition to some extra tack.

Vacation time is coming quick!  It has kind of got parts of our family agitated because they have to work right up until we leave, and they aren’t used to being able to rely on someone else enough to trust them to have things ready to go when the time to go actually arrives.  This is one of those built-in learning times between family members.  If the ones being relied upon to have things ready to go can actually pull it off and have things ready to go when it’s time to leave, then it will be a trust-earning situation for all involved.  If they, for whatever reason don’t pull it off and we aren’t packed and ready to leave when the appointed time comes, I am afraid that it will be a difficult start to the vacation.  I have NO doubts, though, that the parties involved that are being relied upon to have things packed and ready to go WILL have things ready to go when the time to leave arrives!  It will be the start of a GREAT vacation and a GREAT learning-to-trust-time that will bring our family even closer together!

Have a BLESSED rest-of-the-week!