29
Sep 16

View From My Window – Hard Decisions

I had to make a reallymy-roo hard decision.  As much as we try to avoid it, death is a part of life.  Even though we don’t always achieve the desired outcome, I’m glad I went the extra mile to see if I could save this rooster. But there came a point where I had to make a really hard decision.

My sweet Roo had a relapse. I was optimistically thinking  he would be fine now. But I soon realized this virus would probably plague him all of his life. He was still eating and game to fight on but his comb was turning blue and I knew it was probably a respiratory infection. It was hard to make the decision to put an end to his life when for weeks he looked into my eyes and it felt like he trusted me to care for him. But I knew I could not continue to devote this much time to him indefinitely. I miss my little buddy but glad we had our time together.


25
Aug 16

View From My Window – Persistence Pays Off!

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Persistence pays off. I’m happy I can report that our brown Leghorn rooster (Roo) is in recovery mode now. For weeks I wondered if it was a hopeless cause. Everyone wondered when I would give up and sometimes I secretly hoped I would come out in the morning and find out he had passed in the night. But I never wanted to give up on him.

Roo always wanted to eat, especially watermelon. He was not resistant to taking medicine by eye dropper every morning and every night. Although it was a struggle to get baby aspirin in him 3 times a day. It was clear to me that he was not giving up, so I wasn’t going to give up either. I know persistence doesn’t always give you the desired outcome, but you always know you did all you could. This time I’m glad it paid off. I might be getting a little too attached to him.


28
Jul 16

Chicken Doctor

13. Sitting prettyChicken Doctor is my new role around the farm. You see when chicks cost $2 you don’t spend $40 to take them to the vet. So when I discovered my Brown Leghorn Rooster was limping I decided I would do the best I can to help him recover.

These days though it is much easier with the help of the internet. Just in case you didn’t know; the lowly chicken has become very popular recently and there are many websites dedicated to taking care of your backyard chickens.

On one of these websites I saw some had made a sling for their chicken and I thought I’d give that a try for our rooster that we fondly call Roo. I used an old bathing suit I hadn’t gotten around to throwing out yet. That worked well for over a week but then he got feeling stronger and no longer would stay in the sling. He is still in isolation because chickens aren’t very nice to their wounded friends. He is getting lots of TLC , baby aspirin 3 times a day and watermelon. He really likes watermelon.

We have lots of chickens and probably a few other roosters, but Roo is the only Brown Leghorn rooster and I would really like to try to save him if I can.


30
Jun 16

Thank you Matt

24.SupervisorAs I mentioned earlier, we, (ok actually me) kept piling on new things that we ( really mostly Dean) needed to get done this Spring.  New construction, new plantings on top of all the other things we usually do in the Spring. And of course, Dean’s consulting work happened to get crazy busy and stressful this Spring too.

I’m so thankful our son-in-law, Matt. He is not only a good husband and dad, but a thoughtful son-in-law too. He  stops in and pitches in when he sees a need. We had to replace our deck last year and the railing turned out to have these very fine splinters. He came up and sanded it so smooth without even being asked. He also loves animals and likes spending time with and helping care for them. We have discovered he is a bit of an animal whisperer, from catching shy kittens and chicks to finding Caddy’s favorite spot to be scratched. Lately Matt has also been coming up to help Dean finish the chicken coop.  The thing is Matt is really good at this kind of stuff so it is more Dean helping Matt. I like seeing them enjoying working together. We feel blessed that Matt is part of our family.


30
Jun 16

Independence Day

a2a27ec0-eb1c-43d6-ba95-ffd2d689958cWhat is The Fourth of July? Is it just the first holiday of summer or another day off from work for a party? In the past it was always called Independence Day and there is a reason for that. Independence Day celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by delegates from the 13 colonies in 1776. The Declaration of Independence changed the course of history. It celebrates the experiment of a new kind of government. For the first time in history, the people, not kings or conquerors, would rule a nation. Elected delegates would vote; representing the will of the people, because they declared it is a natural right for man to be free.

After the vote, John Adams writes to his wife, Abigail: “Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which never was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony ‘that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States might rightfully do…’ This . . . Day . . . will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

So on this day, July 4th 2015, Independence Day, have a party, celebrate, have fun, just remember what you should be celebrating. I am celebrating the fact that I have the ability to worship God, live my dream, be independent and own my own business making our healthy skincare products! What about you? What are you remembering and honoring about the fourth of July?