#1601!

Wow, my black fly post was my 1,600th, and I didn't even realize it!  Wow.  One-thousand, six hundred . . . and one . . . posts.  That's a lot - and I'm NOT a post-every-day kinda gal!

So, it's really too bad that this post is going to be so boring!  I just don't feel like I have much interesting to say right now.


My folks came out on Sunday afternoon for a too-short visit.  With other obligations pending, we'd set aside 3 hours, but it was one of those days when those 180 minutes went by in a FLASH, and they were heading back out the driveway before any of us knew it.  My mom brought me four flourishing little lettuce plants that she had started from seed; all different varieties, and Dad insisted on spending some time "doing" for me.  So, I had him split wood and haul it to the house.  It was soooo nice to unload the wheelbarrow today and have a nice little stash in the wood boxes again!


This afternoon, I brought the lawn mower down from its winter storage up by the trapper cabin.  I need to find out what kind of oil it takes.  (Tom?)  I already bought a couple gallons of high-test gasoline for the small engines, so maybe I can get a little mowing done tomorrow - collecting the cuttings to give to the chickens.  I love the enjoyment (and health) that the chickens get from the lawn trimmings, but I really dislike the laboriousness of unhooking, carrying to the chicken yard to empty, and re-attaching the collection bag.  That thing seems to fill up SO quickly!  But, as I said, it's worth it for the birds.


Speaking of birds, I found a dead Americauna hen this morning.  She'd just tipped over after roosting some time last night.  At first, I thought she was one of my favorites (Pearl, one of the only chickens I've named), but she wasn't.  I made a mental note to check my files to find out her age . . . but only just now remembered (and that file isn't on this computer).  I'll try to remember to count tomorrow, but I'm down to something like 9 layers.  Yikes!  I wonder if it will be slim pickin's, egg-wise, come the colder weather of fall and before the new pullets begin laying around October?


Aside from grass finally greening up and needing a trim, nothing much else is happening around ye ol' homestead.  No unusual animal sightings, no pretty blooms popping yet.  Just leaves beginning to uncurl and weeds demanding my limited time.  :)


And financial woes . . . but that's a complaint for another day.  Besides, who wants to end on a down note?  "So, did you hear the one about the dyslexic guy who walked into a bra . . . ?"

Turning Over A New Leaf . . . or the Covers.

I have a wild and crazy new idea that I want to try out.  Matter of fact, tonight is the first night!  In the spirit of taking care of myself and actually being awake enough to function during the time of day that everyone seems to consider "normal business hours" (please, who's going to be buying a car at 9:00 AM?!), I am setting a bedtime for myself.  

On "school nights" (Sundays - Thursdays, for now), I'm going to be in bed (or somewhere quiet) for my wind-down time by 10:00.  Then, lights go out at 11:00, and the alarm is set for a few minutes after 7:00 AM.  

They say that if you're trying to break a habit or create a new one, doing that thing for 21 consecutive days is the key.  Apparently, that's how many repetitions it takes to get that seed firmly planted in your psyche.  Of course, if I followed this model, I wouldn't be able to have my two "stay-up-late" nights each week.  But, it would be worth it if it worked.

I'll excuse myself from the rule for any night when I'm visiting friends and/or have friends over.  Otherwise, I'm gonna try to be true.  It sure would give me some positive reinforcement if I felt better, either psychologically or physically, as a result of all this.  I guess time will tell!

In closing, I hope you had an extra special day today . . . it being Mother's Day and all!  I got a wonderful greeting from my "adopted daughter" (who sent me this photo to cheer me up a couple of months ago).  It's her birthday on Wednesday, and then she'll graduate high school by the end of the month!  And then, best of all, she'll be here for the summer (and working in Joy's, my boss's, clothing shop)!  I can't wait!

A Special Day

I'm not a mother,
but I have one.

Is the day for us or them?
Me or her?

Together or chatting on the phone;
it matters not how the love is shared.

Be it years, days, or hours since you spoke,

since you hugged, since you appreciated.

Do it again.

* * * * * * *

And lest you think I'm getting too mushy I'll leave you with the following circa ~1989: