Anxiety on a Sunday?!

How-do.  I'm feeling some anxiety today which is VERY annoying.  Anxiety on an overcast Sunday just SHOULDN'T be on the books!  Nor should it be an issue on my days off.  But, as you all know, I guess there's no big surprise as to WHY I'm feeling it.  The difficulties of my life right now and all that rot.  BUT, I plan to overcome it today, by hook or by crook, as I'm determined to NOT let it spoil a precious day off!

Mama & Papa Pea and I celebrated Mom's April 30th birthday last night - the first free evening we all had in common.  And, though I know we were all exhausted, it was a really fun night with free flowing wine and laughter.  I made a REALLY simple dinner of hoagies and chips . . . but I don't think Mom would have cared if it had been PB&J sandwiches as long as SHE didn't have to prepare it!  ;)

After dinner, we had a great three (?) games of ping-pong (or gnip-gnop [pronounced guh-NIP, guh-NOP], as Mom and her friends used to call it when she was a teen).  I LUV ping-pong, and Dad set their table up in the garage a few weeks ago.  Can't remember why he finally hauled it out, but I'm SO glad he did!  We've been having tons of fun with it, even tho time allows for few games.  Here's a (maybe boring for you?) video I took last night when I was score-keeper and Mom and Dad played.  I didn't try following the ball - we would have all gotten motion sickness!!!

After gnip-gnop, we had presents and pie:

I didn't ask what Dad got Mom for her birthday because I'm GUESSING that all she wanted was "the living room finished"!!

Above, the annually-requested Banana Cream Pie.  I have yet to make The Perfect One.  Either I put the bananas on the top and they turn brown or the custard doesn't set up or . . . .  This year, it was the crust.  It didn't taste very good - I think my lard was old.  Blech.  BUT, the rest of it was yummy!!!

In other news, I *did* make progress on last Thursday's To Do list, but I spent too much time on the sorting / rummage sale prep because it felt so good to make house progress!  As a result, I didn't get as much computer / business work done as I should have.  So, guess what the majority of the rest of today will be spent doing?

Above, Maisy says, "Mom, I can't BELIEVE you're going to admit to the world what the house looks like with this 'before' picture!"

Now, Tucker says, "Ahhh, MUCH better!"  The pile to the left of the stove is a combination of 'what was there decorating the house' and the For Rummage Sale pile.  To the right is also 'what was there decorating the house' but also the start of the Packing To Move pile.

I really want to work on the disaster of the garage . . . so I can start putting boxes for The Move out there once they're packed.  But, there are other priorities that must come first.  It's hard not knowing when I'll have to be out of here - in regard to planning & packing.  I am in a holding / wait pattern as far as that is concerned.  The 1 month of the "30-Day Notice" is up, and now begins the six dreadful weeks of having my name & situation published in the local paper.  I thought it would begin with Friday's paper, but my folks said I wasn't yet in it when I saw them last night.  I should contact the credit union to find out where things are in the process.  That will ease my mind - the knowing.

In Where I Will Move To news, the nice place located 2 hours / 65 miles south of me is NOT a possibility for a Contract for Deed, after all.  I was waiting to drive out there because I didn't want to fall in love with it any more than I already had from the realty pictures, and I'm glad I waited:  now that I know it's not an option.  For now, the two properties that are the greatest possibilities are the one in the great location but with no well nor septic (did I tell you about this one*?) and another, a trailer house on 13 acres.  The location is kinda poopy, and there's nothing special about the property, but it would be a really good one for the critters with two small, rough outbuildings that have already been well-used for horses, chickens, and goats.  And, the interior of the trailer has been recently remodeled and all the appliances replaced with energy-efficient ones.  And there's a good well and a septic system (although it's probably out-of-date now).  I've snooped around this one quite a bit and am now going to make a date with the owner (a friend) to see the inside of the trailer.

*I've really fallen in love with a tiny, newly-built house on 5 acres.  It has a REALLY good "feel" to it.  Very me.  And, while only about 5 miles out of town, it's up a long driveway and PRIVATE.  The land is good, too.  But, the building, while aesthetically pleasing, was not well-built.  Shortcuts taken are very evident.  And, while it has electricity, it has no other infrastructure amenities.  Other than a nice biffy, though the tank seems to already be cracked (after only a year).  It's owned and was developed by a realtor who WOULD accept a Contract for Deed although we haven't discussed specifics.  I know that I should really go for something with EASE (water, electricity, space) right now, and the trailer is that one.  If I do end up going that route, I'll rent it, first . . . to see how I like it and if it grows on me . . . AND to bide my time to see if another option comes along.  Both the trailer with 13 acres ("lesser" neighborhood / topography) and the cabin with 5 (great location) are about the same price.

We've had warm, rainy weather lately, and it HAS prompted the "thar's green in them thar hills"!  I'll try to get some pictures.  Of course, it's greener nearer town (farther south) than here at Swamp River Ridge.

Finally, a few nice things . . . today is the 12th birthday of a dear, sweet girl I've known since she was born.  Let's see, do I have a good picture of her on this computer?  Let me look . . . 

Here's the natural beauty, a year ago this past March, at her mama's 40th birthday party.

While looking, I also found this from May 3rd of last year:

 

THIS spring, there ain't been no snow nor ice on any lakes around here for ages!

I've had to come back to finishing this post - trying to upload an image while simultaneously downloading an audio book from the library makes for s-l-o-w uploads!

I recently finished the first (for me) book by a great author, Sara Donati.  Book One of her Wilderness series is now under my belt, and it was a LONG one - over 30 hours and 912 pages!!  There's NO way I could have read this one "the old-fashioned way"!  It never grows old for me to say, "thank GAWD for audio books"!!!

Another "nice thing":  I recently sent two checks, concurrent to having enough money in my checking account, to the local electrical system guru.  I owed him the entire bill from the aggravating (for him) day he spent here removing the damaged inverter and hooking up the replacement (used) inverter.  He only charged me the amount he'd told me to expect before he worked all day on it, and I was hugely appreciative of that kindness . . . especially since the ~2 hour project took the entire day AND he had a generator guru with him the entire time (whom I'm sure he paid to be here).  So, I sent an additional $50 check that thanked him for all those extenuating circumstances.  (Of note is the fact that he and I have always had a bit of a difficult relationship - both of us having strong, stubborn heads.)  Anyway, I got an e-mail from him the other day.  It read, "I did receive your checks in the mail, but I will rip up the $50.00 check.  Thanks for the recognition for the extra help that was given, but at this point I imagine you may need it more than I. Consider it cause for celebration and have a little fun."  Now, that kindness goes a long way, eh?

Also of note, I finally opened the 'Open Last' letter than was included with Carolyn Renee's incredibly thoughtful, generous gift.  It made me LAUGH OUT LOUD which is an AMAZING thing to do on a dreary day!  I expected it to be filled with heartfelt condolences and empathy, and I think that's why (even tho those sentiments would be appreciated) I'd put off opening it for so long.  Oh, how wonderfully wrong I'd been . . . she knew JUST what I needed!  

"Chicken Mama, or whatever your "real" name is.  Although, I personally kinda like the idea of somebody calling for me across the frozen food section and screaming, "Chicken Mama!"  But, that's just me.  Because, you know, my real name isn't Carolyn Renee; it's actually Imogene Pyewacket.  Imagine trying to write THAT out on your grade school paperwork every day." 

And on it went . . . from her heart and imagination and sense of humor to ME.  I am one lucky girl!!

And, with that, and having taken the entire afternoon to write this post in fits and starts, I shall away . . . .

P.S.  My anxiety is 80% gone now.  :)  Except, I'm feeling lazy now and just want to watch TV and crochet.  Hmph.

Time to Update

Mornin'!  Time to update (i.e. a day at home), but not much to say.  That said, I'll probably write a hugely long post . . . as I have in the past.  ;)


The weather remains unusually warm and mild.  And, that's good for me:  not having fired up the heat (outdoor wood furnace) yet.  No need for it.  Even the fires built in the Kalamazoo (stove in the middle room) each night when I get home are a thing of the recent past.  The down side to the warmth is the insane hatch of cluster flies everyone is fighting this fall.  They're the worst anyone has seen.  For me, it's a toss-up which room to have the long-armed vacuum and ladder in . . . too bad it can't be everywhere at once!  For the past few days, I've been focusing The Great Suck Up in the bedroom, but I'll move it all to the kitchen today.  It's just so gross to have a constant buzzing sound be the background noise in there.  BLECH!  I can't wait for the cold weather to eradicate them . . . and then wash the windows!

I haven't heard a thing back re that secretarial job.  And, since interviews were supposed to take place today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, I don't have high hopes.  The woman I was e-mailing about it seemed SO excited for me to apply . . . but, since I've heard nothing from the hiring committee, I'm guessing it was an internal, already-decided deal that she wasn't privy to . . . until after her conversations with me.  I think I'll shoot her off an e-mail, though, just inquiring.  Matter of fact, I'll do that right now.  Hang on.  Okay, done.

I also responded to an ad for seasonal fish-processing work . . . and didn't hear a thing back from THAT!  Wahhhhh, nobody wants me!  I'm sure many of you are saying, "Fish processing?!  You should be GLAD you didn't hear back!"  But, no, it's a good paying gig (or so I've heard - don't know for sure yet), and I'd love to learn how to do this stuff by hand.  A dying art, and all that rot.  Okay, follow-up e-mail sent there now, too.

And, still trying for a licensed kitchen, I contacted one of the local motels that supposedly has a new kitchen that isn't being used . . . but I haven't heard back from THEM, either!  Follow up e-mail now sent to them, too.

I responded to a well-known local business looking to redesign their website, as well.  No response.  BUT, the owner is not what I'd consider the most organized nor a timely responder, so that lack of communication doesn't surprise me.  

On the up side, I did sell an item on eBay last night for just over $50, so that's better than a kick in the head . . . but it's all, overall, still frustrating.  I am going to get another listing or two up on eBay today, though, and having items there to sell does provide a cheap thrill when you check them to see what the bids are up to.  Gotta get my excitement somewhere, huh?  ;)  'Course, then there are the items that don't garner a single bid . . . !

Oh, and one more "up", I finally got a full rack of cards into the office of my realtor friend (who let me display a good number of my large pieces there in his foyer) on Saturday.  I'd planned to have that all together in time for Memorial Day Weekend.  Ha!  'Course, maybe if I trick myself into believing that I meant Memorial Day Weekend of 2012 instead of 2011, I can say that I'm ahead of schedule!  You know that old saying, "I'm so far behind I thought I was 1st!"  Yup, that's me!

I had to come up with a payment box - that's the brown thing next to the card rack - so customers could slip their cash/checks in there w/o having to bother the realty office receptionist to pay.

Papa Pea generously sharpened my favorite chainsaw for me this past week, so I'll spend some quality time with the woodpile again today.  He did caution, though, that I can't let it get SO dull before bringing it to him next time.  My thinking had been that I'd use up the sharp teeth until I was practically using the thing as a handsaw . . . to save him from frequent sharpenings.  But, apparently, that only makes it worse and harder to properly sharpen.  Doh!  A learning lesson . . . but, unfortunately, one that HE had to do all the work for and only relay to me!


I'm "reading" (audio) a really good book right now:  'One Thousand White Women' by Jim Fergus.  It's fiction but written in a non-fiction journal form.  Where would I be w/out my audio books?!  They're what keep me sane during all these stressful times.  Although, sometimes they lead to stress:  I've COMPLETELY lost one of the cassette tapes to a long-ago listened-to book, and the library's replacement value for it is $69.00.  In the meantime, I'm racking up late fees and am unable to check out any more items until I've either returned the missing tape or paid the replacement fee.  So, an even MORE in-depth (than what I've done so far) search for it is on the docket today.  Maybe I'll find my cellphone-to-charger cord at the same time!  (I had to buy a new one after that disappeared.)

My list for the day only has 9 things on it.  I could spend HOURS on a few of the tasks, but, hopefully, by the end of the day, I'll have spent SOME time on all of them.


So, what are YOU currently stressing about?  Tell me, so I can know we're all under unreasonable pressure right now.  ;)

Update:  just got this response (very nice of her to do so) re the secretarial job. 

We had 14 applicants and have narrowed it down to 4 and are starting interviews tonight.  If those 4 don't work, we narrow again and set up interviews.  I am sorry you didn't make the first 4, but things could change . . . will keep you posted and send out an email if and when we do fill the position tonight.

Back At It

I basically gave myself the day off yesterday.  I hadn't had one solid day alone here at home in an age, and it felt super good.  I tossed and turned last night, though:  despite clean sheets and a shower right before bed . . . the rising tide of anxiety, I expect.  Today I'm so stressed / crazy / nearly out of my mind that I can't even see straight (literally, it feels like).  So, I am going to do The Hours to work my way through the day.  And, once again, I'll use you here as my organization / accountability for those 60 minute chunks of time.

This current hour is being spent blogging and then General Clean Up / Organization.  The following hours of my day will switch between 60 minutes of work on the Electrical Disaster (?) in Office and Business Work.  Until the day is over.  But, somehow, I have to stop my head from spinning uncontrollably before I'll be able to concentrate on ANYTHING.  A walk outside with the dogs may be in order.  It's a lovely, blowsy day, so I don't think I'll even need to take my bug jacket (yes, they are beginning to abate).  I may need to do some - ohmmmmm - deep breathing, too, before beginning each hour's assigned work.  Yep, that's what I'll do!  See, talking to you about it IS having the desired affect I'd hoped it would!  Maybe I should lay off the coffee, too, and switch to water or herbal tea.  (Just for the day, mind you!)

Duh, in writing, trying to figure out WHY I'm so scattered . . . I just realized I've not taken my meds in a few days, too.  So, hang on, I'll be right back.  Okay, down the hatch they've gone.  What a brainiac I am (to have forgotten)!  Better living clearer thinking through pharmaceuticals?


The weather has finally broken, and we've all uttered a sigh of relief, I think.  The smoke isn't so bad with the cooler temps and higher winds, either.  (Over one million acres are burning just north of us in Ontario.)


I've missed the window of opportunity to transport some of Papa Pea's bees to Swamp River Ridge for the summer.  Even though it's only the end of July (an ACK! in itself), the growth and transitions of the trees, shrubs, and plants has been fast and furious due to the excess of water and high temps of late.  Already, many of the blooming plants (that the bees would need) are already going to seed.  Besides, Papa Pea told me that such deluges of rain actually wash the pollen OFF of flowers!  So, despite our wishes (Papa Pea's and mine), no beehives for me this year.  Case in point, I saw these goldenrod yesterday, already gone to seed:

The biggest struggle for apiaries up here is still over-wintering them.  Maybe, come fall, my instructor will let me transport a hive here to try overwintering them in the garage - opening up the carriage doors on lovely, warm days for their required cleansing flights.  I'd like to have a go at that (finding a successful way to over-winter).

Also noticed yesterday, the Brown-Eyed Susans are blooming - although closer to the end of their life cycle than the beginning now.

I'm happy with the appearance of this southwest hillside of my property although I rarely see it in the summertime as it's along the wintertime driveway (which I see enough of in the winter!).  Several years ago, the state bought the triangle of land I owned across the road from this hillside in order to perform a small redirection of the road here (not so sharp a curve).  When they'd finished, the hillside was bare, and so I seeded it with this wildflower mix that I'm tickled to say seems to be flourishing now!

Although you can't seem to see the flowers very well in this picture!

And, this is just the west end of the beautiful lake I drive by each day I go out in the winter, but I have few pictures of it in the summer as I almost always drive the shorter / more scenic way!

And, with that, I'll sign off for now.  Even tho it may not seem significant to YOU, I do feel better and a titch more grounded after having gotten these few thoughts rattling around my brain out and down on paper.


Thanks for listening to the ramblings of a 40-year old homesteader who's about to get a new job "off the farm" . . . to support the farm!

Not Much (But I Sure Wrote A Lot!)

I haven't written lately because . . . there's not much to report!  And, too, truth be told, my past week was SO fruitless - regarding getting anything done at the office - that I've been overly protective and selfish about my time.  So goes it here at home, too.  I'm already nearly halfway through "my Sunday" now and find myself feeling anxious about how few hours I have left.  I know that's so self-defeating, though, too, that I really want to find a way to curb it (the anxiety).


I did have a good day here yesterday and got a few things accomplished.  But, there are SO MANY THINGS that I want to get done that I'm really needing a week at home.  And, in reality, I guess there's no good reason why I shouldn't do JUST THAT.  I'm not exactly over-run by walk-in customers at the gallery right now.  Even taking my not-tourist-friendly location OUT of the equation, it's just not that time of year in our tourist town.  And, I got SO LITTLE done on my two current graphic & web design jobs last week that, perhaps, I should just work from home for the next week or so.  I'll bet I get more done from here than were I in the office!  ;)  But then, I worry that I'll fall into the trap of, "ahhh, why go into the office today when I can work from home"?  I.e., I don't want to LOSE potential customers because I'm not in the office during my posted open hours.  Sigh.  What to do?

An aside, I realize that writing to you here, sharing my current feelings here on the blog IS actually helping alleviate my stress and put things into a more do-able perspective.  So, see (I say to myself), I SHOULDN'T stay away from blogging for fear that it takes me away from other things that need be done!  In the Big Picture, it helps!


* * * * * * *


I think all of us who live outside of town (where the now-warm sun melts everything between the asphalt and it) are now wishing that Mother Nature HADN'T given us that reprieve last week!  The temperature dropped nearly 40 degrees in the span of 24 hours on the last day of the warm, warm weather, and all of that melting snow turned to treacherous ICE.  And, I don't just mean ice as in "oh, it's a bit icy out".  I mean ice as in "I haven't been able to drive all the way HOME because the vehicles (not to MENTION people!) can get any traction to drive on it"!


(And yes, this had a lot to do with my week.)


On the last warm day, I couldn't get the car up the hill at the bottom of the driveway on my way home.  I was able to leave it parked on the incline and well off the road, but, in order to get around to the back of the car to let the dogs out, I LITERALLY had to hang on to, first, the open door, then the wheel well over the rear wheel, and then the rear bumper to keep myself from sliding away from the car as I lifted the back hatch to let them out.  Figuring I'd bring the truck back to the car to haul everything up to the house (of course, I'd bought groceries in my way home), I inched my way over to the soft snow at the side of the drive and slogged home.  (I'll have to measure it some time, but I'll bet the driveway is close to a 1/4 of a mile long.)


I got the truck started and headed back out the driveway where I pulled alongside the car, door to door so that I'd have something to hold on to as I transferred the day's worth of accumulated stuff from the Yaris to the 1-Ton.  After that was done and the car closed up, I drove down to the end of the driveway and turned the truck around.


As I headed up the problem hill in the big truck and squeezed past the car, the still-soft and wet snow at the side grabbed at my wheels.  No problem, gravity was working with me, and so I'd just back down the hill for another go at it.


Unfortunately, the wet snow and iced-over hill was no match for gravity, and, as I slowly backed down the hill, I was pulled even farther into the ditch.  I worked and worked at it (what time was it now - probably near 10:00 PM and very dark) until I finally gave up.  I would deal with it in the morning.  So then, with my large LL Bean tote packed full and groceries in arm, I ever-so-slowly worked my way back over to the wet snow at the side of the drive and headed back up towards the house.


It was that night that the mercury dropped so precipitously (I love that word!), and the snow was like cement in the morning.  After attempting to drive the truck out again in the light of day, I knew getting it unstuck would be no small feat, and so I decided to wait to attack it come Monday, when I'd be at home for the whole day.  I'd half expected to find that the car had slid to the bottom of the driveway's hill that morning:  it was SO icy where I'd parked it.  But, fortunately, it was where I'd left it, and I carefully backed it down to the flat surface and headed in to work.


When I'd left the house that morning for my hike out to the vehicles, I loaded the toboggan with my things AND a 5-gallon pail full of ashes.  I hoped to spread them on the driveway's hill that night in order to be able to drive the Yaris all the way in to the house.  I can't remember what kept me late in town that night (seems like there was something going on almost every night last week), but it was about 11:00 PM and the wind was a howlin' when I, again, made it halfway up that little hill before the wheels were spinning in place and I was beginning to slide, uncontrolled, backwards.


I got the car stopped and began the task of spreading the ashes:  not an easy one on the slanted-at-a-30-degree-angle skating rink of a hill.  Aided by the wind, my good town coat and good mukluks were covered in ash, but I had just finished the job when the PistenBully* (used for grooming the snowmobile trail that runs parallel to the winter driveway) stopped at the bottom of the driveway, its light flashing brilliantly.

Image taken from www.pistenbullyusa.com.

 * I SO want & need one of these "toys"!!!

The driver opened the door and hollered something to me, but I couldn't hear him for the wind.  I slipped and slid my way down to him to hear him repeat, "You should have ice skates on!"


Was I stuck, he wanted to know?  No, I explained, I was just putting down ashes so I could, maybe, drive all the way in.  What about the truck, he wanted to know?  Oh, well, YEAH, the truck was stuck, but I'd deal with that on Monday.  "Want to pull it out," he asked?  "REALLY?!  Yeah, that would be WONDERFUL!"  (And, double bonus, I had the keys for the truck on me, so I didn't have to ask him to wait while I drove - or walked! - up to the house to get them.)


While he got the machine positioned to accept the tow rope, I slipped it over the hitch of the truck (I ALWAYS keep it and/or a tow chain with me!).  Then, I was behind the driver's seat, and he threw the PistenBully into gear.


But . . . the truck held fast.  He pulled again.  The PistenBully, with its studded treads, slipped and swung on the ice.  Nothin'.  He backed up and then gunned it:  WHAM (as tension struck the tow rope)!  The PistenBully swam on the ice, but the treads finally caught, and I started moving . . . the frozen snow g-r-i-n-d-i-n-g against the wheels and raised plow and every other part of the truck it touched.  Two more tries, and I was finally free, nearly sliding into the back of the PistenBully as the tires locked on the glaze-iced hill.


Seeing what it had taken to pull me out, I realized that I NEVER would have gotten myself out by shoveling.  And, more to the point, the truck had been encased, for all intents and purposes, in frozen snow NO DIFFERENT THAN poured concrete.  When I'd gotten stuck (in the warm weather), the soft snow had fallen in all around the wheels and axles.  Then, when the temp had dropped down into the single digits that night, the freezing snow had encased the lower 1/3 of the truck.  BUT, the truck was FREE, and B.V. (long-time PistenBully / trail groomer) was my new best friend!


B.V. went on his way, lights flashing, and I left the truck running while I battled the wind back up to the car.  Taking a few runs at it, I crested that first little hill of the driveway and then stopped the car on the level ground and headed back down the ice to the truck.  Through ALL of this, I had managed to not fall once . . . but I did so then.  Fortunately, it wasn't in front of B.V. and I was moving so slowly, anyway, that I really just sat down.  I felt my right quad pull, but that was the only strain.


I then drove the truck up the ash-covered hill and parked it, too, on the level ground.  Then I drove the car in to the house, parking it on the top of the other little hill that is at the top of the yard (knowing I wouldn't be able to drive out of it if I parked in my usual spot at or in the garage).


(Is this the longest blog post known to man?  I'm beginning to think so!)


I've just remembered:  that had been Friday night, and I was home late because I nannied for Bundle of Joy while her mama worked and her daddy was out of town.  Right!


So, Saturday, I slipped and slid my way in to town in the little Yaris.  That night, I was again at Bundle of Joy's house, and fluffy snow began to fall during the evening.  As I headed home, the snow coming down hard enough that I was blinded if I used the headlights' high beams, I realized that the cold, cold snow falling into the skating rink roads (scoured to an even smoother surface by the previous day's winds) was only making things WORSE.  I lost traction a time or two on the main road and, as the car traveled down the road at a 45 degree angle, I glanced at the speedometer to see if I was driving too fast for the conditions.  I was going only 15 mph . . . and losing traction.  That wasn't good.


I was about half a mile from the house driveway when the good little Yaris could go no further.  After four attempts, I parked the car (sliding backwards yet again) as safely as I could on the side of the road.  Knowing I had a hike ahead of me over treacherous ground, I looked at my bags, trying to limit to the bare essentials what I had to carry in.  Ironically, the happiness that I'd felt earlier in the day when I'd picked up my two new computers (yayyyy!) quickly dwindled as I realized that I had to pack the new laptop and its accessories.  I couldn't leave them in the car.  (And, this little sucker is HEAVY!)  At least I hadn't brought home groceries again!


I unloaded the dogs, strapped on my headlamp (I never leave home w/o it!), and headed into the snowy, snowy night towards home.  It was 13 degrees when I got home:  fortunately, I always have warm enough clothing on (or, at least, with!) during the winter for these unexpected . . . or do I expect them by now!? . . . situations.


Sunday morning showed about 3" of super fluffy snow covering the ice . . . which tended to make one forget the nastiness that lurked beneath it!  I loaded the truck and drove down to where I'd left the car.  While I left it running, parked in the middle of the road, I started up the car and drove it back down the winter driveway to a flat surface near a trailhead parking lot.  Then I slipped and slid back to the truck and drove it to the car, transferring the dogs and my bags for my day in town.  Then, I stowed and locked it in the same parking lot in the farthest plowed corner.


I made it another half mile or so out to the main road before I lost control of the car on a gradual rise in the road that couldn't have been greater than 5 degrees, if that.  On the up side, it was super easy and FUN to accidentally whip the car around in a 180 and head back towards home!  ;)


So, undoing all that I'd just done, I got the truck going again and eased it out.  I unloaded the dogs from the car and into the truck.  Same with the day's bags.  Then I parked the car where the truck had been and headed, gingerly, into town.


The car sits in that spot still, and I'm not thrilled about having it be in such a remote location that gets a lot of attention from passing snowmobilers.  Maybe I'll try to get it up to the house (or, at least, the bottom of the driveway) today, but I don't think I'll have much luck.  I suspect I'll need to wait until the weather changes and/or those couple of inches of snow compact on the hills to make them less slippery.


I was fortunate enough to be able to drive the 4-wheel drive heavy 1-Ton all the way in to the yard on Sunday night.


All of these extra-late nights due to the winter conditions have meant later mornings and much less time in my office.  So, I decided to change my office hours during the winter, and I posted such in the building and on my business FB page on Sunday.  From New Year's on until the roads are easily passable (end of April??), I will be in-office only 4 days a week.  I'll work from home the 5th day.  I think this is reasonable, especially since I'm not getting any walk-in traffic right now for the gallery.


So, whew!  That's where things stand.  For any of you brave enough to have slogged through this entire post, thank you!!


And so, with that and a clearer mind, it's outside I go to tackle the woodpile.  :)

Just 24 More Hours . . . .

Just 24 more hours, just 24 more hours.  I think I can, I think I can, I . . . .

It's getting down to the wire now.  I wish My Girl didn't have a day job so I could send her out on all the errands.  Too, she's going to be out of town tomorrow, so I can't count on her to pick up the coffee, cake, etc.  I think I need figure out how to keep a VERY part-time "employee" on the back burner.  That said and in theory, this SHOULD be the first and last of so much prepping.  After this, I'll need (and be able) to keep the gallery up at customer-ready standards. 


I don't know what happened last night.  The clocks in the house confused me somethin' terrible.  Looking at the clock in the Davis weather console when I got home, it read 12:31.  Good!  I thought I'd left town later than that (would have meant me getting home later, too, obviously).  I'd brought some work home to do at the dining room table, uninterrupted (as I often am at my office).  But, when I walked into the kitchen to heat some water for tea, that clock read 2:20 . . . which would really be 1:20 since I haven't had a chance to change it following Daylight Savings Time.  But, I knew that had to be wrong 'cause the other clock read 12:31.  It must have stopped, I figured.  Twenty minutes later, though, it read 2:40.  HUH?  I checked the livingroom clock.  Also 2:40 (haven't changed that one yet, either).  What the . . . ?!  I went upstairs where all the clocks ARE set to the correct time, and it was, indeed, just 15 minutes or so before 2:00 AM!  Ugh.  Okay, no time to do that work, I needed to go to bed so I could get up with the 8:00 alarm.

HA!  Despite the fact that the kittens were play fighting all over me on the bed AND despite the fact that I'd turned on the radio to help wake me up as soon as the alarm went off, I didn't get up until just after 10:00.  I guess my body needed closer to 8 hours of sleep than a paltry six.

So, I gotta run.  Today's THE day.  Gotta have it looking all ready to go by the time I lock the office door tonight.

Oh, a quick update from the homestead:  Maisy finally pooped last night, I'm THRILLED to say!  I hadn't written aabout it earlier both because I felt like a bad dog mother AND because I didn't want to make the situation too "real":  I gave her and Tucker both a deer leg from-the-knee-down to chew on the other night.  In, quite literally, 30 minutes - maybe 45, tops - Maisy barked at the front door, asking for more.  She'd EATEN the entire thing, hoof and all.  Great.  Maisy, don't you know that you are supposed to GNAW on the bone, for months and months and months???  One of these days, I'll learn.  Her jaw is so strong from carrying all those huge rocks, and she's predisposed to just WOLF her food down (she never chews, she inhales) . . . sigh.

Anyway, she was bound up the next day, and I was envisioning her insides being pierced by shards of bone.  That night, juuuuuust as I was settling my wearing body into bed, I heard her vomit.  After cleaning it up and letting her outside (and back in) and then sinking back into bed, I heard her again.  This time, it was just hoof and bone.  That's good, I thought, maybe she's gotten the "blockage" out.  Then, last night and once we were home, she POOPED, and it looked completely normal!  Yayyyy!  And, lesson learned.

Okay, now I'm really off.  I feel like I need to dip my face in a bowl of ice water to get going today.  24 more hours, just 24 more hours . . . .
 

Practicing Anxiety Control

It'sMondayandthere'ssomuchtodo,butIhaven'tbloggedsincelastweek,

andthat'smakingmeanxious,too!AndyetIwanttoblog,andIneedtofigure

outawaytocontrolthisanxiety;anxietyasaresultofpressureonlyputonmyselfBY

myself, so . . . deep breathe . . . .

In . . . hold . . . and out . . . .

In . . . hold . . . and out . . . .

In . . . hold . . . and out . . . .

Ahhhhh.  And, I probably shouldn't have any more of the 8-cups of coffee I made this morning, either. 

Last Wednesday evening was the most recent meeting for the upcoming summertime art festival.  As usual, I am in charge of the website . . . although I will have to speak to the Powers That Be about putting my work donation towards next year's entry fee instead of this year's . . . since that weekend will be the grand opening of this new business for which I am the assistant manager.  (Wish there was a good way to abbreviate that title, but, somehow, Ass. Man. just doesn't have quiiiiite the right ring to it.)  So, I'll need to find a few hours of precious time that need to go towards that.  But, lest I grumble, it's for a good cause, and it is free advertising for me . . . except that the website (my graphic & web design) that the festival is freely advertising isn't "up" yet!  (Sigh.)

After the meeting, I had dinner at dear friends' house.  We are near polar opposites on the political & religious spectrum, but, somehow, they are my rocks during this turbulent time.  (Russell Crowe, don't think you're not included in that!)

Thursday evening brought those same friends to Swamp River Ridge so that Russell (yep, he's a look-a-like to the actor) could scope out the canoe that Tom and I are selling.  (He bought it.)  Afterwards, they all stayed for homemade pizza which H and I double-teamed on, she bringing the homemade crusts & the pepperoni, me supplying everything else.  Mama put Bundle of Joy on the hanging bed in the sunroom for some muscle-developing tummy time, and Annie Blue was none too pleased about the encroachment on her space.

"What IS this thing?  Maybe if I just ignore it . . . "

"Hmmm, it seems to be coming closer." 

"I'll just move over here."

"Or, maybe I'll leave entirely."

Bundle of Joy:  "Heeyy!  Where'd you go, kitty?"

Friday was spent nannying The Peanut followed by a meeting with the new owner (and fellow schoolmate) of one of the two floral shops in town.  Thanks to Facebook, I saw that she was looking for local vendors, and so I asked if she had a line of gift cards yet?  She didn't, and I presented (with the help of The Peanut) my Chicken Mama Originals to her that evening!  And, she wants 'em - all of 'em!  So, I'm filling a 48-space floor-standing display with a total of at least 240 of my photographic notecards!  Half of them will be blank and half will be pre-printed (Mother's Day, Happy Anniversary / Birthday, Sympathy, etc.).  And, the ONLY negative to the situation is that the horizontal cards will have to be displayed vertically . . . but, in time, maybe I'll be able to upgrade to a rack (it's mine) that can hold both.  I need to have that display delivered and set up either tomorrow night or the start of business Wednesday since that's when the Mother's Day rush begins.  So, guess what I'll be doing later today and all day tomorrow?!

I don't remember accomplishing much on Saturday other than washing and packing a few dozen eggs along with updating & printing out their corresponding invoices.  Saturday evening was spent visiting new friends who I've been trying to connect with since about a year ago!  We had a wonderful dinner in town at one of the best seasonal restaurants, open for just its 2nd day of the year.  Afterwards, it was back to their house for homemade brownies & digestifs (as opposed to apéritifs) and chit-chat that quickly brought us to 1:00 AM!  (How time flies when you're talkin'!)  I get a kick out of their 12-year old (going on 40) son.  He reminds me a lot of myself at that age . . . although I think I was a lot sillier.

I awoke yesterday with a splitting headache that I fought all day until I finally got dressed around 5:00 PM and then (thanks to heavy meds), around 6:00 PM, finally felt human enough to tend to the badly ignored chickens and wash a batch of dishes.  I think it's my sinus infection returned, but I'm just not sure.  Perhaps it was just my body forcing me to lay around and nap for the near entirety of a day.  Too bad I couldn't "enjoy" it!

Today I'm working from home for my new job . . . and printing for the 240 cards that need to be ready w/in 36 hours in between.

When I did chores today, I found an yummy earthworm underneath one of the waterers and gave it to the chicks to enjoy.

The other day, two of them got into a tug-of-war with one, and I kicked myself for not having the camera.  

No action quite so photogenic today, but dropping in such a delicacy always generates a mad scramble for it between the chicks.  

An aside about the chicks:  my girlfriend who shared the order of Partridge Rocks with me hosted my 'Chickens with Mama' class when we toured local farms during that weekend.  Her chicks are underneath a red heat lamp vs. mine which are under my broody mama Cuckoo Maran hen.  But, here's the weird thing:  hers are WAY more developed and larger than mine!  Wouldn't you think it should be the opposite:  that those raised by a mama would develop sooner?  Or, would research determine that artificially-raised chicks are grown too quickly and experience a negative impact as a result of that later in life?  I don't know why it is this way, but it will be interesting to watch the development between the two flocks as they grow and age!

Call your kids to the computer and ask if they can find the worm in ALL of these pictures?