. . . . . since I sat down to write and so much has happened. First I had to get the laptop debugged. D#%@ those viruses. Fortunately, I caught mine early and had it tuned up in one day. We are on satellite and limited to downloading time so we are upgrading that this week. Son Ken introduced me to a technology services that jumped on my computer. The guy pushed buttons, defraged (How do you spell that? Even my spell check doesn’t know), and talked me through stuff. Now I can happily type away.
We have a nice office setup in the house but it is too cloistered. I often sit at the dining room table so I can look out the windows when I lift my head to think. Not everyone has a chicken coop in their side yard but we do. It is convenient to see if someone has come to visit, look into a couple of the goat pastures and check on the sheep we let out to graze during the day. These are the females and they pretty well stay out of mischief but once in a while a couple like to check out the landscape close to the house. I just run out and clap my hands and they run off. They do help prune trees and an overgrown old fashioned rose bush in our backyard. Unfortunately their mowing skills are patchy at best. Fred still has to use the big boy toys to keep it all looking smooth and pretty. Whoops, I need to stop looking out the window and get back to typing.
Miniature – Myotonic Does- Tennessee Fainting Goats
They’re expecting kids any time now. I have them confined to a big yard close to the house so I can keep a good eye on them. They are especially cute. The little moms are about 20″ tall at the shoulder and dad about 23″. There are eight does (females) and Shaggy Two (the promiscuous guy) was put with them last January 15. The gestation is five months. It is time and they look ready. Milk bags are in view.
These little specialty goats are registered and the offspring will be also. This breed is gentle and parasite resistant and highly desired for pets. Some of the does are polled (no horns) and have blue eyes. These seem to be traits wanted by a number of people. It doesn’t matter to me. I love them all. However, in our group, there is one adult that always looks for that scraggly piece of weed outside the fence. She comes within 1/4 of an inch being able to get her head out and stands there and bleats until she hears someone call that they’re coming. Then it is push, turn and pull to maneuver the head and horns to get her out and she is always at the furthest spot away. Keeping track of her is like being at the waters edge and watching out for small children. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven………………. now where is number eight! This all does make me wish I had considered dis-budding (remove the horn buds shortly after birth) her. Now that’s another story but sometimes beneficial. I’m not sure you’d enjoy the details.
Anyway, we’re ready for those babies to arrive.
Sunflowers in California
I spent a week in Woodland, California at a daughter and son-in-law’s house. Christine is the one that helps me with our website, blogs and newsletters. She had found a lump several weeks before and had it biopsied and she then made the decision for removal. Greg picked me up at the airport. We arrived at the hospital as she was coming out of surgery on a Thursday. Christine came home on Friday and was up and exercising her arm on that day. We went to get a special cup of coffee on Sunday. Actually the electricity went off at the house and we needed to charge our phones. It was a good excuse for getting that coffee we both enjoy. Tuesday we made a short shopping trip to the IKEA store, now that is really a BIG box store. That is the same day Christine got the good news that the cancer had not spread to lymph nodes. Ah, modern medicine. I marvel at it everyday. And a big thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Well Greg and Christine’s house sits at the edge of a large Sunflower farm and this is the view out the living room window. A daily routine consists of walking sweet Bailey (their dog) down to the levee and past all the growing plants. What a difference in terrain from Florida. Especially here in north Florida.
Christine and I looked like a couple of geeks sitting side-by-side working on our computers. I lugged mine all that way and never opened it while traveling out and back. It was well worth taking with me though. Christine taught me tricks about photo cropping and inserting them in the blog and helped me clean of my cluttered desktop. We also spent resting time watching reruns of Downton Abbey. I did help some by walking Bailey. She took her time about making up to me but finally decided I was okay.
Did you know that area of the country had rice paddies? It was an enlightening view out the plane window to see geometrically laid out fields flooded with water. I learned that this valley area is one of the highest producers of rice and fresh vegetables in the country. Irrigated fields flow from one to the other. Water use is restricted and rationed in this area. So go figure? Tomatoes are another big crop and when the local canneries are in operation the fragrance of ketchup permeates the air. What a place – that California. I’m now back to a daily routine here in Florida.
From Christine
It was wonderful to have Mom here for a week. It was her first visit so I was glad to show her our place. And it was especially nice to just sit around quietly together, a rarity in this busy world. I’m such an introvert, that’s my idea of a good time.
I’ve included a photo of our lovely dog, Bailey. With three cats who have first dibs on the house and our lives, we had to wait for the perfect dog. And one day about a year ago, Bailey found me. She was running out of a neighbor’s yard in a panic and when I stopped my car to get her attention, she ran right over and jumped in the car. After all the proper due diligence to find the owner, I was happily free to keep her.
The type of cancer I had is so rare, and so slow growing, that the whole event is more like a blip in the road, and in many ways, a blessing. All is well. My husband, Greg, was a totally supportive jewel the whole time. I’m so grateful for my friends and family. And now I’m back to work full time and looking at the world with fresh eyes. Cheers!