End of 2014

Oh yes, oh yes.  I was one lucky lady this Christmas.  A new camera! 

 

All in good fun!

 

And how was your day?

 

 

 

Never a Normal Holiday

We can't have a normal holiday.  Nope, not ever going to happen.

Right before Christmas the boys came running in, telling me that Bella was bleeding.  I went out and expected the usual Bella level injury.  Nope.  After cleaning it out and applying pressure, it still continued to bleed, and by bleed, I mean flow.
I wrap her in gauze, vet wrap and compression bandages and call the vet. 
We get there and leave a trail of blood from the parking lot to the treatment room.  This is us as we walked in.

Our tech, Wyatt, took over because our Vet was in emergency surgery.  Unwinding my soaked mess of a bandage, he starts to evaluate the wound.  He clamps the vein and we wait.  Normally, after clamping, the bleeding stops. 

I laugh at the concept of normal. 

After clamping, we had to go with stitching.  We completely soaked the treatment room.

In the end, she had a pretty bandage and had to spend the night.

I called and asked how she was doing.  She was angry, hated the staff, hated the clinic donkey and could I please come get her?

 

This lasted until just after Christmas when she became progressively more lame.  Back to the Vet, x-rays, and we have....

a bone chip!  And upper joint fluid leaking.  She is currently spending a few more days to do regional infusion treatments to force antibiotics into the bone and joint.  In theory, she should make a full recovery. 

 

And how was your day?

 

 

 

Only living in the country can you......

Country living has some draw backs.  There is no huge mall.  Our micro-mall is twenty five minutes away and boasts all of four department stores and a handful of small retailers.  If we want "real" shopping, we travel two hours to Lubbock, TX. 

Hospitals are small and are mostly for basic things. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful they are here, but specialty care is twenty five minutes away, and even then, all trauma gets flown to....Lubbock, TX.

The scenery is boring.  I won't lie.

There is dirt every where.  I often wonder how people on TV wear such gorgeous clothing and shoes and I realize, they are on some form of concrete or man made flooring, ALL THE TIME!  I have regular shoes, but then there are yard shoes, barn shoes and riding boots.  Sometimes it is just easier to wear the boots all the time.

Dirt migrates.  I am not lying.  It creeps in every crack and "sealed" door.  It collects on electronics, the tops of books, the floor, it is pervasive and it is eternal.  Don't even get me started if some of those barn shoes are worn into the house.

Bugs.  And Mice.  Yes, being surrounded by fields is great, but those fields aren't empty.  Your home is a beacon of food, water and shelter for all things that creep, crawl and slither.  I am not a fan.

Amazon.  Remember what I said about shopping?  Everything is off the internet. 

No pizza delivery. 

Then again, it is quiet.  It is serene.  It is the ideal place for children. 

Can city kids do this?

This is driving home from Grandma's house.  The less than two miles.

 

Rain produces PUDDLES and little brothers get stuck.

Trick or Treating gets real

Snow shouldn't keep you inside

Improvised swimming pool

 

Normal kid behavior

 

more "normal" behavior

Shaving cream is an acceptable weapon

 

 

Your bestie can be a bird

Your hard work pays off in wonderful ways

And Glow in the Dark Capture the Flag was never more fun

 

So, while I may have to drive into town for pizza, and sometimes, I would really like some shopping without planning a road trip, I wouldn't change the way my kids are being raised.  The freedom they have, the responsibilities they are learning, the understanding that they gain.  Worth all of it.

 

And how was your day?

 

Day 13, 14 and 15 Photo Challenge

 

Handmade!  My first double knit square!  Woot woot!

 

Enjoy!

 

tree

 

 

And how was your day?

 

 

More photos!

Behind, again.  Of Course.

Cozy, because it just doesn't get more comfortable than that.

Blessed, because things got so much better after I took this photo

Stockings

 

Mom had a new port cath placed today in anticipation of Chemo Wednesdays.  While she went into surgery, my Dad and I went to the cafeteria where our prep nurse bought us breakfast with a cheery "Pay it forward!"

 

So, in other words, I had a great day.

 

And how was your day?

Days 8 and 9

Trying not to get too far behind! 

"New"

New, Squishy yarn!  YUMMY!

 

"Weather"

 

Granted, I took this last picture way earlier, but given the fact we are in a weather rut right now, I went with it!

 

 

And how was your day?

 

Tired Children

So, we have this great old ranch horse named Jake. Jake is fantastic with the kids.  He does show, he does rodeo, he does gymkhana, he does nerf guns.
One thing Jake doesn't do, is fencing.  This old guy has actually gone through FIVE strand fencing.  So, I have an idea while sitting with Mom while she was in Lubbock.
Today, I went out to Big Valley Auto Sales and was given carte blanche to their reject tire pile.  Woot Woot!  I took the trailer and the kids and we stacked and stacked.  We drove home and the assembly process began. 
Now, I can't tell you if it was successful, because despite our efforts, we still have more fencing to cover!  But it is a great start!

Here's to more racking and stacking in the future!

 

And how was your day?