I have clearly lost my mind. My self diagnosis is based on the fact that I am about to tear up the brick sidewalk I nearly killed myself building five years ago, to seed grass there instead and relocate the bricks along the flower bed retaining walls to eliminate having to trim grass with the trimmer. I can just run the tire of my mower over the brick. Bliss ! But it means working on my knees for most of the summer, there is over a 1000 bricks to move. ugh.... insanity I know.
My dog portrait gift to Rbts cousin was a big hit. I had a few separation issues but not as bad as with my other paintings. The furniture pieces are turning out well, I enjoy the challenges.
Man am I feeling old.
Splendor
June 9, 2014
February 17, 2014
Superman Syndrome
What is Superman Syndrome you ask. It's thinking you can fly faster than a speeding bullet.
How do I know about it, why I performed that move today while we were moving cow calf pairs out to the field. I stepped on what I thought was a frozen cow pie stuck to the ground but it wasn't, it tipped I lost my balance and manage to save myself from rally sideways by twisting in mid air to fall forwards instead, my left knee took the brunt of my considerable weight hitting the ground then my left elbow and right wrist next, it happened so fast I don't remember much other than the burst of pain, stars and lightening all at once but rob was watching from a distance and says I actually skidded about three feet in the wet slushy snow and Half thawed manure, ugh. I was nearly running at the time to head off a calf that was trying to turn back on me. The eye witness to my downfall says I actually flew through the air a bit with my arms stretched out in front of me. Ha ha ha superman.
My knee is about three times it's normal size and black and blue very stiff and sharp pains whenever I move the joint.
How do I know about it, why I performed that move today while we were moving cow calf pairs out to the field. I stepped on what I thought was a frozen cow pie stuck to the ground but it wasn't, it tipped I lost my balance and manage to save myself from rally sideways by twisting in mid air to fall forwards instead, my left knee took the brunt of my considerable weight hitting the ground then my left elbow and right wrist next, it happened so fast I don't remember much other than the burst of pain, stars and lightening all at once but rob was watching from a distance and says I actually skidded about three feet in the wet slushy snow and Half thawed manure, ugh. I was nearly running at the time to head off a calf that was trying to turn back on me. The eye witness to my downfall says I actually flew through the air a bit with my arms stretched out in front of me. Ha ha ha superman.
My knee is about three times it's normal size and black and blue very stiff and sharp pains whenever I move the joint.
Something weird is going on
Calving is happening fast an furious this year. Two fatalities so far but six sets of twins to make up the losses and then some. In the first two weeks of calving we've had 75 % of our cows freshen. For those of you with COW knowledge will know that's pretty damned good. For those of you who aren't, we'll, it's like your general contractor saying it will be another three months to finish building your dream home but he finishes in two, WOOOHOOOO !!!
The only flies in the ointment are the problem births, an 8 year old cow, who, as a first time mom years ago gave birth to a still born, she licked her baby and mooed at it but it never got up to suck. Every year she calves a healthy calf, licks it, mooes at it, but kicks it if it tries to nurse. Every year we have to hobble her so that she can not lift her foot to hurt the calf, this year she accepted the nursing in record time and is hobble Free after only 7 days. Yay 59R, you go girl !
Another old cow has had twins for the very first time but only wants the first calf born,the other calf might as well be afterbirth for all the attention she pays it. Robert has had to wage psychological
Warfare on her. Our biggest worry was the 130 lb. calf born to another 8 yr old cow, the biggest calf she's ever had. Our average birth weight is 97 lb. so he did a bit too much growing. In fact he got so big that he couldn't move in the cows uterus. For quite sometime we think, given how bent and stiff his legs are. He's weak and can't straighten his legs out enough to stand so we bottle feed him and give physio therapy, bending his joints and stretching them out straight. He doesn't like it, but we got him straddling a square bale of straw and he liked that. His morale got a big boost once he was able to sort of stand. Now, I am happy to announce he can get to his feet with his own effort and is nursing from his mommy. Thankfully she is a very quiet and gentle soul, we think she knows we are only trying to help, I love it when these things have happy endings for us all. I cry for days when we can't save them and I have to shoot one.
The weather here this week has turned nice which gives us a breather and a chance to catch up on bedding and sorting. Other than that, I have been working on a new painting sporadically and doing Rbts laundry, it's a messy time of year.
The only flies in the ointment are the problem births, an 8 year old cow, who, as a first time mom years ago gave birth to a still born, she licked her baby and mooed at it but it never got up to suck. Every year she calves a healthy calf, licks it, mooes at it, but kicks it if it tries to nurse. Every year we have to hobble her so that she can not lift her foot to hurt the calf, this year she accepted the nursing in record time and is hobble Free after only 7 days. Yay 59R, you go girl !
Another old cow has had twins for the very first time but only wants the first calf born,the other calf might as well be afterbirth for all the attention she pays it. Robert has had to wage psychological
Warfare on her. Our biggest worry was the 130 lb. calf born to another 8 yr old cow, the biggest calf she's ever had. Our average birth weight is 97 lb. so he did a bit too much growing. In fact he got so big that he couldn't move in the cows uterus. For quite sometime we think, given how bent and stiff his legs are. He's weak and can't straighten his legs out enough to stand so we bottle feed him and give physio therapy, bending his joints and stretching them out straight. He doesn't like it, but we got him straddling a square bale of straw and he liked that. His morale got a big boost once he was able to sort of stand. Now, I am happy to announce he can get to his feet with his own effort and is nursing from his mommy. Thankfully she is a very quiet and gentle soul, we think she knows we are only trying to help, I love it when these things have happy endings for us all. I cry for days when we can't save them and I have to shoot one.
The weather here this week has turned nice which gives us a breather and a chance to catch up on bedding and sorting. Other than that, I have been working on a new painting sporadically and doing Rbts laundry, it's a messy time of year.
January 12, 2014
Oh The Dread
Another calving season is soon to begin and I am filled with apprehension. I am not able to just let the whole stressful procedure roll off my back like I did when I was younger. Rbt tries to take on more of the work with the cows but he can't do it all and I worry about him having an accident when he is so tired. We will manage I know but the five years until he is ready to retire wont come soon enough for me.
December 13, 2013
The Problem With This Generation
The problem with this generation is we've spoiled them. Through easing our guilt at both parents having to work so the family can live like kings, we never spend any time with them, we felt guilty and bought them every little thing their heart desired. They had no chores, no responsibility, no drive to achieve anything because we did it all for them.
Now they are out in the big bad, mean old world and they can't survive ! REALLY !!!!!
They may be lucky enough to find a job, but they show up late, take too many sick days to go shopping or just lay in bed, ask for advances on their pay because they have no ability to manage their money and spend it at a faster rate than they can make it, their credit cards are maxed out and guess what, they can't pay their rent ! The next thing you know they're moving back in with mom and dad indefinitely. Don't let them !
Most young people today live in a dream world. When they leave home right after school, they think they are so much smarter than their parents. They're going to do things so much better than mom and dad did. There in lays the problem, they move out, age 19+ and expect to find an executive type job paying six digits a year, work only 12 hour weeks with full benefits and a generous pension plan that kicks in after only working two weeks. They want to own a 4000 sq ft house and drive a hummer and be able to take two or three, month long vacations to somewhere warm and beautiful. Basically they want what they think mom and dad have. Only it took mom and dad forty years to get the big house, nice car and vacations. And dad has worked for the same firm for thirty five years and still doesn't make a six figure salary.
Spoiled brats , that's what we have raised. They would rather move into mom and dads basement and go on EI rather than take a lesser paying job. Which leads me to the, "when I was your age" part of my rant.
But seriously, when I was their age I never had those options, you took any job just to pay the bills, and moving back home was never an option, mom and dad never had a basement I could move into.
Now they are out in the big bad, mean old world and they can't survive ! REALLY !!!!!
They may be lucky enough to find a job, but they show up late, take too many sick days to go shopping or just lay in bed, ask for advances on their pay because they have no ability to manage their money and spend it at a faster rate than they can make it, their credit cards are maxed out and guess what, they can't pay their rent ! The next thing you know they're moving back in with mom and dad indefinitely. Don't let them !
Most young people today live in a dream world. When they leave home right after school, they think they are so much smarter than their parents. They're going to do things so much better than mom and dad did. There in lays the problem, they move out, age 19+ and expect to find an executive type job paying six digits a year, work only 12 hour weeks with full benefits and a generous pension plan that kicks in after only working two weeks. They want to own a 4000 sq ft house and drive a hummer and be able to take two or three, month long vacations to somewhere warm and beautiful. Basically they want what they think mom and dad have. Only it took mom and dad forty years to get the big house, nice car and vacations. And dad has worked for the same firm for thirty five years and still doesn't make a six figure salary.
Spoiled brats , that's what we have raised. They would rather move into mom and dads basement and go on EI rather than take a lesser paying job. Which leads me to the, "when I was your age" part of my rant.
But seriously, when I was their age I never had those options, you took any job just to pay the bills, and moving back home was never an option, mom and dad never had a basement I could move into.
November 19, 2013
Sad Tidings
So here it is less than a month after being diagnosed with cancer Rbts brother is dead, the funeral is tomorrow, what would have been his 69 th birthday. These past few weeks have been eye opening in a lot of ways, many I am still processing. But one thing I have had confirmed beyond a doubt is that my man is the king of procrastination and denial.
I am being facetious when I say it is so much better to avoid any confrontation than to clear the air of negativity and be at peace. I used to think my family were F'd up we were always fighting amongst ourselves, but at least we were honest about it. You pissed me off by "borrowing" something of mine, I punch your lights out or tell your jealous boyfriend your out on a date. Ha ha ha, Oh i loved that one.It was healthy. In this moment I can't stand to look at you, but once I get the emotion off my chest by yelling, the air is clear, you know where I stand. It's not healthy keeping things bottled up. It's like a septic wound that rots you from the inside out. A cancer.
Stress has taken up residence in our house lately. Dealing with Toms dying, beef sales, custom wood orders that change daily, the crappy winter weather and a flare up of shingles, it has just been a joy.
I sincerely hope, selfishly, for sure, that life will return to some sort of normal next week. I yearn to sit in front of my easel again.
I am being facetious when I say it is so much better to avoid any confrontation than to clear the air of negativity and be at peace. I used to think my family were F'd up we were always fighting amongst ourselves, but at least we were honest about it. You pissed me off by "borrowing" something of mine, I punch your lights out or tell your jealous boyfriend your out on a date. Ha ha ha, Oh i loved that one.It was healthy. In this moment I can't stand to look at you, but once I get the emotion off my chest by yelling, the air is clear, you know where I stand. It's not healthy keeping things bottled up. It's like a septic wound that rots you from the inside out. A cancer.
Stress has taken up residence in our house lately. Dealing with Toms dying, beef sales, custom wood orders that change daily, the crappy winter weather and a flare up of shingles, it has just been a joy.
I sincerely hope, selfishly, for sure, that life will return to some sort of normal next week. I yearn to sit in front of my easel again.
October 28, 2013
Well, I like that
First snow fell yesterday, ugh. I don't even want to think about the next six months of misery coming our way weather wise.
Some interesting developments around here this month. Got a call from Rbts nephew, Rbts brother has just been diagnosed with Renal cancer. It is advanced and untreatable, so they have put him on morphine and give him only weeks to live. The man looks like he's dead already, totally emaciated. Fluid on his lungs from lung cancer, it is hard to believe he only just decided he needed to see a doctor two weeks ago. We haven't seen him since last Christmas, but you would think someone should have raised some hell a bit sooner. Perhaps they were all waiting for his loving wife to sound the alarm. Dead head that she is, she probably didn't notice anything wrong. The fact that he quit eating should have been a red flag. But since she gets her calories from a bottle she just honestly never noticed his not eating food. Her vow to bow out and leave the boys to handle their dads care and estate business without her interference lasted about as long as her last stretch on the wagon. How long can you hold your breath ? That's about how long she kept her word. Now she has brow beat and manipulated Tom into signing her as his soul decision maker about his health and care. God help him, he's going to need it with her in charge. She has proclaimed her dower rights to Toms home and land. So much for Toms last days being, quiet and peaceful. The boys have got a lawyer and will fight her right to getting their mothers legacy to them. The land has been in their mothers "Wedman" family for 120 years. Long enough for them to have mineral Rights to the property. No small thing in that area with oil and gas exploration. In her will their mother left them the land trusting Tom to make sure they got it,no one could have foreseen Toms meeting this other woman or his latching on to her like a drowning man to a life raft. Stormy days ahead. Meanwhile we have made an effort to bury the hatchet(preferably in Sues head) and went to visit Tom in hospital
, it was strained at best, thank god I took my iPad and could break the ice showing him my furniture and paintings. We haven't made it back for a second visit, Rbt is procrastinating.
Soon there won't be anymore excuses, it is just so sad that things have gotten this weird between brothers because of one loony toons woman that no one other than Tom can stand.
Some interesting developments around here this month. Got a call from Rbts nephew, Rbts brother has just been diagnosed with Renal cancer. It is advanced and untreatable, so they have put him on morphine and give him only weeks to live. The man looks like he's dead already, totally emaciated. Fluid on his lungs from lung cancer, it is hard to believe he only just decided he needed to see a doctor two weeks ago. We haven't seen him since last Christmas, but you would think someone should have raised some hell a bit sooner. Perhaps they were all waiting for his loving wife to sound the alarm. Dead head that she is, she probably didn't notice anything wrong. The fact that he quit eating should have been a red flag. But since she gets her calories from a bottle she just honestly never noticed his not eating food. Her vow to bow out and leave the boys to handle their dads care and estate business without her interference lasted about as long as her last stretch on the wagon. How long can you hold your breath ? That's about how long she kept her word. Now she has brow beat and manipulated Tom into signing her as his soul decision maker about his health and care. God help him, he's going to need it with her in charge. She has proclaimed her dower rights to Toms home and land. So much for Toms last days being, quiet and peaceful. The boys have got a lawyer and will fight her right to getting their mothers legacy to them. The land has been in their mothers "Wedman" family for 120 years. Long enough for them to have mineral Rights to the property. No small thing in that area with oil and gas exploration. In her will their mother left them the land trusting Tom to make sure they got it,no one could have foreseen Toms meeting this other woman or his latching on to her like a drowning man to a life raft. Stormy days ahead. Meanwhile we have made an effort to bury the hatchet(preferably in Sues head) and went to visit Tom in hospital
, it was strained at best, thank god I took my iPad and could break the ice showing him my furniture and paintings. We haven't made it back for a second visit, Rbt is procrastinating.
Soon there won't be anymore excuses, it is just so sad that things have gotten this weird between brothers because of one loony toons woman that no one other than Tom can stand.
October 22, 2013
Whawawa
Up early this am. The mobile butcher is coming today to process three animals, then we will zip into town for our annual flu shot. I Know some of you would warn me not to get the shot but after actually having the H1N1 flu three years ago now, I am a big promoter of the shot.
After the trip to town I plan to work on this nightmare picture frame. Unless some little thing pops up to prevent me......please,please, please...any little thing.
After the trip to town I plan to work on this nightmare picture frame. Unless some little thing pops up to prevent me......please,please, please...any little thing.
October 21, 2013
A Little Bit Crazy
I am no longer a little bit crazy, I am just plain crazy. A lady I a custom building a picture frame for is sending me over the edge. She first contacted me because. A kijiji ad I placed to sell my barnwood wardrobe. Oh I lve the barn wood look, would you make me a frame out of barn wood. I thought, easy money sure thing. Biggest mistake I've made for a long time. Turns out she didn't really want it to look like barn wood, she wants it painted and distressed. She wants the four picture openings in a square, no now she wants them in a row and then she wants it stained rather than painted.
I wish I'd never taken her call.
Good news though, we finished harvest.
Bad news, Rbts brother has just been told he has multiple terminal cancer. He can't breath well for the fluid in his lungs. Big drama unfolding there with us having to associate with his gold digging,psychotic fruit loop of a wife. Time is short.
I wish I'd never taken her call.
Good news though, we finished harvest.
Bad news, Rbts brother has just been told he has multiple terminal cancer. He can't breath well for the fluid in his lungs. Big drama unfolding there with us having to associate with his gold digging,psychotic fruit loop of a wife. Time is short.
October 2, 2013
Whine and Snibble
I am about to whine and Snibble. I may have mentioned in previous years that I hate harvest time. I am the official swather around here and I have finished that job, thank god. There are some hills in our fields that some countries would call mountains and I have to swath them. And if that's not frightening enough, I then have to go over them again to bale the straw. There is one hill so steep that hang gliders use it to jump from. Going down that on the swather makes me nearly wet myself, really !
This year I was unlucky enough to have the cutting table hit a rock and raise up in the air causing the back wheels of the swather to rise up from the ground and the front to nose dive. Did I mention that there is no cab on this swather, nothing to hold me on other than my death grip on the steering wheel and my stiff legged pose with my feet braced on the upper rail in front of the steering column. There is another side hill in the same field that is even worse believe it or not. Right where I have to turn and head in another direction, it's small in comparison to the other but could be treacherous if you don't pay attention. It is so steep that any piece of equipment I. Ave ever taken on I t slides downwards. I can't keep it up where it should be, the wheels just slide in the loose dirt and I miss cutting that same patch of crop every year.
You might ask why we even bother trying to farm it if its so steep, believe me I ask Robt that question every year. He shrugs and says ill do it then, but when I get to that part of the field he no where to be found, and not answering his phone, weird huh ?
Oh well, I'll soldier on.
This year I was unlucky enough to have the cutting table hit a rock and raise up in the air causing the back wheels of the swather to rise up from the ground and the front to nose dive. Did I mention that there is no cab on this swather, nothing to hold me on other than my death grip on the steering wheel and my stiff legged pose with my feet braced on the upper rail in front of the steering column. There is another side hill in the same field that is even worse believe it or not. Right where I have to turn and head in another direction, it's small in comparison to the other but could be treacherous if you don't pay attention. It is so steep that any piece of equipment I. Ave ever taken on I t slides downwards. I can't keep it up where it should be, the wheels just slide in the loose dirt and I miss cutting that same patch of crop every year.
You might ask why we even bother trying to farm it if its so steep, believe me I ask Robt that question every year. He shrugs and says ill do it then, but when I get to that part of the field he no where to be found, and not answering his phone, weird huh ?
Oh well, I'll soldier on.
September 18, 2013
Ah Hell
It's going to freeze here tonight. Had to cover the tomato plants,
Rbt spent the day getting the swather ready for me to swath grain tomorrow, while I worked at building my latest wood project. I will have photos soon, but I am excited about this one. It's small and I've wanted one for ages.
Lived through the whole horrendous preparations for a colonoscopy. Got a gold star from the surgeon
No Polyps, nothing at all, a very clean colon I was told., yay me. All that fibre pays off.
Rbt spent the day getting the swather ready for me to swath grain tomorrow, while I worked at building my latest wood project. I will have photos soon, but I am excited about this one. It's small and I've wanted one for ages.
Lived through the whole horrendous preparations for a colonoscopy. Got a gold star from the surgeon
No Polyps, nothing at all, a very clean colon I was told., yay me. All that fibre pays off.
September 9, 2013
After Effects
Well weaning is done for another year. As we thought, the second day was full of glitches. The wrist being that when we had finished cutting the calves away from their mothers., we took a head count of them and there were only 28 calves ( there should have been29) and there were only 27 cows instead of 29. I took the second trailer load home while Robt. rode the pasture looking for them, he found one cow lame and barely able to walk, with a broken hip and another cow dead. Half eaten, looks like maybe wolves or she died of illness and they found her after the fact. Her calve, oddly enough was laying 300 feet away in the heavy spruce woods lame on two legs but alive. Robt. walked him over to the corral and he lame cow made it there on her own but did require help getting in the trailer. Robt gave her his shoulder on her ass and half lifted her into the back while I used a post to push her bad leg into the trailer.
At home, a 15 yr old cow ( that's old for cow) is enjoying her last days on earth sadly, she has been an awesome cow but has such bad arthritis that she can only shuffle her back legs to walk, she has lost condition and we have decided to have her put down.
At home, a 15 yr old cow ( that's old for cow) is enjoying her last days on earth sadly, she has been an awesome cow but has such bad arthritis that she can only shuffle her back legs to walk, she has lost condition and we have decided to have her put down.
That Time of the year
That time of the year again, dry dusty roads and the smell of grin dust in the air. The farm neighbours scrambling around to get the feed in the yard and the field work done. Things are a bit delayed this year due to the annoying little showers we had nearly every day. Never enough rain to do any good but enough to keep the hay from being baled. But we prevailed and have first and second cut hay in the yard green feed is ready to bale and we weaned the large group of calves yesterday, surprisingly without a hitch. That makes me worried about today's job, weaning the second group, all heifer calves we pastured separately with no bull. But I will remain optimistic that things will go well.
We trailered the calves home after sorting them from their mothers. Once they are all here then we run them over a Scale to get a weight. 69 steer calves averaged 697 lb. not bad over all. That includes the twin calves and April/may calves too. The heaviest calf weaned 826 lb. and the lightest was 497.
The weight was down a bit from last year but we had less, beneficial rain this year and less grass. We started calving two weeks later as well so the calves are a bit younger, all in all we are Happy, now we just need the price to stay up.
We trailered the calves home after sorting them from their mothers. Once they are all here then we run them over a Scale to get a weight. 69 steer calves averaged 697 lb. not bad over all. That includes the twin calves and April/may calves too. The heaviest calf weaned 826 lb. and the lightest was 497.
The weight was down a bit from last year but we had less, beneficial rain this year and less grass. We started calving two weeks later as well so the calves are a bit younger, all in all we are Happy, now we just need the price to stay up.
August 30, 2013
On Autumns doorstep
Here we are nearing the end of seasonal summer (I go by nature not the calendar) the grasses are drying off and the golden rod is blooming, even the rose hips are turning dark orange. Leaves on a lot of the trees are yellowing and in a strong wind a few are already letting go to flutter to the ground.
I also know that autumn is near because we are getting ready to wean this years crop of calves.
Rob will start cleaning the corrals this weekend and I am doing the calf sheets up, which lists the animals tag numbers, parents and weights etc. The only fly in the ointment to us being able to wean the first group on Monday is the neighbour, who offered to do a spot of specialty welding on our aluminum stock trailer, still hasn't done it yet.
This neighbour is a really nice guy but super super busy, he works the oilfield, owns a picker truck, and farms. We have him do some welding for us from time to time and in return he borrows our equipment to farm, He has only been farming for a dozen years and doesn't have the extensive line of machinery that Rob has. He borrows things like a field disc, cultivator, our grain truck and just this week our hay rake, he has a brand new version of our rake but his hired help ( the teenage boy he hired to help hay) hit a rut and ripped one of the rake wheels off. This neighbour is hard on his equipment because he is so busy and does everything at high speed to be able to get it all done on time. Makes me cringe a bit when he borrows our newer stuff, but we can't say no or he might not do the welding.
I have to nag Rob to get him to nag Troy...hahahaha....or we won't be weaning until November...
I am hopeful that the good healthy cattle prices stay up until we sell the calves sometimes in late October. Last year they stayed good until the week before ours sold...which was so disappointing.
I got my hair cut on Tuesday. It's been 10 months since my regular stylist went on maternity leave, perhaps never to return, she was having twins. In April I broke down and went to new salon in town, which turned out to be a big mistake. I got a very bad cut and paid a hefty price for the privilege. Since then I have just let it grow but it was in dire need of a trim at the least to get rid of the bad ends. The layering had basically grown out and it just hung there limply...An, EX-friend (recently a person I thought of as good friend) recommended I try one of the many FIRST CHOICE Cut places in the city. and to it just goes to prove how desperate I was for a cut, I actually went to one. It was a very sterile, kind of surreal experience. You don't know the persons name, you can't choose who cut it, who ever is free takes the next person on the list kinda thing. I got a young Asian girl, she was pleasant enough, talked the whole time about how much her boyfriend wants to have a child. They do not wash your hair, or they do but it costs $5. they do not use any product, just spray the hair with water and cut...they do blow dry but she just used her fingers to move the hair around and so when I left, my hair was full of static cling and drove me insane the rest of the day...which we spent in the city...and I looked like a hillbilly with flat lifeless hair hanging in my face....I hate that... and I look hideous with straight hair. I always need volume and wave in my hair style to even half descent. In spite of the initial drama in the truck, taking my ex-friends name in vain and cursing Rob for suggesting I ask her opinion, I survived...but just barely...hahaha The actual hair cut was not bad, the next day I washed and styled it myself the way I like and it looks good. So I might think about going back, it was certainly affordable, I call it a super shaggy page boy style. The multi layering looks good on me and really lets my natural curl happen, right now it looks like a perm job its so curly.
I had the consult with the aneasticist on Wednesday finally in preparation for my colonoscopy. Have you had yours? If you're fifty or older you need to have one done. I went last month to see the surgeon who does it and was turned away because he cancelled his appointment due to a surgery at the hosp. then this week I was to go on Monday, but the anesticist was sick after a holiday in Egypt and cancelled to rebook for Wednesday, I finally got to see him and am all ready for my procedure in two weeks. Hopefully I get the all clear like Rob did last year and won't have to go for another 10 years.
I also know that autumn is near because we are getting ready to wean this years crop of calves.
Rob will start cleaning the corrals this weekend and I am doing the calf sheets up, which lists the animals tag numbers, parents and weights etc. The only fly in the ointment to us being able to wean the first group on Monday is the neighbour, who offered to do a spot of specialty welding on our aluminum stock trailer, still hasn't done it yet.
This neighbour is a really nice guy but super super busy, he works the oilfield, owns a picker truck, and farms. We have him do some welding for us from time to time and in return he borrows our equipment to farm, He has only been farming for a dozen years and doesn't have the extensive line of machinery that Rob has. He borrows things like a field disc, cultivator, our grain truck and just this week our hay rake, he has a brand new version of our rake but his hired help ( the teenage boy he hired to help hay) hit a rut and ripped one of the rake wheels off. This neighbour is hard on his equipment because he is so busy and does everything at high speed to be able to get it all done on time. Makes me cringe a bit when he borrows our newer stuff, but we can't say no or he might not do the welding.
I have to nag Rob to get him to nag Troy...hahahaha....or we won't be weaning until November...
I am hopeful that the good healthy cattle prices stay up until we sell the calves sometimes in late October. Last year they stayed good until the week before ours sold...which was so disappointing.
I got my hair cut on Tuesday. It's been 10 months since my regular stylist went on maternity leave, perhaps never to return, she was having twins. In April I broke down and went to new salon in town, which turned out to be a big mistake. I got a very bad cut and paid a hefty price for the privilege. Since then I have just let it grow but it was in dire need of a trim at the least to get rid of the bad ends. The layering had basically grown out and it just hung there limply...An, EX-friend (recently a person I thought of as good friend) recommended I try one of the many FIRST CHOICE Cut places in the city. and to it just goes to prove how desperate I was for a cut, I actually went to one. It was a very sterile, kind of surreal experience. You don't know the persons name, you can't choose who cut it, who ever is free takes the next person on the list kinda thing. I got a young Asian girl, she was pleasant enough, talked the whole time about how much her boyfriend wants to have a child. They do not wash your hair, or they do but it costs $5. they do not use any product, just spray the hair with water and cut...they do blow dry but she just used her fingers to move the hair around and so when I left, my hair was full of static cling and drove me insane the rest of the day...which we spent in the city...and I looked like a hillbilly with flat lifeless hair hanging in my face....I hate that... and I look hideous with straight hair. I always need volume and wave in my hair style to even half descent. In spite of the initial drama in the truck, taking my ex-friends name in vain and cursing Rob for suggesting I ask her opinion, I survived...but just barely...hahaha The actual hair cut was not bad, the next day I washed and styled it myself the way I like and it looks good. So I might think about going back, it was certainly affordable, I call it a super shaggy page boy style. The multi layering looks good on me and really lets my natural curl happen, right now it looks like a perm job its so curly.
I had the consult with the aneasticist on Wednesday finally in preparation for my colonoscopy. Have you had yours? If you're fifty or older you need to have one done. I went last month to see the surgeon who does it and was turned away because he cancelled his appointment due to a surgery at the hosp. then this week I was to go on Monday, but the anesticist was sick after a holiday in Egypt and cancelled to rebook for Wednesday, I finally got to see him and am all ready for my procedure in two weeks. Hopefully I get the all clear like Rob did last year and won't have to go for another 10 years.
August 23, 2013
Huh ?
Since deciding to buy some sort of mobile device, my life has been a vortex. Literally having the life sucked right out of my body by radon gases given off by the screen of my new iPad. As per usual in our lives (mine and R's) we do nothing in half measures. I originally wanted a small tablet, just to doodle around on the web with and play games. The cost was significant enough that it made us question whether we wouldn't get more bang for our buck upgrading to a new desk top computer which we were direly in need of 5 years ago. Ours was so old that windows kept popping up when ever I was online telling me that Google no longer supported my version of Internet explorer...once we started to do our research we found that my computer was sadly lacking GB's of ram and hard drive. Staples store had an awesome back to school sale on and so we went to look. Well, just as I dreaded, R got carried away while talking with the sales man and we came home with a new desktop computer, (which I admit we did really need) AND not just a less expensive android tablet ( I wanted the Google Nexus 10" ) but the 10 inch iPad 4th generation tablet. nearly double the cost.
Off topic: while we were being given the demo of the iPad by the just out of high school salesman, some nimrod with shopping cart came barrelling down the aisle and side swiped a huge cardboard display box full of some computer gadget things. this thing stood over 6 ft tall and was about 3 ft wide. I didn't see what exactly happened since I was paying attention to the tutorial we were being given and had my back to that aisle. But the whole thing came careening down on my hitting me in the lower shoulder blade area with one of the sharp corners and all the gadgets being displayed hit the back of my legs making me pitch forward and having to grab hold of the counter in front of me to avoid going down face first. I must have let out a muffled curse, because both R and the sales man turned and a look of horror came to their faces. I was almost afraid to turn and see what had hit me. When I did, there was some bald little dip shit grabbing up the products strewn on the floor at my feet and throwing them back into the bottom of this large cardboard display box. not bothering to put them back on the metal pegs in the right places. He never said a word, didn't even look up...grabbed his cart and rushed off down the aisle like his balls were on fire. then of course I had to endure the smothering ingratiation of the sales person and a couple more store employees who saw it happen and came rushing over. My shoulder stung and the back of one leg was burning a bit... later when we got home we found that the box corner had left a small gash and bruise on my shoulder and that the metal pegs that the packages were hung on, one of them must have poked my leg because I had dried blood where it had poked a hole in my calf and blood had run down into my sock. So, to say the least, I was a bit distracted after that, which is my excuse for not putting my foot down about the iPad.
Since that expensive day, I have been holed up in the house setting it all up, I opted to transfer all my own files to the new computer which turned out to be really easy, I just bought a mobile hard drive device, saved all my files to it. unplugged the old computer, hooked up the new one, which runs windows 8, plugged in the mobile hard drive and sent them to C drive. Easy peasy...
setting up the iPad is another matter, not being familiar with Apple products makes it very time consuming because I have to look everything up, and make new passwords, etc....still haven't figured out how to get pictures from the windows PC to the iPad. Tried a few things but no luck so far.
I am, though, now addicted to playing word games and sudoku on the iPad. Oh ya... to the exclusion of nearly everything else right now....I am sure the novelty will wear off.
R's justification for being so extravagant is that if we have to live out here so isolated from everyone and work 24 / 7 / 365 then we should at least be able to connect with family and such this way.
so there you go you guys, you better connect with me now...
Off topic: while we were being given the demo of the iPad by the just out of high school salesman, some nimrod with shopping cart came barrelling down the aisle and side swiped a huge cardboard display box full of some computer gadget things. this thing stood over 6 ft tall and was about 3 ft wide. I didn't see what exactly happened since I was paying attention to the tutorial we were being given and had my back to that aisle. But the whole thing came careening down on my hitting me in the lower shoulder blade area with one of the sharp corners and all the gadgets being displayed hit the back of my legs making me pitch forward and having to grab hold of the counter in front of me to avoid going down face first. I must have let out a muffled curse, because both R and the sales man turned and a look of horror came to their faces. I was almost afraid to turn and see what had hit me. When I did, there was some bald little dip shit grabbing up the products strewn on the floor at my feet and throwing them back into the bottom of this large cardboard display box. not bothering to put them back on the metal pegs in the right places. He never said a word, didn't even look up...grabbed his cart and rushed off down the aisle like his balls were on fire. then of course I had to endure the smothering ingratiation of the sales person and a couple more store employees who saw it happen and came rushing over. My shoulder stung and the back of one leg was burning a bit... later when we got home we found that the box corner had left a small gash and bruise on my shoulder and that the metal pegs that the packages were hung on, one of them must have poked my leg because I had dried blood where it had poked a hole in my calf and blood had run down into my sock. So, to say the least, I was a bit distracted after that, which is my excuse for not putting my foot down about the iPad.
Since that expensive day, I have been holed up in the house setting it all up, I opted to transfer all my own files to the new computer which turned out to be really easy, I just bought a mobile hard drive device, saved all my files to it. unplugged the old computer, hooked up the new one, which runs windows 8, plugged in the mobile hard drive and sent them to C drive. Easy peasy...
setting up the iPad is another matter, not being familiar with Apple products makes it very time consuming because I have to look everything up, and make new passwords, etc....still haven't figured out how to get pictures from the windows PC to the iPad. Tried a few things but no luck so far.
I am, though, now addicted to playing word games and sudoku on the iPad. Oh ya... to the exclusion of nearly everything else right now....I am sure the novelty will wear off.
R's justification for being so extravagant is that if we have to live out here so isolated from everyone and work 24 / 7 / 365 then we should at least be able to connect with family and such this way.
so there you go you guys, you better connect with me now...
July 1, 2013
Cattle are our ball and chain and other rubbish
That was a rather long Hiatus, but I'm back again. On a trial basis, let's say.
We were suppose to sell our cow herd last fall. Obviously that didn't happen...as I knew it wouldn't. I think I said in a previous post that his promise of selling as soon as cow prices were up wouldn't hold because who wants to get rid of them when they are making money again, aaaaannnnnnddddd then the price dropped and they are still here.
When they do finally go, it will be a tough day, we are both attached to them, it's never been just about the money they make us. But I find more and more lately that I begrudge them the hours of work they create. Breaking through the fences, the bruises from kicks, the loss of sleep, the stress of things going wrong and for sure the time we have to spend taking care of them leaves no time for any kind of life other than the cows or putting feed up for the cows.
We had an old cow that birthed twins this spring, one calf was perfectly normal and the other calf was born blind...the eyelids open but instead of an eyeball there is just white skin inside. We transplanted it to another cow who had lost her calf and she took very good care of it while in the wooden corral..but now she wants to be on grass in the yard and we have let her into a small bale yard to graze along with another cow and calf and a bull. This poor blind calf that now weights 500 lbs. gets left behind when it's mother goes to the water bowl and it gets disoriented and afraid and bawls and bawls while moving around running into one fence, turning and walking until it hits another fence and the cow is only 50 ft away but won't moo back to the calf...it really pisses me off and I feel bad for the calf...I wish there was some way to keep it with the cow...other than locking them in a 10 x 10 corral. Rbt says I worry too much, that it hasn't walking into the dug out yet so it's fine, but he doesn't have to be out in the yard listening to it bawl and bawl and no one answers it back...boy it I had a gun.... better yet an electronic dog collar for the cow to wear...and when the calf bawl and she doesn't answer I can push the remote and ZAP her and she'll bellow...hahahaha makes my day just thinking about it...oh yes...I have a real mean streak...
Another thing that's really been on my mind lately, and not in a good way, is my lawn....what is it about some humans who feel the need to beautify their yards. I spend 3.5 - 4 hrs, mowing grass every 4th day and every second time I mow I spend an additional 2 hours trimming with the gas trimmer.
NO ONE BUT US SEES THE DAM YARD !!!
I've been busy building cabinets and miscellaneous things out of old wood. Good feedback from my fans, maybe it's time to seriously sell something.
I am currently out of commission, with bursitis in my right shoulder and elbow. Painful as all hell and not much can be done about it...Rbt. had to start cutting hay today and that's always my job. I hope to take over in a couple of days once the pain subsides and I can move my arm again. Besides all the little chores I'm not getting done are starting to pile up.
I hope to write on here more often, wish me luck.
We were suppose to sell our cow herd last fall. Obviously that didn't happen...as I knew it wouldn't. I think I said in a previous post that his promise of selling as soon as cow prices were up wouldn't hold because who wants to get rid of them when they are making money again, aaaaannnnnnddddd then the price dropped and they are still here.
When they do finally go, it will be a tough day, we are both attached to them, it's never been just about the money they make us. But I find more and more lately that I begrudge them the hours of work they create. Breaking through the fences, the bruises from kicks, the loss of sleep, the stress of things going wrong and for sure the time we have to spend taking care of them leaves no time for any kind of life other than the cows or putting feed up for the cows.
We had an old cow that birthed twins this spring, one calf was perfectly normal and the other calf was born blind...the eyelids open but instead of an eyeball there is just white skin inside. We transplanted it to another cow who had lost her calf and she took very good care of it while in the wooden corral..but now she wants to be on grass in the yard and we have let her into a small bale yard to graze along with another cow and calf and a bull. This poor blind calf that now weights 500 lbs. gets left behind when it's mother goes to the water bowl and it gets disoriented and afraid and bawls and bawls while moving around running into one fence, turning and walking until it hits another fence and the cow is only 50 ft away but won't moo back to the calf...it really pisses me off and I feel bad for the calf...I wish there was some way to keep it with the cow...other than locking them in a 10 x 10 corral. Rbt says I worry too much, that it hasn't walking into the dug out yet so it's fine, but he doesn't have to be out in the yard listening to it bawl and bawl and no one answers it back...boy it I had a gun.... better yet an electronic dog collar for the cow to wear...and when the calf bawl and she doesn't answer I can push the remote and ZAP her and she'll bellow...hahahaha makes my day just thinking about it...oh yes...I have a real mean streak...
Another thing that's really been on my mind lately, and not in a good way, is my lawn....what is it about some humans who feel the need to beautify their yards. I spend 3.5 - 4 hrs, mowing grass every 4th day and every second time I mow I spend an additional 2 hours trimming with the gas trimmer.
NO ONE BUT US SEES THE DAM YARD !!!
I've been busy building cabinets and miscellaneous things out of old wood. Good feedback from my fans, maybe it's time to seriously sell something.
I am currently out of commission, with bursitis in my right shoulder and elbow. Painful as all hell and not much can be done about it...Rbt. had to start cutting hay today and that's always my job. I hope to take over in a couple of days once the pain subsides and I can move my arm again. Besides all the little chores I'm not getting done are starting to pile up.
I hope to write on here more often, wish me luck.
December 25, 2012
Where's the Joy ?
Year after Year we pimp ourselves up and make the tedious drive into town to present ourselves at Rbts nephews house on Christmas eve. We sit and watch them perform a gift exchange and general socializing. They all pack up and head off to church for the evening service and we head home again. there for a total of 2.5 hours. It's tough. since my first marriage in 1977 I have always been the one to have to drive some where on Christmas. with the exception of one year when I convinced my first mother in law. A Ukrainian lady, to let me do Christmas dinner instead...I turned myself in side out preparing the whole meal deal, turkey, ham, meatballs and gravy, potatoes, pyrogies, cabbage rolls, salads and stuffing, homemade buns and fresh pies for dessert. We were to eat at 2pm. Sids sister had a 3 hour drive to get home afterwards. She and her family had come the day before and stayed at the mothers house in town. They slept late on Christmas day and at basically noon my mother in law made them a breakfast of potato pancakes, ham and eggs so at 2 pm when they arrived at my place they weren't hungry. all they did was drink and nibble and they were back at the mother in laws for HER Christmas supper at 4 pm. Sid drove in and I stayed home...I was livid, and since then never offered to make dinner again, not that I would have been allowed...when I complained to Sid that his family did eat much of my dinner, his response was " well, if had tasted more like my moms, maybe they would have eaten more". there was me told.
since marrying Rbt. I have tried to have Christmas dinner here but there were no free slots...unless I wanted it a week before or after...hahahaha the one time I did have a New Years day dinner, three people showed up....apparently we live to far from the city...hahahaha screw them. I happen to be an awesome cook, and they will never know because they are to f-ing lame to bother coming out.
I just get tired of being the people that invited because they feel they have to and we wouldn't be missed if we didn't bother showing up.
Christmas is depressing, it builds a persons expectations so much, to the point where how can you not be disappointed.
We are eating left over meatballs I took to the family dinner last night and they didn't eat. along with some coleslaw and broccoli salad I have in the fridge. I think there might even be a piece of leftover cherry pie in the freezer as a special treat for Rbt. Merry Christmas y'all.
since marrying Rbt. I have tried to have Christmas dinner here but there were no free slots...unless I wanted it a week before or after...hahahaha the one time I did have a New Years day dinner, three people showed up....apparently we live to far from the city...hahahaha screw them. I happen to be an awesome cook, and they will never know because they are to f-ing lame to bother coming out.
I just get tired of being the people that invited because they feel they have to and we wouldn't be missed if we didn't bother showing up.
Christmas is depressing, it builds a persons expectations so much, to the point where how can you not be disappointed.
We are eating left over meatballs I took to the family dinner last night and they didn't eat. along with some coleslaw and broccoli salad I have in the fridge. I think there might even be a piece of leftover cherry pie in the freezer as a special treat for Rbt. Merry Christmas y'all.
December 20, 2012
College
I apologize for the infrequent postings of late. My spare time is used up on the bathroom renovation that seems to be taking forever. The work is progressing very slowly, which might be for the best in the long run but seems frustrating right now.
Every third day or so we are compelled to drive to town for more supplies and tools we forgot to get the last time. Makes me want to pull my hair out. If we had done this sort of thing before we would have better idea what things were needed to do the job right but we are learning as we go and so it is taking many trips to the hardware store. One day we were in LOWES in Edm. so long, the older guy working in the tile department asked us if we wanted to fill out applications...hahahaha every body's a comedian.
We did luck out and one of Rbt.s nephews owns a wet saw for cutting tile. that saved us a bundle of money.
I have the tub deck framed now and today I got my first lesson in taping and mudding the drywall. putting up rounded corner bead and the like. I was alone and willingly admit to be a nervous wreck. But I got my little job done without any catastrophes, and am ready to apply the second coat tomorrow.
Christmas is on hold for us this year...we both discussed it and have agreed to put off our Christmas dinner for two until the reno is complete, at which time we will do the big turkey dinner and the fixing's as a celebration.
We do plan to drive to Rbts nephews place on Christmas eve, where Rbts brothers 4 sons and families get together for dinner ... we have gone 3 yrs in a row now and always have a nice time. After dinner they all go to the tiny church nearby and we head home. Neither of us being particularly religious and find going that one time a year a bit hypocritical.
Rbt. took me to see THE HOBBIT movie, thanks to Jen for sending us the cineplex gift cards. It was awesome. Rbt fell asleep briefly near the beginning but then got his second wind and stayed awake to see the rest. I thought momentarily that I was going to have to elbow him like I did during the third and final show of Lord of the Rings, when he was snoring too loudly. First movie I've seen since the new year.
I desperately want to see Les Miserable between Christmas and New year. Rbt took me to the theatre production for our 5 th anniversary and I loved it. The movie looks even better. I mean with Hugh Jackman and Russel Crow in it, it's gotta be good. We will use the other gift card Jen generously sent us to see that.
Rbt and I never go out for New years. We prefer to stay home and watch the comedians on TV and the year end reviews on the National (Rbt.s favorite thing to watch) and I go along with that, just happy to have him in the house early. We cut loose and eat potato chips and dip, open a box of chocolates and drink pop. Party animals that we are. If we lived closer to the city I would love to watch the fireworks, I haven't seen live fireworks since I was kid in PG.
Other than that, I will just keep plugging away at this reno, for a small job it sure is taking it's time... I keep waiting for Rbt to give me a hand but he barely manages to get the chores done before dark and by then I am tired so the reno ends for the day. maybe this weekend. He is going to have to hook up the plumbing of the bathtub soon since I refuse to do that job.
The world is suppose to end tomorrow according to peoples interpretation of the myan calendar. If that's the case, I won't have to pay off my latest Visa Bill...hurray.... if it's not, damn I guess I'll have to pay it.
All the best to you, one way or the other. It's been a blast knowing you all.
Every third day or so we are compelled to drive to town for more supplies and tools we forgot to get the last time. Makes me want to pull my hair out. If we had done this sort of thing before we would have better idea what things were needed to do the job right but we are learning as we go and so it is taking many trips to the hardware store. One day we were in LOWES in Edm. so long, the older guy working in the tile department asked us if we wanted to fill out applications...hahahaha every body's a comedian.
We did luck out and one of Rbt.s nephews owns a wet saw for cutting tile. that saved us a bundle of money.
I have the tub deck framed now and today I got my first lesson in taping and mudding the drywall. putting up rounded corner bead and the like. I was alone and willingly admit to be a nervous wreck. But I got my little job done without any catastrophes, and am ready to apply the second coat tomorrow.
Christmas is on hold for us this year...we both discussed it and have agreed to put off our Christmas dinner for two until the reno is complete, at which time we will do the big turkey dinner and the fixing's as a celebration.
We do plan to drive to Rbts nephews place on Christmas eve, where Rbts brothers 4 sons and families get together for dinner ... we have gone 3 yrs in a row now and always have a nice time. After dinner they all go to the tiny church nearby and we head home. Neither of us being particularly religious and find going that one time a year a bit hypocritical.
Rbt. took me to see THE HOBBIT movie, thanks to Jen for sending us the cineplex gift cards. It was awesome. Rbt fell asleep briefly near the beginning but then got his second wind and stayed awake to see the rest. I thought momentarily that I was going to have to elbow him like I did during the third and final show of Lord of the Rings, when he was snoring too loudly. First movie I've seen since the new year.
I desperately want to see Les Miserable between Christmas and New year. Rbt took me to the theatre production for our 5 th anniversary and I loved it. The movie looks even better. I mean with Hugh Jackman and Russel Crow in it, it's gotta be good. We will use the other gift card Jen generously sent us to see that.
Rbt and I never go out for New years. We prefer to stay home and watch the comedians on TV and the year end reviews on the National (Rbt.s favorite thing to watch) and I go along with that, just happy to have him in the house early. We cut loose and eat potato chips and dip, open a box of chocolates and drink pop. Party animals that we are. If we lived closer to the city I would love to watch the fireworks, I haven't seen live fireworks since I was kid in PG.
Other than that, I will just keep plugging away at this reno, for a small job it sure is taking it's time... I keep waiting for Rbt to give me a hand but he barely manages to get the chores done before dark and by then I am tired so the reno ends for the day. maybe this weekend. He is going to have to hook up the plumbing of the bathtub soon since I refuse to do that job.
The world is suppose to end tomorrow according to peoples interpretation of the myan calendar. If that's the case, I won't have to pay off my latest Visa Bill...hurray.... if it's not, damn I guess I'll have to pay it.
All the best to you, one way or the other. It's been a blast knowing you all.
December 10, 2012
Renovation Hell
Bathroom reno has begun. I basically demo'd the tub surround and walls myself, Rbt showed up in time to help carry it to the burning barrel.
Yesterday I forced myself to go down to the crawl space and re-enforce the joists under the tub area (something that should have been done the first time, when the guys built the house with the huge tub) and my efforts have already payed off, even before installing our new but much smaller tub. The movement in the floor and the subsequent squeaking has stopped. Yay...
It was pretty traumatic though...being down there for three hours. in dim lit space all by myself, especially with my severe issue with claustrophobia... the job was hard enough as it was but try doing it while your whole body is tensed up and screaming for you to get out.....it wasn't pretty, profuse sweating, the smelly fear based sweat, talking to myself, mostly in encouragement, sometimes in anger. I hate this weakness I have...that I can't bully into subordination.
Any way it worked so well Rbt wants us to do the same thing under the kitchen floor....hahahahahahha.... that's maniacal nervous laughter you hear.
Next on my list is to lay a second layer of sub floor, the professional plumber who plumbed the house when it was new...must have been drunk because he bored huge 5-6 inch holes in the sub floor for the drain and such but he's got about 5 holes all over the place and the tub only had one drain....hahaha so we need to bolster that by gluing and screwing a sheet of 3/4 inch ply on top...then I have to drywall the walls because the builders just built the tub surround over the insulation and vapour barrier. I want drywall there too, then I get to start constructing the new deck for the smaller tub. then apply 3/4 plywood to the top and sides of it and then the tiling begins.... I never done any of this before so it is pretty nerve wracking...and expensive...but the house is worth less money if the tub is defective..so we hope to increase the value by doing the reno. besides I love to take baths from time to time and I had a real problem accessing the old one now that I am gibbled up.
I'd have pictures on here but blogger won't let me.... gotta look into that...half the fun of blogging is being able to brag about stuff.
Yesterday I forced myself to go down to the crawl space and re-enforce the joists under the tub area (something that should have been done the first time, when the guys built the house with the huge tub) and my efforts have already payed off, even before installing our new but much smaller tub. The movement in the floor and the subsequent squeaking has stopped. Yay...
It was pretty traumatic though...being down there for three hours. in dim lit space all by myself, especially with my severe issue with claustrophobia... the job was hard enough as it was but try doing it while your whole body is tensed up and screaming for you to get out.....it wasn't pretty, profuse sweating, the smelly fear based sweat, talking to myself, mostly in encouragement, sometimes in anger. I hate this weakness I have...that I can't bully into subordination.
Any way it worked so well Rbt wants us to do the same thing under the kitchen floor....hahahahahahha.... that's maniacal nervous laughter you hear.
Next on my list is to lay a second layer of sub floor, the professional plumber who plumbed the house when it was new...must have been drunk because he bored huge 5-6 inch holes in the sub floor for the drain and such but he's got about 5 holes all over the place and the tub only had one drain....hahaha so we need to bolster that by gluing and screwing a sheet of 3/4 inch ply on top...then I have to drywall the walls because the builders just built the tub surround over the insulation and vapour barrier. I want drywall there too, then I get to start constructing the new deck for the smaller tub. then apply 3/4 plywood to the top and sides of it and then the tiling begins.... I never done any of this before so it is pretty nerve wracking...and expensive...but the house is worth less money if the tub is defective..so we hope to increase the value by doing the reno. besides I love to take baths from time to time and I had a real problem accessing the old one now that I am gibbled up.
I'd have pictures on here but blogger won't let me.... gotta look into that...half the fun of blogging is being able to brag about stuff.
November 30, 2012
Revelations
Life here has turned up side down.
Real estate assessments, searching for acreages, condos on the island, talking to the accountant about tax implications, it sure sounds like leaving the farm to me.
Scared senseless, more like. I waffle between excitement and horror. I don't think anyone can do one job for 35 years and not feel panic at the thought of having to learn to do something else, especially in their fifties.
In an ideal world we wouldn't have to work after we sell, but interest rates being what they are even a million dollars in the bank will only make you at best 25,000. per year....and they say it takes about 3500-4500 per month for a couple to retire comfortably. that comes to nearly 50,000. per year....a long, long way from 25,000. so we hope to only have to have part time jobs so we have lots of time to spend together. Old age pension is a few years away.
Actually in an ideal world, we would be able to make a living here the way were able to ten years ago. But the fact is, government wants to squeeze out the small farmer, and have big corporate farms working in tandem with the packing plants, they've done it to the HOG guys and their are decimated. Financially, the writing is on the wall for us, but our hearts are telling us we're not ready to quit yet. It's the land, it's hard to tear yourself away. It's worked its way into your lungs, bone and sinew, until the thought of leaving it feels like ripping a limb off without anesthetic.
This coming year will be the teller. But hold onto your hats, cause it's gonna be a whing-dinger.
Real estate assessments, searching for acreages, condos on the island, talking to the accountant about tax implications, it sure sounds like leaving the farm to me.
Scared senseless, more like. I waffle between excitement and horror. I don't think anyone can do one job for 35 years and not feel panic at the thought of having to learn to do something else, especially in their fifties.
In an ideal world we wouldn't have to work after we sell, but interest rates being what they are even a million dollars in the bank will only make you at best 25,000. per year....and they say it takes about 3500-4500 per month for a couple to retire comfortably. that comes to nearly 50,000. per year....a long, long way from 25,000. so we hope to only have to have part time jobs so we have lots of time to spend together. Old age pension is a few years away.
Actually in an ideal world, we would be able to make a living here the way were able to ten years ago. But the fact is, government wants to squeeze out the small farmer, and have big corporate farms working in tandem with the packing plants, they've done it to the HOG guys and their are decimated. Financially, the writing is on the wall for us, but our hearts are telling us we're not ready to quit yet. It's the land, it's hard to tear yourself away. It's worked its way into your lungs, bone and sinew, until the thought of leaving it feels like ripping a limb off without anesthetic.
This coming year will be the teller. But hold onto your hats, cause it's gonna be a whing-dinger.
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