Gentle ...

 He could be gentle as a lamb,  tough as nails or ferocious as a lion with a sore paw.

Jack of all trades!  Master of some!

I never realized plumbers, carpenters or electricians were hired by homeowners growing up.

He did it all.

He single handedly raised 4 kids whose Mother decided to walk out on.

We never felt unwanted by him.

We gave him much grief but he never wavered.

I have seen his worst and his best.

We collaborated on things best left unsaid ;-)~

We had fun and spent alot of time together just being.

I miss his 5:00 am phone calls because he was hauling across the country and just wanted to catch up.

I miss his 6:00 am Saturday  "burst in's" to my house shouting "get up, let's take a ride" .

Discussing life and morals and beliefs whether we agreed or not took up hours.

He is where he belongs now with his Mama and his Lord.

I miss him....

Wow Wee

She graduated!!!!

LN has her Bachlors in Environmental Science and Minor in Arabic.

Graduating debt free is the biggest accomplishment.

She worked hard from the time she entered middle school to put it in place.

Success feels good.

I am so proud of this girl.

She only had 2 tickets to hand out so only myself and my friend attended.

LS has been instrumental in helping LN achieve her financial goals so her siblings graciously gave up the other ticket war to her.

 I moved out May 10th and in with my son.

I had 10 days to decide how to move my life of 30 yrs out.

Time to regroup and rebuild. 

Lesson learned finally but learned well.

This is only a piece of what occurred but much cleaning and purging.

Things ceased to matter quickly when push came to shove.

I have things and animals spread out for 3 states.

Thank God for family and friends.

My Dad passed away on April 20th. 

It was the week before I began my move.

He was 80 yrs old and 1 day.

This is his trailer workshop he built with all his tools and some possessions.

It was moved to a lot on my sons' inlaws farm .

It is awaiting a clean out and more decisions but not yet.

It's too raw.

The last morning saying goodbye and feeding  this ole man.

He hates people but tolerates her and allows her to pet and feed him. 

I miss him everyday.

I want his advice and comfort .

Time to pullup and soldier on alone.

 

Well hello there

Neither one of these next two chickas are keen on coming to near anyone.

She can see, I have cut her "eye holes" but it still looks like she's blinded by her curls.

Her name is Oatie.

She is a yearling Lincoln Longwool.

She is warming to me I think ;)

This is Delilah.

She is 2 yr old that was bred but nada...

Maybe she slipped her lambs but I don't know for sure.

She was shown but has never been super friendly.

This is a whole lot of sweetness that a nice young man from New York sent me.

I have never tried or heard of Maple Cream.

Any suggestions for me?

I did slather some on toast this morning.

OOOOO so sweet but sooo good.

I tried the granola and candy also.

MMMM yummy!!!

 I tried corn beef and soda bread yesterday at a friend's .

I don't know why I have never had either but I haven't.

All of it was good.

I don't know what I expected but it was not that flavor on the corn beef.

I will try it again although I like my brisket just about any way.

It is one of my favorites.

 

And with that...

lambing is complete for this season.

A huge pull resulting in a massive ram lamb.

I needed help with this guy.

A friend a few miles away rescued me and him.

She is the calmest most patient person I know.

She worked the head through the tight 1st time ewes tissues while I pulled feet when needed.

After being in shock for 20-30 min both Mama and Lamb got up and bonded.

He has floppy ankles on the front but they will straighten within a day or so.

He stood and started to root .

This was yesterday afternoon about 4:00 pm.

It was in 60's which was a nice change. 

No concerns about the lamb freezing before being dried off.

 

Oh well...

I am a bad blogger.

I am just not up to posting doom and gloom.

I have been reading everyone's' blogs and they give me angst and hope.

Some make me smile, some make me sad with constant negativity.

The ones that make me go hmmm.... always start out as...

"Although I am not one to judge" or "Not that it matters to me"

These posts remind me to not post if I can't be positive in general.

I know everyone has a bad day and needs to vent but not every time they post.

I have been deleting social media "friends" and followers as well as negative based blogs.

If I am going to stay upbeat I need like minded people. 

I am trying.

On the home front I am still plugging away.

Freedom is eminent although not scheduled.

The business is sold although not completely paid for.

The job is secure and going well so far.

The sheep are the stumbling block.

I really would like to maintain the genetics LN and I have climbed to.

I am culling but not ready to completely sell them all.

One stubborn ewe still needs to deliver but should in the next day or two.

Where to "board" them is an issue until I can find permanence.

Packing and purging are stalled out.

I fell on the ice a few weeks back and my back is a work in progress.

The week or so before that my right leg started hurting behind the knee area.

That is also progressing.

Some good days some bad.

Time is flying so time to tough it out.

Santa's helper sews a bit....

 When I am creative it's very soothing.

I saw this block for a Star of David quilt in an old magazine when I was sorted my sewing room out.

I attempted a block and finished it as a candle mat/ mug rug/ small table topper thingy.

I love the back as much as the front.

Blogger is randomly loading my pictures order so here ya go.

The block is straight although my picture doesn't reflect that symmetry.

A new set of pj's for the princess child.

Cats and unicorns are her hot things right now.

This fabric fit right in.

Her Momma wishes she was all pink and girly so I wasn't sure about the gray color.

Adding the pink stripes helped keep them within the feminine side.

Sewing blind about fit is always nerve wracking but it'll do.

If I need to alter them later I will.

Loads more I wish I had time for but alas I do not.

After 6 months...

 

After 6 months the hens are finally making themselves useful.

I have never had a double yoker from a first timer either.

Its the little things in life...

Memories

 Before it all went to hell in a handbasket...

I love this basket of happiness.

What to say?

No clue what to say anymore. 

I am still kicking.

Finishing up my Mom n laws house and furnishings.

So sad to see it all get lumped in the truck headed to auction.

S just doesn't care about any of it.

I think his Mom would be very disappointed but it is what it is.

House is on the market with an offer "as is".

Younger girl wants it but she wants FHA loan with an "As Is" house.

I'm told the 2 do not marry well.

Fingers crossed but if not others are waiting in the wings.

Sheep still here and breeding for new year lambs.

This ewe is a hot mess.

She found the cockleburs and proceeded to make one dreadlock out of a handful.

Each time she lets me I untangle another lock.

Shearing time is upon me so it will come off to regrow.

I feel like I'm in a holding pattern.

Our business is verbally sold as of end of year to a local Amish man.

Been in operation since 1968 at this address.

It will be a relief but will bring about big changes also.

If God only gives you as much as you can handle I must be SuperWoman.

I certainly do not feel I am.

Today is the 13th anniversary of the wreck that changed my 2 daughters and myself's lives.

Drunk driver slammed head on doing 60 mph.

The ensuing medical nightmare for all 3 of us was not the worst part.

The mental and personality changes of my babies was and is permanently horrible.

I remember what they were but can't return them to that happiness.

I have ordered seed for next years garden just in case there is a shortage.

Nothing crazy, just regular vegetable seeds.

Easy to store a handful.

I also ordered 2 more blueberry bushes.

My 3 although producing seem to not be as hardy as other years.

Again hedging my bets here.

If I have to move away they will still make someone happy.  

Much mowing is occurring to knock weeds down in my pastures before winer.

The garden that went to seed with weeds as tall as myself is being tackled.

I am hand pulling the whole thing.

Good hand therapy for my shattered arm/hand.

I bought the gypsum pellets and dycon radishes I'm told with loosen the soil for me. 

Time will tell on this as well.

Trying to keep chin up and temper down.

The last is a fete for me lately.

It has been a hot minute...

Over a month since posting and alot of changes.

Some post-able , some not...

My arm is on the mend from my fall in June and subsequent surgery.

Progress is slow, mobility is the issue.

I can not turn my arm over at the wrist if that makes sense.

Hold your arm against your side and turn your arm up and over.

I can not at this moment.

I will ....

I am just mean and stubborn enough to keep at it.

I couldn't make a fist end of July when casting came off and can now.

Everything cost so much and with no insurance I am foregoing professional therapy.

I made an initial visit and received home instructions.

Prayer hands is coming along also which was a no go at first.

Slow and steady...I was told I am the tortoise not the hare in this race.

That is fine.

The words..."you are a person of a certain age" just infuriates me.

Watch this...

In other news since it is 2020 and all...
LN has flown the coop.
She has moved to CO with her boyfriend for this school year.
Since she is remote schooling her senior year of college she is ok to finish on time.
Her boyfriend wanted to try working in his major field {Chemistry}.
He deferred his school year and is working for a company near Denver.
She only gave me a week or 10 days notice.
Packed up and trekked across the country to try out another part of the country.
To say I was devastated is a vast understatement.
I couldn't clip her wings though so off she flew.
It has been a struggle emotionally, physically and mentally.
So far 2020 sucks from my perspective.

My husband wants to close our business and basically split up by the end of the year
leaving me with no home or income.
In Delaware inheritable assets can not be disputed in 50/50 divorce.
Words escape me.
So now this 57 yr old lady is job hunting and trying to plan out my future.
Resumes and job searching after 30 years of being self employed with non transferable job skills
is a new challenge to be met and conquered.
It has been a year for sure with more to go.
Self confidence and worth is gone but I am searching diligently.

Sheep are still here and being bred.
Decisions about them staying are up in the air right now so I am proceeding as usual.

Putting all this down in words is not for sympathy.
It is as a record to be looked back on when I overcome.