Before I start, thanks so much for the thoughts and prayers. We appreciate all of you so much. I really missed the communication over the past couple of months.
As Anna has already posted, I have been a bit under the weather for quite a while. Of course, though I was unable to use it anyway, it has been frustrating not having computer access. The computer and the foot broke down about the same time, you see. Since Anna didn't go into detail, I will give a brief rundown as to the problem.
The story goes back to mid-June. You may recall that I had started taking down an old barn on my brother's place for the material which we need for out buildings and such. In mid-June, after delays with truck repairs, I was finally back to the demolition project. The end of a productive day of suck work found me tired and with the last board of the day still attached by one small nail. Did I do the sensible thing, take a few steps to get the hammer? Of course not. In true Dave-like fashion, I simply kicked it (just as I have done many times before with no ill effect). This time there was a twinge of pain but not serious.
Next morning, it was more painful so I decided to take a couple of days off work and let it heal. Two days later, I was in the emergency room with extreme swelling part way up my leg and lots of pain. The bruising in the foot had led to cellulitis (aka infection in the soft tissue). And yes there were a couple of chips and fractures, but nothing serious.
After a brief stay in the hospital, I went back to work, wearing a walking boot (most awkward, I might add) and using pain pills when it got too rough. Things were going pretty well until the antibiotics ran out.
A few days later, I was back in the hospital, a longer stay this time, with osteomylitis (aka bone infection) I got the standard informational pep talk that goes with this malady, which includes all the possibilities for treatment ranging from IV antibiotics to surgery to AMPUTATION or even death. There is not much in this world that still frightens me but, if you must know, I was terrified at this point. Not much of what I do in life works without feet.
So after a week or so, I was released from the hospital with a pic line for the antibiotics, instructions on how to use it and strict orders not to put any weight on that foot for at least six weeks. Please understand that I don't normally take doctor's orders too seriously, but having known people with this problem for whom the outcome was not great, I followed carefully.
A week later, I was back in the hospital, this time with a particularly nasty intestinal infection caused by the antibiotics. For this, they gave me lots of IV fluids and yet another antibiotic. A was also ordered to eat lots of yogurt and avocados (an enjoyable prescription at least).
After a couple more trips to the emergency room and weekly trips for blood work, they finally let me start putting weight on my sore foot. That was almost two weeks ago and I must say it feels good not to have to use a walker and hold my foot up, even though each step is still like walking on broken glass. Pain is something I learned to deal with long ago but being extremely weak and out of shape is really hard to tolerate. I just keep pushing to the limit and trying to be patient. Yes, there is that word. Patience is a virtue, unfortunately NOT one of mine, thank you very much.
Thursday, I go back to the doctor and hopefully, they will pull the pic line. I can hardly wait.
Poor Anna deserves a medal for all the worry and hard work she has endured through this ordeal. Not only has she been working hard in the garden and trying to hold everything together,while constantly worrying about me, she has also had to put up with my bummed out attitude the whole time. Even after all of that, she still loves me and is willing to put up with me. WOW!!!!!
As for the internet, they came and installed it Saturday afternoon. They told me it would be worth the wait, and for the first time, they told the truth. It really is as fast as they said it would be. Now if I can get to the point of having my foot down for more than a half hour at a time, I might get something done.
I best go prop the foot up again. Thanks again for the prayers.
Two People, Two Lives, Two Farms . . . . United Into ONE Healthier, Happy, Self-Sustaining, Homesteading, Recycling, Re-purposing, Natural, Self Reliant, Self Sufficient, Off-Grid Lifestyle. Come follow our journey.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
DAVE IS SICK
HELLO to all of our wonderful and beautiful readers! No, we didn't get lost and we didn't forget about any of you. You are on our minds a lot, in very good ways. And we have certainly been missing talking with all of you.
This will have to be brief for today, but I will do my best (no promises) to get back on here this week and give you a much better (and way longer) update. It has been so crazy around here, it will probably take quite a few posts.
Dave has been without Internet for awhile, now. His was getting to where it just wasn't working out there in his neck of the sticks, and a newer, much better Internet system is coming to his area. (Fiber Optics) He applied well over a month ago to have it put in, and he is still waiting. They talked like they would put it right in, but you know how that goes. They keep saying that they will lay his lines when they work over his way, but nothing, yet.
At the moment, though, Dave is too sick to stay up long enough to use his Internet. He is making great improvements but still on a scary edge. He has at least 3 more weeks of being bed bound and on an IV, and he is so weak! Just a few minutes of being up and he has to go back to sleep for awhile. And let me tell you, Dave is NOT one to be kept down! This has been so emotionally hard on him, as well. I am so relieved, though, to finally be hearing some strength coming back into his voice.
If you all don't mind, we could really use all of your prayers for Dave's healing that we can possibly get. Here is a hug and a BIG Thank you in advance!!
I will do my best to get back on here and give you all a much better update and explanation later this week. Right now, I need to get off of here and tend to our garden. Fortunately, we had planted most of it over here at Anna's Farm this year, and now, with absolutely no helpers, it is taking every minute I have to tend to it. Going to have to water tonight. It has rained everywhere in the area this week, except out here. But I will have to move slowly as it is still near 100 degrees this evening, with a heat index well over 100 F, and I got up today not feeling very well. I am still praying and hoping hard for rain before the evening is out. We are going to need the bounty of this garden more than ever this year.
Love and miss you all! Hope life has been treating you all very well.
This will have to be brief for today, but I will do my best (no promises) to get back on here this week and give you a much better (and way longer) update. It has been so crazy around here, it will probably take quite a few posts.
Dave has been without Internet for awhile, now. His was getting to where it just wasn't working out there in his neck of the sticks, and a newer, much better Internet system is coming to his area. (Fiber Optics) He applied well over a month ago to have it put in, and he is still waiting. They talked like they would put it right in, but you know how that goes. They keep saying that they will lay his lines when they work over his way, but nothing, yet.
At the moment, though, Dave is too sick to stay up long enough to use his Internet. He is making great improvements but still on a scary edge. He has at least 3 more weeks of being bed bound and on an IV, and he is so weak! Just a few minutes of being up and he has to go back to sleep for awhile. And let me tell you, Dave is NOT one to be kept down! This has been so emotionally hard on him, as well. I am so relieved, though, to finally be hearing some strength coming back into his voice.
If you all don't mind, we could really use all of your prayers for Dave's healing that we can possibly get. Here is a hug and a BIG Thank you in advance!!
I will do my best to get back on here and give you all a much better update and explanation later this week. Right now, I need to get off of here and tend to our garden. Fortunately, we had planted most of it over here at Anna's Farm this year, and now, with absolutely no helpers, it is taking every minute I have to tend to it. Going to have to water tonight. It has rained everywhere in the area this week, except out here. But I will have to move slowly as it is still near 100 degrees this evening, with a heat index well over 100 F, and I got up today not feeling very well. I am still praying and hoping hard for rain before the evening is out. We are going to need the bounty of this garden more than ever this year.
Love and miss you all! Hope life has been treating you all very well.
Monday, June 3, 2013
(AF) STUPID NEIGHBOR!
I have been in a battle with the neighbors on each side of me for awhile now. I always thought neighbors were supposed to get along, help each other out, support each other. No, not the ones on each side of me. Most of my neighbors are terrific people, and would do anything to help their fellow neighbor out, but the one on each side of me is a whole other story!
The neighbor to my West, it seems I have things under control with, at least for now. But I will save that story for another day and another post. But tonight, I will tell you about my neighbor to my East .... Leroy. The feud with them actually started out with Leroy's wife. She is an odd one, and I could fill quite a few posts just with stories about her antics, but for now, I will tell you about my ongoing conflict with Leroy, a conflict that I hope finally ended . . . . . . tonight.
They have quite a few people living over there, living in old sheds, trailers, and any other kind of ramshackle dwelling you can imagine. Over the years, Leroy has brought in trailer after trailer full of what everyone thought was more people moving in. . . . . trailers loaded down with, although very tattered looking, all the basic household furniture and junk. People out here have often joked and asked, "Just how many people are they going to move in over there?" and "Good grief! They are getting their own little town going on their property!" We rarely saw things moving back out.
As I said, this has gone on for years. And I never associated the occasional smelly fire with the activity over at that property . . . . . . until recently. In the beginning, the fires were only very occasional, and everyone always figured they were burning their trash like many do out here. From time to time there would be a little off smell, not too bad. But over the past several months, the fire smell has gotten REALLY SMELLY! The smoke from those recent fires badly choked up human and animal for days. About that same time, Leroy started "moving in lots more people." The stench from the fires became so bad that I was often sick for days and my throat and lungs burned badly, not to mention what it was doing to my asthma and chronic bronchitis. Some of my smaller critters mysteriously died. And there was just enough space between the stuff being 'moved in', the fires, and the trailers full of scrap metal going out, that I wasn't putting it all together, until one day, when Dave was here and got a closer look at an 'incoming' trailer, that we began to figure out what was going on. This guy was bringing in all kinds of household junk, burning it off, then hauling the scrap metal back out for cash! He had made a business of it. Now, I don't mind anyone burning their own trash at all. nor the occasional piece of household furniture that is too worn out to use any longer, but NOT bringing in trailer after trailer of other people's junk to burn!
The last few fires were REALLY BAD! They stunk something TERRIBLE! My asthma flared up and I got seriously sick each time. I watched more closely and sure enough, that is what the idiot was up to. This just couldn't be right! I talked to a friend in the local volunteer fire department and asked what could be done to stop it. He was not at all happy to hear about the situation and insisted that I call the next time the guy lit a fire. Well, I hate to make trouble with neighbors, so the next time he lit one, I told him to put it out or I was calling the fire department. He promptly put it out. But only temporarily.
The guy continued to bring in trailer loads of stuff, only now, in the middle of the night. He built another fire and I warned him one last time..... put it out or I was reporting it because I was tired of me and my critters getting sick. He immediately put it out. He tried to be more clever about bringing in those trailer loads of junk. He used a different truck, and covered that big ole flatbed trailer, piled higher than you would think possible, completely up with tarps, tied down well. I mean, really, did he think I was that stupid!? 2, 3, 4am he was bringing in trailer loads of junk. I knew another fire was coming. And a member of the fire department firmly told me to make sure I called them the next time he lit one, NOT to give him any more warnings! I decided I better listen and do it because I didn't want to be in trouble, too.
Well, today I had gone in to town for some groceries and errands. I got back just as it was getting dark and in no time, the horrible stench hit me. Yep, he was burning another one of those nasty fires! I was on the phone with a friend and figured I would call it in when I got off, but while we were talking, we heard a loud explosion. I looked up and saw the smoke coming up from behind my house. I thought the back of my house was on fire! Ugh!!! My friend on the other end of the phone was getting pretty scared, too, and anxiously asking if that was a gun shot or what. When I went around the side of the house to look, I saw the enormous blaze!
Leroy was burning a little further back on his property, explosions continued to go off, and when they did, it carried the fire further and my WOODS WAS ON FIRE! I got off and immediately called 911. There had been some explosions with some of the last fires, which carried the chocking smell of paint fumes right down my way, but the fire never got out of control like that. As the dispatcher asked me determining questions about what was going on, closeness of structures and all, he was in total disbelief. He just couldn't believe that anyone would be doing such a thing and I could hear the concern in his voice when I explained about the explosions. The fire department was here in record time and by then it appeared that Leroy had gotten most of the blaze in my woods out, but his was still blazing up pretty big!
The fire department had sent 5 or 6 assorted trucks out (I counted 5, but 6 left from over there), sirens blaring and all. Every one of them drove right past and had a hard time finding the drive way that led into Leroy's property, but they turned around and finally found it. His driveway is moved from where it once was. They were up there quite a while, the last and biggest truck staying at the bottom of the extra long drive just in case it was needed, too. They got the fire out and thick, choking, black smoke filled the air for quite some time. I thought I was going to cough my insides out and my Billy goat choked and coughed harder than I have ever seen him cough. I wasn't sure there for awhile tonight if he was going to make it. Oh, and it was one of my goats, yelling and screaming loudly, that "informed" me of the fire.
Finally, the last fire truck left and I was left to try and breathe and get my very upset dogs settled back down. I was just getting them to calm down a little when a car with a spotlight kept driving back and forth, then parked in front of Leroy's house, soon followed by another, single, fire truck. Not sure what was going on with that, but they both soon left and all seems to be quiet again in my little country world. . . . just a little, burnt chemical stench remaining. I truly hope that was Leroy's LAST junk fire ever!
Sorry I didn't think to grab my camera and get a pic. I was just too panicked with the thought of my woods, full of so much dead wood from the last two years' drought, to think of anything but plan of action if the fire spread any faster towards my house and animal pens. SOOOO many things goes through your mind all at once in a situation like that! And now, I feel great relief on many levels, but I am afraid to go to sleep for fear of rekindle.
The neighbor to my West, it seems I have things under control with, at least for now. But I will save that story for another day and another post. But tonight, I will tell you about my neighbor to my East .... Leroy. The feud with them actually started out with Leroy's wife. She is an odd one, and I could fill quite a few posts just with stories about her antics, but for now, I will tell you about my ongoing conflict with Leroy, a conflict that I hope finally ended . . . . . . tonight.
They have quite a few people living over there, living in old sheds, trailers, and any other kind of ramshackle dwelling you can imagine. Over the years, Leroy has brought in trailer after trailer full of what everyone thought was more people moving in. . . . . trailers loaded down with, although very tattered looking, all the basic household furniture and junk. People out here have often joked and asked, "Just how many people are they going to move in over there?" and "Good grief! They are getting their own little town going on their property!" We rarely saw things moving back out.
As I said, this has gone on for years. And I never associated the occasional smelly fire with the activity over at that property . . . . . . until recently. In the beginning, the fires were only very occasional, and everyone always figured they were burning their trash like many do out here. From time to time there would be a little off smell, not too bad. But over the past several months, the fire smell has gotten REALLY SMELLY! The smoke from those recent fires badly choked up human and animal for days. About that same time, Leroy started "moving in lots more people." The stench from the fires became so bad that I was often sick for days and my throat and lungs burned badly, not to mention what it was doing to my asthma and chronic bronchitis. Some of my smaller critters mysteriously died. And there was just enough space between the stuff being 'moved in', the fires, and the trailers full of scrap metal going out, that I wasn't putting it all together, until one day, when Dave was here and got a closer look at an 'incoming' trailer, that we began to figure out what was going on. This guy was bringing in all kinds of household junk, burning it off, then hauling the scrap metal back out for cash! He had made a business of it. Now, I don't mind anyone burning their own trash at all. nor the occasional piece of household furniture that is too worn out to use any longer, but NOT bringing in trailer after trailer of other people's junk to burn!
The last few fires were REALLY BAD! They stunk something TERRIBLE! My asthma flared up and I got seriously sick each time. I watched more closely and sure enough, that is what the idiot was up to. This just couldn't be right! I talked to a friend in the local volunteer fire department and asked what could be done to stop it. He was not at all happy to hear about the situation and insisted that I call the next time the guy lit a fire. Well, I hate to make trouble with neighbors, so the next time he lit one, I told him to put it out or I was calling the fire department. He promptly put it out. But only temporarily.
The guy continued to bring in trailer loads of stuff, only now, in the middle of the night. He built another fire and I warned him one last time..... put it out or I was reporting it because I was tired of me and my critters getting sick. He immediately put it out. He tried to be more clever about bringing in those trailer loads of junk. He used a different truck, and covered that big ole flatbed trailer, piled higher than you would think possible, completely up with tarps, tied down well. I mean, really, did he think I was that stupid!? 2, 3, 4am he was bringing in trailer loads of junk. I knew another fire was coming. And a member of the fire department firmly told me to make sure I called them the next time he lit one, NOT to give him any more warnings! I decided I better listen and do it because I didn't want to be in trouble, too.
Well, today I had gone in to town for some groceries and errands. I got back just as it was getting dark and in no time, the horrible stench hit me. Yep, he was burning another one of those nasty fires! I was on the phone with a friend and figured I would call it in when I got off, but while we were talking, we heard a loud explosion. I looked up and saw the smoke coming up from behind my house. I thought the back of my house was on fire! Ugh!!! My friend on the other end of the phone was getting pretty scared, too, and anxiously asking if that was a gun shot or what. When I went around the side of the house to look, I saw the enormous blaze!
Leroy was burning a little further back on his property, explosions continued to go off, and when they did, it carried the fire further and my WOODS WAS ON FIRE! I got off and immediately called 911. There had been some explosions with some of the last fires, which carried the chocking smell of paint fumes right down my way, but the fire never got out of control like that. As the dispatcher asked me determining questions about what was going on, closeness of structures and all, he was in total disbelief. He just couldn't believe that anyone would be doing such a thing and I could hear the concern in his voice when I explained about the explosions. The fire department was here in record time and by then it appeared that Leroy had gotten most of the blaze in my woods out, but his was still blazing up pretty big!
The fire department had sent 5 or 6 assorted trucks out (I counted 5, but 6 left from over there), sirens blaring and all. Every one of them drove right past and had a hard time finding the drive way that led into Leroy's property, but they turned around and finally found it. His driveway is moved from where it once was. They were up there quite a while, the last and biggest truck staying at the bottom of the extra long drive just in case it was needed, too. They got the fire out and thick, choking, black smoke filled the air for quite some time. I thought I was going to cough my insides out and my Billy goat choked and coughed harder than I have ever seen him cough. I wasn't sure there for awhile tonight if he was going to make it. Oh, and it was one of my goats, yelling and screaming loudly, that "informed" me of the fire.
Finally, the last fire truck left and I was left to try and breathe and get my very upset dogs settled back down. I was just getting them to calm down a little when a car with a spotlight kept driving back and forth, then parked in front of Leroy's house, soon followed by another, single, fire truck. Not sure what was going on with that, but they both soon left and all seems to be quiet again in my little country world. . . . just a little, burnt chemical stench remaining. I truly hope that was Leroy's LAST junk fire ever!
Sorry I didn't think to grab my camera and get a pic. I was just too panicked with the thought of my woods, full of so much dead wood from the last two years' drought, to think of anything but plan of action if the fire spread any faster towards my house and animal pens. SOOOO many things goes through your mind all at once in a situation like that! And now, I feel great relief on many levels, but I am afraid to go to sleep for fear of rekindle.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
(AF) 4-Wheelers.... GRRRRR.......!
I am sure they have their place on a farm. If I had one, I could find a gajillion uses for it around here, no doubt.
BUT . . . . . . . .
I have grown to DETEST 4-wheelers! They carelessley run up and down our road at all hours of the day and night, usually at their top speed. They are so noisy and put wandering children and critters in great danger. And those donuts! I hate it when they put all those big ole round donuts in the gravel, making the already bad road extra hard to get down.
And tonight was one of those exceptionally bad nights. An entire herd of the viscous beasts began growling and running up and down my road at around 3 am. UGH!!! And people wonder why I hate them so much. An hour later they were still at it, making sure to periodically pause in front of my house, making extra noise and commotion.
On their last pass by I finally went out and laid on my car horn, giving them their only warning. My next stop was going to be to call the law, but fortunately, they quit. I really hate bothering the Sheriff's dept at this time of night for such a little thing, but this is really getting old.
NO, it isn't legal for them to be on the road at all, but they do. And I don't mind at all if they are using them for transportation to go from house to house out here. If you have one, it makes more sense than using your full size vehicle just to run down the road to a neighbor's house. But the abuse of them is very infuriating and gives all of them a bad name.
Right now, as I type, it sounds like they just moved over to another road. Maybe they will run out of gas soon or someone will hide their keys, One could hope!
BUT . . . . . . . .
I have grown to DETEST 4-wheelers! They carelessley run up and down our road at all hours of the day and night, usually at their top speed. They are so noisy and put wandering children and critters in great danger. And those donuts! I hate it when they put all those big ole round donuts in the gravel, making the already bad road extra hard to get down.
And tonight was one of those exceptionally bad nights. An entire herd of the viscous beasts began growling and running up and down my road at around 3 am. UGH!!! And people wonder why I hate them so much. An hour later they were still at it, making sure to periodically pause in front of my house, making extra noise and commotion.
On their last pass by I finally went out and laid on my car horn, giving them their only warning. My next stop was going to be to call the law, but fortunately, they quit. I really hate bothering the Sheriff's dept at this time of night for such a little thing, but this is really getting old.
NO, it isn't legal for them to be on the road at all, but they do. And I don't mind at all if they are using them for transportation to go from house to house out here. If you have one, it makes more sense than using your full size vehicle just to run down the road to a neighbor's house. But the abuse of them is very infuriating and gives all of them a bad name.
Right now, as I type, it sounds like they just moved over to another road. Maybe they will run out of gas soon or someone will hide their keys, One could hope!
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