Unexpected visitor

Rumi was introduced to me a number of years back by my daughter, Lauren. I have come to carry Rumi's words in my heart and mind, esp during times of happiness, as well as difficult times. Rumi was a 13th century poet, mystic, scholar and theologian whose words continue to stand the test of time. The quotes from his poetry, and his poems themselves speak volumes. I refer to them regularly for strength, understanding and spiritual guidance. There's one in particular that a friend (who equally uses Rumi's writings to enrich his life) texted me recently to remind me that when an 'unexpected visitor' arrives, to embrace and welcome it. Thank you, Dr Waheed, for this reminder at this vulnerable and fragile time of my life. Rumi reminds us to take these opportunities to be vulnerable and open to what is in our future:  New delights.




Sew What Happened Was

My new arrival of back pain has led me to cancel my JOGLE race and trip to the UK. This journey was to start at the end of this week (and still will for others?) and I will be a cheerleader on the sidelines, pom-poms in hand. Ironically, the govt just issued a mandate as of midnight tonight, travel to the UK is halted. With our flight originally scheduled for tomorrow, it's all a bit mystic how these things happen.

When this unexpected visitor of new back pain started I was at the height of my training for the race from John O'Groat's, Scotland to Land's End, England. In the quiet of a run, it knocked on my door and made itself at home. This happens for millions of people, I not excluded, as back pain does not discriminate. I mentioned to this visitor that it's not a good time, as I'm very busy preparing for a running race. Maybe come back another day. Instead, it nestled in and unpacked its bags. Its arrival was there to teach me, fill me up with empathetic understanding, and use as a guide for what is to come in my life. Welcome mat not required.

Then, after the doctor visits and imaging were completed, I was told I had a compression fracture at T8, along with an existing back bone lesion at T12. After being informed that it's not likely to heal on its own (reasonably) due to the bone lesions, osteopenia and trauma to the area, that surgery was advised. The lesion on T12 along with the T8 fracture would need to be biopsy'd as well. The surgery would actually be a Kyphoplasty at T8 and T12 with biopsy's. The thoracic sections would be filled with special cement to repair the damage and fracture, and take tissue from the areas to see what the problem might be. This did indeed happen last Wednesday and brought about a new pain, different than before - both proving to be painful and limiting in all I do. The pain prior was from the fracture and now the pain is from the repair. Time and rest are the advised treatments. No lifting, no this, no that.


What A Girl Wants

As I move forward in this healing process mentally and physically, I'm reminded daily of what I used to be able to do, and what I cannot do at this time. I want to refill feed bins, carry hay to the donkeys, sweep out the barn, and mostly run and bike in this beautiful weather. The answer is no. Luckily, this back pain is self regulating. It will not allow you to do any of those things, even if you want to. Since I have a "desk job" now, it's do-able. It helps distract from my desire to "do what I used to do". Work is now an escape, and only one of a small collection of things I can still do - that I also used to do. That list has decreased drastically in size, and I now get to pick from a small selection of things I may do. Although the timeline on this new normal is unknown at this point, my faith and hope in this process carries me to the next steps of this journey. A journey very different than the one I would have started this week in the UK.


Trust Fall

This process I'm moving through is similar to the time you had to participate in the employee bonding seminar at work and tell your co-worker to fall backwards, promising to catch them. I didn't want to do that then, and I'm not fond of doing it right now. Trusting the process of healing, trusting the doctors and trusting the universe to catch me as I'm falling. Yet, I am. I'm doing just that. I've leaned into it, accepted it, and am moving through it. Luckily, just like that employee seminar, this too will find an end point. What have I learned? Acceptance of what I can and can't do. Learning to be okay with that. Welcoming the future, no matter what it will bring. Understanding that whether there's good or bad news to come, it's news that can be processed appropriately, dealt with dignity, confidence and understanding. This is my story that is already written. I will live it as God has outlined all for me, just as He has for you and your story. We are each handed a unique and special set of circumstances, which I am grateful to receive this blessing bestowed upon me to further my learning and understanding in life. Grace in this process is what I strive for.


Finding My Voice

This is not all about me. Yes, I've been fortunate to focus on finding my voice in it all, analyzing my path and setting the tone of not only my mood, but how I portray and handle my current situation. But really, it's about the world right now. Safety, concern for others and kindness is the goal while navigating through the unknown and fear that surrounds us. I'm a huge propionate of the theory: fear = bad decisions. Stepping out of the fear allows me to stay calm and think more rationally. We as humans will move through this crisis, and the verbiage of togetherness that is projected by the internet and news - warms my heart. We will all do our best to look after each other.


With so much virus talk these days.....let's talk chickens instead. They are not worrying about the virus or consequences, as they have work of their own to do. Egg laying.


Chickens, The Gateway Drug

Having a chicken just makes you want more. Just like with tattoos, drugs, sugar and potato chips, the more we have - the more we want. Our story last left off where we were keeping mamas (2), their eggs, and 2 chicks in the shower. Fast forward to 1) After candling the eggs (again), we determined the eggs they were sitting on were not viable. The eggs were discarded and both mamas returned to the Silkie Headquarters outside with their friends, and 2) The 2 chicks (one a silkie hatched onsite, and one chick intentionally purchased for it's housemate) were transferred to a large crate inside the house that was lined with shavings, water and food along with a heat lamp, then 3) David (remember that it was David, this time) decided we needed 2 MORE chicks to keep them company inside this crate and therefore purchased 2 more chicks. So, doing our chicken math, that equals twice the happiness in the Nursery with 4 cute little chicks being raised inside the house. 1 Silkie, 1 Leghorn and 2 Wyandotte's. They are all getting along wonderfully and we adore their little chick noises that fill the house with melody and sweetness. One of the chicks is significantly older than the rest, yet they are a flock of their own thriving and living their best chick life.

Chick Life in the Houz

Even though there's rarely a hard number I can accurately give for the chicken count around here, I'll just say there's 12 old school girls, 18 chicken farm girls, 6 silkies outside in their Silkie Headquarters on their own (fenced), and the new 4 chicks inside the house. 40. The number that represents that you are officially chicken crazy. But wait! Chompchi, one of the silkie hens is sitting on her own clutch of eggs now, in the upstairs portion of their chicken coop. We are about 9 days into that sitting, so with an estimated 21 day hatching timeframe, we will see what happens later this month. If we do have more silkies on site, we may get in the CraigsList business of selling them, as we can only have so many chickens, right? Luckily, the harsh of the cold weather is subsiding bringing brighter days of warmth and comfort - until the ball of fire strikes this summer and tortures all with fur and feathers.

It's an egg palooza around here.

I will say, with the grocery stores low on most items, my eggs are selling better now. Bright side in these dark days.


Pond Sweet Pond

David's vision of his pond is coming to life. The ducks are thriving and surviving well, as they are laying eggs faster than I can pick them up.

Sugar prefers the bridge, as the waterway to
the pond would require her to swim.

David has put in one bridge with RR ties over the waterway that feeds the pond. He has the RR ties ready for the bridge to go over the waterway where the pond overflows to the culvert out front. The bridges are so we can walk around the pond, but also for the animals and mowers to travel to the backside of the pond. This past week, we had 12 palates of grass laid so that erosion will be minimal with all the exposed new dirt around. The ground ate those 12 palates and we could probably use 12 more, but they zig zagged a portion of the area to help with increased coverage of the dirt. The ducks are happy and ridding the parameter of worms. Many bull frogs and other types of frogs are convening in the new pond, moving in and making themselves at home. I expect turtles will do the same, too. Our purple martin birds houses are filling quickly, as they migrate here and settle in, pushing the sparrows out. The mosquitos are already showing themselves, and we rely on the birds to help take care of (some) of that. Soon, we will purchase fish to stock the pond. Not until David completes the setup of the aerators, strategically placing them in the pond, will the fish arrive. The solar panels function well as they create the energy needed to supply the air to the water. This area of the property has been our most long term project thus far, and we are now seeing the fruit of the seeds we've sowed.

Work In Progress

The Bed I've Made

Let's talk gardens. As you may remember, my thumb is not green. It's not teal, or even blue. Therefore, I struggle with dirt and seeds. This year, I'm (once again) trying something different.

Seedlings planted. Now I wait.

I've dried seeds from spaghetti squash and a cantaloupe we had, and have planted these seeds to create my seedlings to transport into my garden. My outlay of cash is minimal, and I've begun using data from Hey Google to tell me when to plant - and any other details I ask it. Then, I'll have someone else to blame - or congratulate.
I digress. My seeds are planted, and I'll await the seedlings to pop up, and once the dirt outside has warmed to the appropriate temperature, they will be moved to their final resting place.

Twin and Full, awaiting their occupants

Bed 1 and Bed 2. I'd like to say I'm optimistic. Let's just say I hope Hey Google is right.


Are Mealwoms Really a Worm

No. They are in the lifecycle of a beetle, and are the bread and butter of that lifecycle in my opinion. Chickens love them, mealworms that is. My new mealworm farm is coming along nicely. Slowly, but nicely. Kind of like my back healing...slowly but surely.

Mealworm contraption

 I simply place the carrots for their water source and food in the appropriate drawers, and they make their magic happen. Drawer 1 = Mealworm time, Drawer 2 = Eggs/Babies, Drawer 3 = Beetles who are laying eggs (for 2 week cycles at a time). The game of switching these creatures around, and taking out the aliens (going from mealworm to beetle) is all about timing. When to do what. Luckily, there's thousands of YouTubers who want to share with you just how to manage a Mealworm Farm. This Chicken Mama is trying it and so far, it's slow. Good, but slow. I'll take that.

Mealworms, whom some are turning into aliens

Beetle Drawer

Aliens (mealworm turning into beetle)

Gardens, mealworms, my back healing and starting my egg business all have the same thing in common. Slow going. Yet, I'm getting there, one tiny step at a time. Let's just say that I'm going to need to step up my game at egg selling. I have some ideas......

That's more for next time, my friends.

Be safe out there,

Cyndi

Hoping to increase the business
with some advertising.
I'll need to work on my egg sign next.......