So many nuggets

 

Baby on Board

This sign (you know the one, yellow with black letters, on the back window of the car in front of you) first arrived at my house recently, as Lauren/Brooks have been staying with us in Gunter for the last couple of weeks. While this is a blessing for us, it's not because it was Lauren's plan. Unfortunately, she had a complication from the birth of Brooks which made it more difficult for her to move around and care for Brooks. Lauren would need to rest and recover, all while Team Us helped take care of Brooks, along with Lauren, of course. Lauren was able to take care of Brooks as much as she possibly could, but additional help was required for a period of time. Good news for us though! We have had lots of Brooks-time these last few weeks. And we loved it!

Post-bath

We were able to give many bathes, have quality time (even during the night) rocking and feeding him, we would go for walks in his carrier (esp to the barn), and assisted giving bottles. Lots of bottles! He's growing up so fast, and will be 8 weeks on Wednesday. 

He loves sheep, like we all do around here.

I'm happy to share that Lauren has healed, and is up and on the move again. It took her whole 8 weeks maternity time off to get there, but she did it! Lauren is now back to work (today) and luckily Ryan will be able to watch Brooks this week while Lauren (works from home) and is back to work. I'm happy to say that Lauren, Ryan and Brooks are all doing well, and creating a new life for themselves. Although, now we have asked them to stay in Gunter a little longer.......

What did you say?

Yes, I mentioned that Lauren is back to work, and Ryan is watching Brooks - yet it's all in Gunter - for now. Why is that you ask? Because even though David and I were supposed to be watching Brooks this week, we had a change in plans. I've been fortunate to be able to go to MD Anderson this week to visit with a doctor for a clinical trial regarding polycythemia vera. MDA will evaluate me and see if I qualify for a clinical trial here. We will see what this brings, and if it is something that is meant for me. I'll continue to update the progress of this as it evolves. For now, we will spend the week in Houston and learn what MD Anderson is all about! I'm hoping to learn more about this blood cancer and what it means for me - and all the other mutant warriors out there (PV patients have a JAK2 mutation). If I can be involved in a clinical trial that helps with research and a cure, I'm all in.  

In the meantime, Lauren and Ryan are staying in Gunter to take care of our farm, while we are in Houston. I should be back (maybe) Wednesday.....but we'll see how it goes. We may be here all week, as it depends on what testing they may require. We are staying in the Med Residence apartments next door to MDA, and it's really nice here. There are lots of opportunities regarding cancer research, treatments and AMAZING doctors here. It's a well oiled machine at MDA, and touches so many peoples lives every day. I'm thrilled to be seen by a doctor here, even if I don't qualify for the clinical trial. It will be a learning experience for sure. 

My yeses and no's are aligned

Yes to more chickens, no to more work. Yes to taking in a stray dog, no to unneeded things around the farm. Yes to downsizing and no to keeping junk I don't need. Yes to selling eggs and no to things that don't serve me. I always have more things I could discard. It's like an ongoing game to Keep or Throw Away. Keep what's needed or loved - and throw away the rest. Sounds easy but takes forever, it seems. 

Yes, it would seem that more chickens = more work. But with the chicken food feeders David has made, it's a game changer. Less work. I've rearranged the barn to make it easier to clean. That helps. Yes to Winston, who is not just surviving, but thriving. He's such a treat to have around! He's an old guy, whose grateful and loyal as well as an example of how to live your best life after living in such harsh conditions. 

Winston is now allowed to roam more and more. He doesn't run fast or far, as he can't. We watch him closely for chicken chasing, but he's just not physically able to do too much. He prefers to be around us when possible, and showed interest in a dog toy for the first time recently. He's down to 2 meals a day, plus a pain pill each day. The Vet said he will need daily pain meds as he's got terrible arthritis in his back hind legs/hips that cause him to fall to the ground easily due to his unsteadiness. We were able to have him neutered, and the place the Vet thought was a gun shell was actually a calcified cyst that the Vet was able to take out (while he was under anesthesia). I'm happy to report he's doing well!

Horse Play

More good news! Faith recovered from her colic and is doing wonderful. All three mini's have grown their winter coats and look so cozy. They are friendly, happy and readily allow my touch. Esp Dora, who has become my snuggle bug, wanting pets and attention. After her baby Diego (aka Biter) left the farm, Dora has turned into the sweetest thing ever. And then to make all things even better, Hope and Faith have grown their trust towards people, and are being receptive to outsiders. It's so wonderful to see these 3 mares change and evolve. I'm happy that they are so happy. 

Sweet Dora

Faith (Hope nearby though!)

Hope and Faith are attached. They are attached not only because they are mama/daughter, but also because they went through such hard times together, that bonded them even more. They look out for each other at all times. Dora may be the "outsider" with these 2 mini's, but the 3 of these girls do well overall. They keep things exciting around here, and are growing more trusting all the time.

Chicken bonanza 

For real, I found a lady in Van Alstyne selling her entire flock of laying hens for $3 each. Upon further investigation, this lady's chickens were in immaculate shape and stunningly beautiful. And the fact they were hens and laying eggs made the deal sweeter. I bought 4 naked neck/turkins and 4 americanas from her and loved them so much, I went back and bought 3 wyandottes and 2 cinnamon queens ("comets"). They are all in such wonderful shape, it really prompted me to reevaluate my own living conditions for my chickens. I can always do better, and decided I'd step up my chicken game.

Giving the swing a try

I cleaned the mirror they love to look at themselves in, I cleaned their dust bathe area completely and added new dirt and sand. I moved their roosting area to a place I could clean underneath easier and added several wood ladders with round rungs just the right size for their little chicken feet to roost on. The new chicken feeders (David made) create less waste and less mess. And I added more roosting room for them, so night time is never a fight to get the 'best spot' now. I upped my chicken game. Here's some of my new girls that inspired me to be better:

The ameraucana's have the cutest faces and lay
easter eggs - as all their eggs are green-blue
and just simply beautiful (the chickens and their eggs). 

The 3 wyandottes are so beautiful, they know it.

The turkens will not win the Chicken Beauty 
Pageant, but they are the sweetest things. 

Thank you, David for these chicken feeders 💕

So how many chickens do I have now? Let me do a little chicken math. Let's see, I have my 10 little silkie and frizzles........

5 silkes and 5 frizzles over here

Plus the 1 new brahma chick a friend gave me the other day ("Here, take one!") as it sat in my lap unexpectedly on the car ride home (no pic yet of it, it's brand new). Okay, that's 11, right? Plus my original 34 big girls I already had, plus the 4 turken's + 3 wyandotte's + 4 ameraucana's + 2 "comets' MINUS the fact I gifted a family friend 4 of my amazing $3-chicken-finds (she got 1 of the wyandotte, 1 of the ameraucana and also gave her the 2 "comets" because she loves those too). ** Side note: I love to share my chickens with my fellow chicken-lady friends. It's almost like a 10 year old boy with baseball trading cards. 

Oh, and I forgot to mention 2 of my teenager blue Orpingtons were roosters (they were given away promptly) and my lavender Orpington just up and disappeared one day. I need to put all that in the equation. 

So back to the chicken math: 10 + 1 + 34 + 13 - 4 - 2 -1 = 51 

But what's weird about this is when I count my chickens at night when they are staying still and roosting.....I count 50. Ugh. No wait, maybe I didn't count the new baby brahma given to me. Or did I? Ooof. Anyways. I have around 50 chickens - and love them dearly. One of my Ideal 236's I've named Moon Pie who loves to be loved. I named one of the turkens Long Neck and she follows me around everywhere. So they mostly all get named eventually. More pics next time, as I'm in Houston I'm unable to go out and snap the ones I want to put in my blog. Next time though, I'll include Moon Pie and Long Neck. 

 

Maya Angelo once said: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." 

I did just that with my chickens recently, and continue to try and live my life like that as well, Maya. Sometimes I don't know better. But when I do, I should act on that. #trying

Alright, My Friends 

I'm trying to call myself out on my own $hit in order to grow over here. Whether it's caring for my chickens or being a better triage nurse at work. I've had a turning point (another corner, geez) for me, all while turning 57 years old this past November.  57 enlightened me that the 3 people I am most grateful for are who I used to be, who I am now, and who I'm becoming. I need them all. I don't always like them all, but that's what spurs me to grow. While I really just want to be a woodland creature living life with my neighbor goose next door and my only worry is whether or not my owl friend is going to pop by today and say hello. That's not my life. If asked what I want to do today? I'd reply with go hike the Appalachian Trail or go pick up at where I left off just outside NY and finish my trek on down to Florida. Maybe it's just that I want to be outside moving my body in some form or fashion. I think with the covid vaccines on the horizon, I'm going to make my way out in the world again. And so will most everybody else, thank you God. But first, let's see what MDA has to say.

Lastly.....

Oh, and since winter is here, the heated water buckets are going out. All animals shelters are double checked. Barn doors are shutting. Mowers are prepped for the winter and placed in the back of the garage. Bird feeders are filled. Hummingbird feeders are down. Water spouts covered. Winter feels good, and Maya, I'll continue to do better.

Stay close to people who feel like sunshine,

Cyndi

Brooks doesn't know it yet, but big sis Tula
has her eye on him. Tula is patiently
awaiting her first pet from her brother.