Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a webinar regarding the blood cancer, polycythemia vera that I have.
 |
| PV is tricky |
Prior to the event, each participant received a package via Fed Ex that included many valuable resources along with information and booklets to follow along while attending the webinar. The webinar was amazing, educational and brings me closer to a world of people who live this same life as I do and/or work in the field of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) which is the blood cancer category that my cancer falls under. PV as it's called in the cancer world, is considered a rare cancer and while many people have never heard of it (I had not either until my diagnosis) I enjoy sharing information about it as it helps those around me understand my symptoms and how it may affect me in my life. I was thinking about this because the other day as I realized that my hair has begun to start growing again and my nails are not as terrible as usual.
I have mentioned before that I have lost a couple of fingernails along my cancer treatment journey due to the toxicity of the treatment. But since I've started having monthly cancer treatments (rather than every 2 weeks) I can tell a noticeable reduction in (one of many side effects) of my hair and fingernail loss. When I lost my fingernail on my pointer finger is when I noticed how much I use it for normal daily activities like picking up coins, opening flip top cans, as well as the many uses at work (as a nurse) that I rely on it for.
I was thrilled to have this simple thing such as hair in my hair brush again and the luxury to cut my nails because they were growing. I may be missing a couple of nails but I'm so very grateful to have the ones I do have. It's the little things in life that bring increased appreciation and normalcy to my daily life. This is one that fills my soul-cup up just a little more. Truly fits the saying, it's the little things in life. It really is.
All guests must be approved by the pigs
 |
| * Before pic * My makeshift Pig and Goat Pen constructed with all the fencing ingredients I could muster up around here. Hahaha I was so proud of myself for creating this, silly me. |
It's true, the pigs and goats were fine as they were living inside my makeshift pen. It was definitely a necessity to confine the mischievous and curious goats as they were eating all the bark off many of the trees and also all the chicken food faster than I can eat a can of icing and trust me, that's fast as I can put away some icing.
So God intervened and decided that there were some people who needed some things from each other. Please clarify, you ask.
It all started on Mother's Day. I noticed that a duck down at the pond was missing. Hum, that's odd. Upon closer and further evaluation, I found suspicious feathers near the pond that told me something had happened to one of my ducks. Ugh. One lone duck, who appears to be looking for it's friend is all that's left standing. The friend duck was there yesterday, as I remember being down there and seeing it. Now, it's gone.
So I go to my answer for everything....Craigslist Texoma. And sure enough, I find someone in Sherman selling 3 female teenage ducks. He had bought them at Tractor Supply for his son, and now the ducks were grown and they could not keep them. No problem, I text the number given and sure enough, we arrange a time to meet in the Tractor Supply parking lot in Sherman for a pickup.
The meeting went well, and the man was happy to sell me his ducks and I was happy to take them. Then, he asked if he could give me his business card and if I ever needed fencing or tree trimming, he could be of help. Awesome, I think. And immediately, I knew what I wanted. I have been dreaming of a nice fenced area for my pigs and goats. So I asked him if he could come out for an estimate.
Did you know that he came to the farm that afternoon, and by the next day I had my estimate. Then, I said yes to the estimate and within a couple of days, he (and his adult son) were building me a fence.
Little did I know that he needed the money and I needed the fence. He had told me he was having an anniversary party that following Saturday and they had spent much money on it. Perfect, I'm thinking. There was something about this fateful meeting in the parking lot at Tractor Supply that neither of us knew about. It was a chance meeting whereby we both would be given an opportunity to receive from one another.
 |
| They worked so hard on this fence, esp making sure it's sturdy around the bottom so the pigs don't push their way out. |
This man can build a fence. Any kind of fence you want. Pipe, wood, t-post, whatever your heart desires. Handmade gate or store bought gate, whatever you'd like. And within a few days that same week, my dream came true and suddenly Baby, Maggie, Wilbur, Coco and Pearl were all living in a upsized living space full of grass, goat toys, downed limbs for nibbling and all their sleeping houses enclosed in this area as well.
 |
| I threw many of the downed branches from the storms into their area. Both the pigs and goats are enjoying the limbs, leaves and bark of the trimmings. |
 |
| The handmade gate is probably my favorite. He suggested a sign across the top, and I can't wait to decide what the sign will be. |
I'm telling you it was magical. I was able to pick out what I wanted and he built it exquisitely. Perfectly. Did you know that kind and gentle man worked all week with his son beside him, and built a fence that's sturdy, beautiful, painstakingly straight with a handmade 6 ft gate that's so downright gorgeous that I would marry it if I could.
 |
| This area gives the 3 piggies and 2 goats plenty of room to roam |
 |
| I love the location and convenience of having them close to the barn. And they still have all their pig and goat houses under their awning for nighttime and bad weather. |
 |
| Baby is doing well. She's taken up sleeping in one of the goat houses instead of her own and I don't even understand how she fits in there. But I've seen it with my own eyes. |
 |
| Coco has shed her winter coat and she's a pretty girl with her smooth brown fur. |
All because I lost a duck on Mother's Day that this man came into my life when we both needed each other for different reasons. We were brought together and not as a chance meeting. Truly an intentional introduction. Neither of us knew it at the time, but we do now.
 |
| He sent this pic from his anniversary party. So beautiful - and I imagine it was a huge celebration! |
And sure enough, he had his very-special anniversary party. He sent me a picture - and I was so touched by it and the fact he included me in his personal world was priceless.They had this most amazing and wonderful celebration of their love and time together (26 years) with all their family and friends. He had worked so hard all week and blessed me with a fence I could only dream of - and now somehow had. And all week long he talked about his upcoming anniversary party (and that he was nervous, which I thought was cute) and then it turned out as magical as my fence.
Wait, what about the ducks?
 |
| These three new girls are happy with their new place - and new friend |
 |
| And my lone duck is happy to have 3 sister wives 💙 |
My therapist has whiskers
Let me explain.....
 |
| The Cat House |
 |
| Kitty and Finn enjoying the weather and having their own space |
My relationship with these kitties has changed drastically. I'm able to love, pet and care for them more readily and I truly feel they are safe and happier in their new space. Each of these precious kitties are older. Even when they were in the house and used the doggie door to go outside, they were hanging around sleeping or just laying around. They weren't really catting around much anymore for the most part. But they were leaving all their cat hair in the house, scratching up the furniture and deciding to occasionally potty in the house and not in the litter box. So decisions had to be made and this seemed like the best option for everyone. Ryan and I put it together (from much of the fencing from the old pig and goat makeshift pen) and after Cat Sanctuary 1.0 did not hold them all in (they were climbing over the fence) we went to 2.0, then 3.0, then 4.0 then 4.1 finally held them in. And ever since, they are doing great right where they are.
 |
| June Bug in her spot. She was our talented escape artist. Now, she's settled and loves all the attention that comes her way. |
 |
| The easy life |
This Cat House is purrrfect. Absolutely the cat's meow for us all. Thank you, Ryan for helping make this happen with me. We worked hard to give Kitty, June Bug and Finn a place of their very own - with many visitors who love being able to get to them, pet them, and be with them. Including myself! A common request kids have when visiting the farm is to see and pet the cats (odd, but true). That was not doable before, as the kitties are all elusive with visitors. Now, they enjoy the pets and attention in a safe environment. No more running away. They are here for it. Yes, it's voluntold love that they didn't know they needed but now enjoy (and tolerate).
Go Man Go
I’ve always been a go man go kind of girl. So in an unusual turn of events which I'll explain, I got something that’ll help me go a little faster.
Going to place eggs in the egg fridge up front.....
Then back home jiggity jig.
How exactly did this happen? One word: Richard. You know Richard, the friend who works on my mowers, and cars and installed my generator. Well, he rebuilds things into other things. And he built this contraption from a motorcycle and turned it into a truckster. A Cushman Truckster.
 |
| The Littles love it! |
I know I will definitely regret this purchase when something does not work right with it one day, but Richard really wanted to sell it to me and the price was right. Living this second life seems to be doing some crazy things to me but I'm loving every minute.
Enough about me
Look whose walking! Olive (Ollie Girl) is turning one year old on July 3rd and we will certainly celebrate that soon. For now......she's walking into 1 year old like a boss.
Bee Good Bee Sweet
Before I say an actual pray, I want to say oh my gaud this bee thing. Why. Why do I torture myself like this.
 |
| My neck is tense just looking at this |
I am riding the Help Me Please bus with these bees. So I've enlisted the help of a young lady by the name of Katie. She's a beekeeper who you pay, and she helps care for your bees. This is an actual occupation that people put a bee suit on every day and care for bees. Wow.
So Katie arrived to the farm to make her first appearance to assist me with my bees. I met her when I got my bees at The Bee Supply in Blue Ridge. She's a petite young (probably 25?) year old who is a beekeeper by trade that looks like she jumped out of Hee Haw and Woodstock all at the same time. Bandana tied around her neck, blond hair up in a messy pigtail of some sort, adventurous while marketing her beekeeping skills wherever she can all with a fun and carefree vibe. She's just someone you'd want to put in your pocket and carry her around with you.
 |
| She found the queen though! |
She rated my hive as OK not great. I'll take that.
 |
| This is so Katie |
She set up a 5 gallon bucket with a gallon of sugar water in it all while placing sticks inside the bucket for the bees to walk down on to the water. Who knew. Genius. Seems my hummingbird feeders weren't doing the trick.
Thank goodness for this beekeeper, Katie. She helped me get my bees squared away today and will come by and do things for them every 1-2 weeks. Alrighty then. I feel really good about my beekeeping now. Really good. What's the big deal, bees are easy. Right, Katie? I feel like I'm cheating on a test having hired her. But I think an A++ is in my future after my C- today in regards to my beekeeping. Katie is the bees knees.
On last thing
Oh yeah, knees. My knee. Update please: I went to a supposed preop surgery appt at the beginning of June and to keep this short, the ortho surgeon postponed my knee surgery. Until when, I do not know. He is wanting the stress fracture in my tibia to heal first before doing surgery on my meniscus, and upon xray that day, the fracture is still in the healing process.
I was relieved and I was disturbed. And I was surprised. I had off work for the surgery planned and ready, I had everything set up, and bam, no surgery. Okay then, I shall wait and everything little thing is gonna be alright now. These things take time. How much time? Only God knows this, so I will defer to Him. Until then, I'm still biking and started swimming laps. No running, I promise. This is going to be a process and I'm all in for it. Time heals everything. Hearts and knees.
I've saved the best for last y'all.........
But first (drum roll please) a special announcement:
Lauren and Ryan signed up to start building their new house on their property! They are having the site placement decision and marking completed very soon which will determine where the house will be laid out on their acre and a half. Then, the breaking ground will happen in the next 60-90 days they say. It's exciting, bittersweet (for me) and Lauren says she feels scited (that's scared and excited). I can see the excitement in Ryan's eyes. So you can bet your bippy that I'll be posting pics of that process. The fun never stops around here!
Lastly though, I do want to thank God for all his grace and blessings he's brought into my life. I'm so fortunate to wake up each day that I'm given.
Dear God,
You never let me down. You allow me to fall if I must fall. You teach me that the one I am becoming will catch me, but really, that one is you. And I thank you.
You show me the roads to realizing my dreams. You put people in my path with purpose. You bring new loving souls into my life to love as well as allowing the development of new and improved relationships with those loved ones already near and dear. And I thank you.
You provide all that I need in my life. And I thank you.
Amen.
Exodus 14:14
Hold your peace and the Lord will fight for you. You only need to be still.
Feeling extra-grateful these days,
Cyndi
