So many new things happening around here. Never have I ever done so many new things in 7 weeks like I have this past 7 weeks (except when going across the US 😉 but does that really count). Let's see now.....
Never have I ever had my own Netflix acct - and then add to that - actually watch it
With a new house and an intentional decision to not have a TV, I will tell you that Netflix has come in handy for the car ride back and forth to work. I know, I know.....who watches Netflix while driving, right? Let's just say that I listen alot and watch some. But wow, so many great things to watch.
What I know for sure is that I've learned SO much by watching silly shows like Love Is Blind and Married At First Site. Yep, I watch documentaries like Mountain Queen and also the documentary about the (ultra running) Barkley Race (Hi Laz!) but where I really learn things is in these silly relationship shows.
It's true, watching train wrecks can help you not to have a train wreck. I learned many new relationship skills through therapy, but I can say I've learned just as much through these sometimes-nonsensical relationship shows. I soak in the verbiage for proper and productive communication and recognize the terrible communication when it's happening. I can apply it to my own life, and have found I've learned more than I realized when it comes to communication in a relationship.
So there's been a few men I've had (and still have) the opportunity to "date" and enjoy dinners out with and hang out together. And while I'm merely practicing what a healthy relationship looks and feels like, it's fun to just watch them talk and talk all while I'm actually learning more about myself than about them. Don't get me wrong, I'm learning about them, for sure. But what I'm learning about myself is enlightening.
What do I mean exactly? Well, I've learned that I'm as quirky as they are. I've learned that I have walls up whereby I'm not vulnerable to share things I could be sharing with them. I've learned that the pain they have in their life is seemingly easily shared vs me where I'm afraid to share too much still. I've learned that I can role-play with myself on how to be more open to men, and maybe consider trusting them. I've found men who make me feel safe and help me realize I could be open to love in the right time and place. I've learned that I'm guarded and therefore freely allow them to talk as I stare at them and think about what I'm learning in that moment: How free they are to be themselves. How free they are to share their pain and hurt. And how it inspires me to do the same.....some day. That's what I've learned, that I will share one day with the right person who will hold my story softly and gently. One man said to me,"You're like a ground hog in its hole and I'm outside patiently and quietly waiting for you to appear and show yourself." Good gaud. He's also the one that told me my walls are up and called me out on it. The hurt runs deep. Did I mention I'm practicing?
So Netflix, you're a gem. You're there for me with serious things and silly things to watch, and I thank you. Esp on my long drives to work and back home. I promise I'm trying to be as safe as possible when doing so.
Never have I ever had 21 acres to care for
I'm not sure whose bright idea it was for me to purchase 21 acres. Oh yeah, it was mine. And turns out, it doesn't take care of itself.
I'm down for caring for the house, the barn and the animals and also mowing a portion of the land. But I do not have a tractor (yet) and not sure I want to invest in one. Why, you ask? Because the things I have own me. I'd have to keep a tractor running, keep it maintained, etc. Less is more in my book.
So instead, I've received a different solution. So there's a guy (Buddy) whose going to put his cattle on a large portion of my land. He's going to mend my fences to keep his animals in, he's going to care for his cattle and keep those acres trimmed. He has the means and the know-how. Wonderful, I'll take it, and I'll be applying for my ag exemption because the previous owner let it lapse. But the cattle will take care of what's needed to make it all happen and I've know this guy for about 9 years now and love the idea of him being around to do these things. He's done many fencing projects for me in those years, and most recently placed a fence with a (coded) gate - and I absolutely love it.
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| There's something about the security of knowing only those allowed in are allowed in |
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| The Littles can go underneath it, but they don't venture far |
Never have I ever had Bronchiectasis, much less know how to pronounce it
Bron-kee-eck-tuh-sis. This is new.
Recently, I transferred my pulmonary care to a new pulmonologist due to moving further away. Her name is (female) Dr Kable and she has offices in Denison and McKinney. She's also the wife of (male) Dr Kable whose an anesthesiologist I work with at the surgery center. She's a rock star in the world of pulmonologist and I've been gifted the opportunity to be in her care.
As my blood cancer progresses, so does the damage to internal organs due to poor blood quality. My lungs are struggling a bit these days, and she gives me confidence that she's going to be able to help me have the best lungs I can possibly have. She sent me for a CT of my lungs (chest), performed some new breathing tests on me, and did some lab testing and allergy testing, too. Turns out I'm allergic to every tree and most grasses. I knew this already, and have received allergy treatments in the past, but now she says it's more important than ever to get it more under control than it currently is, because of the effect it has on my lungs and the amount of mucous that allergies create in your body.
So I'm going to start some new treatment options and see if it helps improve my lungs and their ability to do their job. So what is bronchiectasis? It's a irreversible, chronic condition whereby the airways in my lungs become damaged and abnormally widened which in turn causes cough and recurrent respiratory infections and hinders the ability to cough up mucous as people normally can. Hence, explaining why I've been diagnosed with pneumonia twice in the last year.
So as I make my way to MD Anderson this Friday, I'll be having my usual appt for labs and a visit to my oncologist there, as I now do this every 6 months. At that appt, my oncologist and I will talk about the new treatment options being recommended by Dr Kable and if they are in fact something I can do along with my monthly cancer treatments to ensure there's no contraindications involved.
What I can say about all this is that I understand the nature of what I have, and how fortunate I am to receive the care from rock star doctors. Without them, all of this would be harder to manage. And there will be more to come, so having a collaborative group of doctors is a blessing that words cannot explain. Waking up each day is not taken for granted, I promise you that.
Never have I ever attended a cowboy church
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| Turns out, this is a real thing |
A few weeks ago, my sorta-new-to-me horse farrier, Dustin was trimming my horses and donkeys feet. It was during that visit that he mentioned the church he attends (Top Rail Cowboy Church in Greenville) and invited me to visit on that following Sunday. I was intrigued and said I'd be there.
So I went, and sat with him and his fiance. Although I was unfamiliar with this type of church environment, I really enjoyed it. And I've been every Sunday since.
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| The cowboy band plays Christian music, and then Pastor Charlie gives his message. |
It's very informal, and very inviting. You're a visitor the first time you go, then after that, you are family. I've met so many nice people there and enjoy the message each week from Pastor Charlie. This Sunday he spoke on James 3:13-17 and he spoke about wisdom and 'who is wise and understanding among you'. I really thought about that - who is wise and understanding in my life? It was thought provoking and actually felt very yoga-ish and I like that except we weren't doing yoga.
The topic of "what is wisdom" was deep - yet had a clear answer to it, turns out. And I also learned that there are two kinds of wisdom and in his sermon and in the scripture - it was revealed. This message provided me new insights into the term wisdom, as well as peace. The word 'peaceable' (which was a new word to me) in this particular scripture was also intriguing, as I am very guarded about my own peace in life. It certainly widened my scope of thinking in terms of what is peaceable. And what is wisdom.
This cowboy church is a new experience for me, and turns out there's horses there sometimes - and a huge horse arena attached to the sanctuary. Who knew.
I did embarrass myself during my first visit to the cowboy church. What I didn't realize is that they have official Elders there. I grew up in the Methodist church and we didn't have people we called Elder So-In-So, but at the cowboy church, they do. So Elder Glenn came up to me and introduced himself and then said he's an Elder and I said, "Me, too!" thinking he meant elder as in an older-in-age person. Dear Lord, please forgive me as I know not what I say. Ugh. I can't look Elder Glenn in the eye anymore.
Never have I ever had so many white dogs than I do now
I looked up recently and realized just how many white dogs I have 🤔
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| Sugar and Char |
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| Levi |
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| Dutch |
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| Penny |
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| Mia, Penny and Dutch |
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| Mia |
In all fairness, I've had these sweet doggos for awhile now, many for a long time. But the realization from someone recently who said, "You sure have a lot of white dogs" brought it to light. I love me some white dogs. Maybe and Theo are the outliers in regards to color, but do have some white on them nonetheless.
Never have I ever had a conventional septic system
Okay, I've had city septic. I've had an aerobic septic system (in Gunter) and even had a brand new one put in for someone else to enjoy now. But here in Wolfe City, I have a conventional septic system and I had no idea what that meant.
Turns out, I've been looking for the aerobic system here at my new house, whereby it has a place you put bleach in it each month. I can't find that. And I've been watching for the sprinklers to go off to disburse the processed waste. But nope, I've yet to find it or see it.
So after a little more research, I've learned I have a conventional septic system which means there's tanks buried underground near the house and a leach field about 200 feet away that the liquid waste seeps out slowly. Sounds ridiculous, right?
So I called a septic system company in Greenville who came out to check out my septic system and educate me on what to expect and what's going on. They showed up, and he did me a solid (no pun intended) and pumped out the tanks and now my septic system is lickity clean even though it didn't smell like it.
I didn't know what I didn't know and now I know. He says I can wait 3-4 more years to have it pumped again. No bleach to put in it. Nothing to do for this septic system as far as maintenance goes. I thought it was odd that I didn't have a garbage disposal in the sink and that's why. There is to be no food down the drain to the septic tank. Yes, it was that way with my aerobic system, too. But this conventional system has a hard no on food down the drain so they don't even give an option of a disposal in the sink. All extra food always goes to the chickens anyway.
Now I know. Lots of learning going on out here.
Granted, my biggest never have I ever was the moving of my farm animals. But I've already covered that in a previous blog post, and I'm still in shock and awe over it when I see all my animals here doing so well and loving life. God is good. Every day.
I love the idea of many more new things to come in life - for all of us. The good, the bad and the unexpected. I'm here for it all and happy to be here for it all. Until next time.....
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| Me living in Wolfe City |
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| Pondering life out here and what to play with next |
Love to you all,
Cyndi
