I graduated! After 2 years of hard work, I graduated! All that stands between me and my license is the Vet Tech National Exam, which I will be taking in November.
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
The Little Piglet that Could
The momma pigs are restless. There are three of them, one has had her babies. There were quite a few in the beginning, but five have since passed away. I don't understand how momma pigs end up laying on their babies, one would think the little ones would scramble out of the way, or mom might be more cautious, but it does happen.
There's a little runt – gender unconfirmed, but a little boy is my personal suspicion – and he is just so darn cute, and rather sweet. He was competing with his numerous siblings for a place at momma's table, but he just couldn't cut it. After all his siblings had eaten and retired to the corner under the heat lamp, he made his tottering way up front, where the automatic waterer is. He began lapping up the liquid on the floor. I'm afraid it wasn't all water.
We tried to discourage him as much as possible, but he was thirsty! He was also shivering. Bear in mind that it is still winter and even though the barn is heated, a tiny little pig gets the chills quickly. We encouraged him to go back to his siblings under the heat lamp, but every time we stuck our hands in the pen, momma pig would see it and come running over furiously, all full of protective instinct, grunting and groaning and carrying on.
However, we are future techs, and do not easily give up. There's a tiny whole in the pen's wall, just big enough for a runt piglet. One of my classmates drew up her courage and reached through, encouraging him to come closer. He did wander toward her, lapping the liquid on the floor as he went. She reached around him and gently pulled him toward her. He was silent. We were all holding our breaths. She lifted him, and got his back legs through the hole. As she lifted him further, to pull him through, he squealed.
I have never seen an animal turn quicker than his momma. I have also never been as frightened of an animal as that. These momma's are huge! I would honestly guess in the 600-700lb range. They've been at our farm for several years. She came screaming over. My classmate let go of that baby and he went running to mom. I can't blame her, I would have too.
However, that had the desired effect. Little baby runt went back to his siblings and cuddled down in the middle and began to dream little piggy dreams.
Until next time,
There's a little runt – gender unconfirmed, but a little boy is my personal suspicion – and he is just so darn cute, and rather sweet. He was competing with his numerous siblings for a place at momma's table, but he just couldn't cut it. After all his siblings had eaten and retired to the corner under the heat lamp, he made his tottering way up front, where the automatic waterer is. He began lapping up the liquid on the floor. I'm afraid it wasn't all water.
We tried to discourage him as much as possible, but he was thirsty! He was also shivering. Bear in mind that it is still winter and even though the barn is heated, a tiny little pig gets the chills quickly. We encouraged him to go back to his siblings under the heat lamp, but every time we stuck our hands in the pen, momma pig would see it and come running over furiously, all full of protective instinct, grunting and groaning and carrying on.
However, we are future techs, and do not easily give up. There's a tiny whole in the pen's wall, just big enough for a runt piglet. One of my classmates drew up her courage and reached through, encouraging him to come closer. He did wander toward her, lapping the liquid on the floor as he went. She reached around him and gently pulled him toward her. He was silent. We were all holding our breaths. She lifted him, and got his back legs through the hole. As she lifted him further, to pull him through, he squealed.
I have never seen an animal turn quicker than his momma. I have also never been as frightened of an animal as that. These momma's are huge! I would honestly guess in the 600-700lb range. They've been at our farm for several years. She came screaming over. My classmate let go of that baby and he went running to mom. I can't blame her, I would have too.
However, that had the desired effect. Little baby runt went back to his siblings and cuddled down in the middle and began to dream little piggy dreams.
Until next time,
Mouse CPR
I am in school to be a vet tech, and the other day I was reminded about why I chose this field.
I was in lab with my box of mice. We each receive four and they are either males or females. I chose males. We are encouraged to check on them each day and bring them treats or toys or something to enrich their existence. It also serves as a reward for them. They get handled and then they get treats and fun things to play with. When we first got them, they were wild little rascals, but now merely four weeks later they are much sweeter and used to being handled. We do scary things to them. Scary for us and a little scary for them. We had to put them under anesthesia last week and let me tell you my hands have never shaken more. I was so nervous. He was napping happily while I collected blood and (he) never felt a thing.
To recover them we roll them gently in bubble wrap (with their little noses sticking out) and set them on a warming pad. Sounds weird, but animals under anesthesia can't regulate their body heat and it's up to us to keep them warm. Once they are aware and are capable of righting themselves when you turn them on their side, they can go back to their cage mates. I was nervous about my little guy climbing out of the warming container so I put him in my lab coat pocket for awhile until he tried to climb out of it – then I knew he was ready to go back.
Let me tell you I was terrified while that animal was under anesthesia. This limp little guy you are responsible for: he can't move himself out of danger, he can't keep himself warm, and he can't blink and wet his eyes. You have to do all that for him. It was something else.
Our colony is sick. They have a debilitating disease that can cause hereditary bone issues. There have been losses associated with that disease. It also causes breathing trouble. My smallest mouse, the second week, went into a respiratory fit and I was sure I'd lost him. Panicked, I called over my teacher who took the mouse from me.
My teacher is a very tall man with blunt, wide fingers. He handled that tiny, tiny mouse with such care and he talked to me in such a soothing voice. He asked me what I'd done, gently. I told him the truth: I'd given the mouse an injection of sub-q fluids and nothing more. I was just restraining him when he went limp. My teacher, holding that limp mouse in the palm of his hands, gave the tiniest chest compressions I'll ever see.
Right there is where I realized I was in the right field.
I strive to be as compassionate and gentle as that man was every day.
Just when I'd given up hope, the little guy sat right up, a little wobbly, but just fine. He still is fine, healthy and thriving!
Photo used under the creative commons license on Flickr.
Until next time,
I was in lab with my box of mice. We each receive four and they are either males or females. I chose males. We are encouraged to check on them each day and bring them treats or toys or something to enrich their existence. It also serves as a reward for them. They get handled and then they get treats and fun things to play with. When we first got them, they were wild little rascals, but now merely four weeks later they are much sweeter and used to being handled. We do scary things to them. Scary for us and a little scary for them. We had to put them under anesthesia last week and let me tell you my hands have never shaken more. I was so nervous. He was napping happily while I collected blood and (he) never felt a thing.
To recover them we roll them gently in bubble wrap (with their little noses sticking out) and set them on a warming pad. Sounds weird, but animals under anesthesia can't regulate their body heat and it's up to us to keep them warm. Once they are aware and are capable of righting themselves when you turn them on their side, they can go back to their cage mates. I was nervous about my little guy climbing out of the warming container so I put him in my lab coat pocket for awhile until he tried to climb out of it – then I knew he was ready to go back.
Let me tell you I was terrified while that animal was under anesthesia. This limp little guy you are responsible for: he can't move himself out of danger, he can't keep himself warm, and he can't blink and wet his eyes. You have to do all that for him. It was something else.
Our colony is sick. They have a debilitating disease that can cause hereditary bone issues. There have been losses associated with that disease. It also causes breathing trouble. My smallest mouse, the second week, went into a respiratory fit and I was sure I'd lost him. Panicked, I called over my teacher who took the mouse from me.
My teacher is a very tall man with blunt, wide fingers. He handled that tiny, tiny mouse with such care and he talked to me in such a soothing voice. He asked me what I'd done, gently. I told him the truth: I'd given the mouse an injection of sub-q fluids and nothing more. I was just restraining him when he went limp. My teacher, holding that limp mouse in the palm of his hands, gave the tiniest chest compressions I'll ever see.
I strive to be as compassionate and gentle as that man was every day.
Just when I'd given up hope, the little guy sat right up, a little wobbly, but just fine. He still is fine, healthy and thriving!
Photo used under the creative commons license on Flickr.
Until next time,
Ewe Saving
I am seriously in love with going to school!
Sure, it costs, but really, how many people get to go to school and play with pretty much any animal they want? Vet tech program for the win!
I'm taking a large animal care course this semester and part of the course is a three hour lab once a week in which we go to the school's barn and learn. This week we did cow restraints: haltering, nose leads, casting, tail jacking, and tail twisting. Our girls are pretty well behaved and stand for most of what we do, but they didn't much like casting. We have one who is expected to calve any day and I can't wait to meet the new little one!
After lab ended this past week, the farm manager dismissed us for the day. I hung around and talked to one of the instructors who is also a friend. The farm manager came over and asked her to help him with a sheep with a prolapsed uterus. He had something called a Ewe Saver in his hands and gave it to her along with some thin rope and went to get the rest of the supplies.
My teacher looked at me and said, "Would you like to come see us replace a prolapsed uterus?" You can bet I practically danced a yes!
So we drove over to the sheep shed and isolated the poor ewe. We got her haltered and tied to part of the hay manger. Then the farm manager met us and handed us a bag of sterile saline. We washed her uterus off and then he carefully and gently worked it back in. (He had the gloves, not us.) It took maybe ten minutes because she struggled and grunted and groaned and protested. I'm sure it hurt, but as with most things animal medicine related, it was for the best.
He inserted the ewe saver and tied it with the ropes and bam she was all better. She also got a nice big dose of antibiotic to stave off infection.
Poor sheep, but she'll be okay. I thought the whole thing was awesome! My first real experience with farm animal medicine, and it was wonderful.
Until next time,
Sure, it costs, but really, how many people get to go to school and play with pretty much any animal they want? Vet tech program for the win!
I'm taking a large animal care course this semester and part of the course is a three hour lab once a week in which we go to the school's barn and learn. This week we did cow restraints: haltering, nose leads, casting, tail jacking, and tail twisting. Our girls are pretty well behaved and stand for most of what we do, but they didn't much like casting. We have one who is expected to calve any day and I can't wait to meet the new little one!
After lab ended this past week, the farm manager dismissed us for the day. I hung around and talked to one of the instructors who is also a friend. The farm manager came over and asked her to help him with a sheep with a prolapsed uterus. He had something called a Ewe Saver in his hands and gave it to her along with some thin rope and went to get the rest of the supplies.
My teacher looked at me and said, "Would you like to come see us replace a prolapsed uterus?" You can bet I practically danced a yes!
So we drove over to the sheep shed and isolated the poor ewe. We got her haltered and tied to part of the hay manger. Then the farm manager met us and handed us a bag of sterile saline. We washed her uterus off and then he carefully and gently worked it back in. (He had the gloves, not us.) It took maybe ten minutes because she struggled and grunted and groaned and protested. I'm sure it hurt, but as with most things animal medicine related, it was for the best.
He inserted the ewe saver and tied it with the ropes and bam she was all better. She also got a nice big dose of antibiotic to stave off infection.
Poor sheep, but she'll be okay. I thought the whole thing was awesome! My first real experience with farm animal medicine, and it was wonderful.
Until next time,
Silence in Ice
I walked by the corner of the shed today and hanging off the moss-covered roof were icicles. Every single winter, as the morning sun rises and melts the snow on the shed roof, it drips down and forms a perfect row of icicles.
The icicles have always been here, a comforting winter staple. On our way out to the school bus in the morning we would grab a few and pelt each other with them. We would compete to knock them all off before someone else could. We would pick the biggest of them and die dramatically on the snow, icicle firmly lodged in our armpits.
Even now I find uses for them. I feed them to the dog, who delights in throwing them around and chasing them, then settling in for a good, long chew. Knocking them off the edge of the roof still gives the same satisfaction as it did all those years ago.
Winter is often maligned or outright hated. I will admit to disliking winter myself, but when I stop and look for the beauty, even simple icicles bring warm memories that brighten the short and dreary winter days.
Not so long ago, when the world was more agrarian, winter was a time of rest from the long days spent in the fields, coaxing forth the crops that would be next winter's food. Or long days spent in the barn, coaxing forth new life from the farm animals. Now winter is mostly an inconvenience.
How unfortunate that we as a nation, no longer take the time to appreciate winter.
Today I am grateful for the beautiful pattern the sun makes as it passes through an icicle; a tiny little rainbow patch in the snow.
Until next time,
The icicles have always been here, a comforting winter staple. On our way out to the school bus in the morning we would grab a few and pelt each other with them. We would compete to knock them all off before someone else could. We would pick the biggest of them and die dramatically on the snow, icicle firmly lodged in our armpits.
Even now I find uses for them. I feed them to the dog, who delights in throwing them around and chasing them, then settling in for a good, long chew. Knocking them off the edge of the roof still gives the same satisfaction as it did all those years ago.
Winter is often maligned or outright hated. I will admit to disliking winter myself, but when I stop and look for the beauty, even simple icicles bring warm memories that brighten the short and dreary winter days.
Not so long ago, when the world was more agrarian, winter was a time of rest from the long days spent in the fields, coaxing forth the crops that would be next winter's food. Or long days spent in the barn, coaxing forth new life from the farm animals. Now winter is mostly an inconvenience.
How unfortunate that we as a nation, no longer take the time to appreciate winter.
Today I am grateful for the beautiful pattern the sun makes as it passes through an icicle; a tiny little rainbow patch in the snow.
Until next time,
Anything But Routine
I am making a thoughtful, concerted effort to enjoy my summer more than last summer. Last summer I was lazy and unmotivated. This summer, I am making a choice to not waste it. Sure I still sit in the evenings and watch tv. Sometimes I spend the entire day in my chair, but the vast majority of days I'm doing something!
Here's what I've been up to:
There are road trips with good friends...
Going places I've never been! Such as a trip to the waterfall on a back road I don't know.
Cookouts involving adorable chicks hanging out on shoulders. Makes me want chickens even more!
Edge of the East Sidney Dam, where we had a big barbeque. Long drive, but worth it!
Skipping stones at East Sidney Dam; and some of the views.
I've been playing a lot of Badminton lately. I'm not really that great at it.
And I've been playing with camera settings. Right now I'm loving the Macro setting; getting lots of cool shots!
By the way, I have a Canon Powershot A2500. I got it to replace my old Powershot which has, unfortunately, developed a black spot that shows up on the picture. Gramma got one and I liked it. Then it went on sale ($58.99) and I snapped one up!
I like it, it's a great point and shoot. I have to say though, that I almost never just post the photos straight out of the camera.
Today I'm grateful for long summer days, sunshine, and sweat rolling down my back. Even though it means hot days, it also means honest work outside.
Until next time,
Here's what I've been up to:
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By the way, I have a Canon Powershot A2500. I got it to replace my old Powershot which has, unfortunately, developed a black spot that shows up on the picture. Gramma got one and I liked it. Then it went on sale ($58.99) and I snapped one up!
I like it, it's a great point and shoot. I have to say though, that I almost never just post the photos straight out of the camera.
| * I send all my photos through my (old and terribly outdated) Photoshop 7. (I wouldn't trade it for the new ones though!) | |
| * I'm a big fan of PW's Action Sets. Even though most of them don't work well with my outdated PS. | |
| * Also, I delete way more photos than I share with here or on my flickr, but ultimately I am more satisfied with the quality of the photos I've been taking this year. |
Today I'm grateful for long summer days, sunshine, and sweat rolling down my back. Even though it means hot days, it also means honest work outside.
Until next time,
A Weekend for Friends
We went to the Arkville Fair this weekend. By "we" I mean my best friend, Rachel, and I.
This is Rachel. We've been friends since the fourth grade.
There was a parade with cars...
and horses...
and of course tractors! This is farm country after all!
There was a knight I posed with, and a lovely cow.
Good times with a wonderful person!
Even though Arkville is quite a drive for us, it was worth it. I wasn't overly impressed with the vendors, and we were promised a quilt show that was no where to be found, but it was a lovely town. Every single person we encountered was extremely nice. It's great to get that small town vibe away from home! We enjoyed ice cream and acting like fools (dancing... they had some good music!).
Lots of other stuff went on this weekend, but there are a lot of pictures to share and I feel like this is enough for one day!
Today I am grateful for Miss Rachel, a constant inspiration in my life.
Until next time,
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Even though Arkville is quite a drive for us, it was worth it. I wasn't overly impressed with the vendors, and we were promised a quilt show that was no where to be found, but it was a lovely town. Every single person we encountered was extremely nice. It's great to get that small town vibe away from home! We enjoyed ice cream and acting like fools (dancing... they had some good music!).
Lots of other stuff went on this weekend, but there are a lot of pictures to share and I feel like this is enough for one day!
Today I am grateful for Miss Rachel, a constant inspiration in my life.
Until next time,
A Bustling Week
This morning there was a cow in the road.
This year's raspberries forming on bushes planted last year.
Not an unusual sight on the back roads maybe, but on the main highway that connects all these little towns? A big happening. The cheeky cow was being moved and decided to stroll into the road for a minute. You should have seen Mr. Bishop hustle out after her, yelling at her to get back where she belonged. The poor cow was quite startled and stumbled, but she was alright. A grazed knee is a heck of a lot better than being road burger.
I was pretty startled too. And I didn't get a picture. It all happened too fast and I was much more concerned with stopping the vehicle than snapping photos.
I have been working all week, both jobs, and am looking forward to tomorrow off. Tomorrow is, after all, my only brother's 20th birthday. We're having Dirt Cake, and yes, I'll get the recipe and some pictures too. :)
I got my acceptance letter for full time college. I have a few things to tie up still (like financial aid), but you know, I think I'm looking forward to it.
Otherwise I have been taking a lot of photos and playing around with my (very outdated, but wouldn't trade it for the world) Photoshop. If you're interested, you should pop on over to my flickr account and have a look. I don't post all of my photos here and more day to day stuff can be seen there!
I am grateful to have two jobs, even if I'm grumbling about them today. It is one of those perfect summer days of utter beauty and I have all of one and a half hours to enjoy it. But that's still something.
Until next time,
Not an unusual sight on the back roads maybe, but on the main highway that connects all these little towns? A big happening. The cheeky cow was being moved and decided to stroll into the road for a minute. You should have seen Mr. Bishop hustle out after her, yelling at her to get back where she belonged. The poor cow was quite startled and stumbled, but she was alright. A grazed knee is a heck of a lot better than being road burger.
I was pretty startled too. And I didn't get a picture. It all happened too fast and I was much more concerned with stopping the vehicle than snapping photos.
I have been working all week, both jobs, and am looking forward to tomorrow off. Tomorrow is, after all, my only brother's 20th birthday. We're having Dirt Cake, and yes, I'll get the recipe and some pictures too. :)
I got my acceptance letter for full time college. I have a few things to tie up still (like financial aid), but you know, I think I'm looking forward to it.
Otherwise I have been taking a lot of photos and playing around with my (very outdated, but wouldn't trade it for the world) Photoshop. If you're interested, you should pop on over to my flickr account and have a look. I don't post all of my photos here and more day to day stuff can be seen there!
I am grateful to have two jobs, even if I'm grumbling about them today. It is one of those perfect summer days of utter beauty and I have all of one and a half hours to enjoy it. But that's still something.
Until next time,
Weekend Gone
The tomatoes are finally growing. I say finally as if they're really late, but they're not. Even though our growing season is a month late this year, tomatoes don't really get going until late July and August. So they're not late, I'm just impatient! The farmer's market had some lovely tomatoes, but they are green house grown, so they have an edge. Ours are coming along though!
Mom and I tried out the new dog clippers we got and shaved down the boys. Wow is it a lot easier when you have the right tools! Who knew? Us, the boys, the carpet, the freezer (our make-shift grooming table), and the blanket we had over the freezer were covered in loose hair. It was something else, let me tell you. I may be picking dog hair out of my teeth for days! We went outside to check on what the other members of our family were up to and to shake out the blanket.
Gramma and my brother Ben were out digging a railroad tie out from under the ground so the mower doesn't hit it anymore. (God only knows why they were there in the first place, the old railroad bed is nowhere near our property. Then again, we dig a lot of interesting things out of the ground around here.) Then they were trimming branches all along the wood line, including the old crab apple tree so the mower could fit under it again. I can't speak anything of my brother's choice of yard work clothes, though he did eventually come back in and put shoes on!
All in all, it was lovely weekend. The weather was sunny and warm and breezy and perfect. I hope yours was just as nice. We had fireworks on Friday, which I watched from a pile of bags of dirt outside the store with my best friend and some other people I love, a lazy day at work on Saturday filled with conversations with the wonderful people of this town, and a Sunday full of family activities and some really wonderful bonding time.
Today I am grateful for the long days of summer and the friends, food, and togetherness it brings.
Until next time,
Happy Fourth of July!
Happy Fourth my friends! I thought I'd share some pictures.
We didn't have the greatest weather as it was cloudy and threatening to rain most of the day. I'm good with rain most of the time... but when it coincides with fireworks I'm disappointed. I love fireworks! We didn't have to worry though - the rain held and we enjoyed a lovely display.
I didn't get any pictures of the fireworks (didn't bring my camera... whoops!), but here are the clouds.
As you can sort of see, storm clouds were passing, followed by cheerful fluffy white clouds, followed by more storm clouds! Strange weather.
Here's a few dark cloudy rolling ominously towards town - up the valley. Followed by a shot of down the valley, where most of the weather comes from. We can always see it coming unless something's up and a wind storm brings it over the mountain behind us, but that's so rare we have never seen it.
We didn't do anything special for the Fourth. Both mom and I had to work, so busy busy!
Hope yours was safe and special.
Today I am grateful for good friends to share fireworks with!
Until next time,
We didn't have the greatest weather as it was cloudy and threatening to rain most of the day. I'm good with rain most of the time... but when it coincides with fireworks I'm disappointed. I love fireworks! We didn't have to worry though - the rain held and we enjoyed a lovely display.
I didn't get any pictures of the fireworks (didn't bring my camera... whoops!), but here are the clouds.
As you can sort of see, storm clouds were passing, followed by cheerful fluffy white clouds, followed by more storm clouds! Strange weather.
Here's a few dark cloudy rolling ominously towards town - up the valley. Followed by a shot of down the valley, where most of the weather comes from. We can always see it coming unless something's up and a wind storm brings it over the mountain behind us, but that's so rare we have never seen it.
We didn't do anything special for the Fourth. Both mom and I had to work, so busy busy!
Hope yours was safe and special.
Today I am grateful for good friends to share fireworks with!
Until next time,
Wildflowers
We have this patch of land on our property that isn't really ours. It officially belongs to the town, but it's been here forever with its beautiful stone wall and its graves. Oh yes, it's a family graveyard. Not our family. The one that originally settled this area as their farm. It's long since been broken up and sold off. 2 or so acres is ours, some of it is our neighbor's, and the vast majority is state land. Though you can go hiking and hunting and the like on it, we don't have many people do that. There aren't any paths that I am aware of through it.
Anyway, our piece includes the old graveyard. There's a civil war veteran and well as adults and children. All of them passed away in the mid to late 1800's. More than a decade ago, a fierce windstorm came through the valley and knocked all the tall pines in the graveyard over and onto the apartments/garage on our property. Plenty of the headstones were damaged, and the tree roots ripped up great swathes of land as they fell.
No, we didn't see any bodies or coffins.
Because this property technically isn't ours, the town takes care of it. By 'takes care of it' I mean someone comes maybe three times a year and mows it. They've mowed it once so far this year. It's back to being overgrown, but that's fine by me. There are lots of wildflowers in it this year which has made having a fresh bouquet much easier! I'm having a great time trying to identify these flowers. So far we have mostly hawkweed, what I've always been told is Indian Paintbrush, but lookes nothing like the pictures online. In fact it looks a lot like red hawkweed with just one head, and blue-eyed grass, which I'd never seen before this year. I grabbed some daises from behind the building at work and some orchard grass for its tallness in a vase. It's been a nice challenge keeping the pitcher/vase full.
Sunday June 15th firsts:
Garlic Scape
Wild Strawberry
Cultivated Strawberry
Today I'm grateful that growing season has been in swing for a month or so now, but harvesting has finally begun!
Anyway, our piece includes the old graveyard. There's a civil war veteran and well as adults and children. All of them passed away in the mid to late 1800's. More than a decade ago, a fierce windstorm came through the valley and knocked all the tall pines in the graveyard over and onto the apartments/garage on our property. Plenty of the headstones were damaged, and the tree roots ripped up great swathes of land as they fell.
No, we didn't see any bodies or coffins.
Because this property technically isn't ours, the town takes care of it. By 'takes care of it' I mean someone comes maybe three times a year and mows it. They've mowed it once so far this year. It's back to being overgrown, but that's fine by me. There are lots of wildflowers in it this year which has made having a fresh bouquet much easier! I'm having a great time trying to identify these flowers. So far we have mostly hawkweed, what I've always been told is Indian Paintbrush, but lookes nothing like the pictures online. In fact it looks a lot like red hawkweed with just one head, and blue-eyed grass, which I'd never seen before this year. I grabbed some daises from behind the building at work and some orchard grass for its tallness in a vase. It's been a nice challenge keeping the pitcher/vase full.
Sunday June 15th firsts:
Today I'm grateful that growing season has been in swing for a month or so now, but harvesting has finally begun!
Dashing for Summer
These long beautiful days make me feel as if good weather will last forever. It also makes me keenly aware than winter is looming closer with each day that passes me by. I am always meaning to do something soon, but before I know it, the whole season has zipped on by. I distinctly remember as a child these days seeming long and as if having three months off in summer was surely just as long as being in school. Not so anymore. Days just run by at a frantic pace.
I look at the clock: 1:15pm
I look down at whatever I'm doing.
I look at the clock a few minutes later: 3:45pm!
This makes me slightly concerned that there is a mischievous elf in the house, but all the other clocks say 3:45pm too! Poo.
I have a lot of issues with time. I spend a lot of time thinking about time. I am keenly aware that any moment may be my last. I am sure of where I am going, but I read once that fear, any fear, is fear of being hurt. Hurt emotionally or physically, it doesn't matter. I think that's true. Most of the fear of death stems from "Will it hurt?", and an equal amount of fear for the anticipation of sadness that we will leave behind us when we go. I hate the idea that I will cause someone the great sadness that is the loss of a loved one. ...but I digress.
Time is a concept thought up by our big ol' brains that somebody thought was an excellent idea, and now we all follow it. Sure a day always passes with more or less the same number of hours regardless, but when we add actual hours in numbers to the mix, we start anticipating.
"If I don't have to leave until 4:15, then I can wait until 3:30 to shower which means I have five hours until I have to do that. I need fours hours to make bread so I can start that in an hour and be fine..."
Ugh. I hate this. Constant clock watching jangles my nerves and makes me keenly aware that I have to go to work... in five hours.
I would love to (and one day hope to) run on my own time. Not have to constantly anticipate the time and thinking of what to do next.
Did I tell you I want a farm? Not just any type of farm, but a family type place where we produce our own food. Where I don't have to punch in and punch out on a clock. Where I don't have electricity bills to pay (well, not as much as I have now). That kind of a place. Peaceful, fulfilling, a true home.
Today I am grateful for all the beautiful spring flowers that all come one right after another, never leaving my windowsill empty of fresh wildflowers. Right now Hawkweed is blooming!
I look at the clock: 1:15pm
I look down at whatever I'm doing.
I look at the clock a few minutes later: 3:45pm!
This makes me slightly concerned that there is a mischievous elf in the house, but all the other clocks say 3:45pm too! Poo.
I have a lot of issues with time. I spend a lot of time thinking about time. I am keenly aware that any moment may be my last. I am sure of where I am going, but I read once that fear, any fear, is fear of being hurt. Hurt emotionally or physically, it doesn't matter. I think that's true. Most of the fear of death stems from "Will it hurt?", and an equal amount of fear for the anticipation of sadness that we will leave behind us when we go. I hate the idea that I will cause someone the great sadness that is the loss of a loved one. ...but I digress.
Time is a concept thought up by our big ol' brains that somebody thought was an excellent idea, and now we all follow it. Sure a day always passes with more or less the same number of hours regardless, but when we add actual hours in numbers to the mix, we start anticipating.
"If I don't have to leave until 4:15, then I can wait until 3:30 to shower which means I have five hours until I have to do that. I need fours hours to make bread so I can start that in an hour and be fine..."
Ugh. I hate this. Constant clock watching jangles my nerves and makes me keenly aware that I have to go to work... in five hours.
I would love to (and one day hope to) run on my own time. Not have to constantly anticipate the time and thinking of what to do next.
Did I tell you I want a farm? Not just any type of farm, but a family type place where we produce our own food. Where I don't have to punch in and punch out on a clock. Where I don't have electricity bills to pay (well, not as much as I have now). That kind of a place. Peaceful, fulfilling, a true home.
Today I am grateful for all the beautiful spring flowers that all come one right after another, never leaving my windowsill empty of fresh wildflowers. Right now Hawkweed is blooming!
Thunder Storms
Our first thunderstorm of the year came through very early this morning at 2am. I can't tell you how my heart sang when the thunder boomed and lightning lit up the night. Rain pattering against the windows - there are few sweeter sounds on God's green earth.
With the warmer weather comes line dried laundry. These long winter days where dodging laundry bars placed around the various heating vents is almost at an end! We will soon be able to use the long outdoor line. Just like there are few sounds sweeter than rain, there are few smells sweeter than line dried laundry. It's bright and clean and airy. Just delightful. Makes I feel like I should be singing Favorite Things from the Sound of Music now, adding in line dried laundry to the mix.
I have the afternoon off and I'm planning on making deviled eggs and crab pasta salad. Especially since the sky is once again turning dark and ominous. Now would be a great time for me to get my brand new tarp out and cover the compost to stave off some of the extra moisture, so I think I will add that to my to do list this afternoon.
Edited to Add:
I ended up putting the tarp on, but it's pretty haphazard, so next time I'm at the hardware store I'll find something more suitable for securing it down.
Today I am grateful for the beauty that this world has to offer. Whether in a sunrise or the tiny pink splotches on a beloved dog's paw, I am grateful that I can recognize and appreciate the beauty therein.
Until next time,
With the warmer weather comes line dried laundry. These long winter days where dodging laundry bars placed around the various heating vents is almost at an end! We will soon be able to use the long outdoor line. Just like there are few sounds sweeter than rain, there are few smells sweeter than line dried laundry. It's bright and clean and airy. Just delightful. Makes I feel like I should be singing Favorite Things from the Sound of Music now, adding in line dried laundry to the mix.
I have the afternoon off and I'm planning on making deviled eggs and crab pasta salad. Especially since the sky is once again turning dark and ominous. Now would be a great time for me to get my brand new tarp out and cover the compost to stave off some of the extra moisture, so I think I will add that to my to do list this afternoon.
Edited to Add:
I ended up putting the tarp on, but it's pretty haphazard, so next time I'm at the hardware store I'll find something more suitable for securing it down.
Today I am grateful for the beauty that this world has to offer. Whether in a sunrise or the tiny pink splotches on a beloved dog's paw, I am grateful that I can recognize and appreciate the beauty therein.
Until next time,
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