The retired life:

My granddaughters Christmas picture,so miss them being little,especially at Christmas time

Beautiful girls, Green. Our boys are growing up too. 13 & 11 now. But we got us a little girl now who is 10 months old now and we are looking forward to the fun stuff again. But it is sad we live so far from them. We only get to see them in the summers.

Rob, it would be nice to see pics of the ranch. I have not been able to have a cow of my own since I was a kid. I sure miss it. I would dearly love to be able to have a Jersey. What I couldn't do with all that fresh creamy milk. Mmm

Beautiful girls! - my dau is well grown, her 3 are down to the last 16 yr old in hi school, and the oldest boy is on his last month of Marine Duty, we tend to pamper the g grandson when possible. My daughter is as bad as my mother was abt pix tho, takes a lot to get pix now she's grown.
Maine has been kind but soggy to me this week, have enjoyed the places I have been even if I was reduced to cold sandwiches and cans for dining experiences, chuckl. I need to go shopping!

I had a pretty good day today. I have been really sick for nearly two weeks. Bad congestion and coughing like crazy. No temp though so I knew it was not pneumonia. Just bronchitis. Has had me short of breath and weak as dish water. Been in the bed a lot. I finally decided that staying inside in the bed was making it worse so I went outside today and piddled around. It was in the high forties with no wind and full Sun. I pulled some water up from the well, took the trash to the road and put the ponies out on the grass. When the sun went behind the mountain it got cold so I put the ponies up and went back inside. I decorated my tree and then I was all in. DH cooked supper while I rested. Then I cleaned the kitchen. I think with a good night's rest I will be feeling much better tomorrow.

hi dear i am stephie how are you?

Hello Stephie. Are you new to Dave's?

No fun being sick,get well soon

Welcome to DG Stephie! Enjoy!

Canjun, I was talking to a woman online from IL and she had something similar a few months ago. It took about four weeks to get over. She picked it up in the waiting room of a hospital.

Green, those girls are absolutely gorgeous. I know you must be so proud of them.

I am the happy.. ? I think?.. ...owner of two Cayuga ducks. Grandson and I just came back from Shawnee, OK where they have the poultry show each year. He really loves chickens. He is seven years old and held the little Wyandottes.. oh yes, we have two new pullets too. He held them the entire five hours home, first one, and then the other. They are soft as satin, so we named them Satin and Silk.

I had two of these Wyandottes before and lost one. I felt bad for the one that was left alone, as she and her sister used to always walk around together. So, now she will have two more just like her. I'm excited to get to introduce them, but will, of course, have them in quarantine awhile.

The Cayuga ducks are Daphne Penelope and Daffy Quackers. :) We had a good time.

I think the little guy may end up on a farm some day with animals. It is possible. He really enjoys them.

It is great to go out of town, and great to be back home. Thank God for his blessings and mercy.

Congrats on your new feathered friends. Look forward to seeing pics.

Me to,

Just in from feeding cattle again, and will report that there were two more new babies today. Will post pics when I transfer them from camera to puter.
Must be a lot of folks out doing last week shopping today. Highway was really busy this morning.
Robert

Really looking forward to the pics.

We had a winter Farmers Market today.
Very busy. We sold out of sweet potatoes & carrots. Sold a bunch of onions.
Going to give the rest of the onions to the food shelf.

We went to Sam's Club for gas afterwards. Parking lot was 90% full. Lots of shopping being done.

Was that your last market day for the season? I am glad it was a success.

hello i`m new on here - great reading all your daily days - we just moved down here from NY got to where things got tooo expensive - this little town in PINEBLUFF NC is just what we were looking for - my day is a breakfast at our local coffee shop [ love coffee ] come home and jump on the p.c. - i am on a lot of great sites so it takes a while - came down here to retire so i had a lot of time so i bought a kyack and started fishin [ nothing like sitting in the middle of a large lake and admire GODS handy work ] lots of lakes in NC - once or twice a week i go to the rifle range for those of you into guns i have a S&W MP 40 SEMI - AND A RUGER 357 REVOLVER and a MOSSBERG SHOT GUN - about 1:30 in the afternoon 5 days a week i pump iron but not at all like i use to in fact i`m putting my OLYMPIC BAR AND WEIGHTS on CRAIGSLIST - just got to be toooo heavy - at 65 years ya kind of slow down - didn`t know i`d have so much time on my hands so i let a few people know i`m looking for a part time job [ see what happens ] dinner is between 4 and 5 back on the pc a little and then a much needed shower - of course when it gets warmer this schedule will change a little well than it`s good nite after a little t.v.

So nice to meet you standaman. Sounds like you stay active. Keep that up as long as you can. It will keep you young.

Where in NC is your town? I have only been to two towns in NC. One was Cherokee and the other is Maggie Valley.

Welcome Standaman,I know what you mean about sitting in a boat and admiring Gods handywork,I fish a little in the smmer,my father in law has a small camp on a tiny lake,we fish trout.You never said if you have any animals.I have 40 or so silkie and showgirl chickens,and a dog.I love gardening although gave up a lot of my gardens because I just don't have the energy to keep them all weeded.Still have a lot thought.At almost 64 I have slowed down a lot and that does not make me happy to do the things I used to do,but then again I can still do things so I consider myself very lucky,God has been good to me and my husband.

Welcome Standaman,

We've been suffering from these Arctic Blasts down here in the Texas Panhandle too. For around ten days it did not get above freezing. So, was having to take water out to the chickens and donkey. It is supposed to warm up tomorrow and stay warmer at least a week. Before the cold fronts hit us, we had extremely warm weather. It was nice.

I'm really enjoying my new ducks. I've always loved ducks. Not sure why I never bought any before. I think you just sometimes have to wait on God. So, it was my time and I have the right ones. They are not loud at all. What a blessing that is, as I want to keep flying under the radar of my local animal control. I think they have plenty to do without bothering me. I have a couple of roosters here, but they are also not loud and do not crow often. So far, so good.

Ferrets are doing fine outside too. I can see the ferrets on my security cameras. It is comforting to sit here and see them come down and eat and drink. I know they are fine. I can also see the ducks walking across the yard. They make me smile, and I need things to smile about.

NC is a beautiful state. We drove through there on I-40 only, but I wanted to stop and not come home. Quite serious. It seemed to have such a nice peaceful feeling there too. Then, I started seeing on the news they had a bad ice storm and the trees were breaking. So, I guess there are problems all over, of one sort or the other.

As far as getting older, uh huh, at 58 I relate. If we have to grow older, let us do so as gracefully as possible.

Karen

P.S. Haystack I bought a bicycle. It is still in the box on the porch. Guess I was having a good day the day I ordered it. Now, I'm wondering....

Have you seen this? Some very good advice in it.

Advices from An Old Farmer
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered… not yelled.
Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life… Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Don ‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around..
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
Most times, it just gets down to common sense.

LFJ, love those sayings,I have heard a few of them. I also bought something to exercise on,its a eliptacal machine.Have had it now for a few weeksand still only up to 3 minutes at a time,but I do try to do it a few times a day,better than nothing.I don't get out much in the winter so I need something..I did get a bike a couple years ago but did not like it,glad it was a garage sale find.Maybe if I had flat ground and not all these hills both ways I might have liked it better,lol

I used to stay fit just from the work I did but the muscular dystrophy is slowly advancing and I am getting weaker. I had tried to work out lightly and hoped that along with staying as active as possible would keep some strength for me. But I cannot build muscle and what I have is slowly leaving me. Pushing my muscles causes the spasms to be worse. It is what it is. Stay fit as long as you can even if it is just walking briskly and moving things around. It will pay off later. I have always been independent and having to depend on others to pick things up for me really bothers and frustrates me. But then I think of people who are much worse off than me and I thank God for my blessings.

I would love to see your ducks. You might want to look into muscovie ducks. They only hiss, no quacking. They are also perfectly fine without swimming and they are wonderful layers.

I'll try to get a video or at least a picture of the ducks soon. They sure make a mess of the water. I guess they get mud on their bills and then them put their bills into the water and do this little duck thing. You know, opening and closing really fast. I guess in the wild they would be getting things out of ponds or lakes by doing that. Here, all they do is get the chicken water muddy. Soon, they will need a pool. I can hardly wait. I doubt that a camera is going to pick up their pretty green shine. All you will probably see is black ducks.

Cayjun, I am so sorry to hear about your illness. I also feel frustrated by my lack of energy. It is so difficult for me to clean my house. Sounds like I should probably just be grateful also for the things I can do and stop complaining to God about it all the time. I even sometimes consider hiring someone to help me out, but then I remember how nervous it makes me for anyone to be in my house. I just don't let people in my house unless I have to. I do hope you won't imagine I live in a complete pig sty like that television show "Hoarders" it isn't that bad. It isn't good though either. I just don't think I can even hire someone to help me because when I get stressed and nervous it activates the lupus to attack me. Don't ask me why, but it is the way lupus is.

What is funny about me, at least I think so, is the way I LIE TO MYSELF. Do you do that? I say, "Things will get better." I kind of laugh about it sometimes. I have all these plans in my mind, especially when I have a little burst of energy and can actually do some housework for a short time, that might last an hour or so. I am so pleased, and in my mind I plan how my house is going to be so neat and clean soon. I know I'm lying, at least I "should" know it because my house has been a mess for years and years. haha Still, I guess it is okay to say these things to myself. I have good intentions, my body just won't cooperate. So, I relate to what you are saying at least to a degree.

I hesitate to ask what MD will do. Guess I could go spend time looking it up, but not sure I want to know. I would just be sad. You and PorkPal and Green have been good friends to me on here. I appreciate you more than you know. MD sounds terrible, even worse than lupus.

Don't feel bad about not having a tidy house; I have plenty of energy but prefer to spend it outside. My house isn't "House and Garden" clean either.

So sorry you girls have these health issues,LFJ could you call some friends and see if they know of trust worthy people that could come and help you clean? I would never hire someone I did not know either.I thank God that I can still do pretty much everything,just at a slower pace.I have a job cleaning my church and that pays me a little each week,so thankful for that and I am alone doing it,like that even better as I can work at my own pace.My doctor just put me on a high dose of Naproxen and it helps a bit with some of my problems.I guess it helps to stay as active as you can

LFJ don't bet yourself up over it. You alone know what you can do. And it is your house. I would like life to be better but I know it could be worse. I got part of my porch cleaned off a few days ago. I am proud of that and take great satisfaction in that. I will do much better when it warms up. Do you find that weather affects you?

I agree with Green, I would not let anybody in my house if I were you. You just can't trust people anymore. Even people you think you know.

Dont have any pics yet for display, but do have abit of news. Do not leave your tractor cab door open when you get out to remove the wrap from a roll of hay. Did that last week, and the bull walked by and hit the door. Glass door is reduced to a million tiny piecies of glass. Have talked to tractor company, and found out that a new door is about $800, plus labor etc. Have promised the bull that the next time it happens, he is bulloney. Will always shut door from now on.
We have had some nice rains in the last week, and the Texas wintergrass is growing well. Cows. Ofcourse, are biting it off as short as they can.
Cattle prices are still holding up in our area. A first calf black heifer with a baby calf at side will bring $1500.00 at the local cattle auction.Thank goodness I am not trying to add cows now.
Robert

Hi Robert,

My mother had a bull that would charge her pickup truck. He would get in the front and paw and push it with his head. He never hurt it though. It was kind of funny to see. I don't know if he thought it was another bull challenger or what. He was a black angus and the truck was black. :D

As far as meat prices go, Amarillo just had an article in the paper yesterday about beef going up. They said the cattle market was the lowest it has been since the 50s. I guess that means fewer cows, higher prices, the supply and demand concept.

I also guess that is what is going on with fuel now. They have enough supply so the price is going down.

Green and Cajun, thanks for your support. Yes, I do beat myself up too much. This morning I was looking up some new symptoms I've been having, mainly feeling dizzy and light headed, and a few other symptoms I won't mention. I thought it was hypoglycemia and sugar related, and it may be partly that. Then, I saw that it could be low blood pressure, and it may be that too, as I get so tired and sleepy after I eat. Seriously, I fall asleep in my chair.. don't tell anybody. Then, this morning I saw that I could very well have Aplastic Anemia. If I do it would be caused by the lupus destroying my blood cells. Now, this is not a pity party here, this is only the facts. So, now I have to try and figure out how to get better. I do feel a bit less guilty about my house after reading about the anemia. No wonder I am so tired and weak. It make sense to me. From what I'm reading it looks like I've had it since I was a child. It can also be caused from exposure to toxic chemicals, benzene being one of them. I grew up in a town that dumped huge amounts of benzene into the air. We were surrounded by Phillips petroleum plants. So, now I have to come up with a plan to get the lupus to back off and try to build up my blood. I'm going to take some iron for sure.

Even if I don't have much energy I am so grateful I am not in constant pain like I used to be. In fact my pain level is almost minute, a level 1 or 2. So, there is much to be thankful for.

Yes, it is a shame we cannot trust people much anymore. It is a real shame, but I agree, it can be dangerous. The lupus would act up even more because I would be so nervous about them being a threat to me and my "stuff". If I get upset or stressed my immune system goes nuts. So, I guess I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and try to make the best of it.

The way my life has been for several years now, I am able to see my little grandson once or twice a week for a few hours and believe me, that makes my life worth living. I drive fifty miles to pick him up from school. What a blessing he is! I have a reason to live.

Please take care of yourselves, and I'll try to do the same. God bless you all.



This message was edited Jan 25, 2015 11:31 AM

Internet diagnosis can be dangerous. You really ought to get a professional opinion. Perhaps you could be feeling a lot better!

I agree with porkpal,you should go see your doctor ,it may be something that can be fixed

Wow. All those possibilities could be serious. You need to know so you can get treated. Do take care of yourself. I am sure that grandson needs you around for a long time.

Robert, I sure hate your bull rearranged your tractor. I hope you can get it fixed without it costing too much. Always something, huh?

to everyone I thank you for your interest in our life here in central Texas.. I have lived in Minnesota, Arizona, and New Mexico, and returned to the area where I was reared to settle down and raise a family. The home ranch had something to do with that, of course. My maternal grandfather home-
steaded the place in the 1880's, and my parents bought out the other heirs in the 1920s. Since our sons were not interested in the ranch life, ten years ago my wife and I sold ourpart of the land, and my brother and his family followed suit and sold to the same people. That family of oil producers are now the largest landowners in Mills County, with some 10000 to twelve thousand acres of ranch land'. It has been rumored about that that area will be donated to the Boy scouts for a summer camp some day. As of today, it is a vacation spot and deer hunting area for the owners of the oil company and its employees. The ranch manager is a friend, and often lets me know he would like some help with finding some feature I have told him about.
Robert

So much history in your home. That is awesome. I would love to have had that kind of stability. We are in ministry and have to move around a lot. We live in a parsonage now so there is a limit at what we can do with the place. It has a good bit of potential with a little creek running through it but we are not free to expand on that. We do still own a home back in Louisiana that belonged to my husband's grandparents. We bought it from the heirs when they passed on. My in-laws live in it now. It is just a small home on less than two acres but it is the family gathering place for any family celebration. I wish we could gather there more often with the family. I doubt we will ever live in the house again. If we moved home I sure would not want to put my in-laws out on the street. They lost their home a number of years ago and they have nowhere else to go. My Poppa lives less than a mile away and when my Momma passed a couple years ago she wanted me to have their trailer home. My Poppa still lives there alone and if we ever move home I am sure we would live with him. He is elderly now with limited sight and hearing and I could take care of him. My son and his family also live next door. Yes, just twist my arm to live next to my grandbabies. LOL I often day dream about moving home and the changes I would make in the yard. It keeps me hoping.

How is the weather treating you all? It is snowing a bit this morning but the sun is peeking out now. Just wish the wind would lay. Not a good day for being outside so I will stay in and plan my garden.

Cajun, abeautiful sunny day today, with a forecast of rain tomorrow and tomorrow night. We are hoping for several inches to fill up the ponds, and store some moisture for the spring grass. Our area isbelow normal for precip for the winter.
Robert

Sounds like a plan. Sure hope you get the moisture you need. Isn't it ironic that mankind thinks we have come so far and the truth is we still cannot do without the most basic element; water.
God is still in control.

It was a very chilly 15° this morning. The sun has been out a couple hours now and it has warmed up quite a bit. 37° but still far from warm. We never see the sun before noon in winter and then it is gone by four or five. Feels like Alaska. LOL

Semi- yes, what is retired? Of course there are a ton of things I once did, or were part of... Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas claim my heart. Paternal grandfather sold the place finally to stop the sons sibling attitudes, and retire himself at 70 something. Those 1600 acres of Oklahoma Blue River bottoms made 11grandkids a happy childhood tho. We ran 500 head of stockers (grass fed whiteface crosses cattle) 150 head of Holsteins, 400 acres of reclaimed river bottom crops. My summers were spent from 10yrs old on a horse watching cattle or moving freshening milkers back to the grass lots to return to a dbl 6 herringbone pit milking parlor, we converted from old style floor stanchion milkers. Tractors from many conversions were my toys- little ford- 2blade moleboard or a blade for grading lots. Poppin johnnies- an A and a B with cornrow setups. My Minneapolis Moline with front end loader for the silo pit. And of course a larger Ford 4000 for the hay sickle, baler and green chopper when needed. The JD winnower even for some jobs. No doors on tractors back then- we did have canvas blankets to help with the heat in wintertime. Summers were best- even tho we spent itwalking sticks of alumiinum pipes to their next set for irrigation, or following a hay wagon picking up wood chunks from new claimed river bottom land to burn that my uncles little root pullin caterpillar had opened up after building the river crossing and the dyke to protect from spring floods. Chuckl. Summers coaxing 4cuttings of clean alfalfa that filled 4huge barns. I would have never left lifestyle, but my grandfather believed it was best to downsize and so the family got their own places.
Now I wait til this job comes to an end and I can play in the dirt, watch the chickens, rabbits, goats, and maybe a few angus fill out. Bulls are like that when they get a notion, only thing would have calmed him was a nose ring. My brother still claims I brought a bu to his knees for looming crosseyed at me when carrying a walking stick. My mare knew how to turn and dance her rear hooves to keep a fresh cow minding her manners. My sisters BIL on a 4wheeler was mauled near to death by a Jersey bull. Angus just take notions sometimes. Many an old scots took hard headed battles with working these animals

My husband drives truck,that picture looks like what we are seeing now,all the snow,husband has to clean off the flat bed before he can take off,seems like every trip lately,lol.Been really cold her,today it is -7 and its a little after 3 in the aftenoon. Have to keep heater going in the coop so my silkies don't freeze.

I do not envy you your weather. I honestly don't see how you do it. I would die.

I would move, but wait, I did! I used to live in Massachusetts.

So now it cold winters & extremely hot summers ?

They call this God's Country. I think I will stay.
23º nice sunshine. What more would you want for Feb.