Aging...but gracefully!

Today is my birthday. While I feel exceedingly old, I don't really FEEL exceedingly old. Despite everything, I still feel pretty good about life in general. I have been given much. The number, though, is definitely giving me pause. It shocks me every time I think of it.

I did go have my annual Starbuck's. I have to say I was disappointed. It was only my fourth visit there, annual or otherwise. A friend took us there right after the first one opened here. I had hot chocolate. It was OK. I also went a couple of years ago when they had this decadent chocolate drink that was in something about the size of a shot glass and still too rich to drink. It tasted more like a melted chocolate bar than hot chocolate. Then last year on my birthday I decided I needed to go and really have a Starbuck's drink. I think I ordered a banana frappuchino. It was pretty good. I decided to do it again next year. So here it is next year. I had been advised that a caramel frappuchino would more than satisfy. Not so much. In fact, I think I was disappointed enough to change my new tradition. If I'm going to be bad and have something that is bad for me (and too expensive), I want to really enjoy it. I'm taking suggestions as to what I should get and where next year. Or tomorrow, since today was such a disappointment.

Happy birthday to me!

I Think I'm Stuck

There are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. We are definitely grieving. Not only did we not get the house and land we wanted, we also didn't get to change our lifestyle, our location, and our focus. We are mourning the loss of a way of life.

I seem to be stuck. I haven't moved past denial. I still can't believe that the place will not be ours. I keep expecting them to call and say the sale did not go through and we have another chance at it. I still feel like that place was meant for us.

We have been looking around at other places, but nothing even compares so far. We are ruined for another place right now.

I guess part of it is that they still haven't posted it as sold. It is still listed as pending on several sites. I need to go drive by and see if someone is living there. I either need a miracle or proof that it is really over. Personally, I'm hoping for the miracle.

Why Sometimes It Is Good to be a Pack Rat

I have a little girl. She is everything a 6 year old should be: pink, fluffy, princessy. She is also a budding artist and crafts person. I should say she comes by it honestly. There wasn't much hope she could be any other way given the parents that she has.

We have had this basket floating around the house for years. Probably longer than she has been here. I have forgotten its origin. She claimed it awhile back. She puts any number of things in it including eggs, puppies, and sweet tarts. The other day she got it in her head that it had to be decorated. After a few days of putting her off, I gave in.

We rummaged through my box of ribbons. Lots of oohs and aahs ended with the decision the pink would be best. Surprise!

But she needed flowers! I have a stash of those, too, but none fit the bill. A quick trip to Michael's and we were ready to begin. OK, it wasn't a quick trip. We went up and down every aisle at least once. Some twice. New projects to think about.

We went home and this is the result of our creative endeavor for the day. I don't know what will be carried around in this object d'art, but it will have to be magnificent!

Hmmm

They haven't closed yet?

Hmmmm.

What does it mean?

Still Here

I am pressed but not crushed
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse for His promise will endure
And His joy's going to be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning!

But man, I am still really confused.

Moving On....

I have struggled all day with what to write for this post. It's not one I wanted or ever thought I would make.

We got the call this morning that they are closing on the property tomorrow - with another buyer. Apparently, the fact that we have been unable to contact anyone in the listing agent's office for a week was due to the fact that they were negotiating with someone else. Everyone on our end of the deal is either upset or furious at the way this was handled. I don't believe anything done was illegal, but it does seem to qualify as unethical in just about everyone's book.

We are sad. We are OK, but we are sad. I was so sure that this was the place for us. Every time we went out there I felt more at home there, more comfortable. It just seemed so right.

Which brings me to another concern. I have always relied very much on my sense of how things are supposed to be. I have often gone against that sense, but I have had it just the same. I mentioned previously that I hadn't packed yet because it didn't seem like time yet, but I never doubted that I would pack. I had no reservations that this was the property that God had chosen for us. I am now questioning my ability to sense the Spirit's moving. That troubles me.

I know that if this wasn't the right place, God has something else in mind that is even better. Right now that is really hard to imagine, but it is what I am holding on to.

I would appreciate any words of wisdom that anyone has for us right now. And if you know of any place for sale that we might be interested in, please let us know.

Miss Scarlet

The chicken has been named. After days of deliberations, the boy has decided to name his chicken Scarlet. Miss O'Hara would probably be appalled to think a fowl had been named in her honor, but we will think about that tomorrow. I think it would be more than appropriate to get a rooster named Rhett, but that will have to wait.

The Socialization of Chickens

We are in the middle of an experiment. Can a chicken raised in cages with other chickens ever reach the same level of tameness as a chicken raised by humans? It remains to be seen.

Things are improving. At least, they are improving in the chicken house. Muffin seems to have established her dominance to the point that she no longer needs to peck at the other chicken anymore. They are cohabitating peacefully, if not yet blissfully.

The "other chicken", as we have been calling her, has come out of the corner of the house and now walks around in the chicken yard. She still does not seem comfortable in her surroundings, but she at least is moving around a little. She won't voluntarily let me pick her up. We have cornered her a couple of times and forced her to sit in my lap and cuddle. She sort of tolerates it. She will eat from my hand, but only when I'm holding her. She won't come to me.

Someone watching from the outside would probably be very amused. These two chickens are so obviously different. Muffin walks around like she owns the place. She runs around the yard, sits in my lap, follows us around, and generally has a very confident air about her. The other chicken either huddles in the corner of the cage or walks around it very slowly looking around. She jumps if a bird chirps too loudly. We have a long way to go.

Close Call

We were stupid today. Fortunately, there weren't tragic consequences.

Some of Sweetie Boy's friends stopped by to drop off a video game thing he left at their house yesterday. They wanted to see the new chicken. Next thing I knew, their mother and little sister were also in the yard. The kids were running around, I was chatting with mom, little sister was screaming about one thing or the other. Then we all decided at the same time that we needed to part ways. They had to get going and I had to go get Sweetness Baby Girl. We ran in the house to wash hands and say good-bye. I jumped in the car and headed out.

About halfway there is occurred to me that we had not put Muffin away. Sweetie Boy had decided to stay home, so I called him to check on her. He ran outside. He had let his in the house, but the other dog was outside. She had just gone under the house and hadn't figured out that there was a free chicken in the yard. He put Muffin away and all was well.

Whew. Losing Muffin would have been too much to take right now.

Sign Here, Please

We signed new contracts today. Since the sellers asked for them this morning, we assume that they have signed them, too. We will find out for sure tomorrow. That just means that they will no longer be "fielding calls" about the property. We can hopefully get a survey done here in the next week or so and then set a closing date. Yea! We may make it there yet.

In other news, the chicken that remains nameless is having trouble settling in. Maybe some kind soul out there can help her with an identity. (See yesterday's post.)

Name That Chicken

We have a new chicken. While we got her to keep Muffin company, Muffin is none too thrilled with her right now. Last I checked, Muffin was standing, not sitting, in the nest as if to claim it as hers. I hope she settles in soon.

This poor little chicken is a little shell shocked right now. I don't know if she has ever set her little chicken feet in grass before today. She came from the feed store. She certainly isn't comfortable being handled by humans. The man who took her from the cage she was in grabbed her by the wings while she squawked loudly. Muffin sits down whenever I come near her. She knows she will be picked up and probably cuddled. I hope this one gets used to us soon.

In the mean time, she needs a name. This picture does not do her justice. She is a lovely dark chicken. When the sun hits her back, it is a nice green color. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. We can't have a chicken without a name.

Guess what happened today

It rained! A lot!

I know this is not particularly clear, but it is our front fence, the ditches in the front yard, and the French drain that feeds from the back fence. When it is dry it is just a little indentation in the grass. Lately, it is a flowing river.



Guess what else happened. We got word that the appraisal is done! And, it came back sufficient for the loan! We are still waiting for one more piece of paperwork that should be in by Monday. That is good news.

The mortgage broker said that we now need a new contract. The one that we signed previously (the one that has technically expired) is no longer valid. If there is no one else interested in the property, that should be no big deal. If there is, the seller could decide to entertain their offers. We really don't know.

We covet your prayers for the next couple of weeks. The pace should really start picking up here in the next week or so, provided it is still a go. I will keep you posted. Keep checking on us.

It Rained Today

OK, it rains everyday, but I thought some people might not believe just how much it rains. Here are some pictures of our yard.

This is one of the dog trails.

This is under the famous fig tree.


This is the driveway.


This is the front yard where we have decomposed granite instead of grass.

Notice the common denominator of puddles. We have lots of puddles. We have lots of toads and even more mosquitoes. It's bordering on the ridiculous. Does anyone have plans for a raft? Or perhaps an ark?

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday, America!

A Little Yard Work

It hasn't rained yet today, so Muffin and I worked in the yard for a bit. If you have never weeded with a chicken before, you are missing out on a treat. Especially when it is in the front bed.

She was very helpful in digging in the loose soil. She got more than her share of earthworms. She even ate the seeds off of some of the weeds that had gotten a little taller than they should. I was sad we didn't find any grubs for her. I know she would have enjoyed that.

The mailman came by and asked if she was a member of the family. I couldn't believe that he had never seen her before. He didn't even know we had chickens. We are on a first name basis with our mailman. The kids always run out to get the mail personally whenever they see him coming. He seemed tickled that we had chickens.

Then there was the man who was trying to drum up business for a window washing company. He wanted to know if that was a rooster I had there. City folk.

The Pharmacy Grows

We made a run to the feed store today. We checked out some new chicks to replace Pooh and got the wormer for Muffin.

Thankfully, the medicine for Muffin is also given to her in her water. Also thankfully, Lar is good at math. These medicines have instruction like, "to medicate 100 chickens...." It requires higher math to reduce that down to one chicken. Now I have 2 things I never thought I would have: medicine to worm a chicken (or turkey or swine!) and medicine to cure coccidiosis in poultry or cows.

As for the new chicken prospects, we're not sure if we are going to get a few baby chicks or just one big chicken right now. They eat different food and there is a chance that Muffin may bully the babies. She is a sweet chicken generally, but I guess you never really know an animal until you put them in different situations. She has never been around babies. There is that whole "pecking order" thing.

She does seem a little lonely though. Maybe a little bored, too. When I go out to pick figs, she runs around eating the ones that have been thrown on the ground by the birds. When I go sit down, she comes and sits in my lap and makes these cute high pitched cooing sounds that I have never heard her make before. She just snuggles down and sits there for the longest time. I never thought of chickens being particularly snuggly, but she is. We need to get her a friend.