Chickens in December 2018

Our PET Chickens in December 

2018

Beth, Number One on my Fatten Up list!  This pitiful hen is boney...won't do!  I am now hand feeding her as often as I can each day.  I won't rest till she is much plumper!  You might think I want to eat her, but these aren't those kinds of chickens...these are 'pets' to us!

Bunny, Number Two on my extra care list... she needs to eat more! 

Venus, one of our stoutest girls!  She is literally heavy!

The girls love being down here in the bottom run; they always seem to find tasty treats to eat!

The fall-looking view from their bottom run.  It doesn't look like the end of December, does it?!!?  Usually, we are heavy laden with snow!

Aphrodite--another big girl that always seems well fed!

I so enjoy these precious girls!!!!  They must be missing Zeus as much as I am.

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Dec. 9-15, 2018 Wrapping Gifts, Tree Up, Christmas Play,

Dec. 9-15, 2018 

Wrapping Gifts, Tree Up, Christmas Play, Dd's last Grace classes before Christmas break!

Hello Friends!

Three Weeks:
It has been three weeks since Dh had his two eye surgeries on his left eye for his Detached Retina.  He is off work, on short-term disability, and trying to heal as fast as he can to save the eye.  The doctor continues to be very rigid about the fact that we are not out of the woods yet.  Dh can look up some now, but still can't lay back or put his head down/back.  He still has a good ways to go---prayers appreciated for his recovery.  His work has been very understanding; which is an answered prayer---imagine if they weren't! The hardest part is that Dh can't sleep, he has to sit up in a chair all night with his head hanging down in front of him, which is not conducive for deep sleeping.  He wakes up all through the night uncomfortable and miserable and tired.

Christmas Tree:
We finally put the Christmas tree up this week!  By the end of the week, we got some of our ornaments up.  Since I've been making new felt birds to add to the tree each year our tree has gotten too full; so this year we decided to take a 'less is more' take on decorations.  I keep putting some on and then taking some off and am having a hard time settling on a stopping point!!!  It is fun doing it differently this year and showing only a small portion of the birds we have to focus on the nice green tree and little white lights.  I've wrapped up all the little presents I've collected over the year and put them under the boughs of the tree.  With Dh being off work we decided to not do much this year; so thankful I had already picked up things here and there as I found them, mostly at thrift stores, so Dd won't feel like she doesn't have any surprises under the tree---not that presents are what Christmas is about!!! 



Weather and Chickens:



We have had a nice spell of warm weather so I have been able to let the chickens out on the farthest run where they can really scratch around and find buggies.  

The plastic I put up around the chickens "inner sanctum" has really done great.  They have been able to go out here almost every day.  Only on the days that are under 25 degrees do I keep them inside the barn.

The chickens are all doing pretty well.  I can see they are skinnier than they were in the summer, but they are not getting buckets of greens anymore.



 I do try my best to spoil them and pick some greens here and there but it isn't nearly the same.  The hens sure do enjoy being outside so much for a December!!!  

The Sassafras trees look so dramatic in the winter.

Garden:

Our Garden in December---still cutting out Swiss Chard and Kale!  The hoop houses work well!  So far at least!

Christmas Caroling:

This year I went with Dd to her annual Christmas party on Sunday night; I don't think I have ever gone caroling and really enjoyed it.  They drive to a few elderly church members homes to sing Christmas carols to them; which was so much fun!  I just wish we went to more homes!  Afterward, we had our party and exchanged "White Elephant" gifts.  It was really fun as we probably had about as many adults as we had teens!

Dress Rehearsal for Christmas Play:

This week we had it all; all the props perfected, the cast in their futuristic black outfits, the right table, the stage all cleared off so it didn't look like a church so much....it was really great to see it all coming together.  Next Sunday after church we will squeeze in another dress rehearsal before the actual live play; maybe twice if we can.  When they do the play back to back the second time is always so much better; they slow down/calm down and listen to each other better that second time around.  It would be great if they get the chance to get in as much practice as they can before they perform it.  For the most part, I've really enjoyed the blessing of being involved in putting on the play.  I can honestly say, I had fun!  The downfall, as there always is a downfall, is that I was really behind getting MY Christmas things going as I was focused on the play (props) and the church's bulletin board (lots of computer time trying to decide on the 'right' one).  

Christmas Cards: Began Mailing

I mailed 30 cards this week!  My special pen ran out of ink, so I had to fit in a run to Meijer to get a replacement, then I couldn't find time to sit back down for a few more days, so my final cards still haven't been mailed but I was happy that I've got most of the cards done.  I like to draw a scene on each card and make each card special and unique and that takes a simple job and turns it into quite a time involved labor of love.  I just have to go to the post office and drop off the last ones Monday and I'll be done.

Dh's Eye Appt.:

Our normal doctor was back this week, and we were able to get a little more out of him.  We were trying to ask him how long the recovery would take, how many more weeks of Dh having to sleep sitting up in winged back chair all night, returning to work?... and he quickly cut us to the quick.  He said it was very much, "early days."  He said if Dh laid his head back, like in a bed on a pillow the way he used to sleep, that it would cause the retina to detach again.  As he walked out the door he said, "we haven't even saved the eye yet."  YIKES!  Here I thought we were doing good, Dh's pressure numbers went from being 45 to 13 in one week!  But, he was very clear that during this recovery period anything could happen and the eye could go south at any point.  Dh has to continue to be, as the doctor puts it,: "a walking couch potato."  It was a very sobering appointment---a bit depressing too!  We (I) thought things were going along well and the doctor was quick to nip that optimism in the bud! ouch.




Orthodontist:
Dd is really doing a great job taking care of her braced teeth.  I hear her Waterpik working it's magic!  She had another appointment this week and they added more metal to the back teeth for future use.  We can literally see the teeth straighten!  Amazing.




VISITORS:
Judy and Karl came over for a little visit on Saturday to see Dh and bring him some 'get well' cheer.  Dh had just happened to make an Angel Food Cake from scratch (GF) and Karl was kind enough to take a little slice while we chatted.  It was really very kind for our church friends to come to encourage Dh to heal.

Henry keeps gaining weight and adapting to family life.  So glad we adopted this mistreated rescue.

Bible Study:



Dh and I have had three weeks of our bible study together---Seamless by Angie Smith.  I was already into it when Dh was put on bed rest, so I invited him to join me and he has been very faithful to do it with me each morning.  I love doing our bible study together!  What a silver lining!!!

I have a few commentaries, but really appreciate how well this one works; very thorough.

Bible Study for Church:



Even though I finished this study six months ago I have to re-do each week's lesson for our class on Sunday.  It has been a great refresher as I usually study the lesson repeatedly.  We started this bible study Dec. 31, 2017!!!  I know this book backward to frontwards now!  The perks of having a slow-paced class.

Academics for the Week:

Bible:
Church, Sunday School, Youth Group, daily bible study through Word of Life, and Olympians



Grace Co-op Classes:
Last week of classes before her Christmas break.  Dd is doing a great job keeping up with all her classes.  She has been struggling with understanding her Logic class but has made some progress this past month in improving her comprehension and grade.  The Geography and Algebra classes are her steady favorites.





Hiking:
My favorite pastime continues to be walking out in our wood with Henry.  It does me so much good; especially in the dreary gray winters of Grand Rapids, Michigan...gray, gray, gray this year.  Normally it is white snow ground to contrast the gray cloudy skies.  So thankful for Henry and his insistence on lots of walkies!  I like looking at the trees and seeing things I missed when the leaves were there.  This week I found this one set of two trees that had grown together in an interesting way---I took a few pictures to share:

Interesting to notice how these two trees kind of grew together and adapted.

Grace Subjects:

Geography: BJU (Bob Jones Textbook)

Algebra I: Saxon

Spanish I

Graphic Design

Introductory Logic

Volunteering:
Church: 1 1/2 hours each week for "Game" and once a month in the church nursery during Sunday morning service.
Library: 1 1/2 hours helping during their Story Time with the little kiddies.

Art:
Dd has been doing a lot of painting and drawing this week!  

Music:
I just have to share a YouTube favorite in case you haven't seen/heard it: 

Yo-Yo Ma Bach Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major

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Dec. 2-8, 2018 Eye Healing, Zeus, Christmas Play, Christmas Caroling

Dec. 2-8, 2018 

Eye Healing, Zeus, Christmas Play, Christmas Caroling

Good old Buckbeak!  Every morning she waits for me to come in the coop and pick her up and place her down on the floor!  I don't know why she, and a few of her friends, don't like flying down on their own, but I'm happy to help!

Hello Friends,

Dd and I have been going to church without Dh.  Since his cataract and Detached Retina surgery Dh has very limited allowances from his doctor.  Dh has to keep his head down, 'looking at the center of the earth,' is how his doctor describes the straight looking down so the eye can heal properly.  This Sunday Dd was invited to go with Hailee's family after church to go looking for their Christmas tree!  I'm unfortunately allergic to having evergreens in the house so we have to settle on an artificial tree---and one that is dropping its needles each year more and more as if it were real!!!  I'm so glad Dd has such good friends at our church!

I keep taking pictures of this stand of Sassafrass trees, the shapes of the trunks are so beautiful.  I really miss their fall leaves; that bright yellow was just awesome.  

 Grand Rapids Cloud Cover:
When we were looking to move from Indiana to Grand Rapids I did a lot of internet research---all warning of the massive snow from being on the coast of Lake Michigan.  What they didn't mention was as a result of being beside that lake we are under cloud cover most of the time.  Last month we had like 9% of sunshine for the month---something like 21 days of NO (NO!) Sunshine!  Then when we did have some it was just a spot here or there.  The skies are generally gray here and when it is lovely and clear I rush out and take pictures!!  It is a beautiful state, but very dreary, quite the complete opposite of where we lived in Indiana.

Dh Eye Appt:

Dh's eye doctor, Dr. Gindzin, had a family emergency and our appointment was canceled and rescheduled three times before we were seen by one of his co-workers.  They test his "pressures" on his eye.  It is supposed to be around 16, but Dh's was around 45!  Not good!  So, they added two new drops to his line-up.  The good part of the exam was when they hold up a few fingers for him to see if he can see.  The past few weeks, Dh couldn't make out anything, but this week he could see it! Great!

Poor Dh on the table he made for his recovery from eye surgeries on Nov. 19 & 20th.  In case you can't tell, he is miserable and very uncomfortable!

Upgrade:
On Wednesday, the doctor has upgraded Dh from not allowing him to have his head up at all to now he can lift it for 3 hours.  Dh is still bearing on the side of being careful and not holding up his head that much.



Christmas Play:
I think it was back in August or early September that Paul asked me to direct this year's Christmas play.  I had been the helper last year, but it was a normal 'nativity' play and it seemed a bit easier of a task than our post-modern, futuristic endeavor.  This week I finally stopped procrastinating and made and/or collected all the props for the play: three small boxes (one for books, two for imaginary decorations), one tall narrow box to fit our "United Holiday" tree, painted a medium canvas black and (in white) wrote, "United Holiday" on it, all the books and bibles that go into the smaller box, orange stickers saying, "United Holiday" to go on three of the boxes and painted the fourth box to make it appear very old,  table clothes (for 'sofa' and table)...I think that is it.  This week was our last normal practice; next week is the dress rehearsal!



Christmas Cards: 
Still working on finishing up my cards.  Here is the card I did for Chelle, my NZ friend that appreciates a cuppa as much as I do!  It takes a long time.



Church Bulletin Board:
You know, I just realized, I didn't take a picture of the board I made for church!  I'll have to post that later when I can get a picture of it!  Oops!  It says: "Each One Of Us Is An Innkeeper Who Decides If There Is Room For Jesus." with a drawing of a little village beside it.  I looked for weeks at Pinterest and finally saw that message and thought it was just such a good point to share with our little church.

An old picture of Zeus; when he was healthy

Zeus, my rooster:

Well. Long story short, we let Zeus go on to heaven this week.  He was beyond miserable and very rarely standing up anymore.  He was curling up with his head under his neck, not eating or drinking much.  It really came to me quite clear to me this week that I was being horribly selfish and I needed to stop keeping him alive for my sake.  I know I did the right thing because of the peace I am feeling.  I had been holding the weight of worrying about this decision for months.  He was such a beautiful rooster that was overflowing with character---some good parts and some really aggressive bits too.  No more current pictures of Zeus, but I will probably post a few of him to do my heart some good.  Zeus might not have made it after his dog attack.  Boy, it took a lot of time and effort to nurse him back to health; I know he hated the salt water baths I was giving him!  But, it got him through and he lived to fight another day, though he wasn't the proud protector anymore.  He became a bit of a 'run and hide' kind of rooster after that!

Ms. Lemon is having her best winter so far!  Last year at this time I was having to hand feed her every day, so was so broody.

Migraines:
This was another migraine week---4/7 days of pain, tiring pain. Last month when I went to a new neurologist they prescribed a new medicine for me to try---Naratriptan---supposedly very similar to Maxalt, which works for me most of the time.  I tried Naratriptan twice and both times it didn't help one bit.  The worst part is that when you take Naratriptan you can't take a Maxalt for another 24 hours later, so it just prolonged my misery.



Digestion:
I've not updated on my health/digestion problems in a long time now; for good reason---nothing good to report.  I've been on a very restricted diet--the FODMAP diet.  No gluten, no dairy, and it cut out about 75% of most foods people eat--then I've been working with a Dietitian to help me with this, but honestly, so far it hasn't helped a whole lot. Now with the foods, I'm allowed to eat on the FODMAP I find I can't even eat some of those.  I've found out I can't eat more than around 3/4 cup of the fruits I'm allowed to eat on the FODMAP and NONE of the fruits that are high on the list.  I can't eat much butter or anything with a lot of fat in it.  

The floors are clean, but the walls are just impossible to keep clean; especially in winter.

The worst part of it is that I'm supposed to move to the trying to re-introduce some of the food groups back into my diet, one at a time, to test whether they are part of my problem or not.  If I don't have a problem with them then I can have a little more variety in my diet.  BUT, my "system" has to be working normally for me to begin these trials and experiments and that just hasn't happened.  It is really frustrating.  I just don't have any good news on this front, but at least I am content eating Miso soup, kale, Swiss chard, tuna fish, quinoa, rice, potatoes, and GF toast.  I never have been too picky about what I eat, but just wish I didn't have the churning Mount Vesuvius of a gut system to deal with every.single.day.

Guard Rails: Avoiding Regrets in Your Life by Andy Stanley:
All three of us have been ever so infrequently watching this DVD series we are borrowing.  This week we watched another episode and Andy really did a great job showing us how to put up our own guardrails to help keep on the path.

Henry on one of the many trails I've built up with trees and branches to mark our path.  He goes crazy for walks; a complete spaz as he high-tails it all over our woods!  Fortunately, now he comes pretty quick when I call or whistle for him; I think he now sees it as a chance for a game of, 'how fast can I get to her.'

I especially like to build up the entrances to the trails.  I'm honestly having so much fun arranging the fallen lumber to how I want it!  Kinda funny to think of it as interior decorating in the exterior, but I tell myself I am somehow satisfying my artistic need to turn things into something else, more appealing.  Henry likes to attack the wood as I pick it up and drag it over to the line, which gets really tiring!

Chickens:
Now that is cold I have figured out a way to leave open their doorway to get into the plastic enclosed 'inner sanctum' outside without letting in too much of the cold air---I put some cut straps of lumber on the bottom and on the side to make the hole just the right height for the chickens to use, but not much bigger than that! It has reduced the size of their hole to about 1/3 of what it normally is and they don't seem to have a problem scrunching down to walk in and out. I'm glad the girls are getting to go "out" almost every day this winter.  On the days that are fairly warm (above 30 and not much wind and no snow), I have been letting them out to the net-enclosed area.  They love to get out in the fresh air and hopefully find a piece of snow to eat!


Baking:
Dh and Dd enjoyed some fun time in the kitchen baking on Saturday.  Dh is using his three hours of holding his head up on good things---he has cooked and baked a little this week!  Dd wanted to bring cupcakes to the upcoming Christmas party so they made those.  Dh wanted to try making french macaroons--chocolate!  Oy! were they delicious and GF!  They had so much fun!

My copy has been through the wringer--apologies for its well-worn appearance!

Bible Study:
Dh and I have continued doing our daily bible study together since he has been off work.  We are doing Seamless: Understanding the Bible As One Complete Story by Angie Smith and enjoying doing it together. This has been SUCH a blessing to me; especially when I'm not feeling good!  This bible study is a fairly quick review of the whole bible to refresh just how things all connect together.  Normally, all my Bible studies are dissecting specific people or books, but this is more of a refresher course.  It works for anyone--someone just trying to get a handle on the Bible in its entirety or someone who wants to make sure they get a chance to review sections they've not looked at for a few years.  I have really been liking it.

This is the Bible study my Ladies Sunday School has been doing since last Dec. 31, 2018.  I finished it months back, but each week or so I have to review what I did learn to re-prepare for the class.  Some lessons I've worked on four times!  It is a good way to really retain the information and lessons.  I really, really love this in-depth and fantastic bible study.  It leads you to a bunch of topics that you can dig into a go really deep researching.

I have a few commentaries, but this one is just absolutely awesome and has extensive notes from other various scholars.

Who's being extra photogenic today?!  
Which is my best side?!

Academics for the Week:

Bible:
Church, Sunday School, Youth Program, Olympians Program, and daily Bible Study (Word of Life).

(This week we also watched a sermon by Andy Stanley from Guardrails: Avoiding Regrets in Your Life)

Grace Subjects:

Geography: BJU (Bob Jones Textbook)

Algebra I: Saxon

Spanish I

Graphic Design

Introductory Logic

(Dd is doing really well in all the classes.)

Volunteering:
Church: 1 1/2 Hours each week for Games and once a month for Nursery.
Library: 1 1/2 hours each week for Story Time with little kiddies; which she loves!

Next Week:
Hopefully, I will be feeling better!  We have more play practices for the church play; Rediscovering Christmas, the Youth Group's Christmas party, Dh's next eye doc appt....busy, busy, busy!

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