I got home from a quick trip into our little town after mailing a package and dropping into the School Corporation building to fill out the necessary paperwork to get our Farmer's Market cleared to use the School Corp. parking lot--our location for the last, oh, I don't know, decade maybe? 

I took over the Market Master position last year...but the previous Market Master had already taken care of this legal aspect, so I was facing a new experience. I was slightly nervous about it for several reason, not least possibly being the fact that I've hardly been out of the house for months now as I continue to deal with a re-occurring foot infection that for two weeks out of three keeps me strictly shoe-less. So, boldly walking in on strangers and "adulting" caused some slight apprehension. Silly, I know...but the truth.

Anyway, I got home from said quick trip...and as I plunked my wallet down on my desk, I declared to Katherine (who was practicing her piano), "Well, I adulted and it was fairly painless."

She almost laughed and said, "It usually is."

And you know what? She is right. It usually is pretty painless to behave like I'm my age. To face a stranger over a business proposition with my head up and my shoulders back. I may not look beautiful or graceful, but honesty and a grin never hurt anybody. 

I was talking to my mom this morning some about how each of us, even my parents, deal with "moving on" as we begin to function on a higher plane the more we beat our Lyme and Co. When I was diagnosed, I was 22. I am now 26. Those four years in between...large chunks of them are missing. I lived through them (obviously, I'm not dead) and I even did things like working a Farmer's Market every weekend June through September...and a reenactment here and there. But, so much of that time was lost. I aged, without necessarily my mind getting any older. (So don't mind me when I act a little too young. I just haven't caught up to myself yet. ;D) I lost social skills I once had...

Beyond that, there is an emotional "loss". Like I said to my mom, it's like there are emotions there, underneath the flatness, but you just can't quite reach them. (Other days, you sit and cry for no logical reasons.) And then the anxiety--which can cause undue and ridiculous (if you aren't the person living it) stress over even very simple things--perhaps having to get out and pump gas. 

We have to relearn how to deal with emotions, good and bad. We have to relearn how to face stressful situations. We have to learn how to live again. Really live. Not just breathe, eat, and sleep. 

Relearn how to read and absorb information. To read a sewing pattern. To play instruments and sing. To follow through with a task (oh what a biggie this one is!) To step outside our comfort zone.

To adult. 

To walk into a building of complete strangers, standing straight and tall, with a smile and no stuttering as we inform them why this funny looking girl with the black-leggings, denim skirt and red cabled sweater has just intruded into the peace of a beautiful lobby.

It's getting easier. 

I only regret that the "G" I wrote on the paper was so wobbly. A capital "G" is the worst looking letter in my handwriting's vocabulary. 

Yes, I am going to have to learn how to spell "asthma"....

Turns out that I have cropped up this new symptom in my healing process and it's called "unofficially diagnosed asthma". I have had a chronic cough on and off for several years now, but sometime this past spring it progressed to more than a cough into a difficulty breathing at times. I've had air-hunger before, but this feels a little different. Damp and cold air make the cough crop up more than anything.

Anyway, talking with our Lyme doctor about it (and the possibility of it being TB) she suggested that I probably have asthma--which after comparing symptoms once we got home, I decided was more like it.

I had my worst bought yet yesterday...Daddy and I were at our Friday Farmer's Market and it started to rain. I don't generally mind standing cramped up under the tent, getting kind of damp. It can actually be kind of fun and cozy and create bonds between vendors and even customers. 

I started to cough...and then I started struggling for air. I won't say I was gasping because I was trying to be a little more discreet than that. I ended up holding onto the tables to keep upright as I began to get off-balance; I suppose from a lack of oxygen. About the time Daddy called Mom (he was going to suggest she come up and switch out with me) I looked over at John (egg man) and realized he had an empty chair (and place to set it up, unlike us), so I told Daddy, "I can go sit with John..."

I stumbled over and sat down and sitting helped. John was marking his egg labels, so I ended up actually sticking them on his cartons (might as well make myself useful!) Once the rain cleared out and stuff dried up a little I quit fighting though I think I kept right on coughing on and off for the rest of the afternoon. 

So yeah...new symptom, new struggles...and on we march!

I have four friends with birthdays this week...somehow that amuses me. :) Three are, or are past, and one still to come. My brother-in-law's birthday is next week (if I'm right on the date), so it's a birthday-ish kind of month, it seems! Naturally, Katherine is our "Sunshine Lady" as Mom puts it, so any mailed out cards have passed through the adorable child's hands.

Speaking of adorable, here's her shop outfit for today. Ain't she just PURDY??

Back to this week so-far though. I can't exactly remember Monday...unless Monday was the day Katherine and I went to Jo-Ann's. If it wasn't Monday, it was Tuesday.

Well, anyway, we went to Jo-Ann's because I have a number of Civil War underpinnings to make for certain persons--preferably before next weekend which is our first reenactment of the season! I, being the entire doof that I am, misread the sale ad and thus was happily expecting the muslin to be 50% off. Oh. It doesn't start until THURSDAY, you say? Well...now that I feel stupid, I'll come back then and get my mass of yardage! (Which I did, this morning, in conjunction with a grocery run. I walked out with an entire bolt of muslin for just over $25.)

I was also pricing for possible other notions for an upcoming project, my "bother's" Confederate general's uniform! Tickles me pink, it does. :) I'm still not entirely settled on what I'm going to use for the "chicken guts" on the sleeves. I don't want anything that looks cheap and "costumy"; it would ruin the effect. But anyway--there will be more on that project in the future.

Yesterday, I cleaned the chicken coop before breakfast. (That 45 minute buffer on the "dirt" detoxer leaves me open time slots sometimes.) The morning was spent doing a little straightening up and the afternoon saw the staggering fact that we organized our yards and yards and yards of material!!!!

You are allowed to die with shock.

That concluded with 1 box (all units are rubbermaid, just so you know) of 1 yard pieces, 1 box of 2 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 3 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 4 yard pieces, and 1 box crammed full of 5, 6, and 7 yard pieces. Then, of course, is the scrappy stuff which is supposed to be made into quilts, Katherine's box of fabric, my comforter bag of fabric, two small rubbermaids of doll material, one BIG rubbermaid with the material still on bolts in it. So yeah. We still have some material all over the place to join the mess of unfinished projects, un-started projects, and clothing items to be re-purposed. Oh, and perhaps a mending job or two.

We like fabric. Just in case you didn't know.

I was completely wiped out by the end of the day, but surprisingly, don't seem to badly off today. Which brings me to my next subject: a Racheal Health Update.

The week after Savannah got married, the following Wednesday to be exact, I started my new killer/detox regimen. I won't give any dates for the following, because that would be too precise for my taste (or memory)...

Anyway, I have been having, get this, E-N-E-R-G-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brain may not still be working at capacity, but I have been able to move, energetically--all day long (or mostly all day long) in a way that I haven't for quite a long time. Gee. ONE DROP of that fungal killer is doing this to me?? (And I'm not kidding, most days it is only one drop, not two.) I had some headaches when I first went on it, but since leveling out on one drop, I haven't. I wonder how it'll do with two drops. Maybe I'll attempt two next week.....maybe. I like feeling good. :D

Evidence that my brain still isn't fully functioning...I forgot what else I was going to say. 

However, I probably should mosey off of here (coffee's gone) and get to my Thursday baking. I have to go get some rhubarb for pies...and I'll double check with Mom on what else she wants or does not want made. Either way, I'll try to get US some bread made. We have enough eggs now that it's not a strain on our breakfast to whip up some breads.

Nah. I'm not talking about that I'm the oldest youn'un at home now or anything like that. I'm talking about the new Farmer's Market season.

I haven't heard anything about our local one, so I'm not sure what's going on with that, but the other market we work in a town a couple miles north starts tomorrow.

We have very little by way of merchandise yet. I have however, prepped for in the inevitable sweet teeth at the market by baking a batch of rhubarb strawberry pies.

I decided that this year, I'm actually going to try and make the pies look pretty. Maybe they'll sell better--maybe not. Anyway, I didn't see any use in just shoving that little bit of scrap dough back in the freezer, so I went decoratorish. I'm tickled at how that big one came out. Hearts are easy enough, but the flower was a little trickier. 

As you can see, I bake pies on a cookie-sheet. We found that out fast the first year I started baking rhubarb-strawberry pies for the market. I don't know about you, but I'd rather scrape and scrub a cookie sheet than I would the oven itself. :D

In between checking on the pies, I got a couple "Wedding Music Videos" edited. My adopted brothers are rather talented, just so's you know. ;) I'll be putting them up on YouTube relatively soon...

Oh--and I also started back on more detoxers and a single killer today. We'll see if THAT kills any and all creativity I have in me.

Until next time, I remain none other than...

For starters, I fully intended on reading Authentic Christianity yesterday. I didn't manage it partly because I was tired, herxing, and blue and partly because a) we listened to a Dr. Morecraft sermon after lunch and b) Mama and Savannah were having a conversation. I ended up just crawling into bed and spending the afternoon there.

Now...to go back in time...I cannot remember all of what I did last week...but Savannah and I went to the "out of town" Farmer's Market on Friday. Savannah and Katherine were supposed to go and I was supposed to go to a doctor's appointment with Grandma (Mama was sick), but it got changed around because I parallel park just a wee better than Savannah (or so I think). Anyway, I took my guitar with me and played a little...I think the market master got a picture of me playing, but I don't know. 

The above photos are traditional (or becoming traditional) "road trip" shots by Savannah. You may be ale to spot some of our multitudinous array of market items behind my gorgeous sister. I enjoyed being behind the wheel of our Annabelle again. 

We did fairly well for a slowish day (I asked several other vendors if it was slow since I hadn't been there this year yet and they said it was). I spent the last thirty minutes or so sitting on John's egg cooler talking to him and Dee. Mr. "Clucky" seemed to think my nickname of Rooster was appropriate. I have an invite to put bees on their property which I actually do intended on taking up once I get my feet under me a little better as a beekeeper.

All in all, I enjoyed myself even though in a personal way I didn't make any "dough". 

The next day, Savannah and I set up at the local market and then she went home to eat breakfast. It rained some...and by 11:30 we had had a whopping total of FIVE costumers. Chuck (the only other vendor that day) had to leave early anyway, so when he left, we also left, but only partly due to the rain. The other part was that Savannah and I were going on another "sister trip". :) I was going to get my new queen bee! For further information, see the Bee Project.

Today I did a little Cow Cavalry work. Not as much as I hoped to get done, but enough to mark a few things off my list. I was going to get back to it after lunch, but I went out to stand Grandpa up (Daddy made him a standing frame--we hook a horse girth around his hips and crank him up into an upright position where he can stand and work on his leg strength; just in case you are wondering, he enjoys this...it's not something we make him do). While he was standing, I replaced the arms and the wheel handles (or whatever they are called) on his wheelchair. It took me two trips to the old garage to get the correct wrench for the wheels, but after that it was a breeze. It was actually kind of funny because Grandma had said something about, "I don't know if you can figure it out" and I kind of laughed and retorted cheerfully, "I have something of a mechanical bent, Grandma...I think I can figure it out!" Then she laughed. After all, I am the kid who always took stuff apart and put it back together again. (I keep remembering the telephone from years ago...but anyway.)

After that, Mama and I went out and planted a little buckwheat...then we picked the strawberries. Since then I've been typing...fed the chickens...took Grandma eggs...went and peered at my bees on the landing board...typing...drinking tea...but do you really care about all that? Probably not. :D

Now I'm going to go feed my cats their supper. Until next time then!

I don't mean that in a "thank-goodness-it's-Friday" way (not that it is Friday anyway), but meaning that it's been the day this week that I have felt the best (Tuesday may have been a better day, I can't remember). I have had a rough week this week, health-wise. I have been herxing all week. Not so very pleasant and hardly very productive or helpful to my family. I am still dealing a little with Mr. Icepick, but not as much as I was the past couple of days. (It's worst when I bend over at the waist...not sure why, but that seems to be a pattern.)

However, when I got up today, I tested the back of my neck and decided that I could handle the market no problem. Which I did, if you don't count the little bit of sneezing and nose-blowing I did as I rediscovered that this "yankee grass" does indeed bother my southern sinuses. ;P (To be perfectly honest, and fair, I used to get a little sneezy while mowing the grass down on the ranch.)

For Memorial Day weekend we did fairly well (Holidays/long weekends are always slow--even though you'd think it might be otherwise). Personally, I made 15 bucks from a doll dress. Always a happy feeling. :D

We got two new 12'x 12' tents. Savannah was right--it is like moving into a bigger house! I like it!

I know you hear about the Farmer's Markets every year, but I don't know if I've ever done much by way of pictures...so here's a few of our stuff and our (three currently) fellow vendors at the local one.

Some of Jo's stuff. I figured she wouldn't appreciate the photos of her that Mama took, so I won't post them. 

My "next door" neighbors:

And of course, y'all are just dying to see all the merchandise on my tables. ;)

Like I was saying though...today has been my best day all week. After working the market this morning and eating lunch, I felt up to working out of doors. I headed for the rhubarb patch and finished weeding around the plants in the large patch behind the barn. (Next step there is running the string trimmer.) It took roughly two hours and by the end of those two hours, I and my nose were ready to find a place without 18" grass waving under said organ of smell. I wandered over to where Mama and Savannah were planting okra (!!) and said something--I don't remember what, but it was fairly unintelligible. Mama sent me in to go clean up and have a cup of mint tea to combat the stuffies...which I did after peering at my bees and seeing they were out of what and therefore filling up their water pan.

By the way, this is what I get for weeding (on my knees) in a knee-length skirt:

Somebody remind me not to do this again anytime soon. ;) At least not until they stop being sore..

Incidentally, speaking of soreness, I would so thrilled if I could find a lipstick the exact shade that my wind and sun-chapped lips are right now. It's red without looking dorky like red-lipstick (on me)...

And now, with that very female train of thought...I'll bid ye adieu and go stare into the refrigerator and see if I can guess what someone else might have had planned for supper. (I think we will be having rabbit for the third meal in a row. Yesterday I fixed all the bunnies that Daddy had removed from circulation. So, we've been eating "Racheal's spin on a French recipe"...I think, humbly {you may laugh me to scorn}, that it's the best rabbit I've ever had.)

I was hoping, when I woke up this morning, that the menigits that has plauged me the two days prior would be gone. By the time I was ready to go feed the chickens an hour and half later, it was manifestly apparent that such was not the case. But, to back up in time a bit...

Monday morning we girls had our lastest Lyme appointment. With the different blood works in, it shows that both Savannah and I (and therefore probably the rest of the family) have Dengue Fever antibodies. Yes, you read that right...bone breaking fever. According to Dr. Ritchie most, if not all, of her patients show Dengue Fever in their blood work. Interesting.

I am fairly lost when it comes to reading lab reports and glancing at my papers here...I forget what this first thing was for...but I'm about 200 points low on it. I have some sort of mutation in one of my DNA strands that makes me more seceptable to viruses (I think that's right). There is other stuff too, but I can't remember what they are. 

Katherine has had definite improvement since she switched protocols. Me, I described myself as the "slow poke" because I do not exactly see anything profoundly different. Savannah has also had improvements. As soon as this upcoming conference (next week!!) is over, I will start my Dengue Fever killer...and gradually up my Lyme and Bartonella killers, along with my detoxers. I guess I just need to be hammering these bugs a little more vivaciously. Maybe. 

So anyway, Tuesday I spent mainly "down" with an attack of menigitis--which continued into Wednesday. Only, yesterday afternoon I spent almost entirely on my feet poking around in the kitchen and doing little things that were necessary. By supper time I was running an 98.6 (though that is the "normal" body temperature, it's a fever for me) and really didn't feel so great. 

Today, as the whirl of market preperation has been going on (this weekend both Farmer's Markets open), my main contribution was ironing doll dresses. I took a couple hour break after lunch because by then I was feeling pretty rotten again. Then I got back to ironing doll clothes. I seriously need to take the time to make doll-sized tailor's hams. But anyway....

I finally got the "impersonator's information" letter from the conference planners this afternoon, so I know a little better what I'm supposed to do. And I do need two days worth of clothes. Glad I planned on that. I'm really kind of excited, though a little nervous...and I just hope I feel good by then. When one's head and neck hurt they aren't exactly the most coherent or even really want to talk. Particularly if there is any noise sensitivity. (I'm dealing with a little of that, but my light sensitivity is worse; going outside hurts my eyes.)

I'm awful ready for supper...

No, we didn't start planting today. But I have spent the majority of the day doing pre-planting "stuff".

For starters, I went through and catalouged all the seeds we already have. Mama is working on the seed order and she asked me to take care of this end of the job as she had other things to do and was a nice, slow easy paced task for a daughter who must confess to not feeling tip-top upon this overcast day. 

As it turned out, there was absolutely no need for more peas...at all. Carrots, yes, but not peas. Things like peppers, melons, cucumbers, and winter squash were also pretty much relegated to the "we have enough of these left over from last year" category. 

We picked two or three kinds of okra to supplement the remaining okra seeds from last year (aye, we be Southrons here in this mid-west land); a couple more kinds of greens (Georgia Collards anyone? They grow fairly nicely here.) Mama picked out half a dozen or more types of lettuce. (We are practically out.)

I cannot remember if more beets ended up in the online cart, but I do know how I love beets...We needed more Blue Lake and Roma green beans. I think they were the only beans that got added...we have plenty of the red and green Chinese Noodle beans left. :D

Then we kind of had fun choosing tomatoes...ever heard of blue tomatoes? Well, we have at least one variety in the cart!

I cannot remember if we decided on another cabbage or so, but we have a goodly number of seeds left for at least one of the varieties we grew last year. 

Mama also got a few different things like Emmer wheat (it's about as ancient a variety as can be found and a whole lot less glutenous than the modern stuff [wonder if even I with my wheat allergy can eat it?]) I don't know if she got the buckwheat or not, but I know most of us, if not all of us, rather like the stuff. 

Then she also added some different kinds of sweet potatoes to the cart. (Do you notice a sort of classic Southern food theme going on here: okra, greens, sweet taters...the sweet potatoes grow great up here--but Northerner's don't seem to think they are to be eaten except around Thanksgiving and Christmas. :D Right, so that may be a bit of an exaggeration and generalization....)

I will end up with some 'normal' potatoes like Red (Russet's, I guess they're called), Yukons, and the like, but those we'll get locally. I really do like growing taters. I don't exactly know why, but I think they are kind of fun. :)

Mama also has a whole bunch of flowers in the cart. Daddy is going to grow flowers for the Farmer's Market. Cut flowers. I'm still wrapping my head around this one. :D None of us girls got overly excited about the prospect when Mama suggested it, but I guess Papa did!! I reckon we'll end up helping as the season progresses. (There's a secondary benefit here--bee food!! *cheesy grin* Technically, it's not actually the pollen or nectar that the bee's eat anyway...but the honey they make from it.) Speaking of bee's, I showed Daddy my hives last night, all set up in the basement, and he got a rather rambly overview of some of what I know about bees. His questions helped me dig stuff out of my memory, too. :)

After we were done running through seeds, Mama got to talking a bit about one of the trains of thought she has been following for the betterment of our soil...and she set me on the trail to learn a little more about it myself so I can help think on ways to actually implement it in a workable fashion. It is true, our soil here is plumb worn out amongst other things. Anyway, ever heard of mycorrhiza? If so, kudo's to you. As is, I went, "What-cha-ma-call-it??"

So, the short version is it's a fungus-thingy that grows on or actually into the roots of most plants (ecto- or endo-mycorrhizae, respectively). This stuff helps with nutrient and water intake...it opens up the clay-y soil and helps bunch up the sandy stuff. 

Now, what has that got to do with our soil issues? Well...when the plant dies (is rooted up, plowed under, etc.), it's accompanying mycorrhiza dies. Now, what do most farmers and gardeners do once to twice (or more) per year? Yup, plow or till; breaking up the soil, turning it inside out...and destroying this helpful fungus. SO...we are trying to figure out a way to NOT till the garden and plant cover crops (I doubt they make acre garden size drills. I have noticed more farmers in the part of the world drilling rather than doing a total plowing.) I am just wondering how one plants a cover crop (such as wheat or whatever) without tilling. I can figure out the after planting part--until I run into the next years cover crop issue. So...to put this a little simpler, I can actually, in a way, see how to work a BIG chunk of land much better than I can a small piece. I personally, do not think that going and taking a hoe to break up the surface area of the previous cover crop is the most efficient method. 

But...if we skip that problem for the moment and go back to the benefits...say you have the cover crop in. The mycorrhiza (which may or may not have to be put into the soil by inoculation) grows onto the roots. So, when you plant your other plants, say beans (you could make the row or plot strictly by hoe, or using one of these mini-tiller things [we do have one though I have never personally used it] since they don't till as deeply or as widely), though you may have destroyed the mycorrhiza right in that row, the surrounding soil/roots still contains it. It will be able, from there, to attatch to the new plants. 

That is all rather simplified, I am sure, but that's the general idea.

I confess that I have a rather stick in the mud approach to "new" things. I think, partly, for two reasons. First, and most stupidly, it's just new, and uncharted (for me) territory. I am not a fan of change in my lifestyle or habits. (And I do rather enjoy running the tiller.) 

Secondly, perhaps somewhat more logically, I am hesitant to try something new when the old is "tried and true"...but then I have to sit back and question how "true" it is. Big ag practices really only come to fruition within the past century. Before then, was the food really more nutritionally rich? (I'd hazard a "yes" to that on a couple of fronts--however, I am really too ignorant to articulate them.) So, I got to thinking about the planting. Back in the days of horse drawn plows--or even the early tractors and tag-along implements--the turning over of the soil was not quite so deep...the rows were further apart (partly, I believe to allow the farmer to come back in, either by hand or with the tag along implements, and weed)...and so the complete destruction of the mycorrhiza would have been a little less likely. Oh, and there wasn't such a plethora of herbicides and pesticides [!! One of the things I forgot to mention was that "they say" that the mycorrhiza, making the plant healthier, actually reduces the amount of insect problems!! I'm not exactly sure how...but I did read that.]...you know that stuff gets into the ground...and...and...well...I could morph this into a health/Lyme discussion, but I will spare you that agony at this moment in time.

But anyway, going back to my second point, "Old" is not necessarily better. Sometimes "New" (which can actually just be "old before the current revitalized") really is better.

Oh, well, I think I need to go feed the chickens. Hopefully, my scribbles here will help me remember what I learned this afternoon as much as (or more than) they informed y'all as to an interesting tidbit from the field of fungi.

Well. With that clumsy title, I shall strive to detail (in an interesting fashion) my busy, full day for you.

I woke up (of course...or I wouldn't be writing this). The time was more or less normal ('round 7 a.m. give or take 10 to 20 minutes). 

I drank my coffee and read my Bible and by 9 a.m. I was dressed and booted...and scrounging about in the brooder coop setting up for the chicks that I expected to arrive this morning; only I didn't put the bedding in. All before breakfast. Believe me, I was ready for my eggs, onions, and left over Navy bean mush mess. It was delightful...Bear with my food raptures...I haven't had supper yet and it's practically 8:30.

The morning was spent in various activities readying folks for the market this afternoon. That and rushing around to settle my chicks who did come this morning, without prior warning from the Post Office (last time they called first). In other words, I had to put the bedding in with a box of loud peepers making a racket in my ears. Sometimes I think my ears are more sensitive than they used to be to loud noises (Lyme maybe? Dunno--the thing on the symptom list is "decreased hearing"...) It really, really got loud after I took the lid off the box and had about half of them in the brooder where the "cheeps!" echoed off the walls adding to the din.

I counted 53 birds. The packaging said 51. So I'm happy. So far, I haven't had any dead ones even though...well, that's a story for later on. 

Among the other things I did this morning was trying to keep up with the dishes, making some pie shells (those pies squeaked out of the oven literally as folks were walking out the door), throwing up a quick, short, blog post, sticking labels on honey and hot blueberry jam, packing the truck, straightening a few things in a few places, eating a quick snack to pack down my irritation (I get irritable when too hungry), and all around trying not to stroll around doing nothing and being in the way.

By the time we ate lunch (2:15 for the three at home), I was ready for it and my coffee afterwards. Daddy kindly washed the dishes after lunch while I straightened my computer area and took some stuff upstairs that really needed to go up. 

I tackled a load of laundry and the bathroom next...the bathroom needed it. While I was cleaning the floor, Sherry (our favorite hospice lady) came and gave Granddaddy his Friday bath. 

{Supper Break}

Ah...Lentils with fresh kraut mixed in is one of my favorite meals. :)

Anyway, back to the details of the day...I poked along and made some more pie shells (trying to stock up for the next two weeks--the last two Farmer's Markets). I was going to try to make enough for all five markets (tomorrow and the four the following two weeks), but I ran out of flour. Katherine made a bread while I was doing that too--we left less than a full cup of flour.

A little later, Mama called to inform us that she had sold both pies...so Daddy cut the pumpkin and I got it stuffed into the Conservo. Then I popped out to check on my chicks.

One was upside down in the water. I thought he was dead, so I reached in, picked him up and was going to head out and toss him into the cornfield. But...he wiggled! So, I held him under the heat lamp for a bit and he opened his eyes and then closed them again. 

Cupping my hands around him (his feathers were still quite warm from the heat lamp), I trundled myself up to the garage where Daddy was running some new piece of machinery he'd picked up earlier in the day. I had to yell at him a couple of times before he heard me over the noise. Anyway, we decided to try to revive the little guy; particularly after he made a little peep or two. I figured that was a good sign.

Daddy found a box and lined it with a piece of paper towel while I kept the chick warmly tucked in my hands. He was starting to squirm. 

You have to admit...he didn't look very good; I still expected him to die.

We placed him next to the still-cooking Conservo where he'd get the heat off of it.

I checked on him on and off for the next couple of hours, in between other things and each time he looked a little better, seemed a little more alert and peeped a little louder. I tried to get him to eat a little, but I don't think that was overly successful; I left a little tiny bit of feed in the box. The next time I looked at him, his face was practically in it, so I don't know as if he ate any of it or not. 

Eventually, I decided that he was hot enough that he probably needed some water. Now, I do know how to force a chick to drink, so I did. I put him back in his box and he stayed on his feet! And hollered...and hollered...and hollered.

I left him there a little longer before re-joining him to the rest of the flock. I hope he's still alive and healthier in the morning. 

Speaking of the rest of the flock, ain't they a fine bunch of feathers?

There is something wrong with the above picture...here it is, fall weather on us (the high today might have reached 60)...and I am running around BAREFOOT? (Besides which my leg looks cocked-eye due to my pants...)

To be quite honest, I started out in socks and boots, but I felt like said socks were sticking to the floor so when I cleaned the bathroom I took them off (we had some pears "leaking" in the mud room; that was the problem) and spent the rest of the day in my bare toes. The ground it both wet and chilly...

I got supper made (it was basically left-overs doctored up a little bit...turned out fine if I do say so myself) and finally got upstairs with the vacuum cleaner. I changed the litter in the cat box and got my room and my sisters rooms vacuumed. Thankfully, Runty didn't pull any of her door-climbing stunts this time. It really is very, very funny to see a black cat hanging sideways and rather bat-like off a chicken-wire screen door, but it's horrid on the hinges--which are already sprung--partly, I think from the wild careening trampoline-jumping stunts of said cats. 

Mama called before they got home to tell Daddy, who handed the phone to me, that Grandpa had called her--he needed tomorrow's pills and they needed a gallon of milk from the fridge in the barn (it's a little too difficult [uneven floor] for Grandma to get it). So I dashed out to take care of things.

Grandpa said something like: "Look, it's Whatcha-call-her. I called You-know."

I laughed, "You-know called The Other Guy and he gave me the phone."

Grandpa continued the play, "It must be a relay..."

Me: "Something like that..."

Anyway, it was funny and one of those special moments of me actually being able to have a come-back to one of Grandpa's funnies. :) He's too smart for me!

Since I've been remiss on the blogging front this week, how about a quick run-down on what I've been doing?

Does this work?

The above are only two of many outfits I have been sewing this week...

Yesterday, my Grandma's cousin Helen had a huge auction; basically an estate sale (she's moved into assisted living) and Mama, Daddy, Grandma, and Savannah went. They bought Helen's couch. It's rather comfortable actually.

Our old couch is now in the barn with black plastic toss over it....

It's now nearing 10 and I have to go take some more pumpkin pies out of the oven, so farewell for now!

P.S. MAMA SOLD A PAIR OF MY SOCKS!!!

Well! I told one reader early last week that I was going to put up some pictures of the canning process...but, as is clear, I never did get around to it. Too much canning and other things thrown into the works precluded my blogging--and then when I did have that extra few minutes, I just didn't feel like it. So...here's the pictures from early last week. :) (And I wish you could see Curio sitting in my lap with her head on my hands while I'm trying to type...it's interesting! :D)

Let's see...the above was probably Tuesday. 

Thursday was my parents 32nd wedding anniversary! Believe it or not, they actually went out for supper. I'm not sure that in my 22 years if they've ever done that before...lunch, yes. But supper? I don't know. :) 

Saturday was a market day and Mama's birthday! (I don't have any pictures, so you'll have to hop over to her blog.)

Anyway, after the usual Saturday routine, she got surprised with a some stuff...and the knives that Daddy and I bought (though indeed my contribution was primarily hiding them and oiling the new bamboo cutting board in the secrecy of my room) her were a big hit. And here is the neat part...the two worst secret keepers in the family managed to keep their lips sealed and their excitement bound down until the right moment! I didn't even tell my sisters that there was a birthday present for Mama in my room. ;)

Saturday morning was extra enjoyable, because some friends came and set up with their instruments...and brought me a lovely bundle of mustard greens! (Which, we still have not eaten...and I very much look forward to. I could eat that whole bundle by myself in one sitting. :D I do not remember a day when I did not love mustard greens.)

I had a rather unusual Sunday morning yesterday. I was planning on staying at home with Mama (who it turns out wasn't expecting it) and I did...but more for the reason of executing a work of mercy/necessity. 

I butchered two roosters. A couple days ago we had a cock-fight--one rooster got killed (we ate him) and another one had most of his neck skin flayed off (though I didn't see that til the day after). Surprisingly, that rooster still seemed in good health, but one who had a boogered up eye was acting really lethargic and unhappy. Then there was another one with a messed up breast. I could not catch that one (the set up is not good for catching birds unless you have a dip-net--which I do not...yet), but I got the other two and took care of them. 

By the time I had them caught and dead, the scalding water was too hot (Mama had turned it back up when she came out to see if she could help me), so I sat out on the steps by the side of the house in the little breeze and watched bugs and the hummingbird visiting the feeder not three feet from my head and doing a little praying. I am consciously making an effort to use quiet moment like that to pray because prayer is an area I am very weak in.

By the time lunch rolled around I was clean and had gotten through a few pages of Authentic Christianity. I would end up, later in the day, taking my reading out under the Lindon trees in the orchard...it was such a beautiful day!

This morning, I must confess, I woke up at 8.00....that is LATE for me and I had no intention of sleeping that kind of late...and now, I think I shall close this post and go see if anybody is having tea this morning, for that sounds just grand.