When you get tested

So on this hot and humid morning I was doing chores looking forward to getting indoors. I settled in front of my computer then my phone rang. It was our priest in one town over. He had Covid and needed help.

He gave me a list of things he needed, I changed my farm togs and got in the truck. I was able to get all his request done and get him meds and food. I was not feeling 100% but I soon forgot that. I walked his dog so he could rest and stay out of the heat. I stayed to review any things he might have forgotten. See we both had the Covid so we are immune. The rest of our church is not. 

I was just thinking how could I help someone in need when I felt this bad. I got my answer, you just do it. You get dressed and get going. You will find the strength to get it done. Chicken soup, juices, vicks vapor and kleenex go a long way. I was able to park get in and out because I was on a mission.

Sometimes you get tested when you least expect it.

 

Skull renew

I picked this resin skull with glass eyes. It is a bit bland.

After some brown paint wash and purple LED tealight a whole new look.

 

Peaches and Pears

See all that dry pasture? But look at the peach tree it is loaded with a ton of peaches. These survived a late frost, drought and heavy rains. Now it needs to make it past the wildlife. Might have enough to can this year.

More peaches

And this is the first time my Asian pears are making it! 

 

Upgrade Recycle Purse

I bought this while thrift shopping. I love the colors and the embroidery but it is a very flimsy purse with a silk strap. The good news is that the liner was easy to take apart. I added craft foam using contact cement under the removed liner on all sides and bottom of the purse.

Next the magnetic clasp was useless so I turned the strap into a snap closure.

Next I used old belts and copper rivets to hold the belt strap to the bag.

This old belt is now a cool strap for a purse upgrade. The liner I resewed and set back into the purse.

 

Three of a kind

I need a tuna purse. Can't find it so going to make it.

 By special request going to make a Fizzgig purse

And this will be something a bit better and made by me. It needs to be brown and with a studded collar to make it that much better.

 

Modern Farm

Our young guest getting told what is expected every morning by the herd. It was 103 outside and 103 in my brain but the farm does not get sick days. She was a big help with chores.

Here we show her the  glow forge and using Gimp to set up the art. She needed no lessons in this simple program. It was a whirlwind visit but we enjoyed her company.

It was nice to have company and we are looking forward to more visits hopefully in the cooler time of the year.

 

Covid Comes to our farm

Well, in a flurry to clean our house up for a guest bam, we got the Covid. It had been at our church but we could have gotten it from anywhere. We had to pick up our young guest from the airport and we both felt off. Luckily our guest had it already. A week into it and 103 body temps and cough, shivers, fatigue and tiredness. We did the hikes, rivers and kayaking as per normal and took turns with our guest on the farm. It was a super human test to stay upright and active. After 8 days she flew home with a good visit under her belt of farm life. We drove home and slept for 2 days. We have not gone out except to get farm feed and that was no contact. I lost my voice and have fluid in my lungs. My husband is doing better.

I still get up and do normal things but sleep a lot. 

One sad thing is that I have had no response from family. Complete strangers have offered food and farm help but not family, not a peep. When they got the Covid we sent flowers, meds, called to check in and snacks. I am old enough not to care but it still sucks. I have too high expectations from people.

At least I have many friends who have come to our aid and call to check in on us. And for that I am blessed to have.

On farm news, chicks hatched and ducklings are on the way. All this heat has made very broody hens and ducks. The drought here in the Ozarks took away most good pastures. We will have to feed winter hay soon. My garden is not faring very well, but maybe this fall I can still get something from the garden.

Projects in the works, 3D purses, TBA.

Restorations of the old and new life for used things.

Life goes on not matter what. And I am glad to be a part of it.

 

Trauma Mama

I finished the true story of what a Narcissistic mother is capable of. If You Tell by Gregg Olsen is the true story about a truly evil mother- Shelly Knotek who is about to be released from prison in 2022. This is a hard book to read and not for children.

The thing is I went through some of the same type of childhood trauma. Possessions taken away when I cam home from school, furniture removed forever, clothing taken away, moving often, locked outside for hours, controlled every minute of the day. I thought it was something I had done wrong, but this book sheds light on the madness of some mothers. Worth a read if you want to understand why some adult children are estranged from their parents. The part about the mother being very good at finding things and being a different person at work was very close home.

One time we moved to another state and when the movers unloaded everything, I had nothing. No furniture, no clothes, no toys, everything was missing from my new room, no a single box of my possessions. My mother said she gave it all away to a poor family right before the move. Really? I thought we were poor. I had to start a new school soon and had no clothes. My younger brother had all his stuff. I ended up wearing his clothes and dumpster diving for the rest. And even though I was 5 years older than he was I could fit his clothes. I was very undernourished as a child, though I was called fat by my parents. And my father was too busy to care. I wondered why so many people tried to give me food when I was growing up. I guess they saw what I did not. I discovered how undernourished I was when a dentist studied my teeth. He showed me the signs in my teeth and x-rays. The body does not lie while my folks did.

This is a very disturbing true book and shows the horrors some children go through. Growing up with lies, threats, mind games, constant stress and fear.

 

They grow up fast

51 & 52 are growing up fast. They have their second round of shots this week. I had one person back out of taking them and another had questionable intentions so we still have them. I was all packed up with kitten chow, toys and bedding when the last person backed out. I guess this economy is pretty bad for pet owners right now. It has been hit or miss getting pet foods. Luckily I keep some on hand for fostering animals. And I have a great male cat to take care of the kittens mentally. He cleans them and plays with them. Male cats are just better at getting along. Our female cats will have nothing to do with these two. But both of my adult male cats sleep with these two. Either way life is good for these two orphans.

 

Church Banner for ordinary time

I got this done before diving into another project. Lots of embroidery work then a rush to finish. And sewing with two foster kittens all over me, very challenging. Then had just enough fabric for the backing. I did this and the baptism font with four drapes with gold crosses. Did not have time to take a photo. Just too many people to talk to. 

 

Health Mystery solved

And the winner is Alpha Gal! After three + years of dealing with my husbands nauseas, lethargy, toilet issues, rash breakouts all over his body, many doctors and procedures we have the answer. I suspected it was this at the time but no doctor would listen and no lab would do this test. I was told that lab does not perform this test. We were left with no answers and he is under 50 and in good health otherwise. I dove down the rabbit hole and was starting to read about other men with the same symptoms.

Fast forward to this year and our family doctor returned from service and he listened. And his office allowed the test to be run and his lab actually did the test. Positive for Alpha Gal. Nothing was given to us just that answer, positive. So now we move forward to avoiding meat and animal products. He loves steak and pork so this will be a change. We will see how it goes as he ages. The thing is that is was chigger bites and not a tick bite that set this all off. My husband is highly sensitive to chiggers. So now we take steps for him to avoid getting bit.
 

Orange you gonna introduce me?

My foster kitten behind my monitor.

He likes to sleep on the LED's.

 

Kitten kapitulation

Yes, I still have my foster kittens up for rehoming, the ones we rescued from the road. No one wants kittens, puppies nor other pets thanks to gas prices, pet food shortages and vet cost. So we are moving forward with getting them to the vet, shots and then neutering. They are almost 3 pounds now and still tiny. They are more active and have the run of the house. They just might become ours, only time will tell. For now they are still 51 & 52 and they come running when I call kitty kitty.