Here's Weenter!

Today on this high of 12F degrees we ran out of wood pellets for our upstairs pellet stove. So we drove to town carefully on the icy roads and picked up one ton of pellets. We normally have mild winters in the Ozarks and use about one ton a year. But with this cold winter we have had it was time for one more ton. The main highways are clear but our back roads are hilly and solid ice. We did a few running starts to get over hills on our return trip and we did slide a bit on a curve. But you turn into the slide and keep from hitting the breaks. We also split and stacked firewood for the main woodstove downstairs. We are all set for 4 inches of snow on Sunday Feb 14th and Wed Feb17th are expected in our area. Animals are well fed and warm. In this photo that is solid ice in the driveway. Having four wheel drive, good tires and heavy vehicles a must out here in the Ozarks. 

On a side note that is my husband and he is feeling a lot better. What he did was give up milk and cut back on sugar and coffee. He is taking several herbal supplements I found for gallstone breaking, is taking soluble fiber, and getting some exercise. He works at his desk for long hours and does not get up and go outside as much as I do. But he is feeling hunger again, no nausea and may be getting over whatever has been ailing him for the last year and half. I am so glad I dove down the herbal rabbit hole to get him relief. His doctor recommended the fiber, exercise and peppermint oil for him. I found that Chanca Piedra an herb helps break up stones in the body. Looks like it is working for him.

 

Coffee level up

During this pandemic we watched youtube vids as we do not have TV. One thing I noticed was fellow coffee lovers pouring their coffee. All kinds of rules and pots, cups, holders you name it. So I found a cheap small set of instruments to give it a go. And it was not half bad. I also discovered Geisha coffee beans from Ecuador, Costa Rica and South America. It is Ethiopian beans not Japanese type of coffee bean. It is quite good in any way you brew it. I prefer coffee and chicory but this geisha is quite nice. And wildly popular with the rest of the world. The price for geisha beans is double the cost of normal beans and is hard to find. It is fun to try a new brew and learn a new technique.

 

I see weenter

It has been ice and snow for the past few weeks here in the Ozarks. This February 14th should be high 17 F and low of 0F. It has been a challenge but the farm animals are doing well. The poultry have heat and warmth and the horses have hay and shelter. The dogs have two shelters and a heated tent. But the dogs  end up in the basement at night when the temps go below teens and after farm is tucked in. 

I had two clutches hatch last week of chicks.The third was abandoned by the hen. All chicks survived under three hens who are now teaching them how to go in and out of the coop. In spite of the cold these chicks are thriving.

On the human front my husbands scopes looked normal and we are waiting on samples taken. No cancer was seen. This means we still do not know why he has no hunger, mild nausea, and pain. Might be a blocked gallbladder duct but images looked clear. So I am trying non surgical otc stone buster herbs on him. It takes weeks to see a doctor and the weather/pandemic is not helping. He had to have the Covid test and was negative. It was his first going under surgery. That was fun. He thought he had not had anything done to him and that he was fine. But he had no memory after returning to the room, dinner nor anything after. He recovered after sleeping a full night and we ok the next day.

We were blessed with a friend who came to our farm twice a day to tend the animals. It is getting harder to find people willing to take the time to do this even out here in the Ozarks.

I am grateful for our life out here and would not want any part of city life. I love that I can plant food and live off what we grow. This year I am adding more flowers for myself and for the bees to pollinate.

Flowers make me happy.