Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

Took DH to his endocrinology appointment this morning. Doc was ok with where he's at right now. That's always a relief. Got my shopping done afterwards. I hate shopping - but it's done for now. Didn't need much but starting to pick up a few things for the upcoming visit from the grands! Fall break is coming up so I expect one or two of them to show up here.

Didn't get a lot of sleep last night and was up early so I feel an early bedtime coming on.

OH my goodness - it's been a busy day. Been doing lots of outside stuff. My back porch has become a catchall - and even worse - some of the chickens have been calling it home. Grrrr! I spent hours today moving things and re-arranging things and sweeping chicken crap. I need to kick some of 'em out to the barnyard. I have a trio of barred rocks that think it's ok to roost on the patio furniture. Nope! I have two roo's in the barnyard and they both need to go so I can move this young trio out there without too much drama. I'm sure some of the old hens will rear back and say "uh -uh!" But, they're just gonna have to adjust. The silkies can stay in the back yard because they have much better manners than to crap on the porch!

Did the mowing, fed all the critters at least twice (including the fish) and put a fish trap into the pond just because.

Gotta go shower the grass outta my hair and find food. Worked up an appetite.

a squirt gun on a stand that shoots water at the chickens if they come on the porch might work ok, but then again then you'd have water on the porch and furniture... oh, but you have dogs! can't the dogs guard the porch for you?

as for sleep, i think last night was the first night in several weeks where i slept more than a few hours. don't tell anyone but i almost feel human again...

flowerbug said:

you have dogs! can't the dogs guard the porch for you?

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Some years back I had a dog that wouldn't let the chickens anywhere near the porch. They were in a starter pen in the backyard and as soon as they got big enough to jump/fly over she would run toward them and they would be startled enough to fly right back into their pen, lol. I sure miss that girl!

These dogs - they do guard the backyard at night, but they consider the porch a safe place so they "allow" it. I chased chickens in the dark last night and gently encouraged them to perch under the shed with some of the other chickens (but far enough away from them that there were no squabbles). Nope! They didn't want to be there. They are about to find themselves caged under there at night until they figure out that it is a good place! Or, after a couple roos in the pasture move away from home they can move out there.

I have a middle area...it's between the back yard and the pasture. "Should" be perfect for chickens. However, that particular area has no dogs to protect them. The last time a roo went rogue and decided to spend the night there he didn't wake up in the morning.

It'll work out one way or the other.

Today will be another outside day. I need to move a round bale. Before I move this bale I need to clean out the area where it needs to go. Old hay mulch is about to happen.

Another long day - but productive. Can't complain about that.

Got the rest of the old hay cleaned out this morning and was able to place a new bale in the cleaned-out spot. Now - have I started moving the old hay into the areas that need mulched...Nope! Not yet, got side-tracked.

Had a scare last night. Thought I lost one of my silkie pullets. Heard a big chicken scream and by the time I got outside I couldn't find one of the two silkie pullets that roost in the doorway of an open shed. Do they roost inside the shed? Nope - that would be too much like right. I searched for 'em in the dark and I searched again this morning. One was not to be found.

So, today I started to rebuild a chicken tractor that I used earlier in the year. Why have I not been using it? Because a huge goat thought this lightweight metal chicken tractor would hold him up. The big ol Boer buck tried to stand on it a while back. It did NOT hold him... it crumpled in a couple places. Soooo - in light of last night's scare I decided to fix the chicken tractor. About halfway through fixing it I found the missing pullet, lol. She musta had the patootey scared out of her because she was hiding under the shed. I'm glad she's ok - but I'm still putting them up. I can't protect them from owls unless they are confined. So - now they're confined.

I'm relatively sure it was an owl because no creepy, crawl-y, 4-legged critters come into my yard with the dogs on patrol. We've had owl issues previously and I have occasionally seen one hanging out around here at dusk. Not lately though - but I guess things have changed. Had my wakeup call and it's not an issue now.

did DH get any new medications? it sure seems like it's not been very steady since the visit with the docs...

flowerbug said:

did DH get any new medications?

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Recently, the cardiologist adjusted his medication, and naturally, one of the side effects is dizziness. We sent a note to him, and he confirmed but also said that it will pass. This past week it does seem to be getting somewhat better. He even got outside and walked this morning without me doing more than "suggesting" it!

Another issue is the fluid buildup in the brain. Although the surgery was considered "successful," it isn't perfect. Sometimes, the pressure increases beyond what the shunt can manage at once, and it will cause him to have a few tough days when that happens.

Mostly finished the chicken tractor this morning. Debating on whether to put some runners under it. Not only for ease of moving it (even though it's pretty easy already) but to raise it up a little off the grass. Poop would fall through better. I've got some small diameter PVC that I'm thinking of using, that way it wouldn't be raised up so much that they couldn't reach the tips of grass coming through.

Thanks to the new piggy clean-up crew there are two garden beds ready to be planted. I need at least 2 -3 more but those are going to be on me to clean up. Hmmmm, what to plant first? Carrots? Broccoli? Cabbage? Turnips? Collards?

frustratedearthmother said:

small diameter PVC

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Maybe just throw a couple pieces on the ground and roll it over them when moving it. . Lazy way.

DH & fluids build up -- anything he eats that increases it? To be avoided?

Mini Horses said:

DH & fluids build up -- anything he eats that increases it? To be avoided?

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Who knows? Internet says one thing - neurosurgeon says another. Nothing that we can really pinpoint anyway. Cardiologist already has him on limited fluid intake and low sodium. He just has bad brain plumbing I guess!