Yesterday was busy. Not 'I got a lot done' busy, more like 'too much stress and it kept piling on' busy :/
Went for the cell collection procedure. Really didn't want to take the meds the doc gave me to help me relax, but DH insisted, and I am glad he did! Would've jumped right off that table without them!! On a 'good' note, it was determined that I had to have my biopsy performed BEFORE they could do the collection, so the doc did it right then and there! Now, I don't have to go back for that
Got home, checked the mail, and received our notice for trial. May 30th. Don't show up, and they swear out a warrant for your arrest. It was scheduled for the same day as my doc's appointment, to get all my results and do my pre-op, so I had to call and get that rescheduled and it is now pushed back into June :/
As icing on my crap cake, my brother called last night, drunk, and ridiculed me for my lifestyle. Lets see, the only animal I have on my 'farm' that is even close to logical are my chickens. My cow is an overpriced, useless lawn ornament and, if I get pigs, I'm a total moron. Why raise your own pork/beef when it can be purchased for $1.85/lb hanging weight right now? When I pointed out that I will know everything that went into the animals I eat, he called me a 'hippy freak' and said that, while he would have to trust that the meat he gets is what they say it is, I'm a fool who will be paying 3 times as much for my meat, in the form of feed.
Oh, he didn't quit there. He asked me, after I told him we haven't bought bread from the store for several months now, if I was 'goin Amish'.
Finally, his REAL problem showed itself. He showed his cards by saying that he and his wife both work their a***s off and don't have a dime to spare, so they HAVE to buy store bought bread and can't 'go around making cheese and canning up a bunch of crap' because they *just can't afford those kinds of luxuries*.
At that point, I stopped getting angry and offended by what he was saying. I adore my brother. I would do anything for him. I know, if I asked, he would move heaven and earth to help me. It dawned on me that his drunken rant was a way to cover his frustration at spinning his wheels, while he see's DH and I moving forward with our attempts. Before he hung up, he said he'd been thinking a lot about our Christmas present, and the letter that went with it, lately. So we talked about that for a bit, and I tried to help him understand that it ISN'T about how much money you can throw at a problem, but how you can creatively solve your problems with the means you have. **Please note: My brother lives on 40 acres, 35 of which he inherited/owns outright, AND he and his wife also inherited 1/3 of her mother's 80 acre farm, 1 mile from their home. He grew up on the same farm I did. I just think his ability to see the big picture has gotten a little cloudy.
After that phone call, I thought about DH's Mom, who had given me a ride to the doc today, because I wasn't supposed to drive. She spent a lot of the trip discussing her recent canning marathon, of some potatoes and grapefruit she'd gotten for free. At one point, she proudly said "Our larder is almost full!". It dawned on me that, despite our fear that all of our family are sticking their heads in the sand and not interested in self sufficiency, DH and my continued efforts ARE rubbing off!
OK, all but DH's sister, who announced that she is pregnant with child number 8, that we will be helping to support just like the others :/
In Ice Cream news, the cow has turned into a Diva!! She will only eat her hay, if she must stay in her pen, if you A) hand feed it to her or B) take it out of the feeder and pile it on the ground beside the feeder or in her hutch (if it's raining)
I'm drawing the line if she decide's I have to carry her out to the pasture and back!!
Sorry you have to waste time in court :/
Now I need to decide where to put them! If it was just a handful, I'd stick them in among all the flowers out front. As it is, DH doesn't want any more 'difficult to mow around' flowerbeds out front, and I would like flowers out back, but can't decide where??? I tend to sit out on the back stoop after chores, so I need to figure out a spot in the immediate back yard, that won't get in my way as I walk from building to building, will be visible from the back stoop, AND is easy to mow around (right now, Ice Cream keeps things mowed, but she likes to eat flowers!). 
