Our Country Life in the Big City

Today has been good, busy but good.  We started out the day early as Hannah had to be at the therapist at 9.  David usually feeds the chicken some scratch feed when he is leaving but I told him that I would feed them this morning and they were quite confused!  I always give them laying mash about 8 so when I went out, I put the laying mash in their pan and no scratch feed.  A couple of them started eating but the rest of them just looked at me like "Where is Dad with the good stuff?".  I went in, checked the hen house (I have a couple that lay around 6) and came back out.  They were still staring at me.  I had the scratch in a pitcher in my hand and one of the girls jumped up and tried to knock it out of my hand.  She is my oldest (4) and knew what I had.  I threw just a little on the ground and they stared at me like "AND???".  I dumped it all out and they decided I might just be ok.  I planted some new seeds Monday and I had to spray them.  We had been getting up into the 80's and are back into the 40's now in the am.  This will slow germination a bit.

When we got back from the therapist with Hannah, the allergist with Elizabeth, and Sam's (the kiddos think I need corndogs for my birthday-something we never eat) I went in to check on the girls and still no eggs.  I think I made them mad this morning. 

Elizabeth gave me a beautiful rose named "Elle".  It looks almost like a Peace rose but smells so so very awesome!  I can't believe the aroma of this rose.  Now I have to figure out where to plant it, I can't wait.

I have a friend taking me to lunch tomorrow, that will be fun.  We haven't seen each other in quite a while. 

Well, I am off now to clean up some and fix lunch.  We have church tonight so we will be celebrating my birthday with my parents tomorrow.  Tonight, we are having corn dogs, french fries, and strawberry shortcake (the kiddos planned the menu) for birthday dinner.  I always make them eat healthy so they like to splurge on special occasions and I had told them they could plan this one.  What fun!

I have been awake since 5 AM.  I didn't need to get up until 6 AM.  I really think my body has sprung forward with the time change.  Our pastor, for whatever reason that I don't understand, told us not to change our clocks back until after the morning service so I didn't need to be up now.  I was so excited that I wasn't losing my hour of sleep (maybe the pastor didn't want to either).  My rooster is confused too, he has been crowing for 2 hours.  I bet the hens are ready to stomp him!!

Yesterday, my dh got a whole truck load of compost from the county for me (where they cut down trees and then compost the chopped remains) and added it to my garden.  After tilling it, you can sink all the way past your ankles.  It is the most beautiful soil now (remember, all we have is hard, red Georgia clay).  The air smelled so wonderful when he was out there working.  Tuesday I hope to be able to get my garden in the ground.  I need to replant some of the seeds in my greenhouse because some just never came up.  My purple hull peas, dh's favorite, came up beautifully.  I finally have 2 watermelons sprouting after being in the dirt for a month!  David is also building me a raised herb bed.  I can't wait to get that finished and planted.  He bought me a HUGE rosemary "tree" after Christmas at Lowe's on clearance and I haven't decided where to plant it yet.  It has been doing great in the pot on the porch but needs to go in the ground.

We have been running constantly lately it seems.  I think we go somewhere every single day and I am so tired.  I try to combine trips but it just doesn't always work out that way.  Monday, Hannah has physical therapy for her kyphosis, Elizabeth has to go get allergy shots (both of these things are about 30 miles from our house), we need to go pick up books that I have on hold at the library, and I need to go to Walmart and get some freezer tape since I have forgotten the last several times I have been there.  Our pastor is preaching at a revival 1.5 hours from our house Monday and Tuesday and we are supposed to go because our choir is singing and all of us girls are involved.  We are supposed to be there by 7 and dh doesn't get home until 5:30.  He is not amused.  The youth choir is singing on Tuesday night so that is both girls again.  I don't know how to handle this one.  I am directionally challenged and don't generally drive long distances that I am not familiar with alone.  With my fibromyalgia, I tend to have panic attacks if I get confused or think I am lost. 

Well, it is actually time for me to get out of bed now so I need to go start getting ready for church.  Today is going to be a long day, we only get 2 hours between the time we leave there and the time we have to be back for choir practices.  Thankfully, mom is cooking dinner.  Sundays always wear me out.  We are at church on Sundays from 9:30 AM to 12:45 or 1 PM, back at 4:30 until 9:15.  It takes us about 30 minutes of travel time one way. 

I am going now, the chickens are all calling my name now.  Yesterday, David gave them so many weeds from the garden that it looked like they had softballs in their crops.  They had to be stuffed (I should get bunches of eggs today!!).  Talk to you all again soon!