Where have I been? Well of course, life on a farm and trying to work at school keeps a gal busy. Then you throw grandbabies visiting and trying to take care of the garden into the mix and you get BUSY! Then add a Breast Cancer Diagnosis in on top of that and that's when things just don't get done.
So now, our saga takes a turn. We were just a retired couple enjoying ourselves and the farm, fishing a little now and then and socializing with the neighbors. On July 18th, 2014 (my husband's birthday) I received the diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Our world flipped upside down. Our emotions were on a roller coaster. It was difficult to grasp the diagnosis. It is such a slow process to move through.....you feel as though your feet are being sucked in mud. Denver and I determined that Breast Cancer isn't a medical emergency, but a mental emergency. You just can't get anything done quickly! It's always hurry up and wait. You make an appointment with a Dr. but it's not for another 2 weeks. Or you have a procedure scheduled and it's a week and a half away. All the time you're waiting you go to the world wide web and begin searching for anything related to your diagnosis. You literally flood your mind with information and it soon becomes an overload. You have to walk away and take some healthy time for yourself. Go do something that you enjoy and don't think about the dreaded cancer.
Things are better now...we're progressing. In another post I'll give you more information and perhaps it will help someone else. God has been with us all the way and it's evident in the minimal treatments I've needed compared to some in our community. It's just difficult for me as I've always been in control of everything in my life and with this.....I'm not! I just don't like it!!! In face, I HATE CANCER!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
IT IS COLD HERE AND WON"T WARM UP!! Here it is the 3rd of April and I still have a fire in the wood stove and am wearing long sleeves and a vest. Where is the warm weather???
Oh yea....we had it a couple of weeks ago when I planted the potatoes and onions. It has been warm on intermittent and sporadic days....just enough to tease us and give us a taste of the luscious warmth!
I'm ready to put other things in the garden and plant annuals in the flower beds! I want to look at the growing things in anticipation of picking ripe things! I want warm breezes instead of the cold howling winds that we have here on top of this hill!
Patience....patience....I know these things will come....it's just patience that I need!!
Yesterday was one of those gray, drizzly cold days. Today though, is better in that there is no rain, but the wind is howling. The sun is trying to shine through high clouds but there isn't enough to warm things up. Although the thermometer says 50....it sure doesn't feel like it!
Oh yea....we had it a couple of weeks ago when I planted the potatoes and onions. It has been warm on intermittent and sporadic days....just enough to tease us and give us a taste of the luscious warmth!
I'm ready to put other things in the garden and plant annuals in the flower beds! I want to look at the growing things in anticipation of picking ripe things! I want warm breezes instead of the cold howling winds that we have here on top of this hill!
Patience....patience....I know these things will come....it's just patience that I need!!
Yesterday was one of those gray, drizzly cold days. Today though, is better in that there is no rain, but the wind is howling. The sun is trying to shine through high clouds but there isn't enough to warm things up. Although the thermometer says 50....it sure doesn't feel like it!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The clutter has been cleared from the moving boxes!
It's time for some pictures to be posted of our beautiful new home! We are now living comfortably in
our new space. When you search, look and plan for designs, you imagine yourself living in that
space. I think we did a great job as we feel pretty comfortable in this new home. I've spent the last 2
months toting things from the shop building next door that we lived in during the building process.
I'm still moving some small things but for the most part everything is put away. I'm sure though that
I'll be shuffling some of these things as I find how I use them in the new space. And, we didn't have
a linen closet built any where so that is still something to be added by our cabinet man when he
finishes our banister. But, if that's the only thing that we over looked.....then I think we did a pretty
good job! Since this would be such a long post to describe each picture and room.....I'll take a few of
them at a time. I'll try to describe what we've done and add in some pictures...there's still work to be
done.
So....getting right along with it......
When you come in the back door, you come into the utility room or some people call them mud
rooms. Regardless....we need a place to come in...take off shoes.....hang up coats .....do laundry.
our new space. When you search, look and plan for designs, you imagine yourself living in that
space. I think we did a great job as we feel pretty comfortable in this new home. I've spent the last 2
months toting things from the shop building next door that we lived in during the building process.
I'm still moving some small things but for the most part everything is put away. I'm sure though that
I'll be shuffling some of these things as I find how I use them in the new space. And, we didn't have
a linen closet built any where so that is still something to be added by our cabinet man when he
finishes our banister. But, if that's the only thing that we over looked.....then I think we did a pretty
good job! Since this would be such a long post to describe each picture and room.....I'll take a few of
them at a time. I'll try to describe what we've done and add in some pictures...there's still work to be
done.
So....getting right along with it......
When you come in the back door, you come into the utility room or some people call them mud
rooms. Regardless....we need a place to come in...take off shoes.....hang up coats .....do laundry.
This is where we hang our coats and jackets. It was originallly framed for a door, but in thinking about it....we didn't put a door on it. Make it as easy as possible and the coats will get hung up. We did add beadboard to make it a little more visually appealing and then hung hooks that we already had. We also gave it a coat of paint....a warm green...different color than the walls. I like it!! Works pretty good!
After living with this for a few weeks.....I think I might have to add a couple more hooks down low for more hanging space
Monday, January 21, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The insulation
As we began to think about building, we drew on our knowledge, both current and past, of energy
effeciency. We built a house about 29 years ago and it was, to a degree, passive solar. We situated
the house so that the side with the most windows, were on the south side and the north side had no
windows. But, as with all things, the building industry has changed. Insulation has become more
efficient with the use of the sprayed foam. It can cover cracks and openings that you can't even see!
The crew that we had do ours even sealed the area around the doors and windows. I don't think we'll
have any air leaks in this house.
Windows have also improved considerably. It is now very common to be able to get "Low E". In
the sunroom which is situated on the south side of the house, has windows that are not "Low E" so
that we can gain as much solar heat as possible. You can definitely feel the warmth on sunny
days...so much so that if it is fairly warm outside, I've had to close the doors between the sunroom
and the rest of the house!
effeciency. We built a house about 29 years ago and it was, to a degree, passive solar. We situated
the house so that the side with the most windows, were on the south side and the north side had no
windows. But, as with all things, the building industry has changed. Insulation has become more
efficient with the use of the sprayed foam. It can cover cracks and openings that you can't even see!
The crew that we had do ours even sealed the area around the doors and windows. I don't think we'll
have any air leaks in this house.
Windows have also improved considerably. It is now very common to be able to get "Low E". In
the sunroom which is situated on the south side of the house, has windows that are not "Low E" so
that we can gain as much solar heat as possible. You can definitely feel the warmth on sunny
days...so much so that if it is fairly warm outside, I've had to close the doors between the sunroom
and the rest of the house!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Moving in!
I need to bring y'all up to date on what's happening with the house. We began construction on August 3rd. It was so terribly hot
during part of our construction. Those poor guys were working out there when it was over 100 degrees and we certainly do
appreciate them for it.
After all this time, we were finally able to make the big move into the house on the second weekend in November. Aaron, Rachael
and Chloe came down from Ozark and Joe came over from NW Arkansas. We used an enclosed trailer of my dad's which certainly
made it a lot easier. Doing it this way you don't have to be so concerned with how things are tied down....and there's no chance of
anything blowing out. It's so embarrassing to be going down the highway, have something catch your attention and it be something
blowing across the road behind you. And heaven forbid it be something that hits another car!! Anyway, we moved in knowing
that the house wasn't completely finished yet, but living in that shop building with no windows was about to drive us buggy!!
The house did not have cabinets in the kitchen or vanities in the bathrooms, but we had a bathtub, shower and toilets....that's
enough for us!! Oh...and did I mention there are WINDOWS !! Big, glorious, wonderful windows. We can now actually sit inthe
house and look out! The shop that we were living in before had no windows, so if was raining or cold, the roll up doors were
down. It certainly makes it more cozy and comfortable....but I like looking out!
We moved the big furniture and set up housekeeping!! That's when the unpacking of boxes began. But, since there are no cabinets,
only clothes and bedding can be unpacked, I'm trying to be patient!!!!!
during part of our construction. Those poor guys were working out there when it was over 100 degrees and we certainly do
appreciate them for it.
After all this time, we were finally able to make the big move into the house on the second weekend in November. Aaron, Rachael
and Chloe came down from Ozark and Joe came over from NW Arkansas. We used an enclosed trailer of my dad's which certainly
made it a lot easier. Doing it this way you don't have to be so concerned with how things are tied down....and there's no chance of
anything blowing out. It's so embarrassing to be going down the highway, have something catch your attention and it be something
blowing across the road behind you. And heaven forbid it be something that hits another car!! Anyway, we moved in knowing
that the house wasn't completely finished yet, but living in that shop building with no windows was about to drive us buggy!!
The house did not have cabinets in the kitchen or vanities in the bathrooms, but we had a bathtub, shower and toilets....that's
enough for us!! Oh...and did I mention there are WINDOWS !! Big, glorious, wonderful windows. We can now actually sit inthe
house and look out! The shop that we were living in before had no windows, so if was raining or cold, the roll up doors were
down. It certainly makes it more cozy and comfortable....but I like looking out!
We moved the big furniture and set up housekeeping!! That's when the unpacking of boxes began. But, since there are no cabinets,
only clothes and bedding can be unpacked, I'm trying to be patient!!!!!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Getting here.
Just getting here to the farm can be an adventure in itself. If you come from the south, you
have to, or get to (depending on your attitude) ride the ferry. This is one of the last ferries in
AR and it is operated by the Highway Department. It only runs during the daylight hours, so
it can put a damper on your traveling. You've got to restrict your traveling to daylight
hours only or go around the other way which can add many miles and lots of time to your trip. It also
won't run if there is dense fog or extremely high winds.
There is a schedule for arrivals and departures, so unless you want to sit and wait the 40
minutes it takes for the ferry to make a round trip, you look at the schedule and plan. We
know how long it takes us to leave the farm and get to the ferry, so that we don't have that
time to sit and wait. It can be a social event though. There have been many times that
we've seen people open their trunks or get into the cooler in the back of their truck to have
a cool drink of water or soda while waiting. There's also a lot of visiting that goes on.
Catching up with the neighbors or finding out where the other travelers are from is usually
the topic of discussion. This route is very popular with motorcyclists and many times they
are from other areas and interested in what else is in the area. That's when we get to brag
on our little area of the state and its beauty!
This is what you see when you pull up to wait for the ferry. There is always a spare tug....you just
never know when you might need another one!
Here it comes!! You can't see it, but the tug powering the ferry is obscured by the extra tug. The pilot glides up to the dock and a dock hand secures the ferry to the dock with large ropes.
Just a couple of motorcycles on this trip. Sometimes there aren't any vehicles on a trip, but they have to go anyway to keep on their schedule.
There is another way to get here besides the ferry. It just depends on which direction you need to go
whether you take it or not. Sometimes though, you just need to ride it for the enjoyment! There's
nothing like putting your tailgate down, sitting on it and enjoying the last ride of the day. It's the
"sunset cruise"!!!
Just getting here to the farm can be an adventure in itself. If you come from the south, you
have to, or get to (depending on your attitude) ride the ferry. This is one of the last ferries in
AR and it is operated by the Highway Department. It only runs during the daylight hours, so
it can put a damper on your traveling. You've got to restrict your traveling to daylight
hours only or go around the other way which can add many miles and lots of time to your trip. It also
won't run if there is dense fog or extremely high winds.
There is a schedule for arrivals and departures, so unless you want to sit and wait the 40
minutes it takes for the ferry to make a round trip, you look at the schedule and plan. We
know how long it takes us to leave the farm and get to the ferry, so that we don't have that
time to sit and wait. It can be a social event though. There have been many times that
we've seen people open their trunks or get into the cooler in the back of their truck to have
a cool drink of water or soda while waiting. There's also a lot of visiting that goes on.
Catching up with the neighbors or finding out where the other travelers are from is usually
the topic of discussion. This route is very popular with motorcyclists and many times they
are from other areas and interested in what else is in the area. That's when we get to brag
on our little area of the state and its beauty!
This is what you see when you pull up to wait for the ferry. There is always a spare tug....you just
never know when you might need another one!
Vehicles line up and people get out of their vehicles while they wait for the ferry.
Here it comes!! You can't see it, but the tug powering the ferry is obscured by the extra tug. The pilot glides up to the dock and a dock hand secures the ferry to the dock with large ropes.
Just a couple of motorcycles on this trip. Sometimes there aren't any vehicles on a trip, but they have to go anyway to keep on their schedule.
There is another way to get here besides the ferry. It just depends on which direction you need to go
whether you take it or not. Sometimes though, you just need to ride it for the enjoyment! There's
nothing like putting your tailgate down, sitting on it and enjoying the last ride of the day. It's the
"sunset cruise"!!!
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