Happiness

I had a realization this week.   I realized that in spite of this back injury and how it has turned my world upside down, I am happier.  Happier because I do not have to drag my butt out of bed at 5 AM every morning and feed farm animals in the dark.  Happier because I don't have to go to a job that although I loved, still had it's stress factors.  Those factors were of course coworkers.  I loved my boss, I really did.  But what made her nice to work for also made her difficult to work for.  She had a terrible time with confidentiality.  We knew everything going on with every co worker because she would tell all of us.  I used to hate that.  There were times we were called out for something that really was just not a big deal and I would come home feeling frustrated and angry.  So I realized that I no longer have those feelings at the end of the day.  My time is now mine, and even though I live with constant pain, I think this happened for the best.  I have a peace now that I haven't had in years.
Do I miss my job?  Absolutely!  But I do not miss the drama.

So with my spare time I decided to go back to knitting with wire for a while and I made a beautiful black wire and bead cuff.  I love it.  I plan on making a bunch more and selling them on Etsy.

I wish you all a beautiful weekend!

I bet you guys thought I was gone forever didn't you?  I'll admit I've slacked off with the whole blog thing.  Been dealing with having to resign from a job I loved, being unemployed and dealing with the whole Workman's Comp issue.  I've never had to do that before and it has been one hell of an eye opener.  My boss, whom I had a good relationship with and who was fine when I told her it was workman's comp just up and stopped all contact with me.  So after 2 1/2 years of being a good employee I can't even use her as a reference for a new job.  I hate that people can behave that way.
On the farm front we've had lots of drama between the sheep and the ducks.  The sheep very badly want the ducks food.  We have tried everything to prevent this but they are determined and manage to get some of it every day.  The ducks quack loudly and beat their wings and the sheep are quite unperturbed by it.
With my back injury I have found that I do not enjoy the farm like I used to but it is something I am working on.  Trying to find the joy in the things I used to.  With the limitations I have I can't even really sit and knit for long.
I went to unemployment for a job resource meeting and they took one look at my restrictions and pretty much said to look for work, play the game, but noone is going to hire me.  Good times.

I will try and get back to a regular blogging schedule.  I thank all of you for being so patient.

Rainy Day

This morning was a drizzly, dark, start but all was blissfully peaceful and quiet in the barn.  The goats don't "do" rain, God forbid they get a hoof wet.  The sheep don't seem to mind it but they still prefer the shelter of the barn.  The ducks, however, are having a field day!  Puddles are available in all manner of sizes for them to splash in!

Uncertainty

It has been such an uncertain time.  I hate not being sure of what the future holds.  I've been out of work since the week before Easter due to back issues.  I know my surgeon would prefer I not do what I do for a living.  I'm a preschool teacher by the way, and my physical therapist is on the fence about it as well.  Problem is, I have worked with children for over twenty years.  That is what my certification is in.  I'm not 22, I'm 42.  People aren't looking at me and saying, "Oh lets hire her and teach her something brand new!"  I can't sit or stand for long periods of time or lift anything really.  So...lets just say I'm limited.  I hate not knowing what my future holds and I have to work so this is very unsettling.  However, when I'm not taking one of the many walks required by my physical therapist every day or doing my back exercises I have been knitting and baking.  I have a little side dog bakery business.  I know with all the pet food recalls, we almost lost a cat several years ago because of kidney failure, that people are looking for a more natural option.  I use only natural, human grade ingredients in my dog baking.  Humans could eat them too if they wanted to but they would be a bit bland for our pallet since they don't have sugar or salt in them.  My husband, who is not a sweet eater actually likes my peanut butter dog cookies.  And at least I have SOME money coming in.  Our local liquor store is selling the dog pops for me and I sold one of my felted purses.

Angry Bird

As you all know, I've been pulled out of work temporarily due to a back injury.  All I can say is, thank goodness I can knit!  I'd be bored out of my skull if it weren't for my needles and yarn.  Not to mention the therapeutic benefits of knitting.  The click clacking of my needles and the feel of the soft, fuzzy yarn and all the colors!  It is such a sensory experience.  I am always amazed at what you can produce with two sticks and some yarn.  Really it is amazing isn't it?

My husband asked me to knit him a red Angry Bird since we are addicted to that game in our house.  So that has been one of the things keeping me busy while I am a lady of leisure.  Here are the pics:

Shearing day!

Shearing day!  The sheep always look so funny to me the first few days after being shorn.  I think they love their new haircuts though!

Rude neighbors and good friends

So as you know I've been recovering rather slowly with a back issue.  My surgeon pulled me out of work for a few more weeks to give me some time to recover and for me to go to physical therapy.  I went to this physical therapist before my last surgery and he was fantastic.  
I've still been taking care of the barnyard critters and hanging out with them as much as I can.  I've been blessed with great friends who will do anything for me including taking an entire Saturday to sit in the ER with me and laugh over how stoned I was from the pain meds.  I have friends calling and asking if I need anything or just to see how I'm doing.  That is a true blessing, to have friends like that.  I don't take it for granted and their friendships are one of the most important things in the world to me.  I also feel that way about my animals, especially my sweet chocolate lab, Hunter.  Hunter is loyal and affectionate.  There isn't a person in the world who doesn't get a tail wagging greeting from Hunter and I swear this dog actually smiles at people.  Enter the princess who lives next door.  You know the type.  Blonde, probably out of a bottle.  Muffin top because her jeans need to be one size bigger than what she is wearing.  Constantly on her iphone with the pink case, and an annoying whiny tone every time she opens her mouth.  Princess and her boyfriend have a black lab that Hunter loves to play with.  Occasionally the other lab comes here to play or Hunter goes next door.  Yesterday the two dogs were playing in a little kiddie pool full of water and ran past the princess who proceeded to gasp and scream "SERIOUSLY"?????  I wanted to tell her, "No, not seriously"  But instead I stood there and just stared at her hoping she would get how childish she was being.  She loves to yell at Hunter, who just wants to be her friend.  She hates her own dog who ignores her and if you know labs they don't ignore anyone.  This is very telling to me.  What gets me is her constant raving and ranting and general rudeness but my husband expects me to suck it up and not stand up for myself or in this case my dog.  I say too bad.  She needs to get some manners.  She is a mere child of thirty and I am not taking the nonsense from her.  If I love someone or in this case, my sweet Hunter, I will protect them like a mama tiger.  She has made my tiger claws come out and I am in no mood.  So for now I just wait for one more word from her....Just one more