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

Farming with a bad back

Two and a half years ago I had to have a lumbar fusion.  Not a great time in my life I have to say.  I was forced to give up my home daycare business and then go back to teaching, something I'd swear I'd never do and something I am constantly reminded of WHY I swore I'd never do it again.
Every once in a while my back creates chaos in my life and decides to be an issue like it did this week.  My surgeon fears I have either herniated another disc or have an infection in my spine.  He pulled me out of work for week which is kind of nice I have to admit but the farm chores still need to be done. Impatient goats greet me at the barn door, bleating sheep and peeping ducklings along with their very loud quacking parents, all want to be fed.   So out I go, twice a day, pain or no pain.  Still, though, I do love my little farm.