Half-Way There.

 Half-Way There.

 

It’s Wednesday. Supposedly, we were going to be iced in, but that did not exactly happen. In fact, it is not all that bad outside. The sleet on the walkways is beginning to thaw, the hens are happily searching for goodies, and the dogs are getting put outside each time they get to pestering me. Not putting up with being whined and barked at today. They can just go outside and grump at each other out there. Yes, it is a grey day without a touch of sunshine, but at least it is not sleeting a sheet of ice all over heck and half of Georgia.

 

A gutless wonder lives here. Sterling tells me that it is not that hard to put a hen out of her misery, but this old woman just can’t do it. By morning the hen will have lost the battle. So sorry that it can’t just be over for her, but have not killed anything other than mouse or scorpion in ages. Tried to figure out if she had something in her craw, but couldn’t tell. Just hope the rest of the hens won’t be affected by whatever ails her.

 

The hen and chicks in the bathroom will probably go back to the long coop tomorrow. She should be able to keep them warm enough by then unless it comes another bad cold spell. The little chicks are just growing by leaps and bounds. Wish the breed were easier to figure out.

 

The neighbors across the street may not be home for a couple of days. They got stuck in Ft. Worth by the storm. Staying in a BnB while she went to see her doctor, but they did pick up some groceries, so they won’t starve. Speaking of which, managed to order some to be delivered tomorrow afternoon. Going to make some Buffalo Chip cookies if nothing rips, rears, or ravels. Meanwhile, made some soup this morning and have quite a bit of it left. Got it just a WEE bit spicy. Oh well. Keeps the sinuses clear.

 

Would really enjoy a short nap, but would have to hold off these two critters. Sylvia wants ON me and Thompson wants to fuss with her about it. Just like small children! HA! Got the nap! Two dog noses on me, but still, it was a nap!

 

The roads are clear now, and the traffic is certainly not the least bit bothered by the temperature. The forecast is for more snow this evening, but we will see if that comes to pass. It is about like waiting to see if our taxes go down—not likely, but not impossible.

 

It’s about too late in the afternoon for any more to eat unless the risk of heartburn doesn’t faze me. Not particularly fond of that sensation. Finally discovered that elevating my head and shoulders makes so much difference, but even then, eating late and then going to bed is a pretty certain recipe for digestive discomfort—if not disaster.

 

Hoping the temps get up by Saturday so that doing laundry will not be a problem. Don’t think the drain pipes will freeze, but my wonderful idea of using the grey water has always caused just a tad of a problem. It is good for the ground as long as the water can go out easily, but freezing temps . . .

 

If the weather is cooperative, Jolene and chicks will return to the long coop tomorrow. Seeing her head pop up to check me out each time the door opens has been pretty amusing, but will not miss trying to keep the water bowl filled and the feed container from having its contents scattered across the back end of the tub. Let’s face it, the house is not the best place for chickens—or calves, or goat kids, or other assorted critters. Niece Becky has a baby calf in her living room! A hen and chicks are easy compared to that! But they have much worse weather in NWArkansas than we do.

 

Can’t imagine how mothers in the deep snow and ice manage to keep their sanity. It would never do for an old woman to have to deal with really cold weather for long days, weeks, and months! And it used to appeal to me to live in someplace like Scotland. What a thought now!

 

Let’s pray for those in the DFW area and beyond who are being affected by this ice storm. Electrical blackouts have got to be miserable if one is not really prepared to suffer through them and be able to keep warm. Let’s also pray for those who have no way to stay warm, stay fed, and otherwise have any help. Our part of the world is just not really prepared for weather like this. May God protect them and bless them.

 

Rest well, my friends. We are loved.