Day 2 of complete bed rest

Well, the hip feels better (who wouldn't, with total bed rest?). Therefore, I am not going to the doc today. I think I will recover, if I let it heal. So I am continuing with anti-inflammatories and some pain meds, and staying off it. Hopefully it will keep improving.

In the meantime, I have caught up on all 10 recorded episodes of Revenge. I am now working on the 8 episodes of Criminal Minds waiting for me.

I've also responded to all the web site change requests in prep for our meeting later this month.

And all because I cannot do the things I normally do. (Yardwork, drive, sew, cook, feed animals, etc.)

And I'm finding time to blog (about what I'm NOT doing, hehe).

Poor Pat is stuck with all the farm chores AND housework AND waiting on me.

I did manage to walk out to the chicken yard today because Pat put the babies out into the big pens, with the older chickens. They have been in the brooder for 6, 7, and 8 weeks (3 hatches) and are really ready for the outside! Pat put 3 into the chocolate pen. They had to hide from the big birds for awhile; then the big birds got bored and the new girls are now staying together in a corner, getting used to their new environment. The other 12 went into the main pen. They all ran into the coop area, where 3 stayed together under the counter and the rest are under the nesting ledge. They are very busy investigating the pen, via small forays, and then running back to their group, where they feel safe. There's one we call "Chappy," or "Cowgirl," because the fronts of both her legs are covered with very fine feathers (looks like fur). The name arises because the feathers on the legs and feet are only on the front, resembling western chaps. She looked very cute, running around the pen! We think most of this batch are hens, but we're never really sure until they either crow or lay an egg! One of our laying hens has 3/4 inch spurs!

I also sewed my missing buttons on - now that's something I never find time to do!

If I'm still laid up tomorrow, I'll start practicing my oboe!

The fall must have been worse than I thought!

After falling, pushing through the pain, performing with the band on Saturday, on Sunday I found I had pain and swelling in my right hip. Huge pain. I can stand still and lay flat, but cannot sit or bend without stabbing pain. Unwilling or unable to sit in a car for 45 min to go to the ER, I stayed in bed all day today (boooring). We'll see what it's like tomorrow. If it's not better, I'll go for x-rays. Aaargh. Meanwhile, I have just learned that my wife makes a mean chicken soup! Yum!

Aargh! I broke the primary rule for aging again!

I simply must pay more attention when I walk. I had a big day ahead of me this morning...get up, feed the chickens, feed the pigs, gather eggs, get cleaned up and dressed, have breakfast, conference call at 9, leave for Kona at 10, stop at the feed store, stop at the mail box, stop at the bank, stop at the farmer's market and drop off my fruit bucket and 2 live chickens, direct and play in a bridge game, sell two frozen chickens, stop at Starbucks, pick up my fruit bucket, buy vegetables, drive home, make dinner, practice for tomorrow's performance, stop at Corey's and get her phone number, start editing a paper... Go to bed. Somehow, when I was feeding the chickens, my little favorite friends, my mind strayed...I started doing a cost/benefit analysis on the rest of my day. Before I knew it, BOOM! I stumbled on a rock, and fell to the ground, hitting my forehead on a rock, then my jawbone, then my neck, shoulder, elbows, hips, knees, and came to rest with my face in compacted chicken manure. Of course, I screamed as I fell. The chickens did what they do best - they panicked! They squawked, sounded the alarm, lined up and looked at me. I could almost hear them saying, "Help! Mom fell! We can't pick her up! What do we do? Somebody, come help!" And it worked! Our tenant, Jeana, came running out, "Aunty, are you okay?" And helped me up. I was grateful; the chickens were grateful. But it's a rough way to start the day. I hurt all over. But nothing's broken or bleeding. Concentrate on the task at hand.

I love my chickens, I love my tenants, and I must try to be more present! Sheesh!

Anyone has a chance tomorrow at 10 am at Punalu'u Bakery in Naalehu the Ohana Band, Ka'u School of the Arts, is playing at the Spring Fling. There will also be hula and singing and crafts and the like.

Go to the beach - another thing I should do regularly, and I did it today!

I just love living in Hawai'i, and I should definitely go to the beach more often. This afternoon, I went to Ho'okena with a friend. The day was overcast, with rain threatening, but the sun peeked out every now and then. The advantage of poor weather on a weekday - low attendance at the beach. And the water around our island is so pure and clear. The sand at Ho'okena is black and white, which makes it look brown, but in the clear water, you can see each individual grain of sand, the white ones, and the black ones, swirling around. Then, through the swirl, you can see the ocean floor, the water is so clear. Then, for our enjoyment, as we sat on the beach, visiting and enjoying each other's company, a large group of dolphins (about 20 -30) did water aerobics, jumping, twirling, swimming together, trying to outdo one another, for us for approximately an hour. They looked like they were having loads of fun, and were very close to the shore - no binoculars needed! What a wonderful day! I love living here!

Top ten things I should do regularly, for my health and serenity!

10. Take care of my feet. They are the only ones I have and I use them every day! This I do! I get a pedicure every month, scrub them with a sugar scrub 3 - 4 times a week, moisturize them almost daily, and scrub nails and skin with a nail brush if necessary. Soft, beautiful feet are a pleasure.

9. Get "dressed" to go out, even with close friends. This means shower, hair, jewelry and make-up. I usually shower and wash my hair, put my jewelry on, but skip the blow-dry and the make-up. But, to be honest, I feel much better about myself when I do the hole enchilada.

8. Blog, if not daily, at least every other day. As you see, I have not been doing that. This is more for my family and friends' sake. I like to tell my story, discuss my feelings. If I write it in my blog, people can choose to read it... or not. However, if I tell people, I end up shang-hai-ing everyone to tell them. They have no choice. I think sometimes my daughters don't answer when I call, because I don't let them off the phone. They say, "Mom, I have to go to work," and I say, "Okay." Ten minutes later, I am still yammering on. Or someone drops by to get eggs, and I start talking, and, pow! they are trapped in my story! Blogging helps relieve my need and relieve my captive audience!

7. Floss. Daily. I do. Every day. Without fail.

6. Eat regularly. And healthily. If I am going to be gone for 3 hours or more, I should take a healthy snack with me. When my blood sugar drops, I get cranky. And no one likes it when I'm cranky!

5. Go to a 12-step meeting, at least once a week. Self-explanatory.

4. Tell my wife I love her. Every chance I get. For obvious reasons.

3. Exercise regularly. At least yoga, but yoga AND cardio would be best. I am very bad about this. Although I work around the farm and am active, it is not the same as targeted exercise. 

2. Get your hair trimmed every 2 or 3 months. It keeps the hair healthy and split-free. 

And the most important thing to do regularly, each and every day, for health, longevity and happiness. . 

1. Pay more attention to the things you are grateful for than to those that irritate you!

Peace

Spring Chicken Inventory

Spring inventory.

We sold some roosters to a nice home. We hatched two batches of chicks gifted from a friend. A few hens fell off their perches and died. We butchered the meat birds, but ordered new ones. A friend moved away and gave us a laying hen. One pen got the pox and a few of the hens died. The rest recovered nicely. The ones that died had swollen eyes and couldn't see to eat. Sad...

Anyway, we thought we'd better take stock of what we had. So last night, when they were all sleeping, we took inventory. (They're not moving around when they're sleeping.) 

Bottom line: 111 chickens

Main pen: 3 roosters, 26 laying hens

Transition pen: 1 rooster, 5 laying hens

Cocoa's pen: 2 roosters, 7 laying hens

Tonto's pen: 5 roosters, 2 laying hens, 7 pullets (young layers)

Brother's pen: 2 roosters, 10 laying hens

Portable pen: 1 rooster, 2 hens

Rooster cages: 2 roosters

Meatbird pen: 23 lunches (6-week olds)

Chicks in the brooder room: 15

Total of 59 hens that can potentially lay eggs. We get 25 - 35 eggs per day. I don't know if that's good or not, but it works for us. We do have to thin out the roosters; we have too many again, but there are only three that we don't want. We become too attached..... 

It's good to take stock.

The three little piggies!

Yes! We have pigs! And they are cute! And they eat like, well, pigs! Surprise! We now have a new channel on our farm network, Pig TV. We can now spend our free time watching Chicken TV, Dog TV, or Pig TV. Hours of live, G-rated entertainment, at our doorstep!

Mohawk and Mother, waiting for their food. "Hi, Mom! What'd ya bring us?"

Pork Chop, waiting for his food. "Mom, Mom, what's for breakfast?"

Well, this particular morning, it wa a mix of brown rice, butter leaf lettuce, chopped mountain apples, a tablespoon of molasses, and soy milk. Mmmmm. And then I gave them some piggy pellets and cracked corn to round out the meal!

They love it!

Pork Chop does, too! Thankfully, he hasn't wondered why we call him that yet!