Never say it can't get more challenging

during early morning chores before work

heading home after work

Hi, blogpals. Isn't 2025 shaping up to be . . . something else? There's no point in talking about the raging bull in the White House elephant in the room; our country as we know it will either survive or it won't. All human institutions will fail before "the great (for those who love Him) and terrible (for those who don't) day of the Lord."  Is this part of that failing? I don't know; I'm no prophet, just another sinner needing the armor of God for protection. Ephesians 6:11:13

Without my faith, I would surely quail/fail at all that life is throwing at us this year so far. I've already mentioned that Rick's office manager cut her hours to halftime at the beginning of the year (and didn't work at all last week because her husband had surgery) and that the clinic has to be out of the space we've rented for almost 30 years by end of February. And no, there is still no plan in place for dealing with either of those major developments; have I mentioned how much my DH hates change? I am hoping to get both knee replacements done in the next six months, but obviously can't be laid up recovering while working five days a week or before we move the vet practice – or before my mom moves. (Great news – she finally got word that a two-bedroom apartment in the 55+ complex she's had her eye on is opening up at the end of February or early March! Alarming news – that's not long for her to deal with all her stuff and property and move from Texas to Nebraska with help from me, her ablest-bodied daughter!) Still, I am hoping to schedule surgery at my orthopedic appointment next week so I am on the docket. Crossing fingers that he'll be willing to do both at once; the other two surgeons I've consulted won't.

In the meantime Rick (with a little help from DS, who is still unemployed) is still working hard to get the shop finished as we will surely need it for storing some of the clinic stuff, if not using it for the clinic itself. He has been prepping for the concrete floor to be poured, which will hopefully happen soon.

compacting gravel at night

On top of chores and what housework I can manage, I am still squeezing in a little spinning and knitting, a weekly agility class with Poppy followed by a shortened visit with my cousin/cherished friend, and an occasional ride on Stella, who is getting fat from lack of exercise. And I'm still searching for pretty/positive/peaceful things to post to IG/FB; heaven knows there are enough of the opposite to find on social media! First, the IG/FB posts:

"Went with DH to x-ray a pretty horse on a preetty place on a pretty day." (three photos)

"Moody sky on my way home tonight."

"Dramatic sky on my way home from church today."

"Gaze with me upon our morning view."

"Mt. Adams in the morning."

"Yesterday was the first clear, sunny day all week–and my first time at hoe in daylight since the Sunday before. Got reacquainted with a few of my sheep and let the horses out for a much-needed romp." (three photos)

"I can't imagine a life without a dog or two."

"Good morning! Inside, a matching red glow in the wood-burner is keeping us warm."

"Not my usual 'dawn from our deck' photos today. These are 'dawn during chores and on my way to work' photos." (four photos)

Second, spinning and knitting updates:

first turtle spun in 2025

still working on my Playful scarf using my Advent snacks

That's it for now from . . .

Another post?!?

Don't ask me why I am suddenly motivated to post more often when my discretionary time is being compressed to a fraction of what it was. Perhaps the main reason is that writing here feels like one of the few outlets I have to vent (although trust me, even here my venting is very constrained due to early training). The more frequent posting may not last, but I'm following the inspiration for now.

Never fear; I did honor my one New Year's Day tradition!

My one New Year's tradition

(not the awkward selfie part)

Here is my Ariya sweater after blocking. Lo and behold, it now has long sleeves! And it is longer in the body, too, for which I am thankful. It bordered on too short before blocking; I'm too old for cropped tops.😝 I might just wear it to church with a skirt on Sabbath.

I started my stripey Advent scarf on New Year's Day. This is definitely a "potato chip knit" – just one more stripe....

When I'm not working on it, it is resting in my Christmas gift from Brian. I told him I needed a row counter and more locking stitch markers; he got those and this adorable project bag, which has a TON of nifty features. I love it!

Speaking of Christmas gifts, I realize I forgot to share my IG/FB photos in the last couple posts. There aren't very many outstanding because I released myself from the pressure of daily posts with everything else that was going on. December 29's IG/FB featured one of my presents from Rick:

My improved sheep stand, additions crafted by my handy husband for Christmas.

The other thing I asked for and received were front floor mats for my car, as the 2009 originals were falling apart. I now have dandy WeatherTech ones.

January 1's IG/FB photos are at the top of this post. Today's follow:

It's been a VERY grey, damp winter so far,

but my pieris is loaded with buds

and my sarcacocca is ready to bloom and perfume.

That's it for today from . . .

Choosing what to focus on

On November 6, I decided to start posting a pretty/peaceful/positive photo a day to Instagram (and sharing it on Facebook). Looking for said photo opportunities is keeping me grounded when the world around me is tempest tossed. Sometimes I see something that begs repeating (like a WWII PSA reel), but there's no point. I'd either be preaching to/commiserating with the choir (surprisingly unsatisfying), or provoking the rest (though never provoking thought, just reaction 🙄). As I commented on Leigh's blog, "I don't spend much time analyzing 'the world and its ways;' I live in it but that is not where my security or future is. I've read the end of the book; it's going to get a lot worse before the ultimate 'better.'" So I cling to the truth of which I testified like a flotation device, look for beauty in God's creation, and remind myself to aid "the least of these." In addition, having animals gets me outside and moving, which also helps my mood/attitude if not my knees. (MRIs of both knees are scheduled for November 26; appointment with Portland clinic is on December 5).

What say you? Should I post all my daily photos here on my blog as well? (I thought I had a link to my Instagram account at right but it seems to have disappeared; you can access it here, no need to have an account). You know I usually make and save more than one photo a day; I could share the others here and leave the daily photos there, or share all of them here. Or?

Right now you get what you get, as these are the only photos I had already moved to my laptop from my iPhone. Our internet is temporarily down at home and I have too much else to do to stay here at work for the wi-fi any longer. Give me your feedback so I know what to post when next I can!

That's it for now from . . .

'Black Friday' effects linger

That's what I've begun to call last Friday. Bud's accident was the crowning crisis but a couple other things happened that night, all of which may have been avoided if we hadn't been trying to do the right thing by a church member about whom a mutual friend was concerned. To consider the friend's concerns we attended supper at the church member's home, where Rick lost his emergency pager and I bit down on something hard, causing immediate piercing pain in a tooth. Rick has not been able to find his pager, my offended tooth is increasingly sensitive to cold and heat and its side of the jaw is aching, and of course the jury is still out on Bud, who I discovered much later than I usually would have because of the dinner. At least Bud has made a bit of improvement; he's now eating, drinking, and looking brighter, even trying to get away from his nightly shots. And even though the whole limb still droops uselessly from Bud's withers, yesterday morning I thought I saw a bit of forward movement in his right knee as he hobbled around.

Speaking of knees, my left knee is much improved after it betrayed me two weeks ago. I was able to go to agility class last Wednesday, although I wasn't speedy and used my knee brace for added support; I expect to be pretty much back to 'normal' tonight. My right knee has been crankier for the compensating it's had to do, but the sports physician and exercise therapist are addressing its problems as well. If I continue with the exercises on my own, I will hopefully avoid another painful episode that interferes with my activities.

Speaking of activities, I got the photos of Poppy taken at our last agility trial. I shared some of these on Instagram/Facebook already, but a few more are included below. I just love seeing her like this!

With the occasional showers we've gotten, the grass is greening up and I've stopped serving the ewes and lambs hay in the pasture. This, they feel, is a grave disservice, so they holler at me whenever I'm outside. The three ewe lambs slip under the fence (see photos below) and go off to find better pickings; if I don't shut the barn door, they go in and help themselves, making a mess of any open bales. Bridget still hollers at me for putting her in with Bijou, and Blaise and Bitsy complain about being in the barn. The only quiet sheep on the place are the rams; go figure. In our house, the males are the more talkative. 😉

The guys worked hard on the shop last Sunday to get it ready for trusses, to be delivered Friday. The truss company's boom truck doesn't have enough room to lift them, so Rick is renting equipment for that next Tuesday. We've been discussing siding and roofing colors; I think dark green siding would help it blend in instead of looming large, and Rick wants a white or beige roof (which won't be visible from the house) to reduce solar gain in the summer.

Next up: Fall eye candy! Until then, that's it for now from . . .