Mini Horses
Herd Master
My thoughts are with you. So sorry for your loss. It is hard but, like you, my mom had left me long before her passing. 
. She no longer suffers. 
. She no longer suffers. 
Farmerjan's journal - Weather
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Mike CHS
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Sorry about your Mom but I know you were expecting it.
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farmerjan
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In from the hayfield for a bit. It has been a beautiful comfortable dry air today in the upper 70's.... very nice day. At least another one or 2 like that then getting more humid....
Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers.
Yes, it was "expected" but it is never expected if that makes sense. She isn't suffering and it will be easier on my brother that is the POA except for what will happen with my father and how he takes it. I do not see him doing well because he has never liked being alone.... but maybe this will push him to look outside the narrow focus he has had; and maybe this will just cause him to give up. He came out of the stoke so well, and we believe that it was in part because he had to "get home to mom"....
Have been in contact with the family... Services are not until next week....hours on Tues eve and service on Wed. Not sure why it is put off so long, but it is not my place to say. DS and I will be going up Tues morning early.... and staying through and coming home early Friday...give us a chance to go to the service and spend a little time after it is over.
Nothing much for me to go up sooner for, at this point. After it is over, and then POA brother returns to his place in 2 weeks it will be time to consider maybe going up for a few days....when things quiet down and actually get lonely for father. My brother had planned to go there this weekend coming, and stay for 2 weeks; this will severely hurt his financial situation with missing his fishing charters this week too.... maybe he will be able to get back to some semblance of normal after this planned time there, after the services. He stayed with them the better part of the winter while he could not operate his fishing boat, but it is critical for him to make his money when the season is in...
So, we are going to get as much of the hay done as possible; with an eye to the weather this next week. I got on the tractor and tedded out about 20 acres... DS mowed more too. I will rake tomorrow all that is tedded out today... and then switch back to the tedder on the tractor and tedd out what he mowed today... which is another 20+ acres I am sure. He is going to take the tractor and mower down the hill to another place so it is there ready to mow as soon as we get back, and the weather cooperates. This owner has gotten very difficult to deal with the last 2 years, and now is complaining that the hay is over mature and that the pastures do not have enough cows there cuz the grass is too high....
We pay rent.... not dependent on the number of cows or how much hay we make or anything.... flat rent. They do not get any hay so quality is not a concern to them.... and the reason there is so much grass now is because we DID NOT overgraze it like the previous renters did and ate it into the ground. And we fertilize the pastures and the field that we cut the 1st cutting off.... It has a greater carrying capacity than it ever has.... and we use the hay field for a rotation in grazing once the first cutting is off.
DS said he is probably going to give it up if they keep the harping on the grass and hay. I don't blame him... it gets old after awhile. We moved a few more cows there, and it gets bush hogged every year too. There are 2 other people that have approached the owners, that we have gotten wind of; "small community gossip stuff you know", and I will bet they are making all sorts of comments on the "slowness of getting the hay made" etc., and they are offering more money... there are a couple of cut throat ones around here that try to take places out from under renters... offer all this stuff and then in a couple years have run things down and hurt the grass.
We will probably tell them that we are not going to renew the "lease" before they say anything to us this fall.... get the "jump" on it... and stay on civil, good will terms with them. It is fine with me at this point. Let them get someone else...
We have had previous owners that we rented from and then lost, come back to ask us to take places over again... a few we have, and some we have not. We are getting more and more disinclined to go back to places. Tired of playing the games. Plus, so many times the fences on pastures have not been maintained and then there is more work to get them usable... why put ourselves through that anymore.
We have several places that are good... the owner's are a little particular... but they do exactly what they say they are going to do and are fair. We do our part and never hear any complaints otherwise. Those are the ones that are worth the time and trouble.
So that is the size of things right now.
I will probably be on here some, through when we leave to go north. Then off for a few days.
I will be meeting with B about cleaning the house tomorrow eve.... I was still on the tractor when she was done and could not leave to go meet her... had another hour to go. Tomorrow I ought to be able to get things worked out and she said she will not be done until about 5 or so which ought to work out better for me. I did not go down there today, so will try to get some stuff tomorrow when I go meet meet her. I haven't told the landlord about the death in the family but will because I will not be there for several days to do anything.
Going to get something to eat. I wore the knee brace today so now it aches from that...
I also must have gotten some little bit of something in my eye as it is itchy and watering. Could not find anything in it and have bathed it with cool water and tried washing it out some....
I didn't sleep good last night; hoping to go to bed earlier and get a better nights' sleep.
Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers.
Yes, it was "expected" but it is never expected if that makes sense. She isn't suffering and it will be easier on my brother that is the POA except for what will happen with my father and how he takes it. I do not see him doing well because he has never liked being alone.... but maybe this will push him to look outside the narrow focus he has had; and maybe this will just cause him to give up. He came out of the stoke so well, and we believe that it was in part because he had to "get home to mom"....
Have been in contact with the family... Services are not until next week....hours on Tues eve and service on Wed. Not sure why it is put off so long, but it is not my place to say. DS and I will be going up Tues morning early.... and staying through and coming home early Friday...give us a chance to go to the service and spend a little time after it is over.
Nothing much for me to go up sooner for, at this point. After it is over, and then POA brother returns to his place in 2 weeks it will be time to consider maybe going up for a few days....when things quiet down and actually get lonely for father. My brother had planned to go there this weekend coming, and stay for 2 weeks; this will severely hurt his financial situation with missing his fishing charters this week too.... maybe he will be able to get back to some semblance of normal after this planned time there, after the services. He stayed with them the better part of the winter while he could not operate his fishing boat, but it is critical for him to make his money when the season is in...
So, we are going to get as much of the hay done as possible; with an eye to the weather this next week. I got on the tractor and tedded out about 20 acres... DS mowed more too. I will rake tomorrow all that is tedded out today... and then switch back to the tedder on the tractor and tedd out what he mowed today... which is another 20+ acres I am sure. He is going to take the tractor and mower down the hill to another place so it is there ready to mow as soon as we get back, and the weather cooperates. This owner has gotten very difficult to deal with the last 2 years, and now is complaining that the hay is over mature and that the pastures do not have enough cows there cuz the grass is too high....
We pay rent.... not dependent on the number of cows or how much hay we make or anything.... flat rent. They do not get any hay so quality is not a concern to them.... and the reason there is so much grass now is because we DID NOT overgraze it like the previous renters did and ate it into the ground. And we fertilize the pastures and the field that we cut the 1st cutting off.... It has a greater carrying capacity than it ever has.... and we use the hay field for a rotation in grazing once the first cutting is off.
DS said he is probably going to give it up if they keep the harping on the grass and hay. I don't blame him... it gets old after awhile. We moved a few more cows there, and it gets bush hogged every year too. There are 2 other people that have approached the owners, that we have gotten wind of; "small community gossip stuff you know", and I will bet they are making all sorts of comments on the "slowness of getting the hay made" etc., and they are offering more money... there are a couple of cut throat ones around here that try to take places out from under renters... offer all this stuff and then in a couple years have run things down and hurt the grass.
We will probably tell them that we are not going to renew the "lease" before they say anything to us this fall.... get the "jump" on it... and stay on civil, good will terms with them. It is fine with me at this point. Let them get someone else...
We have had previous owners that we rented from and then lost, come back to ask us to take places over again... a few we have, and some we have not. We are getting more and more disinclined to go back to places. Tired of playing the games. Plus, so many times the fences on pastures have not been maintained and then there is more work to get them usable... why put ourselves through that anymore.
We have several places that are good... the owner's are a little particular... but they do exactly what they say they are going to do and are fair. We do our part and never hear any complaints otherwise. Those are the ones that are worth the time and trouble.
So that is the size of things right now.
I will probably be on here some, through when we leave to go north. Then off for a few days.
I will be meeting with B about cleaning the house tomorrow eve.... I was still on the tractor when she was done and could not leave to go meet her... had another hour to go. Tomorrow I ought to be able to get things worked out and she said she will not be done until about 5 or so which ought to work out better for me. I did not go down there today, so will try to get some stuff tomorrow when I go meet meet her. I haven't told the landlord about the death in the family but will because I will not be there for several days to do anything.
Going to get something to eat. I wore the knee brace today so now it aches from that...
I also must have gotten some little bit of something in my eye as it is itchy and watering. Could not find anything in it and have bathed it with cool water and tried washing it out some....
I didn't sleep good last night; hoping to go to bed earlier and get a better nights' sleep.
Bruce
Herd Master
Condolences on your loss Jan
HomeOnTheRange
Golden Herd Lurker
Finnie
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Sorry for the loss of your mother.
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farmerjan
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Thanks again to all.
Humid and ptly cloudy today, then the sun burned off the clouds and it was sticky. Looked like some rain early. I got up and went and raked the last field so it would dry, the hay was light there.... but they haven't been getting the rain that we've had here... less than 5 miles directly over the hill. This is the one where they were complaining that the hay was way over mature and that there weren't enough cows in the field because it was " sooooo much grass" ..... DS took 6 more heifers there today to get bred and the bull.... one was a bought heifer that was bred, but the calf only lived 24 hours... not sure what happened... she had a decent udder.... she was cheap enough and was going to get shipped to the guy who we were buying from, but he doesn't take breds so we kept her. Not a bad heifer, just bred a little young.... so she will get a second chance like she was just a virgin heifer... she will grow better this way without the calf .....The pasture will dry up and then there will be too many cows there....grrr...
I have spent the better part of the last couple days on the tractor either tedding or raking hay. 8-10 hours a day for the last 3 days at least. I think we made at least 40 or more acres.... I haven't stopped to add it up. Today I raked the last piece that was down... so nothing on the ground to worry with when we leave to go north the first of the week. DS got it rolled this afternoon. I had to go test the 225+ cow herd this afternoon... and I am feeling the last several days... plus it was muggy in the barn even with the fans on. Glad to have gotten it done.
Have to reschedule the one where the daughter got conked with the post driver and the head injury, and all.... and then have to reschedule the 2x herd that I was supposed to do next Tues/Wed.... but I will worry about that when I get back. Then there is the 500 cow herd that needs to get done the end of the month again....
DS also got bulls moved out to pastures with the cows to start breeding for next spring's calves. He wants to move the few cows that have recently calved out to pasture too, tomorrow I think.
Then the friends will be here from CT in the afternoon, that were planning to come through and stay here one night, then go east to Chincoteague....We will visit, and eat supper with them. They stay right here at the motel... convenient for us both since I do not have extra beds and they feel better with the acommodations there.... Had thought we would have to cancel... but since we are still going to be here, no reason not to visit. The "mom" went to 4-H camp with my mom, and the daughter used to baby sit for DS... we've been close over the years....M is in her 80's and very very active.... has had both knees replaced and you would never know she was that age; the daughter has suffered some eye health issues and is partially blind... I feel that it is a "last trip" for them together since M will be doing all the driving... and she is very capable still... but with the daughter not being able to see as she once did, it will make future trips difficult. They have always done a "major" trip at least every other year... some here in the south, some elsewhere. She has 3 grown kids.; 2 married and one to be married this fall I think. The daughter stayed @ DS's house for a few days a couple of times when she was at the nearby college and wanted to get away from school but was too far to go home to CT..... and then when she was job hunting. Luckily she has a job now close to her mom so can help out some with driving places. Her dad is a great guy and does alot too, but he is still working full time so not able to be around during the day....
So, that is the scope of things here. I did put a load of clothes on the line, and looks like I will get them in, in the morning, dry.... Want to rearrange a few things in the LR so we have sit down room.... everything is still so piled up and the last few days NOTHING has gotten done here. I would like to run the mower and get the grass down a bit since I will be gone and it will grow more and get too far ahead of me.... maybe be able to spend an hour on it tomorrow. At least get some of it under control....
Will do a few things this evening I hope, and then will have to get off these knees... ankle has been swollen some too... but I have had it "down" for 8-12 hours at a time so to be expected....
Have to get together clothes and all for the trip north.... not sure what I have that fits... footwear is going to be an issue since the ankle replacement.... shoe size has increased with the swelling etc.... and I can't wear anything that compromises the knees and the instability.... might have to wear the solid black sneakers I have that are bigger and fit.... There is a different "dress code" up there for funerals..... here even a good pair of jeans is acceptable with a sport jacket... Nuh uh, no way up there.... I have to look and see what I have..... we are "too country" here and it fits me; but I am going back to the "north" ..... At least it is a graveside service......
Not to be disrespectful.... but they better have a BBQ and a celebration for mine.....and jeans and western boots, are perfectly respectable......
Okay... got to go and get something done here....it's late but I might go do the dishes at least and move a few things in the LR then fall into bed.
Humid and ptly cloudy today, then the sun burned off the clouds and it was sticky. Looked like some rain early. I got up and went and raked the last field so it would dry, the hay was light there.... but they haven't been getting the rain that we've had here... less than 5 miles directly over the hill. This is the one where they were complaining that the hay was way over mature and that there weren't enough cows in the field because it was " sooooo much grass" ..... DS took 6 more heifers there today to get bred and the bull.... one was a bought heifer that was bred, but the calf only lived 24 hours... not sure what happened... she had a decent udder.... she was cheap enough and was going to get shipped to the guy who we were buying from, but he doesn't take breds so we kept her. Not a bad heifer, just bred a little young.... so she will get a second chance like she was just a virgin heifer... she will grow better this way without the calf .....The pasture will dry up and then there will be too many cows there....grrr...
I have spent the better part of the last couple days on the tractor either tedding or raking hay. 8-10 hours a day for the last 3 days at least. I think we made at least 40 or more acres.... I haven't stopped to add it up. Today I raked the last piece that was down... so nothing on the ground to worry with when we leave to go north the first of the week. DS got it rolled this afternoon. I had to go test the 225+ cow herd this afternoon... and I am feeling the last several days... plus it was muggy in the barn even with the fans on. Glad to have gotten it done.
Have to reschedule the one where the daughter got conked with the post driver and the head injury, and all.... and then have to reschedule the 2x herd that I was supposed to do next Tues/Wed.... but I will worry about that when I get back. Then there is the 500 cow herd that needs to get done the end of the month again....
DS also got bulls moved out to pastures with the cows to start breeding for next spring's calves. He wants to move the few cows that have recently calved out to pasture too, tomorrow I think.
Then the friends will be here from CT in the afternoon, that were planning to come through and stay here one night, then go east to Chincoteague....We will visit, and eat supper with them. They stay right here at the motel... convenient for us both since I do not have extra beds and they feel better with the acommodations there.... Had thought we would have to cancel... but since we are still going to be here, no reason not to visit. The "mom" went to 4-H camp with my mom, and the daughter used to baby sit for DS... we've been close over the years....M is in her 80's and very very active.... has had both knees replaced and you would never know she was that age; the daughter has suffered some eye health issues and is partially blind... I feel that it is a "last trip" for them together since M will be doing all the driving... and she is very capable still... but with the daughter not being able to see as she once did, it will make future trips difficult. They have always done a "major" trip at least every other year... some here in the south, some elsewhere. She has 3 grown kids.; 2 married and one to be married this fall I think. The daughter stayed @ DS's house for a few days a couple of times when she was at the nearby college and wanted to get away from school but was too far to go home to CT..... and then when she was job hunting. Luckily she has a job now close to her mom so can help out some with driving places. Her dad is a great guy and does alot too, but he is still working full time so not able to be around during the day....
So, that is the scope of things here. I did put a load of clothes on the line, and looks like I will get them in, in the morning, dry.... Want to rearrange a few things in the LR so we have sit down room.... everything is still so piled up and the last few days NOTHING has gotten done here. I would like to run the mower and get the grass down a bit since I will be gone and it will grow more and get too far ahead of me.... maybe be able to spend an hour on it tomorrow. At least get some of it under control....
Will do a few things this evening I hope, and then will have to get off these knees... ankle has been swollen some too... but I have had it "down" for 8-12 hours at a time so to be expected....
Have to get together clothes and all for the trip north.... not sure what I have that fits... footwear is going to be an issue since the ankle replacement.... shoe size has increased with the swelling etc.... and I can't wear anything that compromises the knees and the instability.... might have to wear the solid black sneakers I have that are bigger and fit.... There is a different "dress code" up there for funerals..... here even a good pair of jeans is acceptable with a sport jacket... Nuh uh, no way up there.... I have to look and see what I have..... we are "too country" here and it fits me; but I am going back to the "north" ..... At least it is a graveside service......
Not to be disrespectful.... but they better have a BBQ and a celebration for mine.....and jeans and western boots, are perfectly respectable......
Okay... got to go and get something done here....it's late but I might go do the dishes at least and move a few things in the LR then fall into bed.
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farmerjan
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Couple more things. Told the landlord about my mother's passing and us going to go north for a week, and that I would not be there to deal with moving anything ... and he said don't worry about it. So not going to pay any extra rent... Didn't get to meet with B about the cleaning, she had a death in the family and was unable to meet me... hopefully tomorrow morning.... so she can see if she can work it into her schedule since it has gotten all changed around and also had funeral for a friend (who died of cancer) today.... been a really lousy week..... all around.... it seems... maybe we can get it worked out.... she said she would like to get with me, but I couldn't do it today with the raking and then going to work....
So maybe will be able to get back to the house the end of next week......
I would like to get these 2 cupboards in the house before I go north....don't know how I am going to fit that in....
So maybe will be able to get back to the house the end of next week......
I would like to get these 2 cupboards in the house before I go north....don't know how I am going to fit that in....
Baymule
Herd Master
I got rid of all my nice shoes. I have a couple pairs of knee boots with flat heels. Can't stand to wear any type of heels.
Maybe some knee boots and a skirt with a blouse? Go shopping for something new?
Maybe some knee boots and a skirt with a blouse? Go shopping for something new?
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farmerjan
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Can't straighten out the foot/ankle enough to get into boots higher than ankle height... unless it has a zipper?....and yes, HAS to have flat heels.... Not wearing a skirt... it will be slacks or something like that.... NOT wearing a skirt/dress..... NOT.....gonna happen. Shopping is a last result.... will dig through things and see what I can come up with. I have a couple pairs of shoes but doubt they will fit the foot with the ankle replacement since it is still quite a bit bigger/swollen than it used to be.... edema that might still take another "however long" to go down... which the PT thinks it will go down more once the knees are more functional and moveable.....but will probably always be a 1/2 to a full size bigger.....we'll see. Thanks for the suggestion.
