HAIR CUT

Needless to say, my hair got to the point it was driving me nuts and I was just basically tired of it, but didn't know what I wanted to do with it. (afraid I would take the scissors to it myself) I changed hairdressers last fall and was really pleased with her technique and ability - the icing on the cake is she's going to open her own shop about a mile from our house. Well, Paula's latest magazine showed her with a really cute hairstyle, so off I went and told my new hairdresser "I want to look like Paula Deen". She's very conservative and concerned because it meant alot of my hair would have to be cut off. She also wanted to make sure that I realized Paula had hairdressers and that her style would require more work than what I'm doing now. I told here, that I didn't care, I wanted it cut - I was ready for a change. The more she cut, she finally said that based on what my hair was doing, that this style was probably the best cut for my hair after all. I am so pleased and it is so easy - takes 1/2 as much time. Lots of compliments and Poppy really likes it too. Surprisingly, several men have made positive comments. So glad I had it cut.

"UPDATE ON EYES

Well, it looked like my eye was progressing well and the spot was slowly disintergrating, until Saturday night. We went to Taylors Saturday - Mama and I went with Mouse to pick out invitations --really, really, pretty. Since it was Poppy's birthday, we went out to eat - 33 Liberty and it was wonderful. Right up his alley, a Louisiana Mardi Gras menu. That evening I noticed a flash in the back of my eye. There were a couple of flashes Sunday morning and I was hoping it was part of the healing process. So after church I just rested and read. Went to choir practice and afterwards it really started flashing pretty frequently. No flashes when I'm still, but appears when I'm moving around.
I was worked in to the specialists office this afternoon and he said that there was no retinal, nor macular tear or bleed, but I did have a "hemorrahge on the optic nerve".and a pretty big floater. He felt is was still a part of what was going on initially and that is would heal withouth diffficulty. But since what caused it was still an issue, still no lifting or bending. He said the flashes were from the decreased levels of vitreous humour pulling the lining away from retina and if allowed to progress could cause a retinal tear or bleed. But the good news is it has to get a lot worse before surgery is required. He gave me his cell phone in case I had questions or symptoms got worse and I wouldn't have to worry about tracking him down.
On top of all tthat we were juggling an eye appt with Mama. Her eyes are great and all she needed was a prescription change.--the only glasses she was wearing were drug store reading glasses. She has so much that she takes medicine for, so thank God that was not an issue. Toni and I can't figure out where the Macular degeneration came from. We are the only 2 with it. Possibly Aunt Catsy had it - Toni was told by her Catsy's daugher that she was virtually blind when she died. However, Toni's MD has stabillized, so that 's great.
Enough of that, time for bed.

P.S. TO "COLD DAY MUSINGS"

Well, it was a 3 egg day.

COLD DAY MUSINGS

Well the weather put a damper on a few events. Yesterday was supposed to be rainey and then freeze , so our Sunday School fish fry was postponed (its a good thing - my pies flopped). However, we did experience a first out of this; late yesterday evening, we recieved a phone call - church was canceled. Our church is on hill and it was feared our parking lot would be iced over. Wouldn't you know, the weather man was wrong. Today is clear as a bell, very cold 20 degrees. OK Loud, no comments; I know you are laughing at us right now. If it's any consolation to you, we think of you every evening when the weahter comes on. Granny L gets quiet upset thinking about how cold your weather is.
Experiencing something new every day! My research on raising chickens told us that egg production would decrease in winter months as production was related to amount of sunlight. Decreased light, decrease eggs. Up unitl this point our egg production had been pretty steady, averaging one or two less than actual laying hens. However, it caught up with us, it was so cloudy, snowy and foggy. Two days running - 3 eggs, then 2. Today is sunny, so it will be interesting to see what the nests provide.
Today I will work on my art. Lately, artwork has been the class I take and the classes I give. So yesterday, I started my project for JT. I'm excited about it, it will take quite awhile. I'll share more about it as I progress. Mariposa, yours is coming, I promise.
Need to get moving, cold weather has grabbed my back and hips

UH!!!!!!WHAT'S THIS?????

Well, we woke up to snow and it's about time. First time in 3 years. Prissy took one look and came back in. It took Shiner 3 attempts, this photo is when he finally made it out. He just sat down, looked around and came back in the house. I opened the door to deck to snap pictures and the cats didn't even try to run out. Just stood there and looked. Just hope it doesn't get too icey and the power stays on. It's supposed to melt today. Can't go anywhere! Perfect!!! Woo!Hoo!

Shiner confused

West side of garage

Doug's pasture

NEVER A DULL MOMENT--LIFE ON THE FARM

Wednesdays are busy days for me. I take my ICC art class from 9-1 and I give lessons from 1-4, then 4:30 to 7:30. So I'm rushing in from morning class, grabbing peanut butter and banana sandwich, glance out the back window and what do I see, but 2 very large horses eating grass in our back yard. So I yell for Poppy. They belong to our neighbor south of Doug's pasture. Second time this week they've gotten out. However, the first time they headed to neighbor B. E.'s house. To make it even funnier, when I head out the back door to see if I could help Poppy, I look around and all the chickens are running to follow me out. That's all we need is 9 chickens under the feet of the horses. Poppy got them corraled before the chickens got there.
He put them into the small entry section of the pasture to try and contain them until C got home from work ---of course, we didn't have her work number. Next thing we know, horses are gone and the gate is on the ground ----did I mention they were very big horses. Diego can walk under one. Well they came right back and pretty much stayed all afternoon enjoying the green grass in our back yard. Poppy will be helping C try to repair her fence. However, she says one of them can jump over a round pen gate.--velly high.
Part of the problem is her pasture isn't supporting them, what with the drought. She has been supplementing them, but I guess they smelled our fresh grass.

SAD DAY

We thought things were progressing fairly well with Emmy Lou. She was eating well and making up with Deigo. We went to Church and she was fine. After lunch Dad looked out and she was on the ground. She died. There were no injuries and from what we could tell, she just passed. We don't know how old she was and she spent a lot of time on the run, so no telling what was wrong with her. Right after we got her, I called the large animal vet and he gave us some antibiotics for the wound on her neck - it was healing. So we are very sad.

On top of that, one of our Blonde hens went missing today. That's unusal too, because it's the black ones that stray from the group. I guess the stars are not rightly aligned today.

Poppy's brother and family came up for weekend. C came with them. He leaves for the Marine Corps next week. He's excited ---has wanted this for a long time. We had a good visit. C and his other Grandmother went to church with us.

Last week was pretty busy, several meetings. Art classes went very well. I'm looking forward to just getting back in the routine.

Wedesday morning, I woke up with a spot in my L eye that I was pretty sure was not a floater and it was in my cenral vision and didn't move. It was still there the next day, so I was worked into the opthalmologists. She said I had some subtle changes and a spot on my retina and referred me to a retina specialist- so that 's where Poppy and I spent Friday. The Dr injected dye and scanned my eye. He said it was the smallest change he had seen that caused symptoms. I have a spot in my macula and on my optic nerve. He feels that the macula pulled away from the retina and some cells pulled away and caused a blip. He said they could heal and hopefully spot would go away, but if it got worse, I would need surgery. So I can't lift or bend for 2 weeks and I see him in a month unless things get worse. In addition he found I have early cataracts and early macular degeneration. Like I said, the stars aren't aligned right this week.

Newest Addtion

Our neighbor friend, from whom we got our first Miniature Donkey, received a phone call from a neighbor who said"H....., I'm not drunk, but there's a big bird running along your fence, trying to get in. He went out, opened the gate and an emu ran into the pasture. This was several months ago. The emu mingled with the donkeys and was doing fine. Then apparently sometning spooked her (he thinks it was coyotes) and she went thru the barbed wire fence. She?? was missing for 2 weeks and was discovered several miles away. He contacted us and asked if we knew of anyone who could take her as his fence was not secure. S000000000000, we now have an emu. She's in pretty bad shape, lost a lot of weight and has some wounds. Tomorrow, we try to find emu food. We named her "Emmy Lou". Here are some snap shots. The girt donkeys helped offload her from the trailer and then took off running. Diego is trying to make up with her. She is approaching him, but he is still circling.