Back to work today

I'm not sure how well I'll handle it. I'm not even sure I'll be able to stay upright for the whole shift. It's going to be interesting, that's for sure. Before I leave, I do need to put away a bit of laundry, try to get dishes done, and try to haul up a little water for what's left of the garden, as it's not supposed to rain again any time soon. That water may be murky, but if it saves what's left, so much the better. I did get another book finished up over the weekend and published on KDP, so that's good, too. The more I get done, the better off I am, because honestly, while I hate being cooped up all the time, I really don't look forward any day I have to go to the plant. The fibro side effects of sensitivity to people, lights and noise are bad enough, but having to work with all of that around me all the time just makes it worse than the isolation. I've spent a lot of time the last few days crying because I'm really scared about going back to work. It's tough when you have a disease that leaves you in such a state. I am hoping that I can get through it since I'm physically mostly better (that jaw is still a bit of a nightmare), it's the mental aspects that drive you nuts in this kind of thing. I'd rather spend my time with animals and plants - at least they don't make fun of me or put me down or expect more from me than I'm able to give. They're happy to get what they get and the animals especially give a lot in return.

Things have to be watered no later than tomorrow though. We haven't had any rain in days and even the trees are starting to wilt a bit if they have shallow roots. So I definitely need to do something. I'm beginning to think that my dream of a place in the country is just that, because with my physical issues getting worse, I may have to settle for reasonably close to a city for living, just to have a few less issues like water and power. I hate the idea of being on-grid, but I may have to trade that for being able to accomplish things I want to accomplish! Anyhow, time to hunt down books while I have energy and see what I can do around here before I have to head to work. Hugs, all!

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST


Newsboy Hat Crochet Pattern
Crochet: Beyond the Basics. How to Crochet Vol.II. A Complete Intermediate Guide with More Patterns, Stitches and Squares. Includes Step-by-Step Instructions ... Guide to Learn How to Crochet Book 2)
Organic Pest Control: All-Natural Pest Solutions To Protect Your Garden! (100% Safe For Your Garden)
Organic Vertical Garden: Beginners Guide To Growing Healthy Organic Gardens
How to Survive a Disaster: Emergency Preparedness for You and Your Family
Composting: A Comprehensive Guide to Making Your Own Compost (Compost, Composting, Composting Guide)
Crocheting for Beginners: Learn How to Crcohet with the Complete Guide on Crochet for Beginners. With Step by Step Instructions with Detailed Pictures ... of Crocheting Volume 1 (How to Crochet)
The Prepper's Guide to Survival Food Storage (Survival Family Basics - Preppers Survival Handbook Series)
Knitting for Experts: How to Knit. The Complete Guide on Advance Knitting With Step by Step Instructions with Detailed Pictures to Expand your Knitting Skills and Knowledge. Volume 3
Organic Gardening Pest And Disease Control: How To Stop Destructive Pests And Disease From Ruining Your Plants

He's a believer

Finally. The bailer bucket is finally done, and yes, it works as advertised by Hydromissions International, despite Mr. Skeptic saying it wouldn't work at all. It does leak some, but not a lot, though if I want to use the water from the well for anything more than the garden, I need to get a filtration system (which isn't horribly expensive), because that water is dirty. Not at all potable, lol. But the bailer bucket works, despite Quentin's complete skepticism that it would do anything at all. He thinks it's "too heavy" for me (it's not) and a lot of work (it is), but worth it not to have to haul water in for everything, and especially for the garden anymore. So no matter what happens with what garden there is this year, or next year, there will be no more hauling of water in from off property to do at least that.

We will still be hauling in water for drinking, cooking and bathing until we either figure something out for pressurized water from the cistern or get a filter system going for purifying the well water, but it's a start. In a pinch, we could set up a distillery for the water and purify it that way. Goodness knows there's enough scrub brush around here that could fuel a fire for that. So now that that project is finally done (after a YEAR of trying to get him to help with it), I can advance on to other things that I want to do. Like more writing and crafting and all the other things that need doing around here.

Mr. Skeptic dropping the bailer bucket into the wellhead the first time.

The first water out of the well.

Cranking out the second bailer bucket of water.

Two buckets of rather dirty water for the garden, dumped into a 5-gallon bucket.

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST


I CAN CAN CHICKEN!! How to home can chicken to save money and time with quick, easy, tasty family recipes (I Can Can!! Frugal Living Series Book 2)
Indoor Gardening: The Beginners Guide To Growing Vegetables And Herbs At Home, In The Office, Or Small Spaces. (The Definitive Gardening Guides)
Fair Isle Crochet Hearts Pattern Pack
Container Gardening: Now You Can Garden Anywhere No Matter How Small the Space (Container Gardening Made Easy - Ideas, Concepts, and Inspiration to Build a Wonderful Garden)
Square Foot Gardening: The Definitive Guide To Organic Square Foot Gardening For Beginners. (The Definitive Gardening Guides)
Crocheting is Fun and Easy: Grab Your Hook and Join the Fun!
Vertical Gardening: The Definitive Guide To Vertical Gardening For Beginners. (The Definitive Gardening Guides)
Container Herb Gardening: The Definitive Guide To Container Herb Gardening For Beginners. (The Definitive Gardening Guides)
Scoodie Hooded Scarf Crochet Pattern
Container Gardening: Everything You Need To Know About Growing Plants, Vegetables Or Flowers In Containers Plus More. (The Definitive Gardening Guides)
Plaid / Tartan Infinity Scarf - Knitting Pattern
Backyard Chickens For Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Chickens in Urban Environments.
Composting Secrets: The Beginners Guide To Turning Old Scraps Into Great Soil
Easy Vegetable Container Gardening for Beginners: Container Gardening Made Easy (Wyse Home and Gardening Book 3)

Feeling more human

For the first time in DAYS, and it's nice. I still can't do a whole lot, so work in a couple of days is going to be interesting, but at least I can get out and run a few errands again, and I can stay up for more than half an hour at a stretch, and I can mostly eat fairly normal food. Getting it in my mouth is still a chore, but if I work at it, I can manage. Sandwiches, for example, have to be torn into bite sized bits or the meat and cheese for work lunches will have to be rolled up without bread or condiments. But it will put calories in me. I have found that currently, chocolate and I will not get along, and for those that know me well, chocolate is THE go-to food when I don't feel well. Right now, I'm happy when I can manage tea and toast! Between clove oil on the jaw, ben gay on the outside to soak into the joint, and gargling with mouthwash, I'm managing to knock the TMJ issue down to a dull roar where I can mostly forget it. About darn time. I'm awful tired of being sick like this.

Though I guess I should get used to it. Fibromyalgia leaves you with a lot of weird side effects, not the least of which is extreme sensitivity to noise, lights, and crowds. Guess what I deal with at work, never mind  every time I have to go shopping? Yep, all of those. So some day, I know there is a very good chance in the ever nearing future, that I won't be able to hold a job, and will have to work from home. That doesn't bother me so much as the feeling helpless and useless that comes along with it, like this last week. Trust me, spending a lot of time bawling because you can't do a darn thing really isn't a fun way to spend your time. Plus it's really boring. The one thing that I really do love about homesteading is that neighbors are few and far between. It's a bit difficult when you need someone right there, like when you're sick, but on the same token, it does teach you what you can deal with on your own. I sure have learned that lesson! One of the best things about country living is on holidays like this - the boys are sleeping on their shelf in the one window, while the town fireworks go on miles and miles away, not bothering them a bit, lol.

Surprisingly, more of the garden is surviving despite neglect than I thought, though I'll have to  get out with water tomorrow. The Arkansas Traveler tomatoes are going, and I'm going to have to find some tall branches to tie them up to because a couple have outgrown the supports. The corn, beans and squash that got into beds are all doing okay, the one large cherry tomato is struggling, the radishes are struggling, and everything else essentially died in the veggies. My snapdragons never made it past sprouting, two of the marigolds are trying, and a few of the sweet peas are still trying. Oh well ... this has not been a good summer anyhow, what with one thing and another. Maybe next year.

My knitting is coming along in bits and pieces, my writing is doing the same, and other things are slowly coming along. I got all the holiday jewelry up in plenty of time for sales, and still have quite a bit available in the 4th of July stuff on the Selz store. I'm going to spend more time writing and crafting over the next few months since the garden is doing squat, but that's okay ... one thing or another will get done in the way of homesteading, it just isn't going quite the way I'd planned on! But as Robert Burns wrote, in "Ode to a Mousie," "The best-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley." In other words, the best planned things often get screwed all to heck, and this year has been no exception! Hugs all - I'm actually hungry!!! tonight, so I'm trying cheddar brats, sausage and store bought (yuck) green beans for dinner for us. Late for most of you, but when you are second shift, this is normal dinner time!

And don't forget to shop with OsageXpressions - lockets, handbags, totes, all kinds of goodies at great prices for your bling fix!

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST

Soulful Gardening: 52 Weekly Tips for Getting the Most from Your Garden
Learn How to Quilt: Quilting for Beginners: A Guide for Quilting: Quilt Designs, Appliques, Patterns and Quilting Techniques (how to quilt, quilting techniques ... quilting ebooks, quilting guide)
The Vegetable Gardener (Vegetable Gardening Basics Book 1)
One Direction Beanie Easy Knitting Pattern
Small Space Gardening: Square Foot Gardening for Beginners
Organic Micro Gardening : Beginner's Guide To Growing Your Own Garden On A Tiny Space

Shopping a day early

Yesterday went pretty good, considering I still was not up to par. Still ain't, really, but I'm better than I was, in the respect that I can get out and about a bit better. Food is still a trial. My jaw still is acting up, but I have a feeling that's going to be my new normal for a while yet. So when we went shopping for my lunch stuff for next week, I ended up with things like pudding cups, jello, fruit cups, applesauce, and those little cracker and cookie things like Captain's wafers. All because I simply cannot get my dang jaw open very far to eat solids. It's pretty pathetic when you're so hungry you could eat a horse (more or less literally, lol), but you can't get your jaws to open to eat! We went to Arby's today, and I tried to eat, really I did. Ended up taking the sandwich apart and eat it in bits that way, cramming in tiny bites, but at least I could eat. Oh, that tasted good. Ended up briniging most of the fries home to warm up for a snack later if I can handle them. At least I'm keeping food down again, and that's the biggest step in recovery. Though I feel badly for Quentin to some extent, because when I realized I couldn't get my sandwich between my teeth whole, I sat there in the restaurant and started bawling in frustration, and he hates when that happens.

And this is highly frustrating. By being able to eat a bit more, I'm getting more calories and thus more energy, but it is still annoying to be so "sick" in this respect. If you've never had to deal with this, take it from me, it is neither easy nor fun. The clove oil does help, but oh my god does it taste nasty if you don't get it in just the right spot. My side of the bedroom smells like cloves now, lol, I've had that stuff out so much. I'm about to try Ben-Gay on the outside of my jaw to see if it can soak in and help the blasted joint a bit. Goodness knows, folks use it on arthritic joints all the time, this really isn't that much different.

The garden, what there is of it that's surviving, is trying to keep on going for me, poor little plant babies. Quentin and a buddy, JJ, are going to a wrestling show tomorrow, and after picking JJ up in the early afternoon, Quentin wil likely bring him back here for a bit before they have to leave. I am hoping to get them to help me finish up the strength stuff on the bailer bucket tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath, as Quentin is very big on talking about how he'll help with stuff, and then putting it off in favor of playing games on his PS2, or mucking about with prettying up the van, or whatever he wants to do besides actual homestead chores. Which, as you can guess, basically leaves the homestead work all up to me. Oh well ... not like I didn't expect that going into this venture, but sometimes it would be nice to have a partner who was more than once in a blue moon help!

Don't forget about the July 4th giveaway - orders can still be placed through tomorrow, the 5th, at midnight, to qualify for entry to win that gorgeous handbag! Just go to my store, order at least $50, and you get an automatic entry towards winning that handbag. Someone has to win it, why not you?

Osage Xpressions

(Besides that, I really need to raise money for a new laptop - this one is getting to where it's a complete butthead half the time!)

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST

How To Knit Fingerless Gloves And Mittens (Learn How to Knit Book 3)
Gardening in a Cool Climate
Organic Composting Made Easy: How To Create Natural Fertilizer At Home (Composing In A Small Space, What To Compost, Hot and Cold Composting, Vermiculture, ... Sustainable Living) (Homesteading Book 3)
Knitting Stitches Handbook (Learn How to Knit 2)
Raising Chickens For Beginners
Natural Dyes From the Backyard (Techniques from Lakeshore Textiles Book 1)
Homemade Body Butter & Lotion For Beginners (How to Make Soap)
Beanie Hat With Bunny - Easy Crochet Pattern
Container Gardening : Container Garden Tips For Beginners For Successful Container Planting (A Container Gardening Guide For The Perfect Gardener)

Nature is a wonder

Isn't She? I'm feeling tons better today, though no thanks to any dentist over my jaw, as I'd intended. Not a single one of them locally takes walk-ins. Seriously? What about a dental emergency? Oh, just go to the ER. But, says I to each of them, YOU'RE the DENTIST. YOU should be able to deal with this. We don't do walk-ins under any circumstances, they all told me. So basically, I got told to get lost by every dentist in Harrison. And I have good insurance from work, too! Shows how a serious issue rates. I could have made an appointment and gotten in to see the one. In a WEEK. Fat lot of good that would do me. So it was off to the health food store, which is where I should have gone in the first place, to get some clove oil. Stuff is not that tasty, really, but it is Nature's own version of Anbesol, only it works faster. A q-tip loaded with the stuff swabbed on the area, and three seconds later, it was like I didn't have an issue at all. Then it was off for a bit of supper, some of which I brought home, because I don't want to stress my system with too much food at once. I may have overdone it anyhow a little, because I've got a mild tummyache, but it sure felt good to eat that tiny pizza and a couple of breadsticks! Granted, it took me over an hour to get that little bit down, but it tasted so darned good.

And you know what all that means? It means that I actually felt good enough to get out of the house and drive myself somewhere today for the first time in a week! I may just be able to salvage my job yet, thank goodness, because we really do need two incomes right now, and I'd go stir crazy with not working. This enforced vacation has not been a lot of fun. Mom raised me too well to be the kind of person who has a strong work ethic, and laying around being sick does not go well with that. Even when you know you need to rest, if you've got that strong a work ethic, you tend to feel guilty about getting sick!

The only really bad part about all of this is that Quentin has no idea how to tend a garden, so mine has been seriously neglected in this heat for the last week. Poor thing. My Arkansas Traveler tomatoes are getting quite a few golf ball or slightly larger green maters on them, but nowhere near what they should have been doing. My beans, squash and corn are doing okay, especially the beans, some of the cucurbits that haven't been set out yet are struggling and may make it if I can heal up enough to do something with them this weekend, but most of my little peppers and tomatoes are kaput. Oh well ... there's always next year. The lettuce and carrots have not made it, the radishes are trying. This is not going to be the garden I hoped it would be, but a start is a start in a place as rough as this.

It does mean that I'll have more time for writing and crafting, and other things that are popping up as potential income sources, so as one door closes, another opens wider. The garden will be cared for with what I can do for what is attempting to survive my unintentionally benign neglect of late, and what grows will be eaten fresh instead of grown like crazy to have any for sale. Such is life. But it will mean more writing, so that's good, too, because I have been totally ignoring that for a few months! Homesteading isn't all about growing and fixing and building and things like that. It can be about other things, too, and is what you make of it. And my desire to work from home really has taken serious root. If the garden isn't flourishing, my wish to stay at home to work sure is! So with that, I'm off to find some books and cuddle a kitty, though the kitty comes first. Bouncer is being very patient sitting next to me and patting my arm with a paw, begging for some cuddles. See you later, folks!

ADDENDUM AND SHAMELESS PLUG:

Thanks to one of my dear galpals (she knows who she is!), I've joined Endless Xpressions as a representative. This is a terrific company for home party jewelry sales, and once you take a look at what is currently available, you will understand why. The jewelry is gorgeous. There are new things going up every day with this company, and it's all incredibly well-priced. So why am I telling you all this? Because I want all of you to have the opportunity to WIN a prize from the parent company right off the bat.

How do you do that? It's so simple, you won't believe how easy it is. Endless Expressions is doing a 4th of July giveaway. Order a minimum of $50 from me between now and July 5th for an entry to win the handbag in the photo! This handbag features:
Buckle flap with encircled stars and crystals that comes over the top to snap close
Cut out stars
A single compartment divided by a medium zippered pocket
A zipper enclosure for the entire purse
A smaller zippered pocket on inside back
2 open pockets on the inside front
A cell phone pocket and a zippered pocket on the back
4 studs on the bottom of the bag
An open pocket on each end
Double flat strap

The winner will be announced on the EX page the morning of the 6th. This is an awesomely STUNNING handbag that is not available elsewhere on the site! And best of all, let's say you place one $50 order, and get an entry to win the handbag, and later come back and order another $50, then you get ANOTHER entry towards winning that spectacular July 4th-themed handbag! Is that crazy or what? This handbag is worth $62.95, and you KNOW you want it! So just go to my EX store, place your order, and hold your breath to see if you won!

Osage Xpressions

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST

How to Knit an Infinity Scarf + 9 Fashionable Cowl Knitting Patterns
Homesteading: Urban Homesteading: A Beginner's Guide to Self Sufficiency and Sustainable Living in Urban Homes (Gardening for Beginners, Urban Gardening, Homesteading Ideas)
Container Gardening: A beginner's guide to growing Organic Vegetables, Fruits & Herbs in a Small Space (Gardening for Beginners, Urban Gardening, Container Gardening Ideas)
Aquaponic Gardening: A Step by Step Guide for Beginners
Raised Bed Gardening System: A book on soil, irrigation, designs and ideas for growing vegetables (Vegetable Gardening)
DIY Natural Household Cleaners: Your Quick Start Guide to a Cleaner, Greener Home (FREE BONUS INCLUDED)
Crochet a Pair of Women's Leisure Slippers - A Vintage Pair of Crochet Slippers Pattern
Raised Bed Gardening:: The Beginners Guide to Starting Your Own Raised Bed Garden Today
The Complete Composting Guide for Beginners: Grow Your Own From Home!
Growing Herbs For Food And Medicine
How to Make Colorful and Fragrant Soap at Home: Unique Soap Making Recipes With Step by Step Photos (A Soap Making Book Book 2)

Back on my feet, mostly

It hasn't been an easy last few days. Getting to do pretty much nothing but sleep and gripe about sleeping has left me actually pretty well wiped out. I'm beginning to feel like The Terminator, lol - I'll be back. Apparently, folks at work are really missing me and wondering how I'm doing and when I'll be back. The temporary lead on my section, Britney, really hates having me gone all week. Her response when she found out? "Well, s**t." The gal who has to cover my spot all week, "Well, S**T!" (Probably because she hates doing my job and is now stuck with it until Monday, assuming I don't relapse.) Healing is going much better today, and I thank you all so much for the kind thoughts and prayers and everything.

The phentergen helped a lot with settling my tummy down, and immodium for the other ... now if I could just get my right TMJ to loosen up so I could eat properly. I'm a little shaky and weak from lack of calories the last several days. I'm still staying in today and getting lots of rest, though I feel just about rested to death, but I'm going to try to get up enough oomph tomorrow to go get some sunshine outside in what there is of my teeny garden and see how it's done without me the last few days. I was so attentive to it before this, and this has just kept me from swamping my little plant babies with love for days. I miss them. Heck, I miss sunshine on my skin, though seeing it through the window is nice, but not the same! I want the real stuff. And oddly, I miss my job, too. I'd really like to be back to work of some kind, though what I really want to do is get some online stuff going. This illness has quashed that a lot, and I'm so far behind on it that I don't even know where my projects are anymore. Do I get to cry yet? Nope, no matter what, I don't get to do that, because it takes time and effort from other things. We shall see what I can get done in the next couple of days while I'm still recuperating.

I'm just a bit shaky from lack of serious calories for the most part, and I'm slowly working on remedying that in bits and pieces. A cup of jello here, some applesauce there, a snack cake or bit of ice cream or toast or soup or oatmeal (thank goodness for instant - it's cheating, but I get flavors that way that tempt my palate) elsewhere ... it all adds up to getting back together again. So far today, I have managed to get up and stay up for around four hours in one go. That's a new record with this. So while I still have energy, it's applesauce (tastes so good when you haven't been able to eat much) and find some books. Hugs, all - I'm working on recovery!

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST


Organic Vegetable Gardening: The Beginners Guide to Growing Vegetables the All Natural Way
The Backyard Chickens Breed Guide: The Best (and Worst) Backyard Chicken Breeds (Modern Homesteading Book 2)
Aquaponics Fish: Best Fish Species For Aquaponic Gardening
Backyard Chickens: The Beginner's Guide to Raising and Caring for Backyard Chickens (Homesteading Life Book 1)
Backyard Chickens Book Package: The Backyard Chickens Handbook and The Backyard Chickens Breed Guide (Modern Homesteading)
How to Make Bath Melts & Bath Bombs
Growing Your Own Vegetables - 3 Book Bundle: Container Gardening, Raised Bed Gardening, Companion Planting
Container Herb Gardening: Now You Can Easily Grow Herbs from Home for Health, Wellness, and Cooking (Container Gardening Essentials - How to Grow Herbs in Your Backyard for Food and Healing)

This is ridiculous

My road to recovery has taken a totally rotten turn. I managed to get to work yesterday, and then while I'm sitting and waiting my turn to clock in, with no warning at all, woopsie! all over the place. My boss says take a point or go see a doctor. Much as I hate doctors, this has got me beat, and in order to keep my job, I went to the urgent care clinic. The doc there has me on phentergen for the sickness, a clear liquid/soft foods diet to settle my tummy, and off work for the week.

They weren't going to give me enough days off to allow me to get FMLA time, so I would have had to take points, whicih would have cost me my job. Thank goodness for those four vacation days I had left, as my boss was willing to let me use all of them to cover time off for the week. This means that I have GOT to be 100% by Monday, or I'll have to start looking for another job. I hate job hunting, so I'm trying to do a lot of sleeping to help force recovery. And on top of everything else, one of my molars has gotten a bit of an abcess, so opening my mouth much to eat really hurts. (That'll clear up quick on it's own, but still, it's more sickness to recover from.) So here I am, stuck in bed for the whole week, and on clear liquids/soft foods diet. I can have stuff like fruit juice, water, lemonade, applesauce, oatmeal, grapes, jello, chicken soup, very lightly buttered toast, and a very tiny bit of ice cream once a day. We are talking about five normal bites for most people, but right now, that is more like a huge bowlful for me as small as bites have to be so as not to upset my system again. Only problem with eating it is that it has to be allowd to melt first, so I really drink it!

So there isn't going to be darn thing getting done for days, which is not so good, and I have to hope I can recover to keep my job, which is a scary thought right now, but I'll probably lose a few pounds, which is good, lol. I'm off to find a few books while I can still sit up for this little bit, as anything other than sleeping really is draining the heck out of me. I haven't been this sick in YEARS, and it's killing me!!!! I hate sleeping this much, but I know it's good for me to help me heal up. It just bites cuz I'm so used to being up and active. *sigh* #mynewreality

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST


COMPLETE HYDROPONIC GARDENING BOOK:: 6 DIY garden set ups for growing vegetables, strawberries, lettuce, herbs and m (Vegetable Gardening)
CANDLE MAKING BUSINESS: A Book On How To Start And Run Your Own (Crafts & Hobbies)
Companion Gardening for Beginners: Simple Guide to Successful Companion Gardening (Herbs, Vegetables & Flowers)
Homesteading Handbook vol. 2: Growing an Organic Vegetable Garden (Homesteading Handbooks)
Soap Making From Scratch: The Ultimate Guide to Making Handmade Soap - 30+ Cold and Hot Process Soap Recipes and Tips
Greenhouse Gardening: Quick and Easy Guide: Master the Basics of Becoming a Greenhouse Gardener!