Events of January 2008. What a Year...so far!

Well, we go from California fires to an accident in January!

I fell on the ice on January 11, 2008 and broke the little bone about 3 inches above the ankle. I have been in an "air boot" cast ever since. I had x-rays at 6 weeks and the doctor said it was not healed all the way yet, so three more weeks in the air boot. I am thankful that it is an air boot and that I can take it off for a few minutes every day. I think I injured my ankle too, as it is very painful to walk. I have been walking with the air boot for a couple of weeks now. I go back for more x-fays next week. What a way to start 2008.

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, so there are many days I cannot get around with out the help of a wheelchair. When I broke my leg, I used the wheelchair to get around, until I could walk on the cast. I do not "DO" crutches. I am a menace to everything and everyone near me. It is a sight to behold for sure, that is if you can watch from a safe distance, behind cover, just in case I head your way! So it is safer for me and others around me, to use the wheelchair.

I have been putting a lot of puzzles together, I love jigsaw puzzles, and have discovered a new series of puzzles. Wysocki, both Charles and Heronim. The are great artists and now the paintings are available in jigsaw puzzles. I like the old Americana and Hometown collection, with lots of horse and buggies, American flags. The Hometown collection is a lot of fun, Heronim hides a stylized cat in every puzzle and it is great fun to find the cat!

Seattle

I had just set 10 eggs in the incubator when I had my accident. I was not able to tend the incubator, so my husband, Randy, took care of the eggs, turning them three to five times a day, monitoring the temp's and humidity. Well, he did a good job, he hatched 7 of the 10 eggs and they are growing like a weed. We put them out with the other chickens this past week. I know! We kept them in the house/utility room too long, we have had a very cold winter, the temp's have been below zero degrees way too many nights and sometimes not even breaking zero throughout the day. The Magnificent Seven flourished and grew to be quite the flock.

The Magnificent Seven

The Flock

The eggs I set were from my laying hens, no particular breed, but the hens are good layers. Evidently Rusty the Rooster was up to his job too!

Before I had my accident, I had ordered some Australorp eggs to be delivered the last part of January or first of February, well, needless to say, I had to put that order on hold. Luckily the gal I ordered them from was very understanding and held the eggs for me. They will be arriving the week after Easter. So...... Here we go again.........! In Randy's words, "OH BOY!" One lesson we learned, do not hatch eggs in the dead of winter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! Thank the Lord, I have a very patient husband.

I hope your winter was better than mine. I usually like winters in the U.P. I don't go out much in the winter, just to Church and grocery shopping once in a while, but I could go if I wanted to. With a broken leg, a clumsy air-boot cast, it is more trouble to get ready to go out and I am very leery of the ice and snow, I sure don't want to fall again. Maybe I am getting cabin fever, or maybe I should become a hermit! With the price of gas, I think the latter is the way it is going to be! Just got to get me some more puzzles!

Take care and until next time, May the Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU!


Skeeter

Fires in California

Time is flying by, I can't believe that we have been back from California for almost 2 weeks. It was not a very good trip, we got caught between the fires, experienced winds up to 60 miles an hour, we lost power in the motel, plus all the smoky skies. Here is a picture of the wind and trees out our motel window early Sunday morning, the 21st of October.

About noon this was the same tree with the smoky skies.

The best part of the trip was the new baby. Ayden Gee-Ming Bell is 6 weeks old now and what a cutie. THAT is the only reason that I would ever go back to the L.A. area! I was near panic as we packed everything up in the rental car and headed out, trying to make it closer to the airport, so that we could fly out the next morning.

As it turned out, the fires in Moorpark and Camarillo were under control that day, so we went back to the motel that night. On Saturday, we had been to Malibu and across the Malibu canyon road. We seen the "castle" and other places that burned the next day.

As we left on the plane the next morning, we could see the smoke to the south, we didn't know about the fires near San Diego at that time. The plane trip was fun, except the 6 plus hours we had to spend in the Chicago airport. They extended the time by 15 to 20 minutes for the entire 3 plus hours. We knew there would be a layover of about 3 hours. Needless to say, I was happy to get back to the good old Upper Peninsula of Michigan! Home never looked so good.

We are now safe in the woods, getting ready to hunker down for the winter. We have lots to do before the first snowfall, which could be as early as next week. The chicken house is almost ready for our flock, so they should be toasty warm all winter. We have our fire wood in. Just a few things about the yard and garden that could have some attention, but if we don't get to it, there is always next year.

I will post new items to my Skeeter's Fine Crafts Blog in the next day or so. Skeeter's Fine Crafts Blog

So until next time, may the Good Lord Bless and Keep Thee!

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrew 13:8

Skeeter

47HarleyGal on Ebay

Fall again in the UP

I know it has been a long time since I posted. Lots has happened in THAT long time. I am new medications, that seem to be working, but I still have a lot of problems.

The weather has cooled off, even though it didn't get very warm this past summer. This coming from someone from the middle of Montana! August was very wet and cool. The L'Anse Farmers Market never offered the vegetables that they usually have.

Speaking of the Community Farmers Market, Randy and I had two tables this year. One for Skeeter's Fine Crafts and Randy took care of the Zeba United Methodist Indian Mission table. We had a bake sale every weekend, plus we had donations of "white elephant" type items. We raised over $1100 for the Church. We were delighted. I sold lots of Tater Baker Bags and other crafts. It was a very good season. We have one more craft show this fall, it is in November. I usually have good luck at that one.

There are other new things at the Camp Bell! In August, there was a guy selling chickens at the farmers market. I don't know how it happened, but we came home with 3 hens and a rooster. Now mind you, we don't have a farm like place. We live in the woods, no out buildings, sheds or the like. Now we have 4 chickens and no place to keep them. So the past few weeks we have spent building a shelter for them. I hope we can keep them warm through the UP winters! We are getting 2 eggs a day on a regular basis. One hen is has not started laying, but I expect she will any day, (week) now.

I couldn't sleep tonight, so I am up messing on the computer. Time to go back to bed. I will finish this update tomorrow.

Thanks for reading and remember.
Hebrew 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Until next time........ (hopefully it won't be so long)
Skeeter