Losses, wins, reprieves

So far, the heat has claimed only one of our chickens while those around us that also raise chickens tell us that their losses have been far more. Right now, we are almost twenty degrees cooler at a balmy 93°. If the forecast holds, we will be in the low triple digits for the next week to ten days. That is better than the very hot days we have had. Not related to the heat we lost one of our little ducks last night. It appears that a snake got to it and killed it but was unable to ingest the bird. I did not think a snake would kill above its ability to swallow, but that has happened to us twice now. Once with a young chicken and this time with a young duck. Mama was terribly upset. Along with the loss of one hive of bees and all of our garden, it is saddening to deal with. Mama and I are struggling to keep our trees and berry bushes alive while we watch the aerial parts wither. I reminded Mama this morning that if we fail to keep the roots alive, we will lose the trees and berry bushes altogether. We may win in the long run, but we will only know that next Spring.

As for wins, the past few days with Grandma and Grandpa have been much better. They are set up in the spare bedroom because Victoria’s room is not set up for them to access the bed from both sides. So far, we have not removed any of the bookshelves, the two chests or the cedar wardrobe from the room, because all Grandpa has needed is a place to sleep – and he is doing a lot of that. In his waking times he tries to stay engaged in conversation, but he is distant at times and a little despondent. I cannot help but think he is very discouraged, but we do all we can to help him feel a part of life as he regains his strength. Walking from the bedroom to the recliner typically exhausts the full run of his stamina. He will sit having made it to the chair and let his heart and breathing slow down enough to converse. It hard for him to see it as a win, but we see it so because  two weeks ago he could not stand on his own.

Since we do not have a lot of running to do this weekend, I may actually accomplish a few things at the farm. I have neglected too many things. For instance, while I was helping Mama water the chickens yesterday evening I looked over at the shed I built as an extension to the barn and noticed that one corner had dropped away from its anchor point to the barn. I will have to repair that before the whole corner of the roof collapses dragging the shed down with it. It may not be a major repair now, but if I let it go, it will turn into one. So, that moved to the top of the agenda for tonight or tomorrow. I may have found a way to get my table saw back in service by swapping the motor from the lathe to the table saw. So, that is on the agenda. I still need to empty the from the trailer the remainder of the wood Norman gave me from his abandoned repairs of a house in Abilene and there is always plenty of weed eating and mowing to do.  

We got a little reprieve from the drought when about three tenths of rain fell Wednesday evening. Granted, it was not much, but it was something. We are still watering almost daily just to keep the roots of our plants alive, but it is nice to see the rain wash the dust off the trees and plants. When we do that with the garden hose, the sun will burn the wet leaves. I am not sure why, but when the rain does the washing and watering, the heat of the sun is somehow abated.

We are still looking at RVs to purchase and move to the farm, but I have asked that things be slowed down a bit as we watch Grandpas progress. I am hesitant to spend a lot of money – between $12,000 and $20,000 – for such a purchase when we may not end up needing to do so. It may be best for Grandpa and Grandma to stay in this house as he recovers in order to limit the efforts required for daily tasks for both of them. Things like preparing daily meals and doing laundry, making appointments and preparing for those appointment, setting up for in home care, to mention a few. There is no need for them to do all this on their own right now since we are available to help. There is no need to add a hundred steps each way to their efforts to interact with us while that interaction is somewhat limited in Grandpa’s current condition. There is no need for Mama to have to hurry back and forth between separate dwellings if there is no urgency in making that separation happen yet.

With the home health care offered to Grandpa Mama has a lifeline to reach out for help and advice when needed. The organization working with Grandpa is called Angel Care. The initial contact with them was very encouraging to Mama. She was encouraged to reach out to them with any questions, updates or requests for help. That will be a blessing to Mama as we do our best in our watch care of Grandma and Grandpa. That contact gives Mama the added confidence to handle the many situations where she just needs a little help and medical insight.

It is a work in progress. Forward progress no matter how small the steps we get to take.