Update, choices, chores

Cori and Blake made it back home with all the medical supplies and equipment in tow. In fact, as the two of them brought up the very last of those going through customs at the airport, Blake realized he had left his transmitter on the plane – the device that reads the monitor on his arm. After a brief panic, Cori and Blake calmly walked back into the “secure” area towards the plane. After explaining the issue, workers were able to retrieve the transmitter from the plane and get it to Cori. They were the very last of the passengers to go through customs and by that time no one was really interested in doing much extra as far as baggage inspection was concerned, so the suitcase filled with Blakes new equipment and insulin pens was barely noticed. Praise the Lord! That had been one of our pressing prayer concerns in getting back into Honduras.

Now the daily routine begins to measure out the treatments for Blake using the food choices available for him in Honduras. At least, Cori and Blake are well informed and well prepared to develop the regimen they need to follow meal by meal as they grow in understanding the illness they are dealing with; now a part of Blake’s life for the rest of his life. On his part, Blake is dealing with his diabetic needs like a champion. He is no longer bothered by giving himself injections, even in public (when required). He is not troubled by the monitor attached to his upper arm even when it cannot be covered by clothing. He has come to understand that as a general rule, people are largely unaware of individuals around them. In fact, not very many of us are actually observant, of the people around us, of the area around us, or of the potential dangers or opportunities around us. That understanding makes him less intimidated to do the things he has to do to control his blood sugar around total strangers or those not of his immediate family. I am not sure if I could pull that off. Kudos to Blake for owning his personal medical challenges.

Mama and I have a long list of chores for the coming weekend. The most important for me is to replace the pressure tank for the well at the house. I hope to get all the parts today and tomorrow. With Trace’s help, we should be able to swap the tanks out in a couple hours – if there are no problems unearthed in the disconnecting of the old tank. Often, when old plumbing is disturbed, the fittings do not loosen as required, but instead break the pipe they are attached to. If we can get everything loosened as needed it should be a straightforward repair and replacement.

Mama on the other hand, is concerned with cleaning the coops and moving the hens in the little coop into the West side of the big coop building. That will free up the little coop for raising some chicks or housing the Banty hens we hope to get from Nancy. Tilling and planting in the garden will occupy a few hours for both me and Mama at some point. Rain is forecast for Monday so whatever we get done over the weekend will get naturally watered. Watering is something I have avoided in an attempt to limit use of the well in light of its present state of disrepair, but everything needs water so I will need to water soon regardless of my concerns of further damaging the pump and control box.

In light of the inflationary pressures on our economy, Mama and I are looking at the benefits we have in our current placement on the farm. Hopefully, the garden will help us and others if we get a good amount of produce and we already have several vegetable plants growing in pots in the sunroom. We have high hopes of getting honey from both hives this spring and fall, but that remails to be seen. In other words, we should be able to feed ourselves fairly well from the land we are living on. Vegetables, fruits, berries, and pecans are part of our current plant resources. We also have access to all sorts of wild meat with the wild pig around us, as well as rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Plus, chickens, goats, and fresh eggs. Time will tell how much we look to supply ourselves in that direction. But the option is there should the Lord tarry. For now, Mama and I are trying to get the most out of the income stream the Lord has given us. That is only prudent, but we are not enjoying some of the tradeoffs.

I will be teaching a class tomorrow. It is a half-day class, so I will have the option to work from home through the afternoon. An option I will probably exercise, however, two in person classes were taught by a coworker on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week and at some point in the very near future I will need to get those class folders and do the administrative work needed for those classes. I do not know if those files will be available to me tomorrow, but if they are I will need to be at the office to process them into our system.

Regardless, Mama and I have a beautiful weekend ahead of us. Praise the Lord!

Setbacks, gardening, change of schedule

Yesterday evening I worked on the chewed-up wiring in the coop but in all the rewrapping and repositioning of the wiring I still was not able to get power restored to the coop. For some reason I have yet to discover, there is an active short still in the wires somewhere. When the breaker is turned on at the power panel, I could hear a humming at the breaker box and Mama could hear a hum at the coop, but I cannot be both places at once to see where the hum is coming from, so I left the power off. It is not urgent, but it is troubling. Fortunately, the breaker works as it should rather than allowing the short to start a fire and burn down the coop. I just have to figure out how to rectify the problem. That will take a lot longer than I had hoped but there is a solution to rectifying the problem so Mama can have her lights working properly in the coop buildings.

With that setback in the coop, I moved on to getting Mama’s mower out so we could use it to mulch the huge amount of leaves covering the garden. Because of past rat infestations I carefully checked the mower for rat nests – and found one. It was under the cowling that shrouds the motor. Right on top of the cooling fins. So, I had Mama drive the mower to the shop and I attempted unsuccessfully to remove the cowling. I removed all the bolts and screws that I could see but was still not able to lift off the plastic cowling. I was able to move it far enough that I could remove the nest, which was huge. Using a combination of my hand and a shop vac I scraped and sucked out the mess assembled by the rodent for their winter home. Having gotten that done, Mama proceeded to the garden to mulch the leaves there. That took only twenty minutes or so, but it saved me several hours of painful raking and hauling of leaves. That was a blessing.

After the garden was mostly cleared of leaves, I planted a half row of potatoes using the eyes Mama had trimmed from potatoes we recently cooked. I was also able to plant the three Brussel Sprot plants in the raised bed. I hope we are past the danger of frosts but even so, those plants can tolerate some cold if I planted them too early. Mama has big plans for our garden this year. We should be able to follow through on most of those plans, but getting an early start is key in this area. We are only a few weeks away from the brutal heat that comes to us every summer and any head start we can give to our vegetable plants is well advised.

Yesterday I was able to purchase the tickets for my teaching assignment in Arkansas. I will need to fly into Pensacola to get to the training site and since I needed to go through Pensacola, I invited Mama along for the trip. It has been a long time since Mama and I have had a day or two to ourselves so this provided the opportunity to make a special effort to have that time together. I will have only a half day class to teach Tuesday so Mama and I will be able to spend a good bit of time at the beach that day as well as Wednesday. I got permission from my company to spend the day in Pensacola Wednesday arranging for a late flight out that day. We are both looking forward to that time. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and be warm enough for us to enjoy the beach.

Meanwhile, I have another five classes to teach before the off-site class. There will be plenty of work to keep us busy over the next couple weeks. Plus, we will be returning to the office in April. At this point, my group is scheduled to report to the office on Mondays and Wednesdays, but since I teach classes at least two times per week, I will get to count those days as my required time in the office, so I may not be going to the office very often. Over the past few months, I have grown accustomed to working from home. Getting up later than required for meeting the office schedule, preparing breakfast and lunch during my normal work hours, being available for Mama at any odd times through the day, using my lunchtime for minor chores, etc.

I will still have three days per work week to work from home, so it is not a complete change of schedule, but it will take away the help I have been able to give to Mama every morning that I do work from home. Most of my group is looking forward to getting back together at least as required by our new schedule. Since most of them are single, living alone, I can understand their need to work together in person at the office. For me, I could go on like this for the rest of my time with Energy Worldnet.

At least the days are longer now so the commute will not cut into the time I am available for chores at the farm.

Does this ever end? Slowly homeward

It seems we are in one of those annoying patterns where lots of little things pile up until it is somewhat overwhelming. I have been stressed out about the malfunctioning of the pressure tank on the well for the house. Everything I have tried has proven ineffective to correct the constant cycling issue. So, I am at the point that the tank must be replaced in order to save the well pump and control box. A simple task in theory. A difficult task in practice. Meanwhile, we have been having electrical issues within the chicken coop. In checking the breaker for that power, I have pretty certainly determined that a rat probably chewed through the wiring at some point and shorted out that power. Finding that chewed spot will prove challenging.

Additionally, our electric bill for the farm has doubled for the last two months and I have little ability to affect that charge other than turning down the thermostat and keeping the lights off. Neither option appeals to Mama. The cost of fuel for the two vehicles Mama and I drive has also doubled limiting our mobility but encouraging us to plan all our trips away from home more carefully. The two last problems are common across the nation. The first two are somewhat unique to our farm. April is going to be an expensive month for travel expenses and Mama’s business, with all the Spring launches, is requiring a larger influx of cash than I have been prepared for. Nothing urgent or life altering, but problems that have to be dealt with none-the-same.

The fact that all these needs, both required and selected, pull from the single income flow we have at this time. Unfortunately, that has not doubled or even significantly increased recently making the choices difficult for those things we can actually exercise some control over. While our expenses increase in unexpected ways and our household bills remain ever constant, we are forced to look hard at everything we can reduce from our budget to make all this work out from a fixed amount of income. Nothing out of the ordinary. Almost everyone I know if fighting the same battle. Sadly, almost everyone I know is losing ground in the same battle. Just like you, I have to choose how I will respond to the challenge.

So far, I am not acting very heroically. I am not a coward, but neither am I a quitter. However, getting past the feeling of being beaten down takes a unique perspective. Fortunately, I know the Lord is fully in control and though I am not happy with the circumstances, the circumstances do not determine my joy. Please forgive my moment of self-pity. This too will pass and there will be victory to enjoy in only a short while. I do hate to disappoint Mama. So when she asked about buying two piglets to raise, I had to shoot down the idea because I cannot a way to afford the extra feed for them in the months ahead.

On to important things. Cori and Blake are on the way home. Praise the Lord! This has been a very helpful visit for both of them. A frightfully expensive visit as they gathered the medical items and supplies to treat his diabetes for the next several months. We are certainly praying for their safety in travel, but I am focused on praying that all the medical supplies they have with them will make it through customs once they arrive in Honduras. There is always the temptation on the part of customs officials to make the return with such supplies difficult and expensive. Please pray the reentry will go smoothly.

Right now, Cori and Blake are in the airport in Miami waiting nine hours on a connecting flight. While Cori was talking with Mama this morning, she had to go in search of Blake. Blake had gone to the bathroom and had been gone for a lot longer than Cori anticipated. Her search of the nearest restroom was fruitless, so she hurried off in the same direction in which Blake had left her and after some additional searching found Blake, nervous and visibly upset, heading in her direction. He had turned the wrong direction coming out of the restroom and had gotten completely lost. Fortunately, he realized his mistake after traveling in the wrong direction for a good distance. Crisis averted, but it was a truly panic filled few minutes.

They should be home late this evening. No matter where home is, it is always nice to be there.

Stateside, sleet and ice, animal exchanges

Through a series of miraculous events, passports for Cori and Blake were expedited through the approval process in Honduras and appointments were scheduled in the United States giving Cori and Blake the opportunity to arrive stateside late yesterday. The retrieving of the passports required Nate to drive five hours each way to get the documents but the fact that the timing worked out so well was in God’s hands alone. Medical appointments are scheduled for today. This is a critical juncture in formulating a long-term treatment plan for Blake and we are praying for wisdom on the doctor’s part to understand the unique requirements of the plan to fit the country in which the family is serving. We are also praying that all the recommended medical devices and supplies are available immediately for Cori and Blake to purchase so they can haul them back to Honduras as they head home from this brief visit. That is a huge request – especially in this time of supply shortages, specifically medical supplies.

Mama is on pins and needles as we wait for word from Cori about the appointment with the endocrinologist. This appointment was facilitated by a diabetic mother of a child who also suffers with diabetes and has become an advocate for mothers of children with diabetes. The way she has educated herself in the areas of accessing the required information to understand the questions that must be answered for these struggling moms is nothing short of amazing. She has been instrumental in getting Cori all the help she needed in getting started in treating Blake as well as getting the appointment Cori and Blake will have with the specialist today.

The focus of advocacy her is more geared to getting these young diabetic patients acclimated to the insurance changes and individual treatment requirements when they come of age and are no longer on their parent’s medical insurance plan. That transition in medical coverage is a huge hurdle for these younger diabetic patients. Anyway, her help has been monumental for Cori in facilitating the contacts for the appointment and preparing for the doctor visit. As I stated sometime before, asking the right questions is key to getting the needed information in treatment protocols. Learning those proper questions is the difficult part of getting the initial help required setting up those treatment guidelines. We are prayerful and hopeful that this trip accomplishes those objectives.

This morning, as Mama and I went out to feed, I could hear thunder in the distance. Within a few minutes hail began to fall. It was small, thankfully, but it was fascinating to see the volume of tiny ice crystals as they fell. Like a downpour of rain, only in frozen form. The temperatures will continue to fall until we are in the low twenties overnight, but tomorrow we are forecast to get into the sixties with no freezes in sight for the next ten days. Last freeze? No way to know for sure but it seems likely. But just in case, I started a fire in the fireplace for Mama since this may be the last opportunity of the season to enjoy a fire. If I am not mistaken, Mama is planning on roasting marshmallows over the fire this evening. Also, perhaps the last smores of the season.

On the bright side, we can begin sowing our garden in earnest very soon. As impossible as that looks based on the weather outside today, I know the day is coming quickly and Mama and I are ready. This weekend, we will be shifting goats so the girls and boys can get together as prescribed by Mama. We will be putting three mature girls with each of our males. That will necessitate moving the little boys to the small enclosure by the bucks so that we can move the younger girls into the area the boys have been in for several months now. After the breeding is complete, we will put all the boys together. We will put all the girls back together as well. Consolidating the groupings helps us get the feeding done efficiently.

Over the next few weeks, we will be working with Nancy to sell her some of our goats. She halted the sale of at least part of the farm she and Rick had owned before his death so now she is anxious to repopulate the farm with goats. Since ours are direct decedents from her herd, we are the first stop she is making to get a herd going again. She is also allowing Mama to have a few of her Banty hens so we can get more of the little tenacious birds back into our flock.

We are looking forward to both exchanges.

Competition, Korean food, campfire, hurry

Although all the days with Brittany and the girls were somewhat full, Saturday was the most crowded. As I recounted yesterday, Brittany and I attended the final game of the girls’ volleyball tournament. Their loss was devastating to some of the teammates, but I only learned later that one of the girls playing with the team was in the 8^th grade as a substitute and two of the best players had been injured in previous games during the tournament. That roster of players against a much more disciplined and well-coached team, did a more impressive job of defending their side of the court than I was originally aware of. With that being Brittany’s only opportunity to see the girls play, the morning spent there meant a lot to her and to the girls on the team. Since the game was played at a location about thirty minutes from Brittany’s house, we spent a little over three hours total in participating in the spectator division of the tournament.

Once home, we had a little time to get everyone ready for an early dinner with Andrew’s brother, Peter and their mom.  Of course, it was at a Korean restaurant. One known in the area for the authenticity of the food prepared there. I was amazed at what the girls ate from the extensive fare. Orange chicken, bulgogi, spicy pork and shrimp pancakes were the main fare with numerous additional smaller servings of items we would probably consider appetizers.

Kim Che, specially prepared potatoes and carrots, some type of beef gelatin, seaweed salad, among the mix.  I would only be guessing as to what each dish contained, but the girls knew which ones they liked and all three ate with gusto. A special soup was ordered for me. It had beef riblets and a variety of vegetables in it with a wonderful broth. I ate small portions of other dishes, but mostly focused on my soup. Everyone was quite full when we left, and we carried home enough leftovers that they provided an adequate lunch Sunday afternoon.

Saturday evening, just after we got home from our dinner, I started a fire in the firepit built in the back yard of the small property their house sits on. The plan was to roast marshmallows and make smores. I had a bit of a challenge getting the fire started (the wood was not completely dry, and the air was cold), but by the time the twins were properly outfitted and ready to come outside, the fire was burning well. Brittany had put Audrey to bed both because of the hour and to facilitate enjoying the fire without the added concern for one so small being in proximity to the flames.

Since the twins were attending their first campfire, they were very reluctant to get anywhere near the fire, but eventually got over their initial fears and were able to really enjoy watching the fames dance along the wood being consumed. Everyone enjoyed the smores, some of which were made with Reece’s cups versus chocolate bars. It was pretty late when we all finally got to bed because Mama and Brittany insisted on washing the girl’s hair before putting them to bed. Neither Mama nor Brittany like the smoke smell that attaches to clothing and hair from a campfire, so that had to be washed away before bed and certainly before attending church in the morning.

Sunday was also very busy. Brittany lives about 45 minutes from church, so that travel time has to be taken into account to make it on time for Sunday School in the morning and choir practice in the evening. We were on the road to church by 8:15 Sunday morning. Light traffic made it easy to make the drive and arrive in plenty of time. I sang with the choir in the am service – which was fun for me. We were on the road home fairly late because of all the extra visiting Mama and I did after the service so having leftovers for lunch was a blessing. The evening service at Somerset Bible Baptist starts at 5 pm with choir practice starting at 4 pm. That gave us a very short afternoon at home between services, but it gave me and Mama a good taste of Brittany’s schedule – a very hurried one.  

Now back on the farm, Mama and I can slow down and enjoy the calm, quiet of our surroundings.

Brittany and the girls, Somerset Bible Baptist, Trace’s caretaking

We left for DFW airport at 6 am our time and were at the airport early enough to easily make our flight but the remote parking facility where I try to park was closed and I had no good idea how to get to the facility on the other side of the airport. So, in the interest of time and to guarantee we would not be late getting through security, we parked at the terminal. I knew it would be far more expensive, but I did not want to wander about in the complex turns and sudden lane changes required to pass through the airport roadways to find the cheaper parking. Parking cost us almost as much as one of our tickets to fly to New Jersey, but it seemed like the better choice at the time.  

We had no bags to check and passing through security was fairly easy. I guess we were between rushes because the lines were short, and our progress was not hurried by the attendants as it is when things get backed up. During the flight to New Jersey Mama made a Color Street sale to the passenger sitting to my right. I was in the middle so all the passing back and forth, all the demonstration of the appliques, all the sorting through Mama’s available packets of nails took place in my lap as I sat between the participants of the exchange, Mama and a sweet woman named Doria. Mama also gave gift packets to two of the stewardesses. Both of the recipients were very excited to try the nail sets. Hopefully, those contacts will bear fruit for Mama’s business.

Once we had landed, we headed for the exits. All of us needed to visit the restroom but as we walked past the exit door on our way to the nearby restrooms, Mama heard Brittany call out to her from the waiting area. Somehow she had seen us passing in front of the doors as passengers were exiting the terminal. Impressive! She wanted to surprise Mama, so she had brought all the girls to meet us. Zoe and Sophia immediately raced to Mama and Victoria, but Audrey was more reserved. Once I took off my mask and hat, she mouthed “Papi” and reached out for me.

Hugs all around and we exited the building so we could go maskless without the sideways glances and direct dirty looks of nearby occupants. Chatter on the way home was incessant and pleasant as Zoe and Sophia tried to get all the important news squeezed into as little time as possible. Audrey studied us with remarkable intensity but said little. I sat up front with Brittany and we caught up on life in general as we made the hour drive to their home. It was largely through very familiar territory – even driving past the refinery where I had worked in our time in New Jersey.

Friday, we visited the school but most of the student and faculty were at a basketball and volleyball tournament. Nonetheless, Mama and I got to see some of the friends we know and visit with them. Saturday, Brittany and I went to the final game of the volleyball tournament for the school. The girls had made it to the finals. I found out on the way to the tournament that this was the only game Brittany had been able to attend through the entire season. The girls were extremely excited to see her. At the game I got to visit with five or six friends from church as we watched the girls compete. They did not win, but they played well, earning second place overall. Later that day (we did not stay) the boys from Somerset won the tournament in a blowout against a rival team. It was, from what I was able to gather, a very sweet victory. Seeing the young men and ladies Mama and I had taught as four and five year old’s in Children’s Church was a delight.

Sunday I was asked to sing in the choir. I was happy to do so and Sunday evening I was asked to sing a special. Looking out over the familiar faces, now twelve years older, was a pleasure we can cherish for a long time. Mama and I were repeatedly complemented on how good we looked. One of the older women in the church cradled my face and said, “You don’t look like you have aged a single day. What is your secret?” My answer, “Being married to Mama Kim.” It was a very sweet visit, both with our children and grandchildren and with our beloved church family. One young man who we had taught many years ago hugged me, cried on my shoulder and said, “Papa Tim, you have no idea what a profound impact you made on all of us.” To be used of God in that way is more precious than anything this world has to offer.

While we were gone, Trace dug up and fixed the leak at the well house. I was very appreciative of that extra effort on his part. All the animals have been well cared for even though Mama was a little concerned that the watering pans have not been cleaned out in many days. A small thing. Especially since the chickens would rather drink from a mud puddle than a clean dish. All things considered; it was a very good visit all the way around.

Thank you, Brittany.

Solar interview, packing, absence

For some months I have been curious about placing solar panels on the house and to that end I made a couple of contacts to get more information. Last week I agreed to a meeting with one such provider and met with the representative Monday afternoon. He was a delightful follow, about twenty-five years old, a disabled vet, wounded in an IED explosion. As we looked over the house, the electrical panel, and several other little points of interest to him, I was impressed by Victor. He had a very simplified presentation on what his company could do for our electric needs, but we are served by a power company that does not buy back any additional power that could be produced by solar panels so the best I could hope for was a drastic reduction in the electric bill from my current provider.  I went into the sales pitch with that knowledge already in place.

We determined that my average utility bill for the house and farm was about $193 per month. Then he started to show me what I could “gain” from allowing the solar panels to supplement that power need. All things considered, he presented the monthly cost for the solar panels to be installed and based on those monthly figures, my cost would amount to about $45,000 over ten years or $61,000 over twenty-five years. That’s not happening. He was a little shocked that I did the basic math to determine the overall cost versus looking at a monthly payment. I let Victor know that we would pass on the purchase especially since our provider would be billing us for meter rentals ($28.50 each) on two of my electric meters and a monthly rental ($24.50) on a dusk-to-dawn light they service for us. That would amount to about one hundred dollars per month on top of the payment for the panels. In essence, my overall payment for electricity to the farm would go from the $193 average monthly cost to just under $500 per month. Not a good investment. But now I know.  

I was not feeling very well yesterday but I did not like the idea of calling for someone to present the class in my stead, so I muddled through the seven-hour presentation. I did not do a horrible job of the presentation, but it was certainly not my best delivery. I did not say anything to the ten participants until the class was over but by that time it was pretty obvious I was not functioning at one hundred percent. They were very gracious to me and gave me good reviews on the class. I was thankful for that. I found out at the time of my confession that three of the participants were also not feeling well, so they were sympathetic of my limitations. I am feeling some better today, but I have eaten very little and have been extremely careful what I drink. Coffee is a bit challenging for me today since all my trips to the toilet yesterday to empty my stomach contents involved the regurgitation of recently ingested coffee. An unpleasant memory I am slowly overcoming as I try to enjoy the taste of freshly drunk coffee.

Today is going to be occupied with finishing up work related tasks and packing for our flight out tomorrow morning. I believe we are leaving fairly early and should be in New Jersey by noon. Mama is allowing me to pack her overflow of sundries she is unable to fit into a carry on and a personal item. I am not sure how heavy my backpack will be by the time packing is completed, but it should not be too bad. I will not know for sure until we walk out the door tomorrow morning.

The farm will be in good hands with Trace. He has proven to be a great help to me and Mama. He certainly has a good heart and a willing spirit in everything we ask of him. Yesterday he unloaded all the feed and hay Mama retrieved for our animals. Feeling as poorly as I did, that was a blessing. As he has accompanied Mama through numerous feeding training sessions, he has taken the time to learn the names of Mamas’ problematic chickens so the two of them can talk specifically about her flock. Fortunately, the weather should be fairly warm while we are absent from the farm so his limited availability to tend to the animals before leaving for work each day will not be further diminished by frozen waterers every morning. That will make his hurried morning activities related to the chickens and goats more easily accomplished. He will have the afternoon when he gets home from work to make a more thorough round in his caretaking activities. Mama is greatly relieved to have him available to perform those duties in her absence. I am thankful as well.

When we return, our focus will be on the garden. I am looking froward to that.