Snow Anyone?

Our 23.9 inches of snow came and melted, quickly. The snow was melting fast but not fast enough. I didn't realize it had accumulated on a large branch of one of the giant trees in our front yard. The weight of the snow broke a large branch. When we get the funds and time we have to go an get the tree tar and cut the branch off. Weather can be hazardous.

The tree with the broken branch. 

The split branch.

Lilac bush with broken branch.

Closer view of broken Lilac branch. 

Snow Ducks

The snow was coming down in chunks yesterday. We accumulated another 14". I enjoyed watching it for a while. I even went out to check on the chickens and ducks. The ducks weren't fazed by the snow one bit. The chickens stayed in the coop except Goldie. She came out when she heard my voice.

Guard duck Spot wondering what I was doing. 

Maxine trying to stay out of the snowfall.

Goldie looking to me for a snack. 

The other girls staying warm.

As the day progressed, the snow started to come down harder and faster. The ducks and the chickens went to the coop early. They finally had their fill of the weather.

Approximately 30 minutes of snow accumulation. 

The snow was so fast and heavy it caused a whiteout. I had drove to a friend's house to pick her up for dinner at my house and the visibility was only a short distance, probably 100-150 feet. I made it there but had my husband drive her back home after dinner. The ducks were smart going in.

The background noise in this last video is my family, my son was outside and my husband inside the house, they could be heard because I forgot to close the door.

Here we go again!

After having a few weeks of rainy but fairly warm weather for this season, we're back to the snow. We are supposed to get 23.9 ". I like the snow. I just wish it wasn't so close to planting season. I have yet to talk my husband into tilling my garden area. I have my seeds, potato seeds and onion bulbs just sitting here waiting.

Beginning snow.

Snow an hour later.

Beginning snow.  

Snow an hour later.

My Favorite Game-Give Away!

(Yes this is the same post as on Chicken Scrawls. Different Days for the giveaway. Too sick at present to write a new one) Our enjoyment of having chickens has overflowed into my husband's creative side. Our family loves to play games and loves our chicken pets. To put the two together my husband created the "Blue Chicken Game." A fun and fast-paced game where players "hatch" their own chicken.

The object of the game is to be the first to place your chicken piece card in a numerical sequence. You first start with the egg, which coincides with the number one. Once you have that you can start building. Each player taking turns to try to finish first before their hand is "scrambled" or a "thief" steals a chicken piece.

The game is geared for ages six to adults, two to six players. The game is colorful, fun and educational, teaching numbers and sequencing. Cards are 3" x 4" in size, making it easy to hold for little hands.

For a chance to win this exciting game become a follower of this blog and leave a comment below letting  me know you want the game. Entry to the give-away will end March 15, 1011 at 9:00 AM Pacific Time. One random person will be chosen the same day and announced by 12:00 PM Pacific Time. Check back here to see if you are the winner.

Updates, New Blog and Give Away

It has been several days since I last wrote. Many things have occurred since my last post: snow, power outages, our family ill from respiratory viruses and my 91 year old friend becoming ill. I'm still not out of the woods yet with my illness. I have the nasal congestion, cough and weakness.

Being ill has given me some time to think. This blog has been a mix-mash of different topics. I feel I've really gotten off track as I tend to do. I'm going to try to streamline things a bit; keeping this blog about my efforts to a simpler life (frugal activities, goals, self sufficiency etc), priorities, health and my spiritual life. Still a lot, but hopefully still providing information for everyone and my family who is keeping up with me through this blog.

In an effort to continue to share about my my micro-farm and animals, I've started a new blog called Chicken Scrawls. It can be found at http://chickenscrawlss.blogspot.com. I will post more of my fun animal adventures, egg recipes and hopefully additional helpful animal information. 

Best Part!! To kick off getting back on track and starting a new blog I am going to announce two giveaways. One will be on Julia's Life Journey the other on Chicken Scrawls. I plan to have everything prepared to post in the next few days. (I'm trying to get back up to par first). So keep tuned to both blogs. I will announce each giveaway on separate days.

Happy reading and good luck on the giveaways to all of you!!

"I'm going to be watching for those giveaways!"

Snow, Power Outage and Congestive Heart Failure

This weekend was very busy for me. There was a break in the weather for a few days. Then the snow returned on Friday. We received another 15 inches of snow. The heavy snowfall led to a power outage and no internet. With no internet or power I wasn't able to finish my post for Frugal Friday Tips.

During the outage I helped my son with homework, until I received a call about my 91 year old friend. She fainted at the assisted living facility where she lives. She lost her pulse for a few seconds and the staff had to perform CPR on her. They called an ambulance and rushed her to the local emergency room.

My son and I went to the hospital to be with her. She was sleeping peacefully when we arrived. Her pulse was regular but her blood pressure was very low. The staff took a chest x-ray and drew several vials of blood. When the doctor came back in, he gave us the diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure. He wanted to admit her to the hospital but she didn't want to stay. He called her family doctor and they all decided to send her home with a heart monitor and new medicines.

After they applied the monitor, I drove with her to my house to pick up what I needed for staying with her for the night. I brought my personal items and clothes, and of course I had to have an animal with me. My male dog Max was the chosen one. (Max is the mildest of all my animals and he knows my friend well. She was delighted he came with.)

Mild Max

It was a long night. I was able to rest but not sleep. My friend kept getting up to go the bathroom and almost fell twice. Max every few hours would jump in bed with her to make sure she was ok. Then he would come to me, then back to his spot on the couch for a few hours, then would repeat the same routine.

This morning I took her to the pharmacy to pick up her prescriptions of Lasix and Potassium. I didn't want to leave her for fear something would happen or she would take off the heart monitor.

She was doing well by mid-morning, so I decided to make arrangements with the staff at the facility for her care and went home to sleep for a few hours. I went back to check on her this evening and she was doing fine.

Most of my career as a Registered Nurse has been in home health and hospice. I have taken care of many patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). I used to do education on the disease process, signs and symptoms, management and medications.

The disease process is caused by the heart not being able to pump the blood as it should. Several reasons can cause this: heart attack, congenital heart deformities and even smoking. When the heart can't do its job, the blood can overflow into the lungs. This leads to the patient being short of breathe, white frothy or foamy sputum possibly blood tinged, swelling of the ankles and feet, because of the poor circulation.

General standard management of the disease at home (not in an emergency situation or acute exacerbation) includes: decreasing salt (salt can increase fluid retention and make symptoms worse), frequent rest periods, alternating rest periods with activity, possible fluid restriction (this would be prescribed by the doctor), elevating feet to help circulate fluid back to the heart where it can be pumped and then be excreted by the kidneys.

Medications can vary widely depending on the patient's health, medications that are already prescribed and other factors that need to be determined by a doctor. Because of various factors, medications will not be reviewed in this post. I recommend for medication education to talk to your pharmacist or physician.

These are very general tips usually applied to the disease. If at any time you have symptoms of CHF you should be seen immediately by a physician. This post is not intended to replace doctor's orders or a doctor's exam but only to provide very general information of the disease. Each patient is an individual and care needs to be individualized for each person who has been diagnosed with CHF. Doctor's orders should strictly be followed to better health, prolong life and decrease chances of complications.

Melting Snow

The snow is finally melting. We received about two feet of snow over the weekend. My son and husband drove to Shingletown for a weekend camp retreat before the snow hit. I stayed home and watched it snow and snow and snow. I was pretty much snowed in.

The neighbor boy helped take care of the chickens, ducks and bunny. He shoveled access our woodpile and collected eggs. The snow and cold prevented the girls (hens) from performing well this weekend. I got only one or two eggs each day.  

The power went out a few times and flickered several times. I was grateful for our wood stove. The dogs and I were toasty warm. 

I was finally able to get out for a few minutes yesterday. My husband shoveled so I could get out of the driveway and go run a few errands for a change of scenery. I took the dogs with me for the ride. They like riding and sticking their heads out the windows. They really enjoyed it when I went to Burger King and ordered them an ice cream to share. 

Today was even better.  The temperature was about 40˚ and no more snow fell. Our two feet of snow is melting away. I went outside to see my fowl and let the dogs play for a few minutes. The fresh air was very inviting. I just stood around leaning on my crutches and looking things over; watching the dogs play. It was peaceful. 

Snow melted off the cherry tree. 

One cord of Juniper Wood still covered with snow. 

One cord Juniper Wood uncovered. 

Temporary roof on pole barn fell under weight of snow. 

Max and Princess having fun.

Princess trying to get the ball from Max.  

The chickens and ducks favorite tree, still covered in snow. 

Rockett doing her favorite pass time, eating. 

Better performance today from the girls.  

Guard duck, Spot, says, "time for you to leave!"