Welcome to our family blog to keep you updated on all the happenings around the Walker cottage and "farm". Even though we live in a rural section of the Tennessee Mountains life is far from boring as you will see.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

APRIL NEWSLETTER



Hello!

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter on your end. Dana was able to get to church for Easter Sunday. Dwight didn't make it to church as he was still struggling with his shoulder/back bleed and is quite weak. He came for lunch and soon left to go back to his apartment.

Meanwhile outside the purple redbuds are blooming and my Crabtree brightens up the entire back yard with its a glorious flame of dark pink flowers surrounded by white pear flowers while underneath a thick carpet of tiny dark purple violets bloom. The tulips, phlox, and money plant are blooming as the daffodils fade out. It is time to start the garden and since the weather is a lovely 70 degrees I will plant my peas, lettuce, and beets today before the rainy weekend arrives. It has been bliss the last couple of days to open my windows and hang out wash again. Ah, the temperamental personality of spring that teases one with warmth between cold snaps as the earth slowly warms up.

We killed the three roosters and as soon as we can get our enclosed garden fence re-boarded we will put the Guinea hens out as well. The hens won't know how to act with all the peace and quiet. This week seven tiny chicks hatched from the eggs that my broody hen has been faithfully sitting on.  There are still four more eggs to go. The hen started out with four eggs and I put two others under her to make six, but like the loaves and fishes that multiplied in the Bible, somehow seven chicks have hatched with four more eggs to go. When I transferred the chicks over to the brooder (as well as the hen and eggs) I couldn't believe how many tiny fur balls were under the hen. I kept pulling out one chick after another.

I love working outside. One day after transplanting stuff, as I was finishing up, I slipped and fell down the back steps.  Thankfully I didn't break anything- just sprained my ankle bad. So once again I was slowed down hobbling around with one of Dwight's canes with my wrapped ankle and having to keep it elevated as my entire foot was swollen. So ratty!!! After a couple of weeks my ankle is back to its normal size again and I can walk on it. What a blessing!

On another positive note, Dwight’s shoulder/back is doing better. He is able to go to physical therapy and is slowly getting stronger. It’s amazing how fast our bodies can go downhill and how long it takes to get them back up to power again.

Dana managed to somehow pull a muscle in his back and is having quite a time with it. He can hardly get around and it has slowed him way down even though physical therapy is still coming twice a week. I took Dana this past week to the lung specialist and it was quite the workout for me as well as I had to load and unload his roll aider. Since his roll aider is extra large (bigger than me) it was like lifting a heavy wheelchair and took me back to my teenage years when I would have to load my father’s wheelchair in and out of the car for him. Both of us were quite worn out by the time we got back home.

I’m so thankful for the strength and energy given me each day to keep things up around the Walker farm and take care of Dana. I have to take each day as it comes and try not to get frustrated when I am unable to accomplish as much as I would like to. There is always something to do. So amidst my tasks, I try to find a spot of joy (watching a bird starting to build a nest near the house, discovering a new flower just opening its petals, finding froggie eggs in my pond, or the wonder of holding a tiny chick in my hands), having a bit of fun playing with Tex each day, and adding a touch of creativity outdoors or inside. I am truly blessed!


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