Hello!
Things
have been crazy on my end since I sent out my last newsletter.
I
have been busy in the garden every chance I get weeding and more weeding
between rains. At this point my poor neglected bushes look like a bad hair day
gone wild while I've focused on the garden. I've picked raspberries, peas,
spinach, and lettuce. The next sunny day I will be picking my first green
beans. Meanwhile little tomatoes are growing that I can't wait to pick and eat.
I
was going full speed ahead until the last Sunday in May when I stayed home due
to increased bone pain aggravated by a cold snap. I was in the recliner when
gunshots sounded outside my house. Lo and behold a fox- in the middle of the
day- came into the backyard and got one of my chickens. Dwight heard the
commotion, grabbed his gun, and shot at it. He said the fox was as big as Tex.
The fox killed one of the hens so we started putting up the animals. I got the
ducks up and most of the hens, but a couple were spooked and running everywhere
when it happened. One minute I was hurrying after a hen and the next I was
flying through the air after tripping over a big tree root. I landed hard
knocking the breath out of me. Dwight helped me up and we got the last of the
hens in the henhouse, but by the time I got back into the house I was limping
and in pain. My left knee and right hand swelled up twice its size. Thankfully
nothing was broken, but for over a week I was in the recliner popping pain meds
with ice packs on my knee and hand hobbling around slowly with a cane. Dear
Dwight ended up doing all the cooking, cleaning, washing, running to town, and
taking care of Dana. It was frustrating to be so helpless. Dwight got the
electric fence going again in the back yard so we can let the chickens and
ducks out.
I
had finally gotten back on my feet more and was able to drive to town still
using the cane. So I headed to church. I had only gotten about halfway there
when my vehicle cut out on me. Thankfully I was able to pull over at a store's
parking lot. When I couldn't get the Durango started again, I went inside (as I
didn't have my cell phone) and called Dwight. Instead of being at church like
planned, I sat in the vehicle waiting for Dwight to arrive trying to stay in a
positive frame of mind. It was a sunny day with a breeze blowing, I had been
able to pull over at a good spot, and I didn't have to walk far with my cane to
call for help. Dwight took me back home. He changed the fuel pump, but the
engine kept cutting out. So Johnny helped Dwight get the Durango to the body
shop where they worked on it some more. They ended up having to order a
computer part. Johnny is letting us use one of his trucks until it comes in.
Last
week I had to take Dana to Crossville to get a spot removed from his eyelid and
the next day go to Cookeville for an echocardiogram, which they had to stop as
Dana started having a seizure. While I’m grateful to have a working vehicle,
this truck has plenty of personality- even when the driver’s door is shut it
sounds like its open so there is always a roaring noise going down the road,
the driver’s window goes down unexpectedly at will, you can’t put the gear
shift on the exact letter it has to be in between park and neutral or drive and
second gear, etc., the wheel is harder to turn, and the air conditioner it will
only go on high. I’m nervous driving long distances anyway so I was quite
stressed out by the time we finally got back home after our two long trips.
Then this week I took Dana to the local doctor’s office for blood work. Dana
ended up passing out at the office. The nurse helped me get Dana stable enough
to get him back home.
As
if that wasn’t enough “excitement” this month, Dwight had an accident while
working on his old truck in the workshop.
He thought the pressure was out and took off the radiator cap too soon
spewing hot water on him burning his right hand and an area on his chest-
completely taking off the upper layer of skin. Thankfully his face was turned
when it happened. I was in the kitchen getting supper when Dwight came in
saying, “Mom, I need help. I’ve burnt myself.” I got the areas cleaned up and
covered them with antibiotic salve. The
areas are slowly healing as we watch to make sure it doesn’t get infected.
To
be honest I really could use some boring days where nothing happens. Even
though life has given us some unpleasant surprises recently, we have much to be
grateful for. I have been able to get back in church, cook, wash, take care of
the animals, work in my garden, and help Dana again. Whatever life brings our
way, we have a caring loving Heavenly Father we can lean on in the good and bad
times.
I
shall hush up for now. I need to get this moving as I am running way behind.
Hope
you are able to enjoy the warm summer days.
Dorcas
