phyllis`s view

Angora goats find new home,rescued kittens

2012-06-03T16:12:00.001-07:00

I wrestled with the idea of selling my goats for awhile now.I didn`t want to,but they need new pasture to run in & I found the perfect home for them.I will try to move the photos from my email where they are now romping with Steve to this blog later,I will have to revamp this whole thing. I still have much mohair to be washed ,so I won`t be out of fiber for awhile.
The dh has been going downhill in his health again & this week we`ll have to go to UPMC for some testing.It is best the goats be with someone who already loves them & will be able to give them proper attention as I may not be able to do.
Well,I was feeling sad about the empty spot outside & the quietness of no baying everytime I went outdoors,& my word,my friend Cathleen calls out of the blue & asks me if I`ll take an all white male albino red-eyed long haired kitten from her farm.I went over to have a look,& ended up taking all 4 kittens.They are only about 4 weeks old & their mother is already pregnet again.I fear they may have not lived if I didn`t take them.You all know how I`ve wrestled with taking the kittens in the past,but this time I felt a conscious push to take them all.I was only expecting 1,of course,but he was curled up with all his siblings.

Their eyes are all matted together.I began by giving them a bath with the lice treatment,now I`m washing their eyes out 3 times a day with warm water & Johnson`s baby shampoo.It is gentle enough for humans,my eye doctor tells me to do that alot for myself.I don`t see ear mites but treated them anyhow as both Simba & Zeke had them terrible.I now have 8 cats,my 2,my mom`s 2,& now these 4.I expect to be able to find homes for them,but we are getting attached already,especially our son & the dh.I`m the one who`s the nasty one coming at them for the treatments they dislike all the time.I have them in a big cage,not ready to let them run about yet.Maggie,sweet Maggie had the calico all but in her mouth before I realized she was coming at her as if she was a treat!So,hopefully they will be alright & grow up healthy.
If you look at the kitten in the second picture,the one to the clear left,his ear lobe is huge,but not torn or anything,I don`t know what`s up with that.

Foxgloves

2012-05-26T06:32:00.000-07:00

These foxgloves I grew from seed.I`ve been planting them every year now for awhile so that I will always have some in bloom.They bloom every other year.

Weekend fishing & musings

2012-05-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

My son had to work Sun.& our grandson had spent the whole weekend & didn`t want to go home right away on Sun.,so he rode with us to drop his dad off at work,then we took him to a kids fishing rodeo at the Adams County Fish & Game.They had a chicken barbeque before the start of the free for all kids fishing.The kids were allowed to get 3 trout.Our grandson got 3 rainbow.He tangled up with everyone & they with him,but all 3 kids side by side were pulling in fish anyhow.It was funny.No one got angry.
This is the same pond where on the right view of the pond at the highest bank,I was standing at the bottom with my son & husband in May 2001,& stepped back to allow my son in my "hot spot",I couldn`t seem to hook them.Richie said ,mom,don`t move,you`ll fall.Did I listen?No.I backed up & slipped & fell.To not appear completely stupid,I drew my leg back real quick so as not to fall into the pond,thus making a spectacle of myself.When I drew back my skinny leg,I heard a snap,as well as everyone else beside me.My dh came bounding down the hill,"Did you beak my rod?! "I looked down as I was not feeling my right foot at this point & said,"no,it`s worse than that." He took one look & began getting sick.
My first ever broken bone was a compound fracture of my tiblia & fiblia.I sat there feeling an out of body experiance.I wondered if I was going to die that day.I should have went to church,I told myself,instead of skipping out on this little fishing venture with my family.
There was an angel there that day.He took charge.He looks like Richard Gere,I`m not kidding.But he was supposed to be somewhere else that day & was here instead,much to my luck.They called an ambulance to come & drive back to where I was,a feat in itself was a miracle.The "boys"started to pick me up without a backboard or stretcher & my angel along with my son said,"no way you are carrying her up the bank without support under that leg."I was in shock,I could not tell them that myself.My son rode with me in the ambulance as my husband followed in the car,still sick.
Well,it took about 3 years to get healing up from the fall.I will get a pic of the scar & blog it sometime.I had IV antiboctics 3 times,4 operations,one to take the hardware screws out because I had an infection,then the one smaller bone healed,not allowing the large bone to grow together,so had to go back in & have the new bone broken again & cadiver bone put in....it was horrible.The cast was on & off,I had staph,then osteomelitis.The cast I wore was always from the crotch down,it was horrible, I ended up at Hershey Medical Center where I got the right antiboctic by IV for 7 months that I needed.I gave these antiboctics to myself.
I still see my angel,& I always give him a hug,He is so special to me.

Well,I digress with my own story,here are pictures from yesterday...

The wonder of a box turtle

2012-05-19T07:43:00.002-07:00

My son & his daughter found a small box turtle yesterday near the goats pen.They wrote her name on it as we had done for our son years ago,then let the turtle go under the masses of roses & dame`s rocket flowers.

We have seen his turtle off & on over the years,so this must be a good breeding place for them.

Vintage Clothing

2012-05-17T17:18:00.003-07:00

I had a bad day yesterday.I did too much for one thing.I also went to mom`s to bring more clothing home to wash & go through,I had a car load yesterday I dropped off at the goodwill store.The Salvation Army may have been better to take to,but the store is clear across town.
It struck me yesterday that I should have been going down every week to clean.But mom was funny about her home,& at times I felt she didn`t want me to help.But now I see how bad it was for her,& she NEVER threw out anything.I had begun going through my brother`s old bedroom because she asked me too before her last fall.She was worried about what she would do with her wedding gown & different things like that.She told me she didn`t think she was going to live much longer.I told her she was wrong,& I would keep the gown,so we keep it,what is so wrong with that?She seemed relieved when I told her that.Now her belongings are all in my garage,including the cedar chest they had to break to get into to find the deed & things & her wedding gown was in there among my old boyfriend things that I kept..I believe the key to it was in her jewelry box.
I may hang on to these vintage slacks,they were J.C.Penney,& at that time most clothes I noticed she had were made in the USA.When did we stop making clothes? She most likely never wore these slacks,the legs were wide,& she was like me,we have skinny legs & wide leg pants don`t look right.
Polka dots were apparently in back in those times.She kept my rollers,still in the old paper Acme grocery bag.She kept my baby shoes too,I didn`t take a picture of them.Just think,they are about 57 years old.
I didn`t go down there today.I will take my son with me the next time so I won`t get so depressed.I was alright going in there by myself a few times,but yesterday it was overwelming depression.

Her sister,Aunt Irene called me this evenning,she made me feel so much better,& it was odd because it seems like she may have sensed I was sad. & made the call.I have been wanting to ask her advice about things of my mom`s to give to her sisters,& she told me thought I made good choises on what I have picked out.I already gave her something of mom`s.I feel closest to her because she does phone me.Leaving you with pictures of the vintage slacks....& polka dots.

Just one more yank,I`ll get that worm!

2012-05-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

Does laying this way make me look thinner?

2012-05-12T17:55:00.001-07:00

My world here on Sat.

2012-05-12T05:31:00.002-07:00

We still have Savannah,the granddaughter ,but she goes home today.She has been here since Wed.Then I believe we`ll be kid free for a few days.
The weather has been still very cool here in Pa.Our furnace is not working properly & I need to get the woodstove fired up again as the fire went out overnight.A guy came out & cleaned our furnace yesterday,replaced a few parts,but the central air unit is causing the malfunction & they won`t be out till Tues.So,must get the stove going as it is only 50 in here.
Our son had a job interview yesterday,it sounds promising,I`m not sure what to pray for anymore.His meds don`t seem to be working as well,& I know he won`t succeed if he can`t get his head on straight.

Strolling through my yard I notice everything growing here is getting out of hand,raspsberry vines blooming with set fruit climbing through my roses,I haven`t the heart to pull them out now....maybe after the berries are picked,wasn`t that what I told myself last year?A columbine came up in the midst of everything,making me smile as I believe God placed it there amongst the weeds to remind me He is beside me all the time.

My only child turned 38 today

2012-05-10T18:50:00.002-07:00

I was much too young to have a baby,I was still a teenager when I had our son.I look at my brother`s girls heading off to college soon,can`t even IMAGINE them starting a family .But I made a choise, as there was no money for for my brother & I to attend college,& I decided to leave that house as fast as possible ,anyway I could.Terrible to admit now.God has watched over me even when I made bad choises.But I am so thankful for Richie & now he has given us more joy with a granddaughter & we also have our dear Dominick who turned 10 on the 8th.It all fits into God`s plans however,whatever happens,He makes things right & I`m thankful & blessed.

Pictures of Savannah & Richie goofing off today.We found a bubble pipe in a kitchen drawer at my mom`s,it was Richie`s when he was 5,so Savannah got to try it out today.She wasn`t told how to use it & must`ve sucked in on the pipe....now how would she have leaned that?but we all had a good day finishing up at the mall with Savannah & Daddy played games at the arcade.

World Bird Wed.

2012-05-09T19:36:00.001-07:00

I`m trying to slide in here on world bird Wed.,with only about an hour to go....so much drama here sometimes.

I`m submitting the hummingbird this week.They arrived 2 weeks early this year.I haven`t been able to get a picture yet as the light has been off with so many whitish skies lately.The male is sitting on the wires watching for the DH.He tends to follow him about,maybe because he drives a red Ford truck & is attracted to the color red,who knows.But here is the female who must be sitting on eggs already,the male swooping up & down bombarding any bird,dog,or person in the range of their nest.I don`t understand how we only get 1 family year to year,yet there are some people who get colonies of them every year,they buy huge amounts of sugar to keep them satisfied.I have all the right plants,feeders everywhere,but only have the 1 couple who have about 3 babies every year.
Here are some pictures of the female in past years.
Link up with the Springman to view other birds from all over the world at his blog.http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Blooms,goats,kids

2012-05-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Savannah got her first haircut over the weekend while her brother,Dominick, spent his weekend with us.I would have liked to have had Savannah`s locks,but they were thrown away.I don`t like the cut,but who am I?She likes it.

My son & her brother spent most of the weekend in my shed running an electric cord to play the xbox & watch movies & sleep out in.Remember the shed that was built for my spinning equipment & fiber?well,it is now filled with my mom`s furniture & beds & things we are storing till my soon to be 38 year old son gets his own place.One day I`m hopeful that things will change,but I`m not holding my breath.I`m hoping perhaps our son will be able to afford my mom`s house & be on his own.Who knows what will happen?
In the meantime,enjoy a walk with me past the blooms in my yard,& have some smiles with the grandkids.

Old Stuff

2012-05-06T15:05:00.001-07:00

Mom & Dad kept everything,I guess that is why my brother & I keep everything & have a hard time giving up our stuff.Our homes are cluttered,but we seem to be able to put our finger on just what we need when we need it,whether it be a piece of paper saved as a receipt,or a utensil we don`t always use...
I was cleaning some things out of mom`s house yesterday.We need to get her "estate" ready & have a lawyer now to help us,which I`m glad that we did.There`s just so many things a person needs to know when someone dies,& things have to move so quickly because you save so much on inherent taxes if it`s done in 90 days,which is coming up faster than we can think,June the 11th.

These are a few things I found that mom kept,of course,I had to have her rolling pin,which I will use,& sifter,I will display some things in my primitive kitchen.But,do you remember these ice packs?My father froze these metal cans in the freezer overnight & packed his lunch & carried them every day.Mom didn`t use them anymore,but hung onto them,just in case....

World Bird Wed.

2012-05-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

The hummingbirds arrived this week,did not get a picture of them,don`t even have the feeders out yet,deaths & shearing & getting behind in so many other things made me forget it is May already & the birds are arriving here in Pa.2 weeks ahead of time this year.
The brown thrashers usually arrive exactly on April 21,but they got here at the beginning of April & must be sitting on eggs already as they sing their flute-like song to their babies.
The robins are feeing their young too,all the while keeping a watchful eye out for the hawk.
The red bellies are coming to the feeder for suet,but out of all the cavities in the trees I`ve looked at,I have not found their nest,

These are my submissions for this week.Please go to the springman`s blog for world bird Wed. to see what other people from all over the world are showing.The link ishttp://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Shearing the angora goats

2012-05-02T16:24:00.002-07:00

We were late again shearing this spring,we did it today,first time we did shearing in the garage & it was fine because it is level in there.It didn`t have the proper lighting for me,& I felt terrible I cut Blackie right beside his private part-really bad.I usually use the scissores & do the bellies so I can clean them real good too with a basin of Dawn water.Well,that didn`t get done today,will do it later,we still had the other 2 goats to shear.It was the first time our son ever helped too.He called the vet while I ran for super glue & other supplies.The vet said to use the super glue,but not to patch or bind it in any way.I have him seperate in the barn from the others,because they are very head-butting happy when they are sheared,they don`t look as big to each other,& they have to establish that "head of the herd"again.Jimi is always the head,but Ringo could out beat him any day.Ringo is the largest,he has the best fleece too,but he is the most difficult to shear.We only got a couple of pics as I was freaked out over Blackie & kept praying over & over he would be alright.They are to get sheared again in the fall,but I think we will sell them before that.I love them to pieces,am so frightened when one gets hurt though.Not a good picture of me,but you can gather how big they are next to poor little Blackie,the runt.

July`s block of the month done

2012-05-01T16:58:00.001-07:00

I finished another block of the quilt I`m making,there is a little beam of light across it I didn`t notice till now coming from the glare of the kitchen window on it,as well as spinning up some roving I bought when I took my fiber to the mill.I know it looks like Bandit`s dog hair,but it is not.
I have so much other things to do,including cleaning woodstove windows & cobwebs from every room.Sometimes I just need to play!

Saying last goodbyes

2012-05-01T16:45:00.002-07:00

Yesterday we bid my brother-in-law ,Donnie,goodbye till we meet again.I facebooked it yesterday,I was so exhausted with it all,unable to think about blogging the service..I believe we were all exhausted from watching him clinging & clinging to life.
I spoke to the Rev.the night of the viewing & told him how we prayed for Donnie& his family & took he & his wife shawls,then towards the end,we came up with my bible & read from Romans to reinforce his faith that it is the body dying,not your soul & spirit.I was sure he believed.In the next couple of days is when he went into a coma.The Rev.said his wife & daughter talked about how we did that with him,& he had also said Donnie confirmed his belief several years earlier.
Anyhow,I was surprised on Mon.when the Rev.went to my husband & asked if I would take part in the service.He had prayed the night after he talked to me & through prayer,he & his wife wanted me to share in the service.I am not good with speaking,I`m shy & my stomach was in knots.But I felt Donnie there beside me & when I was called to speak,I think I did pretty good.I spoke a little about how we were the first he called to tell us he had cancer,said some other things,then read the note from heaven that Linda,his wife,wanted read.It goes like this:
If I could write from Heaven,this is what I`d say,
Please don`t miss me too much,I`m with you throughout the day,
You may not see or hear me,but if you`re quiet & still,
You just may feel my presence,because,in Heaven,there is free will.
Don`t worry for the day,it will come & go as planned,
Enjoy each moment you are given,keep worry from your hand.
Keep sorrow to a minimum,for if Heaven you could see,
You`d know that I`m safe & happy,I did not cease to be.
Moments in time are brief,until we`ll be together again,as Eternity lasts forever,our lives,they have no end.
The taps & the 21 gun salute was so humbling,as we celebrated Donnie as a fallen hero to a war with cancer that he had bravely fought.
Godspeed Donnie

My brother-in-law

2012-04-26T06:14:00.001-07:00

Donnie passed away last night,3 hours after they openned the window.I don`t know if you remember the story about the open window with my mom,but they say when you open it,the spirit then leaves.I know it`s a folk tale,but still is odd.I`m thankful for everyone`s prayers.This year so far has not been good to us,losing loved ones over & over.

World Bird Wed.

2012-04-25T16:52:00.001-07:00

Today is world bird Wed.once again.To join us fellow birdwatchers,select this link & show us your birds you watched this week.http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/
Today I stayed outside most of the morn & afternoon & was able to get these photos.The red-bellies are working deep in the woods & the tufted titmouse joined me once or twice as if to say,"why are you deep down here,you should be up at the feeder!"
The house finch sang most of the time as did the house wren,going in & out of this gourd,making it into a home.
The bluejays got in a fight with the squirrel.I don`t know if this is the same squirrel,but 2 hawks flew in & killed the squirrel-a lot of trees away,then left it hanging dead.I watched till I had to leave with hubby to an appt.,then noticed later the dead squirrel was gone.Sometimes I hate to watch nature.The poor squirrel cried & cried,don`t know if it was THE squirrel or a family member of the squirrel.
No comings & goings at the big stick nest.I should blog at this point that during the winter,a buck was shot legally here & the head left on a barrel at the side of the garage.The person who shot it forgot about it,& a smell began to gather at the garage,where the coyotoe was seen.Since no one volunteered to move this smelly thing{SOMEONE wanted a skull with horns}& I just couldn`t take it anymore as OTHERS became ILL when trying to move the head,I finally took the task on as I usually have too.[Tell me,what good are male members of the family?}& took the head down in the woods & hoisted it up on a tree & tied it fast.Now,mind you,I`m only 120lbs.,it was not easy,but you have to do what you have to do.So I fully expect alot of upcoming hawk or vulture pictures for my efforts.

Live! Great Blue Heron Nest at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

2012-04-23T07:12:00.001-07:00

Live! Great Blue Heron Nest at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

UFO`s

2012-04-22T16:38:00.001-07:00

My 59 year old brother-in-law won`t see 60,he is dying & we are preparing ourselves for another death in the family.I can`t tell you how hard it is to see him this way.After being with him once again today,the end is so very near now.It has me thinking about ,oddly enough , unfinished things that need done.

I went upstairs & brought down this unfinished block of the month quilt I started years ago.It is called By Wisdom a House is Built,by Sarah Sporrer.I plan to keep it on my kitchen table as an incentive to keep plugging at it.Pumpkin thinks it`s very comfy,& has dibs on it already as his own personal blankie.
I had to take my pics indoors today,so they are not very good,it has been raining here in Pa,we are to get a snowstorm tomorrow.Can you believe it?

Texas Gas Line

2012-04-21T08:00:00.001-07:00

I don`t care for my layout header as I didn`t size it right for the blog,but it will have to do for now.
Last spring the gasline people came through & cleared ,somewhat, the land where the pipes are underground.This year they came through to replace the pipe.
The pipe is huge.I`m not sure the pictures can show it very well.The one side of the road is untouched.This is a little road that winds up in the woods where we live.The houses down below are where the major work is being done.
They had to take out alot of mature trees,which is sad.I`m glad our property is untouched.

We have these huge nests in our trees in our land that I walk to every day to see what is in there.I haven`t figured out who is living in the nests yet.They are not squirrel nests,the nests are made mainly with twigs.

World Bird Wed.Pileated Woodpecker

2012-04-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the deck last night with the dogs,I could hear the drumming of a woodpecker.It was almost dark.I couldn`t see it,& figured it was the red bellied.But when the sounds of big pieces of bark hitting the ground,I got the camera & went in search of the bird.
It was the pileated woodpecker,I`ve been trying to capture this bird again since the last time I got not too good pictures.The forest here are filled with the marks of the bird,but they are like chasing the wind to get that photo.I slithered against the trees to get close enough,& here are what I was able to get,not so good,& the ones of him against the tree towards me,I didn`t even post,I`ll try to lighten them up somehow.He sure was hitting that tree with all the might he had.I got to see the back of his head,which looks like a little cross of red & black.
So,here is my post for world bird Wed.The link is http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Go post your birds & get in touch with some wonderful people...

Sweitzer`s Countryside Fiber Mill

2012-04-15T15:33:00.002-07:00

The dh & I took all of the fiber I had washed & picked & some I dyed to Sweitzer`s last week to be made into roving.The whole van was jam packed full.I feel I saved alot of money washing it all by hand myself.Heather,I THINK her name is,said it won`t take as long ,that step probably being done good enough to suit them.She buried her face in it & I smiled because I do the same thing with the fiber to make sure it feels & smells nice.

This chairs were so cute.The shop was so comfy & cozy & if I lived closer I believe I`d meet with their group to spin on Sun.afternoons.It is an hour away from where I live.

I thought alot about my mom going to & from there,as usually these trips I would have to make on my own & mom would always come along as I`m terrified of getting lost if I`m alone going to a strange place.On the way home a Van Morrison song came on.My mom loved him & wore out the tapes I made of him for her.I felt it was her way of showing me that she was still along for the ride.

Thank-you ,Lord!

2012-04-15T15:07:00.001-07:00

I finally found the photo program,microsoft,Picture-It disc!& re-installed it today.Now I can finally post pictures that look somewhat better.Here is the picture of the 2 cardinals I took for world bird Wed.I want to see how this one looks as compared to the other one...I believe it looks better,maybe not.But here are some other pictures of the backyard birds,flowers,& huge nests made of sticks.I`ve been hunting for the birds working on this nest,but I don`t know when they are doing the work.I never see them.

My granddaughter

2012-04-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

Savannah has been my rock here lately.When I don`t feel like doing anything & am depressed,she`ll drag me outside & we find things to do.Gardenning is her new love.
I decided to get my trout fishing liscense this year to go along with the dh & to take Savannah along with us.She is proving to be quite a little girl,someone after my own heart who loves to play with worms .She`ll be great at fishing,I`m sure.I wanted to teach her about how to get earthworms,then how we`ll wrap them on a hook to catch fish.It is free & one of the basic things to teach children.The dh disagreed & said I`ll be using trout bait I bought at the store.What?!! I know he`ll probably pull them in,but that`s not the lesson I wanted her to learn.When her brother went fishing,I did the same with him.
She got a little concerned after we were at it awhile,this worm looks like the mommy,she`s going back.Here`s a baby,her baby,I`m putting her back.So,it was time to give it up for the day.

I forgot how when you put them in cups with holes in that they`ll escape & go through your fridge,thank goodness I caught them & they were only in the chiller tray!They are not escaping anymore in their butter containers!