I am at a loss of exactly what to do. I am going to discontinue my amigo.net email address. That happens to be the name this blog is under.
I have gone in & tried to change it, but I'm told that I cannot change it as that is its "name". I think I changed my contact information.............will double check that. Anyway I don't know if I can continue to get into here once I cancel amigo or not...............
If anyone knows anything about this, please feel free to contact me at:
wcouzenssmith@gmail.com
I will keep trying to figure it out & see what I can do. Maybe I can get in here forever & the corgimom is my "login"...............??? BUT if I disappear at some point that's what happened & I will have to start all over (perish the thought).
Friday, November 18, 2011
November
November is the best and worst month. It is good because it is my birthday month. It is good because my sister and my daughter were born this month.
But there are many sad things about November.
Although my daughter didn't die until December 2nd, November still holds memories of her. She was born just before Thanksgiving & died just after.
My father died two days after Thanksgiving in 2005.
My husband died today, 11/18 in 2008.
My mother died 11/3, 3 days before my birthday in 2009.
But I do praise God that He is in all of this & He brings healing & love.
November might be sad............but it is good..........a month of Thanksgiving for what I do have, for where I have been and where He is leading me.
But there are many sad things about November.
Although my daughter didn't die until December 2nd, November still holds memories of her. She was born just before Thanksgiving & died just after.
My father died two days after Thanksgiving in 2005.
My husband died today, 11/18 in 2008.
My mother died 11/3, 3 days before my birthday in 2009.
But I do praise God that He is in all of this & He brings healing & love.
November might be sad............but it is good..........a month of Thanksgiving for what I do have, for where I have been and where He is leading me.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Cabin pictures
My bedroom.......................lots more pictures, but no need to post all of them.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Fixing things around the Farm
August has been an interesting month. I had a friend ask if I needed a "hired man" around some. We had a email discussion about the possibility. My friend, Greg, has a full time job but wants to get back on the farm a little. I grew up with two of his Aunts & know the family pretty well. Greg sold Dennis most all of his farm equipment.
It has been working out well so far. I'm getting caught up. Willie is helping Greg and Greg can give Willie guidance, direction & work well. Greg has helped re-stack some hay & then load hay that I sold on the trailer. He has helped work on removing much of the metal fencing and putting portions back up. He has helped with Dennis' raised beds in his garden. When Dennis put the raised beds in, he put down the wrong kind of barrier in the rows where you walk. Grass has been awful & continually we have had to dig out the grass to use the garden. This year it was too much for me to even start to deal with. The raised beds were full of grass, thistle, & white top. The raised beds are now gone. I'm working on killing the Canadian Thistle & getting rid of the grass. We will see where things go from here as far as a garden next year.
Greg has been a tremendous help with the physical things. He is also pretty good working with Willie (when Willie works). It actually makes me feel like I have accomplished some major items this August. I'm still working on spraying for thistle. We did not do this in the past due to the sensitivity of the alpacas to various poisons. But now I really need to work on getting rid of the stuff. It is awful.
I've about sold all the first cutting from my hay. My cabin is almost done up at Hermit Lakes. So far so good!! I can smell fall in the air.
It has been working out well so far. I'm getting caught up. Willie is helping Greg and Greg can give Willie guidance, direction & work well. Greg has helped re-stack some hay & then load hay that I sold on the trailer. He has helped work on removing much of the metal fencing and putting portions back up. He has helped with Dennis' raised beds in his garden. When Dennis put the raised beds in, he put down the wrong kind of barrier in the rows where you walk. Grass has been awful & continually we have had to dig out the grass to use the garden. This year it was too much for me to even start to deal with. The raised beds were full of grass, thistle, & white top. The raised beds are now gone. I'm working on killing the Canadian Thistle & getting rid of the grass. We will see where things go from here as far as a garden next year.
Greg has been a tremendous help with the physical things. He is also pretty good working with Willie (when Willie works). It actually makes me feel like I have accomplished some major items this August. I'm still working on spraying for thistle. We did not do this in the past due to the sensitivity of the alpacas to various poisons. But now I really need to work on getting rid of the stuff. It is awful.
I've about sold all the first cutting from my hay. My cabin is almost done up at Hermit Lakes. So far so good!! I can smell fall in the air.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Fixing things around the house
Willie has been using my Grandfather & Grandmother's bedroom set. It was probably made in say the 30's or 40's. It is a nice set & he has been using it since we moved here. Well two days ago he broke a slat that goes below the box springs. Finally last night I did some measuring, how long a piece, how thick, how wide...........then out to my barn I go to see if I have a piece anywhere close to what is needed.
I could find no piece of wood 5/8 inches thick. This morning I ask Burlin (who does the watering & all the farming for me) a little about it. He said they probably don't even make wood that thickness any more & to go with 3/4 inches. Sure enough I had quite a few pieces that thick.
So we tore apart his bed. I made him measure what was needed. Then out to the shop we went. He had to measure how long & we used the saw to cut the wood. It was a bit wider than the old pieces, but with his weight gain, wide is good for support.
Now he has 4 nice big slats below his box springs & hopefully the bed will hold up a while longer. Now for other projects that need to be done!!
I could find no piece of wood 5/8 inches thick. This morning I ask Burlin (who does the watering & all the farming for me) a little about it. He said they probably don't even make wood that thickness any more & to go with 3/4 inches. Sure enough I had quite a few pieces that thick.
So we tore apart his bed. I made him measure what was needed. Then out to the shop we went. He had to measure how long & we used the saw to cut the wood. It was a bit wider than the old pieces, but with his weight gain, wide is good for support.
Now he has 4 nice big slats below his box springs & hopefully the bed will hold up a while longer. Now for other projects that need to be done!!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Cabin
The cabin is coming along very well. Here is a picture of the living room/dining room ceiling. Oh yes, I know that looking at a ceiling should be boring...........but I think it is beautiful.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Llama & Rabbits
On Saturday a friend came over to pick up Wilson, the llama. He wasn't real sure what he thought about everything, but did get in the trailer a whole lot easier than any of the alpacas did. I know he will be very happy where he is going as he will have a lot of new alpaca friends & a llama friend or two.
Yesterday I worked on the rabbits & their cages. They are cleaned up & ready to move out also. I decided that if I want to do rabbits again I know where I can get some. When Dennis wanted rabbits back in 2005 I said, fine, but they are yours..........I've done rabbits & do not want to do them again. Well, then I ended up with them. I've actually switched one out since he died. But they will go to a great home also. Hopefully that will happen on Friday.
That will leave the 3 corgis & my barn cat. I think I am enjoying downsizing..............it is in many ways a relief to have less to worry about.
Yesterday I worked on the rabbits & their cages. They are cleaned up & ready to move out also. I decided that if I want to do rabbits again I know where I can get some. When Dennis wanted rabbits back in 2005 I said, fine, but they are yours..........I've done rabbits & do not want to do them again. Well, then I ended up with them. I've actually switched one out since he died. But they will go to a great home also. Hopefully that will happen on Friday.
That will leave the 3 corgis & my barn cat. I think I am enjoying downsizing..............it is in many ways a relief to have less to worry about.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Alpacas
Last Wednesday we took the alpacas to a place north of Flagstaff. The donor program is run by Christians. They will work with the alpacas & place them with the appropriate person or family. I am encouraged and impressed by what I saw there. It took 3 trailers to get them there and it was for sure a long trip. But it was accomplished. Very long & tiring 2 days.
I am missing them some & look for them still when I go out. I also find myself grieving again for Dennis. The alpacas were his in the sense of he is who wanted them, picked many of them & helped deliver some of the cria. He is the one that took the classes. I learned all I could on line, but he was more of the hands on.
In many ways I am sorry to see them gone, but in many other ways it is a relief to not have them any more. Very mixed feelings....................
I am missing them some & look for them still when I go out. I also find myself grieving again for Dennis. The alpacas were his in the sense of he is who wanted them, picked many of them & helped deliver some of the cria. He is the one that took the classes. I learned all I could on line, but he was more of the hands on.
In many ways I am sorry to see them gone, but in many other ways it is a relief to not have them any more. Very mixed feelings....................
Monday, July 4, 2011
A Cabin
One of the things that Dennis had on his "to do" list was to build a cabin at Hermit lakes. So I decided last fall that this would be the thing to do. The cabin will be finished in a month. I have found a friend at church who builds cabins & he is doing a wonderful job. I'm excited about being able to go away from home for more than 8 hours without finding someone to feed animals or whatever!!! This is the outside................................so so looking forward to it.
The Farm
As I stated in my previous post, the last 8 months have been something else. Due to all that has been going on and the economy I knew I needed to downsize with the alpacas. Then during shearing time I also had a broken ankle. Luckily not a serious break, but still broken & in a boot. I got hit in the jaw by one of the alpaca boys & decided that I seriously needed to make some changes. I have managed to find a place to donate the alpacas to & they will end up with people in the Navajo nation.
I have a special spot in my heart for the Navajo people due to my Aunt & Uncle being missionaries to them for many many years. So I feel good about this. They are still with me at this point, but hopefully we will be moving them in about 2 or 3 weeks. In many ways it will be a relief to have one less grouping to worry about & that ties me down. I will miss them though.
I have a special spot in my heart for the Navajo people due to my Aunt & Uncle being missionaries to them for many many years. So I feel good about this. They are still with me at this point, but hopefully we will be moving them in about 2 or 3 weeks. In many ways it will be a relief to have one less grouping to worry about & that ties me down. I will miss them though.
Time
Seems like time flies............it has been a truly crazy 8 months. I'll work on a couple of posts to catch things up.
Family life. Willie & I have been having quite a few issues. But we have discovered that Willie is now diagnosed as bipolar and that has truly been much of the issue. He still does not feel that he is. But his symptoms are much like bipolar 1. A psych nurse counselor that I went to see a while back indicated that due to his epilepsy and all the seizures he has had in the past.........some of the problem could be damage from those. So no matter the diagnosis, if the medication helps that is what we go with.
I am working toward getting Willie counseling & hopefully vocational rehab, then perhaps a job & a group home & onward to his own apartment. It is slow going, but some progress is being made. He is better than he was a year ago. So I would ask for your continued prayers in the upcoming months.
Family life. Willie & I have been having quite a few issues. But we have discovered that Willie is now diagnosed as bipolar and that has truly been much of the issue. He still does not feel that he is. But his symptoms are much like bipolar 1. A psych nurse counselor that I went to see a while back indicated that due to his epilepsy and all the seizures he has had in the past.........some of the problem could be damage from those. So no matter the diagnosis, if the medication helps that is what we go with.
I am working toward getting Willie counseling & hopefully vocational rehab, then perhaps a job & a group home & onward to his own apartment. It is slow going, but some progress is being made. He is better than he was a year ago. So I would ask for your continued prayers in the upcoming months.
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