Isn't This A Fine Howdy Do!

Since Christmas, I've had a terrible bout with gout.  Talk about pain! And not being able to walk flat on my foot, I started walking on the side so no pressure would hit my toes.  Well, the pain in the side of my foot kept getting worse until I couldn't walk at all. So today I went to the foot dr., appropriately named Dr. Hosey.  He took one look at the side of my foot, and said I had a hairline fracture.  With gout. In my toe, in the side of my foot. With the fracture.  Oh Poop!  Orders? Stay off my foot except for the necessary. no walking.  So here I sit in my chair, facing the tv. Oh1 Wait! I can't watch tv! Why!? This morning, right at the beginning of my favorite talk show, Steve Harvey, the tv died!  Except for my computer, I am bored to tears!  I have some embroidery to do so I'll work on that. But I know Ken, no home cooked food for several days, no house cleaning done, dust piling up along with the dishes, and dirty floors! Help!!

Night time Visitor

While sitting in my living room tonight, I heard my hens making a terrible racket. When I went to investigate, they were all at the side door. As it is well after dark, they should be tucked in their coop. Being free range, I allow them to come out of the pen and into the back yard, though their grain is within their pen. So what was the problem! Why weren't they on their roosts already!? Because when I went to make sure the pen door was open, this is what I found inside.

This possum was happily chowing down on my girls feed!

Bobby had gone out with me, and when I saw what he had 

cornered, I hurried him back into the house. I mean this big

guy was baring some pretty ferocious teeth!

When Ken came out to see what all the noise was,

he grabbed a rake and shooed it out the gate.

It took quite a while, but the girls finally

decided it was safe enough to go back to the roost!

Molting

I always feel sorry for the poor girls during molting season.  Miss Jane Broody is but a shell of her former glory.  Don't worry sweetheart, your feathers will be back before you know it.

My Favorite of Andy

My beautiful Andy. 

I love this statuesque photo of him!

Epiphany

Today is the 12th day of Christmas, Epiphany.  

The day the wise men came to see the Christ Child ushers

 in the end of the Christmas season, and soon it will be Lent.

This is my favorite time in the church calendar year. 

We celebrate the birth, crucifixion, and the 

resurrection of our Lord.

It's also another special day, the birthday

of my precious niece Claire.

Happy birthday to our

little sweetheart!

Gout.

Steroid pack, $30.00

Prescription pain reliever: $20.00

Watching my husband change the litter box: Priceless!

My Word for 2013

It's hard to believe that 2012 has come to end.  So much happened that tested my Faith, my word for 2012. I saw miracles happen, and had to rely on faith to get through at other times.  I saw what the faith of hundreds could do when they joined together in prayer for a little boy named Zavier, who was cured of cancer.  Praise God!  I saw what faith could do when my Mother, who went through several surgeries, mostly major, came through though the odds were against her.  Faith saw me through personal experiences where I thought I had no hope.  It has been a year of blessings, and triumphs, answered prayers, though some not the way I wanted.  Faith. It seems it was the perfect choice in words. 
So now, with the new year upon us, I have chosen a new word to lead me through the next 12 months. And the word is FORGIVENESS.  There are so many times that past hurts literally want to eat me alive. And though I say in my heart I Forgive, letting go and truly feeling that forgiveness in my soul is difficult.  So this is what I will be working on this year.  Have you chosen a word for the new year?  If so, what would it be?