No, my intention was not to skip Monday's and Wednesday's blog. I would have mentioned it before hand.
We had a birthday party for Elijah on December 21st. There were five children besides the adults in attendance. Elijah picked up a virus from one of the children. Well, after a day or so, Elijah got a bad cold. The rest of us made it through Christmas without getting sick. That bug had so much fun with Elijah it decided to try the rest of us. Jamie was the first to succumb. She was well into the disease by Thursday the 26th, I started to feel a little rasping in my throat on Saturday and Naomi began the journey on Sunday. The affliction took a different path with each of us. Jamie was all over sick; sinus headache, nausea, body ache, but she started improving in a couple days. As is my recent pattern, I wasn't really sick, but I got bronchitis that kept me coughing all night. I felt good during the day except for the sleep deprivation. Naomi was hit the hardest, with both nausea and a respiratory affliction that is still hanging on.
I was well enough to do my regular chores but I had the added concern of our dwindling hay supply. I had some hay left over from last year and we were able to pasture our animals until the first of December. I wasn't too worried about getting hay. It wasn't a great year for hay but there was a fair crop in our area. When I had a couple weeks supply left I contacted a former supplier and he said he would get some for me. Days went by no hay. He said it was hard to find but he had some if I had an emergency. More days went by. I checked around, good alfalfa hay was going for $10 a bale. Good quality grass hay was $6 a bale. Nothing was less than $5. At this point I didn't care about the expense. Farmers were not putting their hay up for sale; they were waiting for the auction at the Sale Barn.
I couldn't wait. On Monday I was down to half a bale and my hay man brought over six bales of the emergency supply he promised. He said he could get big bales and it would work out to be far less expensive than square bales. I have done that in the past but we don't have enough turn around space for a big trailer in our driveway. He said he could park his truck at the end of the driveway and haul the bales up one at a time with his fork lift and throw them over the fence.
Four large round bales were delivered New Years Eve. Three for the sheep and one for the goats. The hay for the goats was deposited within eye shot of the animals and being curious, they found it soon. I had to have the sheep's hay put in a place that they can't see. They have to round the corner of a building to find it. I will probably have to wade through the snow and lead them to it.
Anyway, on Monday I had my hands curled over the keys prepared to write. Earlier I had no sense of how tired I was, when I relaxed to let the words flow, tiredness came over me. All that I wanted to do was sit and space out. Tuesday, I was involved in the hay delivery and I had to run some errands. I was still hopeful of some kind of New Years Eve celebration. We celebrated very mildly.
Wednesday, I anticipated writing a New Years Greeting. I was looking forward to it. But no, it was a recharge the batteries day. I actually did get several things done that needed doing, like watering the houseplants and catching up on my bill paying. Yesterday, was my New Year, I awoke afresh, relaxed, energized and ready to go.
I am looking forward to a New Year. 2013 was a year of preparation. 2014 completes much of what started in the last year and is a pivotal point into our entrance into the New World.
As always, the solution is to stay in the moment and love. Love is chasing out the dark individually and collectively. Keep dreaming the dream of a loving world for all. More on Monday.
Love and Peace, Gregg
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