2008 already

I'm chuckling away to myself, remembering my post from a few months ago when I described using our outhouse. It's gotten much the worse for wear in the last few months, now more open to the elements than ever, so now you really use it at the expense of your pride. Well, our septic tank froze up, so we're all making the long trek out back with disturbing regularity. This morning, there I was, comfortably (read this term very loosely) ensconced in our little outside necessary and the horse in the pen next to me leans in to say hi, two cats came wandering in, purring loudly, tracking muddy pawprints all over my exposed lap, a dog reaches in with his paw to tap me on the back and I laughed out loud thinking I was simply going to have to fill you all in on this hilarity. Brent and Monte were both here during this thrilling time (read: no showers, no toilets, no water down a drain at all!) ... good thing we have very adventurous guests.

On the brighter side - Check out the amazing progress on our barn! This first photo faces north, the large door is the horse/equipment door, the smaller windows and door are for the cabin area:

This next photo faces south through those same windows as above. This photo is taken from the cabin area. There will be a living/dining area, kitchen, bed and bath. The bathroom will be a kind of utility bath that we can store horse supplies, wash horse blankets and etc, so it will have an entrance from inside the barn, approximately where I'm standing to take the photo.

This next one is still facing south, just taken from the other side of the barn, still facing out the cabin windows. Those "wings" on either side with lower roofs (well you only see one in this photo, but you get the idea) will be the stalls. 6 individual stalls on one side and just an open-front protected shed on the other because our horse aren't used to being stalled. That way they can all gather under some shelter without having to be locked up in a stall. Plus it houses a LOT more horses than just 6 more stalls would do.

Thanks again, all of you who check in on our progress. Life stays about the same health-wise.... I'm awaiting some more test results which will determine what we do from here. As soon as I know what they are I'll share it with you. I've been on a little bit of a break from chemo (with doctor's permission) and enjoying it immensely, but that will change soon, I'm sure. It's SO cold here that I'm not looking forward one bit to losing my hair again, but I may have to whether I want to or not. Bummer!

My computer is still not repaired, so I don't have any fun or lovely pictures to share this time. Hopefully that'll change soon.

Thanks for all the commenting. Can't tell you how wonderful it was to read notes from all of you - it is incredibly encouraging and believe me, some days I need it!

Woo-Hooooo!

Oh now see how much more fun that was!! That is just splendid to hear from all of you! I guess I just needed a little reinforcement and I got it. Thanks! I shall keep on posting and if you want to keep on commenting, that'd be just fine with me! :)

So Onward dear blog readers!

As for barn photos, my dear Melody, I shall post a few for you. We aren't as far along as we'd like to be. This time of year there are just way too many things slowing us up, but it's coming along as you shall see. The main inside portion is up and they'll add the "wings" on the sides that'll contain the stalls in the next day or two. Those you'll just have to imagine for now. One of the best parts is it'll have a green metal roof. Well ...that's not the best part in itself - - the best part is that we also bought green metal for our HOUSE and it'll match, which is nice. But nicest is that I won't have to cover my piano and my pillow and my guest bed and my computer and my furniture and my.... (etc., you get the picture) every time it rains or the snow melts. That, friends, is the best part!

My computer crashed. That's the news of the day. I was typing away, working like mad and it just went blank and died. I'm going to take it in the the computer hospital and all of you need to be sending good vibes this way because our business is on there with the thousand documents I created for it, our accounting program, not to mention all the photos I've taken. This is agony, as any of you who've lost your "brain" in a computer crash will know. Keep your fingers crossed for at least a partial recovery of files, even if the computer itself has croaked!!!

And here's the latest on my health... (how psychologically interesting I put it below the barn and the computer crashing news. Someone should study me and my weird response to this disease.)

Anyway, my heart has been acting up lately, beating FAR too fast and it's been scaring me and the doctors both. I can't tolerate much more than a slow walk without getting totally weary. I've had a number of tests and they found I have some lingering effects from the clots I had in my lungs way back in August of 06- causing some increased pressure there which then affects the heart as it tries to pump against that pressure. Not really enough to make it beat this fast (that's still a mystery to everyone), but it is a concern, so I'm not going to take any more Doxil. (Some of you may remember that it has the nasty problem of occasionally causing your heart to act up, which can be a permanent effect. No one wants to add to my heart issues by giving me another dose.) I've been started on medication to slow the heart down, so hopefully that'll give me more energy.
SO. I know nothing more. I will have to switch chemos of course, but I don't know yet what that will be or what it'll do to me. How much you want to bet I find out though? :)

And now for pictures!! AGH. What are we going to do without my pictures? I'll post some Tiffany has and try not to cry when I think about losing all of mine. :{

First of all the barn: The corner closest to the camera is where we're putting the living quarters. I'm thrilled about my design.... I'll try to share it with you as it goes up.

And now for the hard workers sweating it out, trying to finish this barn!!!

And finally - my arguments for why only God should try to decorate in December:

These last 2 are mine - - I salvaged them from my online photo site. Thank goodness for online photo sites! Good days all of you - have splendid holidays and keep in touch!

Hello dear friends

We've had privileges lately of Special Meetings and my grandmother's funeral. What priceless days!! I feel richly blessed and as I think of what it means to have a grandmother whose death is only a victory, I am awed and humbled. I want to learn from that.

While at those gatherings, lots of you mentioned reading and enjoying my blog and I wanted to thank you. I've got to admit that I'd begun to wonder if there was anyone out there. But since there is, I shall carry on!!

Andy and I are doing splendidly. Our 2nd anniversary is coming up, we're still talking (*smile), we're having fun, we're working hard and dealing with problems as they come. He's still healthy as a horse and my stability on this rocky cancer journey. As far as that cancer ... who knows! ? That cancer number is down this time around (a relief for most as it had gotten really high the last time, but I'm not sure whether I believe that number anymore). I feel absolutely grand when not under the effects of chemotherapy. For having what the doctors originally called a "very aggressive cancer" I am doing very well... I am up and about, able to do just about anything I would like to do. I am so fortunate as I know many people struggle very much with cancer and the treatments.

It's been cold here - delightful, really. I love winter, weirdly enough. Here's a photo of our fairy-tale house and one of me bundled up to go move cows a couple weeks ago:

And here are our little ones, enjoying sharing some body heat:

And finally our special, Special company: If any of you have a spare second, please leave a comment. I love reading them, love how it makes me feel connected to all of you and like there's a reason to keep this up. Thank you, dear friends!