Craziest Thursday EVER

It started with me 

CUTTING MY OWN HAIR.

Yes, I did.

There's a "viral" YouTube all over

the place of people doing the

"butterfly" cut.

Basically you split your hair in half.

The front (just behind the ears and forward)

and the back (everything else)

You put them both in very specific

pony tails and then cut.

Yup, just one, straight cut.

I happened on a video made by a

60-ish year old woman with

hair very similar to mine.

I watched it.

And then I did it.

There are no pictures.

But I like it.

In fact, I actually did it Wednesday

and then I cut more from the back

on Thursday.

I still want to take off more from the back.

But I'm a little busy right now.

I like it though.

Although I then stuck it in a ponytail

and haven't seen it since.

Then a quick run into Hays to Tractor Supply

to get some shavings for the chicken coops

since the forecast is for COLD this weekend

and it helps keep them warm.

Then to WalMart to pick up two 9x13 pans

I forgot to get on Tuesday.

I'm supposed to make 2 pans of funeral

potatoes for the ward party Saturday.

Also a box of ice cream sandwiches

and a couple pies.

Then to the church to help decorate for

the ward party.

It was a fiasco.

We had a whole bunch of lights the

town of WaKeeney threw out since this

was their BIG event and they wanted all new.

But they all worked.....

We strung them width-wise across the gym.

We tested them before we hung them.

But when we hooked them all together,

they wouldn't work.

So we took them all down again.

And swagged them down the long walls

with some pine garland.

It actually looked really pretty.

But took the whole time we had allotted.

So I left and went to Dollar Tree to get

some gift stuff.

And then I ran out to the farm to check 

on the guy's progress.

It was a glorious day!

In the high 70's with a light wind.

When I got there, I put the sandwiches in

the freezer and the pies on top.

The back neighbors were finally harvesting

their corn and it looked so pretty!

So I hopped on the 4-wheeler and headed 

to the back of the property for pictures.

I don't often take pictures from the back.

You can't really see how the land dips

and rises... there's a hidden valley

in that dark line.

The light was that flat / glowy light

just prior to sunset.

Wish my camera on my phone was better.

He was getting it done.

When I got back, they were on the roof,

laying peel and stick underlayment.

They only had 2 rows left to do.

It was looking GREAT!

I headed inside to think about Kyle's idea

to flip flop the kitchen and living room.

(I eventually veto-ed it...)

And about that time I heard some LOUD 

thumping across the roof above me and

Kyle started screaming CALL 911!

CALL THE AMBULANCE!

He took one last step on the roof,

but there wasn't any roof there.

And down he went.

They sent a crew to help us out.

Some really kind women.

Thankfully a second (third) truck showed

up with a bunch of burly guys.

Lifting him onto the gurney without

hurting him more than they did was a chore.

Off to the little hospital in Hill City.

Where a doctor and another crew of 

wonderful women took such good care of him.

They did an x-ray and said good news,

nothing is broken.

But he has a little umbilical hernia.

And then they ran a CT scan just to be sure.

And every time the doctor came back

in the room, the news changed.

Actually he broke a couple ribs

on the left side.

And then... ok, he broke all the ribs on the

front and a couple ribs in the back.

And then.... all the ribs on the front and

most of the ribs in the back,

AND looks like L4 is crushed.

And then.... nope, all the vertebrae from

L1 thru L5 are crushed.

We can send him to Hays.

Nope.

He's going to Salina.

(2 hours east.)

Nope.

He's going by helicopter to Wichita.

(225 miles south east.)

Once the decision was made,

it didn't take long for the crew to arrive to

whisk him away.

I headed to the house to grab a go-bag

with enough clothes for me for a week

and "come home" clothes for him.

(Except I forgot socks and underwear for him...)

Stopped to fill my fuel tank,

and hit the road.

I called everybody and updated them all

on what was going on.

(In addition to the phone calls while we

were at the hospital...)

Last call was to Nancy and, bless her!

She stuck with me for the entire drive!

Which was good, because Google decided

to send me on all two-lane roads.

I call them "Bob's Road". 

I nearly got side-swiped by a huge

owl just flyin' along in the dark.

(uh, hello, HEAD LIGHTS...)

And a little later a deer hopped out

in front of me.

She followed me along on her

Google Maps on her computer and

helped me know where I was going

and that I was actually going to arrive

at Wichita at some point.

Phew!

I finally pulled into the hospital

(via a back alley - really Google???)

about 1:30.

Thank you Nancy!

Took another 30 minutes to figure out

the right way to park and how to get

in the building, but eventually I figured

it out and got to rejoin my husband!

There were nurses in and out all night

long and he was pretty uncomfortable.

Mostly his mouth was SUPER dry and

they were under strict orders

NOTHING by mouth in case of surgery.

Poor guy.

He was half out of it and just mumbling

"water... water... please water..."

Broke my heart.

Finally this morning he fell asleep about 5:30.

They took him for an MRI at 4-ish so I 

grabbed a 40 minute nap.

A resident came in about 8 and said no

surgery today so OK to food and drink.

YEA!!!!

That helped him feel much better.

They also got a better handle on his

pain meds (oxy, tramadol, gabba....?)

and tylenol.

Once he was more comfortable,

he mostly slept the entire day.

He'll poke me for sharing this picture,

but this is my record of what happens in our lives.

And this was what was happening.

Things got REAL busy about noon.

The surgeon came in to talk about the plan

for surgery tomorrow (different surgeon)

and explained the options for his ribs.

After the back surgery, once it was stabilized

and they could move him a little more,

they would decide.

His ribs aren't just broken and pushed up

against each other like two fists,

they are split and on different levels.

They "may" heal on their own, or they

may need to open him up and pull

them together and screw a titanium plate

over the top to hold them in place.

That could happen Sunday.

This guy would do it.

Anyhow....

About that time, lunch showed up.

And 2 minutes later, the respiratory guy

for a breathing treatment,

and right after that, two brethren from the

local ward to give us each a blessing.

They were very encouraging blessings

and I'm feeling pretty good about it all.

It's going to be a long haul.

But we can do it.

So, they just came in and turned him again.

PAINFUL.

I ordered him a ham sandwich to eat

for dinner. (hard to eat laying flat...)

The breathing guy comes again at 8.

And the patient is sleeping again.

(They just gave him more meds...)

So...

that's the latest!

I'll try to keep everyone updated.

We have gotten LOTS of calls and texts

from friends and family.

We appreciate being in people's thoughts

and prayers.

Love you all!

ALL the Walls.....

 We all know Kyle is a BEAST.

But I wasn't really expecting him to

have ALL the walls done today!

Standing in the living room, looking at the 

master to the right,

closet (and bathroom behind it) in the middle,

guest bath and closet to the left.

And a peak of the prep room.....

He's really good at framing!

He said it was a TIGHT fit,

so ALL the walls are "load bearing".

Not intentionally, but that's good

for the roof!

So, tomorrow morning I'll run out there

and we will decide where we want

outlets and lights so they can figure

out wiring (how much to buy...).

They are still working on the roof.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 72 degrees!

So they will be up there.

I have to run into Hays in the afternoon.

We are setting up for the Ward Christmas

Party on Saturday.

Need to get all the tables set up and decorations

and whatnot.

Anyhow.

I'M SOOOOOO excited!

It's coming together!

This part goes quickly, and then it

slows way down again.

You gotta do all the "behind the scenes"

stuff, like putting in the wiring.

And then the insulation.

And then the drywall.

But before all that we need to get our

electrician to come out and run the

power from the pole to the breaker box.

And then I think we will buy a pellet stove

and put it in (temporarily) and make sure

it will actually heat the house.

(Well, we will have to put in the tile under

and behind it, but we aren't going to wait until

the house is all done to put it in.)

1. We want to make sure it will heat the house.

(The one we picked out heats DOUBLE our

square footage, so I'm pretty confident.)

2. We want to USE it! (grin)

Anyhow.

That's the current update!

WEEEEEEEEE!!

Window Clings

 At $0.47 each, I'm a little

tiny bit obsessed.

Good thing they only

have 4 to choose from...

Grin.

I slipped over to Gibsons Pharmacy

this morning and grabbed

one more.

It's hard to see in the camera

because there's stuff in the yard

behind it,

but it says "Snowman COLD"

and there's a gingerbread house,

a gingerbread man, a train

and some random ornaments.

Then I pulled the Merry Christmas,

Happy Holidays and Santa in his sleigh

off the front door cuz you can't see

it behind the big door.

I hung a cute little ornament on the door instead.

This is our backdoor.

And, of course, I have our snowmen on

the window above the sink.

Our kitchen is SO FESTIVE!

I'll probably leave the snowmen and

gingerbread guy up for the winter

since it brings some fun color into the house.

It's fun!

And they were so inexpensive!

If I had windows in the new house,

I would probably put them up there too.... lol.

Building Update

 I taught over the weekend.

So today was the first day I got to

head back out to the farm.

I have a hard time getting into the

house because we are using a little

step-stool thing and it's not really

tall enough to get in the door.

This is an old picture, but that's the

little stubby stool we are using.

Anyhow.

I'm not as flexible or agile as I used to be.

So today, I went out to walk around inside

and check out how Kyle has it all laid out

and make "final" decisions.

(We moved the washer/dryer out of the

bathroom and into the office closet...)

And then, after he watched me struggle

to get in and out using that silly step stool thing.....

We made some STEPS!

(Should have done THAT a few weeks ago!)

They are just temporary,

but they work and are a HUGE improvement!

And then Kyle got busy and started

on Wall #1.

(And Kyle brought the little step stool inside...)

It worked GREAT for getting him up

where he needed to be to plumb the wall.

This is the "pantry wall" in the new prep room.

The wall between the prep and the

mud room.

It was SOOOO exciting!!!!!

I had to leave at 3 to get ready to teach.

And, of course, he kept on working.

Houston, we have a prep room!!!!

I can't tell you how exciting this is!

The wall you are looking at will have

a counter inside the room with open

shelving under it, to store all my

various pressure canners, pressure

cookers, steam canners, etc etc etc.

Then on the side closest to us, it will

be kitchen. That wall has the fridge,

(right next to the door into the prep room)

counter, and stove.

Tomorrow is Hays Day, so I'm not sure any

building will happen, but I imagine by

the end of the week we will have lots more walls.

(There really aren't very many...)

In case you haven't seen it lately.

Top left is the prep room....

Ok.

Just finished teaching.

Need to go take care of Rod and Beau.

And get some sleep.....

NITE!

Saturday Schizophrenia

I don't know.

Google says that's how you spell that.

But it still doesn't look right.

Anyhow.

That's Kansas for ya!

This morning, when we woke up,

it was SNOWING.

Ok, not SNOWING, but there was

snow falling (lightly) on the ground.

And it was, like 25.

This is my weather app at 3:55.

(I'm teaching class, so missed out on

this FABULOUS weather!)

Tomorrow's high?

36.

Yeah, whatever.

The weather should be lovely next week though.

53, 62, 52, 50, then plummets again.

But that's enough days to get LOTS done.

Can you believe it?

We have green skin.

And holes for the windows.

And plywood on the roof!!!!

(And a man!)

He said he would have ALL the plywood

on before the day was over today.

He got a late start, because some friends

from church came by to buy the other

new freezer from us.

AND drop off a new dog.

Yeah, I know.

It's a Great Pyrenees.

They are BIG dogs that kind of look 

like polar bears.

This is a stock photo from the internet,

but I wouldn't be surprised if he looks like this...

They are bred as livestock guardian dogs.

His name is Winston and he is living

IN the pig yard with the pigs.

He will be their guardian in case anything

(besides us) decides they want to eat them.

He had to come live at our farm,

because the owners farm only has

barbed wire fences.

Which are GREAT for livestock.

But dogs just go "what fence?"

Hahahahaha.

And these dogs are meant to wander

and BARK. Notifying all predators far

and near to steer clear because the BIG DOG

is on guard over here.

Which is fine, unless you live just on the

edge of town, so he wanders INTO town on

a FAR TOO regular basis.

The police bring him home often.

And this week a neighbor threatened to shoot him.

So......

he's living at our place until

a) they fix their fence situation

b) they give up and he's our's.

But for now, they still own him and

they are providing his food.

(He's a big boy with a big appetite...)

I have no pictures yet.

I'm teaching.

And the guys are working on the house.

Kyle's legs while working on the roof.

Rod cleaning up the mess from the snow

and mud and .... well everything.

Standing in our bedroom, looking down

through the bathroom and office

to the mudroom door.

(Prep room on the left...)

Looking from the mudroom door

down to the big sliding glass doors in

the living room. (Kyle covered the hole with

wood because that was a LOT of wind coming in...)

Office, bathrooms, bedroom on the left.

Prep room, kitchen, living room on the right.

It's not as big as it looks.

But camera phones are what we have to work with.

Anyhow!

I'm off to bring the girl dogs into the garage

and feed them.

Beau has been sleeping on his little bed

next to me most of the day.

He is "walking" more. Still pretty loose

in the backend, but he's trying.

He only has enough tramadol to take him

through tomorrow and then we will

need to get him a refill.

I expect this will be a long process...

I'm going to see if our local vet can do more

chiropractic stuff and also renew his pills.

If not, it will be another trip to Hays.

But for now?

8 hours of insurance is 6 hours too many.

I'm going to get OUT of this chair (ugh)

and go do something else for awhile.

NITE ALL!

Happy Weekend!

It's Beginning To Feel a LITTLE Like Christmas.....

 Yesterday Rod and I drove downtown.

Yes, it's like 4 blocks away.

Hahahahaha.

First we went to Gibson's Pharmacy.

They had a great little sale going on.

I got 2 sets of window clings.

They were on sale.

$0.47 each.

I put the Santa ones on the front door.

I might put the snowflake ones

on my kitchen window!

Cuter than looking at the neighbor's garage...

We also got a box of Christmas cards.

I know.

I buy a box every year.

And toss them every spring.

But this year, I'm retired.

I'm inside.

I already own stamps.

So....... don't hold your breath, but

you MAY get a card.

There were 40 in the box for $10.99.

And we paid $5.50.

So that was a good deal.

I also got a snowman and star cookie cutter

for $0.99.

I probably won't make them into cookies,

but they might be fun to hang on the tree...

Oh, and they gave me a 2026 calendar

with Norman Rockwell pictures.

I'll probably hang that one in the kitchen.

Then we walked to NexTech, our internet

providers to see why we hadn't gotten a bill

yet for the new property.

Turns out there was a promotion we qualified

for, so we don't get our first bill until

FEBRUARY 2026!

YEA for free stuff!

And then to the post office to mail a small

gift to Scott & Janis, and Tim & Angie.

And then to the grocery store to pick up

some fresh jalapeno poppers and some

soda. I had a headache that just would NOT

go away... so had to resort to caffeine.

It finally got better.

And then after I taught, and headed to the

kitchen to make dinner, I got an

ocular migraine.

Oh yeah, I guess I should be drinking more

than 1 cup of dandelion tea in the morning

and a cup of soda in the evening.

Dehydration is a THING folks!!!

All those places are in one block.

There were lots of people out, and

Christmas music being piped from 

City Hall across the street.

It was very festive!

Luna enjoying her frozen water.

She carried it around the yard for awhile.

She's a little goofy.

Beau's slightly wonky tailbone.

Just tipped to the left a bit.

He's on Tramadol today.

Finally slept for a minute on Rod's lap.

Was up all night, panting REALLY loudly.

Rod said he finally fell asleep and was

snoozing when he got up this morning.

And now, after his morning pills,

he is resting on his little, flat bed.

Today I have the rest of the bags of frozen

onions sitting on the kitchen counter to thaw.

Once they are ready, I'll put them in pint jars

and put them in the pressure cooker.

I opened a jar last night and tossed them in

with the chili I made for dinner.

(I didn't eat any though, by the time it was

ready, I didn't feel well... migraines mess

with my stomach.)

But they SMELLED amazing!

So, into the pressure canner they go!

I also brought in some of the spaghetti

squash I processed and froze.

We are having a pork roast I'll pressure

cook later today, with the spag squash,

and the jalapeno poppers.

(We'll eat the chili for lunch...)

And, of course, I have our weekly 

Relief Society Presidency meeting today at 1.

And then a meeting with my Activity Chair

after that to let her know any feedback I got.

(And update her on Beau...)

So that's the plan for today.

HOPE YOU ARE FEELING BETTER MOM!!!!!

(Just had a nice visit with Soni on the phone,

so now I'm also adding another biscuit experiment

sometime during the day as well... she's an expert.)

I CAN DO THIS.

(Since I now have 18 packages of ground pork in

my freezer, gotta master the sausage gravy

and biscuits thing, even if I'm not technically

a "southerner" anymore...)

More Vets (UPDATED)

 I thought Beau was getting better....

He did that weird chicken leg thing

where he puts his legs out behind him.

But that seems to have tweeked something.

Because he's back to weak in the hind end,

trembling and panting. (pain indicators)

Our local vet is at HIS dr today in

Garden City, so we have an appointment

this afternoon at 3:30 in Hays at a vet

that was 2nd recommendation from a friend

who works for the (obviously) first recommendation.

But they couldn't get him in today.

Unfortunately, I have to teach tonight,

so Rod will take him over.

Kyle is grading the dirt around the house.

It's finally dry enough that it's not muddy,

but not SO dry that it's concrete.

So that's his plan for today.

Rod and I (mostly Rod) just put some

Christmas lights on our front porch.

I might put more onions in the

pressure canner.

Guess I should open a can first and

make sure they are good.....

It's chilly out there again today.

It was lovely yesterday and will be again

tomorrow, but today is a chilly one.

(High is 39... I think its 38 now...)

BUT!

We got the FRIDGE FIXED yesterday!!!

I was SOOO happy to have a fridge again!

I guess I should go out and get the

stuff from the garage fridge and move

it back in its rightful spot.

And then I'll make some lunch

(with canned onions in it... whatever "it" is...)

and then we will move forward from there.

I had a quick zoom meeting with my

Activity Chair.

She wasn't getting any response from her

committee members and was really concerned

about the ward Christmas party.

Which is valid, since it's NEXT SATURDAY!

I think we got it all ironed out and she

feels much better about everything.

It doesn't need to be elaborate.

Or fancy.

It's a party.

With food.

The previous RS Pres bought 4 hams last year

right after Easter when they were VERY cheap.

So we are serving ham, funeral potatoes,

vegetables, salad, and rolls.

We will put a basket of rolls and some butter

on each table so people can nibble while

they wait for dinner to start.

We just bought all new black tablecloths.

They will be pretty (anything you put on them

will really pop...) and won't age as quickly.

We are buying small poinsettias to put

on the tables and around the room.

The Primary is putting on a "play".

Kind of a nativity, but put on in 1830's?

Who knows.

Anyhow.

And then Rod will be Santa and meet

with the children for photos and a treat

out in the foyer.

That gives the kids something to occupy

them, and also takes them OUT of the gym

so those who aren't big fans of little kids 

running around can visit and enjoy the desert.

Anyhow.

Neither of us went last year, so we don't really

know how it is "usually" done.

But this is how its done this year.

Hahahaha.

Ok,

off to move cold food.

***********************************

UPDATE!

Based on the x-rays, looks like his

tailbone got pushed to the side a little,

which is causing the pain.

So the vet gave us some pain pills

as well as more anti-inflammatory.

The same one, but a smaller dose to be

given twice a day instead of just once.

But the kicker is he has to have food in his tummy.

And he doesn't want to eat.

He's a TERRIBLE eater at the best of times.

He ate dinner last night, but has refused

everything except crappy sliced american cheese

today.

So.... he got THREE slices of cheese.

Two had pills hiding in them.

And then he was done.

He won't even eat cheese anymore.

That was an hour ago.

He's still panting heavily.

Hopefully it will kick in and he will feel

better and maybe take a nap.....

Poor baby.