Trapper Jane

Our dear Trapper Jane had a rough night last night.  Even though we thought we were losing her in January of 2012 it is still so hard when it seems we are losing her again.  I love how much borrowed time we have had with her but when I think it's ending it is just awful.  Last night she either hurt her back again or had a stroke.  I am still not sure.  She wouldn't let us touch her for most of the night.  I finally got a muzzle to give her some medicine and we moved her to her bed.  This morning she was all tail wags and walking carefully.  We will see when her next hard day comes our way.

Simple? Or too busy life

This week I am back to full-time as a veterinarian.  I fear this will complicate my goal of a simple life for our family.  I have been making strides both inside our home and outside of it to simplify.  All our cleaners are now homemade or natural.  The garden is becoming more organic and more heirloom crops.  I find myself brainstorming on new foods for us to grow next spring.

Mary Janes Farm has been a big help through it all.  I just applied for my 42nd badge.  I love working on the badges as they teach me new things that I haven't thought of before.  The farmgirls on the forum are a big help too.  They offer up such great advice.

Hopefully I can continue on my quest to simplify our life while working a little more.

Furloughed isn't all that fun

Blogging and indoor activities took a back seat to fun this summer.  Gardening, camping, exploring, showing the girls are beautiful world were all more important.  Now going into week three of government shutdown I find myself becoming more domestic indoors.  Since we know my dear husband will get paid someday it isn't all that concerning but paying bills is a little less enjoyable.

When I first heard of the shutdown I started thinking what this would mean to our family.  What I have found is it means trying to spend a little less everywhere.  The grocery store has not seen me as often.  My once a week trip there has become every two weeks.  The luxury of buying bread seemed like a luxury so I am back to baking.  Milk and cheese definite musts but enjoying the fresh home canned food is too.  What started out as teasing my husband that I made more money the him now has gotten a little less funny for me.  Borrowing from the savings account to pay bills did that.

Overalls guess I am glad the shutdown is going on because it has helped me plunge back into saving with vigor rather than the easy going saving I was doing.  Mary Janes Farm is seeing a lot more of me this week.  I love my household cleaners I started last year but it looks like a floor cleaner may just get added to the mix and maybe a hand soap too.