Just one of those days.

I am exhausted. So much so that I am unsure if it is a good, satisfying exhaustion or not. My muscles ach, deep to the bones, my head throbs to the rhythm of my pulsating heart, my stomach too tired to grumble over a missed meal. 

My morning consist of waking the boys for school; they have to make up a month of missed school days due to snow. Getting them up to the bus on time, 

then coming back down to work in the garden. The rocks are rather thick. This land use to be a road until the 1970's, I think that is some of the rocks I am finding. Sitting, as I still have not graduated to crawling as of yet. My knee is better, however the sensation of pressure makes my stomach churn, it is a least not tired enough to cause me queasiness.  For two hours, I slowly churn the soil into rows, removing as much roots, weeds and rocks as I am allowed. Thankfully the neighbor had broken the ground of the second half of my garden, it makes working it much easier. If, and that is an if, I finish clearing a row, I plant seeds, and move on. Small Farm Girl gave me two red bell pepper plants yesterday. I am humbly grateful. 

Finally it's time to wake Husband. With him working 16 hour days, driving another 2 hours, 

he gets 6 full hours of sleep. I give him every minute of it, no matter how selfish I am feeling that day. With this new schedule, all the homestead work falls on my shoulders. In a way I am glad not to be milking cows at this point. But I am working on plans for a parlor, and soon that will be thrown into the mix. At this time the girls are allowed their freedoms, though they take too much liberty with them at times. 

Once Husabnd is awake and dressed, it's off to the shop. Business has picked up, and we are looking forward to our first open house this weekend.

Most days I watch Husband work, I pay bills, order parts, and answer the phone. There are times I have to cut in and pull a client away from Husband so that work can be accomplished. With more clients comes more busy work for me. Yet even on the slow days, I can arrive home tired. 

Returning home causes frantic hustling. The boys tend to neglect chores when left alone. As soon as I pull up, I bark orders. Fire needs to get going, dishes need to be sorted, tub filled with water after watering the garden with yesterday's water. 

As the fire heats the flywheel, and drinking water, warming to where I can begin cooking, laundry gets soaked in the tub. While dinner simmers, I start the wash process. It takes a good hour of scrubbing to get them clean, and I am fortunate that the warm weather makes rinsing the clothes fun for the youngest two boys. I find myself rushing between dinner and laundry. Folding, stirring, wringing, stirring, hanging, stirring, serving. Finally a break. We eat dinner, just the boys and I, and settle in to watch a movie before bed and waking to repeat that days events. 

What we doing today?

The same thing we do everyday Pinky. . .  

The reality of it.

I will agree that we were far from ready to deal with the worst winter in 20 years. The winter has taken it's toll on me. Emotionally I am rebounding, physically I am set back. No, not my knee. That gets stronger and I have seen more flexibility as time has worn on. There are days that someone brushing up against the skin makes me cringe, thousands of hot needles scratching the surface. Other days the muscle behind my knee is stiff and sore, making walking more difficult. I still can't run, but I can scurry with the best of them.

It's the weight loss that everyone is glad to see that is the problem. The truth is, I really don't eat. I am lucky to have a sandwich once a day. I could eat more, but I have three growing boys, they need the food more than I do. I, like so many moms out there, sacrifice a huge portion (if not all) of their meals to ensure the health and happiness of our families. I have gotten very good at hiding it from Husband. You are correct in the assumption that they don't know. It's not that they aren't paying attention, it's that they are use to me eating as I cook, or having a migraine that keeps me from eating. Though last night, Husband caught me not having any dinner, and basically forced me to have some of his. But he expends more energy than I, and he needs it. Yes, some days it makes me cranky, some days. I am more tired than I should be. But this is the reality of what I have to do. Take no pity, this is my choice.

Spring is encroaching on the holler however. The turkeys are returning and wild foods are starting to erupt. A garden is in the planning stages, and things will be back to normal soon.

The motorcycle shop has also seen an uptick of work. Apparently those we need to know; those that know everyone, and are liked by everybody, have been coming in. We make them happy, we get more business from their buddies. Husband has put applications in at a few other shops. They are very pleased to see him. Some even knew who he was. But they don't seem to believe that he is willing to take work for less than what the last shop paid him. He tries to point out that the shop that fired him paid him way less that the shop before and the shop after. But in their minds they see that large wage and I guess get uneasy. We just have to have faith in the shop.

I haven't had a job outside the home in 10 years. Makes finding something for me even harder. I work to keep the shop going, selling off many of the things we brought with us to stay above water. I will admit, we should have done things differently. But here we are, and I can only make the best of what I have.

The boys are growing like crazy! Small still loathes school; the teacher mainly. Both Medium and Large are on their second girlfriends now. And Husband had a birthday on Sunday. I had enough items to make some brownies for him. 

We trudge on. Waiting for that light that comes after the darkness fades. (Your care packages have been my sanity savers) We have our good days, and our bad. Most of the time we are happy (no matter the sacrifices) and in love. We remind each other the reason we came here. That the motorcycle wreck helped us reevaluate our lives. And that even though right now it seems we made a major mistake, that we have had it worse in our lives. And that we will make it the best. Sounds sappy I know, but hope is all I have right now.

1 year ago today

I think I have come a long way.

I guess it has been a bit since I talked about my knee. And some of you have been concerned, which I appreciate. I can now bend my knee 80 degrees (180 is straight) with only my leg muscles. I can pull it in more. And I am still stoked at sitting, (sighing at saying this, I am an adult you know) cris cross applesauce. Could we please come up with a better name? 

 I haven't worn my brace since I arrived. Once I am strong enough to start climbing the hills, I will need to wear it again. I am not 100% but have been informed that I am doing very good for being a year out. I have hit all my goals. And not really over doing it. Although I have my days were I have walked far too much. 

The nerves still fire back up on occasion. I know that I may never have full feeling again, but I was so thrilled that I could feel the itch of a mosquito bite the other day. Everyone looked at me funny as I rejoiced. Since I haven't felt anything there in a year, this was awesome. Yet when the nerves fire, it feels like a hot lighter pressed tightly against my skin. I could do well without that. (A big welcome to my new readers. If you click on the tag WRECK, you can read all about what happened)

I almost titled this post "the sexiness that is me"

You got lucky I decided to call it "Knee Update".

Giggling. Yes I have had enough coffee. However I did something this morning that I haven't been able to do it ten months.

This.

That has been my goal from the get go. To be able to sit in a. . . Um. . . Whatever the PC term for it is. 

Don't care how unattractive scarred and slightly atrophied legs are. My scar has faded a bit. The suture scars are bright white in direct sunlight. I have been thinking about a tattoo, not to hide it, but to enhance it. Husband's suggestion is at teddy bear with a knife at the bottom of the scar. Teddy bears aren't me. He chuckles thinking about it though. 

I have been walking without a cane for a few months now. And while at home I have been at it with no brace. Strength is coming back, so is flexibility. Not as fast as I would like. But coming along none the less. 

And no, I am not afraid of being on motorcycles. It was intimidating at first, and didn't enjoy it as much because I was over thinking it. But now, now I jones for it.  Some days I will be in town in my truck, motorcycles pulling up next to me, and I pine to be riding. I am back to me again. And it feels great!  Albeit a bit stiff in the mornings, and tender by bed time.

No one talk to the rabbit

As my long time readers have noticed, I did not participate in blogathon this year. Those of you that are new, every year I choose one charity to raise money for and will blog every 30 mins for 24 hours straight. It gets silly and we raise a good amount of money. 

This year with the motorcycle wreck and the move, I just didn't think I would be up for it. Now I think I could have, but my time line for soliciting businesses to donate raffle items was expired. 

If you are feeling charitable, my friend and fellow blogger, mmpaints, is still crowd funding for her commercial kitchen. The response has been wonderful, but she is still half way to her goal. You can read updates on her farm life over on self sustained living, and her business plan on this crowd funding site. 

We have decided to take the boys to a professional fireworks display this Thursday. Two of them have never seen it before, as we always just set off our own display here. We really don't care for all the crowds and traffic, but they should experience it at least once in their childhood. 

Husband has decided that we are moving to Kentucky in three weeks, address or no. So I have had to ramp up my packing and purging. So much to do still. 

I have been walking around the house without my brace. I am still weak when it comes to bending my knee and trying to kick my own rear. I am still stretching, not quite to reasonably normal, but getting closer. I can sort of walk up stairs like most people do. Just takes me a bit of time.

Since the ads on the left side of the screen have been up for the year, and I did not do a blogathon, they will be removed sometime today. Maybe my pictures will now fit into the white bits.

I was getting grief over hills in Kansas yesterday. So I will leave you with a picture of Mt. Sunflower in Western Kansas. 

Motorcycles and knee

(Anyone else singing "head shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes"?)

I think the feeling on the right side of my knee has started to return. It is one of the more unpleasant skin sensations I have ever had. And I have done some pretty messed up stuff to my flesh.  My flexibility is returning slowly, but it is muscle strength I seem to be struggling with a bit. The stationary bike helps. Doing lots of stretches, and being bored out of my mind. So much so I have been doing some odd for me things. Oh don't worry, posts are coming soon. More homemaking items.

I did fall twice this weekend. The flooding caused some ruts in our driveway to become deeper, and in the dark, they're not easy to see. However the pain was over with quickly, and the next day there wasn't any pain in my knee. First time in a while. Husband says I will have to "tear" and "break" over somethings to get my knee useful again. Some days I wish I had only broken my knee rather than suffer all this soft tissue damage as well. I would be closer to normal by now. At least I wouldn't still have to use a cane to get around. Sorry, woe is me. I still have my leg, so should be happy. Just it's so incredibly frustrating some days. 

I did take a ride on Husband's new to us motorcycle. I had to squat on the fender, as there isn't a seat on it, and our saddle doesn't fit it.  It was on Mother's Day. The bike was running, Husband was making some adjustments, and I strolled out to the garage and announced he was going to take me for a ride. I had resolved to just get it over with. Everyone including a mother kept telling me that I had to get on at least one more time. And this is part of our life, a constant part of our life. I can't be scared of what brings in the majority of our income. Husband however seemed a bit hesitant to take me out. Are you sure? He kept asking. I had to stay firm on it, at least in my mind. 

My knee tinged with a bit of pain as I first mounted the fender. There are some leg positions, even with a straight knee, that can cause discomfort. Straddling a motorcycle turns out to be one of them. But the pain was tolerable, not so much a bad pain, but a useful one. I have been getting better at deciphering the two. I digress, onto the bike I sat. My arms bear hugging Husband. Not the stance I am use to when riding, but no seat, no sissy bar, it's what I had to do. We slowly rolled out of the driveway. He said he would just take me around the block. The first turn made me cringe. I tried so hard not to tense up, but I did. However I didn't suffer a single anxiety attack! Just some overanalyzing   that causedme to tense and some ruts on the dirt roads that hurt my knee. I am thrilled to report that I didn't cry. I also didn't enjoy it as much as I use to. I think it was because I was thinking too much about it. The next time will be easier.

I also want to state for the record that I have the best readers! A huge shutout to the wonderful Moonwaves! She's a long time reader and friend. She braved the hairy bikers to get me some pictures in Essen, Germany this weekend. She is awesome! 

As of this moment all I know is that the guys didn't win first, but the rankings have yet to come out, so I don't know the placement. Husband says he isn't worried about the rankings. This was a debut, and there are orders for more. And that's what matters.  The majority of winning bikes were board racers (cafe racers), just like last year. This bike is no where near being that uncomfortable. 

They should be proud of themselves. They did a beautiful job! I won't go into details about all this, as it will bore most of you.

Be back soon with regular programming.

Saying Goodbye

It feels a bit odd to say good bye to things. Husband, Farmhand (guess he should be known as Buffalo now), and I went to the Cowtown Museum to see the Vaudeville act "Dr. Dillinger's Freaks and Floozies". We had a grand time. But it wasn't until the next morning that I realized that it was the last time I would ever be in Cowtown again.

I guess I just got use to it being there.

It has caused me to take pause, and look around. What will I miss about Kansas?
There are a number of things. The open plains being one of them. You can see for miles. You can witness a storm over a three hour drive, slowly moving, from your yard. No obstructions. The changes in colors. Golds and browns, and the swaying greens of the wheat. Giant sunflowers alerting you to the time of day. Kentucky has different colors because of the shear amount of trees in the area we will be. I assume that I can just take a ride to the flats if I get home sick for the openness.

Tornadoes. Well, more like the super cells that form them. I don't remember the storms in Kentucky. I was a child when my family reunions took place there.

I know I will get homesick. That's a given. However if we take a step back and take the moment to say goodbye to the things we truly love here, I hope it will be easier on us. Just the thought of a new adventure is exciting. But there are bound to be long nights.

The Neophyte Homestead will be missed the most. The orchard, the garden, the work that has been put into it all these years to make it functioning. My clients. We always knew that this was just a practice homestead. Still. . . It's been 12 years.

Starting over will fill most my time. But now we at least have a better inkling of what to do. All in all, no matter how much I will miss this place, it is time to say good bye, and keep our eyes to the future and all the excitement that comes with it.

On a totally different front. Husband came home with a motorcycle. We paid $8,000 less than what it is worth. One of his clients has had it sitting under a tarp for the last 5 years. Having only one vehicle has been trying to say the least. Husband figured out what was wrong with it, and for a few bucks had it running again. Now she is getting a face lift and some personalized improvements. She should be on the road this week. I was able to mount up without any anxiety. Now to see how I feel once it moves.

Now that causes me to switch subjects. The exercise bike is literally a pain in my rear. We picked one up for $20. Still in great shape. I thought I would be able to watch a movie while doing it, turns put that 15 mins is my pain threshold. It's all down to repetitiveness at this point. Rebuilding muscle and flexibility. Some day I will be able to throw 50 lbs feed bags again. It's almost embarrassing that I can barely lift them now. Ah well, it will get better.

For those still interested; motorcycle and knee update

The skin around my knee and my shin hurt most the time. The right side is numb, so the ache tends to be deeper, hollower in its feeling. The hypersensitivity on the other side has decreased some what, yet still a sharp, prickly sensation. On my left side of my knee is a incision scar from where they sewed in the suction tool. Under that is where the actual break happened, and where those two screws are. Several times a day I can't help but to tear up as it feels like someone is pressing a hot lighter deep into my flesh.

My flexibility is at 100 degrees. I can use a scarf to pull it in closer to myself. But the muscles in the thigh that do this job have atrophied. I can not pull it in further on my own. Husband is looking for a cheap stationary bicycle. Lacking that, he vows to build me one. I have to regain strength if I am to be anywhere close to normal again. I can make it upstairs without assistants, but not down.

I stopped having vertigo and panic attacks, huzzah!

This weekend I discovered why I have a gouge in the flesh of my left (good) leg. The foot peg at the bracket was broken off. The wound and the broken metal are a match. Husband also took the time to draw me a diagram of the intersection we went down in. I thought I was closer to the gutter than he says I was. Turns out I was closer to the middle of the intersection. Still feels surreal after 6 months.

Husband and Large bonded over tearing down the motorcycle. I don't know if I mentioned this, but our motorcycle, a 1983 Shovel, was show quality, 98% stock. I take a moment to sigh and not get overly emotional about an object here. I digress, you can see light through the underside of the transmission. The rear rim is not salvageable. The frame is broken and severely twisted. The casings fall apart. It's bad.

We have clients that are offering up parts, even a frame. Hopefully we can be up and riding in a few months, that is if I can throw this darn leg over to mount.

PTSD and the homestead

The first time I had ever heard of PTSD was during Desert Storm. I was ten years old. I had a brother, and his best friend whom I considered a brother, deployed overseas in the war. All these men on tv were talking about something that returning soldiers were suffering with, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

It wasn't until later in life when I started hearing the term used for the civilian population. Learning what is was in reference to soldiers at a tender age (back in those days, it was still an innocent age) caused me to struggle with it now being deemed a civilian problem. I understood people like Husband's cousin who was blown out of his boots suffering from it, but a motorcycle wreck? Seems a bit mundane to me. But after a very long conversation with my doctor, I now have a better understanding of the mixture of other symptoms that constitute the syndrome.

I have vertigo. It comes at some odd times, and not from heights. It is strongly associated with a fear of falling. The anxiety that proceeds the vertigo by mere seconds actually triggers the dizziness. I get it while ascending steps, or perching down onto a toilet seat. I am unwilling to venture outside, too far from the house because of it, and not alone at all.

I do relive the event. It is hard not to as I am reminded daily of what happened. But those moments don't come back to me when I am doing stretches or watching motorcycles. They come back to me because of certain smells. My eyes were closed when we first went down, my cheek pressed against Husband's leather clad back. The smell of an empty late night road, gas being pumped, cheap food slowly turning in an overheated restaurant, used motorcycle oil searing as it dripped on a pipe. And stale, hot city air twitchy with a cooler, breath saving zephyr. Or a movement, like Husband coming up behind me for a hug. He held my as we sat on that curb. At first I thought I was just mourning. That reliving it was part of the healing. Everyone else had already dealt with it during those three weeks in the hospital. I don't remember a month of my life (yes, including the things I wrote on here). Turns out it is more than that.

I don't have mood swings, what I do have is a sadness that won't abate. It does go from able to smile and giggle to tears streaming down my face, but the sadness lingers. This would be part of the depression. I was diagnosed with depression when I was in 5th grade. I have dealt with it over the years. Cows seemingly my miracle drug. But I can't go out with them now. I have already had to smack Winston (bull) away before he playfully pushed on me. I fear what would happen if they were able to get me to fall. But the depression seems thicker now. I can still get up in the mornings, if only to make sure my family gets to school or work on time. And I have been known to pass the plum out right after the last person leaves the house. I have been forcing myself to do things that made me happy before, at least those things that I am physically able to do; like baking.

I have also been dealing with avoidance issues. Part of that is tinged from the pointed finger nails of depression, feeling numb or emotionally withdrawn from things. I don't remember the entire incident, and I lack enthusiasm. I fake it rather well though. Sometimes you must put on a happy face.

There is part of the disorder called arousal. Because of the emotional numbness, I am not quick to anger, or hypersensitive, however I have a hard time sleeping. I know, I just said I pass out in the mornings. But at night, to lay there in bed staring off into the darkness does nothing to lull me to sleep.

But the worst of all my symptoms is the fuzzy thinking. It's scary at times. I get lost on roads I am familiar with. The other day Large and I were head to the store. I turned to him and said, I don't know where it is. Large told me to turn right, and we were in the parking lot of the store. I could see it, but it wasn't registering. Small gets angry with me. He says I am not listening. But I am! I just don't understand what he is saying to me. Top this with my migraine problem of word loss and I am quite incompetent.

I just got off the phone with Husband's cousin, the one I mentioned in the second paragraph. He wanted to reassure me that it is a more common diagnosis for civilians. He has a book to loan me written by his shrink. He is on some heavy meds for his PTSD. I myself am hoping to be able to deal with it more naturally.

The thing is I am not afraid of motorcycles. The boys and I were out the other day, the weather was perfect for riding. Motorcycles were out in full force and I found myself pining to be out. Physically I am incapable of mounting a bike right now. So I really have no idea what I will feel once I am able to get back on. My anxieties stem from falling, or so it seems.

I have to work on those anxieties. Once my physical prowess returns, I must take back over the chores I have done for so many years. And not just because others don't do them right. Ha! I fear falling so much right now that I will not allow myself to be alone with any of the livestock. I even keep my lovely Urth (cow) at a distance. And I know she is confused to why I no longer stop to scratch her, or use her as a pillow in the bright sunny field to read. She was like my puppy, and I have only petted her once in the last six months.


Even if I was physically capable of performing normal homestead tasks, mentally I am unstable.

Butchering with Wounded Knee

No worries, no butchering pics this round.

Being down for four months can really set you back. A quick update, I can bend my knee 95 degrees now. The things I did before, not including standing and walking, feel like I am physically doing them for the first time.

The bull calf wasn't that big. Yet it was Husband that had to swing the half over his shoulder. I have yet to even attempt a bag of feed. And it does make me feel bad, almost worthless at times. I am getting stronger, and doing more things as I feel comfortable with. Skinning the calf was troublesome as my squatting powers are a bit fatigued as of now. Today we broke down what usable beef there was. The temperatures got too warm to allow it to hang any longer.

The meat on his ribs were too bruised to be used. We did manage to salvage 14 lbs of hamburger. I woke this morning sore. It didn't take hours to deal with the meat, yet it feels like it had. I am a big whiner, aren't I? Don't answer that.

It is amazing though, well interesting, the changes you experience. Before, I was physically able to preform feats that are normally portrayed on tv by teen boys. Now. . . I had a impromptu race with an elderly woman, her and her walker beat me hands down! I will challenge her to a rematch soon.

As Weldrbrat said in comments, things will change for me. I am accepting that, but it doesn't stop from me pushing myself. I am stubbornly hardheaded. But back to baby bull.

We were unable to hang the meat for the full five days. Unfortunately that means that the meat was still a bit wet. It isn't too big of a problem, an annoyance and a bit messy, sloshy. Very slippery when trying to hold onto a strip of meat and cutting it from the bone. A few minutes in the freezer helps greatly when pushing it through the grinder. Plus with an electric grinder, it reduces the chances of "cooking" the meat. As the machines tend to warm up when in use. The meat will change to an awful grey color when heated up through an electric grinder. And will give it a microwaved cooked texture. I personally suggest avoiding that at all cost.

I weighed the meat out to two lbs bags, sucked the air out and sealed. Into the freezer with you! I have the liver, ground pork and pork fat thawed out and waiting for me today. Oh the things we can create. Wry grin.

I am envious

First, welcome to the new readers. Glad you found your way to my little world.

I don't get to start a garden this year. I keep reading your posts about seed starting and spouting, and all the wonderful things you are doing to get ready for spring. I should be putting potatoes in the ground. Technically on the ground as I adore the lazy bed method. I should have my cabbage type plants ready to go, tomato plants growing rapidly in my seedling box. But I am not, instead I am practicing crawling across my bed. Wow is that difficult! Hurts a bit as well.

I am planning a quickie garden in my head. One that can come together, with the help of Small Farm Girl showing me around my new area, with little effort on my part. I haven't even seen the soil yet, but my Kentucky friends keep telling me the soil is fantabulous! I hope so.

I have put a lot of faith in people and land that I have never seen. This is huge for us, and a bit worrisome at times. Husband heads that way in two weeks time. Our farm hand has decided to stay with us, and move as well. I think we will need his help.

Some days it feels like everything is falling into place, other days falling apart. However the drought is worsening here. The winter wheat is a failure, farmers are turning cattle out onto it, if anything had grown on the land at all. There is no way we can survive another year here. That is unless we give up farming and homesteading.

Husband was offered a job locally. The guy called us when he heard Husband was a free agent. He offered over double the wage that Husband was making before. He really wants us to stay in Kansas. Husband will be working for this shop for the spring only. Made that clear, and this guy was ok with it. Wow! No hissy fits like the other guy. How refreshing!

We have sold off so much of our stuff, reduced items that aren't really needed, and are going through 11 years worth of accumulated homestead equipment. Most of it we never really use. We should arrive in Kentucky with only our we will die without this stuff.

My seeds are sitting in a treasure chest, yearning to be free.

Ok ok, update on knee and moving

I read your comments. Sometimes I am nice enough to reply. . . Sometimes. It seems every one is asking about the knee and the move. Not a whole lot to actually say about it, but I will try.

Knee:

The break is fully fused and anchors seem to be holding. I can put full weight on the leg now. I got lucky, or maybe I am just too squirmy, but the atrophy was kept to a minimum. The muscles in my thigh and calf hold me up just fine. However the part of the thigh muscle that spreads apart around the knee area is still weak. I can get a bit wobbly. I also deal with unexpected bouts of vertigo in some very odd places. I don't think it has anything to do with heights. Ever since I woke in the hospital I have had nightmares about falling. It's the fall that scares me. It's the fall that hurts no matter from what height.

Sometimes it feels as though my lower leg tries to go a different direction than my upper leg. But that is just part of relearning how to use it all together. My knee has to break in the "new" cartilage as well. As I mentioned to you before, they could not save all my cartilage and just rearranged the largest piece. So I have to re-groove it, so to speak. It grinds. I can hear it as well as feel it.

I am now bending my knee to 90 degrees. It makes me want to vomit. But Husband is a cruel one, pushes me further. I can feel everything pulling, the ligaments pulling, through my upper thigh, into my groin and hip, to my foot. You know when you cut off a chicken foot and you freak your kids out by pulling on the tendon so the claws grasps? Yep, I feel like that chicken leg.

My ankle is still dealing with a severe sprain from the wreck. Husband says because of the lack of use, the sprain won't heal like normal. This has caused me to be a bit more cautious about walking, and my ankle is weak. Basically we are down to flexibility and range of motion. Besides my normal stretches and strength exercises, I have been doing a few ballet and belly dancing motions to help with stability.

The move:

Well we are still in Kansas Toto. But it looks like we have a buyer for the homestead. A police officer. Oh bad neighbors will love this! We still have to deal with the bank on a few things before selling.

We were hoping to be able to stay until the boys were out of school for Summer vacation, May. However I don't think it will be feasible. As soon as we have the rest of the down payment, which looks like it will be mid February, husband will head that way to sign paperwork, throw up some fences, a shed, and move in a mobile home (to live in while building a house). Upon his return, we will load up and head that way. I don't like switching schools with only a few months left, but we won't be able to handle two mortgages. Lets just hope winter is mild in Kentucky for just this year.

We traded our commercial air compressor for a stock trailer. Decent deal actually. We would have had to pay out a few hundred dollars more if we would have outright sold the compressor then bought a trailer.

We are taking most of the sheep and four cows with us. Murial, Yart, Xuxi, and Urth. We are not allowed to transport birds or sexually active bulls.

Not much else to tell you on this subject. We are packing and selling off things we can't take with us.

The Best of 2012 in pictures