COMING SOON! New Year, New Room!

So much progress in so little time - Mr. Wonderful continually amazes me!  This photo was taken about 2 weeks ago, and the pictures below are the progress he has made to the walls and ceiling for Mom's new room....

The drywall dust really coats the insides of ones' nostrils - and the camera lens as well!

My contribution, besides being 'clean up crew', has been to stain and clear-coat the boards for the ceiling and trim.  I "helped" install them - and now the ceiling is completed and the walls are dusty and need to be vacuumed.  Again, my contribution as clean up crew....!

Wishing you and yours a very Blessed New Year!

Signed, the ChickenWrangler

Blizzard in Michigan brings PoSsiBiLitY of 3 Inches Snowfall...

Christmas is fast approaching.  We are so very blessed this year to have Mom healthy and here under our roof.  The new bedroom is coming along nicely...I have most of the ceiling boards stained and clear coated.  Mr. Wonderful is working on insulating the ceiling and installing the plugs and sockets.  Many areas of the state are closing schools as they expect at least 6 inches of snowfall or better with the predicted Michigan "blizzard" predicted. We are thankful that God has paved the way for our being able to get the addition enclosed and covered before any real rough weather draws near.  Our area will only be receiving about 3 inches of snow, and temps around 35.  It is nice to fire up the wood stove in the basement with the wood that God provided - it showed up unexpectedly about 2 days after I lost my job!  We probably have enough to last the winter, which is wonderful.  Jesus is truly Our Savior, from the BEGINNING, and still to this very day.

Everyone is cozy and warm - including "Peaches" - note her cozy and color-coordinated flannel cage cover!  She has gotten friendlier, and is finally eating a few bread crusts, greens scraps, and a bite or two of grapes.  She loves her "out of cage" time, riding around on my shoulder and seeing what is what!  When she wants to be scratched, she has me trained which area to scratch by rotating and turning 'the other cheek', chest, or back to my finger.  What a smart bird - or maybe I am a smart HUMAN!!! 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday, a Blessed Christmas, and remember, as we do, that Jesus is the Reason for the Season...
Signed,
the ChickenWrangler

Hot Roast Sunday

These past couple of days, Mr. Wonderful has been warming things up a bit by adding insulation below the floors and in the walls of the addition.  Dust masks are a MUST - small fiberglass particles are irritating to not only skin but nasal passages as well.

Next, hanging drywall!!!  Still need 2 more sheets for the bedroom yet....

...but it is coming along.  Perhaps Monday night.  Right now, its time to take a break for Sunday Roast - cooked in the crock pot for 7 hours, and it's "fall-apart TeNdEr"!
Click photos to enlarge....

I served this with Yukon Gold potatos browned in olive oil with herbs and spices- and a fresh salad made with several different veggies which was prepared by Mom.  We even had a small dab of gravy for each of us - not the gravy made of flour.  It was made of the broth that the meat was cooked in after I pureed the onions that were cooked with the meat.  That made it thick enough to pour over the meat or potatoes for a satisfying flavor suitable for that hard working man of mine!  He lost 3 pounds this week.  I maintained, and I can't complain about that.  The food on our new eating plan is amazing, and we have each lost very well during the first 4 days of the diet.  We are always amazed when we can't finish a meal, and then there are 2 snacks each day.  Being diabetic, I squeeze in one before bedtime to hold me over till morning, since my blood sugar goes down so very low.  I have to check it often. 
   We had time today to drive to Lowes to check out lighting fixtures and we think we know what we would like.  Its just---- will the have then back in stock soon?  They were sold out. We will keep checkingand there might always be something better.
  My roast was wonderful tasting, and I have more left for lunches or soups - I like cooking in big batches.  That way you can enjoy it again and again!  YUM!
the ChickenWrangler

Śnieg Pada

The title of today's post?  It is Polish for "Snow Falls."  And, look at the view - out our kitchen window...

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...AND - out of one of my mom's bedroom windows....!  As always, click the photos to enlarge...

These photos were taken a few days ago, but I want you to see all of the updates; one of then is the bedroom door.  You saw, on the last post, that the windows had been removed.  Here is the door being put in place, and the drywall that went over the remaining openings where the windows WERE....

Please pardon the mess - we are in the construction zone..... and below, you will see the common wall - what will be between Mom's room and the new living room:

Mom was pleased with her new door when I opened it and showed her.

And now, it is time for a little snack break - Join us for a Sweet Potato Cupcake, anyone??

PLEASE?!?!?

Signed,
the ChickenWrangler

December - a Month to Remember

 My sister brought over my niece's new baby for Mom to meet for the very first time last week!  Here are a few photos:

Mom and the "Sweet" Baby

Marilyn, Mom, and Baby "Sweet"

Baby "Sweet" is beginning to be OWLY in her Owl Pj's!

It was a fun visit for us all!  Nathalie was so cute -and we have some picture perfect memories!

December 2012 : With the help of family, we were able to move the contents of Mom's apartment into a box truck and into our home and garage - all in a matter of about 3 hours or so.  Many Thanks  to you all!  Mr. Wonderful wasted no time in starting work on the addition, and as long as my eldest boy was in town, he was drafted in to assist with removing the large window behind the couch....good thing, because my back is not up to that kind of lifting!  Click on photos to enlarge....

Window is outa here!

Monkey shines....

Rich and Mr. Wonderful - too pooped to pop!

Rich brought along my grandson, Nate the Great - he was good as gold during the entire visit - and helped me with the daily egg collections and chicken feeding chores too.  Below, he is seen with "Peaches" - a new addition to our family.  Mr. Wonderful crashes on the couch behind them!  Click to enlarge photos.

Mr. Wonderful and BOTH DOGS are exhausted....

This week, hubbs have been working on the rough in for electrical, and he hopes to have a new door in place where just the hole in the wall is visible at this time.  We are making progress!  Every night Mr. Wonderful is out there working till 10pm to create mom's very own new bedroom.  Not sure when this will be completed, but - still a work in progress, and God has been blessing it, as we see how everything has come together just at the right times.  More later...

Signed -
the ChickenWrangler

Thankful AFTER Thanksgiving

Hubby and a few friends worked over the Thanksgiving weekend, and much progress has been made.  A new mast for electrical needed to be installed, and that is now taken care of.  Roofing needed to be completed before the harsh weather begins.  Prayers were answered when we asked for snows and high winds to cease.  Click on the photos to enlarge them!

Sunday evening the windows were installed, and now - electrical rough-in can be started. Halleluiah!

Signed:
the ChickenWrangler

Much To Do About EVERYTHING!

On my last posting, I had been recuperating from Kidney Stone Removal - worried about remembering my job responsibilities because I had been off work for a couple of weeks.  Everything went smoothly with no problems, but then on Oct. 10th, I was given information that my part time job would be cut, due to economizing within the company.  It was a landmark day because on that date two years prior, I was hired into that part time position after 2 years of job hunting - and my unemployment extensions had just ended.  I believe God has a plan and there are no coincidences.  And so, I did my duty, applied for unemployment once again, and started applying for jobs, not knowing where this path might take me.

Long story short: Mom's medical condition took a change three weeks ago, and we asked her to move in with us last weekend.  She agreed, wholeheartedly, and now the hubbs is building on an addition so she can have a new bedroom on the main floor with access to everything necessary!  He created his own plans and has been steadily working this week on it.  See photos below:

Kicking out the Deck Railings

 

And, the newest photos show Mom checking out the area of her new "Digs"!

She is excited about her room with a view, as are we - and we are so blessed to be able to share our lives with her.  I still think about the happenstance of loosing my employment, but when God closes a door, He opens a WINDOW!

Signed:
the ChickenWrangler

More Chicken Collection, and Surgery Outcome

Displaying more of my Chicken Collection - didn't realize how many Chicken and Chicken related items I do have...

See the Crank-up Chicken toy?  It makes a cluck cluck noise when the handle is turned.   The felt Egg Cozy Roosters are vintage, and they are sitting on egg holders with little "Ducky" Slippers!

Here's a lovely Chicken Pitcher, a gift from my sister-in-law a couple years ago, and I created the flower arrangement to fill it.  She's such a kind woman - always looking out for everyone.  When I had surgery(s) she sent me a Get Well Card - chicken themed, of course!

 

Yes, I did say "surgeries".  If you recall, not long ago I posted about having to have a kidney stone removed.  Simple procedure, sounded like.  Well, not so simple.  The stone had to be blasted out as it was too large to remove otherwise and was blocking some very important functions...

Sparing you much of the details, things did not go well once I was 2 days into my recovery period and so....the following week I had to have a second surgery.  Unfortunately it was not a 'buy one get one free' - but I think it should have been! 

Thankfully, the second time around, recovery went much smoother with a plethora of pain killers to choose from - and I am cleared to go back to work this next Monday.  Today is my first day without any medication - and so far, I'm doing great...

Staffordshire King Charles Spaniel - what is HE doing here?!?  Chicken Guardian, of course!

With the weekend to get my house and life back in order, I'm thinking positive and hope everything goes well during the upcoming work week.  It might feel like MONDAY all week - trying to get my wits back and remember all of the things I need to do after 2.5 weeks away from my job - I will have "vacation brains" for sure!
Wish me luck -
Signed:
the ChickenWrangler