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I really want to visit with the neighbors. I still haven't asked them to remove the critters. But, not knowing their religious beliefs, and having some of my own, a business visit would be rude, same with Monday, it being a holiday. Tuesday I will have to visit though, in the early afternoon. I will be asking about more than just the equine and llama. It seems that they raise chickens. I am hoping to find out more, just ask general interest questions. This week too, I hope to finally get the coop roof up. I have found a couple of sites with ideas on building feeders, a watering system, and how to predator "proof" a run. But talking to real people right in the area seems a good idea as well.
The weight vest, by the way, is a great thing. It definitely helped tame the wild side. And while I still couldn't sleep, I was much more reasoned... or something along those lines. Wearing it for about six hours just mellowed me. I am sure I was still running on high but the calorie burn took up the slack. Now, perhaps, I have a bit of a break when my accelerator gets stuck. None of this would have been possible without the heart medication, though too, I now see. What a weird web of events that has lead me to discover first a real possible cure for being crippled, then a cure for "energy swings" (because they aren't really mood swings), all in... a relatively short period of time. The heart medicine also opened up my mind, it has allowed me to think through problems. We will see, in time, what this all means.
I will have to work on my medicinal regimen however. For the first days of the new group of medicines, I gained 0, then 3.6 pounds, then 0, and now an additional 7 pounds today. I called the number they gave me but no one answered. I left my name, id info, a message, and my number. No response. I will call again. If I merely get a message I will indicate that I am adding 20mg of lasix (furosamide) back to my regimen. They both stopped 32.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide AND dropped my lasix from 60 to 40 mg. I think they overdid it. I have been trying to drink less, as well. But I am not voiding as often, and I am puffing up a bit. So it goes.
I really am becoming excited about the notion of chickens this fall. If I do that, and it is successful, I might be reading more about goats this winter. My neighbors raises those too, so it might be interesting to get a little review of how they have things set up, what is involved, do the chores occasionally, and maybe learning how to milk if they do that. Getting my hands dirty before making a possible mistake. Chickens I am almost certain I can handle. Goats?
Later or maybe "good night".
Goats are near a half order of magnitude more of a handful than chickens.
ReplyDeleteI'm not you, but if I were you, I'd wait on the goats a year or so to see how things go in the bigger picture, including your health. If the world starts falling apart, perhaps a trade of something of value for a couple of weaned kids could jump start your herd. Or trade of other things of value, including pasture space, for milk. Leave the twice a day, come rain or shine or vacation or illness milking chore to someone else.
I'd actually raise a piglet or calf to butcher weight before I'd take on milk goats. They're easier and have a finite season of work, even considering the huge task that is butchering day. That's what skilled neighbors are for--trade a percentage of the meat for help and training that day.
Speaking of neighbors, I hope you have better results with yours. One of mine turned hostile over my request that they not blast their music at my house.
Goats are once a day milking, but even so. Yes, I was thinking two years, but I would like to begin reading and getting hands on to figure out chores and time and such. I haven't looked at a feeder calf yet. A goat could easily produce a smaller meat feeder though too (and they would need a kid to produce milk anyway). I wouldn't do a piglet for a number of reasons though. And trading is definitely a notion. I'm trying to get into that a bit as is.
ReplyDeleteOh, I have considered the neighbors not liking me asking kids to stay out. Where neighbors handle one thing, they don't handle other things. And kids can be a touchy subject. Even if they are nice about it, they might well be 'hating' on the inside, or seething. Then again, I think they only come over because of the horses and llama. Besides, I am going to let them use the area in the winter, if they have the critters out by mid-May, June at the latest come snow, rain, or shine. A little sugar with a little vinegar should cover the thing. If not, they just don't have winter grounds.