Half way?

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That would be my guess.  The laundry is drying.  About half of the dishes have been dried and put out.  Some needed more washing, mostly because they have been in and out of soaking so often.  Still, it's a good start.  I have them reset, and hope to finish yet in what passes for my day.  I am trying to stay up for those, but more for morning chores... to try to get those done right after dawn shines... or what passes for shining... through.

Ducks out first thing.  Rabbits fed and watered, and their waterers reset right away.  I might even feed the girls a bit.  I got their litter last night, might do it again this morning.  I am trying to get just enough ahead that I don't keep being too far behind.  Dishes will help, laundry will help.  Not much more laundry, perhaps a load of woolens.  Maybe a load of synthetics.

Oh, as to kefir?  There is a pattern, if you like it "muddy" thick, with as many cultures of yeast and bacteria as possible.  I forgot a step or two, so will redo my suggestions.

First, have at least two tablespoons of culture, if I prefer a pint or even two.  Leave it on the counter until it gets rather thick.  I haven't been harvesting whey... the watery part that gathers at the bottom, so I won't go into that yet.  This is about what works, how to do it.  Assuming you want a thicker kefir.  Now, only fill the half gallon jar to about two thirds the way full.  It might take two days, it might take four days, to get to where you like it (the warmer the faster, though there seem to be odd variations I haven't accounted completely).

Once it gets to the consistency I like, I then fill most of the jar with a touch of fresh milk, then put it in the fridge for a day or two.  It has consumed the lactose in the milk by the time I am putting it up.  Without feeding it more, there will be fewer cultures when I go to drink it, making it really thin.  If that is your preference, either don't add milk... or even set out a fuller jar in the warmth.

As well, to keep the colonies of gunk going, keep the jar lids slightly loose.  Those things need air in and gasses out.  Though, if you prefer it thinner, like a watery milk, keep the lid tight.  But use it more quickly or you'll have nothing left.  When I drink it, I am drinking a veritable yeast and bacterial jungle.  Some chunks, even after stirring, are rather large.  More so if I don't stir it up.  I go back and forth on that.  Think of a probiotic milkshake, with or without bigger bits.

Well, it will be just a bit before the dishes are ready to be hit again.  But the pots and pans I need for soup, if that is still viable, will be ready.  If that is no longer good, I will thaw other meats, and go to the store again soon.  I have called around to almost every store I can imagine.  They just aren't selling trotters, tripe, or chicken feet.  They used to all carry it.  Something is very strange.  That is cheap food, usually.  Tongue got very expensive, for a while.  I had to quit that.  But the rest used to be cheap food, for the poor, for soups and stews.  It's gone.  Very very odd.

Anyway... I'll keep at it, until I can't.  Or until I finish.  I am getting so close, and need to be up a while longer to tend the critters rightly today.  A late call, once in a while, resets.  Too often and it can be hard on the animals.  Later.  Or good night.

Better.

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Three smaller loads of dishes are rinsing.  I'll give them about another half hour.  As well, a load of laundry has gone through.  I need to hit the freezer top, again, lightly.  It's being used as my general food prep area.  The counters were made for short people, and with the overhang of the cupboards... it just doesn't work for me.  After dishes, a shower.  And, maybe, a shave.

I am feeling a bit better.  Haven't been eating correctly.  It's either eat badly or not eat at all.  Meat and fruit pies, popped in the oven.  Way too many carbs.  And it shows on my blood sugar.  Which might be a large part of the problem?  Maybe.  So, I am going to have to sort that out, quickly.  I am not sure if kefir is part of the solution, or problem, but I suspect it is better than worse.  It is far better than straight, even raw, milk.  Will have to see, when I can get things more properly sorted.

I'll go to bed when I can.  A shower helps, in many ways.  Clearing and cleaning, dishes and spaces, helps too.  As does having fresh clean clothes.  It's a start.  Later, or good night.

Moving very slowly.

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Which, to a degree, is fine.  I can only do what I can do, when I can do it.  Ducks were fed late, put up early.  But there is food in there.  And, water for those which can fly.  Plus... they won't go into the coop unless they want to go in.  And they pretty much went in easily, were in actually.  The indian runners, oddly, were staying outside.  Usually it is the muscovys which choose to linger.  Who knows.

The rabbits were fed and watered later.  But I turned some lights on, so they can find what is out there.  It is the best I can do.  I have their food and water ready, for as early as possible tomorrow.  Sleep is coming in bits and pieces, so I can't guarantee when I can get to chores.  Further, waking up doesn't necessarily mean doing well.  It's very miss, only occasionally hit.

I am sorting out the kefir.  Since I like it thick, and with as many live cultures as possible...  I have had to try different things.  One, the lid has to be loose, even in the fridge.  It works well, as long as you consume it in a week.  With my rotation, one or two half gallon jugs in and three on the counter, it works well.  I easily eat the refrigerated in a week... usually one per day.  

Now, I don't get the full half gallon.  A tenth of the space is taken up by... interior growths on the jar.  As well, I don't drink it all the way down, consuming only three fourths (or less) of what I assume is available.  That leaves a quarter or a bit more as the starter for the next batch.  Rather than straining, and trying to sort out the cultures, I just let them go on going.  I suppose, as with tea jugs, I will clean one out every, or every other, week.  The stuff escapes the jar, spilling down the sides.  It's... a part of the program.  I may find a container into which I can place those, so that doesn't get elsewhere in the fridge... two actually, so as to be able to change and clean.  Ugh.

Now, I can keep the yeast and bacteria in absolutely full blossoming.  And, I may begin harvesting whey... for use in other fermentation projects... everything from carrots to sauerkraut to... who knows what else.  I am still wondering what other drinks can be made from this stuff.  If done correctly, even high carb juices, fruits, and veggies can be fermented to keto tolerances.  I think?  I will find out.

Finally, I have figure out how to keep all the cultures going, plus keep it thick.  The thin stuff isn't terrible, it just isn't... thick... yet drinkable.  It's like a thin soup compared to a stew which doesn't need crackers or bread to help fill the liquidy... nothing.  I really enjoy this stuff.

I'm not sure I will get to anything tonight.  But I am hoping to hit some dishes, a load of laundry, and a shower.  I did trim off my beard.  If you can't keep it trimmed, don't bother with a beard.  I... can't.  Besides, it's all white, below the mustache and under the lip whisker arrow.  Hmm... oh well.  Later.

Awful.

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I can't be sure when I got back to sleep.  Sometime between 04:00 and 08:00, and if I had to place a bet, it would be right at or slightly after 06:00.  I have been trying to wake since noon thirty.  It's just at 15:00 as I finish pulling out of the sheets and covers, treating the girls, and settling in with a kefir breakfast.  Everything is sort of sore, I am still very tired, sleepy, and exhausted... three different things.  Not sure why I am up?  I... wanted to be awake, and earlier, and pushed, I guess.

The first time I tried to wake, around noon thirty, I couldn't feel anything.  No pain, no aches, but too, nothing else.  I... thought I might be dead again.  Oddly, even knowing pain was coming, I still didn't want to be dead.  I have... things to do.  I have animals I care about.  There are even quite a number of people I like, even if it isn't always reciprocal.  So be it.  Though I will take what my Lord offers, when and as He offers it, in His time, at His will, not mine.  I guess it wasn't that time.

I treated the girls.  Sam just isn't eating treats anymore.  Well, not when I feed her.  She will come back, an hour or ten later... assuming Sassy hasn't gotten to them... and eat some of them.  I don't know what her deal is.  Sassy?  Gobble.  Gone.  I'll feed them when I can get up and going.  As with chores.  Late, but...  At least, since it is staying above freezing, or close enough while they drink, the waterers can stay out with them overnight and into whatever part of the day.

I tried to give the girls that drink a lot of water an extra bottle.  But they don't even touch it.  Even when they drink the other one dry.  Crazy birds.  I have tried putting the extra one on the side, and right beside the other one.  It just doesn't matter.  They will go thirsty rather than consume from the extra bottle.  I just... don't get animals, always.  They just make up rules as they go?

A shower, shortly.  Then chores, if I can get that far.

Oh, if you are cold, at night, while sleeping?  A cap does a world of good.  It isn't guaranteed, but usually it helps.  I don't wear it every night, just on nights, for whatever reason, I just can't seem to warm up.  Last night was one of those nights.  Now... I did get warm downstairs.  But every time I went upstairs to check, I could tell I would hit a chill.  So... the cap.  Cotton socks if you won't be sweating, wool if you will, can help as well.  Odd how you can sweat while freezing... I just have to check one... if it works I keep it.  If not, I put the other one.  Usually end up taking them off once I get comfortablized!  Though, not always.  And, on really cold nights?  Cotton under wool.  Sweat doesn't matter because the wool pulls it from the cotton.  Odd.

Good... afternoon and day.  I think I'll grab a handful of painkillers and see if that will help.  Be well.

Well?

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A few hours down is all I got, so far.  It felt cold though, too cold, while sleeping.  I couldn't get warm.  That wasn't all of it.  I will warm up, for a bit, just a bit, then try to go on back to bed.  A cup of kefir, a handful of something... walnuts maybe... then an attempt to go back to sleep.  I am more awake, but not at the time I want to be, nor all that much more awake.

I suppose I could reset waterers while at it.  I didn't do that yet.  Wait?  They are still out there, I  couldn't have reset them.  I could pull them in and reset them though.  They are probably frozen by now.

A treat for the girls, but Sam isn't eating them anymore.  Perhaps she just doesn't like this type?  Sometimes she goes through phases.  Or sometimes the treats aren't up to her specs?  Sassy eats them like there is no tomorrow.  I just don't know.  Hmm, I did give her a spot of milk earlier.  And she will take kefir, in small amounts.  Odd which of my girls will eat which of my foods.  Sassy will eat my odder cheeses, Sam will eat only what Sassy won't.  Sam will sometimes eat salami, Sassy won't but will eat bratwursts.  Actually, only Sam eats chicken.  Sassy won't touch it.  Very peculiar.

Well, on to some kefir, gaming, and warming up a bit.  Good... whatever the hell it is... night? midafternight?  Whatever.  Be well and know you'll be in my prayers.  Later or good... midafternight.

Time for bed.

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I'll put the ducks up.  But I will leave the water out.  I have an extra set, full size, and a smaller set, which are full, clean, and ready.  I switch each out every once in a while, while cleaning and drying the set that has been in use for a few days.  Anyway, the rabbits didn't have water until later, so I don't mind leaving it out with them.

Tired?  In an odd way.  I'm not sure I will be able to sleep, or for how long if so.  I won't worry.  To bed, and, hopefully, to work when I wake.

Sam visited a couple of times today.  I'm not sure why she isn't visiting at night.  I installed battery powered night lights, with motion activation and automatic shutoff, essentially, just for her.  I am wondering if those are the reasons she won't come up?  Sassy is coming up, now, however.  Yet, in the day, Sam will go up?  No, it isn't Sassy that keeps Sam from coming up.  Sam is queen of the run, it's her place.  Even if I get a dog, she will be taught who is boss.  Hell, even I... know my limits.  :p

Sam is dying, like me... but from age.  She has to be a bit over 20.  Some days she seems really bad, and I think she is about done.  Then, she pulls a me, comes back to health, and... as of late... looks and feels healthy, wealthy, bitchy, and wise.  She is back on top of her game, and running the show like a top.  Silly girl.  I do worry, sometimes.  She only goes out with me, these days.  But she will go out.

Well... it's about that time.  A decade of minutes before 21:00.  I'll put the ducks up and hit it.  Oh, best feed the girls their supper, and tend their litter.  Makes the mousers happy.  Then go on to bed.  I'd love a shower, don't have the mojo.  Good night, or... something.  It might just be a nap.  Later or good night. 

Finally.

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Everything is done.  Well, chores.  It had warmed, outside, but seems to have cooled a good deal.  I expect it to cool more.  I thought it would be even colder already.  So, at nights, I am covering the rabbits.  It's not a rough winter.  Actually, I would call it medium to light.  Even so, when it warms, then cools to even a moderate cold, it can catch me off guard.

I can't focus well.  All good, it isn't necessary today.  I am not tired enough to sleep, if I haven't quite fully waken either.  Bleh.  I hate the foolishness life can present.  Too tired to do much, not tired enough to sleep, and it's been a few days of it.  I keep looking at woodworking tool reviews, music is all the same... not offering anything new lately.  Well, and now I have tons of Roman vids.

A sip of kefir.  A portion of walnuts and hazel nuts a bit earlier.  More snacks than an actual meal.  I'd like to get stew going.  Tired.  I may game a bit, have another kefir?  Then prepare to either sleep in a bit, or get to work.  I'd much rather get dishes going, but who knows.  I am definitely wanting food.  Not... hungry... actually.  I just sense that I should have some food.  And I want food.  I just... don't feel a actual need for food.

Later.

I slept in late.

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Very late.  I tried to do so.  I am so tired of waking up and being exhausted all day.  I slept as long as I could, and then some.  And, if I become tired through the day, I'll go back to bed.  I'll do this for the next few days.  I have been pushing hard the last few weeks, successfully or not.  And I have done some good work, if I seem to be at a standstill.  Even so, my world is ready for when I can start.

Starting, however, will require that I not be absolutely exhausted.  Which means I need sleep, and lots of it.  Chores might be off, timing wise.  But that will just have to be.  I will get in for a blood test when I can.  It will happen when I am not so tired that my eyes are watering, and I can see far enough ahead that I think I can make it up and back without becoming sleeping.

I will do little jobs, small batches of dishes, a load of laundry a day, whatever else... but in very small, discreet, groupings... so I don't get overloaded with too much secondary work from those (like washing so many dishes it takes days to put the dried dishes away.  Or so much laundry I get lost in the project.  Not that there is that much laundry, but... dishes?  Hmm...  There are a lot to do.  A few loads at a time, no new washing until those are put up.  Yea.

I best get to chores... ugh... forgot to turn the furnace up.  I'll get that all going, then set a timer.  An half hour should be enough.  Then feed the girls, and get their litter sorted.  I've been staying up on that, if slowly and not on their preferred schedules.  All good, I do what I can, and they... live with it.  They know I am doing my best.  They can tell I am not it good shape.  Just as with dogs, their senses are extremely keen.  They know I'm in rough shape.  If you could train animals, while they couldn't offer treatments, they could tell what is wrong with us. They could diagnose.  

Then again, I don't think doctors are really interested.  Heck, they know.  They just... often... don't care.  If it doesn't make money, or quickly kill, they aren't interested?  Then again, they knew I had a bad heart, just wanted me to die.  So... it's... hard to say what they are all about.  They certainly aren't really into the hypocritic oath.  I know that for a fact.  Decades of knowing misdiagnosis of a major medical issue?  They will murder you if they don't like you, or something about you.

Yea.  The girls are swarming pops.  It's food time, I am told.  Best get to it.  Later.

Meal prayers.

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Usually, pretty much every time I remember, or when I remember, I pray before meals.  I had a cousin ask why I don't do it before snacks.  Which, actually, made me a bit angry... initially.  He suggested I should.  He doesn't pray before anything!  The problem is, he was correct.  Regardless of his intent, I now pray before snacks too.  Oh, I do forget.  It's the nature of illness, age, reality.

However, once in a while, I don't pray immediately.  It's like sneaking some of His food.  It is... petulant?  Or... something, but in that neighborhood.  The thing is?  I know, acknowledge in my sneaking, that it is His food... not mine, yours, ours.  So, in even that case, I am acknowledging some very important things.  Now, before long, after a bite or such, I do offer prayer.  Just... an odd thing.  A very rare thing, but it does happen.  Had to laugh, when I realized how little I was actually getting away with.

I am hoping to get to bed early tonight.  No guarantee.  I seem to glide right through this stage of insomnia.  There is hope.  I have to be awake until chores.  I'd like to do some dishes, make soup, take a shower, start laundry.  I'm just not sure anything will happen.  Work, or an early sleep... hopes, goals, such.  Later.  

Down at two.

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Better than the night before, still a bit late.  Waking at noon and change, if more moving slow so it already seems later.  Snow last night, rain this morning if the snow seems to be staying.  Warmer than freezing.  It is a strange winter.  Whoever is doing water management has a bit of a trick to perform... keep enough, but not so much that more snow or rain won't cause flooding.  It is almost a betting game you can't win.

A bit rough, of body, this morning.  Carryover from pushing.  That, and not quite being able to sleep enough.  It's almost like the eight hours I am sleeping is somehow considered too much?  Well, it may not be how much, but when.  My body had gotten used to sleeping nights.  Sleeping in the day, even with little sun, is a hard sleep.

Oh, a big, healthy, clean, tabby tom was hit out in front of my house a few days ago.  If you are missing your tom, I hate to tell you but he is gone.  He was one of my favorites.  He would visit the girls several times a week.  A big boy, solid.  They would paw at the window, saying "Go away!", and chase him from window to window, saying "Don't go THAT far away!".  Women!  I'll miss him.  He wasn't a mess.  Broke his back, he crawled off, under the tree near my driveway.  I'd give him, and the ducks, a proper burial, but the ground just doesn't seem to give enough... or didn't last I tried.

I have the furnace going, will get chores done shortly.  Everything is ready.  While I didn't get to dishes last night, I did get prepped for chores.  I am hoping to really hit dishes today, and maybe get a load of laundry through... when I can begin.  Milk is here already.  I am pretty much caught up on kefir, so this is perfect.  I don't think I'll be drinking as much kefir as I have been.  Maybe one big glass a day, then small samples of the stuff before meals.

One thing about kefir... when it has fully formed, out on a counter... then you cap it and put it in the fridge (warm kefir is just not my thing, doubt if many could choke that down), make sure you leave the cap open enough for it to breath.  Otherwise it goes from a semi-solid drink to milk or even watery milk.  As to worry about cross-contamination?  I'm not so worried.  While you keep the cap loose, the critters will keep a positive pressure loop, keeping things out.  Just a heads up.  I generally followed my own advice, but must have been in a hurry, and not thinking, recently.  It's still okay.  It just doesn't have as many good critters swimming around, and they aren't as big.

I think that is about it.  I'll try to get going soon.  A shower, dishes, soup, a taco salad lunch, a kefir breakfast, laundry, who knows what can be done.  So tired.  Gonna try to stay up all day, get to be earlier tonight.  Fighting the schedule is... problematic.  If it's easy, I suppose it isn't worth messing with?  Sometimes.  Good afternoon and day.

I have been taking note, of late.

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Oh, I do see.  I do understand.  Do you?

Isaiah 53:3-4

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (my preferred)

3 Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted.

Oh, I get it.  I do.

Tools? Toys?

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Both.  Although toys which can take an arm or leg, or do very bad things.

I can't sleep more.  I can't quite get to work.  So I am looking over tools.  A tool has become available for potential use, two actually.  I suppose three, if I pushed it.  Other tools are being considered.  Not by me, at the moment.  To be honest, I'm not terribly familiar with all these tools.  So... I went looking.  Power tools, with blades of one sort or another.

Only an hour down.

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I thought I might sleep all night, as rough as I felt going down.  An hour, give or take.  I just can't remember the minute, but the hour was 16:00 and it is the middle of 17:00 as I wake.  I struggled to stay abed to no avail.  I feel pretty rough at waking.  Upset stomach, a bit dizzy, everything is a bit off.  A lot off?  No, just a bit off.

I am still hoping to get a few batches of dishes started.  A shower and probably shave sometime tonight.  The last of chores, if not for a few hours.  No used chasing ducks in when they aren't ready to go in.  Perhaps a few other things.  I have found one of the boxes of kitchen trash bags.  I have been getting by with a few found here or there in small groups, but this means I can get to washing those trash cans out, then using the bags to fill.  Just a few, per can.  I tried doing three per can, but the cats, I presume, end up pushing the extra bags down in.  Because, even when being extra careful,  they end up down in the muck.

Sam is horrible about it, a dumpster diver she is.  I suspect she had taught Sassy bad habits.  It's not like they don't have food, but Sam (especially) absolutely loves human food.  Even things I wouldn't think she would enjoy.  If I had more room, I'd create an enclosure for the trash cans.  She has learned how to get into them, without knocking them over.  Only when I was able to pay exacting attention did I realize what she was doing.  Hmm, I may have some of those domed swinging lids.  That might... discourage?  I also try to sack really strong smelling things in grocery bags... which sometimes works.  Double bagging, one tied inside the other.  But, sometimes, that just doesn't matter.

Ah, and the last two sets of ribs tonight.  That was amazingly good.  And, maybe, a start on the chicken stew.  I'm not really hungry, if eating isn't a difficulty.  Those are the last ribs I will have for a fairly long time.  I best enjoy them.  Later.

All done.

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Oh, I didn't think I'd be able to do much.  Bits at a time, breaks from time to time, then more.  But, no.  I was able to do everything planned.  My body is whining about being tried.  And I may take a nap.  But I got everything suggested in one go.  The body does continue to ache, but not terribly.  It's being so tired I can't see straight that is the problem, and what has really gotten worse.

All good though.  I am pleasantly satisfied with what was done.  I am hoping, after the nap, to get to dishes.  It should be very easy, if I can be rested enough to work.  So very tired.  Later.

Attempting to break out.

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Stuck.  Just waking up, of mind, is difficult.  Physically doing anything is very difficult.  It's past time for chores, but... I...  I'll get to that.  Confused by exhaustion.  And there isn't a lot I can do about it.

I have been watching yt.  Trying to find something which will engage my mind... how to use a hand planer as a jointer... seventeen secrets about the Waltons... ten autistic characteristics of women, spooky that... spooky coincidences, also with some odd... what... parallels?  Nothing really helped me wake.  I couldn't "hear" well, make sense of all I was hearing... drifting of mind and spirit.

Still, I keep trying to sort or figure.  Perhaps chores will help.  Oh... a taco salad might be good.  Having to think to cook, getting warm food in, and a bit more kefir.  Well, and I best feed the girls and deal with their litter, and refresh their water.  Sam is sitting on my chair arm, letting me know it's about that time.  I know it is past time when she sits on my shoulder, or chair back, looking over my shoulder like a vulture.  :p  Worse, when the girls take turns bother, haunting, irritating, pushing me.  Hey, it's fair.  I get mad until I realize... we have an agreement, one I enjoy.  So I must do my part.

It is such a dark day, too.  The clouds are thick and low.  Not as dark as they can be, but plenty dark even so.  No sun.  For the last few days.  Such is winter.  It has actually been a good winter, in this regard.  A few dark days won't ruin me... even if the rest of the winter is dark.  It's just... I got so used to the sun being out for a few days there, that when it hides, it throws me.

On to tending critters, and my belly as a final thing... for a while.  Good afternoon and day.

Oh, ouch.

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Better than expected.  But things are a bit cranky, from head to toe.  I should have taken a fistful of painkillers last night.  Forgot.  I can only remember, then do, just so much.  When pushing well beyond all normal, more so.  It was a very good night of work though.  I didn't go down until half after five?  Give or take small change.  Waking at a bit before thirteen hundred.  Or... waking just as the daytime midnight ends.  :p

Sleep was okay.  Dreams.  Not sharing them.  Not so much predictions as current realities.  Some will be surprised how things turn.  Some already know where things are.  So be it.

Today?  Well, heat is on to prep the waterers.  The timer is set.  I could let the ducks out, but I can't quite do it.  After chores, another shower, then setting up two loads of dishes... as possible.  Chicken soup is in the planning stages as well.  Though I think I will wait on some of the larger stock pots to be cleaned before beginning.  To be honest, the cast duct just doesn't handle stews as well as I would like.  If you wanted to steam the mirepoix, sure.  But to cook it in the base, it just... it cooks slowly then far too fast.  In my humble opinion.

Kefir, right first thing.  A taco salad for lunch, with just three to six ounces of kefir as a starter.  It... helps everything go down, in, and through.  It is said to help break it down, and even absorb what nutrients are available.  I can't swear to that.  I can swear that it keeps it from lingering.  I used to think going daily, or twice daily on rare occasions was good.  Going, pretty much, every meal is vastly superior.  That first shot of the stuff wakes everything up.  I go like I sometimes go with a rare fresh coffee.  That had stopped working, especially when I went to freeze dried.  It's not the same, if regular good coffee had stopped working too, and anyway, so it may have been something in my gut that changed?

Glad to be up as early as I am, considering bedtime.  I'll... keep trying to fix that.  No push tonight.  If I do dishes, work on the cages, etc, it will need to be done by the time I finish chores... no later than 21:00~22:00.  Then, if needed, winding down for bed, or just going on to bed, is the hope.  Not sure it works that way, when I break my sleep cycle as badly as happened last night, but I can try.

Later.

No, I wasn't done.

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I... got a second wind?  Something.  Absolutely and cruelly exhausted now, but...  I got the chicken off the bone, into a bag, and into the fridge.  The waterers were reset, and the cats got fresh water.  Twice a day, it must be nice.  They get what is left over from the waterers.  The ribs and beans were put up as well.  And, finally, a shower.  Oh, and I reset tea... which means brewing a lot, refilling the water for the next load, and loading all containers including the thermos I will drink from in the morning.  It stays cool, as I need it.

Not a bad gig.  I really thought I was through, and probably should have been.  But... for once... I wanted to try for more.  It took until 03:36 to get that all finished and begin typing as I air dry a bit.  Mostly just the hair and feet needing that.  Oh, but my feet are doing better, since I replaced much of my tea with kefir.  The tea was keeping my skin dry.  Kefir seems to replenish moisture, rather than, somehow, just steal it.  I still drink a... healthy... amount of tea.  But cut by half, and replaced by half to a third the volume but of more full kefir.

I am going to ache tomorrow.  Already beginning.  Still... it's good.  I'll take a handful of anacin, and set my pillow to just the right angle, and hope.  It's all I've got.

Tomorrow?  Dishes are ready.  Some are, really, primed from today.  And the counter for drying is open.  Even cleaned it off after boning the chicken.  Perhaps the stew?  I saved the bones and skin, for making the stew liquids.  But it might still be a bit thin.  I have carrots and celery, if I think I forget yellow onions.  I have red onions... I've never tried that before.  I guess there is a first time for everything.  And another shower.  I am enjoying those, nearly daily, again.  For a while, as long as I can push through.

Quite a day.  Tomorrow will be another good day, or I will crash so hard I can't stand most of the time.  Might even sleep the day through.  That is coming, as I push well beyond my capacity.  All good.  Good night.

The idea is good.

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The thing is, as I stretch into the night, with intent to work, and my body is slowing at an increasing rate, I get stuck between falling asleep and trying to stay awake to work.  It... can get ugly.  It is late.

The ribs were extremely good.  They had... softened a bit.  But in the best possible way.  Absolutely fresh meat can be a bit hard, harsh.  This didn't have that feel.  I ate about half.  The rest will be put up shortly.  Absolutely fantastic food.  More tomorrow.  And, I will debone the chicken, and put that up.  For soup... stew if possible.  So hungry for that stuff.

As for dishes?  I think I am going to give up on that.  For tonight.  I will drain those, set them aside, and hopefully yet take a shower.  Ugh.  Well, and maybe reset the waterers.  If I rush, I might be able to be to bed in an hour.  If... if I can get to any of it.  I will do what I can.  It is raining outside.  It is just at freezing.  Or the roof is crinkling?  I think it is rain.  Wouldn't surprise me if it turns to hail... but little hail.  We don't, haven't since I have lived here, been hit by big stones.  Hope I didn't just doom us?

The rabbits are covered.  And bigger hail stones wouldn't get through the caging material itself.  Plus they are under the forty foot evergreens.  Well protected, as well as I can do.  The ducks are indoors... if in the out of doors.  While they may leave, ducks are smart enough to hide out of things... at least after a few dings.

Oh, something funny about the ducks?  My little indian runner, Henry, about a third the size of the muscovy drake Herc(ules), decided he liked one of the muscovy hens.  She was down with it, but Herc was having none of it.  Henry... if he wasn't absolutely clobbering, was certainly holding his own.  I had to laugh and laugh.  Herc didn't think my chuckles were all that pleasing.  

Well, at least I can stop worrying about Henry being mashed to death by ol'... young... Herc.  I was pleased with his pluck, if even I would rather he keep to his own.  I ought to get a few more hens for him this spring though.  Two is sort of tight.  Herc has four, if Theseus is going to begin vying for those.  I'll probably need to get a few more hens of that sort as well.  Or there will be far too many problems.  

Theseus is still a bit young for such, but his time is coming.  Still... had to laugh.  Henry was easily holding his own, and Penguin Girl was hoping he'd... win.  I just didn't have time, interfered because initially I thought Henry was about to get killed.  Herc thanked me, save for hurting his ego by laughing when I finally caught it all.  Heh.

Good night.

Late, for reasons, and a really good find.

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I finished chores.  A bit late.  I still need to reset waterers, but food is ready.  I have the chicken out, warming.  I hate cold meaty squishy... at least room temp... so it will be.  I did wash off the freezer, and have set one load, then just recently reset it and set another.  Both are smaller loads, but will do for a start.  As well, I have cycle the kefir through.

Finally, though, I remembered the ribs!  I was a good boy, if a bit late.  So, I got those out.  Just a bit... rough.  I rinsed them, smelled.  Just ever so slightly off.  I baked them for 30 minutes.  Smelling while cooking.  Nothing too foul, or foul at all.  With pork I am very picky.  Then, out to the grill.  It smelled "sweat" all while cooking.

It is done.  And a can of pork and beans... of the better quality.  I am letting them cool in the now cool oven.  Should be quite good.  I don't drink milk often anymore, but tonight is one of those nights.  And it will be a small glass, followed by kefir.  I am planning to get a apple cider vinegar concoction going soon, but need a few better implements for making it.  As well, I am looking for other drinks, including water kefir.  I have what is needed for that, but... that is such a high maintenance thing, I won't be consuming that except as a rare dessert, really.  And there is the bottling process, and keeping up on the bottles.  It is wonderful, but it takes a lot of work to do right.  I may see if there is a less intense means of larger production.  I do love that stuff... soda... without the sugar, with probiotics instead... of any flavor of fruit you would like, and possibly ginger, maybe rootbeer?

Anyway... a meal, then some dishes, possibly with a shower after... some air drying and on to bed.  It will be late, but... so be it.

On the good side.

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Not another thing going, so far.  Maybe a bit in a bit?  I have to stay awake long enough to do final chores... putting the ducks up and pulling the waterers.  And I really want to clean off the freezer, do a load or two of dishes, set those out, and be ready for another start tomorrow.  Hmm, perhaps something else, take a shower between or after a or the loads of dishes.

The good side?  I think I am tired enough, after yesterday and the bits I have done today, to get to bed early.  Much earlier than I have been getting to bed.  It is so dark though, I'm not sure I will be able to wake well even so.  Plus, I have been keeping the furnace around 66, save for an hour or two while waking... in order to heat up the waterers.  Actually, I am rather comfortable at 66 F, without wearing extra layers.  I suppose I have acclimated.  The girls are good with that too.  They just sleep a bit more.

Oh, and one other thing?  I haven't pulled the chicken yet, from the bone.  I will set that out tonight.  Let it warm.  Might even turn the heat up a bit to help.  I want that ready for stew tomorrow, one way or the other.  That really is good stuff.  It seems to get boring, until you get another bowl.  Then it seems excellent all over again.  It's almost addictive, especially if you can thicken it well.

I will see, if it all works.  Best get to it.  Later.  Or good night.