It's Spring

Kaleb and I spent the weekend getting the garden in order.

We made enough compost this past year to shovel into the garden to enrich the soil.

Kaleb ran the rototiller to mix it all up.

Then we spread all the wood chips in the walking rows that 

Jared picked up for us with his dump trailer. 

He just dumped it in the driveway! It was awesome!

The garden is now ready for the cold crop plants. But I might wait until after this storm passes.
We are supposed to be getting some snow this week.

While we worked in the garden, Kirk and Jared blocked off under the deck so Jasper can't run through the mud and removed two trees so we can move into the plan we have in the yard next to the garage. Victoria helped where she could which wasn't much because bending 

over makes her head hurt and causes dizziness.

And Daphne, well, Daphne did whatever it is that Daphne does.

Beau

Beau has been our next door neighbor for the past 5 years.

Our goats have kept him company and they have gotten into Tag Teaching with him like what she did with Jacks. Beau is very mouthy which is why she wants to do Tag Teaching with him.

 Beau is fascinated with my phone. Whenever I take their picture, he gets very curious. 

He likes the sound of the shutter makes.

 Victoria has been grooming him, lounging, walking and just getting him to respond to her command.

So far she has found that she has to use more force than she has ever used before.

Beau thinks he is the boss. Victoria is doing her best to let him know that she is the boss.

I think it's funny because I am constantly letting her know that I am the boss.

 Once they establish who is in charge, they will have a wonderful

working relationship. Taking on this new challenge during the period of her brain injury recovery, has been good for her. Not being able to figure skate has been very heart wrenching. 

Working with Beau has been a life saver.

 This relationship will be good for both of them.

Coronavirus Quarantine

Our friends needed some signage painted on their windows so that people would know that their restaurant, Romo's Mediterranean Grill was still open for take-out during the time of  restrictions. 

Steve came out and sat with Victoria for a little bit.

 Long ago, Victoria would hang out with us and talk our ears off. She hasn't done that for the past two years. Things had changed but since her concussion, we have gotten her back.

So guess what she did for 4  whole hours?

She talked our ears off! 

We loved listening to everything she thought of, everything she saw, 

sitting from the top of the ladder on Main St. It is good to have her back.

She definitely helped the time go by. Of course all the talking wore her out. 

Jared drove up just in time to help us pack up.

 It took us 5 1/2 hours to paint it all. Kirk free handed the lettering.

It turned out great and got the message out there that they are still open.

They have awesome food. Their gyros and fries are the best!

Ski Buddy

Kaleb is amazing. I love that he is tolerant of cross country skiing with his dear old mother.

We have lots of good times together. 

Long ago, I dreamed of doing things like skiing with the kids and I always knew that Kaleb would be the one that would be game for all my ideas. Now he has passed me up in his idea of adventure.

Post-Concussion Syndrome

One of the symptoms of a concussion is excessive sleeping.  Thunder loves having a napping partner mid day, though Victoria hates it when she needs to rest her brain just after doing an hour of school.

This concussion has taken a vibrant, very active, energetic figure skater and has turned her life into a person who requires frequent shut-down times in order to re-cooperate her head to make it through the day. There is a whole list of things that wear her out. Math was once her favorite subject, now it causes her pain and frustration. Thinking too long, reading, or concentrating makes her head hurt and wears her out. Being over stimulated in groups of people, going to church, or chaotic activity, wears her out and makes her head hurt. Not getting enough sleep will definitely do her in. And every three to four days of daily life makes her worn out for the next three to four days. It is absolutely amazing how debilitating a concussion can effect your life. It is a life changing experience.

We are all hopeful that she will eventually be able to return to a normal life. 

Hopefully with her full cognitive ability as before. So for now, we just keep reassuring, encouraging, laugh and cry together to help her make it through her brain recovery.

Crazy Pets

 This is proof that Jasper is the biggest Border Collie we have ever seen, 

and loves to be held....all 70 pounds of him!

 Just lounging on the window sill....

 Lightning...the skeletal cat!

Size doesn't matter when you want a stick to play with, just

be careful when he swings it around and

 hits you in the back of the knees.

 Everything catches a goats curiosity.

 Sod in a wheel barrel is very exciting and interesting.

I can't imagine life without our furry friends.

Canine Good Citizen

 Jasper has achieved his Canine Good Citizen in 4H!

We are so proud of them both!