Crazy Day! Totally unexpected events

 Papa Tim wasn't feeling too well this morning, he's been struggling quite a bit lately and today looked pretty bad. Instead of going to work the decision was made to take him to the ER. Grateful we did, as he ended up having an emergency surgery for a blood clot.

 Things went well and he was able to go home to recover. They say it should only take a few days, normally. However, with all his other complications in the same area - his recovery is expected to take longer. So no work or events for a while. 

 Let the struggles begin!

 He's resting now, still in a fair amount of pain. Not moving too much. At least he has an appetite, just has to be careful. We all know how eating too much too soon can lead to throwing up, after a surgery.

 My day started out with grandkids, and more grandkids. Then, Somewhere in the middle of all this, I had to return them all to mom's - so I could get down to the hospital. Put a wrench in everyone's plans.

 And a bit of a scare too. He's had so many complications in the last year and a half. I really think he needs to retire and give himself a chance to heal and recover. He keeps pushing himself and ends up with more damage than before. 

 More Doctor appointments for July! - Heart doctor, Surgeon follow up and original surgery procedure, And the Urineologist? not sure I've spelled that one right... 

 He's going to be down quite a bit, hopefully there won't be any more additional instances like today to add to the mix. 

Rest and Recovery....

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by,

Until next time, Stay safe and Happy trails.

 

My Kitty Fix

 People need to get their cats fixed! Especially if your going to let them be outside. Most shelters have a special rate or they are associated with programs that offer reduced rates to have the job done. If you can't get them fixed DON'T LET THEM OUTSIDE!

 You really shouldn't let your cats outside anyway, unless they are barn cats - and they should have a safe place in the barn where predators can't reach them. Right now - Eagles, coyotes, fox and other predators are all hunting 'local' game. With all the 'rodent control' we have eliminated one of their primary sources of food leaving pets as the 'easy prey'.

 I have recently been having a KITTEN CRAVING, and wanting an orange one to add to my bunch... After countless searches and no luck, I became a foster mum for 2 of our local humane society's. I will get to take care of kittens and more kittens and more kittens and help them all find their own forever homes..

 Within days of being accepted in the programs, the emails started shooting in.... The animal shelters NEED YOU - especially this time of year. There are so many mama cats and litters of kittens that come in every day! 

 The shelter provides you with all the food, litter and medications that the babies will need.

My first round ~ 

 I have a litter of 6 kittens, 2 baby girl bunnies and another litter of 2 kittens that are 10 week old feral kittens. Still working on being able to even touch those two. I haven't even been able to get their pictures. They are still pretty scared.

 Meanwhile - the 6 include 3 orange tigers, 1 white with orange tips, 1 calico/patch, and 1 black and white; that to me, seems to be a week or so older? 

 It's a bit of work! But I'm having a Blast!! And I think they like it here too!

Blessed by God

Life's Blooming @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

If you know me, You know

It truly amazes me that people think they know you and they think they can predict you, when more often than not, they missed the point and don't really know you at all.

If you want to know someone - 

try talking TO THEM, 

and not to everyone else

 ABOUT THEM. 

Chances are the person your asking, has their own opinions, or caused their own situations with that person. How that person reacts to you could be totally different than how that person reacted to them.

As for Me, I'm not like most folks, I don't think like they do

•  I find lying disrespectful and it's the lies that piss me off, it's usually not the truths that your trying to hide that upset me. More often than not, I really don't care about the what.

I have an amazing relationship with my God and He tends to show me when people lie, I end up finding out the truth and it hurts your relationship with me more than anything. 

• I'm not into gossip or drama. If you have something to say to someone, or if I have something to say - say it to them and not to everyone else. Don't accuse me of something I don't do. 

Too often families are broken up and destroyed because a family member will tell lies of another and cause problems, without anyone ever asking for the TRUTH.

{my ex's niece confessed to doing things to him and making it look like me, because she hated both of us?} people are more childish than adultish these days.

• I've never done drugs. I was accused of being an alcoholic when I was 11 and put in 'treatment'. I have only ever smoked marijuana. Yet I'm accused of doing all kinds of drugs, being anorexic and so much more. 

It was the domestic abuse that caused me to not have any weight. 11 years of a bad marriage I couldn't get over 100 pounds. As soon as I divorced I reached 120. 

My mother was the one who started me smoking cigarettes and weed, after the first time I was molested. It was offered to me again after I was raped. As it turns out in later years, doctors told me that  "I was self medicating" as I have extremely high blood pressure. It helped reduce the pain in my chest apparently I was avoiding a heart attack? early on.

• I love my kids more than Life itself. I always wanted a family and looked forward to family events, like Graduations, Weddings, new Grand babies and Great Grand babies. Birthdays, Holidays and 'every Sunday dinner'. I wanted an 'interactive' family that loved each other. 

My family never associated with outside of the immediate family. I was able to meet my grandparents every couple of years, I knew a couple Aunts and Uncles, cousins.... But for the most part of growing up life was - mom dad and us kids. 

So I longed for a family to enjoy.

• I've never embraced an act of revenge, or bothered to look back on those that have wronged me in this life. They are in God's hands and I feel sorry for them. I don't go back after folks. I go forward and enjoy my life. 

GOD KNOWS. I suspect a few people will end up in hell because of all they have done in this life. Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, I will repay.......

Me in a nutshell.

 I'm probably not the person you heard about. 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Happy Father's Day 2023

 

Event night!! - Father's Day in the Park!

**Remember, you don't have to attend an event to place an order, and you don't have to wait for the event for delivery. When your making your order you can select direct delivery and your order will ship right away! No matter which event you order from. Just click a link, select sorry can't make it to let me know, then hit the shop button. 

Savings are yours for the taking. Spend $100 save 50% on  any 1 additional item.

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  June 16th Father's Day Pop Up in the Park
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  July 1st Independence Celebration @ Ten Trails
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  July 15th Black Diamond Miner's Day
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  July 21 st Sunset Market @ Ten Trails
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  August 11th -Sunset Market @ Ten Trails
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  Sept 16th HomeTown HoeDown

AT EVENTS ONLY ~

I have several pieces available cash & carry. +tax, NO shipping.

I also have 

Ring boxes in so many cute and elegant designs.

Fostering Fur Babies

The image is from the Kansas Humane Society, but I'm sure there is a program in every state. Check out your local shelter to find out about a program near you.

Just last weekend I signed up with both our local county shelters,  as a 'fur baby foster mum'. Super easy to do, FREE painless simple application on line, watch a couple quick videos, answer a little quiz - maybe..... Some do back ground checks {If it's been an area of dog fighting or other animal cruelty issues, bad people are on record}... That's it. 

Here it is Monday and I've already received several emails. There are mama cats with babies, groups of baby kittens, bunnies..... I'm already picking up my first litter of kittens tomorrow morning. And I'm working on getting a few baby bunnies as well. 

Shelters are over whelmed especially in the spring with so many babies being born. If you have a little space on the couch think of a little dog, want something more self sufficient? older cats need a place to retire so they don't have to pass living in a cage. Guinea Pigs, Bunnies, I'm sure some have chickens and ducks.... 

A few years back I adopted a horse from the local shelter as well...

I can't speak for all programs, but my local programs provide all the baby food, basic needs, medications and supply the vet appointments - I just have to drive them to and from. 

You can help make a difference 1 set of paws at a time.

This is such a rewarding way to give back and help out. Years of raising kids with their pets. Sadly and to my shame, I have had to turn in a dog or two over the years. This helps me forgive myself and know I'm making a difference in a fur babies life. 

Blessed by God

Life's amazing @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for Stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Next Episode .... {What's up this Week}

 Well, 'this week' is finally coming.

One of My granddaughter's turns 9 on Wednesday ! Just had one turn 21 the end of last month. 

You thought your babies grew up fast! Just wait - Them Grandbabies go from Just born to Graduation twice as fast! and there are at least 3 times as many of them, so when your running twice as slow - it's really hard to keep up - LOL.

ENJOY EVERY MINUTE WITH THEM! 

We go to the appointment with his first surgeon on Thursday. We should get more information and maybe a few answers to some looming questions. At least we are hoping to find out the options and potential 'treatment' or 'repair'.

 I'm also hoping she'll sign off the company medical form ; putting him on limited or reduced work. Since he's missing so much work because of this - it's pretty obvious that he technically 'can't work' in this 'condition'. Then when you add a surgery and recovery time... 

I don't see him running any races any time soon. 

It's going to be a busy week all the way around. 

 This Friday evening is our first time doing a 'pop up vendor' event in the 'Ten Trails community'. They are a part of our local neighborhood, a rather large new housing development still being developed. We're looking forward to meeting some of the other local vendors and neighbors. 

 I might even run into some of my old customers from working at the 76 Station. They're going to have a beer garden from what I'm told, so I think I know a few folks that will probably be there - LOL.  

 Then of course - 

This is FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND coming up! 

 Hopefully the weather will be in our favor so we can have a BBQ!  

 I hope you have the opportunity to spend time with Dad's and Grad's in your family this weekend. and Get to Enjoy a little summer sunshine if your lucky. 

Meanwhile, once again I would like to thank the folks that have done a bit of shopping through the ads and links here at the Bright side of the Barn. We appreciate your patronage. I truly hope you enjoy your purchases and if you need to return anything for any reason, I'm here to help. 

God Bless and Thank you again. 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by and for shopping with us!

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Can People Change?

  I love this subject !

Can people change?  

I ask - "Change What?"

I grew up and I still hear it frequently today -

an old cliché 

" A leopard can't change it's spots." 

Which is true - But - 

"A leopard can be taught to do things differently"

So, I again ask - "Change what?" 

    To say NO people don't change... you need to finish the sentence and specify what change your referring to.

    It is no wonder folks can't get off drugs or stop drinking and poisoning themselves, quit being a thief, or even try to do better in school or at work

 when they live in a society that is dead set on the fact that 

"people CAN'T change" 

and that sums up their entire opinion on the matter. 

     A very wrong opinion. No, people DON'T usually change basic demeanor's, mannerisms, or their own train of thought patterns.

{Train of thought patterns - remember that for the test}

    Habits, routines, means of coping, choices of actions, likes and dislikes, wants, desires, and dreams can all help a person CHANGE things that in turn create change in ~

the Way they live and the way they act.

    No - they are still the same person as a whole, but yes, they can be a very different person from within. 

    Which makes them 'different' to be around. 

Usually this occurs

 when someone 'changes their train of thought patterns.'

Old habits are always going to have an inner seed within us. New habits have to be good enough to overpower the old to make changes that actually stem long term. 

Thus Causing the             'feeling of being a whole new person'.!! 

    So when we talk about people changing - before we condemn them to NEVER - NOT POSSIBLE, let's ask ourselves 

- "CHANGE WHAT?" 

Image courtesy of Istockphoto.com

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

What's your Bitch?

Have you ever been called a Bitch?

  Mind you there is only 1 kind of bitch. Too often 'witches' 'scanks' and 'cu..s' get called a bitch by mistake.

Considering a bitch is the defined original  reference to a pedigree female dog, think about that next time your throwing words out there.

 I was going to go with the heading 'So Misunderstood'. As I went looking for today's image for the post, the Bright side image and our Today's Quote ~ I found the one featured here. Click the image to the link and read the article. There is an argument in the comments as to the origination of the article. Please don't mind that. It is the article itself worth reading.

 - if you have ever been called a bitch!!

 So today's title changed a bit. I personally could strongly relate to the article as I am that kind of Bitch and proud of it. 

When you have self standards people will call you 'stuck up'.

When you bust your ass because you like nice things and when you take care of your things. 'you think your better than everyone else'.

Too often one is called spoiled, when in fact they worked their ass off to have what they have. Picky about who sits on it? Probably, they paid good money for it and it might have taken a while to achieve so they want to enjoy it for a while too. 

 Sometimes, I will write a blog or make a post on social media and someone takes it personal or gets offended. I get accused of 'talking about them' - Frustrating for me, because it's usually just a random thought that popped into my head that morning. Some smell, sight, sound or memory triggered a past experience - and there it is, my next post!

It's not always about YOU ~ as my children learned growing up. ...

 If I got something to say to you - Your going to hear it from me. If you didn't hear it from me, I probably didn't say it and don't know a damn thing about it. 

So your feelings are based on fabrication, now don't you look silly?

 Think about that one next time your wasting your time listening to gossip. Don't hate someone because you were told too, your probably friends and listening to the wrong person, missing out on the REAL ONE. 

 Hmmmm, LOL,  That's probably why I'm Hated by so many and most of the ex's families. I didn't walk on egg shells around them, I said it how it is. {You think I'm a bitch, meet my daughters.} I was more willing to walk away or shut the door than to play their childish games and live in their drama. 

 Keep it real and drama free. Life is an adventure, move forward don't get trapped in the past. 

Be you!

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay safe and Happy Trails.

Quenching the Thirst

 I have seriously had a craving for kittens lately. 

Weird I know. 

There is just something about them. So, to quench my thirst and not increase my herd of cats - I contacted the local Humane Society and signed up to be a 'Kitty Foster Mum'. I got the email yesterday that I'm approved!!

 So cool, I get to help baby kitties until they find their hopefully FOREVER homes and not have an over population of CATS at my house.  

It's the purrfect solution!

And it HELPS the Humane Society.

Not to be distracted by life.... 

If you or your 'significant other' have any kind of Union job. Before you retire - check with your rep! Papa and I have been trying to figure out what to do. As he is of age to retire. His health is preventing him from working a full 40 hour week; and because of his health - the medical coverage is critical. His rep has been so helpful not just in information, advice and direction.... but reassurance for Papa. 

We have 5 Doctor appointments coming up in the next few weeks for him. {The roller coaster has left the station and the ride has begun.} We will hopefully learn a lot about what is wrong, how to fix it and what is to come. He missed work again yesterday. The bleeding has gotten much worse. He really shouldn't be working. SO hoping one of these doctors can help.

Our local events are starting up for the summer. I had to back out on the larger 2 day events and reschedule so that we weren't doing them every weekend. {The business will have to grow a little slower, but steady } I think the shorter timed one day events will be enough for him.  He gets fatigued really easily, I don't say anything when so much doesn't get done. 

The shopping links to my favorite companies have helped the paypal account grow a bit. Thank you to all who have went shopping. I'm sure your going to love what you ordered, I only have links to my favorite places - and Amazon of course. Remember sometimes when you go through the affiliate links {like mine} there are special buys and discounts that you only get in the affiliate links. 

If there is an opportunity to host a party or gathering, that means there is an opportunity to get more for less and something for free. Now days, most people option the catalog/online party feature. That way they don't have to do much except share a catalog and link for friends to shop, so  they can earn the freebies. 

My horse is doing well, I wanted to get her a partner this spring, but those plans got put off due to the situations going on. I let her know it would be a while with just her. She's getting more attention and the grandkids have been riding more so that helps. 

No cigarette for about 36 hours now...this is the longest stretch I've done this time around. Yep, I've quit a few times and went back a few more. . . Determined this time. Doctor told me it usually takes a person about 8 trys to finally quit for good. Don't know what number this is for me, I just hope it's the last number......

Until next time ~ 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Don't Give up Yet

 

It can get dark. It can get cold. It can get lonely. It can feel hopeless. 

It might look impossible, It might look like there is no answers, It might look like there is no way out. It might look like you've reached the end.

It feels like you just can't go another minute ~ 

But wait.

Take a deep breathe.

And Wait.

Don't give up - it gets better.

More often than not, just wait one more day. 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay safe and Happy Trails.

Sitting on the Fence

 People on one side of the fence, say this is really no big deal, lots of people survive it. { He thinks he's only gonna miss a couple days work with surgery ....}

On the other side of the fence I know people who have lost someone from this very thing. { guys that think they just going to keep working - blow it off - end up dying at work } with no planned 'just in case' 

-and then the family loses everything by the time you have a funeral - house included.

Everyone has 2 cents ~ 

 
Yes, I've heard many opinions this past week and had many crazy thoughts from one extreme to the other... I hate waiting for doctor appointments and answers....

 
He's missed so much work already, he misses 1 to 2 days a week because of this and what it does to his bipolar as well.. bills are piling up.. Not much left to sell except the house. . . and He thinks he can put off surgery until the bills are caught up... 

If he would just retire... 

it wouldn't matter if he was sick, or how sick or even if he felt super good. He could enjoy what's left of life.

he would have money to pay off bills, a steady monthly income - regardless of if he felt good or bad, missing work wouldn't be an issue. 

On his good days he could do things that he enjoys. That would help balance out the bad days and the doctor days. 

How am I supposed to feel..

I really don't know right now. Part of me wants to be just as selfish as him, and only think of me and run - save myself from the hell. 

Another part of me, the part that has me in this in the first place, is that I am all he has for help. His own family abandon him and there is no one to help him deal with his bipolar or now this. 

So here I am "sitting on the fence" 

Blessed by God 

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay safe and Happy Trails.

They Say

 .... They say ........

Crazy and Genius walk hand in hand down the same side of the road.....

Being SMART isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

In fact - many smart people have some disabling condition to overcome. Some are even 'mental', thus the reason some 'CRAZY' people are very intelligent at certain things.

A clip from www.psychologytoday.com

“You’re mad, bonkers, completely off your head,” said Charles Dodgson’s Alice in Alice in Wonderland. “But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” The notion that genius is only thinly separated from insanity goes back at least to ancient Greece. Aristotle linked the two when he said, “There is no great genius without a touch of madness.”* To give the ancient trope a modern context, consider the words of Robin Williams, whose suicidal death in 2014 was precipitated by Lewy Body Dementia: “You are only given a little spot of madness, and if you lose that, you are nothing.”

So you see, being smart isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

As a child - advancing in school because you catch on quick, often ends up with kids much older that resent your intelligence torturing you. 

The further along in school you get, some teachers often resent you as well. While other teachers take an interest in you, also making it difficult to "fit in with other students". 

You learn quickly in life - that YOUR NEVER GOING TO FIT IN.

So you have to learn to ACCEPT YOURSELF AND BE YOURSELF. 

As an adult -

You can either get lucky and find a dream job and excel, 

or end up in positions that you INTIMIDATE the boss, and end up no where.

You can either do something wonderful with life {this often includes a partner that has the same ambitions as yourself}

or you can end up getting told to DUMB DOWN YOUR RESUME, so you don't intimidate people just to get a 'job'.

Old age ~ 

Can be the dream retirement - with anything you could imagine.....

or a visit to social security 

Where the judge says YOUR SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE IT OUT you don't need disability. 

You See ~

Being smart can work for or against you. 

Just because your smart,  people expect you to have the answers. 

 

** Just remember - the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence, they just used a different fertilizer. 

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Save Yourself or Sink

All this talk about the options and what will and won't work. Last night he said what he plans to do & ..... 

This is me ~ 

He talks like he understands, he agrees with anything you say.

But when it comes down to it - he's going to do something totally different. And your going to lose everything and end up homeless again.

He's done this before and we all ended up homeless as a result. It took years to get back on my feet and the emotional toll caused me to have an emotional break down. It was a big part of the stress that led to my first stroke. I had to recover from that alone and it wasn't easy.

So here we sit again. I'm not getting on that boat again! 

******************************

I've explained that there is only 1 option to make everything work. 

Option 2 you have to choose between 2 things you don't want to lose.

Option 3 you lose 1 and end up homeless again. 

The Option 4 he wants to take isn't going to provide enough funds to do it all. And that's when you end up with option 2 & 3 and lose everything.

So the question is - do I want to sink again - or should I walk away and save myself this time?

Sounds cold - with everything he's facing. 

Thing is - he's bi polar and his thoughts are of himself through this. So I could have a heart attack and die and he would worry more about getting to his next appointment than to bury me. 

He's walked out on me when I was just released from a hospital and sent home with a complete oxygen tank system and breathing hoses.. and 2 teenage kids who needed a parent - as well.

So really my feelings here are justified. Do I save myself or sink with him again?

*********************************************

2 of my grandkids are here today and it's beautiful outside. I'm thinking we are going to go clean horse pasture and maybe - give the horse a bath or ride? who knows..... 

Time at the barn, with the horse always helps me think, clear my head.. 

I may not always find the answers there, but I always find peace when I'm with my horse....

I can't whistle right now with so many teeth missing. {having my 'old lady teeth made}.. So when I get to the barn I park, walk through the gate and wait. She usually hears the car pull in or hears the gate creak open so it only takes a minute....

She's hard to see in the first couple pictures, {that's her BIG pasture out there behind the trees } once she sees me - she will start out walking, trot, then gallop a minute, as she rounds the corner to the shelter she slows down to a trot again and then meets me at the gate. {yep, this is her little all the time pasture up to the trees}

Once arrived, it's lunch time! 1 pound Senior kibbles, 1 scoop Horse Guard, 4 baby carrots, 2 baby cucumbers, 2 large cloves garlic, 3 fresh strawberries... Salt and water all the time, pasture in the mornings and hay at night.. The life of Retirement! 

She turned 26 years old on May 29th! We've been together 7 years now.. My barn host Linda {The most amazing person to care for your horse!} tells me that my horse often acts like she might be 15 - 16 the way she runs and plays during the day.. 

&

Here's to Many More Years of Fun and Love together.

Blessed by God

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay safe and Happy Trails.

Shockwave

 Paralyzing...

When you get bad news unexpected - it can freeze you and lock you in place. The brain has to process more than normal. You were not prepared for this!

We have been preparing ourselves to hear the words colon cancer or surgery, on the 15th, or shortly afterwards. That's when we meet the surgeon.

Today was just supposed to be a physical, check the cholesterol, weight ... basics. Neither one of us expected the doctor to say we need to run some tests for prostate cancer.

Too many unknowns at the moment to even process the whole thing. 

For every test that comes back 'normal', means we are no closer to finding out 'exactly' what's wrong. Thus they 'dig deeper', more intense testing, more types of tests.... until you start getting answers. 

I don't exactly expect him to pass away anytime soon. It's the medical hell he's about to go through - the in's and out's and up's and down's ...

 That's the shockwave of it all. 

So far tests look good and he's healthy in all other ways. Heart doctor appointment early next month as well. 

Ya, It's usually smooth in the beginning of the roller coaster ride... Then comes the scary parts that make you feel like your not going to survive this. Then comes the end, when you glide back into the station......

Blessed by God 

Life's good @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay safe and Happy Trails.