The Animals Archives - If You Give A Girl A Homestead

Isolation

I have had so many thoughts going through my mind lately as I have been home, trying to stay busy as the world is mentally and physically spinning from the COVID 19 pandemic. I have had a few people contact me and tell me that they are so glad that we had Jeremy’s service when we did, because it was after that weekend that things started ramping up. I have to say though, that I am more grateful that sick Jeremy was spared this. I think about how I no longer would be allowed to take him in to his procedures or be with him through his treatments or even stay with him in the hospital. I know that would have killed me and honestly him too. I know how important it was for him to have me with him. I was his voice, quite literally. I knew how to…

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April 2, 2020

Dogs / Jeremy's Cancer Journey

Foundation One and Other Musings

It seems to be that we are waiting forever to get test results back on the Foundation One biopsy. This is the test that will see if Jeremy is a match to immunotherapy, possible clinical trials, or other meds. Unfortunately, the bone marrow biopsy from the hospital didn't have enough to run the test and so a sample of what was taken during the endoscopy was sent in. However two days ago, we found out that wasn't enough either. The type of cancer that he has (no tumor) didn't allow for the doctor to take more without causing more injury. So... he went in yesterday to get blood drawn to run it that way. So we wait more. After reading up on immunotherapy, I realized everything was saying that immunotherapy was only tried after chemo had proven ineffective. The oncologist confirmed this. Jeremy is supposed to have another scan after the…

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November 8, 2019

Dogs / Jeremy's Cancer Journey / The Animals

Penny

Many of you know, the day Jeremy came home from the hospital, I discovered Penny our Great Pyrenees had an infection and glaucoma that had left her blind. I was overwhelmed and questioned God as to why He allowed that to happen...right then. Thankfully my dear friends jumped in and took care of her round the clock medicine schedule along with the numerous follow up appointments. The infection and inflammation improved, but she remained blind. We started making accommodations to caring for a blind pet. I have been holding off on saying anything because I wanted to have Penny checked by the vet before I did. Sunday, she was still walking into chairs and doors that were left slightly closed/opened but by Monday morning, I noticed she was tracking me. By the end of the day, I was convinced she could see. There was no doubt in my mind she…

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October 24, 2019

About the Homestead / Chickens / Daily Life / Dogs / The Animals

If You Give a Girl a Homestead

The name of my blog came to me the day I posted on social media about how homesteading felt very much like a If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book. Now granted, I know motherhood feels that way in general, especially when all your littles are very little. However, having a homestead takes it to a whole new level. It's kinda like re-enacting If You Give a Mouse a Cookie while simultaneously re-enacting If You Give a Pig a Pancake along with If You Give a Dog a Donut. It can get a little crazy around here. If you are reading this and have a homestead, I have a feeling you are nodding your head and very much relating. Below is the (edited) account of one of those times I felt like my life had become the storybook titled If You Give a Girl a Homestead. So without further ado,…

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January 30, 2019

About the Homestead / Chickens / Cows / Daily Life / Goats / Rabbits / The Animals / The Land

The Journey

Where to begin? I know I should have been writing about my homesteading journey from the beginning, but somehow other things have taken over and I haven’t taken the time to write out what I’ve been experiencing when I was experiencing it. I wish I had. The short snippets that I have posted on social media don’t even scratch the surface of all the deep underlying richness of what I have experienced, nor the raw disappointment and helplessness that comes along with this lifestyle. Homesteading seems to be on a lot of people’s minds these days and is a movement that seems to be growing. There is a romanticism to it that draws people’s attention. Maybe we felt it as a child while we read the Little House books. Or maybe our high tech world feels like it is spinning out of control despite smart phones, tablets and computers offering…

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January 22, 2019

About the Homestead / Chickens / Meatbirds / The Land

Not My Favorite

One of my main goals here at Hidden Ridge Farm is to be able to grow and raise food for our family. That was the drive for us to sell our house in a subdivision and to move out onto a piece of property where we could raise chickens and cows. One of my top priorities when we first moved, other than painting, unpacking and pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming that we finally found a place, was to raise meat birds. I wanted to do it right away. Ok let’s be honest. I wanted to do everything right away, but I figured that out of everything, this would be the easiest. Ha! I had to stop after I wrote that and laugh…easiest not so much…yeah, hindsight, I had no idea back then. Poor naive, Dee. But I digress. I had some decisions to make. Things to consider…

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April 29, 2018