Chilly Days, Rainy Nights

Is that a song?  Something niggles at my mind, and the title of today's (tonight's) post sounds familiar.  Now, that our other vehicle is gone, I am driving the old farm truck.  I plan to get the tags for our wonderful van, but haven't had time yet to get them renewed.  The truck sure does drink a lot of gas.  It took a half tank ($40) to get to church and back today.  If I hadn't already promised the PK's to attend a Christmas Party at a homeschool buddy's house Monday we would be staying home.  It's definitely challenging to drive that old truck.  The door takes turns on flying open as I turn a corner, or refusing to open so that I may get into the truck.  PD#2 takes great delight in coming in from the passenger side and kicking the door open for me.


PH started the barn extension yesterday, using scrap metal, and supplies we had lying around the farm.  While waiting for the funds to clear our bank from the vehicle sale, he started measuring, digging holes for support posts and welding metal together for roof trusses.  The new extension is 24 X 20.  So added to our original 20 X 20 shed it will be a welcome place for the goat and horses to get out of the weather.  The original barn is filled primarily with hay, storage boxes around the outside edges, animal feed, and the chicken tractor (complete with chickens).  The PKs and I recently picked up a load of wild melons from the road side.  We are storing a small pile in the barn.  We chop open one daily and give to the pigs as a supplement to their diet of Sweet Feed and the beef grower pellets they steal from the calf.  PH let everyone out of their pens today while he worked on the barn.  It was a pleasant surprise, upon arriving home from church, to see the fields filled with goats, a calf, three pigs, three horses, and a large flock of chickens.  ALL grazing together under the watchful eye of our Pyr and assorted cats and dogs.  It was a huge welcome home party!

On a more serious note, this PW is getting a little irritated at people's narrow mindness.  I struggle with the belief (from time to time) that people just need to be educated, and will then bow to my superior wisdom.  It doesn't always work that way though (no kidding, I am surprised too!)  I understand the concept of free will, but what I don't understand is how people believe in things that have been shown time and time again to not work.  Case in point, modern medicine.  I have very little respect for modern medicine.  It has it's place, but as a LAST resort.  Over my life I have had to visit many doctors for myself and my children.  I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't.  What makes a good doctor, and what makes a poor one.  To me a poor doctor is one who listens to the patient's complaints, treats the symptoms by throwing a drug at it, all within 15 minutes of walking in the exam room door.  It takes a little longer to get at the root of an illness.  An illness is not totally the sum of it's symptoms, but the underlying CAUSE needs to be addressed and CURED.  Not treated.  Cured.  The majority of illness (even diabetes and arthritis) can be cured, but where is the money to be made in that?

Trying to educate people on taking control of their health is very hard.  Years of indoctrination and blind trust has really taken it's toll and people are secure in it's grip. Not a good sign.

Well, off to bed.  The rain has started again, and along with the heat from the wood stove has succeeded in making me sleepy.

**forgot to mention I was given several pounds of venison.  I'd like to cook some for dinner tomorrow, and can the rest in pints..won't be a lot, but I am trying to can more meat instead of relying on the freezer.  

I haven't asked the question in awhile so I will now.  WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO GET PREPARED THIS WEEK?  One for the upcoming winter weather headed this way and two for TMHTF?  We are one step closer to butchering our meat birds, working on a barn extension for our animals, clearing up trash around the place, and taking an inventory of necessary tools/items.  I received a new 23 quart pressure canner for Christmas (I know this because my mom sent to me UNWRAPPED.  I assume I was supposed to ignore the picture of the canner on the side, but I just couldn't.  From experience, I "know" that sometimes the picture on the box is not ALWAYS what is in the box, but this time IT IS!  How wonderful is that!?  I now have 2 pressure canners a 10 quart and a 23 quart, plus a water bath canner.  I am so blessed!