Pretty scary last night.

Last night, while putting sheets and blankets on the couch for the youngest grand daughter who was staying the night, my husband said he wasn't feeling right. He had the Nascar race on TV and had been sleeping a little. I asked what he felt like. He had a hard time saying anything. Then he said he couldn't remember anything. Like all of us. He couldn't remember who his kids were. Or the grand kids. Or me. I was getting scared. I usually laugh when someone gets hurt or falls or anything like that. It's the way I handle it. I don't mean to at all. It's just what comes out. But not then. I was starting to get really scared seeing my husband like this and was crying. He was trying to say something and would look down and had tears in his eyes too. Then he'd try again. This went on for at least 15 minutes. Both kids came in the living room. I was getting dressed to take him to the ER. He was remembering a lot by then. He went to the dining room and took his blood sugar reading. It was 200. This happened about 9:35. About 9:50 we took his blood pressure. It was 198/100. Took it again a few minutes later and it was down a little. Then back to normal for him about 10 minutes later. I had given him 2 low dose Bayer aspirin too, before taking BP. I called his sister and she told me to do that. Anyway, he refused to go to the ER. He seemed fine after all this.

 It must have been a TIA. Transient Ischemic Attack. I looked up the symptoms of a stroke and got a whole page on TIA's. He had all the ones listed. Numbness, confusion, trouble seeing. He had all these. It also said that 15% of people who have TIA's will have a stroke within 2 days. 45% will have a stroke in a few weeks after.

I was with Mrs. T not long ago when she did this, but so much worse. She couldn't get any words to come out right.  It doesn't last long. Maybe 10-20 minutes. But in that time, it's the scariest thing ever to witness. I just absolutely panic and freak out. I cannot handle it. I am worried to death now. Like any minute, he's going to have a major stroke and I'll lose him. I hate this. I'm afraid to leave him alone now. Or let him drive. My mom called him and talked him into calling his doctor tomorrow. But it's a holiday.

And it's done nothing but  RAIN for days now. And more rain to come this week. Yay?

My "ewe"nique flock...

is ready for their trip to market in the morning. I had fun making these guys. I love how each one is so different from the next. The blue one is my favorite. But then they all are. I love sheep! I'm working on a Nubian goat. It's really hard.

Have a great weekend!

Slow down and have a seat.

Fallen leaves...

there's starting to be a lot of them, all over now. And with all the storms we're having, that just makes them fall faster. We have several maple trees in the yard and down the driveway.  Most are Silver maples. But in the corner of the yard is a beautiful red maple. I also planted a Sugar maple a few years ago in the front yard. It's not doing as well as some of the other maple trees I've planted. I hope it will take off soon. They are so pretty.

 Yesterday, on the way home from the farmer's market, I just had to pull over and stop. In front of me were the most beautiful clouds I had ever seen. They were huge and probably a few miles ahead. I was facing South. There was a big white cloud surrounded by light gray clouds and a long narrow shelf of cloud underneath. I wish I had my camera so I could have taken pictures of this. So the outer clouds had the most beautiful lightening, that would light up the clouds almost pink. It was awesome. I don't usually like storms, but this one had my full attention. Every few minutes, there would be a long streak of lightening shooting straight down. But the colors were amazing. And it was very slow, moving to the east. I probably sat there 30 minutes watching this beautiful cloud show. Just thinking about how awesome God is. And how powerful. But then it started getting dark, and I hate night storms, So I went on home. And it got darker and darker. It had already went through my area. The roads were all wet. When I got home, the sheep and alpacas were out back, in the barn. It must have been pretty fierce for them to have gone in the barn.

I am going to town, to the courthouse today, to see what I need to do to get my little studio opened as a fiber art store. I have no idea. Maybe a small business license? I will find out soon. I hope I will be able to do this here. I am just a little frustrated with the farmer's market right now. I am not making anything extra after fees and gas and time. I will also go around to some little shops and see if they might let me put my soaps and fiber art on display. Or sell them soap. Don't know how that works either. Will find out soon.

Hints of color here and there...

just a little color now. But it's coming!

We've had some pretty intense storms here the last few nights. In Ringgold, to the East of us here, they had an F1 tornado go through and do a lot of damage. No one was hurt. But really scary. Then again early this morning. Not near as bad. I hate these night time storms.

What's it like in your neck of the woods now?

The wood pile in October...

 is really cool. This is oak from the "million dollar" tree at Mrs. T's. She had to have it cut down last year. It took us half the year to get it all cut up and brought here to use. So it's still growing this really pretty fern. And the pretty patterns the fungi (?) makes on some of the logs is amazing.

There is so much art all around us. We just need to look for it. Sometimes it's in the strangest places. But it's out there.

                                                  Look at the lines in this wood. So pretty!

I winder how many fairies and gnomes live here?

Sunday on the farm

Last night it got down to around 39 degrees. It was cold! But we didn't turn the heat on. Or start a fire yet. My husband had that procedure done Friday on his leg veins and the doctor said no heavy lifting for awhile. So no getting in firewood for him yet. I guess if I have to I will. But sure is nice to have someone else do it for me. And it gives him something to do, right? He's doing great so far. His legs are warm, which is a miracle in itself. We are hoping now that he is getting a good blood flow to his foot now, that that nasty ulcer will heal faster. So for now, he is taking it easy. Been watching this boring show all day called Jessie Stone. I am so glad I've been busy all day. But when I come in, all I hear is that boring music and droning voice.

So I have been in my studio, making soap and a few fairies. And taking lots of pictures too. Here are some of the animals of Outback Farm...



Louise, the cow. I think she looks a lot bigger than when she came here a few months ago. And the sheep and alpacas hang out with her now.

These darn chickens. I got 2 eggs today. I found 9 eggs over in my flower garden a few days ago. I'll get 6 or 7 eggs in the nester in the coop most days. But then I have to go on egg hunts to find more. I am sort of getting tired of this. They are laying them some place that I can't find now and I am not liking it. I have only gotten 2 dozen eggs since Thursday. Not good when I need to sell them at the market. Eggs go for $6 a dozen right now. So I think these guys will be in chicken jail for awhile again.

This is Sybil. I've had this cat for about 9 years now. I got her and her brother from a friend. My daughter took the boy a little later. Had them both fixed. I have all my cats and dogs fixed. She's a good cat. She is deaf. I sneak up on her sometimes and it scares her. I don't mean to. I have 5 other cats. All as old or older than she is. And the fig trees have doubled in size since last year. They have little figs on them, but I don't think I'll be getting any.

Here's my alpaca boys. I've had these guys a year now and have probably touched them maybe 5 times? The red one. The white one maybe 2 times. He just does not like me. He tolerates me, but does not like me. I always get the ears back and that silly look when I talk to him. The red one is a little more friendly. But if they see me with the water hose, they come closer to get hosed down. They love getting wet on a hot day.
I like these guys, but they sure are strange animals. Maybe one day, they'll like me. From what I hear, they live a very long time. So maybe, just maybe, we might learn to like each other by then.

I hope you all have had a nice weekend. It's been a beautiful fall weekend here. The trees have just a hint of color now. My mom's eye has more fall color than the trees do right now! It's all kinds of yellow. Her hand is not different colors anymore, except her thumb.  And her knee is a bit better. Except that she mowed her yard Thursday. She said she probably shouldn't have. Ya think. mom? But she's stubborn.

I did make more soap today. I'll post pics this week. Some different soaps for sure.