Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

It always seems
Impossible
Until It's Done
~ Nelson Mandela ~

Good one, DorA!
We'll get through this pandemic if we all do the right thing. Looks impossible, but we will.

Update from Brenda, posted 3 hours ago:
Just an update before I go to bed and sleep for a week. I am home, the swabs come back positive, so I am on two lots of strong antibiotics for the next week. My oxygen saturation levels have stayed up which is why I am allowed home. I will have follow up phone calls over the next few weeks and will have to have an xray to see what damage has been done to my lungs. Richard and I will have to self isolate for 14 days.
Thank you for all your kind thoughts. And just to let you know I have no idea where I picked it up. It is a little frightening as you find you cannot concentrate on anything and are so tired. If you don't have underlying health problems, then if you are unlucky enough to succumb then with the right treatment you will be ok. Best advice I can give is self isolate for as long as you can, stay away from crowds and eat as healthily as you can.

Julie, Tami will post on Sudoku Friends when the next Zoom meeting is happening. I will remind you here in case you don't see it on FB. You will have to send her your email and she will email back the code for the meeting. I found it straightforward. She chose 8pm Florida time which was 10am my time. She may change it to allow Brenda to join from the UK, as 8pm Florida time is midnight UK time.

Thank you for passing on Brenda's words, CynB. I've been really worrying about her.

Just finished mowing the lawn. It was a nasty job because I should have done it BEFORE starting on the pond cleaning. The whole area for 100+ feet around the pond is really wet now, and the mower can't get any traction. Hopefully I'll get the job finished before the lawn need to be mowed again.

Way too late to read or comment. We have a new normal at our house that is seriously impacting our sleep.

Sending healing energy, positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}}, prayers, and

Mike the Vet just loves the turkeys. I was working on the pond (slow progress, but there IS progress) and I spotted him walkng back towards the horse barn (the heirers are in a pen adjoining it) to feed some mineral to the heifers. I walked over there to see him sitting on the ground with a tom turkey on his lap, and the other 2 turkeys trying to join the tom.
One of the reasons that progress is so slow on the pond is that the muck in it is full of tadpoles. I try to rescue every one. I put the first bunch (~70) in my aquaruim with the goldfish (they'll go back out into the pond once it's clean, up and running again) but so far I've rescued over 400 of the little buggers. I'm putting them in every place that can sustain them until they mature. I'm guessing that there are at least another 500 in there. I'm also trying to pace myself so I don't blow out the back.

DOGGONE! I just lost my post, and I absolutely must get to bed , so I'll just say good night.

Sending and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for Everyone!

Just got back from Pain management at the hospital. I HAVE to meet with the doctor to get my pain meds refilled. The place was like a ghost town compared to previously. And the hospital only had one door unlocked, and staff in masks, gloves and scrubs right inside, screening people for the coronavirus before allowing them into the hospital. Fortunately, I showed not a single symptom, nor had contact with anyone who could have been ill. BUT, the pharmacy can't refill my prescription until April 3rd, and I have only 2 pills left. It's always something. At least I can take today off from working on the fish pond, since it's rainy and cold outside. I refuse to climb over wet rocks and risk breaking my leg in that pond AGAIN. I do NOT want to have to go into a hospital as a broken bone patient right now.

Wow, Heidi! What a rough day you had. Sometimes it's easier to deal with hard physical work than bureaucratic hang-ups. So I guess you'll need to face the long drive again on April 3 to pick up the meds (assuming they have them then). Talk about frustration!

I'm about to head to bed, as I'm dragging and the very early mornings with no opportunity to get caught up on sleep are taking a toll.

Thinking of everyone and sending healing energy, prayers, , positive thoughts, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for Everyone!

Reaching out to you all.
Stay safe. Stay home.
Scott and I are fine, we have been in isolation for over a fortnight now, Scott even longer as it’s me who goes out and gets our essentials. Our family are all safe 🤞, our business 🤷‍♀️. Taking everything one day at a time. 💕
Sending healthy vibes to Brenda xxx

Wow! How nice to see a post from Gail! It has been a long time. We really appreciate the fact that you thought to send us an update! So nice to read that you and Scott are fine! Keep up the good work!

I need to get to bed, so sending healing energy, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}}, positive thoughts, and

The site has been down for many hours. I finally got on!

Gail not only posted, but she and her family are safe!!!! Please don't be such a stranger, Gail.

More good wishes to Brenda. ((( HUGS )))

I'll be able to get more pain meds tomorrow morning. I'm out and I hurt. I hurt too much to work on pond cleaning.

Thinking of everyone today!

Heidi, drive safely in the morning when you go to get your pain meds! The pond will wait for you!

I'm turning into a pumpkin, so need to send wishes for strong healing energy, positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, and to all of our Sudoku friends!

Nice to see you here, Gail! We miss you.

Well, even though our Covid victims and deaths are nowhere hear those in other countries, I realise that I knew one of the recent fatalities.
I am not at all religious but was sent to Sunday School and Church Youth Club until I refused as a rebellious teenager. However when I was 14 our church got a new minister, he was only 27, newly married with one child. My friend Helen and I both had enormous crushes on this young good-looking man and hung around him offering any help we could. Anyway after a few years he and his family moved on to a different diocese and Helen and I gave up on church like fickle teenagers would. The Rev eventually left my thoughts like many people do in life. Until last night on the news was the story of the latest victim of Covid, caught it on a Cruise ship of course, and was a retired minister of the Uniting Church. Wham Bam, there was Des. I feel sorry that this good man lost his life to this horrible disease. Even worse for his family, his wife has now got it.

Another Covid story. My cousin's wife went on a cruise to Antarctica. On the way back they got to Montevideo (Uruguay?) where they have sat for weeks. No Covid on the ship but nowhere for it to go, no port would accept them. Over 100 Aussies on the ship, not sure of the make-up of the rest of the passengers. Finally the ship was given permission to go to Florida, to let US citizens off. They are not sure what will happen then. They're just in limbo. Today it is 1 year since Col and I arrived back in Australia after our cruise. I am so thankful that never happened to us. I will NEVER go on another cruise.

Those poor people stuck on cruise ships are being treated horribly. Man's inhumanity to man. It's like their lives are unimportant. Why can't people who were not exposed to the coronavirus, on a ship without it, leave the ship? Even people on ships that have the disease would be better off in a medical facility on shore or away from people who still haven't been infected. Every life is of equal importance.
It baffles me that the US Government moved a hospital ship to New York Harbor. It can handle 1000 Covid patients. Yet they've only allowed 20 on board. That makes no sense to me.

I'm tired. I got my pain meds this morning, and once they kicked in, I went back to work on the pond. I should finish cleaning it out tomorrow. Then I can start refilling it with clean water, then get the filter and waterfall up and running. The koi are already here and living with the goldfish in my aquarium in the front hallway. There's only about 3 or 4 inches of muddy water left on the bottom of the pond. As I quit work today, a large garter snake snuck out from between the rocks lining the pond and grabbed a fat frog sitting on the rocks watching me. I figured that this snake would be going after my koi if I let it live, so I grabbed a shovel and decapitated it. The frog happily escaped.

Oh yeah.... Mike the Vet's last cow had her calf today. I noticed it when Mike came over to feed mineral. The cow decided that she did NOT want us to catch the calf and led us a merry chase. She didn't realize that I'm sneaky, and have an extendable 10 foot (3 meter) long calf leg catch, and I was able to grab the calf after one complete lap of the 12 acre field. I held the black heifer down for Mike while he tagged her. The cow thought about getting threatening, but I was holding a 10 foot metal pole, and that intimidated her.
So there are only 2 cows left to calve.... both mine. They both look about a month away, but I will continue to check them regularly so I know when they're close.

CynB, I'm so sorry about the minister you knew who died from COVID-19. How awful for his wife. I hope she makes a full recovery.

How awful for your cousin's wife and her fellow passengers! I hope some government will be compassionate and allow the passengers to disembark, even if they will be required to remain in quarantine for a few weeks!

Heidi, I'm so glad you got your pain meds and hav begun to feel better! I know you want to finish the pond, but please try to pace yourself.

It must be a relief that Mike's last cow has had her calf. I'm sorry they weren't cooperative and you had to chase them around the pasture. I hope your last 2 will be more cooperative when their time is right!

Thinking off everyone and sending healing energy, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, and

My cows are used to their calves being handled just after birth and don't make such a production out of it. But the leg catch still comes in handy for calves that are already dry, up and running. This was the first time Mike saw me use the leg catch, and he was impressed at how useful it is. I think he'll try it next time he spots a newborn calf before I do. He only beat me to one this year. I spotted all the others first. Last calving season I was still so sick that he did all the spotting, catching and tagging himself. That's one reason I'm trying to help him as much as I can with his cows. I owe him big time.

I can no longer pet Laird every day, but he still walks up to within 2 feet of me to say hello, then snorts and dashes off. He still seems to like me. He gets handsomer every day. He's going to make ons gorgeous bull. He has his sire's (Duke) looks more than his maternal grandsire's (Rede), but he has his grandsire's disposition. He's very laid back and intelligent for a calf. The oldet 6 calves in the pasture are Duke's, but Laird is easily the calmest and smartest of the lot. Mike's oldest calf (a month older than Laird) is stunning looking, he has much better muscle development (since he's older), but he doesn't have the outstanding disposition I look for in a herd bull. I find that calm dispositions are heritable, and calmer calves grow faster and stay healthier since they don't stress as easily. A lot of cattlemen don't include disposition as a major criteria for a herd bull... they just want a heavily muscled bull that gets the cows bred fast, and frequently they want what is called a ''calving ease'' bull.... a bull whose calves are born fairly small so they pop out of the cows easily without hurting the cow so the cow can be bred back quicker. Every Red Angus bull I've bought has the genetics for ''calving ease''. But I want a bull who is the complete package.... great conformation, calving ease, great disposition, stayability (their daughters stay in production with a herd far longer than the average for the breed) and ideal carcass traits. My calves have now gotten a reputation for all of these traits, fortunately, and the people at my favorate graded sale barn talk them up to potential buyers. I've even overheard them doing so when they didn't know I was listening. Laird has all of the correct genetic traits. I just need to see how he matures physically.
---- Class on Bovine Breeding over.----

The pond is refilling!!!! I feel so good about getting that huge job done. I want to get one nice water lily plant to add, then it will be perfect.

I ordered a nice hardy water lily. It's called Red Attraction. In the early season, the flowers are smallish and pink, but later in the season the flowers get big and red.

Heidi, The hospital ships, both of them were never intended to treat covid patients. The intent was to take non-infected patients with other maladies from hospitals, giving them space to treat covid patients. The hospital ships were designed and built as military vessels. The myriad of piping and wiring is not, for the most part hidden behind wall and ceilings. It is hanging from brackets, in tight bundles that defy complete cleaning / disinfecting. Treating combat casualties is what they were designed for. There is a difference between infection and air borne infectious diseases. Trying to keep the ship disinfected would be a full time job for many more people than are assigned to the ship.

OK.... So why are there only 20 people on board that hospital ship? There are always plenty of sick people other than Covid patients. It still seems like the beds are being wasted. Why bring a hospital ship in if it's being used at 5% capacity?

That I cannot answer. I won't pretend to know or even guess...

Just a quick hello and good night! Sending healing energy, prayers, , positive thoughts, and prayers for all!

I got the pump filter and waterfall filters cleaned out. Then I tested the pump. It isn't working. Then I looked for my back up pump, and it's nowhere to be found. I just had to order a new one. Fortunately, there's no big hurry, so I didn't have to go out to a garden center, Lowe's or a pond store to get one. I can safely sit at home and have one delivered here within the week. The price wasn't too bad. Including tax, it was $107, and it handles 2000 gallons an hour.

Just a quick Hello and Good Night!

•Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and keeping you distance from everyone else. I have to admit, life is quite boring these days so I have no news. I am waiting for deliveries of some mosaic supplies today so I can finish the first of two stepping stones for my sister. I did 2 for her at Christmas, so it will be 4 all up. When they're finished and installed I will post photos of them.

I have not been one for ordering things online but have had to in recent weeks - groceries of course, I also ordered clothes, ink for my printer, and mosaic supplies so far.

My dear Sandy isn't feeling well.... and is going to visit Mike the Vet at his office for blood work, etc, in the morning. I don't know what's wrong but I'm scared. She's definitely not her regular self, even though her regular self is a strong willed control freak of a pain in the a$$ who refuses to believe that I'm the boss. I love her deeply.

Hi, Everyone!

DOrA, that would have been a good TOPP or a good BOPP, because I suspect it's mostly true. I'm not an amazing cook, but luckily neither hubby or I drink on a regular basis.

CynB, I look forward to see the completed mosaic stepping stones. What a wonderful gift for your sister!

I just read on the news about a cruise ship that was to go to Antarctica and has been waiting off the coast of Montevideo, Uruguay. I suspect it might be the ship your cousin's wife is on. Unfortunately, quite a number of the passengers and crew reportedly have COVID-19. Some passengers were being allowed to disembark.

Heidi, I'm so sorry to hear that Sandy is feeling well. I hope it's nothing major and Mike the Vet will be able to help her return to good health!

In the past 2 days, we have experienced 'tele-health' twice. One was just a phone call The other included audio and video using the ZOOM technology. There will be several more before the end of the month.

Thinking of everyone and sending positive thoughts, healing energy, prayers, , and {{{{{HUGS}}}}}! Take care, Everyone!

Sandy has pyometra. That's a nasty uterine infection. She's now on antibiotics and is scheduled for her spay surgery tomorrow morning. That should fix the problem completely. The only problem is giving her the meds she needs. She's off feed and won't take her pills wrapped in bacon, so I have to push them down her throat.... something she hates.

•I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.

We're under tornado watch right now., and for the next 6 hours.
Sandy has to be at the Vet Clinic in 11 1/2 hours for her surgery. My poor girl is feeling lousy.

I got a phone call and apology today from the hatchery where I ordered my peachicks and guinea keets. They've been so flooded with orders (and mine was late in the season) that they won't have my order ready until sometime in August! I congratulated them on their business doing so well right now when so many businesses are having serious problems. They told me that this Spring they've had many more orders than they ever have had placed. They're overwhelmed. I wonder if it has anything to do with people wanting to be able to provide their own eggs and meat without going to the store? Or if they just want something to do while stuck at home?

Sorry,k everyone. I'm falling asleep

Sending healing energy, prayers, positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and prayers for everyone!