Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

“Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can't get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don't care who you are. What goes around comes around. That's how it works. Sooner or later the universe will serve you the revenge that you deserve.”
― Jessica Brody,

I have found so often in life that people like your ex, Heidi, always get a good serving of Karma.
As it should be.
And people who claim to be Christians just because they go to church, despite doing some awful things that are against all Christian teachings are the world's worst hypocrites.
I am not a church goer, but I do try to live a good life with compassion, love and decency.

I am not a Christian, but I try to help others, both human and animal, as much as I can. I also try to live with compassion, love and decency. I cannot remember my ex ever doing anything for anybody unless he got something out of it. Yet he called himself a Christian. I thought being a Christian meant that you followed the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. That's something my ex never did.
Spending time in a church doesn't make you a Christian, just like spending time in a garage doesn't make you a car.

Good analogy, Heidi!
Totally agree with everything you said.'
I have known you (online) for many years now and know how much you have helped many people and animals - i'm sure you and everyone else has lost count of the animals you have rescued and taken in over the years. You are a good compassionate person.

BTW... Jesus wasn't a Christian, either.

My father always said if you are compassionate and kind, it doesn't matter if you have a religion - because that in itself is one.
We have still not heard anything from our son - he was due to return home yesterday. Interpol are trying to trace him through his passport and visa.

Facts don't matter to those people!

Midge, I hope you hear some good news about your son soon. I keep thinking how I would feel if it was one of my children or grandies. I'll keep you in my thoughts and my fingers crossed.

Guess what? Mr Lucky, Colin, has Covid! And a bad dose of it. I'm fine so far. It just had to be him.

Hope Mr L's bout of covid is short - is he having the anti-virals? I had the infusion first time, then 2nd time anti-virals. Seemed to work well but hell on stomach. Trying any vaccine is worth it if it keeps you out of hospital. This is one thing he is not to share with you.
I am keeping as busy as I can. Have spring-cleaned (in summer) the room Ben uses when he is here, even bottled more tomatoes as well as doing office work. Waiting is not easy.
How are your new charges (cats) settling in Heidi? Are the dogs very appreciative of having them around?

If Colin didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck at all.

Midge.... this is scary. I cannot imagine what you're feeling. I hope you get some news of your son soon.

I don't believe this weather. Today is the second day in a row that we're having highs around 75˚F / 23.9˚C! This is record breaking warmth for this time of year. And NO MORE freezing temperatures are predicted for the rest of the winter. My daffodils are in riotous bloom. Even the frogs are out and splashing around in my pond.

My son has been in contact. He was in Busan and cocooned in with his work and weather and was having an episode of depression. He was very surprised so many people were concerned about his welfare - especially his friends as most of them have families and lead a different lifestyle. He has many emails and people to respond to now. (And pay for the grey hair he caused me). He is back in April now. We are so relieved.
2nd son about to go to Thailand - thank goodness he is in regular contact. It is always a worry when they travel on their own.

FANTASTIC news, Midge!!! I bet you treasure every one of those gray hairs since you know he's alive. The alternative was unthinkable.

I'm sure you are SO RELIEVED, Midge. Sometimes, though, it is hard for those who are missed to realize they are missed. With today's ''instant communication'', some find it difficult to understand why they don't hear from friends & family. Now 40 years ago, when there was only ''snail mail'' -------------

So pleased that your son has reappeared, Midge. The relief must be palpable.

I now have Covid and it is worse that the last time. I have what is essentially a severe head cold. I can't sleep brcause my nose blocks up and I can't breathe. Comes from years of training myself to only breathe through my nose as it helped me control my asthma.

Have you had the vaccines and boosters, CynB?

Yep, I have had the vaccines (2) and boosters (2). I believe there is a third booster but I haven't heard of it's availibility. After this, I don't think I have any faith in them anyway.
I am however feeling slightly better today.

I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.

The vaccinations cannot prevent you from catching Covid, but they make a huge difference in it's intensity. They can mean the difference between surviving it and not surviving it. They can keep you out of the hospital.

Horrible high winds yesterday, some hurricane strength. I had some damage to my barn roof and will need repairs.

I have someone coming by next week to repair the barn roof. It sounds like they'll do a good job.

Been quiet on here for a few days. I was quite ill with Covid this time, it wasn't fun. But I'm getting back to normal now.
We have a diagnosis on Colin. It is as expected, COPD/Emphysema. Fortunately it is at a level that it can be menaged with medication although, of course, it can't be cured. This means some adjustment to our lives. He is unable to mow or do the gardening without getting breathless. I think we'll have to get this house ready for sale and downsize to something that has very little or no garden/lawn. But we have to take into account our poor old dog Jewel, who is 15, blind, deaf, sleeps a lot but still likes to take control (barking) when she thinks she should. She would never adjust to a new smaller abode. We may have to wait it out until she's ready to go. She's family too.

I am back! We had a massive storm hit with 100 MPH /161 KPH winds on Friday. I lost about 30 trees. And my power. I just got it back less than a half hour ago. Fortunately I was well stocked up on batteries and candles. The whole county was down and no stores were open over the weekend.

Oh wow, Heidi! Do you have a generator? Or did you lose all of your refrigerated food? That's a long time to lose power, but I guess if it was the entire county it would have taken so long to restore power lines. Glad you're back on deck.

And right after I posted that last comment, the workmen showed up to work on the barn roof!!!

Both freezers were packed solid and I didn't open the doors, so they should be OK. And I only lodt a carton of chicken broth in the fridge. It was low and pretty much only contained bottled drinks that really didn't need to be kept cool.

The barn roof has been repaired! And just in time. We plan on working some of the cows this weekend.... getting the open cows sychronized to do artificial insemination the following weekend.

I plan on being bad tomorrow. The local TSC (Tractor Supply Company) is having a Pet Adoption event. I need to go there anyways to get some dewormer for London (one of the alpacas), so I'm going ti see what pets they have that need homes. I will bring a small crate in case I get a cat. A dog can ride on the passenger seat.

I got myself an Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) cross puppy this morning. Jerri is extremely affectionate and intelligent. She trotted at my side when I was moving the cows around this afternoon, and seems interested in learning to work cattle.
Tomorrow I'm taking a heifer of mine (who keeps jumping fences) and an old cow (who has no teeth left) of Mike's to the sale barn.

Oh wow, Heidi! I love those dogs. My daughter and her husband had one they named Jimmy. He is a very smart dog. We don't see him any more since my daughter and her husband split 4 years ago (he got custody of the dog lol), but the kids often see him when they visit their Dad.
Went to a wedding of one of Col's nieces yesterday. The bride looked beautiful and it went well. Except that they chose a venue up in the mountains, almost a 2 hour drive for us. It was a wet day mostly but cleared ebough for them to get some good photos, The reception was in an un-airconditioned venue, down the mountain. Humidity was 96%. Speeches went on for more than an hour. We finally got away at 9.15pm, then realised our fuel light was on. We were on a dark lonely road and knew we had about 15km to get to the closest fuel stop on the highway. We made it. Phew. Got home at 11.40pm. A long day and I really felt my age. Left the younguns dancing to Uptown Funk. Once upon a time I would have joined in.

Oh and, we left home at 1pm, fed the dog before we went. Came home expecting her to be excited and annoyed that we had left her alone for so long. Nah, she was asleep and did not stir, but was very excited when I got up this morning, Ran into our bedroom, jumped on Col and woke him up! They are both sleeping again now.

lucky you Heidi - they are lovely dogs except they are also called heelers - nip the heels of cattle, and sometimes humans to control them. Very loyal.
Hope the weather in the USA settles down - sounds ghastly. We have lost our summer (if it really was here) and the weather is quite mild and hopefully some rain so I don't have to water the many plants in pots waiting to be settled in their new places. Son no. 2 has put in some steps for me so I can finally go down our backyard. The last lot were pulled down over a year ago.
CynB were you at Mt Tamborine? My friend has just sold her home up there - it had a view back to the Gold Coast. We had land at Purlingbrook Falls (the only lot allowed to be uilt on). Loved it there. Sounds like you need a day of rest to get over yesterday.
Long weekend here and no energy to go to the beach so just doing some computer work.
Like your comment about wine DorA - one of the few things I can have so long as it doesn't container sulphides.
No-one left around here now - 1 son in Sth Korea still then onto Thailand in 3 weeks, 1 son in Darwin, 1 son in Thailand for a month and daughter camping and skiing at Lake Nagambie for the weekend. Hubby happy watching the horse races and I was too lazy to get out of bed early enough to go to the farmers market today so now have to do supermarket shopping (which I detest). Watched an interesting movie about Coco Chanel.

I got the heifer and the old cow delivered. The heifer acted like a fool when we tried to unload her. It made me feel like I made the right decision to sell her. I don't like cows that lose their cool. Unpredictable animals are potentially dangerous.

First calf of the season born to one of Mike's cows! I've notified him and he'll be here soon with the ear tag.

Midge, no, the wedding was up at Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, up the mountain from Australia Zoo. We would have been closer to Tamborine, we live between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Although I would rather drive down the mountain from Maleny than from Tamborine in the dark!!

Today I had to deworm London, one of the alpacas. London did NOT want to be handled, so I had to rope her. Normally, once she’s caught, she lays down and goes on strike, but today she didn’t. We had quite the wrestling match. I have several rope burns. Then London decided that kicking me was her preferred strategy to avoid being handled. Jerri had come along to watch. Well, she got indignant once London kicked me, so every time London kicked, Jerri nipped her! After a few nips, London laid down and I was able to administer the dewormer. I think I may have some farm help in training! Not bad for a puppy who is just under 5 months old!

I've just gotta ask -

What? London won't go 'down the road' like the heifer? Thought you didn't much care for uncooperative critters.....

London only weighs 150 lbs. She can't do much damage. And I don't have to handle her often. The next time will be May 2, when all the alpacas get sheared.

Next time you have to handle London, make sure Gerri is with you. I think they'll remember each other!
I have spent several months decluttering the house (amazing that it needs to be done every few years). Anyway my spare room that I have been wanting to use as an art studio was full of bags of clothes, blankets, sheets and household items no longer required. Yesterday I filled my car up, and I mean filled, the only space left was the driver's seat, and took it all to a big new charity store not far away. I took it to their unloading bay, someone came out and helped me, thank goodness. All gone! Now today, I will vacuum and clean the room, set up my table, get my Art and craft stuff in order. Finally. I'm so excited!

This afternoon we're working 3 cows. We're getting them sychronized and ready to A.I., then Tursday evening at 6 pm we're doing the A.I. (artificial insemination using frozen semen). All 3 are Red Angus cows (2 of mine, 1 of Mike's) being bred to a Red Balancer bull. Balancers are a great Angus/Gelbveih cross. Angus have the best marbling of any breed and Gelbveih have the largest ribeye area of any breed in the world. Balancers have the best of both breeds.

Oops... we'll be doing the A.I. at 1 PM on Tuesday. Got the cows lutalysed today to get them to ovulate in 3 days.