Incubator Success!

Guess what??!! The antique incubator I got from a dance family has so far today produced 3 baby chicks and # 4 is busy chipping his way out. I started with 48 eggs. I have lost 8 for various reasons. That leaves 40. Even if only 10 hatch this first time I will be very elated. This is my maiden voyage and it takes some skill to get 90-95% hatchability.
So even in the depth of my paperwork and stress hell I have something to be tickled about. They are pretty adorable.
Now what to do with them while they grow up big enough to go outside. I think I'll have to rig up something in the basement so they will survive the extra cold until they are all grown up-spring.

Out to Lunch!

I am in a really rotten mood. I have a husband who does NOT understand:
1. That he needs to do his share regarding finishing up his parents' affairs
2. If he is going to not participate in the paperwork stuff, then he could help out with other stuff and not pressure me to rescue him and take care of him constantly.

It is obvious I have a major attitude problem so I will refrain from posting until I get my act together.

Happy Life!

I have a pretty good life. Yesterday my girls (horses) started a new regime for the winter. They are doing so well at listening and behaving. It just makes your heart melt when things go so well.
I have 2 chicks and their mother living in my laundry room. The incubator is doing well.
I am really enjoying getting to know my life again!
The Munsters is a hilarious sitcom. As a kid, I always liked the Addams family better, but I gotta tell you, the humor on the Munsters is really wicked.
My house is filling up with costumes as is usual for show season and I LOVE IT!!!!!
Tomorrow I will actually be able to keep my phone commitment to Rakieta.
Yes, life is very good.

Adele Antonette Kalinowski

Adele Antonette Kalinowski, age 84 of Imlay City, Mi, passed on to be with her husband and other family members who passed before her on November 11, 2009.
Adele was born February 22, 1925 in Buffalo, New York to John and Sophia Biegajski. She was the 4th of 5 children. She graduated high school and married her high school sweetheart Leo on Thanksgiving Day of 1945.
She and Leo lived in Detroit until 1964, then lived in Warren until 1986. Their retirement years were spent between Baker’s Acres in Zephyr Hills, Fla and Rose Lake Forest in Leroy, Mi. They moved to Imlay City in 2006 to be close to their son, Matthew and his family.
Adele was a homemaker with an eye for detail. She loved painting and crafting and in her later years loved Bingo.
Adele is survived by her son Matthew, his wife Cyndy, and her 2 granddaughters, Merry and Jeni.
It was a difficult journey to the end for Adele and while she will be missed, she is now in a much better place. We love you Grandma!

Life in Ouaga

I haven't been reporting on our African kids much because I have been too darn busy being a nurse maid to even call. Today however, I was able to have a really long talk with Rakieta.
It seems the time has come that Rakieta MUST have a sewing machine of her own. So, we are taking a short break from paying for her new prosthetic to getting her machine. It will look about like this.
This whole sewing school thing has become very stressful. Being the quick witted young lady she is and having been outside the country and experiencing something other than the African way or the French way (I am not sure which is worse) Rakieta has been wailing and gnashing her teeth for quite a while over the fact that she doesn't think her school is doing the job right. She watched me sew, she has obviously been paying attention to the seamstresses in her neighborhood and she is painfully aware that she is not up to speed or skill.
So the lamenting has been pretty loud for quite a while. Perhaps this is part of the reason she has the blood in her mouth in the morning. Between grinding her teeth to the nubs and the ulcer she has probably developed, that pretty much explains the medical issue.
Anyway, the school seems to be solving the problem for her. They have explained that she must purchase a sewing machine.
The problem all goes back to the lady who she lives with. The lady is very good hearted. In fact, she developed the school. However, she also is very lax and is a huge procrastinator.
It is pretty bad when the head mistress of the school tells Rakieta that if she wasn't living with Marie, they would have expelled her for tardiness and absenteism. That was the last big problem. We solved it, but it required a ton of scheming about how to quit using Marie for transportation and just start using the green taxi.
Looks the solution this time is simple. I send the money, Marie picks up the machine and Rakieta can become a sewing fool. Sounds like a great plan to me!

Nice Sunday

It is after 3:00pm on Fall Back Sunday. I am very grateful they have changed the date for this to later in the Fall. I hate the early evenings from now until winter solstice. I always feel like I get sleepy too early.
At this point, Grandma is sleeping most of the time. It won't be long. Even though she is still not helping the process. The nights are getting easier and so are the days so the family is beginning to adjust to our new reality.
While I am absolutely chomping at the bit to first of all, be able to leave the house and then not worry about how long I am gone, I know that shortly I will be as free as Lee and Adele. Well, actually not, but you can bet I will appreciate it as much!
The temps outside are very mild and pleasant for the 1st of November. It is in the 50's, no wind, and partly sunny. It is the perfect riding day. I canceled today though due to the circumstances.
However, my laundry is done. It is the first time in months I wasn't scrambling to keep up. I put a roast in the oven. Matt is peacefully sleeping on the couch. I was able to call Rakieta. Things are good.
It is good to go through adversity. It ALWAYS makes you appreciate the small things in life.