I don't post much on here, but I do lurk to see what everyone else is up to. I lurk on FB, too. We're pretty much the same, except now we have to mow more often since the grass/weeds are growing. And with today's rain, that will happen even faster!

We are gearing up for Summer. Our electric bill will no doubt be increasing as it gets warmer. This trailer was not constructed with energy efficiency needed for south Texas heat and humidity. We do, at least, have a window unit in our bedroom so when it gets sweltering, we can cool off the bedroom before going to sleep.

***********************************************
A lot is going on in other people's lives right now. Some people are those my friends and family know, even though I don't, some of those are near and dear to me. I often find I have a 'miscellaneous' section to my prayers - don't always know the details of who or what for, I just know they need God's hand on them.

***********************************************

It's hard to believe the changes that we experienced this past year. We decided at the first of the year we were seriously going to get motivated and put our house on the market. Due to a slight delay - I hurt my back lifting a box of books, which took several weeks to heal - I got things packed up and put in storage. We had the realtor come out and she told us we should get as much out of the house as possible if we wanted to be aggressive. So I packed up more and we put almost everything in storage. So, Easter weekend, our house officially went on the market and we moved out to Flatonia to stay with Zane's grandparents while the house showed and could be pet free....

We got an offer on the house and while we ended up paying the realtor fees out of our pocket, it meant we sold our house, which was the goal. We could have risked waiting out the summer, but there was no way to know if we'd have a better offer. We hoped we could continue staying with his grandparents, but Zane's commute was really taking a toll on him - and me. We had to get up at 3:50 every day.

In August, I was looking online at rental properties and found a listing in Brenham. We went and looked at the trailer and felt it was something we could work with. Then came the negotiating because of our cats - the owner was a bit hesitant, but I think the realtor really pulled for us, and with an extra pet deposit, it worked out. He has been a great landlord, and has taken care of everything that has been a problem. We originally signed a 2 year lease, but I am thinking we will probably end up staying another year. We are trying to save up for buying some land, and we have a little debt to pay off first, as well as deciding where we want to settle. We like it where we are, but it would be nice to be a bit closer to church and Zane's work. He is fine with his commute now, but closer is still better.

I had thought about looking for a PT job just to make a little extra money to pay off debt faster, and maybe even work for a year or so to help save. I had gone by a staffing agency in town, but they said they didn't have anything. A couple of weeks later, they called and needed someone to take the place of another temp they had who had too many absences for the company where they were filling in. I took the assignment, which was supposed to last for about 4 weeks.

It reminded me of why my house was never clean. All I want to do when I get home is veg! But it has gotten a little easier. Now, the company where I am working wants me to stay on thru February, as they are transitioning to a new accounting system. I told them I would need more money, and am waiting to hear back. But once that is over, I am done. If it takes us longer to pay off debt and save up, so be it. It's not worth it for me.

But, the job is ok and the people are nice, so at least it is pleasant.

Other than that, things are going along like usual. We are slowly making the transition to living in the country, which where we are isn't that bad, having conveniences a lot of others don't. And Zane bought a horse - a 9 month old. He is working with him to do some preliminary training. We are also trying to get a stall and round pen built so we can move him here. Which, of course, takes money.

So here's to a new year, and I hope it's full of good things!

About 3 this morning, we woke up to high winds making a lot of noise. So much noise that I checked the weather to see what was up. Turns out it was just a front moving thru, but the whole trailer shook slightly some. It was a bit disconcerting. I'm thinking, this place has been here a while, it's not going to blow over, right?

Zane came across a tree blown down on his way out to work, so it really was bad, apparently. I have all the blinds open to let the light in as the sun finally came out. Got more boxes put away or moved and rearranged some furniture. Vacuumed to get rid of Texas tumbleweeds. Put up my ornament tree. We each have our own this year. We get Hallmark ornaments each year and have moved beyond being able to share one. I've been collecting the birds series. It started the year we got married, so I have 8 this year. Zane usually gets a Star Wars, Star Trek or something like that.

I tried making a roux for the first time. Didn't turn out quite like I expected, but that was due to my not having everything at hand at the right moment. It still make a great base for my own cream of chicken soup I used to make turkey pot pie for dinner. Topped with homemade biscuits, it was pretty good. My biscuits still aren't rising as high as I would like. I am pretty sure it is because they are oil biscuits, instead of using butter or shortening.

Go to YouTube and look for 'Walt Disney's The Story of Menstruation.' It's....interesting. And if that's all the education some girls got back then, incredibly sad.

I had to laugh at the part about some girls getting 'a touch of nerves.'

Living in the country as opposed to to a suburb is a bit if an adjustment. The first thing we had to allow for in the spring was the bloom of bugs. Scorpions, crickets and fuzzy caterpillars. Then that tapered off. Despite our move to another location since we were at Zane's grandparents' house, I am sure we will see it again next spring, and according to our neighbor, add tarantulas to the mix. We have so far seen two. One out in the field and one being dragged off by a wasp in the yard.

I had already decided that for us to undertake a drastic change of lifestyle, I was going to have to buck up and wear boots outside and at least flip-flops inside. No biggie. Haven't run across a bug I couldn't squish. I have even taken to doing some of the mowing on our riding mower. It's almost fun when you do it that way. One problem is I always have to keep an eye out for rocks, sticks and stuff the dogs have left laying around, mostly found up under the trailer. Shoes, wood, bottles, cans. You name it. As I was mowing that yard after too long an interval, I ran over a heavy duty glove. I hate the sound the mower makes when it hits something, because it sounds like everything is breaking apart and pieces are sure to start flying out. As I continued my mow, I hit something else. The first clue this was different was that the dogs ran over and were checking something out. So I drove over for a closer look.

And it was what had been a field mouse. They are not as small as I thought they were (like Mrs. Frisby) and are actually something I would not want nesting in my walls, for sure. Surprisingly, while I was sorry I had killed it, I also recognized that life and death are a part of this experience. Field mice reproduce at a pretty good rate, like most rodents, and it is not an endangered species. I had to dispose of it as I did not want the dogs to have any more unauthorized snacks than I am sure they do.

I am not ready to start wringing chicken necks yet (probably never) but I do think I am moving toward being able to grow my own food, even meat, and be able to remain detached enough to eat it when the time comes.