Moved most of my things into my new place today. Calling Camp Hill PA home for now. Close enough to meet, file, prosecute (had to throw that in there), and continue to interact and advocate for the Ayrshire Farm pigs....but far enough to get a breath of fresh air.
Really excited about my new place. I work in solitude on a private property near Ski Round Top doing logging and landscaping. My muscles are already coming back. I'm living in more urban area which will create a good balance. A rural property would have been too isolating...and too tempting to add infrastructure and get chickens etc.
I need to save every penny and the dog's and I enjoy people watching. The place property has a empty lot adjacent owned by the same man so there plenty of green.
Its coming together
...and falling apart.
I need a $50 laptop repair. The part comes in tomorrow. Can't even tell you the panic of a black screen and a continuous series of 4 beeps. Eeek
That's small beans compared to the $1300 estimate for a new catalytic converter. Check engine light has been on since before my house fire in 2012 and I can no longer ignore the problem. The part is only $300ish but I don't have friends or connections around here. This corolla has been good to me. I can't complain.
How's everyone doing?
You hear about me all the time. What's going on in your worlds?
Oh, that sounds like a near-perfect living/working situation, Meredith. Glad you did opt for a more populated area to live. Isolation can take its toll. I'm happy that you have found such a place.
ReplyDeleteMy life right now... Duckmama, here. I'm a widow for many years, and just getting the last of two kids off to college this fall; speaking of isolation. Empty nest isolation, that is! I look forward to it, though. A new chapter, I'm an introvert and do rather enjoy my own company, so to speak. I don't think it will be much of a problem living alone.
It's a hotter than normal summer here. In June we broke a record for hottest day ever: 107. Then more 100s, then 90s. Still 90s. Longing for winter, the woodstove, and a good stew!
The ducklings are getting huge! They are only about 5 or 6 weeks old, and the Cayuga crosses (with Khaki) are almost as big as the adult Khaki females I have. Cayugas are a fairly large duck. I do have some pics from when they were little, but have not got the disposable camera developed yet. I'll have to send you some "baby" and "teenage" pics.
So, same ole, same ole around here, except for the new grad and the impending move to college. The college is 1.5 hours away, so nice for learning independence, but not too far in case he wants some "home" time. :-)
Again, very excited for you, Meredith. Sounds like you found a good setup there!
Wow, those ducks are growing like weeds!
DeleteGlad to hear you are looking forward to your new chapter and adventure.
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DeleteI'm excited for you too. Why logging and landscaping? How will you itch your farming habit?! I just bought and moved into a new (to me) ranch home on almost an acre. I'm turning this grass landscape into garden plots and space for 3-5 chickens! My first go at it, so I'm excited. I'm also renovating the mater bath and eventually the kitchen...painting the entire exterior (finished paining the entire interior....), so keeping busy. Life is good!
ReplyDeleteGood question.
DeleteEvery free moment and thought is dedicated to bringing awareness to the severe calculated willful neglect at Ayrshire Farm.
That farm is owned managed and staffed with sadistic sociopaths who are heartless, reckless, and leave a path of pain suffering and destruction in the path of every person and animal they come in contact with. (All previous employees will attest to that...unfortunately their experience was not within the statute of limitations so they could not testify). ALL current employees and contractors are complacent and either witness or participate is physical abuse and an,unlawful level of neglect.
Why logging and landscaping? Ayrshire Farm broke my heart and stole my joy. They introduced to a level of evil I had never been exposed to. They prevent wellness and make it a point to let disease and sickness progress untreated leading to suffering and neglect.
I am honestly scared to work on another farm. The inhumane and unethical treatment at this certified humane farm is worse than the atrocities on factory farms.
I'm not on a farm because mentally and emotionally can't watch fucking idiots with no thought of animal husbandry or ethics own and run a farm. I have my cause to see through.
Logging I can just follow direction.the ethical implications are much less severe.
Ayrshire Farm has my full attention and as long as either of those women own or work with animals I will make it my personal responsability to warn and educate people about the systematic cruelty they create condone and continue
I feel like I have a lot going on and nothing going on at the same time. I was working a full time job plus shifts at a local horse stable - horses and physical work are my true passion. Since I was cut from the stables (worst run place EVER...so frustrating), I feel like I've been in a slump of inactivity which really bothers me. I don't have the personality/mentality for the gym and like to get my exercise while also accomplishing a physical job, so that's been tough to sort out. The freed up time gives me more time for my garden though, which is about to explode with cucumbers. We've had both extreme temperature highs and extremely wet weather in this part of PA, so I'll be curious to see how that affects all the plants. Not much else is producing yet. I also have an old F150 I'm accidentally in the middle of restoring with my boyfriend's help. It was supposed to be a few quick repairs, but those repairs have led to the discovery of many more repairs, but such is the way with old things. Hopefully I'll have a kayak in the bed of it soon and be off on some adventures. I know summer's just barely begun, but I almost can't wait until fall/winter are back again. Love that time of year so much! ~AM
ReplyDeleteI'm like you. Don't have the gym mentality AT ALL. I need to be physical and productive.
DeleteWhat happened with the horse farm?
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DeleteThe horse stables were kind of a nightmare of drama. I started there February and was feeding 20+ horses every morning from 7-8:30 a.m. before coming to my office job. There's a barn manager but the place is run by a non-profit board of directors, so really the barn manager has no true "boss" power. Basically I saw them through one of the shittiest winters we've had here, and then the barn manager said the board (apparently with the held of a couple conniving staff members who wanted that 1.5 hours of work in the mornings) decided it wasn't working and wanted to cut me unless i could pick up a full shit (this a week after she was just praising how hard I work and how I was the only knowledgeable/trustworthy staff and wanted to know if I'd consider working full time). Since I work FT in an office on weekdays and work out at another horse farm on Saturdays, I didn't really want to give up Sunday to a work shift, but I also didn't want to get booted from working there. Love being around horses and love the physical activity. So I gave in and said I'd work the 7 a.m.-noon shift on Sundays, and I was also coming extra hours during the week to muck the turn-out fields. A couple weeks later, that barn manager was out. I think she and the board weren't seeing eye-to-eye. She asked if I wanted her to put my name in the position but I said no because I couldn't do 25+ hours there during "business" hours and my regular job, which I of course need for the income. Back in May I gave notice for my Sunday shift because I'd be missing a lot of Sundays over the summer and figured it'd be better to give it to someone all the time than have someone cover so many shifts for me. Supposedly I was still going to be allowed to work my turn-out mucking hours. About two weeks in to that arrangement I get a long email from the manager (who happens to be one of those shady staff members who went to the board to try to take my hours) saying turn-out is going to be given to "regular" staff members. So now I'm 100% out. I don't understand why barns always tend to be such drama-filled places. And it's always the conniving people who claw their way to the top instead of the hard workers earning a place. Still makes me mad. It was really nice to spend those hours out in the sun working hard, but I'll keep looking for other ways to enjoy the outdoors and some physical work.
DeleteI feel for you. Physically mentally and emotionally. That was such a great outlet for you. Yes it does seem the connivers make their way to the top. Women drama animal drama barn drama. I get it.
DeleteI feel for you. Physically mentally and emotionally. That was such a great outlet for you. Yes it does seem the connivers make their way to the top. Women drama animal drama barn drama. I get it.
DeleteTrying to make hay in spite of the weather. Not even half done with first cut-- I can't do anything but watch helplessly as it grows older and less nutritious and less palatable by the day. It's depressing.
ReplyDeleteI think of you hay farmers daily, it's been SO wet.
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ReplyDeleteCongrats, Meredith. Sounds like a great gig which will also allow you to pursue your goals!
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