Life of the Party

           On the coldest night of this winter season came about two of the most beautiful babies we have had thus far be born on our farm. Late last night I just had a feeling that Honey would go into labor. She had acted beyond strange and was extra affectionate.     With flashlight in tow, my husband and I made the trek down to check on the goats. Lo and behold, we had to be beautiful babies be born. Hello world, meet, Huck and Harmony. Honey did an amazing job and I couldn't be more proud of our two newest members of our farm family. They were both up and moving this morning. My husband sent me this lovely picture of our proud mama and babies.      I was hoping that she would hold out until this cold weather left us, but like with every doe, her body has a mind of its own.  PS. My husband hated the names so Harmony is now....... Helga!

      I find the title ironic in itself, because this book is a lie as a whole. The author left us mid story at the end of the book, which completely infuriates me to no end. The idea is there, but the author just couldn't execute the foundation that she so desperately built.      I trudged through the book hoping it would pick and get better, but that was futile. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I would love to have had a story that explored more of the world of edem. Scholte just missed the mark.      Did the editors not read the book in its entirety? I can see why the Good Reads website rates this book so low. I normally do not succumb to looking up ratings, but I just had to see if anyone had the same opinion.      I would rate this book a 2 out of 5 stars. It should really be a one, but hopefully someone will pick up this book's ground work and expand on it. This is not how I wanted my weekend to start. 414 pages...

      My step count for the month has rose a little bit. As you can see, there are days I do not wear my Apple Watch at all. But my step count is steadily climbing. I see this as progress. Honestly, after my appointment on Monday, it's really hard to focus on any positives. When you try your best, but still get beat down at each appointment it really gets demoralizing.     I guess I will just keep chipping away at progress and hopefully reap the results in the near future. There's not much to say on this point. I am still motivated, but I kinda need someone in my corner as well. If I'm telling the doctors things that I am doing to change, there should be a little bit of a positive vibe radiating from them. My goal for this week is to try to make sure each day I am above 7000 steps. I really need to work on closing all three rings each day.     I wish Apple had a way of having competitions with people worldwide instead of just who you are friends with. ...

      After three very long books, I was absolutely devastated with the ending to this. I wanted and even needed Morgan's character to finally eradicate the kingdom from Queen Guinevere. Some part of me just absolutely needed to see her annihilate. The woman who caused her so many hardships in book one in book 2. Morgan's character overall just needed to end on a happy note. Please tell me Sophie Keetch is going to write a fourth book.     My inner mama heart was also shattered to learn that one of her sons died. As an audience, we didn't even get to hear what happened to the youngest child that was basically stolen from her. So many unanswered questions. This book was just written and released back in 2025 so there may be a slot chance that the author will continue the story and give Morgan her ultimate victory. The ending seems so rushed as well. Maybe her funding ran out? I cannot believe that brother and sister gave each other for all the hateful and spitefu...

      Where do I find myself in this blanket of darkness? I have been up for hours with my toddler who seems to be stricken with night terrors along with a slight fever. She and I both haven't slept and grow sleepy with contempt.      She awakes with cries that only I can quieten, so here we are... my sitting on our sofa holding my toddler as she slips in and out of slumber. This time will soon pass and I might just miss these nights where she needs me the most. The solicitude that comes along with motherhood is something we don't really discuss at  length. Yes, you have other people in your life, but no on is really there on the late nights or early mornings.      I have found a new peace with motherhood. One that has brought me so much joy and sorrow at the same time. You are raising a child to live without you, but at the same time you are their support. I know one day she will not run to me, especially in her teen  years, b...

      I am absolutely disgusted with Duke Energy. The past year they have had several hikes that has led us to basically rethinking whether or not we can afford basic electricity. At receiving this month's bill, I was completely broken. Our bill, even with the use of propane had the difference of $220. Our neighbors of the road, had a bill that was well over $600. How could people afford to survive and make rent with having electricity prices so high.     Before you make the assumption that we can just simply switch utilities, you need to understand one thing about small communities. Duke energy is our only provider for electricity in our area. You have no other choices. And if you have children, it is a requirement that you have electricity in your home. It's not like you can simply skip out on this. We leave our temperature set, wear extra warm clothes, and have additional heat sources. We are simply surviving, not thriving at the moment. Duke energy really ne...

      So twice a year, I make the long 2.5 hour drive to see my endocrinologist. Yes, it is essential that you go and see your diabetes specialist a few times a year. Although it is a costly appointment for me, I still make the effort to go. I was really hoping for some good positive vibes, but unfortunately, that did not happen this go around.     I always share my updates with everything on my blog. I was more than thrilled to have an A1C of 6.3, but the PA suggested otherwise. According to their weight scale, I weigh 227 pounds I had previously gotten down to 225 but have failed to maintain that weight your body does fluctuate daily so I understand that as well. Due to the fact that I have not lost significant weight or had a lower A1c, my doctor was not very pleased with me. According to their chart in the main office, though I was right within the blue goal range.      She did mention that since I'm on a steroid for my tennis elbow that my su...

      The sheer essence of this book has been amazingly favorable for me. I have fallen in love with the story, and yes I long for more. I cannot wait to start the next installment! Morgan's character alone has made this series so enticing.      My "mama" heart sank when the wizard tricked her out of her newborn child. She has lost two children and I felt every stray thought she had. Being able to identify with the main character is always a blessing.      Blood ties do not mean everything. Keetch has out done herself with this rendition of Merlin. It's the story we have never heard, but so desperately needed. Can she regain favor with her brother or will she always be an outcast without her children. King Author is casted as a man of great uncertainty. I loathe his character in this book and wish that Keetch makes him pay ounce of flesh for what he has done to his sister. Power corrupts all! What is the importance of a crown? Can she ge...

     Oh the dreaded Dexcom.  You do not want to hear my reviews of the Dexcom, because at this very moment, I am beyond infuriated. My newest prescription of the meter itself have all failed to pair with the main device. So if you don't know, your insurance only pays for four a month. Each one should last roughly 5 to 7 days, but when they fail to pair with the main meter, that piece is absolutely useless. They will not reimburse you or give you one as a replacement either. You have to go without having continuous blood sugar measurements.     So now I will have two weeks without wearing my Dexcom, which completely terrifies me as a diabetic. I no longer have the one where I can sit and prick my finger and drop my blood on a little stick. I have become so reliant upon the system that I don't know how I'm going to get through the next couple of weeks without having it. I like being able to know minute by minute what my sugar is. Completely disappointed in th...

      It's happened to me... my elbow is absolutely  ridiculous and I cannot seem to get regular chores done. Here I am feeling all sorry for myself, but I know some people have it worse than me. Maybe the symptoms will slowly go away with time. The gave me steroids to help, so here goes nothing!     Oh the pain sucks! Wish me luck!

    Well, this is a diamond in the rough! This is just want I needed in this dreary weather; a love story that  intertwines Native American culture cover to cover. The main character, Lucas has been an absolute dream. Avery, our very overachieving female lead was a complete delight. This book was one of our Keeper's of the Flame book club choices for this month, and I'm glad it got the highest vote.     Avery falls in love with her roots and cannot seem to balance her singing career and her farming background. I think I could listen/read this book multiple times.      Where have I spent my late nights... Girls, it was with this book and warm herbal tea. My child doesn't sleep, so this has kept me company on those long nights of toddler tantrums.          I especially enjoyed the Hallmark version of a western tale. The epilogue added a upmost finesse to the overall book. Getting to hear directly from the author of the ...

      Where do you see yourself on a random winter weekend? Ahhhh, I see you don't really  have an answer, so let me tell you about my weekend. My weekend was filled with endless chores, yearly, chores, and toddler tantrums.     It's that time of year again, folks! Your taxes have to be done. As always, I dread this time of year. We were lucky enough not to have to pay in this year, which is a massive positive. So many of our friends and family are getting eight to $10,000 back, but we are just happy that we broke even. I have dreaded this weekend for the past four weeks. Every year, there's a new surprise that seems to just randomly pop up during tax season. My toddler pitched such a fit in the office we almost got kicked out.     This weekend was also filled with hoof trimming. It is always my job to hold the goat as my husband is leveling off their hoofs. As it turns out, my biggest goat, Fancy, now out weighs me significantly. She tossed and t...

      Where has all my time gone? I feel as if I'm constantly scheduling out every aspect of my life. I have a planner in calendar for school along with a personal calendar. I budgeted out in significant events along with major appointments every week. What I have noticed of late, is that all my time is really taking up with commuting. That long hour and 15 minute can you really does eat up my time each day.     I'm still in the journey to a healthier way, but I also need to realize that Tom constrains really do play a major detrimental role in my effectiveness. I'm still putting for the great effort. There are no excuses, but there is reality. The reality is that two hours and 30 minutes out of my day is spent in a sedentary motion under the wheel. Even when I get home, my time is so consumed by my toddler that I don't get to carve out time for myself. I am going to try to adjust and make sure I dedicate 15 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 days a week to myself. Talking ab...

      Well, now let's talk about surprises. Ladies, this book was written for us. It does not have the smutty sex scenes that seem to plague, most romance novels, but it does follow a plot that truly encompasses a childhood puppy love. I was really sad that the author did not bring back her first love in this first book.     Morgan, our main character empowers every fiber of my being. She is prideful and cunning while maintaining a lady's level head. The male characters of this book, however, does seem to infuriate me with each new chapter. Will our heroine end up finding her lost love from her childhood?     Kirby even entraps us with the usage of magic while slowly showing us glimpses of what is to come. I love her foreshadowing endeavors! I would gladly rate this book a 4.5 out of a 5 due to how this book ended. I do not like being left in the middle of a story. The author should always leave you wanting to know more, but not mid story line. I ...

      Yeah I'm still up. For those of you who do not know... I have a toddler who doesn't sleep and can go days without adequate sleep. The pediatrician states that some children go through these phases. It has in fact not been a phase. From the very night we brought her home, we have had to deal with this.  Ah, yes, and I still work a full time job on little to no sleep. We are currently on night 3 and sleep has still evaded us.      How will my Friday go? Ummmm, Only tomorrow knows those  answers. Sometimes I take off time and find a random parking lot and sleep. If I'm at home, no one helps me with Taylor and I cannot rest. Being the default parent sucks sometimes. I use my sick leave and sleep. Don't come at me with "it's dangerous," because I frankly do not care. Going nights without sleep is also detrimental to my health. I refuse to get caught at work napping, I would rather use my person sick leave for that along with my car and secret pil...

      Even with a dreaded two hour delay, I made the icy drive to work. I was hesitant first to even attempt the drive, but I do not have to leave to take the day off. I really should move closer to my place of employment. It was a disastrous drive. I slid out of the road multiple times while also having to dodge neighboring vehicles slowly skidding into my lane. Would I do it again... absolutely not.     Everything was fine until I reached the mountain. Crossing the gap on the lower side of the south end was absolutely ridiculous. I understand that the roads were wet and a lot of people thought that means that they were clear. Honestly, that witness on the road with that elevation means that that was ice. Not just any ice, black ice. Yes yes yes I understand that they are much the same, but I was absolutely terrified this morning. Normally my commute consist of listening to an audiobook, but I was on edge so my soul focus was on just trying to make it to work. ...

      Well, now the weather man finally made a good call, and we got snow. I mean SNOW. This is the first time in long time that our totals have hit this high. A whole foot of snow with more on the way tomorrow night. So, yeah... it's been cold and frustrating.      Cabin fever is a real thing. I've been home for days, which does in fact seem to cause issues for me. It wouldn't be so bad if I could be outside and not freeze my tail off. Completing farm chores has been absolutely frigid with temperatures in the single digits. My only pair of muck boots decided to bust a hole in it, allowing melted snow/ice get to my warm feet. The goats have faired well, and I was super surprised that Honey Bun has not kidded. Hopefully she can wait until it warms up.     My chickens, however have been total champions. Laying eggs and doing chicken business! My ladies are phenomenal and a little cold weather hasn't bothered them one bit. They are in fact enjoying t...