Back to the Cold

2 weeks in the heat and sun ca me to an end. I know, I know, tough life! But to arrive Saturday at midnight, which wasn’t bad temp wise, considering the time of day. Then to wake to a 22 degree wind the next morning, life is tough!

Tom went out to the barn about 8:30 to feed dogs and cats, and he said it was nice out. We had egg sandwiches for breakfast and sorted mail into 4 piles! Garbage/junk mail, magazines, bills, and paperwork to look at. After an hour, we decided to go put put out new round bales for the horses for the week.

The large lot with 9 horses had 5 round bales for the past 2 ½ weeks. They still had about ½ a round bale left. That was good planning. They definitely didn’t go hungry.

Tom starting filling the large water tank as I started graining the horses to keep them preoccupied while we opened and closed the gate. Tom got the first round bale, and as I opened the gate for him, I felt the wind. Out in the open, it was cold enough to turn away from the wind coming out of the north. Brrrr We got the 2nd round bale out and covered with the round bale feeder. The water tank was full so I drained the hose to drag it to Duke’s water tank.

Our stud, Duke, is in the round pen in a lot by himself.

During the storms at Christmas time, the snow drifted his gates shut. We gave him 12 square bales of brome hay for 13 days, thinking he would eat about ¾ bale/day. He is 16 hands and runs around his lot, so he is constantly hungry! The past 2 weeks had enough nice days, and a recent day of rain, that enough snow melted to open the gate. I started the water to his water tank and grained him. Tom backed in with a round bale for him and we had it covered before Duke was done with his grain.

During this whole time, my 2 dogs, Lady, the Springer Spaniel,


and Posie, my Austalian Shepherd,


ran all over the place, enjoying their play time! They were so excited to see us, wanting to be petted, and chased after snow balls that I threw, and run after sticks.

Driving to town yesterday, I realized that I hadn’t driven for 2 ½ weeks. I haven’t been cold for 2 ½ weeks. I haven’t worked fort 2 ½ weeks. I know, tough life!

But I also realized that I hadn’t seem my grandbabies in 5 weeks, since the weekend before Christmas! My high temp and cough kept me from seeing Jacob, Amber and Caden during Christmas and New Years weekend.

We were able to visit with them and Micah on Sunday, and had cheese steaks for lunch! Yummy

We will get to see Sara, Jake and Makenzie

next Thursday, when we meet up in Chicago as we fly to Pennsylvania to visit our parents and the kid’s grandparents. We are so excited to be going!

But once again, 1 day of colder air, and I was coughing. I kept coughing in the evening while I was away, but the cough is worse with this colder air. I am getting tired of coughing for a month already. We’ll see what the doctor says today, as I scheduled an appointment for today. The doctor told me I just have irritation in my bronchial airways due to the bronchitis and put me on a steroid inhaler and more prescription cough syrup. I'm ready for this cough to be over! It's been more than 4 weeks now!

Time to get busy with organizing my QH business, and schedule lessons, training and clinics. I have 2 more months to clearance out the items from the tack store. I better start getting things advertised on Craig’s List and Ebay!

On the road to recovery

After a night of no sleep, sitting in the recliner in the living room, with constant coughing, I knew it was time to see the doctor. I can’t go without 7-8 hours of sleep on the average night, and I definitely haven’t had that luxury the past 2 nights. I’m lucky if I got that much sleep in the last 3 nights.

My sore throat and high fever was gone, but in it’s place was something worse. A dry, persistent cough. I have never coughed this hard. I have never taken as much over the counter meds as I have the last 5 days.

Tom drove me to the medical clinic this morning, as I was coughing so bad, and was very tired, that I wasn’t sure I could get there without a coughing fit. I went to a new medical place for the simple reason of location. This place was the closest place to where I lived. It was a new facility, which I thought was a clinic, where you just showed up. Wrong! There were 3-4 doctors on site, with obvious appointments!

I had Tom ask if they were taking new patients - who isn’t when the economy is bad? I’m sure everyone should get whatever business they can, but that’s another topic. He asked if they could fit me in. The receptionist said she would talk to the booking secretary. This Medical facility is a great place. Within a few moments, the scheduler came to get me and since I was sick, took us to her office, where I sat to fill out paperwork. She said she had talked to the doctor, and knowing that I was sick, he said he would fit me in. I was taken to a room. Within moments, the nurse came in to take all the necessary things they do - blood pressure, temperature which I still had a 99.3 temp and I didn’t know it, checked weight and height. I lost a ½ “ somewhere over the last 10 years. I better start standing straighter and taken my calcium supplement! They also checked the oxygen level of my blood, I think.

The doctor was very punctual. We only had a short wait before the doctor came in. He listened to my breathing, wanting me to take deep breaths. But with each deep breath came a bout of coughing. He knew I had bronchitis, but he didn’t know if my lungs were getting infected. He wanted to take some x-rays. The room was a little cool, and just that coolness made me cough. The nurse was so helpful, took the x-rays, put a blanket around me to keep me warm and had me wait were it was a little warmer while she checked the x-rays. X-rays were good and I went back to the examination room.

It wasn’t long before the doctor came back into the room. I needed an antibiotic to get over this bronchitis. I also needed a prescription cough syrup as the “over the counter” meds are not doing anything to relieve or stop the cough, even for a short time. I also needed a cortisone med to help relieve the inflammation in the lungs.

The drugs must be working as they are kicking my butt. I don’t require naps, even if I am tired or sick. I have taken 3 short naps today. My cough isn’t as often, even though it is still dry and raspy. The doctor said I would feel better in about 5 days, with a little more energy but I can already tell the difference within 8 hours. I am very tired, but I think it is the effects of the drugs. I even did a load of wash, without feeling drained. But I need to shower before I fall off into another nap. Wow, I can’t believe how tired I am.

Getting Over the Flu

I'm getting over this cold or flu bug, one way or the other!


I have been coughing all day today. I did put Vicks on my chest last night and today, hoping to break up the cough. The congestion has cleared up. I have sucked on vitamin C drops,

and cough drops all day.


I have taken liquid cough sryup and liquid flu medicine. I have sat up and I have laid down and nap.

I have goggled how to stop sore throats and coughing. Honey seems to be the cure. A tablespoon of vinegar and honey kills the bacteria in a sore throat. Honey in tea helps a cough. I need to get some honey. Without honey, I figured I would try the vinegar.
I've been eating dill pickles yesterday and today, and no sore throat today!


I had some Baileys on Christmas Eve and I felt better on Christmas Day. I should have taken more last night. But for now, I've given up and I'm bringing out the big guns. A shot of whiskey.

One shot is almost down. My throat is warm and so is my belly! I'll let you know how I feel after the bottle is gone!

And I hope Caden feels better. He didn't have his birthday party today as he was feeling sick with a fever, too. I hope he gets better soon!