Hi everyone. We took a fishing trip and left my AF in charge. It's been over 6 months since her disappearing act while caring for our house, pets and flock..........while we were out of state. I was a good bit nervous but she got her 5 mo chip in AA and stays close to her sponsor, attends 5 meetings a week etc. What a change and one I am so very grateful for! ODAT!

I had to put the program to use for my own self care in many ways. Due to the back and knee still healing....the 2nd day I stayed at the room while all but my mom and I went out to fish. It was HARD!!! I really enjoyed the visit with my mom though. She too was too tired from the previous day. The next day we went out was something else.........another program tool kit day...

The AF called to say a raccoon had attacked my baby geese (now about 20 inches tall at 6 weeks old) and had killed two of the three pet Silkie chickens I had let her keep in her yard........then it came back to attack the last one in her yard we've had for 6 years. AF was a mess. I felt so bad for her. I was freaking out myself but kept calm. Poor girl was crying her eyes out. She said something quite stunning to show how well the program works when worked. That her alcoholic thinking was there saying it was all her fault. By this time she had medication, cotton balls, everything to clean up wounds and so forth. I asked her if she had heard of the slogan for QTIP. "Quit taking things personally." She said I have 2 right here in front of me. Honestly I was really worried about her drinking. She's seriously attached to the Silkies and was trying so hard to reestablish trust with her staying here again. Instead, later when I called to check on everything and especially her...........she said she had gone to a meeting and couldn't wait to tell them about the QTIP! 

I pressed myself thru to enjoy the rest of the time with my family. I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about what shape I would find the birds that survived the ordeal when I got home.....it was quite an ordeal. One baby goose is starting to put weight on its foot again, due to 5 puncture wounds on top of it's thigh.......it's sibling somehow is doing well but walks standing up straighter than it should due to a gash across it's neck...and........i took AF over to the vet to have the pet Silkie put down. She was so torn up. I just couldn't do it myself and the gosling not walking went with. They said she had a chance for recovery. It's been a 24/7 deal treating wounds and hand feeding but......looking at all of it God took care of it all. 

Of all things the greatest issue I faced........mom and I went back out fishing that next day. (The day prior to that I had to kneel awhile in the middle of the grocery store from knee pain......talk about a humbling thing.....) as we got off the boat and walked up the dock a lady remarked that she brought her car down the ramp (this is one steep, long ramp so those of us with health issues waited on the others to bring the car down) and drove the boat to the marina.....she said it like I was this horrible daughter. With all this going on I almost snapped at her.....it was embarrassing to be in worse shape than my mom but in that moment....I realized perhaps it was that womans way of trying to help and maybe she needed Alanon ROFL!!!

Have a great day everyone! Still playing doctor here and at least seeing improvement in critters and in my own health!

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS