GYBP Winners and quick update

~ the sheep are struggling to move in the deep snow ~

A quick post to say I have two Grow Your Blog Party; the first is Melody in Melbourne who was also one of Vicki's helpers. She doesn't have a blog but did leave me her e-address; she wins the coaster by Irish artist Thomas Joseph. I'd say that's about as far as that coaster could get, all the way from Ireland to Virginia, USA to Melbourne!

~ Sam makes good use of the Ranger tracks ~

The second winner is Tammie Everly, TTE Designs, from the southeastern part of Virginia...probably about an 8 hour drive from me. It's unusual for me to have a winner in the same state, don't think that's ever happened before. Tammie wins the Baggallini bag and both bag and coaster will be shipped next week.

Congratulations to you both; e-mails have been sent to you requesting your address.

~ Carly Shetland, she's 20 this spring ~

If I had the energy, I'd tell you more but all I can manage is, I'm still alive and safe. Today, combined with yesterday, has pert near whupped me, as Aunt Bonnie used to say. Carly is still alive but it's been a mean, nasty day and the night is going to be worse. Temps are dropping, it's still pouring "something" from the sky and the wind is fierce. She's needed help getting to her feet many times today; at one point I had her in the mudroom and she hated it. She's like me, she'd rather die with her boots on so I carried her back outside. I mixed up several pain pills in Gatorade and put that into her; she'll rest peacefully even if she does die tonight. The hard decision had to be made that once I gave her meds, at almost dark, I won't go back outside tonight. I have to weigh the possibility that I could slip and injure myself, hit my head and pass out, break a bone, etc. If that happened, I might not make it back inside the house. I know I've given Carly a far, far better life than a lot of people give their children and that's a sad cry on humanity! I've been a good steward, have done the best I could and gone the extra mile when necessary (carrying her up the stairs, through the house and into the mudroom; Carly weights about 60 pounds) so if God takes her tonight, I've prepared her best I can and I believe she'll be waiting for me, alongside Jesus, those other fine Thistle Cove Farm critters...and Dave!...when I get to heaven.

~ Morris Knob, 3400' can't been seen ~

Remember the "adult beverage" I was going to have last night? Didn't happen. By the time I finished the post and remembered I still had to go upstairs to go to bed, it was an easy choice. The dogs went out for one last time, then they scampered up the stairs while I dragged myself up the stairs. It was another case of I was asleep before the light was turned off. I'm almost afraid I'll drown in the shower but it has to be done. I smell like Carly, a lot, and I'll sleep better if I don't smell like Carly. I am taking another big dose Ibuprofen, my old bones are crying like babies tonight. Last night they were twingy, tonight they're threatening to secede...can they do that?

Blessings ~ winners ~ safety! ~ pain meds for Carly and for me ~ deep, restorative sleep ~