How having Fibromyalgia has changed me

The other day I was thinking about ways I've changed in the past year and a half, since Aug 2008 when my first symptoms hit me, literally hit me.

I used to feel like I could do anything, I mean anything! People used to label me as hard core. I was a good mom, but I also liked to go do fun things, push my body, hike, kayak, run, do triathlons. Even without doing those things, I could still stay up later and have time to read, and then it was no problem to get up early and go for a run, or just get up early and get things done around my house. It used to be like nothing to me. I could do all of it, and usually have energy left over! Sure, I would get tired sometimes, but not normally.

I think I've become softer, for lack of a better way to put it. I can't do all those things anymore. I get tired easier. I have to go to bed at a reasonable hour, I can't eat the same things I used to. My body doesn't respond the way it used to, to physical exsurtion, to stress, etc.

Along with the physical shift, I've also had to have a mental shift in how I see myself. Instead of that invincible, can do all, don't need help, go-go-go attitude, I'm aware of my own disabilities and capabilities.

It's not bad, just different. I've accepted it, I'm ok with it.

I think over all it's helped me to slow down, although I still need to slow down more. I see myself now in a gentler, slower pace way. I've been able to work on my inside me more, who I am spirtitally and emotionally.

I really have no choice but to accept (but not let it overtake) the way I am now. It's a fine balancing act. But if I didn't accept how I've changed, I think I would have to go through it from the begining again to learn the needed lesson. And I don't want to do that again!

People see me and say I look better and they think I've "beat" it and think I don't have to deal with it anymore.

I still have to deal with my symptoms every day, every hour, every minute. Whether it's the pain in my fingers, the stiffness in my neck and shoulders, my acute hearing, my creaking ankles, popping wrists, my tiredness, my sensitivity to foods and chemicals, or my forgetfulness.

It's all there. I just deal with it better. I hide it well from those who may not see me every day. But my loved ones know what I still deal with on a daily basis.

But above all, I have to remember that I'm a bit different then I used to be, but different isn't always bad.

My new swim suit

I've been searching for a sporty, cute, but modest swim suit. I couldn't find one at stores, imagine that, so I made one. I haven't worked with the lycra fabric before, but I think it turned well, and it was actually quite easy. I found the pattern at http://www.modestswimwearsolutions.com/

I made it all black, as that's all my local fabric store carried. I think if I make one again I'll buy some fun fabric.

The Rooster's had to go - Viewer discretion advised!

So, I had to laugh at myself this weekend. Here I am trying to be a RAW vegan, and I'm butchering some of my back yard chickens. What can I say? My kids knew exactly where their dinner came from Saturday evening. And no, I didn't wear a skirt to do the duty.

It had been about 15 years since either Keith or I had butchered chickens, but it all came back pretty quickly. The kids, including the neighbor kids, all got an anatomy lesson and they helped with the plucking. We also took the opportunity to talk to them about chicken factories, how "other" chickens are raised poorly and unhealthy, and why it's important to know where your food comes from .

He was actually screaming at me in the above picture.

I'm pretty sure he knew what was going on.

They were bantams, so they were pretty small.

I wonder what our neighbors think of us. We had a few strange looks as we were plucking chickens on our front porch.

And into the oven they go!

Chicken for dinner?

The other morning I heard the creaking, croaking, sound of an adolecent chicken in full puberty trying to crow. Which means only one thing, that two of our young chickens are indeed roosters! Now there is no doubt about it!

And roosters are NOT allowed in the city.

So this weekend we'll be having fresh chicken for dinner.

Hmmm? Do I break my habit of not eating meat for some tasty farm fresh chicken? I just might!

Chicken Drama and Creaking Elbows

We have some chicken drama going on here at Creekside City Farm!


We have a cannibalistic chicken. Yes, you read that right, we have a chicken actually picking the feathers off the other chickens and eating them!!!!

The first thought was the axe and oven. My son was really voting for that one, since it was his chicken getting picked on the most. Her rear was plucked bald and bleeding from one of the other chickens picking at her.

Vaseline was tried on the injured chicken's rear. It didn't work, it only evoked more picking and plucking from the other chickens. When I felt we were at a lost of what to do, and Internet searching ideas had failed us, we were blessing from far away with some farm girl knowledge. The wisdom came from Grammy in Big Sky country. She suggested we use good 'ol baby butt cream on the injured chicken's rear. "White, creamy, thick stuff works the best", we were told.

So off we went in our clogs and stocking caps for a walk to the local market to purchase some chicken butt cream. (The cashier looked at me funny, I wonder why?)

When we returned home I lathered the chicken's rear with the "unnamed" brand of thick , white, creamy,"lasts all night" bottom cream. And I, wanting to give the offending chicken another chance, stood up to the chicken hungry children and told them we were going to put the chicken in solitary confinement. Well, almost solitary. She was going to live with the ducks!

The ducks are bigger then her and I don't think she'll try to eat their feathers off. After all, don't cannibals only eat their own kind?

So we marched the chicken offender "Rocky" over to the duck pen, and put the chicken to bed without dinner.

The next morning the ducks were allowed to come out to play for the day like usual, but the chicken offender was still in time out, cooped up in the, um, coop.

The morning following the separation of the offender the rest of the chicken flock seemed happy and less stressed in their coop. It seems that removing the cannibal chicken was the best thing.
The injured chicken still had a creamy white rump, so the stuff stayed on all night just like the bottle stated. Maybe the stressed out litttle bantam chicken will start laying now that the cannibal chicken is out. I think the bantams were never picked bald because they are faster then the other victim and squawked louder when their feathers were snatched.

I hope you enjoyed some humor for the day!! It's all true!!


The plan is that the chicken offender "Rocky" will spend three days and nights in the duck pen cooped up. Then she will be allowed to roam free with the ducks during the day and the hope is that she will learn to go back to the duck house to roost at night. Rocky is a good layer, so we still want to have her around for the eggs. After all, she does need to earn her keep!

As for the creaking elbows (and knees, and ankles, and wrists, and fingers, etc), that's me. Winter is approaching, weather is changing, and my joints are protesting. It's better then a full blown fibro flare-up, but I don't think it will be as bad as last winter. I increased my green smoothie intake, that should help!

Have a great day!