excited

Do you remember all those doctor visits Bob had last year, especially the VA appointments in December? Maybe I didn't even write about it... Anyway, it has all finally come together, and Bob will be paid a disability pension on top of his retirement pay. According to my careful calculations last year, it is just the amount needed to keep us comfortable without Bob having to work part time (or otherwise). Which is a good thing, since he actually doesn't do well at having to work for a living. Also great because if he meets an early demise (God forbid), I will continue to receive the disability payments (I don't get his retirement pay after he dies).

Last week I saw an ad in the paper about a sustainable farming retreat for veterans, here in Fayeteville. I'd heard about the group before we left England, but it was all in California so I dismissed the whole thing, but here they were in our own backyard. So I emailed and got Bob registered. The thing started tonight, with a full day tomorrow. We were going to let Bob go in, and I'd take the children out shopping, but before we could get away Bob came back to the car and said we could all go in. These people have put together a real nice deal. The premise is for them to help connect veterans with farms. They have professional farmers, business people, and resources. In the room tonight were our local USDA reps, a college professor, the manager of the largest organic farm in America, the ag guy for our US Senator, and a couple of local professional farmers. Maybe some others I forgot. I got to chat with a lady about applying for a $5000 grant to help us with our production. Tomorrow we get to tour a couple of farms, eat a special breakfast by a "real chef", and hopefully learn a lot more. The whole thing - food, books, lodging for non-locals (people from Hawaii!!), speakers - is completely free.

Next week my baby Naysha is turning 9 years old! Never a dull moment around here. ;-)

Ah, the other exciting thing is that I saw in the paper about elk hunting. There are elk on Arkansas state lands, and to control the herds they allow some hunting. The way it works is that any resident can submit an application, and they have a drawing to select 24 people to go on a hunt. I was pretty tickled that the paper had an article about getting your name in (in time to do so), rather than an article about who had been drawn (when it was too late to do anything about it). So I went to the website and put in Bob's name. Chances of him getting a shot at it (pun intended) are very slim, but at least he's in the running.

Edited Saturday morning: William woke up at 4am screaming about bees in his room... He had an uncomfortably high temperature (not dangerously high), so after medicine and a shower we decided that I would stay home today with all those who were less than well, plus Elijah. Bob took Taryn and Riah to the farm.