I was sick yesterday, who knows anymore with what, but everybody else I know was sick or is sick with it, too.  So there.  I loaded up with supplements last night; garlic, elderberry, MSM, zinc and oregano oil, and that seems to have taken care of most of the symptoms.  I feel good today so far. 

I had to shovel the 8" snowfall off the chicken house and yard; that was pretty strenuous, but then I also had to clear the snow off the tarp edges so I could lift the top and put in fresh water and check the temp. inside the house.  Happy to say the chicken is very happy and keeping really warm.  But the effort really had me down for awhile there.  I felt like I no longer wanted to keep a chicken.  But I've changed my mind now that I feel better.

I was weepy all day yesterday, too, worrying about all the single men in my family; my two brothers and one grandson, all of whom seem lost in a quandary to me.  I confided in my daughter and she gave me good advice.  Said that I should not worry about things that are not in my control, that they are all living the lives they have chosen, etc.  And she is very right.  But I called my brother today and I am now much happier.  None of the things I had heard about him from the other brother turned out to be true.  My other bro was himself lied to, perhaps.  So all's well that ends well. 

I have been spending the day making one phone call after another, taking care of my own affairs, in order to be able to make ends meet financially in the coming year.  It's not going to be easy.  I heard that Social Security cost of living increase will only be 2% or something like that.  Ha!  I have been looking for part-time work in the newspaper and will probably call some of these numbers this week yet.  I have to go into town tomorrow and take care of things.  I would have gone today, but they still haven't plowed our road, and by tomorrow, they should have plowing done. 

The good news is that I knocked out Chapter 17 of my novel yesterday; which came flowing out with no problem, surprisingly.  Sometimes I struggle for one sentence, but yesterday was a boon in writing.