When Yellow Turns Black

The old four wheeler has been with us since Andrew was five.

They decided it needed a little face lift so they sanded

painted and cleaned to paint some more.

Looking good...may it run another fifteen years.

Falling

Pecans and Black Walnuts

not these two trimming limbs and patching the roof

after the near accident Thursday.

Thank God and Andrew!!!

Who knew my thirty-two hundredth post (not counting the ones I've posted and then deleted) would be about a miracle.

Spring jobs we have not been able to finish have been calling our name.  Cleaning gutters and fixing roof leaks were two of those jobs.

The handy dandy Kubota tractor with bucket got them to the roof

 and the leak fixing began.

On to the other side of the house to clear some gutters that were giving us problems. Hubby told Andrew to stay down and operate the bucket but Andrew did not obey.  He climbed the bucket like a monkey after he delivered Hubby to the roof. He helped. 

The roof was wet because they were cleaning gutters with the water hose and other tools. Hubby hit a wet spot, his feet went out from under him and he began a slide to the edge of the house. Andrew, thinking on his feet, grabbed Hubby quickly by his shirt just as Hubby had reached the edge.  Then much like Bonnie does, Andrew backed up the incline of the roof with Hubby in tow.

The end of the house where Hubby would have fallen is higher than here.  

I'll not go into great detail about how a disabled 65-year-old man should not have been on the roof but then we would have to discuss how stubborn I am too.  We both do what we have to do.

Thanks to God and Andrew, Hubby is unhurt.  He is sore and was very rattled after Andrew pulled him to safety but safe nonetheless.  That is what counts. I'm upset I didn't get pictures of the whole thing!  I was standing at the bottom as if I could catch Hubby and break his fall.

Birthday Boy, Uh, Man!

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

We love you and are proud of your accomplishments.

Keep making that guitar sing.

Twenty today.

Working for UPS.

Changing oil with Papa.

Gigs on the weekends with his band, With Drew.

Sawyer Fredricks Simple Man
https://youtu.be/PCJL439zFXo

Popping Wheelies

and some say yard work in not fun!!!

Snapshots at a Grand Opening

 Wheels

A magical guest?

Sarah and her band entertained along with Andrew's band.

Winning tickets were drawn. Andrew announced some winners.

 People were fed, received free t-shirts and a tour of the new business Saturday

The crowd was large.

 Other businesses showed their support.

It was a success..

He Passed The Test

Hubby cannot weld because of his ICD they installed in his chest a couple of years ago. It's been difficult and frustrating but we have a new welder, Andrew.

 It was extremely hot!  Welder leads added, battery jumped and the welder/generator roared to life.

The next generation of farm welders went to work with Papa's instructions.  Hubby stays far away since the welder can affect his ICD.  So far it has not gone off but don't want it activated by welding.

Andrew donned the master welder's equipment and went to work.

Papa/Hubby gave him an A+ 

and mentioned how much MORE welding he has to do.

Good job, Andrew.

Fences With Friends

Virginia Creeper and Poison Ivy through old chicken wire

farm fences and friends having fun.

Join Good Fences

Graduate and Fences

Congratulations, Andrew!

Tonight you graduate from high school and head into real life with a good heart and a strong mind. May your dreams come true and may happiness be yours always.

We are very proud of what you have accomplished.

We look forward to a few days of help fixing fences!

Joining Good Fences with TexWisGirl.

A Quiet Day Interrupted...

On a quiet afternoon noise filled the valley.  This happens now and then but normally there is a fly over and that's it.  This was a fly over and back again.

Not the norm

So I grab my Power Shot...lens error!

As the helicopter hangs in the air I grab another camera and run out...lens error!

It hovers and keeps going lower.  I grab my Rebel with its little lens since my big Being Repaired lens is not home yet.  I am in my gown tail bare footed running across the farm like a crazy women. Snapping pictures. 

The helicopter dips.  Has he seen me??  I'm not letting him land.  Don't know what I planned but maybe throwing my body into the blades would get his attention!

Well, I got his attention and he begins to climb.  Only one person inside.  Then he flies quickly off and out of sight.  I have the number on the side and wondering what I can do with that.  I  am aware that after a certain height all the sky belongs to the government but I'm pretty sure this chopper was invading my space.

As I walk back to the house, satisfied as a dog running a deer outta the garden, I over hear Hubby and Andrew discussing the event.

Hubby:  Did it land?

Andrew:  Not yet.

Hubby:  Where's Nana?

Andrew:  Outside.  She's chased it off.

Hubby:  Well, I'll be damned.

Andrew:  Nana was pretty scary.  When the pilot saw her, he left.

What can I say??  I like my privacy if there is such a thing anymore.  Also got a post and exercise.

Up On The Roof

Temperatures in low seventies had us hustling to get work done before winter stays for a few weeks. February is always our worst winter month.  Not so far.  The first day was perfect so up in the tractor bucket. We were lifted with heated tar to stop a leak in the roof and check out the gutters with Andrew at the controls.

I'm not one for heights but didn't know it until I was grown.  I thought that heart stopping breathless condition when I climbed trees to the top was just the thrill of the conquest.  It wasn't.  Found out later on, in fact, when Hubby and I went to the county fair. I was terrified when we stopped on the very top of the Ferris Wheel.  Didn't help that when Hubby started to swing our seat. He has always enjoyed making me scream and still does!

So we were slowly raised in the tractor with a bucket of hot tar which is the way we seal cracks and leaks on a roof around here.  Ideally we would get a new roof but ideally is not always an option so we do what we know how...make do with what we have.

Andrew, the bucket operator, could not resist tipping the bucket to get a reaction from me.  Papa made over!

The chimney was tarred as Dad did to get ahead of any possible leaks.

This is a steep roof.  I am still gripping the bucket and trying to clean the gutters. The thought of getting onto the roof had me about ready to pee my pants!

Andrew felt sorry for torturing me and monkey climbed the tractor arms and bucket to help the old man on the roof.  Since Hubby is my senior by around three years I was ashamed.  Not ashamed enough to climb up and help.

Having developed a leak on the front porch we wanted to get ahead of it by trying to stuff all possible places with hot tar to keep the rain out.  That is a male "we" as the female me is still gripping the bucket with a death grip.  It's not pretty but who's going to see it?  May this be the solution.  It has been a tried and true method our fathers used so cross your fingers.

And the younger generation learns by watching!

Hopefully.

In the background you can see my worm pit/compost.  My sitting area that I bored you with this summer.  You might also note how terribly high we are from the ground.  I prefer the ground.  

If we have more warm days maybe we, uh, they can accomplish some more daunting tasks.  I wish we could call a roofer.  No funds.  This roof was installed right after our big tornado a few years ago. The company who did it were idiots taking advantage of the tornado damage or we would not be having these problems.  Oh, well, another life lesson.

What did you do yesterday?  I bet it wasn't as heart stopping as this was for me!

We Laugh Together

It is nice to have an extra driver so you can send someone else to pick up what you need in town.

I carefully made a list of things we could not live without until my standard grocery run.  I was careful to make it clear, the size of package etc.  I had a coupon for twenty-five cents off Charmin Toilet Paper so I wrote on the list 24 Double Roll to indicate the size of package to which the coupon applied.  The rest of the list was standard items Andrew was familiar with, no special orders.

Andrew carried in the groceries and gave me the ticket.  I saw a price on the list I did not order nor could identify.  It just said Deli with the price.  I asked what did you find at the Deli?

HE SAID, "THE LIST SAID TWENTY-FOUR ROLLS BUT I ONLY GOT THE TWELVE PACK"

I explained that I had written the toilet paper description for the coupon.  He said he thought the coupon was the reminder and it wasn't on the list!  Oh, how we laughed.

We enjoyed our fresh deli double rolls with homemade beef stew for supper and have the bathroom situation covered too!

Thanks, Andrew, for saving me a trip to town.  He graduates high school this year and we grow old.

Raising The Dragon

The Dryad/Tree/Dragon rested where we left her after my great discovery and rescue.  I was beginning to think she looked more like Alien than the dragon I first saw.  She had to be moved

to enable her to take flight from this perfect stump Hubby found.

Turning her carefully we hold our breath. Placing her in the right spot was important.  Andrew and Hubby knew and were very gentle with the placement.

For now she rests ready to take flight waiting for me to give her wings.

Even with my extra pieces piled on top when I wet the stump beneath she became more real.

It will be a challenge helping her escape.