Catching Up

seems to be something I'm not doing very well lately.  I did, finally in the month of June, change the top bed cover to something lighter.

I've almost finished with painting the outside of the house.  The paper wasps have delayed me.  I painted one as it emerged from a crack between wood and rock at the top of the chimney.  It fell but another followed it. I decided to stop painting until I get wasp spray. I'm allergic or I would just try and work around them.  

Between the rains and up and down the ladder, I've weeded and picked up limbs and moved rocks from the water garden so I could fit the ladder next to the house.  I've become braver and more trusting of my ladder placement judgement.  I have very few spots left to paint, just the trim.  Almost done!!!  The high spots will be done from the tractor bucket.  All with a two inch brush, too.  I'm kinda proud of my work.

It is hot and dry now.  A couple of afternoons were triple digits. Some that weren't felt that way with the humidity.  My painting follows the shade and in between I've picked cucumbers and onions, sprayed the hungry bugs with hot pepper/mint/Dawn tea, and moved things from my sister's house she sold.  Along with my regular "chores" I've stayed busy.

The old doe with a fawn thinks the garden is hers.  She likes the bean tops and the lettuce best.  The dogs were keeping her out but she convinced them to stay away the day they sniffed out her fawn.  The deer gave them a good stomping.  No one was harmed but the dogs let her graze in the garden now.

I've mentioned Pit Vipers or poisonous snakes have a smell.  Well, let me tell you something (the way Mom always started a wild story) I've been smelling something strange in our tool closet.  Told Hubby we either had a Copperhead or a skunk under the floor.  He said, Naw, the dogs would have gotten either.  They did one day...tore up jack shit as some would say.  I couldn't tell what was going on.  Had to take a piece of siding off to see under the floor.  There it was...a monster of a Cottonmouth snake.  The dogs did good.  Sad part is I think it got one of my Koi....and to think I've been moving those rocks, digging around, standing barefooted, never having my mind on a poisonous WATER snake.  Well, I'm thinking and watching now!

At night when I sit with ice packs on aching muscles and joints I try to read.  My latest book was A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House. I would like to share a line that struck a chord with me "That's all anybody can ask for, if you think about it-to have somebody love you and depend on you and take care of you when you're sick, and mourn over your casket when you die."

So, just like a letter from home, I've caught up through the times I've failed to post.

Happy Father's Day and may the rest of June be wonderful to you.

I Hope Spring Marches In

Snow on the mountain, 

Chill in the air.  

Looking for Spring. 

She ain't anywhere!

I've been hiding behind my poetry since winter keeps me in.  She wraps her icy fingers around me. I don't want to go outside or very far from the fire that warms me.

There are many things I could do or should do but I sit and crochet.  I think that is my winter sport.  I deliver my sister's mail and quickly come inside again.

For those who have really suffered through horrendous winters this year and still are, I am sorry.  I'm a wimp when it comes to cold.

We remain a personal care facility.  Maria still cannot walk but will have her screws removed from her infected foot next week.  We just go from there.  I know she is as anxious to continue her life as we are for her to heal.  Sadly, the man who caused the accident had no insurance so there is nothing to be done for her lost wages, car, and health.  She will have to start over again.  We all know that is difficult.  This has been a personal, medical and financial strain for all of us. May she heal quickly.

Snow again although the weather man said no.  Not too deep but enough inches to be bothersome,   I know it will melt but my patience is wearing thin.  Again to those who have REAL snow, I apologize.

I have noticed a migration to Word Press.  Is there something I need to know?  Where is the best place to blog and should I pay for it?  I'm in the dark here, please share.

I wish you warmth, good health, joy and a blessed Sunday.

Retirement Is Too Much Work!

 After cleaning this little spot

Here is the next.  The wonderful Honeysuckle has taken over.

I have not been lazy.  Post 2011 Hubby has been unable to do much

except by riding machine.

When I was home, I did the essentials.

I already have a nice pile!

Soon I will have another spot to celebrate

and my cannas can flourish again.

Wasted Days...

are needed by everyone now and then, but, then, if they're needed, I guess they couldn't be called a waste, could they?

I have been playing catch up on reading and commenting.  I have been neglecting this duty, this pleasure.  I apologize, I have been there, lurking...and working every single minute at TRYING to get other things done.

I've been reliving some of my adventures At The Farm and realize how much the blog and I have changed through over 1,500 posts since the beginning in 2008.  If you're a "newbie", as CSI so nobly puts in, I encourage you to use Link Within or my blog archive to explore...I don't think you'll be bored.

I remember the fear in the beginning that no one would read and the exquisite delight with my first follower. That sense of accomplishment I feel each time I've gained a follower still remains.

You have been my support system, my sounding board and my friends. 

I wanted to say, thank you.  Thanks for visiting, thanks for staying...and I just noticed almost every sentence began with I...Oh, well, just glad you're here.  I'm hitting publish whether this is good or not.  Hope you return, again and again...and again.

Friday Evening Catch Up

The water garden is surviving without me sitting there. The "pot" plant is growing like crazy.

Seymour got a hair cut since he had burrs all in his hair, I just cut them out with scissors.

Gypsy is having a ball and loving the farm and is doing well in her training.

And Beverly keeps on working. As you can see, we even have rebuilt the barn from the tornado damage...NOT! We can't even keep up with the grass, let alone, repair the barn.

I am sitting in my underwear, soaking up the AC. It feels so nice after taking Gypsy Galoot for her run. Gypsy played in the water but I got wet from sweat. She brought me a ball!!! She has not messed in the house. She is not scratching cause the fleas are gone. For Gypsy, life is good.

~

For me, life is a little more complicated now I have an untrained dog to work with! We tolerate cats but the chicken thing is going take a few more corrections.

~

I am so damn excited it is Friday! I have many things I want to do but will I get them done? Probably not but I have to have a plan before I can start so I am half way through since I do have a plan.

~

I have always wanted to write and I think a book is pouring out of me into Word. I have several pages and it is flowing with few corrections. Don't know where I am going with it, since I have never done this before but it seems to be something I am compelled to do. We will hope it turns into a best seller!