Of All The Things I Needed To Do

I chose playing with rocks.  I wish I'd taken a true before picture but did not think until I starting unloading the rocks from the stump.

When I first built this garden for Dad, Hubby made me a stump chair.  The years and critters have worn it down so I thought it was time for it to move on to another purpose.

The removal left a hole.  Flats rocks were gathered to extend the walk.

My ever present partner, Ms OCD, had me sort like kinds.

First collection rocks were separated from working rocks.

Round rocks, cave rocks, crystals and conglomerates had to be grouped.

Fossils, metamorphic and iron ore Ms OCD sorted and played.

At quitting time you could not detect where the stump had been. The animals and people have a solid clear area to approach the water to drink, swim or just enjoy the view.

Empty pecans, pecan limbs, leafs and other natural debris were picked and raked away to join my compost or my burn pile.  Yep, that's the stump sitting behind my bench.  Couldn't bring myself to remove it completely...yet.

The Paint Department

In some stores they have a discounted section of returned paints and stains.  Strangely, but not really for me, I check this section in every store that sells paint.  Through the years I've found some bargains.  I've acquired stains, interior and exterior latex and even Dry Lock for sometimes a quarter of the original price.

I'm not sure of the return policy for each store regarding paint. I thought if you chose it, bought it, and opened it, you were stuck.  Not so.  A stranger's dissatisfaction becomes my bargains such as the latest Rustic Red (five gallons) exterior stain for under ten dollars a gallon.

Recently I have gathered pieces of cans and mixed all the latex.  Green, lavender, and red makes this color!  Quite a pleasant color and will soon be the painted shelves in our basement...or maybe the floor.  It is a partly finished basement that was Mom's laundry room, the food storage room and the storm safe room when needed.

My oldest daughter, Melissa, is gonna hurt me for posting this photo but had to show how well the Dry Lock is going on the block walls.

Big difference!  Melissa is cleaning every thing with vinegar and a wire brush so there's a nice healthy underlay.  The walls were painted pink long ago when it was built.  We even have the original pink and gray tiles in stacks.  I think we may just paint the floor.

The ceiling is tongue and groove pine from who knows how long ago. It will be clear coated after it's deep cleaned.  The wood is too pretty to cover.

As for my waiting Rustic Red...we'll just have to see what it tells me to do.

Before And After

I didn't know it would take almost a month to get this organized, cleaned and repaired but I'm Finally calling it finished.  I had already started working, sorting and cleaning when I remembered to take a before picture so the difference is not really visible.  All the containers you see are things Hubby must sort.  There will be fine tuning as we go along but the floor is empty and a vehicle can be pulled in for work now.

Like kinds together

and ready for winter working.

Next project...the lean to...and anyone who doesn't put things away will be in BIG trouble. Dad's forge is here along with an very old drill press, I hope to see both of them being used soon.

Mass Organization Against Insurmountable Odds

My day began simply enough, helping Hubby hunt for another lost tool.  He has hot pink paint and will paint this the same color as his tongs if we ever find it.  I suspect after he sharpened his blades he drove away to Bush Hog with tools on the deck and they are some where on this farm. I looked in a garden cart sorting tools from trash...Hubby is infamous for tossing with talent.

The wagon was full of ants and eggs.  They did not like me disturbing their nests and were frantically hauling eggs to their imagined safety.  I had to find a new job until they settled down.

I stupidly picked this one to help Hubby get organized.

So I began...one square foot at a time.

First job was to empty the left corner, 

move an oil barrel and find what Dad had stored inside.

I dredged with a stick and hung oily items to drain into the barrel.  We had steel traps, log chains, and truck chains.  I still have something I can't quite remove.  It will be a hard earned surprise.

Remind me that I said Dirty hands are happy hands.

This was totally disgusting.

The barrel is probably more valuable than the items I rescued.

I had company.

Four square feet of stuff sorted

and many, many feet to go.

I know I will regret saying this but

Dirty feet are Happy feet.

Last Night I Celebrated Easter

with Robin's eggs, candy kisses and one Cadbury egg. Mmmmmmmmm.  It was the perfect end of very long day.  Also a very nice surprise coming from a teenager's room scattered with dirty socks, candy wrappers and teenage debris.

I've decided to redo Andrew's room and floor.  Actually the hot weather has driven me inside to conquer a much needed interior redo while doing some work on the perimeter as well.

A few weeks ago I created a closet insert from two shelves and boxes.  It certainly solved a problem of not having an organized closet.  I sidetracked and postponed so many times I'm not sure Andrew believes I am finally beginning on his room.

We have found shoes he has lost.  Easter Candy!  Piles of change on many surfaces along with outdated pictures and child hood videos.  There will be some major letting go, some memories revisited and more memories made as we fit this reconstruction around a senior year, football, music, a girlfriend and family time!

We know from the design shows, we must first empty the room.  Since this will not be a one day job I have measured and thought and thought and measured where the "room" will reside until I have the original room finished.  I can't have a solution without some Mad Hatter Tea Party hair brained idea rising from that one thing.

Andrew and I have discussed this new idea.  His present bedroom MAY become his music room, sound proofed for some loud jamming.  We are very proud of his musical accomplishments and want him to have a place just for that...and muted sound for us.

Now we know one of the reasons my sister gifted me this sign!

What is normal anyway??

No More Lollygagging

Though the weather doesn't suit me I have to work.  That's a self-appointed half to not a required have to. It was only 94F when I came in.  I am ashamed.

I have bored you with all my tree clipping, snake finding, brush pile building for weeks.  I know you are tired of it but so am I.  The last few feet remain in my yard and then on to Marcy's outbuildings, flowerbeds, fence clearing, and on and on.

Before

during as Lil keeps her snake eyes on

and after.

Another six feet on the side that faces the road and I will be through!  Back where I began.  As badly as we need rain I am glad I was able to complete all this making it easier to mow closely with less trimming.  Peeking around the corner it doesn't look too bad.  Will knock that out in no time but there are two stumps on this side that are barring all attempts at elimination.

Afterword:  Finished, done, complete, wrapped up in this yard...On to the next.

Ants In My Pants

in my shoes, on my legs and they weren't happy!  They attacked me so much I decided to make sure I didn't have fire ants.  Zoom in on this and see my new enemy.

I was not wearing my glasses due to extreme sweating conditions so at first I just thought it was some small stinging bug I had accidentally smashed.  I began to get cold chills, took some Benadryl (because I am allergic to paper wasps)  and called it a day.

My last clearing project had been completed and I had moved to my next restoration project.

More tiny excited ants!

Was it the chain saw, the fire, the tractor, or the mowers that had them mad?

My smarter (than me) sister said, "It's going to rain.  They're moving the nest and you're in the way. There's gonna be a flood".  Okay, that's logical.  

To my next superhuman job I had chosen.  Another over grown part we have neglected since all the rain and life seemed to get in the way. Dad had tall "deer proof" (ha) wire here and it sadly needed removing and clearing.

The ants were still out in force.  I had speckled legs and had to dance and empty my shoes again and again. I worked anyway.  Ants were every where moving house.  

Then it rained, almost three inches. and my sister was right!  The ants have disappeared and I can trim to my heart's content with no dancing.

One more spot cleared!  My table is a painted air tank with a piece of wood on top just right for two cold drinks in the shade.  Saved all the metal I found in the fence row and kept the old tree stump.  I have three Virginia Creeper wreaths also drying on the stump.

It's amazing how work you can do when you're not doing the ant dance.  I hope they're gone.

Kleaning Koi Kage

Catching Up

Canna replanted.

Edge of smoke house cleared. 

Lilies like their new home.

Timber!  The light pole goes down,

repurposed for a fence anchor post.

Dirt cellar cleared of leaves and debris.

Work continues at the shop.

A solar lamp catches me out after dark.

Stop

and enjoy the arrival of spring.

 

Snow Crocuses 

Spring clean up has been going on a while and the green has not arrived in full force yet.  The brush piles are growing and gardens are plowed.  Onions, radishes and early crops are in the ground waiting for the perfect day to rise to the top.  

We are late this year because the snow enjoyed it's visit far too long to please me. We are blessed. Although we had unusual amounts and long lived snow and ice we had nothing compared to many places. This winter has been rough on all.

I have been randomly planting sunflower seeds from last year.  I know they clean the soil so I am planting them in places I have already forgotten.  I will be pleasantly surprised when those smiling sunflower faces greet me later in the season.

The spring calves are doing well.  The cattle can find winter grass again.  The last few bales wait in the barn to be enjoyed before the grass comes in full.

I think the birds are singing louder this year.  They, too, were tired of ice.

Working On The Old One

Before working my tail off!

Pet steps so the animals may drink or play.

On two sides

Fun with wood, rocks and plants.

For the moment weed free

I shall enjoy it

While it lasts.

It certainly is something to crow about.