Wooo Hooo Breakfast out with WB and then Cutting trees and clearing vines. Cleared what we're going to on the southern side of the woods and on the western fence. Moved limbs so that we could get an idea of how it looks. Stopped for lunch and for trip to store to get screws and sodas. I'm going out to continue chainsaw work until it starts raining and then? I'm going to take a shower, put on clean clothes, and watch a movie. Yes, Virginia, I'm taking a break from working outside. It's supposed to rain tomorrow which means working inside,closet and kitchen, until I finish or until it stops raining and we can go back outside. Still have more chainsaw work on the east front fence, under the front parcel, and up around Big Pups kennel. What remains? complete the sink table sort out dogs make sure that dog records are current Give dogs baths clean kitchen clean closet sort, use, get ready to use, chip, or burn the limbs Fix the kennel panels Fix the chicken panels put doors on the baby chick pen Set up the baby chick house Set up the baby chick box Buy baby chick food Make sure the heat lamp works Wash the dog houses and food hoppers set up the kennels set up the chicken enclosures. set up the hose reels Do a general mow, weed eat, spray, and clean up of the west parcel Clean the drive Move the chickens to clean up grass for green house For April Set up green house Chainsaw work in back yard and along front fence Prune the hedges Weed eat around trees Make sure that the baby chick enclosure is set up Set up chicken yard around pecan trees Sort the limbs and get them ready to chip, burn, or use Get the chipper burn the remaining limbs get cabinet doors paint cabinets start working on Pup's room start tai chi the y walk 5miles Pup has volunteered to make an auto water for the dogs. May Make sure that the house/yard is ready for painters Reno work on house Front porch columns

So I'm cutting trees on the fence line thinking, "Chainsaws are not just for guys."

Already done list!!

Friday

WB got the chicken fence panels disentangled :)
Got the dogs fed/lap time  and Big Pup exercised:)

Clean dishes out and dirty dishes into dishwasher.

Folded clothed, put wet into the dryer and dirty into washer

Did errands to the south

Bought two new pairs of sweat pants as I've pretty much shredded the ones I have.
Got a great deal on a print with frame, a great basket that I think is hand made in US, and a great deal on socks all for 4 dollars. I also helped the local economy as it was at a regular yard sale. This is someone who also sells antiques up the road so she has really good stuff. She said I could bring some of my stuff to sell or she'd buy it.  Time to sell the extra stuff! Spring cleaning coming!

Bought three scoops at the local feed and seed.  Now Big Pup has his own scoop!

Got a great BBQ sandwich and a chocolate milk shake for lunch.

Got gas for the chainsaw and car.

Looked up the swing set that Sonny made.

Found some free OSB for chickens

Went home, folded clothes, put clothes into dryer, put blankets, socks, and new sweat pants into washer.

Drank a soda. Lol today it was important.

Took Big Dog outside with WB and I.  He kept us company while we cut trees.

Cut and lopped  trees.  I mean actual trees not the tiny ones.  First WB did a section and then I did. Got the chain stuck a couple of times and at one point thought that I'd broken the chain saw but it's okay.  WB found an additive that helps the chainsaw start.  We cleared the area next to Big Dogs kennel. These were pretty big trees.

Removed the understory from around the pecan tree next to Big Dogs kennel.

Cut a section east to west which clears a path through the woods, I got my turn at cutting trees from the west section, north section and around the east section until I ran out of gas and then? Got the chain saw stuck in a tree. Lucky for me I had a cool head and turned it off so that I didn't get hurt. Did have an scary moment where I was holding the chain saw up while yelling to WB. Unfortunately WB was also cutting trees and had his ear plugs on. Finally he looked down the fence line to see me frantically waving my hands and did nothing!!  Got the tree off the chain saw and carried the thing cradled in my arms like a baby.  Short story is that the saw was fixed (yay WB) and he worked with me until we cleared the east fence line.  This included finishing a new path to by pass the uneven section along the fence.  Got my confidence back and continued cutting trees along the woods line until I'd finished what we were going to do on the east side of the woods. There are still trees that need to be removed but I have to wait until I can pull the vines out of the trees. The sun went down right as we ran out of gas again.  All that remains for tomorrow is to clean the southern edge of the woods, the western fence,  refine the area around Big Dog's kennel,  clear the southern most section between the washes, clear the volunteer trees that are around the bigger trees next to Big Dog's kennel, and finally the eastern side of the drive.

And of course the trees have to be limbed and sorted. 

And I have to fix the western fence to keep the dogs in. There's only three sections of about 24 feet.

It's a lot to do but I think that we can get the trees cut. I will be up to Pup and I to limb and sort the trees and also to fix the fence.  We can do it.

I'm hoping to finish this over the weekend because it's supposed to rain first of next week.  Rain = finally cleaning the closet and kitchen. If I'm lucky, I'll also get the dogs sorted, the sink table sorted, and the chicken pen sorted.  I planned to finish by the end of the month. Fingers crossed and good weather as well.

Pretty busy here. Lovely to see the progress.

AuthorAnn

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Everywhere we go here is like a classroom. I learn everyday from all kinds of people. I'm learning just like I learned from my Grandfather, grandmother, mom, dad, people at work and church, and the people who answer my questions and talk to me about the things that have worked for them. Thanks, I'm learning.

I'm hoping what I'm doing will rub off.  I really am.





I'm so sleepy by the time LLS comes on I can hardly keep my eyes open.  Maybe when I'm finished, I'll be able to or maybe he'll come to the new civic center up the road. I don't know.

You know something? I sure could use a hug right now. I could use someone in my corner who thinks I'm great for what I'm doing now. They guys that came to cut down the limbs reminded me about how nice it is just to be around nice people.

Maybe their good works will rub off on me. I was watching too.

Hugs.

.

Do you see the huge amount of words below?  That is my already done and to do list for the next 4 days with an added sketch of todo for the next two weeks.  I'm busy and have been busy for the last two months.



Before I do my already done list? I want to write this here. Over the past three days, I have met some of the nicest people. They are the crew who clears the power lines. They were the kindest, most patient, and most professional people who I've had the priviledge to meet. The work they do is dangerous but they manage to do it with grace and a sense of humor. I'm writing this here so that 1. to remind myself that there are truly good people in the world and 2. I don't forget the details so that I can write a thank you to their boss. Thanks to them a dangerous tree limb has been removed. The day after the bucket crew came and cut the limb, the guy who does their chain saw work told me that if the power line had been nicked? There could have been a very bad shock. (Note to self. That chain saw guy was cute and sweet as could be. ) Then two brothers, also just as sweet, then came on time and with I truck that I'd love to have for Christmas (can't afford in a million years) came and whisked away the piles of limbs. I love these guys. You can't imagine a nicer group of men. They do amazing work and make it look easy. So for three days on my already done list (Making sure to do my part so that these guys could do theirs. My part was easy. I just had to make sure that the gate was open when they needed to be there, I had to stay out of their way, and I had to not ask too many dumb questions.



Already done list *for yesterday
Sort through pile of limbs from tree pull out the parts that are good for firewood and pile up the others for burning, chipping, or wash
Make sure that I've pulled out any cedar limbs to put on the pile of cedar that came from the downed tree
Make sure to have gate open and be outside ready by 10am . The guys on this crew are up early and they're prompt. Priority!!!

(Note have this done by 10Am so that the guys could do their job. Also note. Since they've changed the time, It doesn't get light here until 6:45am.  I've been getting up at 5am(it's dark) I've been using that time to wash clothes, load the dishwasher, and feed the dogs. Also good time to check the mail and maybe pay a bill or two. Also good time to clean kitchen and watch movie or Late Late Show as I don't have to compete for the VCR/tv)

Remove the spent cedar chips in the kennels.

Put down the pea gravel in one kennel so that there's a barrier between the ground and the cedar chips. Note to self. It takes 6 of those big orange buckets from the Home Depot to do this. Seven buckets is better. The gravel pile is still good. Should be awhile until we'd have to get another load of gravel.

Clean the water and food bowls (We were out of dish soap so I bought two bottles)

Make sure there was enough cedar chips in the dog houses (A okay and I already have the two bags of chips to replace

Put one in the storage container and the other in car. I'm ready to put down the cedar chips and the gravel in the other pen today )

Put new bag of dog food in the storage container

Clean the chickens water and food bowl

Lap time for dogs/check for ticks and other things (My fun time.) Extra lap time today because we can't do run time with all the equipment and work.

Run time for the one pup because he needed the extra run time. Spent extra time because of all the excitement here (heavy equipment new people lots of sounds both for us and for the guy next door. All our dogs are a bit stressed from having all the really huge equipment. Couldn't be helped so we all needed the extra lap time to de stress. I have a chair in each kennel so it's easier to do lap time.)

Put up the water hoses.

Check poop for worms and loose bowels Note I think that the dogs eat better when they eat out of the bowls so I'm going to use the food hoppers for storage and so that they'll have dry food incase it rains.

Lap time with big Pup and exercise time. I love to see this pup run. I think that he could run a 4 minute mile if he put his mind to it.

Inside?

Unload the dishwasher/load the dish washer.

Get the eats for meals

Get alcohol/straight pins at store.

Wash clothes

Take shower (I'm pooped)

Finish my book.

This afternoon we had a wind advisory (until 8pm). So I had to move the cars out from under the trees so a limb wouldn't fall on them.

Then spent yesterday late afternoon watching to see if we had anymore limbs fall ......


Now for today?


Already done list

dress/eat

unload/load the dishwasher

get the garbage ready to put out

fold clothes put load of clothes in dryer put load of towels in washer


Note I'm washing towels and blankets today because I'm working outside and don't want to deal with folding clothes or wrinkles . Towels are easy and if you leave them in the dryer to do something else? Your good.

Talk to WB about sailclub and stuff that happened while away. Tried to remember the cute and very sweet chainsaw guys advice. I really did try.\


Let Big Pup out to make a pee and a poop (He was a good boy)


Got Big Pup's run time done

Feed the dogs

Write a bit on the computer and correspondence .

As for the rest of the day.

I'm not fond of to do lists (like the already done ones but sometimes I need the to do list to organize the day. So


The next two days are supposed to be lovely weather wise but Saturday and Sunday look like rain. Having to change what I was going to do over the next 4 days.


Thursday

Make sure to put out the garbage or you'll miss the boat

Put gravel in the other dog kennel so the pups won't need a boat when it rains this weekend (It should take 6 orange buckets full) I'm going to wait to see what happens with the weather this week end. If it's a big rain, I won't put out the cedar chips until next Monday. If I do different the chips will be a wet mess. With the gravel in they'll keep dry. Don't think that they'll suffer fleas or be muddy if the gravel is in.

Finish washing towels


Thursday afternoon and Friday


I wish that I could cut the trees that we'd planned to cut this weekend. I'm not supposed to cut trees by myself for safety reasons.

If it does rain, I think that I'll run errands this weekend.

Make sure to get a pair or chainsaw chaps that work.


Other than the usual with the pups (water bowls, lap time, exercise etc), I should use these two good days to pull and sort limbs.

I need to delimb the trees so that they'll be ready to put out to deter washes. I have a couple washes to be that will need attention. They're in the front.


If I know what limbs are left, I think that I can justify renting a chipper. That would be great as I could use the chips on the path along the road.

I also need to start on the fence. I'm thinking of it in 8 foot lengths. Otherwise? I'd just be over whelmed and give up. It's like loosing a lot of weight. You don't need to think of all the weight you need to loose. You just have to think of the next 5 pounds. I'm hoping to have it finished by the end of the month. At that point the little guys can run free. Then I just have to think about the gate. I'm so happy to have the fence lines cleared and that barbed wire up of the fence and the ground. Lol if I ever find out who did that piss poor job? I'm going to give them a piece of my mind. That was just lazy. I'm lucky that we didn't have a vet bill because of it. Water under the bridge but mercy. I'll just be happy to have it finished.

Also? This is it. I need those chicken panels moved.

So at the very least I need the 16 foot section of the West fence done by Friday night. Good news? I have what I need to do it. Yay.


To sum up for today and Friday

It's dogs and chickens,
chicken panels,
at least 8 feet of fence today and 8 tomorrow,
and pulling limbs

Tonight? meatloaf mashed potatoes green beans salad iced tea

This weekend with the rain?

Do what I was going to do Mon-Friday but couldn't because of the tree thing

the dogs/chickens
spring clean kitchen
wash clothes
spring clean clothes closet.
Sort out the chain saw
and errands sort out the sail club fundraiser thing.

Next week it will finally be time for the baby chick pen to be finished.
Need to check the heat light.
Time to fix the chicken panels and move them to the next spot.
Begin the great dog migration (lol)
The week after Finally dog panels and dog houses.
Yay Anytime there's weather? Cut, clear, and deal with more woods area

Lol this is why I don't like the todo list. IT's much nicer to see what's been accomplished than look at the mountain of things to day.


Love you. )



See I am busy....


.

Still working with the no weird views. Yay, yay, yay and goodbye vampire stat. Nice to use the blog for peace, quiet, and writing. It is a writer's blog though The 12dot disclaimer still applies. This is a writer's blog. A fiction writer's blog. Fact and fiction exist here. If you don't know which is which Please don't ASSume. Ask. Thanks. Writer Ann )

. Note. There are a lot of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors in this post. Sorry. Very busy. Very, very busy. The tree that I wrote the short story about is saved and safe. The story (if you aren't familiar with it) is where we found the chicken eggs and the end of the rainbow. Who knows why God does things. Sometimes it's a mystery but for whatever reason I'm grateful. Now then. To catch up on the Already Done List. The cedar tree is limbed, sorted, and ready to go on it's way. The limbs along the front fence line have been moved. This morning will be very early so that I can make sure to move any logs for the wood pile and pine straw for flower beds, limbs for the washes, and things for the chipper. I have to decide what to do. If I'm very industrious? I get to play with the pups later this morning. Then? Then I'm going to take a shower, put on clean clothes, put clean sheets/blankets on the bed and get ready for cold weather? Yep. Easter is late this year. Still time for another batch of WB's homemade, crock pot chili this Saturday AM. The bad news is that I haven't spring cleaned the kitchen on my clothes closet. We've got more to do outside in order to finish working outside. I did move the chicken pen but I have to sort out the new enclosure. The wire is cut and it looks as if I have enough 2 by 4s. Still need to put the doors on the baby chick pen. It's really sturdy. I'm going low tech for the chicks. That means no formal house and instead a roosting box on wheels so that I can move them. They'll still be safe up off the ground and away from those mean old possums and raccoons and dogs etc. It's just smaller and with a more easy to clean area. Already done list? Cedar tree sorted limbs moved from part of the front fence and problem trees identified. Learned about handling dying pine trees (who knew? now I do) got the dangerous limb moved but got to keep the tree (and got someone to explain that the tree is safe to WB) got info on how to plan the area for future use got the point across that 1. I'd love to be active in sail club but 2. I am not the "dumpster" for other peoples unhappy. If I get dissed? I'm busy. If not? I'm happily helpful. Lol That was a biggy. hopefully got the notion across that I'm not lazy and I have a viable plan that I am already doing. This is all around healthy so leave me be and let me get to work. Oh and one other thing. Helping is when you ask for help, list what that help looks like, and if you can do it? Great. For so much of my life, helping has looked like other people telling me who I am and what I should do. They didn't do a very good job. Pup and I are autodidactic. Answer our questions but don't get mad at us if we don't use it right away. If you knew how far ahead I had to plan for just a chain saw and a cleared fence. Not get out of the way and let us do our job. We're moral and legal so it's good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IRjl3SWC2U I have a plan. I have a plan b. I even have a plan z. :) .

I am so glad the way things went today. The difference between people is amazing. I have been making really good decisions. I don't have the time to waste on the egos and the nonsense. The great thing is that I haven't been. The egos? Don't have that kind of power over my life. And the nice people are a joy to be around. I really am glad the way things are turning out. Building my "house" upon the rock. Thank you friend who said hello to me today. I'm glad that I know you. And yep. The more I know about some people? The more I like my dogs. Hugs. Lol big hugs. WriterAnn

The lovely thing about my life is?

If I don't wanna' I don't haveta'



Tomorrow it's out of the woods and into the yard for the day. Still have on the work boots but this is moving the chickens and set up the area for the little green house.  Thanks to the chickens a lot of the prep work (moving sod) is done. Can't wait to see how it works. 

Also hoping to finish the saw horses and two trees removed. They're bigger and  we're not allowed to move them ourselves. The timing is great.

On a more somber note?  With all the prep here, I'm not going to be able to help with that fundraiser. Heck I was so looking forward to it. :(

Oh well. I'll just have to keep a stiff upper lip and soldier on. ;(   True I won't be out the gas money and also true that at the end of the month my already done list will be substantial. 

Also I know that I'll get over it.

I had a fantastic day.

:)

Wow. Busy three days.

Already done list

Remember my writing about cutting small trees and limbs in the cold and the rain?   Well the next couple of days were better. Today and yesterday were great.

So

We continued to cut trees and move limbs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  The difference was that we had WB and the chain saw to cut bigger trees, 

Completed?

All the big trees along the southern cross fence are now gone.
Moved limbs in that area that I cut last week.
Cut the rest of the small trees with the loppers especially happy that the snakey place is cleared. WB cut trees along the fence so that all I have to do is move them to the staging area to be chipped, moved to wash, or burned.

Then we started clearing the east side of the drive (small stuff). We'll cut any larger trees next week ( I hope.)\

The best news is that the bushes next to the drive/road are cut and I began moving them out this evening.

Also cut is a good clear path to the wash from around the dog kennel. Still more chain saw work to do but there's also lopper work that I can do in the mean time.

Got to visit with a neighbor and learn stuff. 

Ran errands, got dog food and kennel litter, got a new leash for the pups, checked on puppy class, got a new chain saw blade, etc, etc...

Still more to do.  WB is shaking his head when I tell him that things look so much better but then I saw it before the tree were moved.

I'm thinking about moving  the chickens to where we cut the trees so that they can get bugs and I can get a cleared area.

This was a good couple of days.  Sorry that I didn't get log it in daily but honestly? I needed the time to do the work.

Oh Oh Oh. Also saw a friend today at the store. Such a nice person and always a joy to see. We both love our pups.

Gonna get a shower, get the dog, and get some sleep.  The big pup barked when he couldn't see me. He was telling me that it was time to go inside and get some rest.

I love my dogs.

Nothing says fun like cutting small trees in the rain and cold.

Continued what I started yesterday.  Cutting and clearing woods and fence lines in front section of farm.  Last night I cut and cleared until I ran out of daylight.  Today I cut until I couldn't feel my toes from the cold. Came in and put on a pot of spaghetti, defrosted my fingers/toes,  changed into dry clothes,  and washed the wet clothes I took off. I'd love to have NOT done this but it's either this or not have things ready for this weekend's work.   I just have to push through the weather to make sure I get all done.

At this point?

My already done list

Cut saplings in the front section and on the fence lines.


Still to do?

Continue cutting and clearing until  front section fence lines are cleared, limbs are dealt with, and vines are cleared.

Clear east side of drive so WB can cut trees on fence line 

Next

sort the limbs
clear the drive


If I do this, Saturday we can take the chain saw and clear the big trees, the fence line, and then finish what is left of cutting any remaining saplings

Also fill holes in path.

Also need to move fence panels so that I can work on them next week

Next week if I get through this one

fix chicken pen panels
fix door on chicken pen
move chicks to new home around a pecan tree
fix fence line holes
fix dog kennel panels

.

Wednesday Already done list

It was a pretty good day even if it did start late and kind of rocky

(I fired Pup.  He was being a drahma queen. )

cleared cross fence line in front
began clearing the drive
began clearing the saplings between the front area and the cross fence
began clearing the section on east side of drive

This is the part right before you see all your hard work come to life. The middle part where giving up is something that you consider. Don't do it.

Things that I still have to:

finish clearing the saplings in north side
finish clearing the saplings on the east side of the drive
clean the north south cross fence
clean the south fence line
clean the remaining west fence line
clean the north woodland edge

sort, use, or dispose of the limbs, trunks, or vines

use the trunks for erosion control and to establish a terraced situation
chip or burn the limbs
bag vines except the confederate jessimine and the honeysuckle  Pot the jessimine and the honeysuckle

Use the chips for path ways.

Bush hog the areas along the cross fence

spray the fence lines

fix the slope area on east path

move the back fence off the trees

move the big trees and downed trees  you can use them for erosion control

set up a feed and water station

set up the chicken yards.

set up the new kennel area

storage building

tent platform

flower bed
azaleas
impatience
narcissus
dog wood
crepe myrtle
boxwoods
hydrangeas
pitisporin
possum haw

herbs flat leaf parsley, mint, basil, lemon thyme, etc
roses
lettuce tables
microgreens
tomatoes
green onions




learn to put in a fence post. wood and tpost
learn to put up fence wire
learn to put up wood fence
learn to make a gate

Lots to do from now until June.

.

Ash Wednesday. aka Happy Hangover Day.



Wish list for now until June.

Chicken pens
Chicken house for older chickens
Chicken house for baby chicks
Enclosure for guineas
Use chickens to clean under trees
Dog pens
Spray
clean paths and wood land edges
camping platform/footbridge/
storage
clean drive
saw horses for grow table
fence lines
gate to front parcel
gate to back parcel
dogs
logs and limbs for erosion control
front gate
front fence
new gate
cross fence for dog yard
replace fencing with dog fencing
wire at bottom of west fence
privacy fence for dogs
pole barn
place for entertaining
hammock
guineas
place for chicks
establish place for garden (till or plow)
flower bed
flower bed
dogwood tree
jonquil
hydrangeas
impatiens
work on entry/gate
azaleas
ACT
flag on fence
water source

storage building for work, dog, and stuff

get this done and then?

plan for personal schedule

boat work /sail club
work
tai chi y
church
volunteer work
job and or school





fence line
around house (clip boxwoods and hedges) prep for paint work
around trees
paint
green house
beer garden for Rick's BBQ
reno work to house
front porch of house
drive
gate
front fence
clear fence line in back
remove trees
prune around electrics
back porch
flower bed
crepe myrtles in front of the green house


clear fence line
bushhog
clear and make repairs to back fence line
gate
front fence

Best news? No pain day.

Happy Mardi Gras tomorrow.

Let the good times roll.

.

Already done list for today

kennels cleaned.
food and water
heart worm med
exercise
tick check
lap time

exercise for Loki
food and water for Loki

moved limbs to otherside of the fence
began clearing the edge of the woods north side of kennel
cleared path from east to west
filled holes on west fence line with gravel or leveled them

walked fence line to check for holes

not a bad day


Time for shower, fried chicken, and Glee  :)

This was an excellent day.

Tomorrow? No to do list only an already done list

And I don't know how this happened but I have a copy of Dallas Buyers Club  AND  Blue Jasmine.

Yay!

Wow what a great two days. We  had great weather (not hot nor cold).  Had help from WB and Pup. Today was one of those days when you look back and can actually see done what you set out to do. Even a neighbor complimented us for the good job. Still lots to do but I'm hoping to work hard for the next week. Then I can begin working to get the dogs and chickens settled. I'm hearing that we might have rain. In case it's rainy I'll start working inside the house. Movies, clean closets, and spring clean kitchen. Personally, I'm hoping for sunny weather until next Sunday. I can make up for the time spent working on the lake.

Already done list

learn to use chain saw

Cut small trees along fence lines
Use trees and limbs to fill wash
clear vines from trees
clear the two vine covered bushes
remove bushes that were covered with vines
remove barbed wire from fences
remove old fence posts
cut down cedar tree next to pecan
cut volunteer tree next to pecan
clear trees around pecans next to kennels
move vines and trees to make room for truck
talk to WB about budget
finish work parties at lake
sort church
sort parents
make list of things to do for next 3 months
take volunteer class
suss out other volunteer activity
get fabric for church project

I'm sure that there's other things that I've missed but the next three months are mapped out. Outside work, inside work, ready for painter, get painter and carpenter, move chickens, set up green house, clear the front fence lines, get dogs sorted for the year...

There's more but this is enough to think of. The idea is to phase in schedule for tai chi, gym, fencing, and sailing. Lol makes me tired to list it so I'll just list what's been done.

Fantastic two days. Got 99% of work done and got to do the volunteer work too. There's a party at the middle of the month. Time to give pups their <3 and="" br="" clip="" meds="" shots="" toenails.=""> I've pretty much concluded that my horoscope is a bust but hard work here at the farm, on the boat, or out at the lake isn't.

You should see the view.

 

I like to see the progress. The antidote to the nonsence that my parents of pushing.

.

I want to remember. Friday Feb 4, 2011.   From what mom said Thursday? Dad went into the hospital Jan 15th. I remember asking why they didn't call me when he first went into the hospital.  She said it was because they didn't want to worry me.  I tell here I could help. I have a background that might (and did) help. She spits out that I'd be of no use. Then Thursday she says again that he went into the hospital on the 15 of January. I tell here that they didn't contact me until the end of January. To be accurate?  Feb 4th, 2011.

My father is saying that UAB didn't keep him alive.  My father's doctor is talking to my sister in law. My mother is keeping him home with home health care. She's not taking him to the senior center. Now he's second guessing the people that kept him alive in favor of people that nearly put him in the ground.
I am very worried about my dad. Mom told him that she was by his side all of the time. She wasn't when he was unconscious. Then she  only went to see him once a day. The other time she was staying at my brother's house.  I know because I went to see him the rest of the time. She only started going there after she found out I was stay the rest of the time.

I'm worried for daddy. Very, very worried. I'm just not sure what to do.

.

Oh yah.  Time to work on the west fence and the woods edge. Might even cut through for path for nest kennel site. Got a lot done today. Still have to make sure there's no barbed wire on the west fence path but I think that it can be done.


Hope list for March, April, May?

No real order Just wake up, look out the window and pick something to do. Best priority is weather and what help that I have to do things.

learn to clean chain saw
get new chain for chain saw
take limb and sweep east, north, and west paths
cut trees sort out pole barn site

Pull up barbed wire on and along west fence.
Cut trees etal along west fence
Move trees to wash, to prevent wash, etc
Cut trees along wood edge
Remove vines and undergrowth
Cut path from east to west  fence lines
Cut path from new kennel area to the grass yard
Make moveable for walking across wash
Cut trees move vines on the house side of the east fence
Set up new chicken yard to clear grass
set up green house

clean around pecan trees
clean south fence line
fix kennels
set up new kennels
Dogs get shots and visits

organize yard
cut bushes for painter
estimates for painting house
make new chicken houses
put doors on chicken house
polebarn
storage building behind house
storage building at new kennels
set up sink and solar water heater at kennels
learn to use post auger
use post auger to install gates and for kennel pen
set up wood pile for house and for each living section
set up swing
beer garden for WB
roses
kitchen upgrade *sink, flooring, cabinet doors
Clean closets



This is a long list and it's definitely not in order. A lot is weather dependent. If it's raining there's inside stuff. Otherwise it's outside stuff.  The outside is important now because of the heat in June through September. I'm saving that for inside and for renovations that other people do.

We're doing pretty good. My goal for Feb was to clean the fence lines for the west parcel, the edges of the woods, and any place that was in the way when WB bush hogged.  I'm hoping to have this all done by Sunday next week. My goal for March was to finish the chicken and new dog kennels.  Get the dogs shots, clean my closets, clean WB's closets, and spring clean the kitchen. I need help for some of the outside work. I'm not keen on using the chainsaw without someone else here. Plus it's easier to cut and then move limbs with help. I have to work quickly because the sap rises and by June the bushes and grass can be tall.  Already the sap is rising. If it can stay coldish the snakes will stay in their dens.
Note MUST have west fence and gate sorted for the dogs to stay outside. That might be project for this coming weekend.

I'm so excited about what we did today. I know that it will be just beautiful by the end of next weekend.

April is for working on the house yard and putting up the green house. It should be warm enough to have the chickens in their new yard.  The only thing I can't really do is cut the front bushes. Have to make sure that the Mockingbirds don't have nests in the holly. Really should prune trees and root the cuttings.



Considering the sad thing that happened this past Thursday, I'm getting sleep. Has a lot to do with the physical work that we're doing. I'm just pooped. It's a good tired as I have something done and something to do tomorrow.


Songs that I heard today were by Colin Hay (Men at Work) and the Steel Sisters. (Re broadcast of a June  2013 Prairie Home Companion.



You know.  My perfect day is waking up, dressing, snack, sorting the dogs, going outside to work, break for late full breakfast or early lunch, project work in yard, visit with dogs while taking a rest or reading in the hammock, shower, supper, movie,  check the emails and watch previous night's LLS  or tv (Big Bang Theory, 2 broke girls, American Idol, the political shows on Friday night and the Sunday AM now that it's coming on the political season, How I Met Your Mother, and Glee)
I also like baseball (Braves)and college football (SEC games). It's lovely to work outside in the morning in Summer, shower, eat lunch, and then watch the Braves under the air conditioner. Chips, soda, or pop corn.

This is a lot to do. Going to bed. Lots to do tomorrow.



PS My parents are idiots. They could be spending time with all of their family. We're fun and we have something to show for our time.  We're interesting.  They're so wound up and uncomfortable. Hiding.  We're moving forward. Ah well I hope that things will change for them. For me? No more stories for them. I saw them in their real and I've got things to do. I haven't got time for that level of pain.

Today? They missed visiting with us after we worked outside.  Under the trees with Lucky, Pup, and WB.  All of us so tired. Except Lucky who could have gone on for the rest of the evening.  They missed seafood night at the local restaurant (oysters! and nice people). Tomorrow they'll miss more work but they'll also miss church and the lunch after. You've gotta love a church who'll take you in Sunday service dressed in your outside work clothes. Last Sunday I pulled tree limbs right up until 15 minutes before service. We came in late. I was wearing my tshirt covered in dirt.  Same for night meeting. Tomorrow will be the same. Worked around the rain last Sunday( it started just before church and stopped just after). They'll miss putting my boat in the water at the lake.  They'll miss the life here for staying at home. Holding on to old fights.  They'll miss us. Maybe. I hope that things will change but after last Thursday, I've stopped waiting for it like it was the only thing to do. Waiting for them to change like they're  the last bus of the night on a mean street.  Theirs is a mean street but here? It's not.

I miss Newt and Billy. I'd tell them and they'd tell me to go forward.  I think that they'd understand.

I miss Newt stories. I miss watching Billy dance. Seeing him with his head set in such a way. Reading his letters. Unlike the angst of my parents, Billy and Newt's  were creative worlds alive with thought.

I'd love to have BudN show up in the middle of all this. Like he did the last time.  I'd stop what I was doing. We'd all stop what we were doing and drink glasses of ice tea in the shade. Then?  Then we'd stand him a dinner from the It Don't Matter. Under the trees. It's a Sunday tradition.

And mercy, I miss having IrishDavid in my world. I miss him fierce.

:(

To bed now. I found out last Thursday that I haven't wasted the very air that I breath. I have things to show for my time.
Good things.

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Beautiful sunny, cold day.

Delightful Pup.  I'm lucky that he's my son. Really great person.

No more weird looks on my blog. Yay! 

Love The Planets.

And now to work outside. Have a lot to do.

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