Good Friday ~

Yesterday had it's trying moments, but all in all it was a good day. I was able to get my car tag, purchased groceries, had a pleasant drive through the countryside, found lots of garden goodies, ran a few errands and enjoyed 75* weather. You can read the whole scoop here.

Today I am sure will hold a new set of challenges all of its own. Somehow we need to get a roll of hay from someone close by, as all of our stock pile is gone. Planting in the garden will be a sure activity as well with everything I've bought this week. I would like to wash my car, start my flower garden, ride through the woods with Lon on the 4-wheeler and grill out. Just your normal Friday activities. Of course there are the everyday chores of house & barn to do too. All of the bee hive boxes need a coat of paint in preparation for their arrival soon. Lon went with our bee mentor, Clyde on Wednesday this week to pick up some additional bee supplies that need some attention too. I have been waiting for warm, dry weather to come so I could start staining the porch chairs, not sure the day has enough hours for my list of have-tos and want-tos. What do you think?

Lon came home with another load of free pallets this morning. They will go a long way in constructing some usable items for the farm, maybe even a shelter or two. We have put many to use over the past year in the shape of goat shelters, hay feeders, gates, milking stand, etc. The projects can be read about through out the posts on this site. If you have special interest in one let me know in the comment section and I will find the link for you.

One pallet project today revolved around a small shelter of sorts that we had built a couple of months back. Today we added to it and devise a sheltered place to put the large round hay bales we get for the goats and horse. They eat at them regularly, but often waste a good bit on the ground. Putting our heads together we came up with a plan that looks like a God-send. (Which it is). The new roll is safely tucked under cover, secured on all 4 sides with spaces big enough for everyone to eat through. No more jumping on it (Samson) or pulling it down to lie in (hens). We are hoping that it will last us for awhile at least until everything greens up good. We are quite proud of our ingenuity and gave each other a pat on the back for a job well done.

Picking up this new roll next door to the feed store allowed us to get the chicken feed too in one easy trip. While there I made use of my waiting time to look over the new plants that had just arrived. I don't know about you, but I love to be the first to look over and pick from plants that have their shipping wrappers still attach. It's like picking from the cream of the crop! Needless to say we didn't leave with just what we had came after. There were a couple of packages of vegetable seeds, another tray of tomato seedlings and a few pots of herbs tucked under my feet as we pulled off.

Working outside was hot! Today's temperature soared to 85* the highest yet. Wouldn't you know it the breezes we have been having for weeks just puffed away leaving us with nothing but still air. Lon went over to help a neighbor lady with a tree in her yard. She is expecting company on Easter and wanted it cleaned up. We were given the wood from this old, old oak to add to our wood pile for next year's heating. It should continue to age out perfectly and give us the hot heat that it is known for.

We have decided to leave the kids out around the clock with the rest of the adults. They have reached 7 weeks old this weekend and are learning so much from them. With the night time temperatures staying stable it is a good time to introduce them to sleeping outdoors.

The farmers here abouts say it is good to plant your crops on GOOD FRIDAY. I even over heard two older women at Wmart this week say the same thing, so it must be true. I'm sure the Farmer's Almanac probably speaks of the same success as well. We were not able to get everything in the ground today. But asked the Lord's blessing on what is planted and continue to pray for a good harvest come late Summer.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Deborah

August is in Full Swing

Today started late for me as I slept in a little this morning due to a middle of the night rising. Unable to sleep I slipped quietly into the family room to read. . . . . finished my book. The first fictional book in over a year or more. My current steady diet of reading has circled around the magnitude of research books I have been consuming. I even have one waiting right now by my chair. Along with a dozen or so on hold at the library. Not to mention the one on it's way that I ordered on line for our reference library. I am not lacking for reading material which is obvious from the lined bookcase and the stack of magazines sitting on the coffee table. I love to read which is why I find new books so appealing to get. Only time will tell but I think I have instilled this same love into my granddaughter. One of her favorite requests of me is "read me this book". Seconded only to "let me read you a book." Gotta love it!

Our project for today was to put up some shelves in the bathroom closet. They look so nice and will give me more space than is needed for towels and such. I am sure I will have no problem filling them up with items. For this house is a little short on storage space. Lon even had time to put up some trim in the dinning room while I made a trip to the building supply in the next town for what we needed. Yea! Things are really taking shape with each little finishing detail being put into place. We had wanted to work outside today, but with getting a late start was unable. After having an 11:00 country breakfast (or should I say brunch?), it was just too hot to start. The goal is to do outside projects in the mornings then move to inside projects in the heat of the day after lunch. Good plan, just hard to do some days. Life will always give you a curve ball just when you are ready for a line drive.

We already know he will have to work extra this Saturday. It is to pay back time that was covered while he was off during my mission trip last month. Thankful then . . . . . hate it now.

Looks like it could be a busy week for us, especially if he also gets an overtime shift add to his schedule. Then I have a day set aside for a doctor's apt. and some testing to be done. That leaves us with only one other day for projects here at the farm this week. It is all too easy to fill up your days without knowing it if one is not careful.

We discussed all of our Fall projects again yesterday morning over coffee on the porch. The need to get started is urgent. Time is passing by and our days seem already filled up before we start them. I have a sneaky feeling that August will be over way too soon and it is only the third day of the month.

At present I am sitting here in this heavy heat watching the goats browse. If I can get some energy up after a busy day like today. I would like to clear some weeds from the flowerbeds I am trying to establish. Lon is away this evening for his first Bethel East Volunteer Fire Dept. meeting. Terry, one of the volunteers brought him a radio last Friday. So he can get and respond to the 911 calls for their station. I guess this makes him official as a volunteer all but the turn-out gear he will need and the F.D. truck tag. I guess our life will always revolve around a fire truck somewhere, even after retirement is accomplished.



Living out a dream,

Deborah