| Stormdancer Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 01:04 pm: |   |
Computer Crash Journal…part 2
Tuesday June 17:
Another HOT, Muggy day…We’ve been getting afternoon rains since Sunday. The A/C is cranking once more as I have spent my morning dragging furniture around trying to decide if there is some other way to arrange this living room. There isn’t…SIGH…I miss my huge old house…
With the new TV being a flat panel model, it has worked out well in its “new” location. Got things set finally where I am happy. Still haven’t made it to Best Buy to take the computer in for repair….maybe tomorrow.
The PI/creeper has finally dried out and is gone…YAY!!!! Record time for me on this stuff.
Ms Piggy has laid her FIRST egg!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! FINALLY! It was about the size of those that Red lays, but a soft shell, kinda reminded me of a super size turtle egg. She laid it in the box where they all roost at night. So glad she’s going to start laying…was beginning to worry about her becoming egg bound as she is nearing one year old now.
Wednesday June 18:
Got the living room straightened and vacuumed early…started on the porch after that. Today is forecast to be another scorcher with more afternoon rain. Laundry is started and its not even 8am yet! DH is about to discover how OCD I can be when I’m in cleaning mode…Sis discovered how anal I am about keeping things picked up and organized when we shared an apartment for a short time. If I’m going to take the time to clean…Don’t you DARE mess it up!
Just waiting now for Best Buy to open so I can take the computer in. Two stops while I’m in town today… Best Buy and the Grocery. Haven’t been to the grocery since we got home from the mountain…we are out of everything.
Finally home again…WHEW…it is miserable outside. Seems every time I go to Best Buy it rains. Dropped the computer off…estimated time is about a week…way better than the month it took for my last one. It is still under extended warranty for another year, so it isn’t going to cost me anything…..YEAH!!!! Got to really appreciate extended warranties…its been my year for having things replaced under extended warranties it seems.
Ran into the rain going to Best Buy and out of it as I headed back towards our end of town. Made it to the grocery, only have to go back now for dog food in a few days….only have room for one bag in my can and this one is still over 1/3 full.
The rains have been coming late in the afternoon…today is a pretty bad storm that’s heading towards us…high winds, lightning and possible hail…not good. So far, our area isn’t in that watch…glad for that.
With all this rain, I’ll be having to mow again this weekend.
Got the chicken coop cleaned out and new hay in…carried the old out to the garden area….I’m ready to till it all under and start again…pulled all but three tomato plants and the sweet potato vine out. Had DH get the tiller attachment out and ready for me…WOW…I REALLY like this little thing! Got about half the area tilled under…rains are heading in and I spotted sky to ground lightning in the western sky…ok, I’m through playing now…The sky has turned a wicked shade of grey green and the winds are beginning to swirl around…not a good sign…reminds me of being in the Midwest during Tornado weather…I’ve seen that sky before!!! Put the machine away and got the chickens in the coop early, just as the rain began to fall in big, hard drops.
The temps have really dropped as the sun dropped and the rains fall…turned the A/C off and opened the windows and porch door. Small power outage…only lasted a few minutes as the storm moved through.
Thursday June 19:
The morning is starting out very nice…cool temps around 70 degrees, very low humidity right now before the sun begins baking the rain soaked yard. Rained quite a bit through out the night.
Got Sis to go online with me over the phone so I could take care of some bills…life sucks without my computer, especially since I do everything online.
Watching the birds out front at the feeders…we have a pair of Yellow Belly Sapsuckers with a young one visiting daily right now…will have to see if I can get a picture…never seem to have the camera handy when they are all at the feeder. There is also a pair of Ruby throated Humming birds that visit the Shell Ginger, Hibiscus, Crape Myrtle and Bottle Brush tree everyday. They seem to enjoy many of the same plants that attract the Butterflies.
The newest pair of birds hasn’t been seen this morning…we may have a pair of Florida Scrub Jays taking up residence close by….Haven’t made a positive ID as yet…will have to wait until my computer comes home. The pair is a gorgeous bright blue with a rusty coloring on their breasts…not quite as dark as the Robin, but rusty just the same. Would be sweet IF they ARE Scrubs as they are endangered.
The Wild Turkey hens haven’t been here much the past few days. Have two hens that bring their hatchlings to the feeder. A lone Tom comes in every now and then.
Several Cardinal Families bring their young daily and even the Blue Jays hang out squawking and screeching. Mourning Doves seem intent on suicide as they somehow manage to forget how to get out of the chicken pen and wildly slam into every side and the top of the pen before exhausting themselves and dropping to the ground.
The squirrels have a great time raiding the feeder….until I open the door so the dogs can chase them back to the safety of the pines. It has become a great game for the boys to play chase the squirrels….too funny watching my big dogs trip over each other as they race down the steps and round the corner of the porch as they head out across the yard after the squirrels. By the time they make it out the door, the squirrels are usually within a few feet of the pines. Don’t mind sharing with the squirrels, but the little buggers start sitting in the feeders hogging everything and chasing the birds off…well, enough is enough.
The day has grown more humid and as the temperature climbs to 90, the air feels like a sauna and very steamy. Is it any wonder I have no desire to be outside? Looks like another day inside doing house cleaning….my least favorite chores…it is progressing though and may soon be done….if I can make myself keep going…and the A/C doesn’t die.
Got the newest electric bill in yesterday…not as bad as I had expected…still under a hundred bucks…the next one will however, break well over the hundred dollar mark I’m sure….especially with daytime temps well over 90. These aren’t anywhere near record breaking temps for us…noticed the other night on the news that our record temps for this month were set in 1998…we were over 90 degrees that year for some 60 odd days…several of those days were above 100 degrees….and no rain for like over a hundred days or so…bad year 1998. At least for now, we are getting the afternoon rains pretty regular across the entire state and things do cool down when they come late in the day.
No more word on the fifth wheel camper…DH’s boss took off a few days when we got back and haven’t had a chance to catch back up with him as yet. He’s due to be back today, so we shall see.
I’m still missing the mountains’ peaceful, calming affect. The past week has made me feel as if I’d never even left. The stress level rose right back to where I’ve been for the past several years. It’s been a tough time emotionally. After all is said and done, I really want to be far away from all that stresses me.
I’m positive that our kids ALL need to stand on their own ADULT feet. Every one of them are over 25 now, as of this year. Its time DH cuts the cord on his two and demands they assume responsibility for their own lives. My 31 yr old knows he has to deal with his own problems and has been since he became a father at 18 and fresh out of High School.
I can sympathize and am willing to listen, however, when each of these kids begins to whine about finances… I tune them ALL out. Each one will gripe about Not having money to pay bills and then in the next sentence begin listing all of the new things they just HAD to have…in spite of not being able to pay rent, buy groceries, or put gas in their vehicles. “ I didn’t have all the money, so I decided to spend what I had cause I really wanted this” NONE of them want to work more than one job…yet all have watched their dad and I work side jobs to take care of them and help us have a little extra to do things with them and get things they wanted.
I could SMACK each one for being so ignorant acting!! They were NOT raised that way!! So from where I stand, they are all on their own. Each is an able bodied adult capable of working to support their own self. The fact that they CHOOSE to be irresponsible idiots is now THEIR problem. The check book is closed …they can earn their own money or starve…THEIR choice. Maybe some day they will figure it out, but WE are NOT going to provide support for them so they can be LAZY individuals and spend every dime they earn and ours….NOPE, No way No how…NOT in this lifetime…or the next!
7:45pm…had a storm move in after 4:30pm that wasn’t really all that severe…knocked the power out around 6pm after a very close clap of thunder sounded. Didn’t really see any flash of lightning though, so could have been on our south side and distant…we were sitting in the living room facing the north windows when it happened. Its now closing in on 8pm and the power is still off…the power crew truck has been up and down the road for the past hour or so…DH is so bored with no TV, and even though I switched our emergency weather radio to the local rock station, he can’t stand being inside when its still daylight outside.
8:30 pm…Lights are finally back on and I can begin supper at last.
Friday June 20…Happy Summer Solstice!!
Another nice cool morning to start the day…was 71 degrees or so at 7am. Yesterdays rains have perked up all the plants in the yard. The power finally came back on around 8:30 pm last night…still not sure exactly what caused the outage, but after working below our place, the power crew headed back towards the main road…shortly after we heard the bang of the transformer they had worked on below us as it blew out once more.
After they returned to repair the transformer a second time, things returned to normal for the remainder of the night.
DH helped me pull the Broccoli, cukes and most of the tomato plants that were finished out in the garden. The chickens were real excited as I opened the gate and DH brought their treat inside.
Ms Piggy has now produced TWO soft shelled eggs. Found the second one this morning. Something had punctured this one in one spot. Such nice size though…she’s already laying the same size as Red. Looks like when she starts laying regular, we could end up with Jumbo eggs from her eventually.
DH brought home some very nice pavers from a demo job…the boss actually saved them for him since he knew DH wanted them. These pavers are 24 x 24 inches and about an inch thick. I think I counted a dozen on the truck. He put a couple at the chicken pen…one under the water containers…and one under my feed barrel. Once he had finished that, he began raking the chicken yard and brought in several shovels of dirt to fill in around the edge where they are always digging around. Something keeps trying to dig in from the back side of the pen…DH put some pieces of rock around several areas and then filled in with more dirt. Guess if I catch what it is, its gonna find out I have a bullet with its name all over it…not going to play with a chicken killing critter.
3pm…Finally decided the porch was just way too hot and headed inside to the A/C. Porch thermometer is reading 94 degrees and the humidity has really been steamy.
Sunsprite decided to open her first bud this morning…What a Sweet smell she has! She’s teasing me with the sight of one petal uncurling at a time…my pictures look almost like time lapse as I stop to check on her and take pictures several times during the day. Can you tell I’m tickled to see how well she’s recovered??? Once this bloom is finished, I plan to trim her back a bit as she has grown quite spindly shooting up so quickly.
The Cannas are looking great, they have reached about 3 ½ feet tall and should be putting out blooms anytime now. The unknown “mystery lilies” are coming along…much better than they’ve been since we’ve had them. Now if I can keep the boys’ dogs out of them, I just might get to see them in bloom this year.
My Lavender has yet to set blooms, but the foliage is very fragrant. The poinsettias have come back very strong in their new bed. Should be beautiful and tall by Christmas this year. Shall have to get the white and pink to plant with these that are red. My Aloe in that same area was looking great before the dogs stomped through and broke several pieces from three of the larger plants….Makes me want to BEAT the OWNER!!!
The mint is doing very nice and continues to stretch and spread in its space. The Thyme looks nice and thick in its pots….shall be trimming it back a bit real soon. The Stevia has almost doubled in size since being placed in the large pots. Another plant I need to trim back…this time though, I’ll be drying the cuttings for use as a sweetener…maybe…need to research a bit more on this.
The two remaining Basil plants continue to slowly grow. Two of the newly rooted Hibiscus plants are setting buds already…WOOHOO!! Another of the “bucket starts” has also bloomed again. SIGH….I really need to find pots for those poor things…either that or put them in the ground…I know where I would like to put them, just way too hot right now to want to do much of anything. Maybe later today once the sun drops back a bit…and the afternoon rains hold off. Might even consider mowing again this evening…shouldn’t take near as much time since I just mowed last weekend. All the rain sure has brightened the green all around my yard. So glad to have the rains return. I worry about the back pasture area when its so dry and the neighbor, who rents from my landlord also, on our east side, never bothers to cut the pasture area behind their house. We cut it last fall and it really should have been cut a second time as the area was over six feet high with growth in many spots when we ran the brush hog through it. Had been more than three years since it had been cut. My concern is the dry dead tinder that lays out there just waiting to be sparked by lightning. At least on our side it is nice and green. The landlord doesn’t care though and I’ve offered to do it on a regular basis since our tractor is made for that type of growth. Guess if I do it for free he won’t mind, but THAT ain’t about to happen ever again!! DH did it last year as a “neighborly” thing. He loves running the tractor and spent two days cutting the farm, house lot and the rental lot next door…got a Thank you, but not even an offer to pay for the fuel used, or his time. Won’t ever happen again! Won’t be discounting the cost either. Our tractor doesn’t leave the yard for less than $125 for anyone else and with the cost of fuel now…it will probably have to go a bit higher…DH’s truck that pulls it around also runs on Diesel and here in our area, its already right at $5 a gallon. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 08:50 pm: | |
Saturday June 21: Happy First day of Summer
Was a very wet day...spent the day watching movies with DH as the rains moved in during the early part of the morning.
The oldest son brought the granddaughter and pup over after calling and finding out we had rain..DUH...why? We've seen him every day this week. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - 07:34 am: | |
Saturday June 21 continued:
The day began muggy and hot. Temps reached 91 before the rains began. Grey skies moved in early and by noon the rain was pouring down heavy.
Had planned a trip out to the local U Pull It salvage yard to see if we could locate a few parts for our project truck and parts for a friend...not to be on this Saturday.
The Geek Squad has called...WOOOHOOO!!! my computer is ready to be picked up!!! That was fast. Now if it will just stop raining for a bit, I can go pick it up...ok...looks like the trip in to Best Buy will be waiting for a bit. That rain is coming down by the bucket...sigh...hopefully tomorrow. I'm missing my laptop severely.
Sunsprite has opened her bloom!! She began yesterday and this morning it was fully open. So pretty and smells so "Rosey".
Got part of the front yard cut on Friday before the rain began coming down heavy...hoping to get the rest of the yard cut before the end of the weekend...not at the rate this rain is falling.
Sunday is forecast for a repeat of today...I hope not...calling for a 70% chance of rain. Great...at this rate, my yard will not only be flooded, but the grass will be way taller than me...be needing the brush hog. If we keep getting rain like this, my yard will be looking like a swamp!!
On the bright side: At least I get to turn the A/C off for a bit since the outside air is nice and cool once the rains come through...overnight brings very nice temps. I'm sure on Sunday the A/C will be cranking as the sun begins baking the rain soaked yard.
Sunday June 22:
With the forecast calling for a 70% chance of rain, we have made no outside plans for today...the sky looks pretty clear as we both were out of bed by 7 am...what a change of our normal weekend routine...usually try to sleep in a bit on the weekend.
HUMMMPHH!!! So much for the 70% chance of rain...the skies have shown heavy dark clouds all day long...but so far, not one drop of rain has fallen...we managed to head on out to the yard and I got the mower fired up. At least I'll get the yard finished before we get rain today...ok...now what is going on with this crazy mower??? After about an hour of mowing the darn thing acts like it is out of fuel...DH checked it, still has 3/4 of a tank...ok break time then...I'm needing a tall glass of ice tea anyway...after a short cool down break, I went back out to see if the mower would start...back to work as the mower fired right up...got the front yard finished and headed for the back...again the mower shuts off about an hour into the job...DH went ahead and topped the tank with the remaining fuel we have on hand...another glass of ice tea while the mower cools off...I sure miss my Yazoo!!!! This stopping constantly makes the yard take forever to finish...my Yazoo and I could get the ENTIRE property mowed in about four hours...and that's because I prefer to "manicure" the yard as I mow...re-cutting across in different directions until the yard looks as if it has been bagged while mowing...gives the yard the look of a golf course when I'm done. At this rate, I'll be using the tractor to cut the pasture...did get the back yard cut finally and moved on to the side yard next to the chicken pen...it hasn't been cut on that side for awhile and I'm trying to discourage critters from using the growth to hide in...finally got that part cut and the front portion of the pasture area...caught the only piece of rope in the yard and managed to jam the blades on the mower...great...now I'm two for two on jamming rope in the mowers...last time it was bailing twine from an old hay bale...that twine stopped my mower in its tracks...took a bit of work to get that out...this time it was a piece of ski rope...where did that come from??? I know exactly where I hit the rope...oh well, guess DH and the boys need to pick up after themselves...DH got the rope off in just a matter of minutes. Finally the yard is mowed...DH started a fire in the burn pit and began burning some of the yard debris that has piled up. With drought conditions prior to our mountain trip, we had been under a burn ban. Now with the rains coming daily...burn baby burn...need to get this stuff dealt with... The fire was nice and even though some of the stuff was pretty wet, it caught quickly and before the sun set for the day, most everything in the pit is now ash...it smoldered a bit throughout the night, but the fire pit is lined with firebrick so it is contained well.
I did manage to get over to Best Buy and pick up my computer this afternoon before I began cutting the yard...was very proud of myself for the restraint I showed once the computer was home...I brought it in, set it on the table and went out to get my mowing done....was a hard thing for me as I've been experiencing severe computer withdrawal.
The oldest stopped by after he had taken the granddaughter home...DH was working on the project truck and I had came in to finally give the computer my attention...no sooner fired up the computer and DH was inside asking for my help...off I go once more...leaving the computer. Only took about ten minutes for me to help them get the tranny jack in the right place so they could get the transfer case bolted to the frame...scary how they do things sometimes...that transfer case is darn heavy and the two of them were having to balance it as I pushed the jack forward into place. Glad that part is over...now I can get back to my computer!
The hard drive that was replaced was 80 gig...the new one is 240 gig...woohoo!! I can live with that! I also had them go ahead and install another 1 gig memory strip for me...might as well get this thing the way I want and the new memory will make her faster than ever. So glad to have my laptop home.
Monday June 23:
Another nice start to what is forecast to be a very mugggy hot day. After the power was off the other day, I never bothered to check the alarm...figure it has battery back up, no need...HA!...it went off this morning and the time read 6:00 am like normal...however...the actual time was only 5:45 am!! Looks like the battery backup makes it jump ahead...so I reset the clock. DH is not crazy about getting up quite that early as he doesn't have to be at work until 7:30 am.
Spent the morning playing on the computer and getting things set back up the way I want them. Need to go to the bank and stop and pick up dog food...knew that one was coming when I went to the store last week. Now the rain has started, so I guess I'll just wait a bit...as long as I get the dog food before tonight there is no real rush.
The rains stopped around 1 pm and off I went to get my errands done.
One of the guys stopped by to drop a small engine off to DH...its the person who gave me the chickens...had a nice visit and managed to get one piece of equipment gone from the yard...swapped out a tiller that we really didn't need (actually, I think he is the person we got the tiller from in the first place)...was a nice visit...he left us some fresh corn for the animals or us...they pick up vegetables from the flea market for their livestock...DH decided that the corn looked good enough that he wanted to try some...works for me...was pretty tasty. The chickens were thrilled and polished off three ears in no time.
Tuesday June 24:
I'm sooo over all this humidity!!! The rains make it nice, but the sun sure blisters the yard this time of year. Feels like a sauna very early in the day. Temps remain in the low 90's.
DH tossed several ears of corn out by the bird feeders before he left for work this morning. The squirrels are loving life as they gobble the corn and drag it across the yard....OOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!! Just now a deer wandered in from the back side of the yard...ooohhh and look!!! Its a young buck!!!! WOOHOO! The first buck I've spotted...his antlers are about six to eight inches and he has one spike on each...small little fellow, one of the does popped out a few minutes ago and they are about the same size...what a treat! The buck started towards the corn, but the squirrel snatched the ear and ran towards the driveway...the buck wandered around for a few minutes and then he and the doe disappeared into the trees on the east side of my yard...so cool to see them...even though they make me insane when they are chomping on my Hibiscus.
The deer were back right before dark...didn't stay long. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - 08:10 am: | |
The morning has been nice...again the rain cooled everything and now the sun has begun to bake the yard. DH put more of the corn out for the chickens and the other critters...the squirrels are having fun dragging it across the yard...two deer showed up, and left within just minutes...maybe they will come back later.
Forecast is calling for low 90's again and more rain...so far I think I have heard that the rainfall amounts are close to 4 inches for our area in the last couple of days. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - 03:34 pm: | |
Its almost 5:30 pm and the rains are beginning to threaten...figures...DH will be in from work soon and the rain will delay anything he plans to do tonight.
I almost forgot to mention, I have made a positive ID on the suspected Scrub Jays...they ARE NOT Scrubs...instead it turns out they are Eastern Bluebirds...not a bit disappointed as the birds are delightful to observe.
Noticed that some critter found the corn...probably a rat or squirrel judging from the teeth marks. No biggie as the corn was outside...will be gone soon anyway.
DH is home now, so shall see what the plans are for the evening. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - 06:02 pm: | |
No, but we once owned a regular boxing body bag...lol...I have to be careful when I think about working it off that way...tend to go to extremes and usually injure myself...hahaha...no offense taken BTW...nice to know I'm not the only ballistic person on this planet...lol
Really liked your "research" regarding the "I need a husband WHY?"...sounds normal for the male population.
And Yes, I truly do expect my hubby to give a hand around the house...I tend to work the manual labor type jobs (pay is so much better in this area) and if I'm gonna work like a guy, then my hubby can help like a female...otherwise, I can and have closed my eyes to the condition of the house and believe me, I can outlast any guy when it comes to walking over stuff...but once I decide its time to clean....get out of my way and don't dare bring anything I've tossed back within my sight...dang...that actually sounds pretty evil, huh?...sorry, but I just get bent pretty bad over some things and that is one of them. |
Smart! I don't think my husband realizes that an inflatable clown would probably last me only about one round.
ROFL! That reminds me of a women vs. men joke I read recently. The last line of the joke said, "Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests." LOL! |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 08:33 am: | |
ROFLMAO!! NOW you sound like ME!! Been known to break things with one punch, or kick...lol...had a portable washer many years ago that decided to stop agitating with a full load of jeans...one roundhouse kick put it out of commission permanently...my first husband about fell out when he came home and saw the dent and heard that it had stopped working period after the kick....such is life...work or "die" so I can replace you is my motto...
Normally, I wouldn't have dreamed of kicking an appliance like that...but...that darn thing just got on my last nerve that day and usually a good hard smack would get it back to working. The kick actually landed where I aimed and was near the top edge (figured I'd put my foot through it if I hit the side full force)that was pretty thick metal....surprised myself when I saw the dent I left...
Hahahaha...you got that right!! My current hubby thinks I'm soooo mean, HE has yet to even scratch the surface of truly mean...keep telling him if he truly wants to know just how mean I can be, he needs to talk to my son's father(my first husband) That man brought out the MEAN in me for sure....which is why we are no longer together...life is way too short for all that kind of nonsense. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 09:29 am: | |
This morning has started out very nice...the sun rose to an overcast, cloudy sky. Temps at 7am are at 70 degrees. The cool, low humidity really feels nice...wish it would stay like this for longer than just a few hours.
Sitting on the porch with my coffee watching the squirrels and birds visit the feeders...put some of the fresh corn out last night in case the deer decided to visit...it was still there this morning and the squirrels are really enjoying it as they drag the ears across the yard and attempt to haul them up the tall pine trees.
OOOOOHHH....what's this landing out here???...Check you out!!!...its a young American Kestrel...aka Sparrow Hawk...too cool. Just dropped down near the Rubber tree plant and plucked some bug or something small...then flew to the split rail fence directly in front of me for a closer look at what was on the porch. For the moment, he has landed on top of the GD's playset which has a canvas top on the "fort" area...hahahaha...oh, yeah, you squirrels are about to find out just what this bird can do...HUH???!!! Four of the squirrels just climbed up the fort area while the hawk was sitting on the top!!! The hawk flew off as the squirrels climbed up for a visit...dang...can't even rely on the hawk to deal with these ornery little critters...guess he just wasn't very hungry this morning. Have never had one just hop on the fence and visit like this one did. Usually, they are after something and snatch and go.
All the rain we have been receiving has really made the yard green. Only real drawback for me, I will be mowing every weekend at this rate...sigh...looks like DH better get the tractor off the trailer cause the pasture is getting pretty high and its gonna take the "hog" to cut it now. With the exception of all of the corn husks strewn across the grass, my front yard is looking as manicured as a golf course at the moment. Mowing it is all I do...no water, no raking, no nothing.
My little patch of Four o'clocks has spread somewhat...DH keeps saying that he can't understand where they all keep disappearing to...WHAT???? The ones I have were in a pot to begin with and then put in the ground and they have self seeded and begun to spread. The others are at the end of the trailer next to the huge growth of Split leaf Philodendrons, White Shell Ginger and Plantain Trees...its a jungle on that end with a Red Crape Myrtle on the outer edge...if he would bother to look at it from the FRONT...he might see all of the Four o'clocks that are growing behind the Hibiscus and on across the front of that jungle. "Snort"...hmmph...he's obviously BLIND.
Found deer prints in the fresh tilled vegetable garden area...hoof prints from the gate to the back fence...and here I THOUGHT they hadn't found it. Ah well, at least for now there is nothing in there for them to destroy...just means I'll be having to work on a means to keep them out of there now....hmmmm, oh honey...where is the wire for the electric livestock thingy??? Be zapping the little darlings if all else fails...lol.
In one of the books I bought by Jerry Baker...he recommends hanging a white cloth about three feet from the ground along the fence...says the "white flag" is a danger sign to the deer...might just be worth a shot...ooooh, there's another idea...load the rifle and shoot the sucker!! I do enjoy "Bambi" better than beef...my luck though, the neighbors would turn me in for "hunting out of season"...or for baiting the deer...not my fault they raid the bird feeders. Could always plead out that they are "nuisance" animals I suppose...hmmm...something to consider...
So far, Ms Piggy has not produced any more eggs. I understand that it takes a bit of time for them to really get into the egg laying mode...but I'm concerned for her also...would be quite upset if something happened to her at this point. She seems very healthy and is quite the character...of the three, she is the one who comes to the gate to see what's going on and will also come when you call her by name...really tickles some of our friends to watch her come for a treat and take it from your hand...especially if its a nice, juicy, RED tomato...lol...she isn't real crazy about the green ones. Anything red will catch her attention. She is almost as bad as one of the dogs for begging...the minute she sees one of us with anything in our hand, she's at the fence, following as if to say "but, what about sharing that with ME?" Too funny to watch...
Guess I shall get myself in gear and leave the birds and squirrels who are still enjoying the stuff at the feeder...need to get back on the cleaning...YUCK! Still enjoying the new vacuum, can't believe the amount of DOG HAIR it continues to suck off the rug and carpet EVERY day...and yet the dogs all still have full coats...where is it all coming from then???? Would throw them all outside, but they are so spoiled with the A/C that would just not be right...and for the most part, they are all good boys who mind their manners in the house...hmmm, guess I should consider brushing them, but again, that is an outside chore and its just way to muggy at the moment for me to want to continue to hang outside...sigh, guess that's why I haven't done THAT chore yet. |
Too funny! 
LOL. So is my fuse. LOL!
Maybe Ms. Piggy needs more calcium than the others? |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 11:43 am: | |
Hmmm, ya know, I was thinking about that myself...she's so odd about her eating habits though...I was giving them the layer feed in addition to the scratch, but Red was the only one who really acted interested...Ms Piggy would kick it out of the bowl and walk away. We have spread buckets of the crushed shell down in their yard and as we have quite a bit of natural sand and shell already I haven't seen a need to supplement. Judging from Red's eggs, they are getting a good supply of calcium. Takes quite a bit to crack one of her eggs just to cook it!! My GF sent some of my eggs over to her daughter while she was here on a visit...forgot to tell her what "tough" eggs they are...when she asked her how she liked them the daughter laughed and told her she liked them fine once she was able to get it in the skillet...couldn't believe how hard that shell was and how tough that little membrane is...LOL.
So anywho, I'm thinking about picking up more of the layer feed and see if that helps, or if she still refuses to eat it...sigh, story of my life, catering to "fussy eaters"...lol. We also give them lots of green stuff from the yard...any weed or plant that's pulled ends up in the chicken pen and they wipe it all out. You should see them attack the fresh corn on the cob, still with the husk...no time flat its history. I think she's just being a little "Priss"...hahahaha, just wants to stay the "baby". BTW...found out this morning when I went to check for eggs...Red definitely has to have an egg in the nest...I moved the one I leave to the upper box just to see if she would continue to lay in the lower nest...NOPE...she dropped her egg in the upper box with the old one I had moved. I have another "old egg" in another nest box to encourage Ms Piggy to drop them in the nest...so far though, she ain't dropping them at all...let alone in a nest. My "old eggs" have red marker all over them so I don't accidentally grab them by mistake. I toss them out after a couple of months and use a new one. Has worked well to get Red laying in the nest instead of the floor.
Hahahahaha...fuse? You have a fuse?...I'm more along the lines of Nitroglycerine...very unstable and apt to explode if you breathe wrong...LOL |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 01:40 pm: | |
Whew! I just got caught up on this thread (I think I got it all). It was fun to read.
hmmm...curious as to what kind & what for... just a fixer upper, or hot rod? |
How funny that Ms. Piggy has the alternate personality of Ms. Picky. LOL!
I have a short fuse and several buttons.
DANGER! HAHAHA! (You need something along the lines of one of the bumper stickers that came with my truck. It says, "CAUTION: This vehicle may wreck or explode for no apparent reason." Either that or you need to accessorize yourself with the car alarm that shouts, "WARNING! Protected by Viper! Stand back!" HAHAHA!) |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 08:38 pm: | |
Its a 1963 International 1200 Series Pickup...DH has one that he has owned for over 30 years...same truck but a 1100 Series...he made it to a mud truck for many years and has drove it daily up until a few years ago...its down for repairs, broke all the mounts pulling one of the kids out of a mud hole...engine was sitting almost sideways by the time he got it home. This newest one will be mine, its a sweet little thing...all wheel drive...4 speed. Not sure if the engine is seized or not, but no big deal, we've rebuilt several of these engines over the years and DH could probably put the entire truck together blind folded as he's had his apart numerous times. I'll have to remember to get some pictures now that he's got the running gear together. She's a bit rough, but I think she'll do just fine, make a good mountain truck if its half the truck DH has.
AAAUUUGGGHHH, Geee, just take all the fun out of things...lol...its just so much fun to "explode" without warning and watch the jaws drop from shock...
Poor DH has been embarrassed more than once when someone has jerked my chain at the wrong time...got a mouth that can make hard core bikers blush when someone gets me riled. My FIL said something a few years ago about me being a "lady"...told him that just because I choose to "act" in a ladylike manner, don't ever be fooled into thinking that means "I am a Lady"...I am whatever the occasion calls for me to be. Seems like the older I get the less tolerance I have for certain things...ok, most things. The last few years have really brought out the hard side of my personality and I'm working to bring back the soft side...sometimes Life just won't allow the softness to show...feels like at times the only way people take me serious is when I'm being a b...h. Guess that's why I don't feel a need to live too close to neighbors any longer...people just piss me off...they let their animals just run and terrorize the neighborhood, or walk them through the neighborhood to do their business in someone else's yard...what is THAT about?...their kids are unsupervised, thieving, vandalising brats, who "do no wrong". I keep to my own yard, control my animals, and when the kids were young, kept them under close supervision...when they messed up, they were punished...I wasn't the abusive person my old man was, but I got their attention...taking things they really wanted, restricting them to their rooms without tv's or radios...no phone, no bikes...giving them extra assignments...math and reading exercises...having them write essays...
People now are just too afraid to do anything to the brats and then wonder why they end up in trouble...seems everyone wants to be a buddy to their kids instead of a parent...climbing down off my soapbox now...
Anyway...glad you find my journal interesting...Lisa, where in KY are you? I'm related to about 3/4 of Butler county on my mom's side...they've been in that area over two hundred years, going back to the end of the Revolutionary War...can't go anywhere in mom's hometown without someone asking if I'm kin to so and so...usually find out I'm related to the person asking.
Hahahahaha...hadn't thought about that...she eats everything and anything when it comes to weeds and grain, just doesn't care for the processed granule feed at all...she had the starter feed when she was young and the scratch as well...makes me crazy trying to figure her out... |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 06:57 am: | |
7am and the air is nice and cool once more...the early morning temp is about 72...very damp outside from the rains last night, but the humidity doesn't feel bad as yet...in a few hours that will definitely change as the sun begins to bake. Todays highs are expected to be in the low 90's....with the rains moving in after noon...
My GF who housesat, has invited me to go to the beach with her this morning, depending on the tide and of course the weather. Checked out the beach cam online, the water looked really flat around 7:30 this morning...by flat I mean no waves could be seen....the kind of water the little kids can enjoy...we used to live for those days when our kids were younger...they would be able to play in the knee deep water without fear of the surf knocking them down...me, I adore the big breakers and love jumping out in the water to catch a wave back to shore...haven't been to the beach for so long, I've probably forgot how to swim...lol...just doesn't hold the same attraction since they have built it all up. Concrete and steel are not what I want to see...but I could get on a VERY long rant about the destruction of the beaches and green space in our area...one of my "buttons".
My front yard is strewn with corn husks as the squirrels enjoy the fresh corn DH has been leaving at the feeders. The squirrels have managed to carry several of the ears up the tall pines in my front yard...pretty funny seeing them carry it, as the ears are as big as the squirrels...we only have the smaller grey squirrels in this area. The Sap sucker family is back at the feeder this morning...as are the Cardinal families...we have several pairs of Cardinals who bring their young daily.
Got an invitation from my Ocala GF to join them for the Fourth of July...sounds like a fun day to me...haven't got to see her and the family for a couple of years now. DH says it sounds good to him also, so we will more than likely go. Looking forward to a good visit as she is one of my oldest friends...I've known her now for over twenty years.
Guess I should get moving on this housework so I'm ready to go play on the beach if the weather holds and tides co-operate. |
I love it. You have no idea! |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 08:44 am: | |
I am a long ways north from Butler...I am just 10-15 mins from Cincinnati, OH.
Cool...DH had bought a 54' pickup & his intention was to rebuild it & make it an everyday driver for me...he stopped halfway, it sat for years. I finally told him to finish it or sell it...he sold it. Too bad, b/c I really liked that truck.
Yes, now, get back on your soapbox...that was great, and oh so true! |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 09:52 am: | |
Sounds like you must be around the Lexington area?...I usually take 75 N when I go to visit my son in IN and cut over around Cincinnati...I despise 65N as the highway has always been so rough, since I was a kid and we used to travel back and forth to visit my Grandma in the Morgantown area of Butler county.
Understand entirely...we also have a 1979 Malibu Classic that I drove up until we got the Dakota...she's down for restoration...going on six years now...I really hope he gets her back together as the Malibu was such a sweet car...she really squeezed a gallon of gas and ran like a champ...floorboards have rotted out entirely, only the carpet was between me and the road before she was parked...LOL (didn't realize that at the time) Seems like we have more projects in various stages of completion...sigh...maybe some year they will all be complete. DH's main problem was the accident that severely limits how long he is able to bend and how much he can lift...this of course is where his boys would be helpful, IF...he could depend on them to be around when he is working on things...I can help some, but age has truly put a damper on just what I can do...the hands don't have the strength they once had due to Carpal(sp?)tunnel syndrome in both and working behind a desk for ten years hasn't helped either...the fact that I'm not in as fit shape as I could be...well, let's just say that since I was always very "hard bodied" up until my 40's, its now time that I got a bit softer...hahahaha, or as my sis says "fluffier"...I turned 52 this past Feb. Still toss 50 pound bags of feed and if I really want to move things, well I will, but there are many things now that I've told DH, no, I'm not willing to put myself in pain to do that any longer....it tickles me to see the amazed look on people's faces when I get to the cashier with a forty pound bag of dog food under my arm...I'm only 5'5" and look like I weigh about 120 pounds...seem to carry the additional 30 pounds very well(I'm pushing the scale towards 150 at this time)...I think its because my mother blessed me with her very long legs...hahahaha, other than that, I'm actually pretty short IMO... |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 10:33 am: | |
The wild turkey hen brought three young ones with her this morning to the feeder...another adult turkey attempted to join them, but was chased away by the hen...the young are getting quite large now...already as large as my Red...they sure seemed to enjoy all of the fresh corn the squirrels have scattered across the yard. The lone adult decided it would try wandering behind the split rail fence towards my front flower beds...I DON"T THINK SO!!...I clapped my hands and hissed to spook the turkey...my dogs know this cue as one that means they get to chase the squirrels, so all were bouncing around ready for a good chase... the turkey decided to go around the other end of the house towards the pasture next door...momma and the little ones ignored us and continued to feast. The squirrels tried to get close to the feeders, but are a bit intimidated by the turkey hen, who doesn't hesitate to give chase to them when they get to close to the young ones...sights like this really brighten my day...
No word from my GF regarding the beach...she lives closer to the beach than I and the weather could be yucky over on her end. Its still very overcast, but bright sun around my yard...temps are nearing the 90 degree mark here at the noon hour. The humidity has definitely chased me inside as it is now very steamy outside. Even the dogs have decided they want to be inside hanging out over the A/C vents, sucking up all the cool air. Every one of them has sacked out next to a vent and are currently sleeping...LOL, reminds me of a bunch of little kids passed out, napping all over the house. |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 12:12 pm: | |
I am about 1hr 15 mins or so north of Lex. So what part of IN does your son live; close to the KY or OH border I guess, since you jump on 75.
LOL, this reminded me of when my sister & I had to walk to/from our (brutal) soccer practices almost every day in the summer from 8th-12th grade. It was so hot, we'd get close to the front door & race each other to get inside the door first to get to the a/c vent right inside the door. There were a few times I would just lay there for 1/2 hour with my head on the vent.
speaking of classic cars & gas...a few weeks ago, DH & I got out one of the Camaros to go for a ride. He mentioned something about having to get gas first. Well, he passed the gas station up & I said to him, "I thought you were going to stop & get gas." He said, "Nah, we'll be ok...I hope...worst thing that could happen is we'd run out of gas." Yes, we ran out of gas! lol
Good for you. Yep, if you want something done, you do it. It would take 2x as long (if not longer) waiting for someone else to do it. I learned that a long time ago. DH & others get mad b/c I am stubborn & do not wait for help.
I think I'd stay home & enjoy the sunshine! lol |
