January 17-19, 2014

It was a very pleasant and dry weekend, though extremely windy Saturday and moderately windy Sunday. Friday was cold with afternoon temperature of 32 when we arrived, which was the same as when awoke Saturday morning. It got into the upper 50s both Saturday and Sunday with a low overnight of 24. The weather has been pretty crazy this winter.

Deer/Eagles

As the road leveled off at our bench we encountered three deer, which scattered up the hill. They have gotten accustomed to eating the ivy growing along the fence in front of the house. They never go inside, nor go inside the fence in the back to get the ivy growing up the side of the garage. However, something had cut several of the long ivy vines at the top corner of the garage -- nice clean cuts that have me puzzled.

Sally saw one eagle Saturday, and then spotted two more Sunday. These were the first we have seen at the farm this winter.

Wild Cherry

One of the baby trees I had planted along the drive approaching the house had died. So I dug up a wild cherry before leaving town and planted it in that bare spot. I gave it a big drink to help it get settled in to its new home.

Lopping

Friday afternoon I went over by the swing and lopped 300+ cedars, elms, and briars. Sunday morning I walked up the road and took some pictures for a prospective buyer, carrying my loppers. I then ventured into the thicket of trees we are letting grow in the upper pasture. I lopped lots of pines, a few cedars, and thinned out some of the smaller hardwoods. I could do it all over every weekend. I then ventured into the woods and started counting cedars, 400+ by the time I got back to the house.

Showings

We have had many inquiries about the property and had three showings scheduled. The two couples that came out Saturday were young first time home buyers. One had spent much of her youth on the place, being best friends with one of Kathy's daughters. It was emotional for her to be there, and very interesting for us to talk to her. I am afraid financing will prove to be impossible for both of those couples. Sunday's showing was to a couple from Missouri with whom we had shared more information and pictures via e-mail. They had a serious look around and asked lots of questions. They were interested in adding a second bathroom to the house. I expect to hear back from them.

We packed up and headed home, but in Eureka Sally got an email on her phone from another prospect I had exchanged information with a month or so earlier. He and his wife had just arrived in Eureka from Dallas and wanted to know if we could show them the place. I called him up, and they ended up following us right back out for our fourth showing of the weekend. I believe they liked the place, but can't be certain. They first have to decide if Eureka is where they want to be -- the main purpose in their trip. I invited him to feel free and come back out and walk the place, parking at the cattle guard.

I realized that I did not have a picture of the porch for our web sites, so I snapped a couple. I also believe I have been negligent in mentioning the porch. It is about time to update the Craigslist and Zillow ads anyway.

Soft Road

I ended up driving three of the couples down to the pond in our Outback. The road just past the twin sycamores has gotten really, really soft. I left some serious ruts and am just glad I didn't get stuck. Obviously I am going to have to do something about it -- haul rocks down I suppose. I would just like to know why this area has turned to mush over the past year. It has been soft before, but it didn't seem to persist as long.

Weed Garden

I spent some time cleaning out the dead plants and pulling some of the weeds. It won't be long before it is time for spring planting. The top of the verbena has died off this winter (not last), but there are signs of green by the roots. Sally says to leave it, while I would be in favor of eradicating it.

Walnuts

I cracked a big bowl of walnuts. But before starting I had the idea of putting them into a bucket with a lid and shaking them up good to try and clean them up some. The professional hulling is preferred, but I haven't found anyone close by the last couple of years (so I just use my boot). I have also been amazed that there are still lots of walnuts under the trees down by the pond, a real surplus from the past year.