July 25-26, 2014

Finally some typical, and miserable, summer weather. It was 97 when we arrived, it cooled all the way down to 72 overnight, and topped out at 98 Saturday. (Inside it was 77.) I was pleased to find .25" in the rain gauge. The good news was that due to the hot dry weather I didn't need to do any mowing or weedeating.

Propane

We had the tank filled during the week. It took 236 gallons and cost $446. We will be good for another year.

Road Repair

Since the 3.5" rain week in June and the resulting road erosion, I have been wanting to get on this project. With no mowing to do, this was the weekend. But, in the heat it was a miserable job. Friday I dug the mud from behind the barn filling all my available buckets and containers. Most I got by cleaning the trench next to the barn foundation, where I have it funneling to the back and then across and under my culvert to exit down the hill. Some of the other mud came from the build-up next to the bluff. My shirt was soaking wet with sweat.

Saturday I loaded it all into the truck and hauled it up on to the road. I made it go pretty far, patching over the worst eroded areas and building up the water bars that were failing. I also cleaned out the silt that had built up in front of the water bars. Those fine sandy particles are perfect for top coating the mud. When I didn't have enough, I used leaves and what silt I could get out of the ditch on the uphill side of the road. In the end I was pleased with the work, but dead tired.

Yard Hydrant

Since I was working right beside this broken yard hydrant excavating mud, I decided to dig it up in preparation for replacing it. I think it has been broken for a couple of years, in spite of it being the newest of the 5 we have. I replaced it about six years ago, but then went to use it for the first time last summer or the summer before and it just snapped. I can tell you one thing, I will not be putting another Clayton-Mark in.

I got much of it dug up Friday as shown here. Then Saturday morning, while there was still some shade, I got deep enough to expose the feed pipe. I still have to widen the hole and clean out all the debris at the bottom before I can tackle the replacement. Of course I also need to purchase a hydrant and some plumbing parts. I've procrastinated long enough and its time to get this job done. (People that know me know how I hate plumbing projects – I just fear something going wrong.)

Walnut Tree

I am ready to cut our walnut tree that was laid down in the January 2009 ice storm. I hope to have a table built from the wood. I have found a saw mill that will take this small job, so I need to get it cut, loaded, and hauled to them (near Wesley). I took my pick and cleaned out the loose rock under the base of the tree, so that I can cut as much of it as possible. I am expecting to get three 13" diameter logs 6+' long. I think that will be enough for the table top, and that the upper portion of the trunk will provide wood for the legs. I just hope I can get the logs lifted into the bed of my truck. I am nervous about this project as well. Stay tuned.

Wildlife

We saw an owl take flight as we rounded the curve at the bottom of the road driving in. While behind the barn digging mud I saw this bird just sitting in the barn. After I got the picture it tried to fly, but just made a low circle. I don't know if it was just young and learning to fly or injured. I went back to work and never saw it again. While digging up the yard hydrant I disturbed a tarantula, which hung out there beside me for awhile. When coming outside for an evening walk Friday we disturbed three racoons which seemed to be teaming up to gain access to the green bird feeder. They slowly moseyed off. And at some point during the weekend I found that giant bright green grasshopper (?) pictured at the beginning of this blog entry.

Garden

Sally took care of the garden for us. She picked a few green beans, many dragon beans (which we have lots of), some of the italian peppers which we really like, and made yet another double batch of pesto from the basil. Of course she had to water as well.

Missed Showing

We had talked to a Houston couple the weekend before who had mentioned that they might come up to see our place this weekend. We never heard from them, and had been wondering what had turned them off. But when we got home we had an answering machine message from them, they were in Eureka and wanted us to show them the property. I felt horrible about the miscommunication, but all we could do is invite them to walk down from the cattle guard and look around on their own. After they looked, the called back with questions about what they were looking at, which pond they were seeing, how would you get to the pond, etc. I think they went back for another look Monday morning before heading back to Texas. Hopefully we will get a chance to show it to them properly.