Mud Season

Yes, it is here. Mud season. Although LaVern's sister (who lives in Brock NE) said that it isn't even rainy season here yet for us. This morning I made myself a "to do" list of everything I was going to get done this week.
Big mistake, I think. I started out with good intentions. Got the wood beams outside so that I could stain them. Then about half way through that project I ran out of stain. I came in to the house and LaVern was not having a productive time with the wiring. He was grumbling anyway. He went out and came back inside and said that we needed to take a break. Okay. I guess the tenant who farms the ground around us was putting fertilizer on a field. We had not yet marked our boundaries of the land we bought. So Plan B took effect immediately. With tape measure in hand and orange painted posts we tromped out into the field and started marking things off. Three hours later (noon) we finished setting the posts. At least he will be able to see where our lines are. We will put up a fence later.
We are seriously thinking about boer meat goats and or maybe a few sheep to help keep the weeds down. 8 acres is ALOT of ground. Will have to check out the auctions in our area.
Anyway, nothing marked off the list yet. I am sitting in front of the library (it's closed) and using the internet. Had to come to town for stain!!

TIMBER

My husband (Paul Bunyan with a Husqvarna chainsaw) decided yesterday to tackle the cottonwood. We have two of them right outside our door on the south side of our house. LaVern wants both trees gone because of the solar aspect. I wanted them gone because there was a huge limb hanging over the house and I suspected that part of it was hollow. I saw birds going down into it last summer. And also did not enjoy all of the cottonwood white stuff piled on the deck during its shedding time. Now mind you we are talking a 60 foot HUGE tree. I actually think it was two trees growing together. LaVern got out his information about where and how to cut a tree down. He was talking about tying a rope to it with the pickup. He even got his big ladder out and was ready to cut off some of the larger limbs. Finally I heard him say, "I'm just gonna cut it down". Okay.......I headed over to stand in the road. This tree was at least 4 foot in diameter if not more. He cut the wedge and then stopped. A funny look on his face. Oh boy! He took out his ear plugs and said to me that he thought it was hollow. Okay..........further out in the road I moved. I assumed we would be looking at a hour of cutting but I was sure wrong. He made the back cut and BOOM it came down.

We were sure in for a big surprise. That tree is completely hollow clear down to the ground. There was only about 4 inches of trunk holding it up. I can not believe it was still standing. What a blessing we have it down! A wind could easily have toppled it over on to the house. The second tree will be cut down soon as the rain quits. It has been raining all day so needless to say the tree is still in the middle of our driveway.

The fir tree

I walked among the trees today,

The sheltering fir that gently move with the Spirit.

They whisper the peace song to my heart.

Most days I am too preoccupied to hear it.

But as I walk in silence and listen deeply,

The words are there.

Soft, soothing, healing words.

And the words join the river of my being

and we are one.

Wash Day

We are finished with going to the laundry mat! Hooray!! LaVern hooked up my new automatic washer and yesterday we hung clothes out. He put my clotheslines around the trees on the north side. Exactly where the Amish were hanging their clothes as there were still wires in the trees! After the clothes were hung LaVern stepped back and said, "well, it looks Amish except for all the colors". ha ha Actually we used both the automatic and my good ole Maytag wringer washer. For those of you that don't know me all that well, I have a strong pioneer spirit. I yearn to go backwards and use the things from days long passed. And I must confess that I LOVE washing clothes with the wringer. I washed 3 loads in it and only one in the automatic. There is just something cool about running them through the wringer and then into the two rinse tubs. The wringer agitates twice as good as the new machine and that is what gets the clothes clean. I put my mud boots on and headed out through the snow and mud. You can't see it in this picture but just to the left side is this huge 5 foot drift! ha ha The best part of this is that we were charged back up (with electricity) by noon.

Had a great time at the hookin and will share some pictures next time I am in to blog. Went to HomeDepot and Lowes and got a bargain on a cupboard for the kitchen sink. Picked up the sink and faucets. Then found a neat bowl for the bathroom dry sink. LaVern is working on putting in the shower today so I decided to come to town. Best to let him alone when he is plumbing!

Spring must be coming soon as a big flock of Canadian geese flew over the house this morning, heading north. With a foot of snow on the ground it sure doesn't seem like spring will soon be here. I jumped the gun on St. Patrick's day and cooked corned beef on the wood stove. It was very tasty. LaVern does not like cabbage so we just had the beef. Occasionally I will cook some cabbage for myself (and I love saurkraut)!

A couple days ago we came in to town and saw the best sight. I would have loved to taken a picture but it just isn't allowed. Came over a hill a couple miles from home and there were three of our Amish neighbor boys driving a holstein heifer down the road. They had long sticks but she was just ambling down the side of the road. They waved and we waved. I suppose they were taking her to the neighbors to be bred. How often do you see that? I mentioned to LaVern that the boys must at least be past the 8th grade since they weren't in school. "Maybe they had a snow day", was his reply. He can sure be quick! ha ha

I best end and finish my errands. I sure miss blogging everyday. I think we are looking at taking down the two huge old cottonwood trees on the south side of the house. The one is in bad shape, we are thinking somewhat hollow inside and it hangs over the house. It will improve our solar immensely and then open up an area for a satellite for internet. Although I enjoy coming to the library!!