On this hot muggy day I spot cleaned the goat pens and re- bedded them. The bales of bedding shavings were in the back of Rick’s pickup and there is no easy way to hold on to them so I had to hug them one by one to carry them into the barn. The sweat ran off my face and hair! Why do I do it, you ask? Pride. I need to prove to myself I can still do it….at age 78.
Today is Becky’s birthday – I called it her Grandma Birthday because this is the age she’ll be when she becomes a grandma – 73 – for the first time!!!
Our cousin Sherri joined us for a birthday breakfast in Clear Lake.
Then I came home and worked in the barn. About 3:30 the fence guys came to fix our gate which they finished about 6. Michele and Hank came about 5. Grand Central Station.
Another car pulled up and a man got out and was very friendly – he asked if I remembered him – he had been here many years ago. He was a singer called Johnny Pineapple!!!!! Yes, I did remember him – not 100% positive however. He is performing at the Hobo Jungle in Britt this weekend.
The River City Fence guys left and about 10 minutes later Rick moved his pickup into the yard from the road. As the repaired gate swung closed, it dropped to the ground and was drug the rest of the way.
So much for that repair job. 😪
Has anyone read either of these books? I’ve started both and simply cannot get interested. I’m hoping one of you will say “keep going – it’s good!”
It’s supposed to storm tonight so I’m going to regret not getting to mow today – just wasn’t time. Tomorrow.
Reading a very interesting book: “The Butterfly’s Daughter” by Mary Alice Monroe. The story is based on the Monarchs butterfly’s yearly migration from Michigan to Mexico and a young woman’s path as she follows them to honor her grandmother. Spent the day at a town’s week long Antique Show. I noticed that prices are very high especially with glassware. Bought 2 quilts and some other stuff but found the Antique dressing table of my dreams. Been looking for the right one to base our master bathrooms’s fall renovation on this fall when we get back to Columbia, SC. Didn’t get to see about 75% of the dealers there was so many. Going back Saturday. Looking for John Deere salt & pepper shakers for the cabin. Working on a John Deere lap quilt for the rocker I have on the porch. That’s being screened in on the 24th. Can’t wait for that!
Happy birthday Becky and Gloria!!
We didn’t get any rain, just fog. 7 miles south they had an inch! Ugh! It is so hot and muggy! It even stinks! Can you too I’m tired of this weather?
Blink and it will be snow! Right?
Joy – I’m so glad it’s cloudy today and I don’t have to work outside. I’m going to sit in the porch and read. I look forward to this weather all year and I’m trying to love it because I hate fall knowing what’s coming next.
Happy birthday, Becky and Gloria. Yup, the solution to the gate problem is a wheel on the end that you open. It probably will entail removing the gate and welding a piece of sheet metal onto the gate and then the wheel will attach to that. I bet if you Google dragging gate fixes you’ll find a solution. I hope your day isn’t as hot and muggy today.
Martha – we’ll give them one more chance – they were here this morning to fix it. I have to say however that this gate has worked perfectly for 24 years but I understand what you’re saying.
I’m going to recommend a great series that I love. It’s the Bill Slider mysteries by Cynthia Harrod Eagles. It’s been going on for awhile. I look forward to every new one. It’s a police procedural with wit and humor. They are British, but don’t let that put you off. Each book is easy to read on its own, but I’ve read them in order for over 15 years. Just received the latest from Amazon to read on my trip to Ireland. It’s called, Deadly Force. If you buy your books try ThriftBooks.com.
I’m not giving up travel yet. With impaired eyesight and chronic pain I’m going to will myself to keep going and not give in to old age. Having family around me on this trip will help I know.
You should be proud of yourself. You want to live around a lot of animals and you’re willing to make the sacrifices to make that happen. You’re living your best life!!!
Carolyn – what a wonderful trip!! Yes, do not give in to old age! I am willing to do this work just so I can keep animals. Rick gets a bit worse all the time so it’s up to me. I’ll look into the series you mentioned
Becky and Gloria from CC: Happy Birthday. Hope you both had a great day, and have a great year. Mary: You do a lot but you are living/doing what you love, and that is what is really important. Janice from Traverse City area.
Happy Birthday Becky!!!! Mary, I don’t know how you do it…I so agree pure grit. Have a great day!
Becky – I am living my best life!!
It has been a long time since I read STONES FROM THE RIVER and I don’t remember a lot of the plot, but i do know that it had a profound effect on me. Reading it helped me understand how Hitler and the Nazis were able to do the terrible things they did without much opposition from good, moral people. Not a lighthearted read, but very good and memorable.
Happy Birthday to Becky. i agree that it is amazing how much you do around the farm. I read Snow Child. I did read it to the end, however it was a different book from what i usually read. I didn’t mind it, but it was not my favorite. I related to your comment about the small print in a book you are reading. i like to read in bed and really enjoy my Nook. It is back lit and you can increase the size of the print. I found that i often passed over a book if it had small print.
Oops. Sorry. Didn’t mean to send this twice.
Happy Birthday to Becky. i agree that it is amazing how much you do around the farm. I read Snow Child. I did read it to the end, however it was a different book from what i usually read. I didn’t mind it, but it was not my favorite. I related to your comment about the small print in a book you are reading. i like to read in bed and really enjoy my Nook. It is back lit and you can increase the size of the print. I found that i often passed over a book if it had small print.
I’ve not read either but Ursula Heigl just died.
Canned tomatoes, glad for AC. You’re amazing Mary! Be glad you sweat!
Stones From the River is one of my favorite books! It was an Oprah pick many years ago. Keep going and let me know what you think.
Linda – thank you!!!! I will keep going. The print is so small it’s hard to read in bed. I’m so glad I asked before I took these books to the thrift store.
Happy Birthday Becky!! We share the same birthday. It looks like you were having breakfast at Rookies in Clear Lake. It’s our favorite place to meet our Clear Lake friends.
I hope the storms missed you during the night. We can always use the rain but straight line winds and hail we can do without.
Gloria – I wished you Happy Birthday on Facebook but maybe you don’t read FB. Storms missed us completely – weathermen!!!!!!
I don’t know how you do it all! I’m totally amazed – but I suspect it’s pure grit & determination. Sorry to hear about the gate. We had that problem with our big gate and then finally got a heavy-duty wheel attached to the frame where it meets the post. Now it rolls the gate open and is easy to close, too. Check with them as to what they need to do to make it work so you can be confident that it won’t be a problem in the future. If not, ask what they suggest and if they have no ideas, maybe they could attach a wheel under the frame (it only takes one) where it meets the other post when closed. Hope this helps.
Deb – haha! “Pure grit” is probably right – I know for a fact that if I can’t keep this place up on my own, I’d have to move to town and I want to die here on the farm. So if I can’t take care of those little goats myself I should not have gotten them – I just love them!