We are expecting heat later this week but why now? Because school is starting. It’s been so nice and now we’ll join most of you with hot weather.
Early Saturday morning Farmer Tim called and wondered if he could come over and cut up that fallen tree that lays in the path of the north wilderness trail.
Voila!
And here’s another result of hard work – I simply took these shoes off and threw them in the garbage – and then went to Walmart after church and bought a $10 pair to wear outside and to the barn.
And I have learned so much about nightshade from all of you and the internet. This has not been on the farm until the past few years – where has it come from? Isn’t there a weed killer that could kill it? I worked in the dog kennel again and now I need to work on the other side. At least it’s easy to pull but I have to admit my hands are hurting from all the pulling.
I intend to work hard today so that later in the week when the heat arrives I can sew in the AC – this includes cleaning! Ugh, it’s dirty and messy around here! Of course of the two of us who live here, I’m the only one who cares. No big surprise there, huh?
Greta and Gracie are fine – shy little Grace climbs all over me when I’m trying to sew – she is really coming out of her shell!
Remember this picture of the ironweeds in 1979? Several people have asked how I got rid of them. My trusty old corn knife! If I were doing it today I’d have a steel blade on my string trimmer but this was 1979 so it was by hand.
And since you might be interested in seeing what the rest of the place looked like:
Remember my fabulous kitchen cupboards? Well, here they are when I moved in – just the same but the old kitchen was painted two tones of turquoise which I then painted white.
And this is after we tore off the second story and rebuilt the house keeping only the stone fireplace and the old kitchen cupboards. What is it about old photos? I’ve been looking for several I wanted to post but can’t find them! Grrrr……. When I come across them I’ll just pop them in.
My view this morning while I write this and drink coffee – sorry you didn’t have this to read during YOUR morning coffee!
You are one of the hardest workers I have ever known!!! You are amazing!! I hope you can take it a little easier soon!!!
Kathy – haha! Now why would I want to take it easy? That would depress me wasting time like that. I couldn’t get to sleep last night just planning what work I’d do today.
Your property, barns, house, and everything is so different from 1979 and lovely! Did you envision what it could be when you first saw the property? You did a wonderful job of renovating and restoring. So nice!
Diane – I’ll tell you more of the story. I had just finished renovating a small house in Clear Lake and Russ found this rundown acreage that he wanted to buy. So I had to sell my sweet little house and move into this dilapidated wreck of a house. No, I had no vision really – I just knew I couldn’t live in that house for long.
Your place has really gone through a transformation over the years. Doesn’t it make you feel good to see all you have accomplished? I don’t know what you call getting hotter where you are but yesterday (Sunday) it was 107• here in the piney woods of east Texas. It’s so hot 🥵 no one was moving in my neighborhood. And that’s unusual for a weekend. And today it’s supposed to cool down to a whooping 103•. I’ve made my outside cat stay indoors for so many days and he lets me know that he does not like it. We are so ready for some relief around here. My a/c runs constantly and I’ve had to turn my water sprinklers on every other day. Oh well, as they say, this too shall pass. Praying for rain!! Have a good week!!
I AM viewing and reading your post with my morning coffee. We are Pacific Time, plus I slept in this am.
What enormous changes you have made. You just keep going like the energizer bunny. You set a hard example for us oldies, Mary. I brushed out and weeded a small place the other day and I am still paying the price with my knee and back.
That nightshade is a pretty plant. Kind of a fooler. It must grow like wildfire. I don’t recall ever seeing it here and I don’t ever want to.
Wishing you a lovely sewing afternoon….
You have put your heart and soul into your little farm Mary. I can’t blame you for not ever wanting to move to town. Yoir whole life is here and all the stories the little farm tells.
Love the blog, and your photos.
Keep at it.
Shirley from Smoky Oregon
Ahh, but I did enjoy reading it with my morning coffee. Day after Hilary blew thru. All fine in the ‘hood.
Sharon – oh, good news! We’ve been watching on tv and cant imagine!
Actually, I am reading this with my third morning coffee (60% decaf, 40% real!) because I usually drink it after lunch, but needed a little “kick” now😀. It is going to 91* here today and 97* by Thursday. I truly do not know how all the readers in Texas can live with 107 etc! Whew. I did not remember you ‘79 photos so it is fun to see them. Your farm is looking great,Mary! It was nice of Farmer Tom to cut and move that huge tree. I had to laugh at the shoes; good idea to dump them. I will be sewing later in the week, too.
Love seeing the old photos of the farm! You have done so much to improve it over time! I feel like I’m in that same mode with my new house now. I have never come into a home and had to do as much really deep cleaning as I have with this place. I’m certain the previous owner was the worst housekeeper of all time. I know there was significant cognitive decline going on there, but oh, my goodness. I went out on the deck and scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed the railing to the point I can finally look out the window and feel good about the view. I cannot imagine anyone choosing to live with that kind of grunge on purpose. Yuck. Good thing there are good products to help with the task! From there, I went inside and vacuumed the new carpet. I had to replace all of the flooring because these people had a cat and I’m not convinced that cat was litter box trained. The carpet guys counted 30 pee stains under the old carpet— in one room. They used Kils to neutralize all of that before laying any of the new flooring. After vacuuming, I tackled the grungy railing from the main level to the basement. It was so sticky. I cannot imagine, really, how it got that way, but 409 and lots of scrubbing made it shiny and beautiful again. Lots of work, but I’m pleased and excited about the results.
Diane – oh, what a job! I’ve visited a house like you’re describing and I can’t believe anybody could live there comfortably. Mine isn’t spotless for sure but it’s also not filthy.
We are on the outer edge of this hot ridge dome blanketing most of the Midwest the weather lady explained today so we will be cooler than normal so it’s still sleeveless weather but not beastly hot. I am almost to lunch time Mary but I love reading any time of the day. Loved your house photos. My grandmas kitchen was turquoise, red and yellow so those colors still bring back memories especially when I see a red vinyl seat step stool.
When you do all this yard work today Mary, remember what a wise woman PCP told me before she retired…..if I did my own house cleaning, did my own yard work, then it was enough exercise and I did not need to pay for costly gym memberships. How I miss that doctor. Running a vacuum cleaner is enough cardio workout for me today!
Kathy – my chiropractor says vacuuming is one of the worst chores for a bad back and neck! And I agree. We had that cooler weather last week and it felt like September.
Wow, what an amazing transformation!
We lived in an old farmhouse that had been an outbuilding and moved to our place and made a house. Narrow, straight up stairs, no square corners, and then we got flooded. We had already built a new house in front of it, but that was the final bell for it. The husband planned a trip, they tore it down while I was gone. And no, I am not the best housekeeper either. Is there a place to sit, eat my supper, I’m good. I have a friend who is the same way, Ideas laying all around. Too much cleaning at my mother’s, I lost my desire to do it, I’d rather Stitch! Be safe in this heat.
I just want to thank you for continuing to write about your life! And the work!!! No one understands unless they live on a farm, how that growth just keeps coming…..forever! I hope you can take a couple of days in the AC to sew….best therapy ever! BTW-have you tried gloves that help your hands, sort of like sewing gloves under your yard gloves, when you weed? I have found that the tight fit helps with some of the pain. Just a thought…..
Elaine – and actually I do have those gloves and never thought of using them – thank you!
Beautiful view to sit and drink coffee. This morning I am watching 3 young female oriole’s eat jelly out of my sewing room window. They are so fun! I live in San Diego and yesterday we came through the hurricane Hillary with zero issues. I’m happy to say that leaves from trees are the only things to clean up. There was flooding in the usual places that come with rain. I hope any other Californian’s who read you blog had little to no damage too. Have a great day everyone.
Susy – fantastic news! I hope any CA readers will keep us updated.
Mary, have you been putting the Hemp Muscle Rub on the back of your hands? I put some in my shoulder and thru all this fat, I still notice the difference.
Farmer Tim is a wonderful neighbor. My neighbor came over, mowed and then did weed whacking. I do every thing on the inside of the fence. It’s a lot.
We had a couple cooler days 2 weeks ago, we’re back to hot again. My dehumidifier is in the recall list. Man, I was getting about 3 gallons a day out of the basement. So, I’m on the hunt for another one.
What a change you made to your farm. I’m sure you did some crying when the ex wanted to move. We have so much medical equipment all over. My house is kinda in disrepair, but, my kitchen has to be picked up. My quilting area is a disaster. I can sew in a mess, I can’t cook in a mess.
Now days, we take one day at a time
The washing machine is calling. Have a great week everyone.
Jo – funny you should ask – it’s right by my bed!! And sometimes I do forget to use it but it’s a miracle rub! Yea, Tim is a wonderful neighbor – he’s also my Farm Bureau insurance agent. He told me I’d better not ever have an accident in Red because he wouldn’t want to pay the claim! Haha! Yes, I shed some tears when hubby wanted to move but now look! Seems like I washed clothes all day – next is my sewing room to clean – maybe tomorrow
Enjoyed seeing the pictures of your house. Your hard work truly paid off.. Remember the saying— the first thing people see is the outside of your house and the last thing they see is the outside. Messy outside and messy inside. That’ s why we work so hard at our yards!!
I was weeding my flowers last week when I got into a hive of ground bees. Couldn’t run fast enough and got lots of stings. Didn’t know they could hurt so much. Now I am in the itch stage.
Freezing tomatoes, zucchini, green peppers . The second crop of raspberries is going to be a bumper crop. I will be making raspberry jelly for sure.
Canadian smoke is keeping us cooler today. Forecasting 100 for Wednesday and Thursday.
Stay safe and cool everyone!
NancyTD – all those bee stings? I’m surprised you didn’t need the ER. I would need to take Benadryl asap. Fresh raspberries – yum!
Wow, that was some house renovation! An amazing transformation. As far as getting rid of noxious weeds, does your county have a weed board that you can contact to find out what will kill the nightshade? The agricultural and rancher county that I live in Washington state, Okanogan County, has a Noxious Weed board where you can obtain information about weed control and get a proper education and a license to use herbicides. Controlling noxious weeds is required by law here. Hand pulling doesn’t generally work very well, as most of the people can’t get the entire root system when they pull and will often actually spread the weeds without realizing it. Good luck!
Mary you are amazing! I have a close friend that I call “ the energizer bunny- from sun up to sundown she never stops. Her gardens are fabulous, she has 2 golden retrievers that she spoils like crazy with long walks in the woods, and hikes , and she is an impressive quilter , too! You could be twins- all that busyness keeps you both young! I love your blog! Have a beautiful autumn🍁🍂
Hot week already here. I canceled a dental appointment because I refuse to go out. Sure my car is airconditioned and the dental office is too but let’s not take the chance something might go wrong. I find it difficult to breathe in this humidity and excessive heat. Take care Mary. Do not work outside in this.
Throw your shoes in the washing machine
Pat – too late!
Hi Mary, Eileen is a pied miniature poodle! She is very friendly to all the dogs at the dog park, but likes to let the dogs who live in the building know who she is with a loud yap! My sister Gwen is here with me for a few days as l get used to the system for doors and lifts. She is of on across Australia train trip soon. We are meeting my cousin for lunch today Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
So many products that will actually kill or control pesky weeds require an applicator license here in Texas, & must keep an accurate log. Luckily I have a license & have kept my CEUs updated & only been audited once in 40+ years. Roundup ( from farm store not garden center) works on most everything it seems. An older farmer once told me for around yard area mix cheap dish soap & 5% white vinegar 1:3 & spray the pesky buggers! Worked on garden weeds (sprayed on weed itself). Heat here has been horrible, 111 yesterday (actual temperature/ NOT feels like. Today only 109 so far! Under extreme fire warnings again.Praying for rain. No rain in 7 day forecast , and average highs all projected 108 or over! I am so ready for cooler weather.can’t remember drinking so much sweet tea.. can have a Cold Beer with current medication on… this too shall pass. Enjoy your sew days & Thank You for listening to my grumblings & sharing your life with us. Blessings.
Nikki – if not cold beer, sweet tea is a great second! I do not know how you’re surviving those temps – I noticed Tim’s irrigation is running tonight so that means our ground moisture is low. Why does my lawn keep growing at leaps and bounds?? I have never mowed so much in late summer. Today I mowed for several hours in the heat but there was a breeze. You can grumble all you want here because you’re among friends!!! And nobody out of our blog circle, which is coast to coast, knows anything. My local friends have no idea what I write about here on the blog. And the only ones reading are all like minded souls so vent and grumble all you please!! And give Ms. Maci a hug from me!
😊
Wow! You really changed the look of your house with the reconstruction in 1979. Great vision knowing what you wanted to do! Please show us the completed project and the last update you did not too many years ago! Bravo!
Wow! You really changed the look of your house with the reconstruction in 1979. Great vision knowing what you wanted to do! Please show us the completed project and the last update you did not too many years ago! I would love to see the two photos for comparison! Bravo!
Hi Mary – I enjoyed seeing your house pictures from when you bought it and some of the work you did on the place.