Today was a shopping day. Nothing glamorous but I got the gallon of base coat I needed. I got a few of those disposable paint trays. I ran by Costco and got cereal, bacon, milk, Havarti cheese [they don't have the real Swiss cheese anymore, just that Lite crap], Danish [yes, I buy those every time I go to Costco, shame on me]. A few other assorted items. Oh yeah, and one of those 14 pound pork shoulders. Hubby is going to BBQ half of it on Saturday and I need to freeze the other half this evening.
I also got a new curtain rod for the guest bedroom. The old rod was for a different style of curtains and it wasn't hung very well. It has come down so now I have the left side with a curtain on it propped up on the center holder thing and the right side is sitting on the cabinets. Privacy? Well, we do live in a sparsely populated area but when someone drives by at night and the light is on they can definitely see in. Can't have that, now can we?
I asked Hubby to help me hang the curtain rod since this is a skill I can't seem to develop:) The curtain rod is one of those kind that goes straight across, has finials and sets into a bracket on each side of the window.
I went by Meek's lumber yard. The guy was really nice. They didn't have the 12 foot bar I wanted but I found out it is ladie's night on Sept 22 and I get 20 percent off anything in the store. Yeah!!!!! I am going to get the barn door bar and roller wheels for my project that night. Can't beat 20 percent off. On top of that, we get to build a bird house and I get to use the nail gun.
Other than that, I got the cleaning supplies organized for tomorrow. Refilled bottles and got the gear loaded into the truck for my little cleaning job tomorrow. Got the chores done like feeding the goats, the dogs, taking out the compost, cleaning up the lunch dishes, watering the back zone. Still need to turn the North Windbreak Zone on in an hour or so. That's it. I am resting up for the rest of the evening.
I have a Danish and a cup of coffee with my name on it. Bye now.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Home Improvement
Yes, the shade cover/shed project is still on going. Today I successfully cut and installed 3 of the stringboard panels in the pony walls. They are 48 inches tall and about 80 inches long. I have one left to go but it is a trickier cut and I need to set up for it. It will also be about 80 inches long but I may have to cut the bottom at an angle. Of course, if the panel is already at 48 inches and there is no way to add the angle on the bottom then I will just have to live with having a gap there. I can fill it in at a later with rocks. It will be fine.
I also managed to paint the 3 panels white, front and back.
That is it. That is all I got done. I worked really hard and that is it. I know I did a lot considering that I am a middle aged woman doing this on her own but how discouraging that I didn't get everything I wanted to done.
I must say that the project is looking fantastic.! I need to paint the trim green so that the full magnificence of the project shows. But first I need to paint a second coat of the white and I need to get a paintbrush on the edges.
Thank goodness it is dark out so I can quit!!!!!
Tomorrow I go to town to get a few things. Mostly it is a good excuse to rest up. The shade cover/shed is on hold until Friday.
Watering the West Side Windbreak. Watered Front Zone for 3 hours.
I also managed to paint the 3 panels white, front and back.
That is it. That is all I got done. I worked really hard and that is it. I know I did a lot considering that I am a middle aged woman doing this on her own but how discouraging that I didn't get everything I wanted to done.
I must say that the project is looking fantastic.! I need to paint the trim green so that the full magnificence of the project shows. But first I need to paint a second coat of the white and I need to get a paintbrush on the edges.
Thank goodness it is dark out so I can quit!!!!!
Tomorrow I go to town to get a few things. Mostly it is a good excuse to rest up. The shade cover/shed is on hold until Friday.
Watering the West Side Windbreak. Watered Front Zone for 3 hours.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Home Improvement
I got a really early start on my shade cover project. Even so, I have only managed to frame in the lattice/pony walls on the North and East sides.
The North side was tricky as it is really a bit off set. I got the top working okay. [It ain't pretty but it is working.] Then two more horizontals. The bottom horizontal was also a bit of a challenge since I had to chip out some of the concrete around the post to get that working properly.
I'll have to cut the OSB on a pretty good angle at the bottom since the post on the right side is higher than the post for the shed on the left side despit my concrete chipping efforts. That is actually okay.
The verticals on the North side were also a bit of a challenge. I had to put a cheat piece in on each side of the opening and then put my two verticals in as well. All of the verticals had to get cut at an eight degree angle on the top.
I also got the 3 horizontal pieces in on The East side for the lattice/pony wall. The 2 verticals on the top half went fast.
Lunch time! Then I am getting Hubby off to work and taking a nap!!!!
If I can handle it I am going to paint the new framework later.
I did manage to paint the framework - twice. I still have to hit it with the green trim paint on the front side only but I am just thrilled. Tomorrow I will be putting up the lattice on the top and the OSB string board on the pony walls at the bottom.
I am definitely going to be dong a rolling barn door on the East side section I left open just for that purpose. The door will be 8 feet by 8 feet. Hubby will have to build it since that is definitely out of my league. I bought the 2x6 header board and the 2 OSB string boards and I may have enough 2x4's. If not I will have to purchase them when I go shopping on Wednesday. I think I will get some 1x4's to use for the top side. Maybe a nice X of Z or something. Of course, the theme around here is white with dark green trim.
I finally did the dishes and cleaned up the counters this evening. I also managed to get a little gardening done. I am trimming the locusts [black and purple robe] as one of them split. If they get too much leafy growth when the wind comes up it can damage them. One of the black locusts did get very damaged even though it is only 2 or 3 feet tall. It was the bushiest of all of the and I had been meaning to cut it back a bit but too late:) It will be fine. They are pretty tough. I cut it back to a stubbie and it will grow from there.
I also manages to trim back some of the yarrow and the four o'clocks as they are finished blooming. I'll need to rake it all up and get it in the compost pile. I need to get the comost pile on the drip system so that it can start working better.
Watering the Fruit Tree Zone overnight.
The North side was tricky as it is really a bit off set. I got the top working okay. [It ain't pretty but it is working.] Then two more horizontals. The bottom horizontal was also a bit of a challenge since I had to chip out some of the concrete around the post to get that working properly.
I'll have to cut the OSB on a pretty good angle at the bottom since the post on the right side is higher than the post for the shed on the left side despit my concrete chipping efforts. That is actually okay.
The verticals on the North side were also a bit of a challenge. I had to put a cheat piece in on each side of the opening and then put my two verticals in as well. All of the verticals had to get cut at an eight degree angle on the top.
I also got the 3 horizontal pieces in on The East side for the lattice/pony wall. The 2 verticals on the top half went fast.
Lunch time! Then I am getting Hubby off to work and taking a nap!!!!
If I can handle it I am going to paint the new framework later.
I did manage to paint the framework - twice. I still have to hit it with the green trim paint on the front side only but I am just thrilled. Tomorrow I will be putting up the lattice on the top and the OSB string board on the pony walls at the bottom.
I am definitely going to be dong a rolling barn door on the East side section I left open just for that purpose. The door will be 8 feet by 8 feet. Hubby will have to build it since that is definitely out of my league. I bought the 2x6 header board and the 2 OSB string boards and I may have enough 2x4's. If not I will have to purchase them when I go shopping on Wednesday. I think I will get some 1x4's to use for the top side. Maybe a nice X of Z or something. Of course, the theme around here is white with dark green trim.
I finally did the dishes and cleaned up the counters this evening. I also managed to get a little gardening done. I am trimming the locusts [black and purple robe] as one of them split. If they get too much leafy growth when the wind comes up it can damage them. One of the black locusts did get very damaged even though it is only 2 or 3 feet tall. It was the bushiest of all of the and I had been meaning to cut it back a bit but too late:) It will be fine. They are pretty tough. I cut it back to a stubbie and it will grow from there.
I also manages to trim back some of the yarrow and the four o'clocks as they are finished blooming. I'll need to rake it all up and get it in the compost pile. I need to get the comost pile on the drip system so that it can start working better.
Watering the Fruit Tree Zone overnight.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Hot
Hot again! Seems like everything is on the dry side. Since I am home tomorrow I'll try to get everything watered extra. Watering East Side Windbreak. Yeah, I think I should be watering the Northside Windbreak but I watered it for 3 hours earlier today and all the zones seem a bit dry so....
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Home Improvement
Well, I finished framing in the lattice area on the west side of the shade cover. Painted the frame white and put on grey base coat for the front side of the frame. I got the lattice up on the west side of the shade cover. A client gave me 12 pieces of 2x8 white lattice. Beautiful!!!! Love getting good materials for free. I still need to buy and install the string board on the bottom two thirds and paint it white.
Got the long shed [ 20 or so feet long but only 6 feet wide. That is a lot of storage!!!! Painted white on the back and side. The front isn't done yet so no painting there. Got some of the trim work painted green. Maybe half left to go.
It was cloudy so I tried to get a lot done and I succeeded:)
Watering the West Side windbreak overnight.
Got the long shed [ 20 or so feet long but only 6 feet wide. That is a lot of storage!!!! Painted white on the back and side. The front isn't done yet so no painting there. Got some of the trim work painted green. Maybe half left to go.
It was cloudy so I tried to get a lot done and I succeeded:)
Watering the West Side windbreak overnight.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Hot
It's a bit hot for the last couple of days. 96 or so.
I guess I was too tired to post yesterday. I got 2 loads of laundry on the line, then went to Dayton to clean a house. Met Hubby on his way to work for a date over coffee. I love that man. Home, take down laundry and a long nap on the couch. Got up about 5pm. Pulled bean and pea and corn plants for the goats to eat with a bonus of a bin of tumbleweeds from the front of the house. Put away the clothes and got caught up on the kitchen. Then, my favorite show Project Runway. I was in bed by 10pm.
No offense to the fashionistas that run the show but... the winning outfit was that nightmare gray baggy outfit? Geez. I realize you had slim pickings from that batch of stuff but wow that outfit was butt ugly. And then to pick the long dress. Is there anyone who is fashion forward on the show this year? So far I am not seeing it. Maybe Anya is the closest. Oliver is boring, not tasteful. Bert is full of himself and is okay. Let's hope the next show will allow these people to step it up!!!!
Watered East Side Windbreak overnight.
Fruit Tree Zone tonight.
Watering Front Zone for 3 hours.
The clouds are building and it looks like we may get lucky and get a thunderstorm out of this. I have opened the living room window shutter just in case.
Today I got two loads of clothes on the line. Got the laundry going with a load of greens followed by a load of towels. Got them both hung out before leaving. Tonight I have to wash cleaning towels and a load of whites. They will both be going in the dryer. I am all for hanging out clothes but the whites have like 20 pairs of socks and assorted other small items. Way too much hanging out on the line. I don't hang out the cleaning towels since the dryer does a much better job of getting any dog hair out of them. Yes, I have dogs and so does all 3 of my clients.
I will clean the kitchen tonight. We had corn with lunch. This is our third batch and it is delicious. This batch has smaller ears but what a joy to have corn for something like 6 weeks this year. By the way, we had a sun jewel melon volunteer and we have gotten 5 melons off of it. Delicious. Very refreshing when it is hot out. Looks like one of the Lilly Crenshaws is turning yellow. Those are absolutely my favorite melon that we grow!!!!! The rest of the melons are coming along nicely.
So far I only have about 5 Butternuts but the acorns are looking pretty good. I'll have to take a look tomorrow while it is cool out.
Picked cukes, Asian cukes, tomatoes and 4 corn. Not bad. I should pick filet beans but they will have to wait until tomorrow morning. I need to get an early start with this kind of heat coming on.
I guess I was too tired to post yesterday. I got 2 loads of laundry on the line, then went to Dayton to clean a house. Met Hubby on his way to work for a date over coffee. I love that man. Home, take down laundry and a long nap on the couch. Got up about 5pm. Pulled bean and pea and corn plants for the goats to eat with a bonus of a bin of tumbleweeds from the front of the house. Put away the clothes and got caught up on the kitchen. Then, my favorite show Project Runway. I was in bed by 10pm.
No offense to the fashionistas that run the show but... the winning outfit was that nightmare gray baggy outfit? Geez. I realize you had slim pickings from that batch of stuff but wow that outfit was butt ugly. And then to pick the long dress. Is there anyone who is fashion forward on the show this year? So far I am not seeing it. Maybe Anya is the closest. Oliver is boring, not tasteful. Bert is full of himself and is okay. Let's hope the next show will allow these people to step it up!!!!
Watered East Side Windbreak overnight.
Fruit Tree Zone tonight.
Watering Front Zone for 3 hours.
The clouds are building and it looks like we may get lucky and get a thunderstorm out of this. I have opened the living room window shutter just in case.
Today I got two loads of clothes on the line. Got the laundry going with a load of greens followed by a load of towels. Got them both hung out before leaving. Tonight I have to wash cleaning towels and a load of whites. They will both be going in the dryer. I am all for hanging out clothes but the whites have like 20 pairs of socks and assorted other small items. Way too much hanging out on the line. I don't hang out the cleaning towels since the dryer does a much better job of getting any dog hair out of them. Yes, I have dogs and so does all 3 of my clients.
I will clean the kitchen tonight. We had corn with lunch. This is our third batch and it is delicious. This batch has smaller ears but what a joy to have corn for something like 6 weeks this year. By the way, we had a sun jewel melon volunteer and we have gotten 5 melons off of it. Delicious. Very refreshing when it is hot out. Looks like one of the Lilly Crenshaws is turning yellow. Those are absolutely my favorite melon that we grow!!!!! The rest of the melons are coming along nicely.
So far I only have about 5 Butternuts but the acorns are looking pretty good. I'll have to take a look tomorrow while it is cool out.
Picked cukes, Asian cukes, tomatoes and 4 corn. Not bad. I should pick filet beans but they will have to wait until tomorrow morning. I need to get an early start with this kind of heat coming on.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Notable Quotable
http://new.exchristian.net/2011/08/explaining-resurrection.html
Today's Notable Quotable is by Libby Anne. It is actually an article she has put together about the resurrection of Jesus. Good stuff!
Here is a bit from her conclusion:
I find it interesting that so many Christians seem to think that the resurrection is some sort of infallible proof of the truth of Christianity. To atheists, the entire idea that the resurrection might be an argument for the existence of God seems strange. I think the difference centers on the fact that the Christian believes that the New Testament is infallible and inerrant while the atheist does not. You can’t prove the truth of your religion using only documents written by followers of your religion. It doesn’t work that way. It’s circular. The Bible is inspired because Christianity is true, Christianity is true because the Bible says so. No. You have to prove it using something outside of the Bible. And when it comes to the resurrection, there simply is no documentation outside of the New Testament.
Today's Notable Quotable is by Libby Anne. It is actually an article she has put together about the resurrection of Jesus. Good stuff!
Here is a bit from her conclusion:
I find it interesting that so many Christians seem to think that the resurrection is some sort of infallible proof of the truth of Christianity. To atheists, the entire idea that the resurrection might be an argument for the existence of God seems strange. I think the difference centers on the fact that the Christian believes that the New Testament is infallible and inerrant while the atheist does not. You can’t prove the truth of your religion using only documents written by followers of your religion. It doesn’t work that way. It’s circular. The Bible is inspired because Christianity is true, Christianity is true because the Bible says so. No. You have to prove it using something outside of the Bible. And when it comes to the resurrection, there simply is no documentation outside of the New Testament.
Garden
I fed the goats left overs from the garden and a few weeds I pulled from out front. They got quite a few filet beans that we didn't manage to cook up. Also, Hubby picked some of them really small and the wilted right away. Some sunflower stalks, some antelope salt bush, some corn stalks, a few pea plants and some of the alfalfa that I cut back in the garden. Those goats are certainly getting a variety of stuff.
I picked purple beans and got a small basket of them. I also picked some patty pans and some zukes and one yellow crookneck.
The beans are slowing down considerably. The Italian beans are done. I am already feeding the plants to the goats.
A second cup of coffee and a glass of water and I am ready to go out and tackle my shed project. I really, really, really want to get this finished up soon!!! On the other hand I am really tired so I am just going to do what I can today and leave it at that.
Okay, I did work on the shed project. I have some more to accomplish on Saturday but I need to take tomorrow and Friday off from shed building. I had an epiphany on the shade cover area. I think I will build solid pony walls on the bottom four feet. The West side will then have 2 feet of lattice on the top and the East side will have almost 4 feet of lattice on the top. I'll do a rolling barn door that is solid so that it is sturdy. I can do a 12 foot track. The door will be 8 feet wide and roll open to seven feet wide. The wheels are inset about a foot so the whole thing will work on a 12 foot track. There will be plenty of air flow but I will save a fair amount of money. Probably a good $35 on materials. And, less snow and rain will get in keeping it drier.
Froze up 34 cobbettes of corn. Cooked up plenty of wax beans for Michael's lunches. Got the kitchen cleaned up. Got a new table cloth on the dining room table. Got the animals fed. Finally, a shower, pizza and a movie. Yeah, I'm tired. I'll be going to bed shortly.
I picked purple beans and got a small basket of them. I also picked some patty pans and some zukes and one yellow crookneck.
The beans are slowing down considerably. The Italian beans are done. I am already feeding the plants to the goats.
A second cup of coffee and a glass of water and I am ready to go out and tackle my shed project. I really, really, really want to get this finished up soon!!! On the other hand I am really tired so I am just going to do what I can today and leave it at that.
Okay, I did work on the shed project. I have some more to accomplish on Saturday but I need to take tomorrow and Friday off from shed building. I had an epiphany on the shade cover area. I think I will build solid pony walls on the bottom four feet. The West side will then have 2 feet of lattice on the top and the East side will have almost 4 feet of lattice on the top. I'll do a rolling barn door that is solid so that it is sturdy. I can do a 12 foot track. The door will be 8 feet wide and roll open to seven feet wide. The wheels are inset about a foot so the whole thing will work on a 12 foot track. There will be plenty of air flow but I will save a fair amount of money. Probably a good $35 on materials. And, less snow and rain will get in keeping it drier.
Froze up 34 cobbettes of corn. Cooked up plenty of wax beans for Michael's lunches. Got the kitchen cleaned up. Got a new table cloth on the dining room table. Got the animals fed. Finally, a shower, pizza and a movie. Yeah, I'm tired. I'll be going to bed shortly.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Home Improvement
The shed is coming along very nicely. I am quite pleased with my results. I have painted the trim green today. I finished the concrete under the lattice. The wind is so bad here that it scours a trough along any wall that we put up so the concrete will keep the trough from forming. Hope that works. I am pretty sure it will.
I finished framing one half of the front lattice area and it is all painted. I am have a technical problem at the top. I don't know if I like my solution so I may change it up tomorrow. It will mean I have to use an extra a 2x4 but might be worth the money and effort.
I picked a lot of wax beans. Quite a few cukes and Asian cukes, tomatoes, corn. I am working on blanching and freezing right now. Nice night. I may have to go out and enjoy the sunset while the water comes to a boil.
Watered back area for 3 hours. Watering front briefly to make sure the pots don't dry out. Then, watering the West Side Windbreak overnight.
I finished framing one half of the front lattice area and it is all painted. I am have a technical problem at the top. I don't know if I like my solution so I may change it up tomorrow. It will mean I have to use an extra a 2x4 but might be worth the money and effort.
I picked a lot of wax beans. Quite a few cukes and Asian cukes, tomatoes, corn. I am working on blanching and freezing right now. Nice night. I may have to go out and enjoy the sunset while the water comes to a boil.
Watered back area for 3 hours. Watering front briefly to make sure the pots don't dry out. Then, watering the West Side Windbreak overnight.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Home Improvement
Pulled non producing bean and pea plants for the goats. Through in some alfalfa I have been cutting back. [There are alfalfa plants in the yard and they have pretty purple flowers that the bees love]. They also got a couple of over sized patty pans and some beans. A few stalks of sunflowers and some Jerusalem artichoke stalks [those are prairie sunflowers and you eat the roots.]
I spent several hours finishing the roofing on the shade hut. I got all the foam sealant in the cracks. I am ready to tar the roof and close to being ready to paint! Yeah. I still have to work on concrete. Boo.
Well, I lost my mind and went out there and worked on that shed some more. I got the first batch of concrete in below where the lattice goes. Three more bags ought to finish that up. I slapped white paint on the south end and all the studs for framing in the lattice. I got the grey primer on the trim for painting the dark teal trim color this morning. If I can get enough done we can get the hay moved in to one side. Ten percent chance of rain today and tomorrow so I am hoping to get this area done! I am so sore and tired but I will try.
I spent several hours finishing the roofing on the shade hut. I got all the foam sealant in the cracks. I am ready to tar the roof and close to being ready to paint! Yeah. I still have to work on concrete. Boo.
Well, I lost my mind and went out there and worked on that shed some more. I got the first batch of concrete in below where the lattice goes. Three more bags ought to finish that up. I slapped white paint on the south end and all the studs for framing in the lattice. I got the grey primer on the trim for painting the dark teal trim color this morning. If I can get enough done we can get the hay moved in to one side. Ten percent chance of rain today and tomorrow so I am hoping to get this area done! I am so sore and tired but I will try.
Home Improvement
I actually take an inordinate amount of satisfaction with doing it myself. I am about to finish up a large shed with a large lattice sided shade cover to go with the greenhouse. And, with some help from Hubby on the big stuff, I did it all myself. I am proud as a peacock!!! No need to praise the Lard. I earned the money cleaning houses. I designed the layout. [It is long and narrow so that it is a windbreak for the veggie garden and you can reach all the tools without stepping over stuff.] I decided on and bought the materials. I scrounged up free materials like paint and string boards. I used the drill and the tape measure and the circular saw. I kept going even though it has taken a full year. ME with no help from a magical sky god.
If you ever visit I will point out the wind fence that I built. The vinyl picket fence that I traded for so it was free that I designed the layout for and put in. The wooden pathway in the front garden with the nice flowers and cute trees. The greenhouse. The lattice and fencing around the covered patio that I got native rock for and paved. [I have had a bit of help from Hubby on the heavy stuff but I was the one that got it all done!]
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Home Improvement
So far today I have done the caulking on the shed, gotten the last of the facia underneath the rafters and have set up to do some long rips on the 4x8 sheet of plywood. Also set the last 2 rafters for the overhang on the front side of the roof.
Watering fron for 3 hours. East side overnight.
Hubby and I picked2 baskets of filet beans.
Watering fron for 3 hours. East side overnight.
Hubby and I picked2 baskets of filet beans.
Garden
I was up pretty early this morning. I was sitting by the patio door. A hummingbird was Thrrpping loudly. Finally, a lot of hummingbirds showed up. I think she was calling in her babies.
There was a cloud of hummingbirds at one point, all swirling like a mini tornado trying to "own" the feeding stations. I counted 8 all there at once. Some of them have to be babies as they are awkward. The sun is up but they are still at it. Dive bombing and guarding and zipping and zooming and buzzing and beeping and thripping in their little hummingbird voices. What a fun way to wake. Coffee and hummingbirds. Wow!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Summer
Well, cleaned a house and not much more. Went to the dirt car race outside of town. Had a nice steak and fresh garden corn for dinner with our friend. Nice day!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Day Off
So, what did I do on my day off? I had to pick purple beans since they were getting out of control. I managed to give some away but there are a lot left. Pulled weeds to feed the goats. Fed the dogs. Closed up the windows and the shutters. Made sure a little watering got done.
I talked to Hubby and told him if he wants to show me that he loves me he could make sure a few things got done around here. Guess I feel like he's not doing his part lately. If I don't speak up this is going to become a bad habit. So, he checked on the corn, took out the four trash cans with wood scraps in them and loaded the ice chests into the truck for me. Yeah!!!!
Had to run some veggies over to one of the neighbors who is trading me eggs for produce. Pick up the eggs at another neighbors and give them some beans and then, finally, I was off duty. I picked up my friend and we went to lunch at the new Chinese place. Then we went to the bank and the grocery store. Home for a nap and now it is time for my favorite TV show.
I threw the goats hay since I don't want to weed, fed the dogs. I am going to run out and open the shutters, start a cup of coffee and sit down for the rest of the evening!
I talked to Hubby and told him if he wants to show me that he loves me he could make sure a few things got done around here. Guess I feel like he's not doing his part lately. If I don't speak up this is going to become a bad habit. So, he checked on the corn, took out the four trash cans with wood scraps in them and loaded the ice chests into the truck for me. Yeah!!!!
Had to run some veggies over to one of the neighbors who is trading me eggs for produce. Pick up the eggs at another neighbors and give them some beans and then, finally, I was off duty. I picked up my friend and we went to lunch at the new Chinese place. Then we went to the bank and the grocery store. Home for a nap and now it is time for my favorite TV show.
I threw the goats hay since I don't want to weed, fed the dogs. I am going to run out and open the shutters, start a cup of coffee and sit down for the rest of the evening!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Home Improvement
No post yesterday as I was so busy picking produce, making 8 loaves of banana bread [got the freezer cleaned out of that huge pile of black bananas!], working on the shed.
Well, today and yesterday were huge in shed and shade cover building.. My junior high girl, M, showed up on time and, well, the first day, not quite ready to work. I let her know that she could go home and I would finish the project without her help. I completely understood if she was tired. So, she perked it up to a better level and we did three hours yesterday. Another three hours today.
We got two huge shelves done. They are 48 x 50 inches. They are basically two shelves wide. They do add to the structural integrity of the shed and should give me plenty of room to store things.
Yesterday, while M cleared out the shed and raked up all the newspapers that had blown in there from the compost pile, I got most of the rest of the seam trim boards done. Then we swung into high gear gathering 2x4's and cutting them for the shelves. We finished off the last of the trim boards along the ends of the back rafters as well.
Today we built the shelves, installed the boards on top of the shelves. We cut the facia boards for underneath the rafters and M did all the drill work on putting in the screws. Wonderful!!! I cleaned up a bit while she finished her part of the project. Done! M got paid, I ate the lunch Hubby made for us, got him out the door and I collapsed on the couch.
That was 10 2x4's installed. 7 facia pieces. 6 large boards cut for the shelving. Beautiful!
I don't ordinarily pay out my hard earned dollars for help but she is a nice kid and I didn't have to haul and drill and screw until my arms hurt. It was worth my $30. She was good about carrying wood and about moving ladders for me. Both hard jobs when you are already tired. The facia would have been next to impossible without one person to hold it in place and another person to get a couple of screws in. The shelving went pretty fast with M holding the 2x4's and watching the bubble for level and me screwing in the pieces.
I also picked a huge basket of waxed beans before M got here. Hubby cooked some for lunch and I took the rest down to my friend on Caribou. She will enjoy them.
Watering the front zone this evening for 3 hours. Watering the East Side windbreak overnight.
Hubby made lunch for me. I was so happy not to have to do his work lunch and our lunch!
Well, today and yesterday were huge in shed and shade cover building.. My junior high girl, M, showed up on time and, well, the first day, not quite ready to work. I let her know that she could go home and I would finish the project without her help. I completely understood if she was tired. So, she perked it up to a better level and we did three hours yesterday. Another three hours today.
We got two huge shelves done. They are 48 x 50 inches. They are basically two shelves wide. They do add to the structural integrity of the shed and should give me plenty of room to store things.
Yesterday, while M cleared out the shed and raked up all the newspapers that had blown in there from the compost pile, I got most of the rest of the seam trim boards done. Then we swung into high gear gathering 2x4's and cutting them for the shelves. We finished off the last of the trim boards along the ends of the back rafters as well.
Today we built the shelves, installed the boards on top of the shelves. We cut the facia boards for underneath the rafters and M did all the drill work on putting in the screws. Wonderful!!! I cleaned up a bit while she finished her part of the project. Done! M got paid, I ate the lunch Hubby made for us, got him out the door and I collapsed on the couch.
That was 10 2x4's installed. 7 facia pieces. 6 large boards cut for the shelving. Beautiful!
I don't ordinarily pay out my hard earned dollars for help but she is a nice kid and I didn't have to haul and drill and screw until my arms hurt. It was worth my $30. She was good about carrying wood and about moving ladders for me. Both hard jobs when you are already tired. The facia would have been next to impossible without one person to hold it in place and another person to get a couple of screws in. The shelving went pretty fast with M holding the 2x4's and watching the bubble for level and me screwing in the pieces.
I also picked a huge basket of waxed beans before M got here. Hubby cooked some for lunch and I took the rest down to my friend on Caribou. She will enjoy them.
Watering the front zone this evening for 3 hours. Watering the East Side windbreak overnight.
Hubby made lunch for me. I was so happy not to have to do his work lunch and our lunch!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Comments
Hi Renoliz,
I would like for you to inform the guys at EX-Christian that I have been blocked and they did not have the decency to inform anyone, for I cannot reply even if I want to.
Be Blessed,
The Redeemer Lives!
No can do, Redeemer. I have no pull at exC. Besides, you were being obnoxious.
Peace and reason to you and try to be nice on my teensey weensy, boring little personal blog, okay?
I would like for you to inform the guys at EX-Christian that I have been blocked and they did not have the decency to inform anyone, for I cannot reply even if I want to.
Be Blessed,
The Redeemer Lives!
No can do, Redeemer. I have no pull at exC. Besides, you were being obnoxious.
Peace and reason to you and try to be nice on my teensey weensy, boring little personal blog, okay?
Notable Quotable
Andrea, I really appreciated your story. Why is it that even a being of total love isn't satisfying? Because it isn't real. Some of us just aren't able to live in magic land. This earth is our home. Our real home. We sense it when we walk through an open desert with it's naked geology or through a forest with it's trees surrounding us or when we cross a meadow of grass and flowers. We sense it when we see a deer or a hummingbird or one of the other amazing life forms that share our little world here in space. We feel the awe of living in a world that has a sun that returns us to the wonderful daylight and then says good bye each night on a regular basis. We feel the awe of looking into the night sky and seeing the stars above us. We are very much a part of this world.
Christianity has replaced that with the next life and a spirit world. No matter how much sugar you sprinkle on that, you cannot divorce yourself from this world and still be a whole person. No matter how often you are told that you are special because you live with one foot in magic land, it cannot be satisfying to those who are trying to be connected to themselves, their fellow human beings and this world. Being connected to this world is real.
Being connected to the next world and living for that is crapola. Put all the sugar you want to on that cow patty and it still doesn't become edible. You saw the message for what it was. An attempt to allow yourself to feel superior and to keep you separate from your fellow travelers. Good for you.
by Renoliz
Christianity has replaced that with the next life and a spirit world. No matter how much sugar you sprinkle on that, you cannot divorce yourself from this world and still be a whole person. No matter how often you are told that you are special because you live with one foot in magic land, it cannot be satisfying to those who are trying to be connected to themselves, their fellow human beings and this world. Being connected to this world is real.
Being connected to the next world and living for that is crapola. Put all the sugar you want to on that cow patty and it still doesn't become edible. You saw the message for what it was. An attempt to allow yourself to feel superior and to keep you separate from your fellow travelers. Good for you.
by Renoliz
Monday, August 15, 2011
Home Improvement
Today was a BIG day for working on the shed and shade cover. I got 2 facia boards on the end of the rafters. I got one corner facia boards put on. I got 6 seams covered in the back. I got the last seam covered on the south end. I got the top seam covered on the north end. I got a bunch of the seam covered boards ripped from a piece of OSB. I got the second to the last piece of the roof on.
The one piece of roofing I have left is a bit tricky but I will have to see what I can do about it.
I got most of the bottom trim work done. I used 2x4's since the 1x4's actually cost more that the 2x4's. A piece of solid wood at the bottom will help keep the string board skin from soaking up water this winter. It seems to be working on the greenhouse.
I have to get some more screws in on all that facia trim work. I also have to get the underside of the eaves filled in. I need to clean out the shed a bit and put in a couple of more shelves. The neighbor girl is coming tomorrow and I am definitely putting her to work. I also have to get some cement in under the west side where the wind is trying to dig out a huge trench and expose the posts in cement.
Caulking, foam crack filling, tarring the roof and base coating and painting the units will still have to be done as well. Geez, this is such a big project. At least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Oh yeah, I also have to get the lattice walls framed and the lattice up. Goal, September 30th. I can do this.
Picked from the second batch of corn today.
Watered the Front Zone for 3 hours. Watering and fertilizing the West Side Wind break tonight.
The one piece of roofing I have left is a bit tricky but I will have to see what I can do about it.
I got most of the bottom trim work done. I used 2x4's since the 1x4's actually cost more that the 2x4's. A piece of solid wood at the bottom will help keep the string board skin from soaking up water this winter. It seems to be working on the greenhouse.
I have to get some more screws in on all that facia trim work. I also have to get the underside of the eaves filled in. I need to clean out the shed a bit and put in a couple of more shelves. The neighbor girl is coming tomorrow and I am definitely putting her to work. I also have to get some cement in under the west side where the wind is trying to dig out a huge trench and expose the posts in cement.
Caulking, foam crack filling, tarring the roof and base coating and painting the units will still have to be done as well. Geez, this is such a big project. At least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Oh yeah, I also have to get the lattice walls framed and the lattice up. Goal, September 30th. I can do this.
Picked from the second batch of corn today.
Watered the Front Zone for 3 hours. Watering and fertilizing the West Side Wind break tonight.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Garden
Picked several large bunches of Bok Choi. A huge basket of garden peas. A couple of corns. A number of yellow crooknecks and one patty pan and two zukes. Also a small bowl of strawberries.
Fertilized the Front Zone, the Back Zone and the East Windbreak.
Found some string board pieces in the shed. Managed to get a couple of nice facia boards for the shed cut and put up. I also manages to cut the last piece of the roof for the backs side of the shade cover it was 12 inches at the top and 20 inches at the bottom. That is a pretty wonky shape but now that it is up I don't think you'll notice it a bit.
I heard it would be 30MPH winds and about an hour ago it started roaring. Looks like it will be windy tomorrow as well so I may go grocery shopping. I need a few things at Home Depot, as well. I need to check how much paint I have. I'm going to need to see how much base coat, too.
Fertilized the Front Zone, the Back Zone and the East Windbreak.
Found some string board pieces in the shed. Managed to get a couple of nice facia boards for the shed cut and put up. I also manages to cut the last piece of the roof for the backs side of the shade cover it was 12 inches at the top and 20 inches at the bottom. That is a pretty wonky shape but now that it is up I don't think you'll notice it a bit.
I heard it would be 30MPH winds and about an hour ago it started roaring. Looks like it will be windy tomorrow as well so I may go grocery shopping. I need a few things at Home Depot, as well. I need to check how much paint I have. I'm going to need to see how much base coat, too.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Projects
Oh boy, Hubby helped me bunches today on the shade cover area. He got the three 4x8 OSB up and he put the screws in for me. He also cut the rafters to the right length. It was great. He has one more set of rafters to cut to the right length on the long shed and he is pretty much done helping me. I won't say no if he volunteers for more, I suppose:) I was so tired I was practically drooling but I hung in there since I only get his help once a week lately because of his work schedule.
We had more of those delicious filet beans I love so much for dinner along with the mini cobs from picking corn today. The good looking corn was blanched, cut off the cob and frozen into 8 sacks of Chinese stir fry sized bags and 2 bags of dinner for two sized.
Big day tomorrow. Hope I am up for it. Need to pick a lot of stuff and freeze it and need to work on the shed. Hubby has agreed to do the cooking when he gets home.
Watering and lightly fertilizing the North Side Windbreak.
Fertilized the veggie garden this morning.
All of this and I got the laundry done and the kitchen cleaned up twice. No wonder I am tired. I am taking the rest of the night off. Heading for the shower. Good night.
We had more of those delicious filet beans I love so much for dinner along with the mini cobs from picking corn today. The good looking corn was blanched, cut off the cob and frozen into 8 sacks of Chinese stir fry sized bags and 2 bags of dinner for two sized.
Big day tomorrow. Hope I am up for it. Need to pick a lot of stuff and freeze it and need to work on the shed. Hubby has agreed to do the cooking when he gets home.
Watering and lightly fertilizing the North Side Windbreak.
Fertilized the veggie garden this morning.
All of this and I got the laundry done and the kitchen cleaned up twice. No wonder I am tired. I am taking the rest of the night off. Heading for the shower. Good night.
Weather
The weather is beautiful today. There are lots of clouds although it isn't supposed to rain. I desperately hope that I feel well enough to get some work done on the shed. I need to pick wax beans for Hubby's lunch and tryto get some strawberries as well.
Let's see how it goes. I was so sore and tired yesterday and I still am today so I will have to do the best I can and leave it at that.
Let's see how it goes. I was so sore and tired yesterday and I still am today so I will have to do the best I can and leave it at that.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Garden
Too tired to say much.
Picked two small bowls of strawberries this morning for dessert this evening. Nothing tastes as good as home grown, fresh strawberries with whip cream on them.
Picked tons of filet beans. Delicious. Gave some away. Picked 10 or 12 corn. Gave it away. Lots left and the next batch is already getting ripe. Must freeze more corn tomorrow and eat a lot too:)
I got 4 tomatoes, a cuke, 2 Asian cukes and several zukes today. That garden is one big producer!
Watering the West Side Windbreak over night.
Watered Front Zone for 3 hours.
Cleaned a house today and then got some rocks on the way to cement in behind the long shed. Trying to stretch my dollars spent on cement. I also managed to clean up the kitchen and get my cleaning gear put away but I am all done in. I sure hope I feel better by tomorrow since I only have Hubby's help for one day on the shade cover roof.
Picked two small bowls of strawberries this morning for dessert this evening. Nothing tastes as good as home grown, fresh strawberries with whip cream on them.
Picked tons of filet beans. Delicious. Gave some away. Picked 10 or 12 corn. Gave it away. Lots left and the next batch is already getting ripe. Must freeze more corn tomorrow and eat a lot too:)
I got 4 tomatoes, a cuke, 2 Asian cukes and several zukes today. That garden is one big producer!
Watering the West Side Windbreak over night.
Watered Front Zone for 3 hours.
Cleaned a house today and then got some rocks on the way to cement in behind the long shed. Trying to stretch my dollars spent on cement. I also managed to clean up the kitchen and get my cleaning gear put away but I am all done in. I sure hope I feel better by tomorrow since I only have Hubby's help for one day on the shade cover roof.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Garden and Project Runway
Cleaned a house for a client. Tired. Need to feed the goats and then it is Project Runway night. Oh yeah, my favorite show of the year and probably the only show that I must watch.! I think I'll have some fish and chips with malt vinegar and watch the show.
East Side Windbreak is getting watered tonight.
East Side Windbreak is getting watered tonight.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Garden and Shed Building
Looks like the NOrthSide Windbreak is scheduled for over night watering.
I am watering the Front Zone for 4 hours today.
Picked patty pans, yellow crook necks, zuchinni, my first three cukes, one tomato that is finally ripe, a lot of purple beans, quite a few wax beans. I also dug up some volunteer potatoes. One was Russets and one what white rose. Gave away all the summer squashes, all the potatoes.
Cooked the wax beans for Hubby's lunches today and tomorrow. Also cooked some of the purple beans, added some wax beans and bacon and butter and almond slices. They were a big hit with the ladies. Cooked 5 ears of corn and froze 4 ears for the winter. Picked 10 more to freeze this evening.
Gave the goats some antelope slat bush, poplars, corn stalks, purple beans, corn husks and a bit of alfalfa I cut from the garden for this evenings feed. I'll do the same tomorrow morning before going to clean the house for my client.
I am all loaded up with cleaning supplies and the vacuum and bags of towels so I am ready to go in the morning.
I managed to work on the shed just a bit today. I got one of the corners topped. It will still need some caulking plus I didn't screw it all down just two screws each side in case any changes need to be made. At least I made a bit of progress.
I am watering the Front Zone for 4 hours today.
Picked patty pans, yellow crook necks, zuchinni, my first three cukes, one tomato that is finally ripe, a lot of purple beans, quite a few wax beans. I also dug up some volunteer potatoes. One was Russets and one what white rose. Gave away all the summer squashes, all the potatoes.
Cooked the wax beans for Hubby's lunches today and tomorrow. Also cooked some of the purple beans, added some wax beans and bacon and butter and almond slices. They were a big hit with the ladies. Cooked 5 ears of corn and froze 4 ears for the winter. Picked 10 more to freeze this evening.
Gave the goats some antelope slat bush, poplars, corn stalks, purple beans, corn husks and a bit of alfalfa I cut from the garden for this evenings feed. I'll do the same tomorrow morning before going to clean the house for my client.
I am all loaded up with cleaning supplies and the vacuum and bags of towels so I am ready to go in the morning.
I managed to work on the shed just a bit today. I got one of the corners topped. It will still need some caulking plus I didn't screw it all down just two screws each side in case any changes need to be made. At least I made a bit of progress.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Garden
I checked on that little pine tree and it really hasn't been getting any water. It looks like that tube never got hooked into the mainline. I fixed it but I may have to replace that tree later this fall. I watered it for a couple of hours hoping that getting some water on it will help.
Watering the North Side Windbreak for two hours this afternoon.
Worked on the shed this morning. I got a bunch of the Simpson's clips screwed down on the center ridgepole. Tonight I am hoping to get the rest of the screws in. Also, hoping to get the first seam covering board up. That would be progress indeed. I also got 2 posts cut off flush at the top. I started the last post but ran out of battery. I 'll do the best I can to get a bit more done this afternoon.
It's my birthday today and I received several birthday cards in the mail. That was nice. Mom and Dad sent me the nicest card. And mom called and said she meant every word. I was so happy. I got a couple of emails as well and all in all it has been a very nice day. Hubby brought me a card, a nice bouquet of flowers and some candy. I actually bought several things for myself so I told him I didn't really need any presents. I got the nice mattress topper and I got new pillows for me and different new pillows for him. I slept in the guest room for the last two nights and the breeze coming through the window is wonderful. I think this will save us money on the A/C since I will be able to open up the house at night before I go to bed and because I get a nice cool breeze on me, I won't be suffering from the heat!
I also bought myself some Dansko clogs and some pants from Cabela's. We have had points to use up and we got a coupon for money off. I noticed though that shipping was an outrageous $16 so I don't know if getting the $20 off is enough anymore. After all, I also have to pay $7.50 in sales tax, as well.
I picked strawberries and got a small bowl full. The quail have been eating some of them, I think. I got some more zukes and hope I can give some of them away tomorrow. I am having a few of the ladies over at 1pm. We are having pizza, corn on the cob, potatoes with green beans and Terri is bringing dessert. I thought it was about time we all got together again.
This evening I got out there, pulled weeds for the goats and trimmed a poplar tree and that went into the goat pen as well. They got a whole bunch of pea pods, which they loved.
Then, I managed to work on the shed a bit more. All the Simpson's clips are now done [Of course, I still have to install 13 more when the roof is going on this weekend but that does mean that I am three quarters of the way done with that phase of the project. Yeah!!]. The neighbor kid and her friend came by and I enlisted their help in cutting and placing the first crack covering for the shed. Felt good to be moving on like that. I really am going to finish this project one of these days.
I think I will have the neighbor girl come over and help me place the facia boards on the back side of the shed. She gets $5 an hour and I get a whole lot done with a lot less effort. And I don't have to wait for Hubby to help me. That gets frustrating as the days turn into weeks for me to finish this project. It's no one's fault. I worked well into the winter but late winter and early spring were far too cold and windy to get anything done. Then it was gardening season so that took precedence but I would like to finish this project up by September 30th. I am sure that is over a year to do this shed and shade cover. I have built several shelves into the long shed and it will be made more usable with just a few more shelves in place. The shelves also sturdy up the shed by making some cross pieces so they are serving a couple of functions. It is a pole shed so the posts are directly placed into the ground with cement holding them in place. But that isn't what makes it structurally sound since we are building in sand. It is the box framing of the structure that gives it stability,
I need to do something about getting a front covering onto the building but I haven't quite decided what I want to do yet.
I am actually pretty proud of the job I am doing. I am no carpenter but the shed is sturdy and well built. It is over 20 feet long and it is 6 feet wide. It is about 8 feet at the front and about 6 feet tall at the back. It functions as a windbreak for the veggie garden and will hold wheelbarrows, a rototiller, all the garden tools, rodent traps and assorted doodads. And some items from the garage like the box of electrical stuff and the box of paintbrushes and such, all in plastic containers with nicely sealing lids.
The garage has become a much more functioning space with a few items out of there.
The shade cover is coming out great! It is about 15 by 15 feet and is a pole shed as well. Putting the roof on has sturdied it up considerably as a couple of the posts were a bit wobbly. I put the posts in my self in the middle and front rows and honestly, although they are straight up and down, they aren't exactly in a straight line. I thought that might happen since I am not usually the one to put posts in but Hubby is very busy and working overtime and I need to keep moving on this. Honestly, you can't really tell and it is working out fine.
Watering the North Side Windbreak for two hours this afternoon.
Worked on the shed this morning. I got a bunch of the Simpson's clips screwed down on the center ridgepole. Tonight I am hoping to get the rest of the screws in. Also, hoping to get the first seam covering board up. That would be progress indeed. I also got 2 posts cut off flush at the top. I started the last post but ran out of battery. I 'll do the best I can to get a bit more done this afternoon.
It's my birthday today and I received several birthday cards in the mail. That was nice. Mom and Dad sent me the nicest card. And mom called and said she meant every word. I was so happy. I got a couple of emails as well and all in all it has been a very nice day. Hubby brought me a card, a nice bouquet of flowers and some candy. I actually bought several things for myself so I told him I didn't really need any presents. I got the nice mattress topper and I got new pillows for me and different new pillows for him. I slept in the guest room for the last two nights and the breeze coming through the window is wonderful. I think this will save us money on the A/C since I will be able to open up the house at night before I go to bed and because I get a nice cool breeze on me, I won't be suffering from the heat!
I also bought myself some Dansko clogs and some pants from Cabela's. We have had points to use up and we got a coupon for money off. I noticed though that shipping was an outrageous $16 so I don't know if getting the $20 off is enough anymore. After all, I also have to pay $7.50 in sales tax, as well.
I picked strawberries and got a small bowl full. The quail have been eating some of them, I think. I got some more zukes and hope I can give some of them away tomorrow. I am having a few of the ladies over at 1pm. We are having pizza, corn on the cob, potatoes with green beans and Terri is bringing dessert. I thought it was about time we all got together again.
This evening I got out there, pulled weeds for the goats and trimmed a poplar tree and that went into the goat pen as well. They got a whole bunch of pea pods, which they loved.
Then, I managed to work on the shed a bit more. All the Simpson's clips are now done [Of course, I still have to install 13 more when the roof is going on this weekend but that does mean that I am three quarters of the way done with that phase of the project. Yeah!!]. The neighbor kid and her friend came by and I enlisted their help in cutting and placing the first crack covering for the shed. Felt good to be moving on like that. I really am going to finish this project one of these days.
I think I will have the neighbor girl come over and help me place the facia boards on the back side of the shed. She gets $5 an hour and I get a whole lot done with a lot less effort. And I don't have to wait for Hubby to help me. That gets frustrating as the days turn into weeks for me to finish this project. It's no one's fault. I worked well into the winter but late winter and early spring were far too cold and windy to get anything done. Then it was gardening season so that took precedence but I would like to finish this project up by September 30th. I am sure that is over a year to do this shed and shade cover. I have built several shelves into the long shed and it will be made more usable with just a few more shelves in place. The shelves also sturdy up the shed by making some cross pieces so they are serving a couple of functions. It is a pole shed so the posts are directly placed into the ground with cement holding them in place. But that isn't what makes it structurally sound since we are building in sand. It is the box framing of the structure that gives it stability,
I need to do something about getting a front covering onto the building but I haven't quite decided what I want to do yet.
I am actually pretty proud of the job I am doing. I am no carpenter but the shed is sturdy and well built. It is over 20 feet long and it is 6 feet wide. It is about 8 feet at the front and about 6 feet tall at the back. It functions as a windbreak for the veggie garden and will hold wheelbarrows, a rototiller, all the garden tools, rodent traps and assorted doodads. And some items from the garage like the box of electrical stuff and the box of paintbrushes and such, all in plastic containers with nicely sealing lids.
The garage has become a much more functioning space with a few items out of there.
The shade cover is coming out great! It is about 15 by 15 feet and is a pole shed as well. Putting the roof on has sturdied it up considerably as a couple of the posts were a bit wobbly. I put the posts in my self in the middle and front rows and honestly, although they are straight up and down, they aren't exactly in a straight line. I thought that might happen since I am not usually the one to put posts in but Hubby is very busy and working overtime and I need to keep moving on this. Honestly, you can't really tell and it is working out fine.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Garden
HOw does my garden grow? Very well, thank you. Today's loot was incredible. A huge bowl of Itanlian beans. 4 medium zukes. One nice sized bowl of wax beans for Hubby's lunch. Enough Chinese pea pods to make two bags for winter stir frying. Of course, those will be mixed with bags of beans, corn, bok choi etc. to produce a nice mix. I froze about half of the Italian beans into small Chinese stir fry sized bags.
I am giving the other half to my friend, Barb along with the zukes. I still have patty pans and yellow crooknecks so I need to unload the zukes.
I didn't pick strawberries and I didn't get a couple of other items looked at but, hey, there's always tomorrow. This evening I am going to work on the shed.
Okay, I got a little bit done on the shed after taking a long nap on the couch. I got about 13 Simpsons clips into the rafters and about 12 screws into the roof. Tomorrow is another day and I will try really hard to get some more work done out there starting in the morning.
Watering the Fruit Tree Zone overnight.
Watered the Front Zone for three hours.
Looks like one of my pine trees that I put in this spring in the row behind the white fence is dead. It looks like it isn't getting watered. I will have to see what is going on with that tomorrow.
I am giving the other half to my friend, Barb along with the zukes. I still have patty pans and yellow crooknecks so I need to unload the zukes.
I didn't pick strawberries and I didn't get a couple of other items looked at but, hey, there's always tomorrow. This evening I am going to work on the shed.
Okay, I got a little bit done on the shed after taking a long nap on the couch. I got about 13 Simpsons clips into the rafters and about 12 screws into the roof. Tomorrow is another day and I will try really hard to get some more work done out there starting in the morning.
Watering the Fruit Tree Zone overnight.
Watered the Front Zone for three hours.
Looks like one of my pine trees that I put in this spring in the row behind the white fence is dead. It looks like it isn't getting watered. I will have to see what is going on with that tomorrow.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Shopping
Went to Home Depot and I got my money back from the extra box of screws they charged me for. I also, of course, bought some 2x4's, caulking, expandable foam and 5 bags of fence post concrete. Prices are up at the home improvement store but what can you do? At least I am just about done with this project. Maybe I should start calling that the home impoverishment store?
I stopped by Costco and got some bacon and some provolone cheese while I was in town. I decided to get the memory foam mattress topper after all. Yes, it is almost $100 with the coupon off but the lady I talked to last time I was there was satisfied with the product. It is a lot cheaper than buying a mattress especially since the only thing wrong with that mattress is way too hard. Mom and Dad gave that mattress to us several years ago so I call the topper a bargain if it makes the bed usable.
I would kind of like to try sleeping in that room in the summer since you get a breeze right on you from the window. The room we are sleeping in now has an East facing window and no direct airflow and it feels hot in there. Also, the fan in that room sucks. It goes whomp! whomp! whomp! We like to say "Saigon, 1972" It is funny but.... I am looking into replacing that fan as I think we have put up with it long enough. If I keep my eyes open maybe I can get a deal.
Watering the East Side Windbreak overnight. Watered Back Zone for 2 1/2 hours.
I stopped by Costco and got some bacon and some provolone cheese while I was in town. I decided to get the memory foam mattress topper after all. Yes, it is almost $100 with the coupon off but the lady I talked to last time I was there was satisfied with the product. It is a lot cheaper than buying a mattress especially since the only thing wrong with that mattress is way too hard. Mom and Dad gave that mattress to us several years ago so I call the topper a bargain if it makes the bed usable.
I would kind of like to try sleeping in that room in the summer since you get a breeze right on you from the window. The room we are sleeping in now has an East facing window and no direct airflow and it feels hot in there. Also, the fan in that room sucks. It goes whomp! whomp! whomp! We like to say "Saigon, 1972" It is funny but.... I am looking into replacing that fan as I think we have put up with it long enough. If I keep my eyes open maybe I can get a deal.
Watering the East Side Windbreak overnight. Watered Back Zone for 2 1/2 hours.
Notable Quotable
"The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of star stuff."
— Carl Sagan
"Atheism is more than just the knowledge that gods do not exist, and that religion is either a mistake or a fraud. Atheism is an attitude, a frame of mind that looks at the world objectively, fearlessly, always trying to understand all things as a part of nature."
— Carl Sagan
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
— Carl Sagan
"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."
— Carl Sagan
"The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of the dot on scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner of the dot. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity -- in all this vastness -- there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. It is up to us. It's been said that astronomy is a humbling, and I might add, a character-building experience. To my mind, there is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
— Carl Sagan
— Carl Sagan
"Atheism is more than just the knowledge that gods do not exist, and that religion is either a mistake or a fraud. Atheism is an attitude, a frame of mind that looks at the world objectively, fearlessly, always trying to understand all things as a part of nature."
— Carl Sagan
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
— Carl Sagan
"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."
— Carl Sagan
"The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of the dot on scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner of the dot. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity -- in all this vastness -- there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. It is up to us. It's been said that astronomy is a humbling, and I might add, a character-building experience. To my mind, there is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
— Carl Sagan
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Home Improvement
Hubby helped me on my shade cover/shed. We got the roof on about half of it. Yeah!!!!! I should be able to do a lot of the rest myself. I will need some help on the front side since we still have to get the roof up over there. One other thing is cutting the overhang for the front rafters of the long shed and the shade cover front rafters. After that I should be able to accomplish the rest on my own. I feel much better about this project now.
I have to go to Home Depot and get my money back for the extra box of screws that I was charged for. I also need a couple more 2x4's and some caulking and some expandable foam.
Watering the North Side Windbreak overnight.
I have to go to Home Depot and get my money back for the extra box of screws that I was charged for. I also need a couple more 2x4's and some caulking and some expandable foam.
Watering the North Side Windbreak overnight.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Garden
I am watering the West Side Windbreak tonight although perhaps I should be watering the Fruit Tree Zone. Hopefully, I will get this straightened out tomorrow.
I'm tired.
I'm tired.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Shopping
Boy did I shop today. Found some pillows at Costco. They are a whopping $30 for two memory foam core pillows. We have been complaining about our pillows for quite some time. I bought new ones a while back and we are still complaining so I decided to go ahead and try these. Took a nap on the couch with one of them and I must say I was quite happy. We'll see how I feel after tonight.
I found some lamps on sale at Home Depot. A tall tourchiere, a medium sized reading and a small table lamp. $30 for the set. I have been wanting some lighting behind the couch in the den for some time. As well, the old side table with lamp attached has become quite rickety. I took the old attached lamp part off and set the medium sized reading lamp on the table top. Le's see how long it takes for it to get knocked over.
While I was at Home Depot I got the 13 - 2x4's, 22 rafter brackets, large box of 1 5/8 screws [yes, that was $27, but I can't hammer worth a darn and I have roofing to put on] and small box of 2 1/2 " screws.
I bought those space bags you suck all the air out of. I am hoping to squeeze the winter down under quilt and some of the extra blankets into a smaller space. Hope it works.
I found some lamps on sale at Home Depot. A tall tourchiere, a medium sized reading and a small table lamp. $30 for the set. I have been wanting some lighting behind the couch in the den for some time. As well, the old side table with lamp attached has become quite rickety. I took the old attached lamp part off and set the medium sized reading lamp on the table top. Le's see how long it takes for it to get knocked over.
While I was at Home Depot I got the 13 - 2x4's, 22 rafter brackets, large box of 1 5/8 screws [yes, that was $27, but I can't hammer worth a darn and I have roofing to put on] and small box of 2 1/2 " screws.
I bought those space bags you suck all the air out of. I am hoping to squeeze the winter down under quilt and some of the extra blankets into a smaller space. Hope it works.
Birthdays
Another few days and it will be my birthday. I am getting another year older and I am not sure that I am happy about that. On the other hand, it isn't all bad since the alternative is death:) I have so much left to accomplish that I am certainly not ready to go into the dark night.
The reason I am bringing this up today is that I have to go to the DMV to renew my license. Of course, while I am in town I will also need to go to Home Depot and Costco. Fortunately, I just need to get a few things and I will be on my way home. Maybe I'll go to Taco Bell for lunch. Looks like it will be pretty hot today so maybe I will go ahead and get moving.
The days are already getting just a bit shorter. We are already sliding towards fall. But today will be hot anyway.
The hummingbird is hanging out at the feeder. The orioles have already been in to get a sip of sugar water. The cosmos are looking fantastic but the zinnias are still on the edge of blooming. Hope they start soon. The blanket flowers and the prairie coneflowers are just about done and I need the flowers for my hummers.
The reason I am bringing this up today is that I have to go to the DMV to renew my license. Of course, while I am in town I will also need to go to Home Depot and Costco. Fortunately, I just need to get a few things and I will be on my way home. Maybe I'll go to Taco Bell for lunch. Looks like it will be pretty hot today so maybe I will go ahead and get moving.
The days are already getting just a bit shorter. We are already sliding towards fall. But today will be hot anyway.
The hummingbird is hanging out at the feeder. The orioles have already been in to get a sip of sugar water. The cosmos are looking fantastic but the zinnias are still on the edge of blooming. Hope they start soon. The blanket flowers and the prairie coneflowers are just about done and I need the flowers for my hummers.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Garden
Watered the North Side Windbreak overnight with fertilizer last night..
Gorgeous morning.
Once I finish my coffee I am going to go out and do some weeding and pick some more beans. I got a nice big bowl of strawberries yesterday. I also picked the Italian beans and they were delicious with the pizza. I picked yellow wax beans that I will boil up and put in Hubby's lunch. He said they were fantastic. I have zuchinnis coming out my ears so I need to cook some of those and maybe just throw some to the goats along with the beans we didn't manage to eat.
I am hoping to pick some more fillet beans today to go with out dinner tonight. Looks like the first batch of corn is just about ready. In a few days we will be eating corn on the cob. Loving it!!!! The cukes are starting to have teensey weensey cucumbers so soon we will be eating nice cool cukes. I grew Asian cukes this year, as well as regular cukes.
My tomatoes are still green. I am so looking forward to some yummy home gorwn tomatoes so I hope they will be ripening soon!!!!
Just enough fillet beans to have with dinner tonight. Just enough purple Italian beans to blanche and freeze. Cooked up yesterday's yellow wax beans for snacks and to put in Hubby's lunch tomorrow.
Went ahead and fertilized the veggie garden today. Moved the tank to the front 3 zones. Fertilizing and watering the back zone for two hours, the front zone for two hours and then the East Side Windbreak over night,
I have a fantastically decadent dinner planned with coconut shrimp [yes, I am deep frying them], shoestring french fries from a freezer bag and fresh fillet beans. Looks like Hubby will be picking up ice cream, whip cream in a can and some syrupy sauces and bananas for a very decadent dessert. I already have the marachino cherries and the pecans. I love it when we eat decadently. And this expensive dinner will still be half the cost of eating out.
Gorgeous morning.
Once I finish my coffee I am going to go out and do some weeding and pick some more beans. I got a nice big bowl of strawberries yesterday. I also picked the Italian beans and they were delicious with the pizza. I picked yellow wax beans that I will boil up and put in Hubby's lunch. He said they were fantastic. I have zuchinnis coming out my ears so I need to cook some of those and maybe just throw some to the goats along with the beans we didn't manage to eat.
I am hoping to pick some more fillet beans today to go with out dinner tonight. Looks like the first batch of corn is just about ready. In a few days we will be eating corn on the cob. Loving it!!!! The cukes are starting to have teensey weensey cucumbers so soon we will be eating nice cool cukes. I grew Asian cukes this year, as well as regular cukes.
My tomatoes are still green. I am so looking forward to some yummy home gorwn tomatoes so I hope they will be ripening soon!!!!
Just enough fillet beans to have with dinner tonight. Just enough purple Italian beans to blanche and freeze. Cooked up yesterday's yellow wax beans for snacks and to put in Hubby's lunch tomorrow.
Went ahead and fertilized the veggie garden today. Moved the tank to the front 3 zones. Fertilizing and watering the back zone for two hours, the front zone for two hours and then the East Side Windbreak over night,
I have a fantastically decadent dinner planned with coconut shrimp [yes, I am deep frying them], shoestring french fries from a freezer bag and fresh fillet beans. Looks like Hubby will be picking up ice cream, whip cream in a can and some syrupy sauces and bananas for a very decadent dessert. I already have the marachino cherries and the pecans. I love it when we eat decadently. And this expensive dinner will still be half the cost of eating out.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
House Cleaning
The neighbor girl, M, came back today and we did another four hours of cleaning. This time we got the bedroom, the den and the living room done.
We hung all the curtains I had washed yesterday - living room, dining room, den and office. We put all the light globes and light bulbs back into all the fans in the kitchen, living room, master bedroom, office and den.
I moved the two night stands and vacuumed behind them early in the morning. The two of us managed to move the two dressers and M vacuumed the whole area and then helped me move them back. We knocked down cobwebs and then we hung up the curtains I had washed yesterday. M vacuumed down the hallway while I moved furniture out of the office and dusted. She then vacuumed the office including the edges. M volunteered to put the furniture back into the office.
We moved the couches and chairs in the living room. Then M gave it a thorough vacuuming. We put everything back. While she was doing the living room I managed to get the light globes back on in the kitchen ceiling lights and I wiped down all the fan blades in the different rooms.
I moved the dining room corner cabinet and boy was it dirty under there. Maybe I haven't moved it in six years since we got here. M vacuumed under it and I moved it back. In the meantime, I moved all the furniture in the den. Took out all the small stuff and moved the couches towards the middle. M vacuumed the carpet and then she vacuumed the couches. I got the stuff moved back into place and then M vacuumed the middle.
We put the freshly washed couch covers back onto the couches along with the freshly washed couch pillows. We put all the freshly washed furniture scarves back in place, made sure all the lamps and houseplants were back in place and called it a day.
I managed to sweep the kitchen and the back porch breezeway. I didn't manage to mop so I will be doing that today.
Really am pretty darn tired so I will concentrate on pulling a few weeds, sweeping and mopping the kitchen and fluffing up the bathrooms. Incredibly, the whole house will be clean, all at once, for a change. Now I am going to pick one day a week to try to stay on top of it.
I couldn't have done it without the help of the neighbor girl. To try to get everything done including knocking down cobwebs, polishing furniture, washing all the curtains, rugs, table scarves and pillows was just such a big job. Deep cleaning means moving the furniture and managing to vacuum thoroughly and then getting all the furniture back into place. All the pictures and mirrors were cleaned. All the plants. I spent part of last week and all of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday cleaning. I am going to spend several hours cleaning today as well. I am glad I made the decision to pay someone to help me. M was thrilled to make $5 per hour and she learned a little bit about cleaning and she got things done without being resentful of being told when she wasn't quite getting it right.
We hung all the curtains I had washed yesterday - living room, dining room, den and office. We put all the light globes and light bulbs back into all the fans in the kitchen, living room, master bedroom, office and den.
I moved the two night stands and vacuumed behind them early in the morning. The two of us managed to move the two dressers and M vacuumed the whole area and then helped me move them back. We knocked down cobwebs and then we hung up the curtains I had washed yesterday. M vacuumed down the hallway while I moved furniture out of the office and dusted. She then vacuumed the office including the edges. M volunteered to put the furniture back into the office.
We moved the couches and chairs in the living room. Then M gave it a thorough vacuuming. We put everything back. While she was doing the living room I managed to get the light globes back on in the kitchen ceiling lights and I wiped down all the fan blades in the different rooms.
I moved the dining room corner cabinet and boy was it dirty under there. Maybe I haven't moved it in six years since we got here. M vacuumed under it and I moved it back. In the meantime, I moved all the furniture in the den. Took out all the small stuff and moved the couches towards the middle. M vacuumed the carpet and then she vacuumed the couches. I got the stuff moved back into place and then M vacuumed the middle.
We put the freshly washed couch covers back onto the couches along with the freshly washed couch pillows. We put all the freshly washed furniture scarves back in place, made sure all the lamps and houseplants were back in place and called it a day.
I managed to sweep the kitchen and the back porch breezeway. I didn't manage to mop so I will be doing that today.
Really am pretty darn tired so I will concentrate on pulling a few weeds, sweeping and mopping the kitchen and fluffing up the bathrooms. Incredibly, the whole house will be clean, all at once, for a change. Now I am going to pick one day a week to try to stay on top of it.
I couldn't have done it without the help of the neighbor girl. To try to get everything done including knocking down cobwebs, polishing furniture, washing all the curtains, rugs, table scarves and pillows was just such a big job. Deep cleaning means moving the furniture and managing to vacuum thoroughly and then getting all the furniture back into place. All the pictures and mirrors were cleaned. All the plants. I spent part of last week and all of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday cleaning. I am going to spend several hours cleaning today as well. I am glad I made the decision to pay someone to help me. M was thrilled to make $5 per hour and she learned a little bit about cleaning and she got things done without being resentful of being told when she wasn't quite getting it right.
Monday, August 1, 2011
House Cleaning
I cleaned so much today that I am half dead.
Watering and fertilizing the West Side Windbreak overnight.
The neighbor girl cam e to the house and helped me clean for four hours. She did good considering her age and she was a big help. I am having her come back again tomorrow. Hopefully the whole house will be done by then. I might need to clean on Wednesday as well.
What did we accomplish? We vacuumed all the window tracks and washed all the windows inside and out.
We cleaned the fan and light globes in the guest bedroom and got the globes and bulbs back into the fixture. We moved the bed out of the way and vacuumed under the bed and around all the edges of the room as well as under the dresser and around the guitar amps. We wiped down the walls and got rid of the cobwebs. Wiped off/dusted the shelving and dresser. Wiped the high traffic areas and doors. Gave it all a thorough vacuuming. Put the bed back together with the frame facing in the right direction. It was backwards. Made the bed with nice clean sheets and freshly washed blankets and a bedspread to keep the dirt off.
We got all the light globes down all around the house. I washed them up this evening and they are ready to be put back up tomorrow. We got all the curtains taken down from all the rooms in the house. We washed the large red drapes for the bedroom and got them hung out as well as the kitchen curtains. I washed the den, living room, dining room and office curtains this evening. All the curtains and table scarves and such are ready to go back into place tomorrow.
There is a lot left to do tomorrow but the other rooms should go a lot faster since they have been sort of cleaned more often than the guest room. Also, I have already gotten some parts of the living room dining room cleaned. I also am not too worried about the kitchen since I clean that a lot and it gets wiped down everyday. I already cleaned the kitchen doo dads, pots and pans above the cabinets and the bowls and canisters on the shelf by the back door so it mostly needs to be swept and mopped.
I have washed all the houseplants over the last few days. Gave a number of them a trimming. They are ready to go back into place.
I took an aspirin for breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner and will probably need one more for bedtime. I hope I survive one more day of big cleaning.
Watering and fertilizing the West Side Windbreak overnight.
The neighbor girl cam e to the house and helped me clean for four hours. She did good considering her age and she was a big help. I am having her come back again tomorrow. Hopefully the whole house will be done by then. I might need to clean on Wednesday as well.
What did we accomplish? We vacuumed all the window tracks and washed all the windows inside and out.
We cleaned the fan and light globes in the guest bedroom and got the globes and bulbs back into the fixture. We moved the bed out of the way and vacuumed under the bed and around all the edges of the room as well as under the dresser and around the guitar amps. We wiped down the walls and got rid of the cobwebs. Wiped off/dusted the shelving and dresser. Wiped the high traffic areas and doors. Gave it all a thorough vacuuming. Put the bed back together with the frame facing in the right direction. It was backwards. Made the bed with nice clean sheets and freshly washed blankets and a bedspread to keep the dirt off.
We got all the light globes down all around the house. I washed them up this evening and they are ready to be put back up tomorrow. We got all the curtains taken down from all the rooms in the house. We washed the large red drapes for the bedroom and got them hung out as well as the kitchen curtains. I washed the den, living room, dining room and office curtains this evening. All the curtains and table scarves and such are ready to go back into place tomorrow.
There is a lot left to do tomorrow but the other rooms should go a lot faster since they have been sort of cleaned more often than the guest room. Also, I have already gotten some parts of the living room dining room cleaned. I also am not too worried about the kitchen since I clean that a lot and it gets wiped down everyday. I already cleaned the kitchen doo dads, pots and pans above the cabinets and the bowls and canisters on the shelf by the back door so it mostly needs to be swept and mopped.
I have washed all the houseplants over the last few days. Gave a number of them a trimming. They are ready to go back into place.
I took an aspirin for breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner and will probably need one more for bedtime. I hope I survive one more day of big cleaning.
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