No Record breaking temps....yet

We didn't break any records last night, but our overnight low hit 44 degrees....the record low for this date was in 1938 and was 43 degrees. At 9:15 am, it is only 48 degrees according to my porch thermometer.

The chickens seemed more content to stay inside the coops this morning, wonder if it is because of the cold? Usually, they are sticking their heads out and protesting loudly about being left inside. The past few days, hubby has been leaving them inside when he goes to work and I've been letting them out once the sun begins to warm things up a bit.

I got the wheelbarrow emptied yesterday but that was about it. All the bending and raking has thrown my body into fits the past few days. When I rolled the wheelbarrow out to the firepit, I felt the pull between my shoulders....the sad part, there was only long cuttings from the Bottlebrush tree...it wasn't even a heavy load. Even pushing it back to the front empty was creating such pain between my shoulders that I decided to leave things for another day.

We lit the fire in the firepit last night right before dark...Note to self...Bottlebrush is another thing that burns very quick even green. There is so much brush down around the yard that it doesn't take much to find enough to have a very nice fire. The fire blazed pretty hot and felt very nice as darkness fell on the yard. We sat out in the swing watching the fire and enjoying the Fall air until well after dark. By the time we came inside, the fire had begun to die down to embers. This morning I notice that it looks like everything burned completely to ash.

Our county fair begins tomorrow and will run through next weekend...Hubby is wanting to go. We usually enjoy wandering through the exhibits and of course we have to ride some of the rides and grab some of the wonderful 'fair food'. Maybe I can talk him into going during the daylight hours instead of after dark, which is when he usually wants to go. I'm just way too worn out to go play after dark anymore....it must be age catching up with me for sure...lol. Saturday we are supposed to go to a party at his boss's daughter's house...she's having a moving party...was talking about everyone coming over and making it a pool party...HA!! Not about to get my body in a pool in this chilly weather!! According to the weather people, we are supposed to be warming up a bit by the end of the week. Is it any wonder I am having such difficulty adjusting to the cold? We are forecast to have highs back in the upper 70's to low 80's by the weekend.

Speaking of the cold...hubby was picking on me last night as we sat outside enjoying the fire...asked me how I thought I'd be able to handle the cold weather on the mountain if I was having such a hard time with this little cold snap. Well, DUH!!! When it starts changing in 'cold country', a body has a bit of a chance to adapt to the cooler weather. It's the back and forth, hot to cold to hot again that is hard to adjust to. Besides, I've lived there before and lived in a colder climate when I was in Indiana...the body will adjust....eventually....like about Springtime, hahaha.
Last night was especially rough, as I felt feverish and really just ached all over....probably had a bit to do with being outside after dark in the chilled air. Wouldn't be the first time I've experienced this from being out after dark...used to get all achy when I'd sit on the dock fishing after dark in the fall air years ago....just one of those things...

Our annual family Thanksgiving camping trip has been called off this year. Seems the place we normally go called to let hubby's brother know that Thanksgiving day the park will be closed due to staffing issues. We've changed locations and while closer, there aren't any campsites available at this late date for Thanksgiving weekend. Just as well...we were talking about how we would be able to camp without having someone come in and take care of the dogs and chickens. The dogs I wasn't worried about...they could go to the pen for a couple of days with extra food and water. The chickens on the other hand would have to spend the time inside the coops...I'm sure they would NOT have been happy about that! We did tell his brother that next year we should just plan on everyone coming here. Anyone who wants to hang out and camp is welcome to toss a tent out in the back pasture. Plenty of nice areas back there and I'd even mow if I know for sure they want to camp. They would even get to experience the wildlife just like when we head to our favorite place Princess Place Preserve,
http://www.flaglerparks.com/princess/preserve.htm .
This place is right on the water and has some wonderful wildlife and views. We've enjoyed camping there many times.

Great, just heard the weather guy say we are under 'Red Flag Fire Warnings'...again, it's because the humidity has dropped to below 50%...ok, but you still couldn't keep a fire going in my yard shy of using a blow torch...even with that, I'm positive it would be a challenge.

Finally feels like Fall

For a change, the weathercasters were right on the money!  Our morning temp was in the upper 40's...by 11 am, it had only managed to reach 52 degrees.  At 1:30 pm, my porch thermometer says its 68 degrees.  Feels really nice in the sun, but the shaded areas are pretty dang chilly...we also have about a 16 mph wind pushing that dry, cool air around.  Finally feels like Fall!!

My girlfriend stopped by for a visit again this morning and we took a walk out to the back pasture where a good many of the wildflowers are blooming.  I really need to walk around with the camera to capture some of the neat things growing and blooming right now.  Just another reason to put off mowing out back for a little longer...that's why I never get to see these particular flowers blooming, they keep getting mowed down.  After our little walk, we came back to sit in the swing by the firepit....no, didn't have the fire going, but it would have definitely made a cheery sight.  The morning sun warmed us nicely from behind and we had a nice view of the bright blue sky through the tall pines.  The wind was 'talking' through the trees completing the feeling of fall....a nice way to spend the morning.

We did turn the heat on for the first time yesterday...I had it set to kick on at 65 degrees so it wouldn't be too chilly in the house when we got up.  Whatever the temperature is outside, my house will be the same if the heat or a/c is off.  Must have almost zero insulation in this tin can.  On days like this in our old house, I would have had the woodstove fired up, mainly for the smell of the wood.  Was the perfect time of year for doing my paper shredding as the shred made really good kindling.  Just had to be careful about putting too much of the shred in at one time as it does burn quickly and at times, tends to float up the chimney.  I made sure to put the shred under a fair amount of wood before I lit the fire.  Works outside in our firepit here, just have to make sure there is lots of wood on top of whatever shredded paper I have in the pit.  Too many pines and palmettos to want sparks flying....those burn even when they are green.

Managed to get a fair amount of weeding done yesterday, but man are the shoulders and hands throwing a fit!  I'm really liking the clean look of the beds at this point....all I need to do now, is finish the job.  Another load is ready to be hauled out back to the firepit and I've found someone who is interested in these crazy Mexican Petunias....I've already warned them of how invasive they can become.  The area they want them for seems to have really weak soil...they can't get anything to grow there.  The soil these things are in out here is pretty crappy in my opinion, mostly shell, sand combination....hardly anything likes it but the Aloes.....and the Petunias.  I've added soil to the areas where I want things to grow. 

As soon as the yard drys out a bit more, I need to take my truck out back and collect the pine cones and downed pine branches.  That pine cone mulch sure worked wonderful in the front beds...no weeds to speak of even in the walkway where I had it spread.  The mulch has totally disintegrated into the soil leaving the beds looking very rich.  When I raked them out the other day, I had mostly pine straw and Bottlebrush leaves....all of which comes from the trees above the beds.  Figure I will use the mulch from the pine branches for the walkway and the pine cone mulch for the beds...love the little red and white chips the pine cones make.

With the cold weather coming so early for us...this is our January type weather...I'm cleaning out the coops and giving everyone some fresh, new hay.  At least that way, they can all cuddle and huddle together in the nest boxes if they choose.  I've still got the flaps over their screen doors to keep the colder air from blowing through.  Even when I opened the coops this morning while it was still pretty chilly, the inside felt much warmer.  With the new hay filling the coops they will have a bit more insulation against the chill.  We rarely see temperatures in the freezing range, but should we have them, the chickens can just stay inside until the day warms.  Our daytime temperatures always rise above freezing....I think in the twenty plus years I've been here, I've only seen temps in the teens once...and that was overnight and only for a very short few days.  We are just far enough south that weather like that usually misses us.

Time to get back to work....

An Arctic chill visits Florida....Noon Update...Brownies are calling my name

Whew! Once it began warming up, the temperature has risen quite nicely... at noon it is now 78 degrees according to my porch thermometer.

My girlfriend stopped in this morning for a short visit. She's planning to go visit her daughter next week...I'll miss her Monday visit. After she left, I went ahead and started in on the flowerbeds beneath the Bottlebrush tree. I got my 'Artist statue' moved...uuugghh, I'll be paying for that later...it is solid concrete. Didn't move him far, just thought he'd like a different view. I like him better in the new spot.

Got some of the Bottlebrush trimmed back away from the house while I was in that bed...needs more, but for the moment, I need to empty the wheelbarrow again and take a short break. Moving the statue really wore me out....that and the half a dozen pots that were sitting there also. All of them have about fifteen pounds of dirt in them...the Hibiscus starts that were in them have been devoured by the Lubber Grasshoppers...only weeds remain. Guess I'll clean them out and see if I can get a few veggies to grow in them instead....I'll have to go check my seed box and see what I have that might work in them. I'm thinking of pulling my poor little 'Sunsprite' out of the pot on the porch...it looks as if her push to win the rose race was more than she could handle. Since her bloom in June, I cut her back hoping to see more growth. It doesn't appear she's going to make it. Told hubby yesterday that if there looks to be roots still, I'll re-pot it, otherwise, the poor thing will go to the burnpit... I think I may have some Lettuce that might do well in the pot on the porch. At least I'll be able to make sure it is watered with it sitting so close.

Break time is over....well, almost. I am starving at the moment and think I'll go see what I can find to eat....mmmm, brownies from last night are calling my name...guess I'll answer that call.

An Arctic chill visits Florida

Cool weather is now upon us...again this morning the house was at 55 degrees...I had dropped all the windows and shut the door before we went to bed last night. Outside is the same temp...at 7 am, it is still pretty dark. Hubby came in from warming up the truck and grabbing his jacket from out back (was in his truck) and said he couldn't see the gate well enough so he didn't let the chickens out...no biggie, they can wait for a bit til the sun is up.

The weather people are saying we have some Arctic air sliding down over us out of Canada...we are supposed to drop to the mid 40's tonight. Today's high is forecast to be in the upper 70's. I just noticed on my Mountain weather map that our low for tonight is just a shade cooler than the highs there today....brrr. Glad we won't be seeing weather with lows in the 20's like they are.

Finally have kicked the heat on for the house...have it set at 60 degrees right now so it isn't freezing in here in the morning. Hubby has already been whining that he's cold once the sun sets. He has turned the little space heater on in our bathroom already. So funny, since it's normally me who caves and turns the heat on.

With these unusually low temperatures hitting us so early, looks like I'll be going ahead and spreading the hay around the flowerbeds. I had planned to do that anyway, but not quite this soon. At 10 am, it's only 62 degrees outside...looks like I'll be waiting til it warms up a bit more before I head outside today. I noticed Patty and Penny were out at just about 8:30 this morning...but wait, hubby said he didn't let them out...hmmm, their coop is still closed so how did they manage that? I went out to see and noticed that they had somehow knocked the back door of the coop out. The back doors are just strapped in place as we didn't have the hinges when hubby put it together for them. I let the others out of their coop as well and headed back inside where it was warm...I'll throw feed out later.

Guess it's time to find something semi warm to wear and get my day started...

Fall weeding, engine work, molting chicken

Brrr....the house is 55 degrees this morning...Fall is definitely back. The porch thermometer confirms the outside temperature is just as cool...it's 8:30 am. Looks like we will be having a very sunny day today again. I hope it stays nice so we can get the truck worked on. Our forecast high is around 80 degrees.

The body is whining from all the weed pulling I did yesterday...too bad, as there is more I intend to do today. This is what I need to be doing...manual labor so I can get myself whipped back into shape and maybe even manage to drop an ounce or two while I'm at it...lol.

Our day started pretty slow...I fixed hubby bacon and eggs and some nice hot chocolate...he was pretty happy to get breakfast. Most mornings he fixes his self a bowl of oatmeal before he heads to work. I keep chocolate Quik on hand and instant oatmeal so he has something if he wants to eat before he goes to work. Lots of times, he just grabs fruit or a snack cake from the corner store on his way to the shop.

Ms Red is definitely in a molt...she looks pretty 'sorry' at the moment with her tail feathers gone and her neck feathers gone in spots. Barney and Ms Piggy seem to be doing just fine. Looks like they all are getting ready for the cooler weather...everyone seems to be huddling together. I have to laugh since the air is still quite warm during the day....Do they know something I don't?

Hubby is back to working on the truck again. I've helped him remove the hood and get the 'cherry picker' set up....that's the engine puller...looks like he'll have it out soon. I'm working on the front beds again trying to get the Spathiphyllum, Peace Lillies, moved from the front bed to under the Bottlebrush tree. They haven't really done well in the very front bed as it gets entirely too much sun. Since these plants like the shade better, I'm sure the move will really get them growing. I've been meaning to move them since I put them there when we first moved out here. Since I want to move these, that means I need to get the other bed weeded and cleaned out a bit so I can put them in the area. Works for me, the sun is just way too hot at the moment in that front bed...I had to stop and find a towel to dry the sweat that was running into my eyes as I was pulling Mex petunias from that bed. Can't believe how profuse the sweat was on my face! Glad I had my hair pulled up, was wringing wet at the back of my neck....a nice glass of iced tea and a break is what I need at the moment....hubby came in for a break about the same time.

Got the weeds and brush that I put in the firepit burned...the smoke that billowed from the green stuff sure was thick. It hung across the neighbor's pasture like fog. Smelled like fall with the fire burning. I raked the pinestraw out of the big flower bed under the Bottlebrush tree and from the walkway...had a full wheelbarrow of that as well. Sure did spark that fire right up! With as much green as was in there, I can honestly say I was very surprised to see it all burn as fast as it did. Even wet pinestraw burns pretty quick....smokes like crazy, but burns fast.
The 'Peace Lillies' are in their new spot...I added more dirt to the area and they are looking happier already. Hubby has the engine out of his truck, the old freeze plugs have been removed. He'll be picking up the new ones on his way home Monday. Talk about junk...those freeze plugs had all rusted through and each was leaking. Every one of them was replaced just four years ago.

The back and legs are protesting...all the bending and stooping while I was pulling weeds has the muscles screaming in protest. My wrists and hands have given up, they have stopped protesting with pain, now they are just numb and my grip strength is nil. Great, guess it's time to put down the rake and call it a day....just as well, I'm losing daylight anyway as the sun is already setting.

Fall Cleanup...Vehicle down

Woke to much cooler temperatures after all the rain Friday. We seem to have a cold front working it's way to our area. The morning temperature at 7:30 am was 61 degrees. We got almost two inches of rain Friday and overnight. The yard is back to standing water in several areas.

Hubby is going after a vehicle for a friend...he brought the tractor home Thursday night and took it to the back...even before the rain he left deep tracks in the yard as he drove to the back pasture. This morning, the standing water really showed the tracks as he pulled the trailer back out front.

Well, that didn't take long...just got a call from hubby...'I'm broke, bring the International'...yeah, ok...which one? Both are apart at the moment....LOL...his way of picking on me, since I broke his International the last time I brought it to rescue him. Snatched the driveshaft out of it that time. It seems his truck has popped several freeze plugs....he's known they were leaking and has been carrying water to make sure he has coolant after the truck sits. At the moment, he's letting it cool off and will be heading back to the house. Sure didn't make it very far, only about five miles from the house. Good thing he managed to get the truck and trailer back to the house...we don't have another vehicle together that will pull his trailer at the moment.

He got in and pulled the truck out back...another set of tracks across the soggy yard. We moved some other stuff around and got the truck in the 'dryer' area so he can pull the engine. Seems several of those freeze plugs are 'hidden' and a real pain to get to when the engine is still in the truck. They were just replaced about four years ago, right before he started driving that truck.
He'll be ready to pull the engine by Sunday.

While he's playing with the truck, I've been out front in the flower beds trying to get the Mexican Petunias under control again. They have just taken over everything in and around the very front of the house. The bushes that grow next to the walkway out front have gotten quite wild as well. Dragged the wheelbarrow to the front and started with the trimming of the bushes...lots of dead in all of them. Dumped two loads in the firepit and decided to start pulling the Mexican Petunias. Managed to pull two wheelbarrow loads of the petunias before dark...the front beds are looking much better. The petunias went to the firepit also. As invasive as they are, I sure don't want them in any type of compost pile.

Before I stopped for the day, I transplanted my lone tomato start over to the front bed. With the chickens being in the garden area, looks like any veggies I want over winter will be out front. The tomato was needing moved anyway as it was in too much shade under the Bottlebrush tree.

The day was pretty nice overall...the temperature hovered in the low 80's most of the day with lots of breezes to make the sunshine feel very nice.

Hubby waited til we came in and it was dark to ask about the two of us going out...seems he wanted to take me out to eat and then off to miniature golf...I declined. By the time we would have gotten cleaned up, got to a restaurant, eaten and headed on...it would have been 9 pm...just too much for me after spending the last part of the day pulling weeds. I was whipped. Besides, it's hard to justify spending so much for one meal when things are this tight. We could eat for three days on what that one meal would cost. I had made ham and potato soup Friday night and so we heated that and the cornbread for supper instead. Both of us were nodding off before the news came on at 11 pm.

Liquid Fall Sunshine

The rain moved in around 7 pm last night...it started with just little spits here and there.  By 11 pm last night, it had begun to fall fairly steady.  It's not a downpour like we've had recently, just a steady, gentle rain.  Now that we are moving into the dry season, I guess I should be thankful for any extra rain we get.  Our yard has only barely dried out from the last round of rain.  I hear the mention of 'Fire danger' everytime we have a few days without rain...you couldn't ignite my yard right now with a blow-torch, its that squishy.

All this rain could very well send hubby home early today...great, that just means he'd be underfoot inside the rest of the day.  At 7 am the temperature is 71 degrees, with grey, cloudy skies and a steady rain.  The forecast is for rain all day.  I'm hearing the chickens start their protest about being left inside...they will just have to deal until the rain ceases.  There is plenty of room in both coops for them to stay inside on days like this.

Called sis like every morning, she told me yesterday she has the baby early today, so I could call her whenever...I just called at 7:30 am and as luck would have it, she's still in bed...rain has kept the baby's daddy from working today.  Too funny really as we seem to play 'phone tag' frequently...she calls me and I'm sleeping in, I call her and she's sleeping in.  Such is life.

Finally pulled the vacuum apart again...looks like the belt probably stretched when it got warm the other day...either way, it isn't moving the roller brush at all....SIGH...and I so liked that vacuum.  Not sure if it's worth fooling with at this point...when I pulled it apart the first time, I noticed the roller brush was wallered where the end caps fit into the vacuum head.  There seems to be damage to the slot those caps ride on as well.  Great...got floors deep with dog hair needing vacuumed, friends possibly visiting tomorrow and my vacuum refuses to operate...just perfect.

I had started some of the trimming with the weedeater before dark last night...got a good bit of it done right out front along the walk and around the split rail fence closest to the drive and walkway.  Finally had to give it up the last time I ran out of line as it was getting too dark to see and the sprinkles were beginning.  Didn't get all that I wanted to do cut back, but eventually it will get cut.  The last time hubby cut out there for me, I told him to take it to the dirt...that area has been dug out and cut back hard anytime I use the weedeater.  I don't want grass or other stuff growing there in the walkway.  He just knocked the growth down a few inches.  I did manage to take it to the dirt in the parking area and around the pots by the fence.  The Mexican Petunias have taken over the front bed again and the walkway behind the fence as well.  There are a couple that have wound through the bush next to the steps...the bush is over five feet high, and the Petunias are peeking through the leaves at the top.  Looks pretty nice, but I just don't want them there.  They get so thick and I've already spotted a couple snakes next to the foundation by the steps....the one was a Dusky Pygmy Rattler.  I worry about the dogs sniffing around because of them, especially where I can't see what they are checking out.  There was an article in the paper not long ago about a 'Good Samaratin' helping someone's dog who had been bitten by a pygmy.  The person paid for the anti-venin, $2500, for the dog because the owner didn't have the money to pay for it.  Not long before that there was an article about the anti-venin being not only expensive, but scarce.  Maybe they should come snake hunting in my yard so they can replenish their supply.  We've seen the Pygmys and Corals here and several of those were pretty large for the species...right at two feet long and thicker than my thumb.

Wow, its so dark right now that it reminds me of what it looks like when we first get up in the morning.  Absolutely zero sign of the sun...rain, rain and more rain...what a lovely day...Liquid Sunshine...

Rainy Columbus Day, fire ant free for all

Well, happy Columbus Day...I guess...hmmm, is that another 'day' they've changed? All I know, I was planning to go to the bank this morning to make a deposit...looks like that will be tomorrow now.

The water hasn't receded much...hasn't had a chance really, we had another small shower around 8 am. I've decided to leave the water in the cooler and see how much more we get...it's currently just above the two gallon mark....all this since Thursday and most of it came on Friday night....
The entire yard is a soggy swamp at the moment. Really cut into my plans for doing some yard work over the weekend. Figures, now that the weather is cooling off I'm gonna get rained out at every turn. The fire ants are mounding all over the yard...hate those nasty little buggers. They've invaded my Stevia pot since last night and are in the Cactus pot and one of the Florida Aloe pots. Then of course there are the mounds growing on several of the walkway pavers and I've spotted two more mounds out on the other side of the Rubber Tree plant. Hate to see what's happening out back in the pasture area. SIGH...looks like I'll be going after some Fire Ant killer soon...probably take fifty pounds to do the yard....eeewww, but it beats getting gnawed on by them every time I walk across the yard. If they weren't such nasty biters I wouldn't bother...but, with the granddaughter being out in the yard playing on occasion and hubby trying to work out in different areas, the possibility of being in a nest or too near one is great and increases the number of bites...easier to be rid of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that's unusual....my main fan just shut down...did we blow a breaker or is the power off? I'm on the laptop so...I checked my internet connection...still have a connection...so off to the breaker box....hmmm, all the breakers look fine...I stopped and checked the fan in the kitchen...it came on when I pressed the button...the tv power light is on, so that's ok...

On to the power strip...dang, it's the one that has the 'light' burned out...ok, let's try a different one...I plugged the power cord into a different strip...turned it on...still nothing.....its the fan.

Oh, this is hated...this fan is one that really pushes the air and now its quit. On and running fine one minute, the next it's off. CRAP!! Hopefully, hubby will be able to get it up and running again, just like the last time it did this....it's an older commercial model, but it works soooo nice! (when its working....lol) Probably just needs cleaned out again, after all, it has been running most of the summer.

The day has warmed up quite a bit...my porch thermometer says its 88 degrees. We do have a very nice cool breeze blowing pretty often and the skies have dark clouds to the west and south of us so I'm sure we'll be seeing more rain shortly...probably in time for hubby to come home and get from the truck to the house. The van may take a while to get back together at this rate with all the rains.

On the brighter side of all this rain....we are at the very beginning of the 'Dry' season now...still have another 45 days before the end of Hurricane season, but the dry season 'starts' around the fifteenth of this month. Makes me mental trying to figure out how they come up with some of the things they do (weather people).

A Fall weekend...

The day started fairly cool...about 65 degrees at 7:30 am when I let the chickens out of the coops. The sky was clear and sunny most of the day.

Finally got hubby to fire up the rider lawnmower for me...just can't seem to yank the cord hard enough to get it to start. The yard looks much better now...only have the side yard near the pasture out front left to be cut. And of course the back pasture area. Rode the mower until I couldn't ride any longer...as soon as the back yard was finished, I called it quits. The body was screeching about being bounced anyway. Came in and found my Advils....

Has been a fairly uneventful day....after seeing both boys on Saturday and griping about not being paid back by either one, neither showed up on Sunday...the youngest was supposed to come work on his vehicle which is parked out in my pasture. GRRRRR...they are pushing my buttons!!

Still dealing with the couch from hell...sigh...neither of us is ready to fight it back through the door yet. Hubby decided he doesn't want me to recover the old one either...guess I'll be sitting in my chair instead as this couch from hell makes my back really scream. He's decided that we will just keep an eye out for another one. Great...maybe he should also keep an eye out for someone else to help him move it when he finds one. And he wonders why I hate changing out furniture!!

Rain moved in about 6:30 pm...came in short spurts at first, raining just enough to get things wet...by 7:00 pm it was dark...by 7:30 pm it was raining hard. It is still raining hard at the moment. We haven't seen much rain lately, so this is a good thing....at least I did manage to get the yard mowed...

Made a big pot of Split Pea soup with ham for supper....was pretty tasty and hubby even had seconds...pretty good for one who doesn't care for peas...LOL

First Fall bonfire....

Another cool morning in the low 60's...the sun was already up when I rolled out of bed at 7:30 am. I'm really loving this change in the weather right now.

The body is better after a second day of muscle relaxers and Advils...most definitely moving easier without the twinges. Of course I did try to work the soreness out last evening...had hubby fire up the weedeater after he got home....ran it around the firepit and swing...then moved on to behind the big chicken yard and coop. Ran it til I couldn't take it any longer and quit. Sat out and enjoyed the nice bonfire in the pit that hubby started. Burned quite a bit of the brush that has been cut and the downed pine branches. Was a gorgeous fire and smelled like Fall.

Hope to get the yard cut sometime today. Need to run into town to the bank...hubby couldn't make a deposit last night after work...ooops, seems I pulled the deposit slips out of my truck so I could make a deposit last week when I had the van...oh, well.

A pretty fair Monday...

The temperature at 6:30 am is about 75 degrees, the sun has yet to break the horizon. The air feels cool and nice this time of the day. I let the chickens out of the coop and as Penny and Patty came out, the others immediately began their attack....sigh...I picked them up and took them to the garden. They just don't need to spend their day on the run or being attacked. As I carried them to the garden, Mojo snuck up behind me and yanked on Penny's tail feathers...he knows better! I immediately swung my foot in his direction as both hands were full of chicken! Got them to the garden and scolded Mojo as I made him come to the house. Tossed some scratch feed to everyone and headed inside to get things ready for my run into town. Finally the sun began to glow across the trees around 7:30 am. The sky is clear and the heat is rising.

1:30 pm: Went to town so I could make a deposit and check on a converter box for the van tv. I don't have to worry about it for the house as we are on cable. But with hubby wanting to set the van up for camping and it having a small tv already, figured I will need to go ahead and pick up the box so we can still use it. Not real concerned with it as we would probably just use it for watching movies on the dvd player...but I did tell him I'd check on one. It seems like its been ages since I have been to Radio Shack...probably a year? While I was in that shopping center, I also ran over to the Dollar General store...I really enjoy those type of stores. Picked up a few things there like freezer bags and a couple of the collapsible laundry hampers. Spent about an hour just wandering around the store checking things out. Next time I'm in town in that area I plan to head over to Big Lots....my next favorite store. Just never go to town much anymore.

By the time I got back to the house it was close to time for hubby to get in. I had decided to make potato soup earlier in the day, and when he came in I gave him a choice of soup or pork chops...he chose soup. Works for me! I peeled and cut the potatoes, onion and then chunked up some of the ham I had made over the weekend and put the pot on to cook. I love the smell of stuff cooking, especially soups. Turned out pretty tasty as usual.

The chickens went to roost before 7 pm...wow...by the end of the month when the time changes they'll be in bed by 5 pm! They have been staying outside until almost 7:30 pm...this is a definite change for them. Since we still haven't got a door on the new nest box in the garden, I was going to take Penny and Patty back to the main coop. Poor babies...I decided at the last second to just bring one of our dog carriers to the garden so they didn't have to be so traumatized by the others. The carrier will at least keep the critters from being able to get to them. They weren't real happy about being taken from the nest box to the carrier, but I'm not real crazy about finding one or both of them missing because of a critter....these little girls are producing some very nice large and jumbo size eggs....I sure don't want to miss out on those.

The oldest boy stopped in...not real sure why as his vehicle is having a water pump issue...he lives almost a half an hour's drive south of us....he stayed for about an hour and then headed home...hubby invited him to stay for supper, but he declined. I think he was heading to pick up his girlfriend from work.

All in all it was a pretty fair day. The temperature hit about 88 degrees and the humidity was pretty high as well...was still warm in the house even after the sun set tonight...at 11 pm, it is still above 80 degrees outside...ugh!...almost makes me want to turn the A/C back on...but the fans will stay on tonight instead and I know by the time I get up, the house will feel cool.

A better weekend

We got up early Saturday and Sunday so we could make a trip out to U-Pull-It...the local salvage yard. Was beautiful weather all weekend...mornings in the mid 60's with the afternoons feeling like summer as both days highs were in the upper 80's...will summer never end this year?

Lucked out and got the parts we were searching for...hubby had been scoping out a new bench seat for the back of the van....found a nice one that will make out to a queen size bed....if we had been thirty minutes later, it would have been gone. As it was, some guy came up to the van we were pulling it out of and blatantly stated it was his seat....I don't think so...especially not since we already had it 3/4 of the way out! Got to get there early if you expect to get the parts you want. As it was, the lights I had scoped out Saturday in a different van had already been snatched...no biggy, I'll find more another time. We loaded the seat into the van and came on to the house....not a bad deal on the seat, with the frame and motor...less than 60 bucks.

We spent the rest of the afternoon napping as the temperature rose to 88 degrees and the humidity came with it. By 4 pm, we were ready to tackle the van... We had to take the middle seats out so the bench bed could be opened.

After the van, we finished up the nest box for Penny and Patty...Ms Piggy and Red are still being bullies and trying to beat up the younger two. So I've got them in the garden for now with the new nest box and Penny and Patty seem to like it. The way these two are laying, it will be put to good use!

Things between the two of us are back to how it was in the early years...sharing our opinions, talking, enjoying spending time with each other...

Penny and Patty...and Penny's first egg

At 7 am it is a very cool 62 degrees according to my porch thermometer.  The sun is shining and the sky is clear.  We are heading for the mid 80's again with a heat index of 89 today.  Fall is only here in the early part of the morning....the afternoons are still in summer.  I almost turned the A/C back on yesterday because of the humidity.

The new hens are having a rough time with Piggy and Red.  When I took them back to the coop yard last night it was just before the others went to roost.  I had to stay in the yard with them in order to keep Piggy and Red from ganging up on just one...Brats!  I finally told Barney to take the girls to the house and told the girls to go...they did.  Penny and Patty were so fixated on the feed that was still scattered, that they continued scratching for another good ten minutes before they noticed the hateful ones were no longer in the yard.  The two of them hoped up on the roost pole to get comfortable, as the remnants of the sunset glowed in the sky.  Barney came out, jumped on the roost pole with them for a few minutes and then returned to the coop.  A few minutes later, Patty hopped down and into the lion's den she went....saw her bounce across the inside and heard a slight scuffle before things settled down...Penny hopped down and went in just before we lost the last bit of pink in the skiy.  Smart girl, wait until the wicked witches settle down.  Piggy used to have to do that with Red...wait until she dozed off before trying to get comfortable herself.

This morning, it began again.  They weren't out for long before Red and Piggy began double teaming Patty.  Biting with a vengence and trying to pluck her shoulder feathers.  I let them try for fifteen minutes before I decided to take Patty and Penny to the garden.  They don't need plucked by the hateful ones!

Before I took them to the coop last night, Penny had laid....WOWSERS!!!  After seeing Red's normal size eggs.. this one looked like a duck egg in comparison.  That's the size eggs I'm looking for!!!  Nice almost round brown egg and fairly hefty.  Piggy should be laying this size by now.  I don't want to disrupt the laying, but I'd really prefer it if they'd lay them in the coop instead of my having to go search every inch of the garden area.  Hubby has said he will build me a shelter nest box for the garden.  But this just so sucks because the coop is plenty large enough for a total of five chickens. I understand that they are just establishing their 'pecking order' but no sense in being viscious!  Barney is just way too small to interfere...all the girls are way bigger than he is. 

New hens...silly dogs

It's just past 3 pm...the temperature is around 86 degrees...whew!  Without the blowing wind we have been having, it's a bit warm. 

Went out to check on the new girls and gave them a bit more feed and some fresh water.  They seem content to be out in the garden for now.  While I was out there I was trying to decide what to call them...have finally found their names....the darkest one with the little flipped comb shall be called "Henny Penny"...the lighter one shall be "Chica Patty"...was so cute watching them as I called these names....Chica Patty came right to me the first time I said the name....Henny Penny perked her head up and looked my was as if to ask "yes, what do you want" when I called that name.  They are supposed to be Rhode Island Reds....guess we shall see.  Judging from their legs, they will be one of the larger breeds...thick yellow legs like Ms Piggy on both.  Ms Red has thinner whitish looking legs, not quite as small as Barney's but nothing like Ms Piggy's.

After checking on the hens and giving everyone water, I came back inside and figured I'd go check the mail.  So I asked the dogs who wanted to go check the mail, just like I do everyday.  Of course everyone starts bouncing and getting excited.  As I opened the door and Mojo and Bear shot out across the yard....I happened to notice the small herd of deer next to the woods.  Hadn't paid any attention when I walked out on the porch, but figured Bear and Mojo were chasing off after squirrels.   Immediately I began to call them back as I watched the spooked deer leaping for the safety of the trees.  About wet my pants as I stood there watching my crazy dogs flying towards the deer, and suddenly seeing Mojo wipe out as he tried to cut back too fast in a different direction.  Bear ran to just inside the treeline before he turned around and came back to the porch.  Mojo came back with one of those "you didn't see that...did you?" looks...as if he was a bit embarrassed by his wipeout.  Since they are not allowed to chase anything but the squirrels, no one got to make the trip out to the mailbox.  Instead, they all got a time out on the porch. Silly dogs...

New hens...fall storms...

At 6 am it was 66 degrees ...the sun had yet to rise.  The overnight low was forecast to drop to 63 degrees, obviously it didn't get quite that low.  The winds have finally calmed.  Sunrise was around 7 am....the sky is clear and sunny...another beautiful day.  Barney the rooster sounded right at 6 am this morning...I actually heard him go off about the same time as the alarm.  The high for today is forecast to be in the mid 80's....really nice weather!   We have had another storm named...TS Kyle is sitting near the Bahamas and is tracking NNW...not expecting any weather from this system, just rough surf along the beaches.  The forecast is calling for this system to be up off the New England coastline by the end of the weekend....another system sitting off the Carolina coastline moved inland and is bringing that area much needed rain.  Two more months til hurricane season ends.

Went over to our friend's last night as Hubby was finishing the mowing for him and I was to pick up two more hens.  Looks like the plan to move has changed for him and he will be staying there a bit longer.  With his work schedule though, he's still thinning out his animals.  Got some nice shots of his gorgeous mixed Narragansett tom Turkey strutting around trying to impress the young Blue Slate Turkey Hen. I'll download the pics from my cellphone later and post them.  Beautiful bird is all I can say.

We caught the hens fairly early in the evening...just before the sun set...and by the time we got them back here to the house it was pitch dark....we got home just at 8 pm.  I went ahead and put them on the roost bar at the opposite end of the coop in the hopes that they would be accepted easier if they all woke up together this morning...HA!  Shows how much I don't know about chickens!  I was up when hubby let them all out of the coop and for a short few minutes it appeared as if they might all get along.  Wasn't long before Ms Red, Ms Piggy and even Barney were chasing, pecking and even spurring towards the new girls.  I hung out long enough to throw a bit of food out in hopes they would settle down....not to be.  The new girls were being jumped by the others, keeping their little heads stuck way too far through the fence.  I went back inside, caught them both and took them to the garden.  Both seem much happier there.  The others have been hanging at the fence and on the roost pole so they can see what the new ones are up to out in the garden.  Brats!  Figure I'll take them back to the coop tonight and we'll try again tomorrow to see if the others are willing to share their space...guess this could take some time for them all to adjust to each other.  Makes me glad the garden area is still covered with the shade cloth.  We'll just be moving them back and forth until they can all get along.  The two new girls are roughly Ms Piggy's size already...not sure of their exact age, but they are under a year....they were pullets when they were bought several months ago.  Both are laying and from what I've seen...they are dark brown eggs for the most part.

Didn't manage to get much accomplished yesterday around the house.  So much I want to do and then I'm distracted by something else.  I'd make a list, but of course one must actually LOOK at the list in order to complete the items on said list....seems I tend to make it a point NOT to look at any list I make....wasted effort there.

Mowing is done...mountain colors on my mind...

We got the yard mowed yesterday afternoon. Hubby fired up the tractor and mowed the back pasture area, I hopped on the rider and cut the front and back yards. The new float sure did help!! I cut the entire 'house yard' on only one tank of gas! Thats just at 2 acres...usually it takes a tank and a half with that mower. I'm impressed!

The day remained gorgeous although quite hot...temperature hit 90 by the time we were in the middle of mowing. After all those weeks of standing water, I did discover why we 'smell' the mold in different areas... As I was mowing, I noticed some of the areas where the water stood the longest had a milky white growth right at dirt level....yup! That's good old mold forming under the tops of the weeds and grass, hidden a bit by the pinestraw. All the sun on these areas sure did allow the mold to begin. I'm hoping now that the grass has been cut, the mold will dry out and disappear. One of the articles I was reading over the weekend in the paper was about the state Ag dept's concern for the livestock in the flooded areas...had to do with the grass being destroyed by the floodwaters and the possibility of it not coming back and being 'soured' if it did return, which would make it inedible for the cows. Do we really need any more BAD news regarding the effects of the flooding? I'm sure those who raise livestock for a living have already considered these things....and people think farming is so easy. Guess it is if you don't mind watching your hard work float away, along with your bank account. Just trying to keep a few vegetables for our own table has reduced me to tears this year. Must not have the 'farm' gene...can't handle what nature throws my way when it decides to destroy my little patch.

Talked to hubby about wanting to head up to the mountain in October for the fall color...its been years since I've been truly homesick for the mountains in the fall, but this has been an exceptional year all around. I feel the need to see the brilliant blaze of color on the mountains....I'm really tired of 'green'. He is saying ok and working on the van so it can be used instead of my little Dakota. Makes me nervous taking the van as we haven't really had it out on a long roadtrip...just be making sure my AAA card is in my possession and paid up! The cost for fuel is going to be higher in the van as well since it gets less per mile.

Spots...

Another cool start to what promises to be another beautiful day...the early temperature at 8 am was right around 75 degrees. The humidity is low at the moment and the air feels nice.

As I went out the back door this morning to let the chickens out, Mojo of course went with me, there was a Doe and young spotted fawn right off the back porch...Mojo started after them, and I hollered 'NO'...he stopped and came to where I was...the two deer stopped just on the inside of the pasture fence and just stared at us. I went ahead and let the chickens out, Mojo found a squirrel to chase out front while I was in the chicken pen. By the time I was ready to head back inside, the deer had wandered on. Just thought it was pretty cool that when I said no, Mojo obeyed and the deer stayed. They are beginning to get their dark fall coloring now.

Was thinking the other day after reading Flowerfreak's blog, I haven't seen the Turkeys lately. Usually, we have a flock of probably two dozen or so that hang in the neighborhood. I haven't noticed them being around since we started getting all the rain and standing water. Hope they are ok, there were still a couple of young ones a month or so ago...seems like an eternity since we started dealing with all the water.

Hubby got the parts for the mower, it fired right up when he was done. Too bad it was almost dark...looks like I'll be mowing today instead.

Beautiful day for an Anniversary...

Today has started with low humidity, cool morning air...temp at 8am was a pleasant 76 degrees. The sky is bright blue with high puffy clouds...looks very summery around here this morning....too bad its moving towards Fall...LOL

As of noon, the temperature has risen to about 85 and the humidity has also risen...ugghhh, just when I thought it might begin to get tolerable. A/C is back to cranking, trying to keep the house at 80 degrees as the sun bakes outside.

Its hard to believe that today is my son's 12th wedding anniversary...seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with him... They got married on Friday September 13th at the 13th hour (1pm)...thought it was pretty cool as we have such a thing for the 13th. Hubby and I will celebrate our 12th year of marriage in Dec...we will celebrate 17 years of togetherness Monday September 15th...the anniversary of our first date. Since we've been together since our very first date it only seems right to celebrate that date also....hubby actually mentioned it the other day about us having an anniversary coming up....he can be sweet when he chooses.

With the dryer weather forecast I'm hoping we can get some of the mowing finished this weekend. Hubby has most of the back pasture finished and we should have the parts for the mower sometime today...they were supposed to be in yesterday. Maybe now that he's located the longer hose for the pressure washer we will be able to get the roof ready for the sealer. According to the directions on the sealer, the temps need to be above 70 degrees (got that and then some) and there can be no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours (looks like we got that)...I'm hoping to at least get the sealer applied by the end of the weekend...sigh...now if I can just get him on the same page. He's out and about this morning with a friend, hunting parts at the local U-pull-it place...they seem to go about once a month. I don't mind going, but not with all of us jammed in the truck...not in this heat.

Looks like IKE has really knocked Texas around from the news reports...my girlfriend's son and DIL are in Houston...he works for Exxon...I gave her a call earlier and she said they did not evacuate as of last night...so far, she hasn't heard from them today...figures she'll hear from them later as the storm passes through. Hope they and everyone else in that area are safe.

The way this storm is forecast to track, it looks like everyone is going to be 'enjoying' the rains, all the way back to the northeast coast! Heard one of the weathercasters saying western NY could be seeing the rains from this around Monday or Tuesday....this is one storm that has sure slapped everyone!

Headaches and jumping coffee cups

Its just past 10 am...beautiful blue sky, big puffy clouds, sunshine and about 84 degrees. The humidity is still steamy.

Woke this morning with a sinus headache...cheekbones, ears, eyes and straight down the back of my neck...uggghhh...should have stayed in bed. Haven't had many of these type headaches lately...usually when the seasons begin to change or when I'm having to run the heat....dry air tends to set off a major sinus attack. Hmmm, wonder if it has anything to do with being in the A/C so much lately...never used to bother me. Ah well, just deal with it and move on....I'll just go back to bed if it doesn't ease off soon.

Managed to break my favorite coffee cup last night...my pretty blue one that had the little guy sitting at his desk asking "Is it Friday yet?"...bought that one my first year as office manager, just over ten years ago. Has been my favorite ever since....was the one I used at work too.

Figures it would 'jump' off the drainer...I had already moved it once as it was sitting rather precariously close to the edge earlier. While I was starting supper, I must have disturbed it when I picked a skillet from the drainer...CRASH!!! It bounced and broke as it hit the ceramic tile in front of the stove...and of course I was barefoot!! Hubby just happened to be close by as it flew off the drainer and crashed...shocked him as much as me I think. Fortunately, it didn't shatter, just broke into several pieces...I think I only picked up maybe three little chips after tossing the big pieces. Guess I'll be hunting a 'new' favorite from my other cups now.

Hubby fired the tractor up last night and started mowing out in the pasture area...it was close to dark when he decided to do this...when he came in he said the tractor was mowing lopsided...seems one of the tractor tires is extremely low...not flat, just almost. I didn't realize he had parked it dead in the middle of the yard when he shut it off....noticed that this morning...its sitting directly behind the house. Thought about going out and doing the rest of the yard myself, but the air compressor is on his truck, which is at the shop. I don't think the little boost box compressor is adequate for those tires...we've used it on them before, but it takes forever and in this heat, that ain't happening. The idea of mowing really makes my head pound right now.

I haven't heard from my DIL as yet...the whole thing still has me ready to beat someone bloody. This kid is my oldest grandchild...and while I know we aren't supposed to have favorites, this one has been special to me since his birth. We bonded immediately and I love him as if he was my own child...he is in a sense. I love his little brother too, I just don't have the same connection with the younger one. Strange how things work sometimes.

Yard chores waiting and an upset Nana...

This day has dragged...on and on....its only about 2:20 pm...

Currently, it is cloudy and about 88 degrees...with the ever present steamy humidity. I've wandered outside several times already, checking the mail, feeding and watering the chickens, checking for eggs and just feeling entirely overwhelmed by the outside chores that are beginning to get way behind due to all the standing water we've had. Finally, the water has disappeared, the ground is beginning to feel firmer and I'm not sinking up to my ankles every time I walk off the paths. Just noticed that the 'pools' are gone at the pasture entrances and the huge pond by the playset is also gone. The front 'pond' has left its' big bare spot as it was under water for at least two weeks.

The rest of the yard is looking so shabby...weeds and grass are mid-calf on me...a veritable snake haven in most places. Even behind the chicken coop is being reclaimed by the Wedalia and weeds....it was cleared back to the trees. SIGH...since hubby says the float has developed a leak in the rider carburetor, looks like we will be firing up the weedeaters to knock things back a bit until the mower is fixed....joy....means most of the yard will continue to look crappy for a bit.

My mood has mellowed quite a bit since my rant and rage yesterday. I'm still wound pretty tight over the situation and if its a repeat of last week with the paycheck, it sure isn't gonna be pretty tomorrow night.

Was reading my DIL's blog a bit ago and it seems she's having issues with someone being physically and emotionally abusive to my oldest grandson...the one with autism....

GRRRRR...don't make NANA have to come kick butt!! The way she's written, it seems as its a family member and a friend who are mistreating him. Again, it won't be pretty if Nana has to make travel arrangements north right now....first off, I can't afford to, and second, by the time I get there, I'll be ready to face jail time over my grandson...you DON'T mess with my kids!! I'm hoping to hear from her later.