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.

Van work, Ants and muscle spasms...Oh My!

My day is starting slowly...was up by 6:30 am to spend a few minutes with hubby before he left for work. The air was almost chilly, the temp was hovering right at 75 degrees...amazing that I felt cool at that temp! I turned the fans on before the sun began to show through the trees...maybe it will stay nice like this the rest of the day. I think we are forecast to reach the low to mid 80's today. The lack of humidity in the air is most welcome....although as the sun bakes this swamp I call home, the steam factor will be felt.



Thanks to DJ at Heirloom Gardens, I've found a possible answer to the fire ant issue....besides setting the yard on fire. Her suggestion to Google Fire ants and Molasses was super! Found loads of information about using molasses to get rid of them pesky varmits....my only dilemma at this point...I love molasses myself...do I really want to give up this sticky sweet substance to those sorry ants?? My answer at this point, YES!!

After hubby came in for the evening and got all showered, we were sitting on the sofa and I noticed several 'ant blisters' on his heel...then his ankle...the top of his foot and even his toes...both feet!! I counted at least two dozen of these blisters last night...he said he got them standing on the front walk when one of the neighbors was down the other night. I ended up with three myself last night sitting out next to the walk while he was working on the van. This morning I felt something crawling on my leg and danged if it wasn't a sorry little ant...I was in the house sitting in my chair. GGGRRRR....They have got to go!!

The van is back together now....new shocks front and back, new exhaust system and the tires got rotated....no wonder his back and neck was spasming last night! He's been working on this for what, three or four days now? In addition, he's having to do 'grunt' work on his job....they are demolishing one of the schools and there's quite a bit of metal that has to be dealt with. His actual job is driver, not laborer. Took a pain pill and a muscle relaxer to help him get comfortable enough to sleep! This morning, he was still quite sore and catchy...but, he went on to work as usual. That reminds me....I need to have him call the neurologist and get him to write him another prescription for the pain meds...and the muscle relaxers. He's managed to make the last script stretch since Dec of 2005! Since he doesn't take them very often, there shouldn't be a problem getting this refilled by the Dr. He just hates to take meds and rarely takes any type of pill period. His pain, not mine! Me, I'd be on the phone begging for a refill...especially knowing the type of pain he's experiencing. SIGH...guess that's the price we pay for trying to deal with whatever life throws our way...work through the pain as long as possible and when that's as far as you can go, beg for pain meds to help you continue working longer.

Off and running to the bank to make the deposit I couldn't make yesterday and then a quick trip to the drug store on the way home to pick up another bottle of Advils...at least they take the edge off his pain and help keep my own aches and stiffness under control. Figures we'd be out of Advils and aspirin at the same time...that's a first! I always have some type of anti-inflammatory around.

So-so Sunday, Back to the Swamp

The day has gone so-so. Early in the day, the air was cool and the sky was sunny. As the day began, we had more rain...but the sun was still shining...the rain only lasted about fifteen minutes or so....this time. The early temperature was about 75 degrees...by late afternoon it was around 88 degrees.

Hubby was in and out trying to finish up the van...he managed to get the exhaust reattached...and then it rained before he could get it welded. After waiting for the rain to stop and things to somewhat dry out, he headed back outside once more. At this point, I should probably mention, he's also replacing the shocks, front and back.

The exhaust in place, he began welding the seams. Once he was satisfied with how it was hanging, he moved on to the shocks. OOPS... Mental note: For future exhaust replacements...Tack weld first and make sure all parts are in place (other parts, like shocks). Seems the new exhaust has a larger diameter pipe, and the new shocks are also heavier...translation...larger. As he's putting the shock in place he hits a snag...the shock is not going to clear the exhaust pipe. We spent until sundown/dusk working on bending the pipe. Slow process as he didn't want to grind the welds off to move the pipe....instead, he found the 'popper torch' and used it to heat the pipe and then beat it with a hammer. SSLLOOWW process. The shock still isn't in place and the van is still up on jacks and blocks.

On the up side...I will have my Dakota to drive while the van is down.

All the standing water has really put a hitch in what I wanted to accomplish this weekend. I can't get near the burn pit without wading boots and its the same for heading any place in the yard. I was wanting to fire up the smoker grill and finish off a fresh pork roast so it had the nice smokey flavor. Not to be, as the wood is impossible to get to due to the water. Even the garden and chicken yard are both soggy. I've got trim work to finish with the weedeater and there's a bit more mowing I was needing to complete. The river is in the back pasture again and the swamp is flowing around the house once more....looks like it could be a bit before I'm going to be able to mow again.

The water almost put a stop to the work on the van. Hubby's stick welder is out back...sits in it's own little enclosed trailer. He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to get to it because of the water. I suggested he use the little MIG welder that we bought several years ago...its in the shed....DUH!! Its perfect for this job...afterwards, he said he was glad he used the MIG because he didn't think he would have been able to get the stick to weld as nice. Well, imagine that! It's this type of work that this welder was purchased for....silly man.

Its raining again....so ends a so-so Sunday...now...back to the swamp....

Another one bites the dust...grrrr

Looks like we are finally approaching Fall type weather...the temperature today is only forecast for the upper 80's!!...currently we are under sunny skies with a nice comfortable 77 degrees. It actually feels cool this morning!

I believe our refrigerator has died...after seeing the ice chunks drop through the door yesterday afternoon, I didn't really pay much attention...til hubby got home....CRAP!! I went to make tea and my ice container was full of water, the things in the freezer had thawed...SIGH...guess its just as well I DIDN'T go to the store yesterday...I would have been really upset.

As it happens, I am still very annoyed by the crash of the refrigerator....its only ten years old. Darn appliances should NOT have to be replaced constantly. I could call the landlord and let him know we now require a refrigerator, but at the same time, I just don't feel like dealing with him. Figure I'm not going to give him any reason at all to try and jerk my chain over this property. So, we shall probably end up going and buying another one....all the appliances here are mine anyway. Just really hate to do that since we were discussing what we wanted for the mountain...I'd like to get one that will run on electric OR propane. Like the ones in campers.

Couldn't calm down at all once I discovered the fridge on the fritz...we unplugged it for a bit...I even took the vacuum and swept under it around the coils...the compressor was really hot...figures, its gonna be the main component...plugged it back in and turned it back on about three hours later and let it run through the night. No Luck! Got up this morning and still barely a bit of cool inside the freezer.

Should I try the repair guy or just bite the bullet and go find a new one? I'm leaning towards a new one...compressor motors are expensive...

Labor Day around the house

After a very blah beginning to our Labor day weekend, hubby had to work on Saturday...Sunday was wet and dreary...we finally managed to accomplish something around the house.

During the pounding rains of Tropical Storm Fay, we discovered the roof had developed a leak in the living room area. Hubby has patched a few spots previously and although we have the sealer for the entire roof, the directions say there can be NO rain. He found the spot and says the entire roof is beginning to show deterioration....great, just what we need....come on plans for the mountain...

At the moment, he is on the roof with the patching caulk going over the weak areas....with all the storms heading our direction, we might as well do what we can to keep it from getting worse. The entire place is beginning to need massive repairs...flooring issues and now the roof, as well as some of the interior walls are needing attention. I'd be willing to bet that this place took a pretty big hit in 2004 when the storms came through...

A friend called earlier to let us know he has spotted a couple of camper trailers down near the shop where Hubby works...both for sale at a reasonable price it sounds...we need to make a run out and take a look.

At this point, I'm ready to make a change...been giving some thought to seeing if Hubby wants to plan a short trip to the mountain in October...I'm craving some Fall color and crisp air....