What a great visit!

 

Night out on the rock.
Dennis and I went up on Black Hawk rock to watch the sun set. While we were up there, we noticed storms moving in from the west and north.

July 4th morning was hot and humid but our CrossFit gang met up at the track to do the Loredo WOD in honor of Edwardo Loredo.

6 rounds of

24 air squats
24 push ups
24 walking lunges

400meters run

for time....

This is Dennis and I before we started. Our gym folks are always so open and welcoming. One of the coaches had her youngsters with her. 

This is two of the girls doing the running part on the track. I'm running with one of the girls who is doing the workout in her new cowboy boots.

I had told Dennis before we started, that this was a tough cardio work out and it was warm and humid. There was no shame in walking the 400 meters. Many did, just to keep from getting overheated.

Hard to do when a 6 year old passes you by wearing cowboy boots!

We gathered for a group photo afterwards.

Dennis said he loved it even though he wasn't able to finish it. He went out too hard and fast and used up all he had on the first few rounds. 

Our coach who owns the gym sat with Dennis and they talked about body building and cardio benefits. Josh is an amazing fellow. Dennis felt a bit defeated by not finishing. He and Josh had a heart to heart and Dennis felt nothing but positive vibes with this experience. 

Later in the day, Dennis learned how to drive the 4 wheeler and volunteered to do chores.

He discovered that Charlie wouldn't let him go anywhere without his supervision!

He spent a lot of time with Grandpa Rich even though hubby wasn't feeling well. He even convinced him to put on his Mule Kicker hat and have a 'set' on the porch for some photos.

And of course, there was time to stretch out in the cool air inside...

...with a bit of giggling.
However, Charlie was very serious about taking a nap!

Dennis took me to Viroqua to see the 4th of July Fireworks. He knew of the best place to park and put out lawn chairs from all the years that he'd gone as a kid with his Great Grandmother and folks.

We sat down and enjoyed ice cream sundaes. 

And watched the show...

Before leaving to go back home, Dennis and Charlie had to have some quiet time together.

I'm going to miss my Chauffer and chore master!

Dennis didn't seem too anxious to leave and vowed that he'd come back for more adventures.

It was his first solo trip to Grandpa and Grandma's house and he loved it.

He is a very considerate young man with a lot of empathy for others. He said he really hoped his visit lifted his Grandpa's spirits even if he wasn't feeling the greatest.

And yes, it did!

[As it did mine!]

Tools I can use...

Hubby is such a nice guy. He thought that I should learn to use a saw as in chain saw. I told him that I'd cut my leg off easily and that I couldn't stand the noise.

Besides, big trees should be left to people with skill and knowledge. We agreed at least on that. So I saw this thing and asked him what he thought about it.

It is a mini saw that is battery operated.

It was a version of this:

After my hand sawing debacle he thought if I had a better tool, I wouldn't be tugging on branches to break them. I could saw through them.

So I got this---->

After a lot of instruction on how to safely use this tool..... 

I got my first assignment from the Boss. Clear out lower branches where he mows so he didn't have to duck or get slapped in the face with leaves.

Years ago when he downed trees, he'd have me hook up the logging chain so he could use the tractor to pull the logs and heavy stuff to another area for cutting up. I decided to use a rope and attach it to the the 4 wheeler. Then I dragged the whole works to a brush pile I can burn this winter [if we ever get moisture again!].

In the summer pasture the snow had damaged several box elders so that their branches hung so low that the mules couldn't get under them to eat the grass. I decided to see how the little saw really worked on a hard job.

The yellow area is where all the branches were hanging to the ground covering up the grass.

I was really amazed at how fast and easy this job was. Much better than a hand saw. I won't be doing big jobs, but for cleaning big branches off the fence, it will be incredible.

I have a lot to pick up and drag.

The next job is to make sure the forest fence is up to snuff. I was going to avoid it this year but without rain, our pastures are looking sickly and perhaps the gals will enjoy foraging on the steep hillside. 

I've tried feeding them hay and they leave it be, so they are getting enough out there in the woods.

Hubby then came up with another fine idea. He thought I'd like a nice battery trimmer that has blades that will whack up those pesky weeds in the other sections of forest and meadows. The ones I've always had to take the scythe or machete to in past years.

Swinging a scythe or running a 3.5 lb electric trimmer? I think I'll go for the trimmer and see what happens.

If nothing else, it will give me great satisfaction to cut down noxious weeds easily.

Look out you nettles and thistles! Watch out curly dock! I'm coming for you!

Craaaazzzy!

Photos above. Rich moving waste from Sven's pen and smoothing a path out in the Winter Pasture.

I attached a milk crate on the front of the 4 wheeler and set Charlie in it. He likes to ride there and supervise while I am hauling stuff with the 4 wheeler. I GO super slow with him on board. It is better that he ride there than scrambling around on my lap.

Spring is such a busy time of the year. Everyone is catching up with yard work or planting flowers or a garden.

Mowing the grass is a fun change over plowing and shoveling.

Mornings are glorious and the weather keeps changing so we are kept on our toes.

Most early mornings find me wandering up the road checking out the trees and brush leafing out. I'm still trying to figure out which bush is what. I may be getting a handle on a few trees also. I'm taking a lot of photos, but just leaving them in a file to look at later...

I've been morel hunting without great success but I've found enough to give us a taste. I scored some Golden Oyster Mushrooms and may dry them for soups later. 

Deep Woods Morel
Hunting with chaps on to protect

my legs:

Morels are getting hard to spot if they are small:

The neighbor's woods are 

becoming overgrown with Garlic

Mustard!

Golden Oyster Mushroom

I found yet another newborn fawn while hiking. I just get all mushy inside when I find them. They are beyond adorable.

I am ditching the idea of raising a garden. But I am cobbling together a container garden and dropping it in a section of the yard that is too hard to mow. 

It was never really smoothed out after they made a mess while remodeling the house. Each year I ask to hire someone to come in and re grade it or at least fill the bumps and lumps in to make it a nice section of yard. Each year HE says NO, he'll do it. 

Creative gardening can really help. Years ago there was a huge mess of stumps, rocks, and weeds alongside the little Red Shed. I asked if I could re-purpose it into a shade garden. HE said yes. The garden is pictured below. The area around it is very hard to mow, but I'm working on it!

I'm still not sure what to do with my 'containers'. But I placed them here on the west side of the house and then decided that I want the works to be place on the bumpy place which gets a lot of sun but has nothing but lumpy bumpy sand and clay from the construction on it. 

I plan on putting tomatoes in one or two containers and then filling the pallets with dirt and tossing in wildflower mixes along with sunflowers. Basically just toss in the seeds and see what craziness occurs.

The green container is an old mineral lick tub, I may add a second one. The others are washtubs and the buckets are from Rich's Grandfather's farm. They were used in gathering maple syrup.

I know it is ugly, but with the price of wood or even the price of containers for raised beds being what they are, who really cares??? I think I'll go out and see what goodies our old farm has. 

I even found wagon wheels in the Red Shed! Hmmmm!  I love new projects. I never sit down and draw it out, I just get the pieces and experiment. 

This morning I have a Mobility and Flexibilty Class. I like it a lot since I am constantly on the move and need to keep up my mobility, flexibility, and balance. After all...I wouldn't be able to do what I do if I just sat in a chair and watched TV.

From last week's hike. Photo by Wild Bill:

 Have a grrrreat Saturday.

Catching up

Monday was my day for a lesson in how to administer a shot with the Osteoporosis medicine. 

First, let me say that the very idea of giving myself a shot daily was really not my idea of any kind of fun. I used to be deathly afraid of needles, but bearing children cured me of that.

So onward I bravely went to my appointment. Just about when I got there my Tire Pressure thingy went off with a little ding. I read the pressure on the tires and was alarmed to see 9 pounds difference in my front tires. 

Compound the stress of thinking about a shot and having to park in an underground garage that reminded me of all those movies ... where either a monster comes out or guys with blazing guns blow stuff up. Ewww.

My tire looked a bit low. So I decided that after the appointment I'd drive the half mile over to the dealer and get it looked at.

The nurses asked if I was nervous and I said "Not as nervous as I am regarding the low tire pressure!" 

The needle is so tiny! It is a micro needle and the hardest part of the whole thing was using the alcohol swab to clean my tummy. 

I left the dark, scary underground garage and pulled into the dealership. The service guy was nice and explained that there would be a wait for the lift. Next he told me [an hour later after watching the Drew Barrymore show 👎 ] that I had a faulty Tire Valve. In fact all of them were faulty but not bad. 

I smiled and asked him if it was the same valves as we replaced about 6 months ago. 

That through him for a loop. But I have to give the kid credit. He was polite and took care of replacing the faulty leaky one right away. I told him my appointment for 36K miles was next Monday and we'd address all the issues with the TPM system. 

I had to stop at the grocery store to pick up some pizza and milk on the way home. 
Jeeze. Don't you know it? Someone bumped into my front right bumper and bent the heavy rubber plastic around the fog light. 

Smacking forehead...

Tuesday was so bright and full of sunshine, but cold. I had to finish cleaning up the indoor pony pen and eeeks...drive the skid steer with its bucket full and dump it!

I braved that and then decided to get the old 4 wheeler out of winter storage. I put in the battery and got the old bird started. I noted that the front tires were soft.

I got out the Air Stick Thingy and tested the tires! No pressure! I got it to the Air Filler Up Thingy ... lo and behold. I got the tires filled correctly.

There was no stopping me now! It is pictured below just before I washed it. I filled the cart up twice with sticks and branches from the yard and drove it out to my brush piles.

I looked around at finding a UTV and I decided to forget it. I could replace my Subaru Outback for the cost of one right now and everywhere I looked the used ones were very pricey and new ones were all on back order.

After we were done with the yard work, I unhooked the cart and took Charlie for a nice little ride out back and around. He loves riding the 4 Wheeler. We go slow and enjoy ourselves.

Our CrossFit gym is doing a special summer class for Mobility and Balance. I sent off a message to get information on it. I do much better with daily exercise if I am with others. I do fine hiking on my own, but social exercise is a bonus for me.

Tires and engines. I really don't like them very much. But I feel that I accomplished a lot by driving the skid steer and getting the 4 wheeler ready for spring. Next up? I suppose the rider mower? EEEEKS!

Garden Garden

I do have a small veggie garden. Here is a photo of it this spring. We cut the size way down from all the past years to about half. 

What you are seeing below is the area we use for a garden. On two sides it has hot wire for the mule's pasture. The red gates are what we call a 'catch' pen. Mules are sorted there for riding or trimming. When I pick one, they all want to come.

Out in the field is a round bale feeder from the days of long ago. I still use it to put hay in during the winter to keep them from trampling on it in muddy or damp weather.

The tree line in back is my upper neighbor's pasture for her goats. Notice! NO weeds!

This photo is also just before Justin came to till the garden. 

After tilling. I planted squash, cukes, some odd flowers, and corn very late. A huge concern was the heat and dry June we were having.

July 3rd

So I'd done some watering in the evening and wrung my hands. This corn was NOT knee high by the 4th of July. To the left of the garden, I keep trimming the weeds with a scythe.

July 13th. I have free range tomatoes coming up from last year. We have had rain here and there to the tune of 3 inches at a time. 

July 22

Believe it or not, the yard was just mowed a few days ago here. Yuck, looks like I have to do this by hand today. Siera is the mule in the field. 

The corn is much taller and we have hopes for sweet corn! The cukes are just budding and so are the squash.

I had squash last year, lots of them. So many that some began to turn and I had to toss them. I rolled those mushy ones out into the pasture where about 10 plants are flowering. So, I will have more than one kind of squash.

Here is the north of our house. Nice and tidy looking. The 4 wheeler is my trash hauler, weed hauler, and fence supply hauler.

Here is the part I usually don't let anyone see. The ugly crushed garage and... piles of projects that 'were' going to get done. In the weeds rests a camper that someone was 'gonna' take apart and recycle and take the stove out and put it ... um, somewhere. It simply has sat in the weeds for many years. The garage was to be torn down and he was 'gonna' salvage 'stuff' that was in there.  

To me, it is nothing but a huge eyesore and I have looked into hiring someone to come and tear it down to the foundation and clean the area up.

There is a nice concrete pad under the garage that would make a great spot to set a tiny building on as a studio or summer guest room.

The Boss keeps telling me he will 'get to this' pretty soon. 10 years later? 

So I create my own pretty spaces where I can enjoy color and beauty and ignore the ugly as I can do nothing about it without causing a huge problem. 

My house is my castle and so are my little gardens. 
Next year, I will go back to having sunflowers a gazillion zinnias, and cosmos. I just need places to put them!

I do love gardening. I love creating pretty spaces.

Oh!

I'll catch up on the Forest Garden aka by the kids as the Secret Garden later.