Busy is as busy does!

My youngest son Jer, came to visit this weekend. He didn't have his other children so he and Mari came to see me. 

We spent the first part of his visit moving a deer stand and dismantling part of it. I wanted a view from the 'campground' in the forest that was only about 8 feet off the ground. On these cool mornings, the deer will come out in the meadow that is east of us. I like to sit there with my long lens and 'deer watch' in the hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise.

Over the years, I've gotten lucky and have been able to catch a few nice photos of deer. If I don't get the shots, it will still be a neat place to observe mornings and evenings.

Two years ago [not on a deer stand] but standing on the ground:

We finished that project and we went to Wild West Days in Viroqua. Years ago, they built an 'old' Western town across from the Fairgrounds. For 20 years on the second weekend in August they fill the buildings with vendors who dress up in period clothing. 

There are fake shoot outs and fun activities for kids.

On the other half of the WWD's grounds, they have rodeos and horse competitions. Barrels, poles, pig wrestling, cattle sorting, roping, and so forth.

The weekend event draws huge crowds and quite a few tourists to town. This past Saturday they had the Farmer's Market, Wild West Days, and live bands playing on a street that is closed off for people to gather and dance.

The grounds are also leased out for other events including a 'Christmas Town' with the western town all decked out in Christmas lights and vendors in all the shops.

There are also horse shows and competitions on the rodeo grounds at other times of the year.

Viroqua was a 'dying  town when I moved to the area. It is hoppin' now.

Mari got a ride on a mini donkey and a cart ride too. She was infatuated with the donkeys.

This couple with the donkeys were so patient and sweet with the children that came to see them. 

We talked about donkeys of course since I've raised them and have always admired them.

We came back home to chill out for a bit and eat an early supper. I had saved a little Lego project for when kids visited. Mari dove right in to it and actually did a great job at following the directions. She needed help once in a while. It kept her busy.

Towards evening, we headed out to the 'campground'. We used the 4 wheeler and cart to bring out the camp cot and sandwiches along with refreshments.

We enjoyed hanging out at the campfire and chatting about nothing and everything.

The camp cot proved very useful. Hannah slept with Mari and Charlie took his place on my lap.

 

We left the camp around midnight and tumbled into bed. Everyone but Hannah slept in. As soon as there is a hint of light outside, she lets me know that she'd like breakfast.

Sunday was another whirlwind of sorts.

Below is the view of the meadow/old pasture that is south of the house. I had contracted Patrick who did forest mulching for me this spring, to brush hog the pastures for me twice a year to keep weeds down.

He came on Sunday afternoon.

It makes a huge difference and it helps me keep down the burdock. These pastures 10 years ago were filled with donkeys, horses, and mules who kept everything grazed down. We fed hay almost all year long back then.

Now that I have just a couple of grazers, I have to do something different.

15 years ago, this area looked like this:

This section will be the winter pasture with rotation in the summer to the other two decent areas I have.

Remember the busted up garage? I have a time for demolition! Frank was supposed to get back to me and I'd called him weeks ago for an estimate. He never got back to me. Patrick does only this sort of work for a living.

I'm giving him the job. The other old pasture areas out front will be smoothed out and seeded down so that I can mow it with my mower. It adds work, but I feel that it also will add value to the place to have it looking tidy and not weedy.

Progress is slow, but things are shaping up. Remember this spot?

It looks much nicer now.

Progress is slow but coming along.

Last but not least. I decided to move this tractor tire to get ready to finish off this last bit of cleanup near the large machine shed.

We drug the tire with the 4 wheeler over to an old truck bed that is on the ground. I should have known, I should have looked more.
I lifted an old water tank and shoved it onto the old bed as my son said, "Mom, are you sure there are no evil critters under there?"

I gave the tank another shove and gave him a look. He hollered "Ground Bees!"

As I felt the worst hot poker sting in my ankle. Literally, a sting by a ground bee feels like what I imagine getting shot and zapped at the same time. We ran. Thankfully, I was the only one that got nailed.

I grabbed an ice pack and sat on the kitchen floor. What an idiot! The pain was immense, it felt like I'd broken the ankle. [I didn't]

A neighbor brought me Benadryl later on.  The Benadryl knocked me out for the night by 8pm.

I went out at dawn and sprayed their nest. I won't mow in that area now for a few weeks either because the ground bees will be done. I'll let them be if they survive the spray. 

But dang, it was a fun weekend and so much got done!

The ankle is red, swollen, and horribly itchy this morning. Back to the ice packs! I may take another Benadryl and read a book this morning until the dew dries off the grasses.

One day at a time. One step at a time. I'm thinking that the bees just may have given me a part of the day off. 

It seems like a beautiful morning to have a cuppa coffee and read a book after I take the doggos for their morning walk.

Work work work

 Patrick promised he'd be back and fix the side yard.
And he did show up!

This is how I have been 'mowing' it for 10 years now. 

I tried using a push mower and a weed whacker. 

I tied Little Richard out there and also moved him around. For the past 10 years since the house was remodeled, this area has always been rough and full of huge high and low spots.

Basically, when construction was done some dude [husband] pushed all the sand and dirt around to the west side of the house and called it good.

That pile of stuff below next to the old house? That got pushed into the side yard and never properly graded. 

[Rich had a stroke that next spring when we were going to get that done]

Just for reference, the picture after contstruction was completed.

Finally...

The side yard mess is leveled off matted and seeded. 👇👇👇

Yes, it cost me about $$$$ to get it done, but dang, I don't have to weed whack, and kill myself mowing, fencing, and putting animals on the yard to keep the place looking somewhat like a yard!

Color me happy!

For reference the photo with the mules and this one both have the same stump in it. 
I can't wait for the grass to come in and the yard to reappear.

Patrick's magic machine.

Patrick then brush hogged the pastures to keep down the weeds and tidy things up. A regular mower cannot handle this land, it is crooked, dippy with divots, and rocks that would kill any rider in about 20 minutes.

Hiring someone with equipment is less expensive than constant mower repairs.

If Rich had stayed in good health, we were going to get a brush hog attachment like this for his skid steer. By the time we priced it, he was no longer able to get in and and out of his skid steer so it was a no-go.

Patrick will repeat this job in August to help me fight the weeds.

Now I have too much pasture. Crazy, right? 

[Because this doesn't include the meadow out back.]

Don the Junk Dude came out and picked up a pretty heavy load of stuff. I have to move the tractor tire and move the old wooden posts yet. Then everything in front of the machine shed will be cleaned up except for the T-posts.

At some point I'll move them into the now...cleaner shed and stack them.

Here is a shot of Don's trailer full of heavy stuff leaving the property. I can see what they were doing with the security cameras. 

Strange world we live in right?

We start with the top left shot being the day before Don and his brother came. The right hand shot was after them coming for a month.

And now....

I'm going to throw cosmos in the dirt next to the door. 

The tub has marigolds coming up in it. I may as well toss extra harvested seeds from last year into the bare spots of dirt where metal used to live and see what happens.

The cord is for the fencer on the back of the busted garage. I need to move the fencer. So many things to take care of!

The Garage. 

After the storm in June 2015:

The Garage mess is ugly but so far I am beyond pleased with the progress I have made this spring.

I've decided the structure is too dangerous now for anyone to even try to go in. I'm going to call Frank and tell him I'm ready for him to come and give me an estimate to clean it up.

It is demolition time.

I know it will cost, but I have budgeted for it.

I've always considered it an eyesore after the trees fell on it. But my husband assured me that he would take care of it himself. Perhaps it was just too huge of a project for him to tackle. 

I'm glad in a way that he left it for me. 

Less angst and stress about the cleanup.

And that is it for this week's contracted work.

I do want to look back at what I went through to clean this area up. It was often a sore point in our relationship. I like a tidy place. He did too, but he also liked his 'stuff'.

Below is one of my favorite photos of hubby during our construction. He was supervising the guys working in the basement part of the addition. His stance sums up his character. 

Geeze, I miss him!

That look !!! 

Who can argue with this guy???