A bit of the week

This has been a week.

One of the scrapper dudes showed up without calling. The 'security' cameras alerted me while I was making coffee.

Generally the dogs hear anything coming or going in the driveway. They missed Jim's quiet old truck.

I went out and talked with him for a bit and asked that I get notified before anyone shows up please.

Jim is super nice and quiet mannered [not at all like his fast talking brother]. He worked in the crushed garage seen in the shot below. He neatly stacked a bunch of fencing supplies in some bins and placed them outside by the driveway while he sorted items to take.

Below... frontal shot of the crushed garage. 
Soon to be torn down finally!

He then asked if he could pick up the aluminum cans that were piled next to the little shed. 

[Note: Rich piled them there years ago with the intent that he...and only HE could take them to be recycled! 
I picked my battles with him over the years and his 'stuff' was hands off otherwise there was a war.]

Jim picked up ALL of the cans by hand. He worked quietly. I don't mind him being around really. 

Here is a screen shot of Jim leaving with his goodies. I'm quite grateful for his persistence in a really grubby job.

We had some amazing skies this past week, we've had 3 nights of frost. I had to cover my petunias on the porch and some of the young plants that had reseeded themselves. 

Hurray hurray hurray! 

The hummingbirds showed up on April 30th. That seems early to me, but I could be wrong.

The Orioles made their appearance May 8th. Which is interesting in itself. Last year, they were here on May 5th.


 

Below is a one of my all time favorite shots of Mayapples. I need to get back out and check out their flowers which should be open by now.

I did a thing yesterday!  I want to put it down in writing and remind myself of how I am slowly adjusting to be an independent old cuss.

My garden cart that I pull behind the 4 wheeler had a tire that came apart. The tube was intact but the tire was ripping apart. My neighbor fixed the flat last year.

I am a determined person. [No pictures]
I took the tire off [something I had to figure out-->it was pretty simple]. I recalled Jim putting an old tire out in front of the crushed garage. I took the wrecked tire over and ... holy cow! They were the same!

I filled the old tire with air and it held just fine. I changed the tire and figured out how to do the cotter pin thingy.

My hands were greasy and black and I sat in the dirt pleased as punch. I felt like I'd won the lottery by solving the issue myself.

I'm slowly trying to organize things that are left in the shed. I found these instructions for the ancient drill press.

I told my Lego workers to figure out how to work it. I'm sure I'll never use it.

This weekend is going to be filled with at home work. Pretty boring stuff.

Gathering rocks for a fire pit, garden work, mowing [I got the rider back!].

Work never ends around here it seems.

The Tour and Vet Visit

So my girlfriend asked me if I'd ever been to the Amish Walmart and I said no. So after CrossFit I jumped in her car and we took off.

We took one back road after another after another on to narrow twisted roads and eventually ended up at this huge ridgetop building. 

In the areas around the building was yards of farm things. Hay feeders, fencing, gates, chains, tubs, planting pots, and more things than I could even identify.

Inside the store were rows of all sorts of tools mixed up with leather works, reins, bridles, walking sticks, and cookware. Kitchen stuff filled one isle. Nothing fancy and colorful but all useful items for any country kitchen.

Out back there were old fashioned blocks and tackle, used bricks, glass bricks, chicken feeders, and more mindboggling things that I couldn't identify.

I did find a few things I wanted. Homemade chocolate bars with mint inside. Yum. Amish Candy is really tasty. I also purchased a pack Gingerbread Cookies.

My friend then took me to the Amish bulk food store on another back road. Bulk flour, all sorts of it. Gluten flour, bulk seasonings, noodles, and anything you might want to cook with. I don't do bulk or cook from scratch, but I did find some homemade sesame chips. I think in the summer time, this store has fresh veggies from different farms so that is worth noting.

And we were not done yet. Our last stop was at the Bent and Dent Amish Store. I picked up some breakfast cereal for .85 cents, some mayo for $1, and a few other things. The store probably doesn't have the same stuff all of the time. I saw some bruised boxes but mostly things were not bent and dented. Surprisingly, this store was quite busy with mostly older people. I could see why. 

None of these places are advertised at all. It is another one of those rural things. Word of mouth and directions on how to get there.

When I got home I'd seen that the scrapper guys had been by again. I will have to ask them not to leave things in the middle of the shed when they are done for the day as I use that area bring out hay. 

They'd pulled two dead mowers out into the yard so I'll have to ask what is up with that. Are they taking them or planning on leaving them in my way.

I had to get the dogs ready to see the vet. Charlie had his annual visit and Distemper shot. Hannah need to start her boosters.

Thankfully, my vet is not owned by a corporation. Her prices are actually reasonable. 

Charlie knew what was coming. He shook and vibrated. The vet was so sweet in getting him to relax while she examined him. He did take treats from her after it was all over.

Dr. Grimm [she is not grim, she is super sweet!] examined Hannah and feels that she has a Dachshund in her background somewhere. She said Rat Terrier's didn't have such long toplines. Someone suggested doing a doggie DNA. I'm happy knowing she is Terrier and something else. Good enough for me.

I don't think I need to spend $$$ on finding out that my dog is a mutt.

Photo below is of the two of them both occupying my lap while waiting for the vet in the exam room.  

Ahhh! The funniest part was when they took Charlie for a nail trim. I do try to do them at home and do somewhat of a good job, but they do much better.

Charlie is a howler when getting his nails trimmed. He screams and howls as if being murdered. Apparently he lays on the table, wags his tail and screams bloody murder. 

I heard the receptionist on the phone explain to a client that all the racket was just a due to a dog that was a bit dramatic and vocal about getting his nails trimmed.

We were all exhausted when we got home. 

What a day.

Hannah goes back for another booster in 3 weeks and will get scheduled to be spayed in June. Dr. Grimm waits for that age for full development of the parts that need to be surgically removed. 

What a busy week. And it was only Tuesday!

Uffdah

I was hoping to keep it simple this week... Hmmm.

Monday was hubby's annual wellness checkup and nothing has really changed from last year. His legs are swelling up so she had some hints for him to help him with that. Time was of the essence for the appointment as the highway department was getting ready to close a bridge because the Kickapoo River was rising rapidly.

Monday afternoon we got a visit from the Oxygen folks.

We received a portable oxygen concentrator which should give Rich more mobility. It is easier to carry a satchel type item than to drag around a tank. The VA Home Oxygen lady was a great educator. Much better than the person they had previously.

This afternoon, I'm getting a visit from a fellow named Dunnum. He runs a company that does tree trimming, brush hogging, landscaping, cleaning up old junk piles,...delivering hay...

well.... 
you name it, and his folks will do it apparently.

I'm looking to have some trees taken down and two pastures brush hogged along with some other clean up if the prices are right. IF I like his work, I'm gong to have him come twice a summer to brush hog down the weeds in my main pastures. It would save me so much time, frustration, and sweat!

The weather hasn't been conducive for activities outside for even healthy folks. I can get chores done easily, but I am wringing wet by the time I get inside. If I have to do anything for a length of time, I have to wear a gnat net over my hat.

By Wednesday the heat and humidity will come down enough for hubby to enjoy getting on his zero turn and do some mowing.

In other news, our gym now offers a class called Legends. It is for those over 50. The workouts are more personalized and less intense. I love the folks I am working out with. We have a range of ages and abilities. Plus, it is great to meet new people. [most of the folks are wayyy over the 50+ mark!]

One of the ladies just finished up her chemo and radiation, and is gently easing back into fitness and mobility. I have to hand it to her. She makes me feel as if anything is possible. 
We do the same workouts as the regular classes, but with more adjustments. I switched to this class because the scheduling works out much better for me.

I can monitor Rich's morning routine and go to class while he naps.

I still do a regular class once a week so I get 3 days in. It is a win win for me right now. Come winter, I may just stick with the smaller class for us older folks. I think none of us would come when we are sick? Fingers crossed.

Below:
Hummingbird Moth 

on Bee Balm.

Below:

Little Richard

doing yard work on

the hillside.

 If this Dunnum fella is easy to work with. I'll take some shots of what needs to get done so I can have some before and after shots for comparison. 

So many things have been let go since my husband's cancer and stroke that I feel I need to make an effort to get things back on track.

Wish me luck!