Blue paint & a Saw

Adventures in fencing.

What is a perfect time to go out and see what needs to be done to make the woods above the creek usable as pasture?
A storm had destroyed most of the electric fencing down near the creek in 2007 and then again in 2012. In 2015, it was our intention to finally
clean up the barbed wire fenceline and replace sections of it for the Dexter Cattle.
2015 was the year that Throat Cancer put everything on hold.

Oh, we'd get to it 'next' year. 2016 saw us remodeling the house and I kept thinking about that pasture and how nice it would be to have the cattle or the equine in it.

2017. Rich had his stroke. Dreams of working on the pasture went to the back burner as we tended to downsizing the equine. Our dreams changed and we decided to concentrate on organizing and figuring out what came next.

Thank goodness things seemed to settle down in 2018. I started to think about those woods again.

This summer I even temporarily fenced in a small section of the woods just to see how well the mules would do clearing the underbrush.

Donkeys are much better and so are Dexter Cattle, but the donkeys had been sold and the Dexters were all sold in the fall.

The temperatures were hovering around the mid thirties and the winds promised to pick up later. I grabbed a can of blue spray paint and a saw. I was going to walk the line fence and mark the areas with paint that needed work.

I marked missing clips and X'd a few trees that could be hand sawed down. Big X's went on the large log that was laying across the barbed wire fence. I peered at it. I'd need a chain saw or an axe to clear the fence and fix it. The good news was that this was the only spot that needed barbed wire attention.
I could run a singe line on the inside of the fence that would prevent the mules from reaching through the fence.
I made it to the creek and sprayed some lines on a tree to mark where I wanted the new 'creek' gate to go.

I walked above the creek and noted that all my work last spring of clearing was still pretty good. I'd given it all up when it got too hot and nasty last summer.

I spritzed some saplings that needed to get chopped down and swiped at the berry briers that I'd have to come back and clear. I didn't want to use a killing brush spray but there were so many of them.

Again I wished I had at least a donkey or two left. They delighted in eating multiflora rose and briers.
Goats?
Hmm.

I kept walking and marking. I cut down a fair sized pile of brush and had to stop when I heard the winds overhead begin to howl.
Off across the north hillside I heard a tree crack and crash with a huge thump that shook the ground.

It was time to head back home.

I entered the house after dropping my dirty boots off on the porch. I closed the door softly as not to disturb Rich.

That pasture was doable.
Now I had a good winter project to work on.

And it sure wouldn't be sweaty and buggy.

I fell asleep on the couch for a short nap with Charlie and dreamed of spray painting blue X's on trees... and chopping down briers.

Doggone it.

It has been a bit since I felt like sitting down and doing this.
I started a blog a few times and then deleted it as there was always something else that needed doing.

Charlie and I went hunting earlier this week to find some ice caves.

We found them but with the strange weather we've been having, the formations were not exciting at all.

However, I do know where these caves are now and how to get to them should the weather begin to cooperate.
Tonight it is supposed to rain quite a bit. I suppose that is better than a snowstorm.
However, the driveway hill will become ice and well, that could be an issue for getting out and to Rich's next appointment at the VA.

Each day this week I've done a nice long walk or hike with Charlie. He loves and adores the snow.

Yesterday morning we walked out the croplands to watch the sun come up.
Charlie had more interest in deer poop and rabbit poop than the beautiful morning.

Yesterday afternoon was more dog day stuff.
Dixie joined us on a nice long walk.

Charlie was so happy to have his big gal pal to annoy.

We covered a few miles of creek and hillsides and then ended up on the porch to lounge in the sun while I got out the nail trimmers and did both dogs.

We sat in the sun and relaxed for a long time afterwards.

We listened to someone doing some squirrel hunting east of our place. The dogs were curious but decided the porch was a much nicer place to hang out.

I left my jacket on the porch when I went inside with Charlie to get some things ready for supper and chores.

Dixie pulled my jacket down and made a bed in front of the door.

Dixie was the chore helper last night. After she ate she crawled into her doghouse and went to sleep. She and Charlie will assist again this morning.

My life has gone to the dogs.
However they are good company.

And they rarely talk back to me!

I did it. Can't ... Can.

The driveway. I have a love hate relationship with it.

The driveway is steep. That makes it a challenge in the winter time when there is a heavy snow fall or an ice storm.
This shot is from part of the way up the hill.

Below is a shot from a or so ago. You can see my husband driving the skidsteer up the hill.

With the six inches of snow that fell on New Year's Eve, I was faced the next morning with how to approach the delicate subject of getting the driveway cleaned up.
My neighbor Justin had offered to do the hill and I thought I could get Rich to do the flat section.

That conversation did not go as expected.
Rich said emphatically, "No." He was not going to try and get in the skidsteer or go outside.

I asked if I could try.
"No."
Me: But could I try at least?
Him: No. You can't. You don't have the depth perception to do it.
Me: I can be very careful.
Him: No.

We sat in silence for about a half hour. I had another cup of coffee and then stood up.
Me: Well then, I guess I best go unplug your skidsteer. I know Justin will do the steep hill.
Him [not looking at me]: Whatever. Just. Okay, be careful.
Me [big breath]: Okay. I will.

Well.
It took me a long time but I got it done. I filled my face with snow a few times when I raised the bucket and the wind blew. Poof, snow face.
It wasn't as bad as I thought.
And..
I did not
run into anything
or break anything.

I considered it a success. It certainly wasn't the nicest job around, but it got done.

I never thought I could operate a skid steer and a bucket, but I did.

My Grandma used to say there is no such thing as the word *Can't*.
She might be right.

Magical....

 

This is what it looked like when I went to the ridge to get the mail. Inches of snow had fallen and more was coming down hard. I stuck my hand into the driveway to measure. The snow went from my fingertips to my palm.

In my best guess-ta-mate, that would have been about 4 inches. According to the NOAA, we should have been done. However. We weren't. It didn't really bother me that much. It was a welcome change to the constant rain/warm/ice/sleet weather we had been having.

At the mailbox I ran into my neighbors. Lauren and family had been out with their cross country skis, so had their dog Basil!

Basil was going back to the house but had enjoyed her first x-country ski adventure.

Lauren said the snow was a bit sticky but it wasn't too bad. I ran home and got my skis and was greeted by Allie and Lauren. The guys had enough and had gone into the house also.

And off the gals went on a snowy New Year's Eve ski adventure.

Allie decided that she would like to lead and take me to *The Tunnel* in the trees.
I was game and told her to go ahead.

She cautioned me that when we got into the trees I would have to crouch down and get low. It was like a secret cool place and she and her brothers had 'discovered' it.
I knew where she was going. I'd been through there before on my own but since it was her discovery, I was not going to ruin it by telling her I knew this trail already.

Besides, the snow had turned the box elders into fairy tale trees and the hush of the falling snow left only the swish swish of our skis to be heard.
And indeed....
It 
was
very
magical...

Hands down, this was one of my most enjoyable ski adventures yet.

Out with the...old year...

I generally don't get too excited about New Year's Eve or the coming of the New Year. I got over that when I was a kid. My folks let me stay up and watch the programming on TV. 
As I got older the appeal of just watching the event on TV got old and I went out to a party.

That was just as much a bummer. I recall calling my father to tell him my date had too much to drink and so had I. We were only blocks away and dad came and took me home. 
I think that was my last Party like that. 

I think I stayed up a few times with my own kids, and probably a few times just to watch the clock to see if I felt different at all.
I didn't.

Now? It doesn't really matter. Each year has brought some sort of new challenge.
I don't remember the past three years for all the incredible things that happened. But for those years labeled as. 2015, the year of cancer. 2016, remodeling [that was a great year], 2017, the year of the stroke.
2018, the year of The Depression, and the year to learn about Pulmonary Emboli. [Oh and MIL's hospitalization and learning about dementia and elder care]

It wasn't all that horrid. But I could do with my son's idea from years ago. The Suck Box.
So I'm going to write what Sucked about 2018. I'm going to put it in the Suck Box and burn it. I'd do it at midnight, but we are under a weather advisory with sleet/ice/snow. Perhaps the Suck Box will burn today instead.

2019.
Will you be kinder to those around me?

I guess we will wait and see.

But you never wrote a testimonial!

I showed up at the 11 am class for CrossFit yesterday and had some a few minutes with the coach who runs the program.
We talked about the benefits of social interaction, de-stressing for CareGivers, Physical Therapy, emotional well-being, and the general aspects of trying to maintain strength and balance.


Then I told Josh how awesome I'd felt since joining CrossFit. Josh smiled and said, "But you've never written a testimonial!"
Ahhh. Well perhaps I haven't in so many words....


Let's take a look at this. 
Perhaps CrossFit is another way to let the everyday person go to the gym with a dynamic purpose. For me it has been about being around people who want to work out. 

I had friends who questioned my sanity to pay money to have a Coach to help me work out. Val, you are in shape, you are in better shape at 62 years old than most people in their 30's! 

Well that was no surprise for me. I haven't been able to get a single person my own age to hike with me. To ride with me. To run across the meadow and through the creek....to jump rocks with me...to night hike with me...to ski with me...
ever...

Please don't think I am bashing older women. I am not. We all are what we are.

I just might be a bit more adventurous. Or maybe just crazy. For those who don't know me that well, hmmm, I once had a conversation with my father when we were in Hawai'i after the Iron Man Triathlon...
Dad said he'd he thought it would be kind of cool to participate in the Triathlon. 
We walked arm and arm down Ali'i drive in 2001 and talked about sports, physical fitness, and health. Dad was a health buff. I think he would have loved CrossFit workouts. Dad was in his early 80's at the time of this conversation.

Oh don't get me wrong, I have not mastered a lot of the lifts that they do in CrossFit. Dead lifts [the farmer in me says: picking up dead animals and ... well you get it...], Clean Jerks [I always thought that referred to guys that showered before being crappy dates], Power Clean [naturally...extra soap in the washer], Front Squat, Push Jerk [what you do to the Clean Jerks after a crappy date], Snatch [not going there...], Overhead Squat [well that doesn't even compute...], and
the Medicine Ball Clean [say whut?].

There are things on the board for warm ups called Superman, Deadbug, ... then there are Wall Balls, Muscle Ups, WODS, AMWRAPS, and other confusing terms. 
Ahhh, but don't worry. That is why there is a coach! The Coach helps you through this confounding lingo and terminology.

My son Ed encouraged me to try the CrossFit. He said I'd love it. He said I'd hate it. So far, the hate part hasn't happened, thank goodness.

Before CrossFit I was the wimp, but I thought I was in shape. 
Whoa is me for those first few times I had to unload a truck full of small bales of hay. I could barely walk the next day. I blamed it on two shoulder surgeries, one elbow surgery, and the fact that the bales were probably about half my body weight.

I started CrossFit in October. It is nearly the end of December. My son had advised me to go at least 3 times a week. Yes, I do listen to my son. Most times I made 3 to 4 times a week. I worked hard and the coaches have tailored my workouts to my abilities.

A week ago I had to go get that dreaded truck-full of small hay bales. As I was unloading this truckload of hay I started to worry about all the pain I'd been in the next day after...well after unloading a truck load of hay and then stacking them.

As I started tossing bales, I wondered if my hay guy had messed with me and gave me lighter bales. Ed's bales generally are compact and about 45 lbs a piece. I tossed the bales off the truck and then as I picked them up...
I could hear Josh and the other CrossFit coaches ... 'Use your core, throw from the hips, shoulder blades together, protect your rotator cuffs, swing that kettle bell!'

I whipped those bales off the truck and tossed them, then stacked them. I was finished in about 30 minutes. And I wasn't even breathing hard.
I wasn't winded.
And the next morning I was able to move as if I had done nothing more strenuous than dusting the house [oh, dusting is a terrible chore...I'd rather clean up poopy stalls].

So I told Coach Josh that CrossFit had obviously helped me. I know it has.
My balance is better, it was never really bad..but it is much better now. My strength is better, my shoulders and elbows are stronger than ever before.
I won't lie.
The arthritis in my thumb joints and wrist can scream out with a bit of anguish during certain workouts. But...
But...

I see so much improvement in all other aspects of my life that I cannot see discontinuing CrossFit.

I am my own champion. 
And besides...
Who can deny the exercise enduced endorphins. 
Why do I feel good all day after CrossFit? 
Perhaps it is the same thing I felt when I was in my 20's. How good I felt after a 10 mile run or running a 10k and finishing with a PR?

So there Josh. There is your testimonial.
CrossFit at Viroqua Wellness Center is awesome.


Take that!

Rain is not always awful.

The rain came down in buckets yesterday. As I drove home from CrossFit I noticed that the ditches were filling and running high.

Rich was awake and up when I came in the door. I'd stopped and had gotten some of his favorite food in town. Some Fried Chicken from Kwik Trip along with some tators. I set the food down in front of him and told him to dig in while I unloaded the groceries.

He didn't move a muscle. He sat and stared out the window with gloom and doom in his eyes.

I chatted about class and shopping while I unloaded things and set them on the kitchen floor. He didn't turn around or respond. 
Well, this is the new normal. He is angry, he hurts, and he feels poorly and everything around him should feel the same. Depression has come back with a big bang. I can't blame him at all. He feels that he is not really living, but just existing and in his words 'not worth a damn'. 

I'd really worked out hard at CrossFit and I still felt the afterglow of a good job well done. So I didn't let his foul mood get me down.

We sat down and ate together and I was ravenous. I ate with gusto and I saw something change in Rich's eyes. He finally smiled and asked where I got such and appetite. I replied it was from working out. He actually laughed and then said, "You should have done this years ago!" 

See. I live for those moments. They are good moments. A smile and a twinkle in the eyes even momentarily.
Rich went to lay down for his afternoon nap.

I went out into the gloom and rain. Why not?

I told Rich that I was going out to check the water. 
Hmmm...
and I did...
I went to the desk. The Study Hall. 
The creek was rising swiftly so I moved the Creek Bears to safety and then wiped off the seat of the desk and watched and listened to the water flow down over the rocks.

The dry run just opposite the desk started to flow with runoff from the ridges and cropland above our land.

I watched the water work its way around the boulders and tumble into the creek. I thought...If I only had more time, I'd go downstream and watch the water rise.

But I didn't, so I walked upstream instead.

The rain was more of a heavy mist at this point. I headed towards the neighbor's land where the creek actually started at the spring.

As I walked I noted the foam in the water. It leaves beautiful white streaks in the muddy run off. Ugly but beautiful. 

The stark temperature difference between the snow and ice in the valley and the air above made for some exotic looking fog.

I watched the fog undulate and move, it felt alive and mysterious.
Such is nature.

So many people look outside at the rain the melting snow...and the fog and think...ICK! I look at it and think 'Wow!' 
I guess I've been odd that way.

I found the spring but it was under water from the run off.

Still, it was pretty cool. 

I turned and headed to the dry run that runs parallel to our fence-line.

I could stand on about 6 inches of ice and watch the water flow over the ice.

The day was not awful, it was amazing. 
I returned home renewed and content, a trip to the creek does that for me.

Even in the rain.