WORK DAY

Hi everybody !!! Sorry for the break in the blog, we have had computer problems this week after a power outage. even with the surge protectors it seems that when the electric went off, as it does frequently around here, the computer wasn't able to with stand the surge when it came back on. So, computer wizard Dudley has hooked up our lap top and I am now able to communicate with the outside world...

Today was a work day. I put on my DaisyDuke boots early this am and went out in the field. Dudley went grocery shopping in anticipation of Cheri and MIchael coming for a week. That visit however has been postponed until the next week, because Cheri got a call for an interview. We are all supportive of Cheri and her new job so we will see her when we see her. Also, mentioning Cheri, she sent me a link, Violinist.com that sighted her recent dissertation work.. she was very excited to see that her research has already been circulating on the WEB.. This is just the beginning for her and we all wish her the best. She certainly deserves it.

So, back to the work day. of course Brandon shows up at 10 with his cousin and his 11 yr old friend. Can we get fish from the pond ? Sure, so I have to supervise, to not, is asking for adolescent trouble. So I try to pull weeds and look as if I am not looking... They soon tire and leave. Brandon has a very short attention span, especially when he needs his next 'chaw' fix. I busy myself with inside jobs and then Dudley returns with the groceries.. enouf to feed an army! Which raises the new info we have to tell everyone, Dudley is going to take a cooking course starting Aug 9 for a month with a chef at a Banner Elk restaurant, !!! He will go every Sunday from 1-5 and learn different things and then the course will culminate with me being his guest at the restaurant for a gourmet meal !!! We are going to invite our backwoods friends Andre and Leesa to dine with me. I am so excited to have him do this, he is quite a chef and this is just the next step in his learning curve. and I benefit !! just have to walk more to burn the gourmet calories he will fix. of course I will let you know about our cuisine adventure ...

Yes, so back to the work day. after lunch and putting away all those groceries, I set out to spray all weeds and shit that I did not want growing on our property, my plan is that if I do this often enof, I will truly eliminate all the unwanted , weeds, scrub trees, rose bushes and blackberries from this property. I know that I have mentioned in my previous blogs or maybe my e-mail of my self proclaimed Jihad on these plant species. This said, they will not survive here and I will win...maybe, or least I will make a dent...or at least a small dent in the ever blooming unwanted weeds that crop up everywhere. I am trying Brian, I am trying.

While I was spraying, Dudley hooked up the BUSH-Hog to his ATV and polished off the field next to the house. The only problem was that the belt 'burned ' and he had to replace it, so called it a day at 5pm. tomorrow will be another work day and maybe Sunday we will relax. So much for being retired. But at least I got some long awaited exercise.

well, I have so much more I could tell you about, like the blue heron that wanted to have a place on the ponds but the swans wouldn't let him, he went back and forth to each pond trying to hide from the resident swans, but could not even score a small fish. And I want to tell you about the Barn Swallows. They have had their secondhatchings and are now biding their time to return to their southern winter homes. We have enjoyed their antics while swooping to eat the bugs and mosquitoes. While others complain of pests during the summer, we have none, My Swallows are always welcomed here, even tho their early morning squawks can wake the dead, I will never tire of their returning in the Spring. They are a part of our continuity to the past, the wind, the mist that rises from the river and the huge sky above. It is humbling to know that it will always be and it has always been the same, we are the visitor, we are but a whisper upon the land, Let's not forget that. Live each day to your fullest and let no stone be unturned. Love you. Sandi