Yesterday, would have been my dad's 60th birthday. Wow! that sounds old. My sisters, and my family got together last night to eat at the land, and to bury my dad's ashes, along with the hub cap from his 1958 Chevy on the land. We also got a crepe myrtle tree to plant beside the area, where we placed his ashes. The 19th will mark one year since his death. It was very emotional time for me as I tried to pray, prior to placing his ashes in the ground. Ann had to finish the prayer. I am glad there has finally been a disposition to the ashes, as they have sat on my book shelf for a year, covered by a little American flag.

It was a nice evening, though towards evening, the wind picked up, and lightening started. There was a beautiful rainbow set among the darkening sky, and it was wonderful. I wish I had remembered to bring my digital camera.

Rodney took all of us for a mini hay ride around the property, so that my sisters could see our land. I discussed a little of my plans, mentioning where I wanted to put the goats and my beehive. Of course, I was made fun of a little, but oh well, such is life. Ann really liked the land, and kept saying how beautiful it was out there...I offerred my sister Ashley the opportunity to come out and build her tire house, but doubt she will take me up on my offer.

*****

We enjoyed our brief trip to Kentucky, with the exception of the air travel. I wish we could have stayed longer.

Rodney is feeling sick now, just in time for our trip to Kentucky. Great!
Hannah was coughing this morning, I hope it was just an isolated thing and doesn't mean she is getting sick too. I'd hate to leave her when she's sick.

I have a sinus thing going on.....it's all wonderful...yuck!

Rodney finished painting the porch last night, and is thinking of putting rope between the posts instead of wooden railings, for a nautical look. I wonder which one is cheaper?

We are on our way to Ann's new house this morning, she has some left over bricks that I can have, along with some rough cut cedar mulch. We are planning on using this in the area, where we are going to put daddy's ashes, and marker. I need to stop by Home Depot/Lowe's and get a crepe myrtle tree that we want to plant by the area. We are getting together next Saturday, which is his birthday. On the 19th it will be one year since he passed away. It sure went by fast. Some days it's still hard to believe.

I'm so tired, and I didn't even do much physically today. We went into to Lowe's where I bought a gallon of porch paint to cover the deck at the land, then Rodney decided not to paint it until it dried out all the way.

I stopped by the meat market, and bought one of their freezer packages. It should last at least 6 months, so I am happy with that...I then stopped at the bakery and purchased some of their day old bread. My bread machines quit on me, and my oven isn't working, so I have no way to bake bread at the moment.

My last stop was at the feed store to purchase some grit and oyster shell for the chicks.

After Rodney got off work, we met him at the land, where he and Taylor put together the frame for the gazebo. They got it all done, complete with mosquito netting screen, and the canvas canopy. It rained for about three hours straight. I cooked dinner in the rain. The table umbrella kept me mostly dry, and then I kept the lid on the grill closed as much as possible. I really like the propane grill, it's so much easier for me to start and use then the grill we use with wood. The other evening I cooked hot dogs on the grill, along with chili to go on top (I don't eat it like that - yuck) and a can of ranch style beans. Along with some cut up fruit and water, that was dinner. Very simple and fast.

Once the guys had the gazebo completed, we were able to sit under it, and keep somewhat dry, though we were all a little damp from trying to crowd under the table umbrella. Once my batteries are charged, I'll take a picture of the deck and gazebo. This will give us a place to camp out, up off the ground away from the snakes and ants, and a nice shady place to sit during the day.

Well, I am off to bed.....

Farm Update

I forgot to post last week, at least I think I did, about the amount of rain we received at home and the land due to Hurricane Dolly. At the house we received 4 inches, and the land the gauge registered 2 inches, though it is not entirely accurate, as it tends to blow sideways during a storm.

The grass had to be cut again, so we have a nice pile of loose hay for the chickens, and rabbits.

Rodney got started early this morning on the deck by the fire pit. We are putting a gazebo on one end, and the other end will be my outdoor kitchen set up.

The Weekend Has Arrived!

We had the man out from the local septic tank company to look over the land where we want to put the septic system. He thinks the area is a good one. He will be back out Monday evening with the sanitation engineer so that a test hole can be dug, and the engineer can get an idea of how to lay out the drawing to submit with the permit paperwork. That is supposed to take 10-14 days, then the septic tank will take 3 days to install.

Taylor is feeling sick, which rarely happens, and is worried about his scheduled fishing trip with a couple of boys he graduated with....it was nice of them to call and invite Taylor. I am stressing about him going so far, but he rarely gets to do anything, so I am biting my tongue over venting my worries.

A neighbor around the corner from our land, told Rodney that he killed the biggest snake he ever saw, and that it 26 rattles on it's tail! He also said he was shocked to see a mountain lion walking leisurely through the field beside his house the other day. The land is part of a larger parcel that has only had cattle on it for years, and no people, so it's no wonder the wild life has been pretty much isolated. There was a deer shot off the land behind us with the largest rack ever recorded. Evidently, a prominent hunter with his own show was filming his show on this piece of land after hearing about this kill. We haven't see any deer on our property at all. We have plenty of snakes, hawks, ducks, cranes, hogs, turkey, coyote and gophers galore, but no evidence of deer so far. We probably have too much open space now that we have trimmed the brush, cut the head high tall grass, and they aren't attracted to our area anymore.