Water Heater

Got the electric water heater last night at Home Depot and dropped it off at the new place. The sunsets here are spectacular and last night was no exception. Tom took the opportunity to mow the grass, and the poison ivy, too! I think I have a fresh batch on my ankles, again.

Cowboy Swimming Hole

This is my feet in the muck bucket! We are sitting in our 'woods,' 14 trees, mostly maples planted on the north side of the house. A shady oasis on such a hot, hot, hot, day the end of June. High noon and its blazing hot.

The Fence is DONE!

Worked our butts off this weekend - so hot, too, just brutal. Felt like Texas. We got the fence done, mostly. We now need two gates, one corner post and an 8X8, install all of the face plates, (whew) then it will be done. The latches arrived on Thursday, mail order. We'll get a run-in shed later in July, but have to give White Fences Farm notice (30 days) when we pay the board for July. This week we will be moving some furniture over - the little chaise in the front room, the Chinese cabinet that is by the front door, the roll-top desk, some bookcases, etc., what we can put in the Keifer, plus the boxes - I bought 25 boxes from the local storage place. Books are tied up in string. We'll be out of here in a couple weeks, I think. Tom also put in an electrical outlet in the dining room (there was only one) so I can put my desk in the corner and plug a lamp and my laptop in.

When we started, in earnest, on the fence during our vacation, I gave Tom a pair of gloves that I got last fall, never used, still had the tags on them. He resisted wearing them, it being so hot, but finally got used to having them on. My gloves were worn, but in excellent shape. We have to throw these gloves away!

Summer Solistice

Once again we are chasing daylight, continues to be bloody, blazing hot, too. Installed more fence boards in the Dry Paddock area. Another beautiful sunset. The sky is like Hawaii, can't get over how wonderful the colors are, night after night.

Farming is Not For Sissies!

Been a tough, hot week. Tom took the week off, canceling our long-planned vacation next week to Pennsylvania. We really couldn't take the time away from installing the fence. And the week was a dry one, with a smattering of rain on Tuesday. The rest of the time it was hot, hot, hot.

We had a few set backs, like SIXTEEN POST HOLES had to be Jack Hammered! Boy, was that fun! By Friday we could no longer use the post hole digger tool. If you aren't familiar with it, it is closely related to chop sticks. Chop sticks are great for eating sticky rice or sushi, but not so good with broth or sugar. Likewise with the post hole digger. The dirt was so dry it was like face powder and the tool was completely ineffective. We used the wet-vac instead.

Because we had the generator going anyway for the wet vac we plugged a fan into it, too. It was brutal out there, really. But we got 140 posts installed and some 16 foot oak boards in, too. The oak boards are actually easy to install, especially after a week like we just had. Did I mention the poison oak, ivy and sumac? We've got it all here!

We need to find the time to pick up a water heater. Priorities, right? Need two gates, a round corner post, a 'square' post and another set of latch hardware. Moving right along...

Fantastic Progress!!

After returning the Jack Hammer, we put in posts, lots of posts! Finished the 'downhill' run, installed the corner post at the bottom and then went to the opposing corner and started working our way in. There are now 10 more holes to be 're-dug' using the auger with the new drill bit. If these holes prove resistant, we'll have to revisit Jack Hammer.

But we made incredible progress, installed 32 post holes today! YEAH!

Maybe on Saturday we'll go to Sears to get the new water heater! O boy!

Seventeen Post Day!

Installed seventeen fence posts today, but the water heater is cooked. No hot water! This is a place that just keeps on giving. Returned the Jack Hammer this morning. Couldn't face another day with that thing! We need to use it again, but wanted to do something else to abuse my body, not a consecutive day with the Hammer.

The hot, dry weather trend continues. Good for doing what we are planning on doing, but the heat is oppressive. The longest daylight days are here, and trying to take advantage of them, but working all these hours in the sun is cooking us. I'm sun burnt! Crisp. This is not the best way to get Vitamin D, really.