Snow on the Mountains

I woke to a beautiful panorama of snow on the mountains - better than in my yard!

As the morning progressed and the sun came out; the snow glowed, then slowly disappeared.

As for Glenn...no plowing today, but he has not given up hope. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLENN

Today is Glenn's birthday...age, old.

This morning, Glenn and I decided  that we were going to forget about our ages from here on out.  I rarely recall my age anyways, let alone Glenn's; not important figures for me to remember.

Celebration was at a minimum, work was priority as usual.  So, I spent the day with Glenn delivering a load of logs to the sawmill, checked on the fence-building efforts at '55', and miscellaneous smaller tasks. 

But, I did want to get a current photo...so, here is Glenn, on his birthday, with his new (used 1997) pick-up truck (MGM was on the truck when Glenn purchased it  - Mountain Glen M_______.   Any suggestions?) tricked out with working snowplow.  He is ready, the air temperatures are getting colder, there is a chance of flurries in the immediate forecast...well, maybe Glenn will get to try out his new toy.

But, I doubt it!

Snake in my Garden

Yes...it is early February.  Yes...the temperatures are mild, mild in the forties.  Yes...the ground is cold.  Yes...snakes like sun and hot temperatures (or, so I thought).

And, yes...there is a snake in my flower bed.  Albeit, small snake; but snake nonetheless. Again, the weather is mild, but snake mild?

Glenn called it a 'garden' snake and I will believe him. 

Normally, I do not think about snakes while gardening, hiking or otherwise.  I just don't! I think more about tripping over a rock, log, or my feet.  I never think about the possibility of meeting up with a snake.  Unfortunately for my friend, the consummate outdoor gal....

Last summer, Ann was inches away from a mature, birth-giving poisonous copperhead while weeding in her garden, the foot of space between her house and her butterfly bush. Weeks later, after she calmed down; she learned to shoot a gun, bought snake boots; but still, she has not ventured back out to her garden - a place that has always given her peace, pleasure and happiness.  Happy, she is not.

I guess I would say I am lucky.  I only have a garden variety type of snake.

I would prefer the snake not be in my garden, but then I am not going to touch/move it either, so....

I will assume my snake is harmless, leave it to wander off on its own (which it is doing inch by slow inch), and pretend that it was never there - I can do that!

Winter?

As I woke this morning, my view was engulfed in fog.  I could not see past the four-board wooden fence which is located just feet from the house.  No cows, no sheep, no pasture, no mountains, no sky could be seen. There was no evidence of little critter footsteps on the brick walkway or deck - everybody, it seemed, was still asleep and cozy.

What I did see was pure white iciness covering the tops of the fence post, the upper sides of the holly leaves, the roofs of the outbuildings.  The brown grass, the ivy, the twigs of the naked perennials were all  frosted.

Perhaps, this is our winter this year.  I'll take it!

By late morning, the sun came out, and

...our winter melted away.

Civilization

I spend a lot of time on the farm.  In fact, I rarely leave.  I have no reasons to except for that occasional grocery shopping trip and that once-in-awhile visit to friends. Weeks can pass before I make a  trip off farm.  And, as fuel prices increase, my trips seem to get more infrequent.

So, when I do make that 17-20 mile, one way (depending on which direction I go) drive to buy groceries, I feel like I have entered a different world - paved roads, houses and barns, road signs, vehicles including 18 wheel tractor trailer trucks, school buses, people, traffic lights, stores,...civilization.

Daily, I am surrounded by tree-covered mountains; grassy pastures; tall, dense woods; cows; sheep; sunrises;  sunsets; cloud-adorned, blue sky; cats and dogs; tranquility; my own small, world - my normal.

Today I went grocery shopping. I felt odd.

My grocery trip was an adventure, a trip to foreign territory; a short diversion from my ordinary life, a break in my 'hermit' tendencies.  Tranquility was replaced with activity...a kind of energy.

I have to admit...I did enjoy having a change in my scenery - different mountains, different farms, different feelings.  (I can still forego the houses and traffic with no regrets.)   I felt like I took a lavish trip for a short time of my day, for a little amount of money; and,  the reward was so worthwhile.   I felt revitalized.

I need to make more of an effort to add more changes to my life - what a boost!

Before, Groundhog Day, and After

During the past three days; Glenn, Becky and I have been at the new farm, '55', Mountain Glen Farm Extension.  The days have been spring-like, sunny, beautiful; fun and so gratifying working together - near perfect days.  Really....near perfect days!!!

We are preparing for the installation of a new perimeter fence. New cross-fencing will come later.  So, we have to remove the old perimeter fence.

I learned a new skill - rolling up a single line of barbed wire - not difficult, but the process does result in a bit of cramping of the hands.  Trying to save as much of the old fence as possible to reuse for other projects is a bit time consuming and dangerous.  I stepped on a nail that was sticking out of a board, that board was sticking out of a pile of manure, that manure was probably stockpiled for the last 20 years (that manure was well fermented),  and that nail went right through my running shoe and nicked my skin - enough to warn me to react by quickly raising my foot.  I cannot remember the date of my last tetanus shot, but it has been a long time - uh oh!

 

Becky and I pulled the old iron fence posts out of the ground - most can be reused for other fencing projects.  Becky also removed fence staples. Glenn came behind us and used his front end loader to, literally, destroy what remained of the old fence rows.  Rotten, wood fence posts; rusted, mangled fencing now create piles of debris.  Two sides done, two more sides to go.

Yesterday, on Groundhog Day, I saw a fat groundhog (What is the probability of that happening?)  waddling in the field...since it was very sunny, I knew this guy saw his shadow - no doubt. Therefore, we are now supposed to have six more weeks of winter.  Well, if it is the same kind of winter we have been having - no problem.  I like the warm, shirt-sleeve kind of winter days!

Today, Glenn got his front end loader stuck crossing a small spring-fed creek.  The tractor was unable to budge the loader, so he went and  retrieved his skidder - more power, more weight and it has a wench...the skidder was unable to budge the loader.  Finally, our fence builder was able to dig out part of the creek bank with his bobcat, and the loader slowly reversed out of the muddy mess - that took most of the day.  Now, that is not the kind of progress we were hoping to accomplish today.

But, bunches of neighbors drove by (the spot of stuck was very close to the road), stopped, and I learned a lot about the local residents in short order.  So, there was a plus side to Glenn's miscalculation.

By 4:00 pm, after waiting all day, every one decided that 'Miss Utility' was not on schedule to mark any underground lines that might be aligned with the future fence line. Well, it is Friday...did we really expect 'Miss Utility' to show up on a Friday afternoon?

Frankly....yes!

No matter.  We still have plenty of work to keep us very busy!

Soapbox - The U.S. Post Office and more

I am steaming....

I sent a business letter to a person living in the same county as myself (probably a 15 minute drive between addresses) back in mid-October.

The letter was just returned, RETURN TO SENDER, NO SUCH PERSON AT THIS ADDRESS...

No such person at this address as of mid-October, or no such person as of today, January 31, 2012????

This is just the most recent (for me, that is) of yet another problem with a United States Government Agency.

There has been concern regarding the financial status of this office, the capability of this office, and the future existence of this office.  Any wonder?

I depend on the USPS, but I am not willing to pay exorbitant fess or accept egregious service for my convenience - I deserve better.  I think a private entrepreneur can do better, lots better.

The Government, as a whole, has become too big to service its citizens in a reliable, fiscally responsible manner.

We can change the climate of this country; for the better, for the future.  Take a good look at what you are paying  (taxes, fees) and what you are getting in return (government programs) - is it what you want?  I do not.  My vote is going to count come November.  Is yours?

I am for smaller government (the private sector is always more reliable), less taxes, less government regulations, fewer entitlement programs (get rid of the waste and fraud),  reliance on American energy, less corruption (term limits), political honesty (not out and out lying - yes, lying  - call it what it is -  ' inaccurate' is a cop-out) from our elected representatives. 

People - wake up!  We can either keep the degradation of our fine country going in free fall, or we can stand up and voice change that will get this country back on track - those Founding Fathers were a bunch of mighty smart dudes!