More Repairs.

 More Repairs.

 

Gregg and Vickie came this afternoon and finished repairing the drain lines near the back gate. The poison put down for the fire ants did the trick, so Gregg did not have to fight off the mean little so ‘n’ so’s! He then put down the bags of dirt that had been out front waiting for another raised bed garden. That dirt worked just fine to cover the drain lines! Then he took out a screw that the old woman had managed to get part way into a shovel handle. Gregg showed me how to do it right with his drill and some different screws. Now that shovel is repaired. It is SO nice to have someone to call on for help!

 

Did not feel much like eating anything today, but by this evening had the hankering for something like nachos or whatever. Stopped by Taco *ell and bought something that had lots of cheese in it. Still not sure what it was, but you can bet it will be a good case of indigestion! Oh well.

 

Lance said that he went to Harbor Freight and bought some kind of shredder for small branches. Think maybe a trip over there tomorrow might bring home one if it will take things like sunflower stalks and small branches. Have the ideal spot to make a bed of shredded wood and such. Had planned to have a compost heap on that spot, but the hens had other ideas. We will see if putting a bit of chicken wire around it might make a difference—or not.

 

This has been a good afternoon for just resting. The dogs agreed, but they wanted on the bed with me. Guess it is now “our” bed. Lots of folks sleep with their critters, but know my mom would have had a fit if an animal slept in our house unless it was a dog on an old rug in the kitchen. As it was, she made me put the saddle blanket out in the barn because my room smelled just like a sweaty horse. The saddle still got to stay in my room, but not the saddle blanket.

 

The news is still horrible. The damage from Helene has extended to states beyond Florida, but the folks have not been able to renew any home insurance because of the last hurricane. And now with dams breaking and flooding entire towns, it makes me wonder how in the world those folks can continue to live anywhere near any creek, river, or lake if 30 inches of rain falling within a matter of hours can totally inundate a place! No one would be likely to foresee this kind of flooding. Even a hospital had to be evacuated when it was surrounded by flood water! Wonder what kind of structure it would take to avoid floods or landslides from mountains! Guess it is about time for some architects to get busy and find some answers. Can’t think that FEMA house trailers could possibly be an answer. Then, too, another hurricane seems to be building toward the warm waters coming up from Mexico. Not just one storm at a time being enough to throw folks for a loop; now we have more than one coming! The only thing that seems certain is that we need to pray for these people, their animals, and the folks who are trying to rescue them.

 

Then, just to make the entire world bobble a bit, Israel is blowing holes in Lebanon. Not that the Hezbollah don’t deserve it. But Iran has the bomb, Dear Hearts. So does Russia. It is a toss of the dice as to which will be the first to use it. Well, or China. Crazy world we live in.

 

The old woman is sore from lifting and pushing hay bales around. And yes, she knows whose fault that is. Should have waited and let Gregg arrange those things. Told Mary and John that any hay they needed to get rid of would be welcome here, however. Read an article about gardening with hay instead of trying to dig a real garden. It would be worth trying if the hay costs nothing. Might have to hold it down with something on those days when the wind is blowing a gale on this hill. But still, can’t imagine trying to dig in the dirt any longer. One knee aching is one too many already!

 

Talked to Sterling this afternoon. He still has the creeping, coughing crud, but is just hoping that Jacqui does not get the mess. He has made and either given away or sold 30 rocking chairs—people sized. No telling how many little kids’ rockers he has made, but at least as many as the big ones. He is so talented. Just wish his sister had any talent like that! Sigh.

 

It seems hard to realize that this year is just speeding right along like a Mustang on a Texas roadway. Well, my granddaughter would say it is more like her little red car. Have no idea what brand it is, but it must be fast. Just hope she stays safe in all that traffic down there. Our year is like that too—fast and somewhat unnervingly dangerous in some ways. But the days will always move along until the last great day. You know the one. He will reign. No more tears; no more sorrow.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.