Another day on the farm....

I will share my day with you all, and hope to make you laugh.




After lunch I was to meet Steve at farm to cut firewood. So I get there, park my truck and hop in to ride back with him. I have no idea where we are going to go. He had just said in the corn field which is now winter pasture for cows. He opens gate, we pull in, he hops out to close gate, back in, he tells me to hang on for we have to get through this mud area. So I hang on. We start going bee bopping over deep cut ruts from big ole combine tires, and all of a sudden we stop. Steve guns the motor, we are spinning, he puts it in reverse, again we spin. I hear, "Damn, I figured this would happen." And he hops out of the truck. I don't say a word, I have been in truck many times over the years when he got stuck, you just sit in your seat and wait for him to open your door to talk to you. So here I sit, he walks around the truck, the neighbor stops at gateway, Steve goes and talks with him. Steve comes back to my door and tells me he is going after tractor. He leaves with friend. I get out of truck and start laughing til I almost peed my pants. The cows in the field are standing looking at me.



Now here is why I am laughing. When we first pulled in, I could see the mess we were about to encounter, i just can't figure out why he even tried in the first place, but I ain't gonna tell him that. I have to live with him... Anyway he come back with tractor, and hooked chain to truck and tells me to just follow him. So I get in drivers seat, start the engine and put it in neutral, he pulls me all the way back to fallen tree area. We then start cutting up wood. And my little baby chainsaw does cut wood. I trimmed the little branches off for him. As we continue working, the field where we are walking is getting muddier and muddier. Water is starting to stand in our footprints. Then while he's running log splitter cause that's a man thing, he stood too close to a piece as it split and it kicked him good in the thigh. Hour and half, we had tree cut up and split and loaded. Now for treck back to road. Again he pulls me. During the pull to road, I can't tell how the wheels, his steering wheel is way off. And at one time he turned in tractor seat and makes circle motion with his finger. So I turn the wheel. Ok, moving right along. We get out of field and Steve can't hardly walk, for the muscle in his leg is so sore. At least when I was running it, I stood where he taught me to stand. As in "out of the way of busting logs". But it's one of those sayings, "Do as I say, not as I do."



Anyway, if you made it this far into my book here, We are a couple of tired old people tonight. Don't know if we will make it to midnight. Man, walking around in all that mud used muscles we forgot we had.  Steve is laying on couch smelling like Uncle Bengay,  and I sit here making fun of our day.  Couple of Advil might make these old ankles not so sore come bathroom trips tonight,  and bed looks so good right now,  but it's only 7:30.  If I whine,  will someone send me to bed early?   Oh, to be 30 again.............

Happy New Year to all. 

Girls Toys

Today I  played around with my new little baby chainsaw.  It works too.  I told Steve when he got home,  I can even try my hand at carving with it.  I just may find I can make our farm name on log and put it at entrance of driveway someday.  I will have to practice and see how that would work,  but it worked on the firewood I played with today.   So I am happy to say,  there are some awesome girl toys out there for any of the ladies who would like to try doing things on their own without trespassing in husbands tool shed or shop. 
Guess I am not a diamonds and fur kind of girl.  I am sure Steve will find plenty of things to have to borrow it for cutting up,  but he will still make fun of it too.  Keeps our life interesting and fun.  I remember the first tools I picked out for my truck tool box.  They were all small "my hand size" tools.  And he laughed and said why would you want those things,  they are baby tools.  But at tractor pull the first time we needed a tool,  it was those which he pulled out to use.  I was like, hey those are mine,  they are for baby hands remember,  and he said they would work and more convienant than the big ones to carry to the tractor.   So after some ribbing about using my baby tools,  he doesn't make fun too often any more when I pick out my tools.  He does draw the line at pink and purple ones when in public use.  But he will use 'em at home.  I keep telling him that my tight on nuts and bolts is no where near his tight,  never to be removed without pry pipe on ratchet handle to remove, tight.   I have to say,  over the years  my little hands were called to help with mechanic work on tractors and combines and equipment in his Dad's shop many many times.   And when they needed them,  they called for "little hands".  I enjoyed helping when I could.  Some of my fondest memories are hanging out in the shop with Steve and his Dad helping them work on things. 

Tomorrow I will meet Steve after his half day of work at the farm to cut some firewood,  with my little chainsaw.  I look forward to using it and showing him it isn't such a baby.  Nanner Nanner Steve.................lol

I don't ever want to grow up...

Steve and I spent his last day of vacation just hanging out together.  Today,  little Kiley spent the day with her Dad,  as he was off work.  So Steve and I hit the road and headed to Litchfield to Rural King and Tractor Supply. 

Rural King,  we were walking around,  picking things up which we sort of needed.  I picked up me a pair of rubber overshoes,  stocking hats for both of us,  toy tool kit for Kiley,  some cleaning items,  and the ultimate little cordless chainsaw for me to use.  I am thrilled to have found it.  Since my injury leaving me 80% disabled in my right dominate hand/arm,  I am unable to use Steve's big chainsaw.  And years ago we had a small Homelite one that was just my size,  but it died after several years of hard use.  So the next one was a "boy toy" big saw and I haven't been able to use the big ones.  Anyway-Steve laughed at first,  about to make a crack about it being a "little" one,  and I looked up into his eyes and said,  "Steve,  I really wanted a chainsaw for Christmas,  (we had looked at small ones at Farm & Home while shopping)  can I please have this one,   it's little and light and I can use it for trimming the limbs off as you saw.................."  I guess I had that little kid look on my face,  for he immediately said yes.  I was so excited,  I was ready to head home that very minute so I could read instructions and charge battery so I can try it out.  But we left there and ate lunch at Long John Silvers/A&W place and then went on to Tractor Supply while we were in that area. 

Finally we got home,  and I immediately got out instructions and Steve put battery on to charge,  I have to wait til midnight for it to be fully charged,  and no I won't head outside to try it in the middle of the night,  as much as I would love to,  I'll refrain myself.  But you can bet first thing in the morning,  neighbors or not,  I will be out there checking it out and seeing how it cuts small limbs and pieces of wood.  I have a stack of wood on the porch already for the fireplace,  but maybe some of them are still just a little too long for me,   hhuummm.   Really though,  I think it will come in handy for the low hanging limbs this summer which the big saw is not really needed,  but the limb trimmer is too hard to use to cut them.  Too bad it's suppose to rain/snow starting in the morning,  or I would head up to the farm and really put it to work.  Oh yeah,  I bought an extra battery for it,  so I can use it longer periods of time. 

Life is so fun,  I don't ever want to grow up..........Thank you God for leaving that one on the shelf and leading me over to it to find.  Amen

Let's fry Laura's brain.........

I'm sad I couldn't find a picture to go with this blog post.  I guess I could have taken picture of the service manual,  didn't think of that til now. 

Anyway,  you'll just have to visualize this one.  Sitting here at my desk tonight,  is Steve.  He has this 6" thick service manual on table to his right,  class study guide spread out in front of him on desk top,  and his on-line test on the computer screen in front of him.  He has 27 questions of multiple choice to answer.  Ok here goes,  simple test for it's somewhere in the list is the answer,  some are true and false,  easy right?  He can use his study guide and manual if he wants,  yes he wants....so he looks up the first question,  he had answered but wanted to make sure it was right,  it is right by book,  second question,  oh he knows this one,  third question,  he's not sure which number this one should be,  but thinks it is multiple choice (b),  turn pages,  yes here it is.  So far so good.  Whewww....thought this would be really hard.....not sweating here..........WHOA,  what is this?????  interplant and non interplant implements?   Lauraaaaa,  come read this.........Laura enters into test area,  Laura looks over Steve's shoulder and reads question,  she re-reads question,  and re-re-reads question.  Heck if I know,  I didn't go to that class and I don't work on those things.  So she re-re-re-reads it to Steve,  note to blog,  this test started at 5:45PM... Steve flips through huge 6" thick manual,  pages flip, Laura stands behind Steve with mouth open,  eyes large,  mind blank,  holding breath,  re-re-and so on reading question over and over....finally Steve chooses answer.  Whew Laura can now breathe,  sneaks back into kitchen,  I don't think he really knew I left.  Steve contines with test,  again yelling,  Laauurrrraaa,  come here,  I meekly return to spot behind him reading his test question and frantically flipping through pages of study guide for some hint of any words from question,  note: this request is several times during this test taking by him of me.... here's one,  sweat popping off my forehead,  does this mean anything for that question.  Steve looks at computer screen,  he had already answered that one,  he's on this one.  Laura then does the duhhh,  I see the little green spot highlighted for answer.  Steve is flipping through big book,  I again disappear,  this time to bathroom,  alone...with my paperback book..........

It's 9:20PM...Steve sits back in the chair and takes off his readers,  and askes me if he should send it and get his test score?  I guess if he's done.  So he sends it.  Top of the page returns,  red letters and numbers show up.  He has to have score of 80% or higher to get his certificate.  Says he missed 4 out of 27.  His score is 85.19%.  HE PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

When ever I hear that someone is never too old to learn,  you bet cha I will hop right on board and tell them,  Oh yes we are.  I am sure the both of us grew gray hair at the rate of 50 per inch per minute after this session.  By his class being canceled,  the test was harder for it doesn't cover the manual,  it covers the class itself.  Anyway,  another night of fun at the Garrison's tonight.  I vow here and now,  if he ever has to do this kind of testing again,  I will find somewhere I have to go while he takes the test.  I will make up some sort of emergency to attend to just to leave the house so I don't get asked to help in anyway shape or form.  In summary,  conclusion,  findings,  I am too old for that sort of brain racking.........I love you honey,  but.......................I have no clue how to do your job........and no desire to learn it................

Face of author

So often when reading blogs or visiting social sites on the internet do we wonder what the person behind the keyboard looks like.  Well,  here I am with my husband Steve,  which I introduced you too a few journals ago,  our first grandchild,  Kiley,  whom I have talked of non stop,  and me,  Laura,  the face behind the words.  Note: date for journal,  Christmas 2009. 
LOL,  I think I woke Leslie up when I opened her door looking for my kitty.  She goes to bed with Leslie,  for her room gets really warm,  being right over the furnace and getting that first burst of hot air when it kicks on,  Sassy loves to stay nice and warm.  Anyway,  Leslie ventured out for a drink and bathroom visit,  shaking her head as I sit here in front of my computer pounding the keyboard.  She threatens me with Shady Pines Home when I need taken care of for my wierd spells.  Wonder if such a place really exists?  lol 

So I planned on doing nothing yesterday,  and I pretty well didn't do anything.  I put roast in oven for supper,  did the dishes after supper,  uploaded some pictures to computer,  (note to self:  have Dave put on my little puter UBS thingy pictures added to puter today)  watched some TV,  (don't remember what for I just had it on for noise while on computer)  enjoyed messaging back and forth with new friend on CM in the morning,  then meebo-ing with another one in evening.  Answered some e-mails,  group posted on facebook,  and started a new book at bedtime.  So I guess my day really was spent doing nothing.  Was fun nothings,  but nothing real physical.  I am already planning in my head another wood project to do.  I surfed the web and am looking for plans for my family room addition of complete shelving area to build around my desk for more organized look and use. 

I am still very happy with our snow fall.  We have had snow showers off and on all weekend since Christmas morning.  Must have about 2 inches out there.  The winds have blown it around so much can't really tell. But the ground is white like it should be for winter in my area.  Tiny little snow drifts all around things in the driveway and yard.  Pretty to walk around and look at.  Of course my footprints are in a lot of the drifts,  from my walk arounds outside.  I will enjoy it while it lasts. 

So,  now I will bid all good night and surf some more sites for a little while longer,  I love reading others blogs and knowing there are normal people out there in the world doing things they love to do,  as I too love the things I do in my world.  Signed:  Blog author with a face now,  ~Laura~

White Christmas after all

After all the whinning I did about not having a white Christmas,  I guess Mother Nature decided to shut me up.
Temps at midnight Christmas eve was 52*,  and it was still raining.  By 9AM Christmas morning the temp was down to 30* and it was snowing.  Yes,  snowing,  and I felt like it was just for me.  I loved it.  I kept going outside on the porch just to watch it.  Even though the wind was blowing and it was cold out,  temp of wind chill was 9*,  I loved it and was so happy. 
So I got what I wanted for Christmas,  my snow,  didn't get but an inch and it all blew away,  but I got snow,  as well as my other nice gifts.  The kids liked their gifts and got us nice things.  Steve liked his gifts as well.  We were all happy and spent the day watching movies and eating junk food and pizza.  I didn't do a traditional dinner this year.  Asked the kids what they wanted and they didn't care.  When I suggested crackers and spreads and chips and dip and pizza,  they jumped right on it and agreed.  Made my day easier and I got to spend more time with them just hanging out together.  It was a great day for all of us.

Today,  I took down the trees,  decorations,  and rearranged and cleaned the house up.  Nothing like starting the new year with a clean house.  I do have house guests,  my grandpuppies are staying the weekend as Melanie and Dave and Kiley went to stay the weekend with Dave's family.  Somehow,  Dave and his brother Devon came up with an idea to have an ugly sweater contest for Christmas,  so I dug out an old sweater of mine which should have been pitched years ago,  but somehow managed to hide in bottom of one of my drawers.  It is pumpkin orange and even had a hole in it at neck line,  probably from me and my obsession with tight neck lines,  anyway,  I dug out my craft embroidery paint and some tiny bulbs,  beads,  cottonballs,  glue and glitter, and Dave set out to paint an ugly green, blue, red,  and purple tree on it.  When Leslie got picture from Melanie of the boys in their sweaters,  I have to say,  Dave won hands down,  as the sweater come above his belly,  and was very ugly.  Can't wait til next year when they do it again.  lol

It is still snow flurrying here,  comes down slow,  then the flakes get bigger and then back to tiny flakes.  At one time this afternoon,  the flakes were so big,  they were clinging to each other and almost making snow balls all by themselves.  So I guess my snow will hang around for a while,  and that's just great,  our fireplace is going,  the house is clean,  the dogs are resting quietly,  my kitty is on the table in her basket,  Steve is watching Surving Christmas and I am happily blogging about our day.  May the rest of the world find just a little of the peace I am enjoying right now,  God be with you and safe journeys home.

No Snow on Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas - 2009

Woke just after midnight,  look outside to see if rain has changed to snow yet,  and was disappointed that it is 52* out and still raining,  and still to rain most of the day with flash flood warnings. 

I was so hoping to see snow this Christmas.  Looks like the middle of the country where I am will have a green Christmas this year.  I do have sympathy for those who are having the blizzards.  Wonder if this messing with the weather that Russia is doing has anything to do with our weather here in the USA. 

Started a new book last night when I went to bed.  Didn't get much read til I was tired enough that the lines were blurring and I was asleep before 10.  Course up by midnight as usual.  I stood at the window looking outside,  wishing for snow,  and remembered 2 gifts I had bought which I hadn't wrapped,  heck,  I forgot I bought them til thinking about the snow.  So I quietly wrapped them,  so I didn't wake Steve or Leslie.  My little kitty was playing noisily with her Christmas bells around the kitchen floor,  but I was quiet. 

I looked thru a recipe book,  I think Leslie left on my desk in hopes I would make her this Tiramisu bowl dessert she thought looked good a few weeks ago.  At the time she told me it looked good,  I told her to make it.  She's a big girl and a good cook when she wants to be.  So I might surprise her tomorrow and whip it up.  Like we really need more sweets around the house with all sitting on the table now. 

Well I guess the kitty is ready for bed,  she's attacking my feet under my desk now,  so off I go back to lala-land for another couple of hours.  Maybe I can dream of snow and wake up happier in the morning.......I'm dreaming of a white christmas,,,,just like the ones I used to know....