Coffee anyone ?

[SageHill]

I am trying not to rip off my skin itching. All the rain has brought out the mosquitos in force. They think sprays like OFF are a lovely garnish. I'm covered in silver dollar size welts around each bite.

Oh noooo!
I used to be a mosquito magnet. Not any more - though that required to move to so cal

 

[peteyfoozer]

I am missing my sheeple and my great whites. Those were such good days. *sigh* I will reminisce over coffee until the beast steals something again. He’s been busy trying to bring branches into the house

this morning

 

[Bruce]

Encourage the barn swallows.... even if they make a mess in the buildings with their nests... they eat alot of them.

I saw our "downstairs" swallows for the first time in the barn alley this morning. I'd seen some flying the other day. I don't know if they are the same birds each year or birds that fledged from the nest that gets built on the joist in front of the chicken' stall coop. Seems unlikely random birds find the same place to nest every year. The tree swallows have been here a couple of weeks.

 

[Blue Sky]

Don't be an ungrateful wretch... don't be an ungrateful wretch... don't be an ungrateful wretch...
I'm an ungrateful wretch
Last Saturday I asked a friend if he might be able to bushhog my pastures. He was busy & said it was going to rain anyway. I said maybe the next day (?) & that if he could let me know when he thought he might be able to I would drop the cross fencing & lock the cows up.
This afternoon I get a text from his wife saying that he was on his way over & what did I want him to mow.
I said that I'd love for him to mow anything he can get to & that if he could wait just a little bit I'd be home & would lock the cows up so he could go in & out of any gate easily.
An hour & a half later I text that I'm heading home... get a message back that he's done.

He mowed the tall weeds in my front yard & the power line.... not a single weed or buttercup in the pastures was touched.
He has mowed the pastures while the cows were in the before... he has let himself in & out of gates before... he ALWAYS manages to only be able to work it in while I'm gone....
I'm trying to be grateful... I am.... but I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE POWER LINE & THE WEEDY FRONT YARD.... I ASKED FOR HELP WITH THE PASTURES
I get soooo sick of being at the mercy of people who want to 'help'... but only in their own terms.. and still expect return favors for all their help


....getting off my soapbox now


Edited to add: I'm making WAY too big of a deal out of stupid buttercups! I'm SUPER tired, work has been brutal for 2 weeks now. And feeling helpless to Do For Myself triggers all of my insecurities - that little voice starts up with all of those whispers:
You can't do this alone
You can't afford any of this, sell it all & be done
You're not even really Farming! You're just keeping weird pets!
and on and on and on..

(SIGH) I'm going to have a little pitty cry. Then get myself together & go help a friend with her garden until the rain starts. When I get home, I'll call Dad & see if he'll let me borrow his riding mower.
Who knows... he - TOTALLY unexpectedly - got a kick out of watching the animals while I was gone... he might even want to play Green Acres & mow some himself.

I have had my share of “what was I thinking ?” days. But it helps to remember the quiet mornings with hot coffee, the lamb or calf or chick who beat the odds. To remind yourself how little you knew when you started. I know what you mean about people who are unhelpfully helpful. Hubbs tells me this life chose us. Perhaps another life will chose us but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Hang in there.

 

[canesisters]

Helped a dear friend dig up her Mother's memory garden today. Then helped her replant it all in the new place. She gave me all that wouldn't fit anymore. I told her I am honored to get to care for her wonderful Mother's beloved garden. Over 100 plants to plant. A couple of dozen iris in the ground, 2 lilac & a hydrangea planted. The garden cart STUFFED with hostas, various lillys, another hydrangea, a nandena. A huge pile of spiderwort heeled in. A bag of Solomons seal & several pots of various odds & ends scattered around.
A couple of Otc pain meds, a long hot shower & several solanpas patches. Now for a nice rich bedtime coffee.
Up early in the AM to finish getting the house ready for company - sis in law & her hubby visiting for a couple days.

 

[SageHill]

Helped a dear friend dig up her Mother's memory garden today. Then helped her replant it all in the new place. She gave me all that wouldn't fit anymore. I told her I am honored to get to care for her wonderful Mother's beloved garden. Over 100 plants to plant. A couple of dozen iris in the ground, 2 lilac & a hydrangea planted. The garden cart STUFFED with hostas, various lillys, another hydrangea, a nandena. A huge pile of spiderwort heeled in. A bag of Solomons seal & several pots of various odds & ends scattered around.
A couple of Otc pain meds, a long hot shower & several solanpas patches. Now for a nice rich bedtime coffee.
Up early in the AM to finish getting the house ready for company - sis in law & her hubby visiting for a couple days. View attachment 98851View attachment 98852

the gift that keeps on giving

 

[Mini Horses]

Well, I went out to a couple fence climbing goats in front yard. So --- put back in and added the hot wire inside fence. Should have already but, life happens, I did have all the insulators up. Couldn't get a register on tester, so after a double check on wire, grabbed a green grass stem to test and it works! Hot!! I got zapped. Checked tester that worked this morn, died between my new run. Time wasted. No bucklings caught. Almost stayed home.

Decided I wanted a break and to see sales -- which turned out below my expectations. Anyhow, I had showered, changed and went. Trust me, I was thinking I'd load that girl and stop this crap. But being a full Boer & preg, I let her stay. Cussed her!

It had started before I got there but, outside "yard sale" was first. Looked at what was coming and there it was --a new roll of Redbrand sheep/goat!! , My name all over it. . Knowing it's $459 @TSC....I bid to $215 and got it... there were dogs, rabbits and poultry in unreal numbers. People began leaving it was so late. Poor livestock prices, overall. Turned out ok -- glad I didn't take goats! Happy I went and got the fence. A bargain.

Happy mother's day to all.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Great deal on the wire! It was your lucky day, lol.

 

[farmerjan]

WOW... that was a great score on the wire... good for you. If you find more like that, and don't need it, I will take it so just keep me in the loop. I will bring you the money and pick it up right now....!!!!.
Best price I can get it here is $415.....
Glad you didn't take the kids and be disappointed. I know you have grass so there is food for them with a little grain added.... Not too bad a drag on the budget and just gaining pounds for more income. Hope they quit the shenanigans of getting out.

Happy Mother's Day to you and all Mother's in our "BYH family"....

 

[farmerjan]

Helped a dear friend dig up her Mother's memory garden today. Then helped her replant it all in the new place. She gave me all that wouldn't fit anymore. I told her I am honored to get to care for her wonderful Mother's beloved garden. Over 100 plants to plant. A couple of dozen iris in the ground, 2 lilac & a hydrangea planted. The garden cart STUFFED with hostas, various lillys, another hydrangea, a nandena. A huge pile of spiderwort heeled in. A bag of Solomons seal & several pots of various odds & ends scattered around.
A couple of Otc pain meds, a long hot shower & several solanpas patches. Now for a nice rich bedtime coffee.
Up early in the AM to finish getting the house ready for company - sis in law & her hubby visiting for a couple days. View attachment 98851View attachment 98852

That was quite a haul on the beautiful healthy plants.... Good for you and a lasting gift to see all year.....