Soon . . . Very soon . . .

Soon . . .very soon . . . we will be moved.  It's becoming very, very real to me now.  I can begin to visualize where this is going to be and where that will become a flower bed or garden.

 

It cannot happen too quickly to suit me!   Yesterday was one of the most fabulous days I've had recently. . . no thoughts of school, just buried up to my knees in Mother Earth!  The skid-steer and I were like one, not ripping and tearing down trees and vegetation, but cutting and styling the Mother's hair.  As wild vegetation was pulled down, there stood the magnificent old oak trees just waiting to be unveiled and brought into the sunshine. There were the soothing little meditation corners that had been unseen before the door was opened. 

I want to preserve some of the wildness because it, too, is beautiful in its own way.  The deer and creatures find the wild corners more suitable for their living, so they will have purpose and beauty also.  I look forward to sitting on the deck with my morning coffee and watching the creatures come through my world.  I plan to plant food for deer, butterflies, and birds.

The weather the goddess gave us was simply perfect!  About mid-70's, mild breeze, and lots of sunshine. 

Too breezy for burning the vegetation so it can go back to the earth and add nutrients for what is to come, but that will be another weekend.  I have my "Fire Wagon" ready to go with 300 gallons of water, a 5.5  horsepower pump, 50' of fire hose, and a fire nozzle for full stream or fog, or anywhere in between.  Jay will try to take care of a trailer this week, so we can keep the Fire Wagon dedicated to being ready for brush burning or any emergencies on the property.  My old skills are still of value . . . how long ago was it that I actually handled a fire hose? 

We've met Tony who owns the 7 acres adjacent to our little spread.  He might be ready to sell, but no one is in any hurry.  I'm afraid it's going to be over priced, but . . . He told me his property taxes were $700/year and his payments $560/month, but I think his improvements are worth more in his head than they are to the bank.  Time will tell; the goddess controls and what is supposed to be, will be.

I enjoyed working with Tomas.  I hadn't had a lot of close contact with him before, but he's really skillful with machinery and techniques for using it.  He seemed impressed by my rookie skills and showed me pointers which really helped my efficiency.  I'm glad Jay has such a friend.

Pedro, the neighbor to the other side, moved into Cuero because he bought another house and could put his painting business there.  But, due to his mother-in-law coming to live with them, he gave her that house and is now moving back next door.  Whew!  I will be working almost immediately on some "privacy fencing" between our properties.  Long term I will plant Chinese Elm hedges that grow about 40' high, but short term it will be bamboo fencing and timber.

Unfortunately, as wonderful as yesterday was, school beckons today,so I'm off for grading.  I won't be upset if I'm not asked to teach this summer . . . if Jay's good earnings continues, I'd like to be home playing in the dirt!  What will be, will be . . . 

More clearings

We asked a friend of ours for some help on the next clearing projects .  Tomas is a strong 29 year old young man with lots of stamina and perfect for doing an incredible amount of work.  Together with my wonderful wife, Cara, who has

no fear of machinery we managed to clear out a ton of back woods to prepare for the RV.  I had my doubts about my wife running the skid steer - and not because I didn't think she could do it, but because of the struggle of managing the machine - but after a few minutes we were rating her as a strong candidate for lead operator.  She really did marvelous.  Tomas, however, was indispensable for clearing out the live trees that blocked our progress in the clearing zone.  Between the two of them they really championed the clearing all the way.  All of the current pictures can be viewed by going to our Picasa Web Photo Album.

New Tranquil Moon Clearings

Hadn't been out in so long I'd almost lost site of the work that needed to be done. 

I started the other day by clearing the area around the electric pole that will eventually provide our electric service.  As it started out, the orange stake marked the spot where we would put the pole we were to drop.  I had to clear the entire area around it and the primary pole.   The shots here don't really show the area before the clearing, but it's pretty close.  As you can see from the brush I cleared out, there was a lot moved from around the pole when I finished.

We're moving!

Yesterday our landlady called and said the long lost sister of her deceased husband had finally been found . . . and she owns the part of the land we're on . . . so load 'em up, Henry!  We're moving ASAP!

Fortunately, the day before I'd done my taxes and my refund will more than cover the moving, and we'd already begun to plan.  We believe we're about six weeks out . . . and no one will EVER tell us we have to move again!  Tranquil Moon here we come!

As Spring Break ends, I'm a little depressed.  I've enjoyed my time off very much even though I've done a lot of school work during the week.  Just being able to set my own hours  has been a treat.  When we get to the new dirt, I'm sure I'll really want some more time off . . . I can hear trees and flower beds and Jay's salsa garden calling me now!

The briars have died off nicely and are ready to be skid-steered into a huge burn pile.  The 25' driveway is first on the list, with the nearby electrical pole location included.  Then the spot we've picked for the trailer will have to be leveled and cleared as well.  Jay will be contacting the well man to see how long it will take him to sink the well etc.  As soon as we have electric, we'll be ready to roll.  We can tote water for a few weeks, if necessary, and our "blue tanking" can start any time.  I wonder what it's going to be like to sit in the midst of our trees and drink morning coffee . . . I wonder, but I'm anxious to experience the reality . . . we've waited so long for this to happen.

Our Lizzie baby was diagnosed with diabetes three weeks ago.  We've almost lost her twice to diabetic coma due to spikes in her blood sugar, but $1,000 later it seems we may be on the right track.  Everyone has been switched over to the new "prescription diet".  Insulin shots have given way to pills, which she readily takes without problems.  March 10 her blood sugar was 368, but the vet says that's progress.  She's lost an awful lot of weight, but seems to be comfortable and is finally moving around the place more.  We've had to keep her confined to a cage for two weeks while she settled in, urine output was monitored, and the new food was introduced for all.  She slept with Jay last night, so I feel hopeful.

Off to Bobbie and her college paper . . . tutoring!

Continuing the intro of our babies...

Sure haven't done much on the property in a while.  Weather has just been too cold and wet.  Hoping to soon get out and begin working again.  Until then I spend a great deal of time on the PC learning Adobe Illustrator.  I'm not bad with Photoshop, but I've really wanted to expand my art techniques to include vector art so taking the time to learn Illustrator during the poor weather is a good opportunity.

I had introduced some of our babies earlier, but didn't have photos of the others until now.  So, I figure it's a good time to get at least two more of them into the blog

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A little beauty is one we named Dusty Rhodes.  Actually, the last name had been Roads - since that was where I found her; on a dusty road - but Cara preferred the Rhodes Scholar address.  So a scholar she is.  Dusty was on a dirt road being friendly to anyone who would pay attention to her.  I had held her as had a few other friends, but when I tried to walk away and leave her, she followed me to the truck.  I returned her to the group I had been with since one lady remarked that she might take her home, but again when I left, she followed me and beat me to the truck.  I figured after that, that she had to go with me.  Cara was reluctant to take in a new cat and was trying to be adamant about me returning her, but alas, Cara is weak and she fell in love with her.  Dusty is sweet, still small, the youngest, and lively and has become one of Cara's favorites.  Dusty loves to sit in her lap while she's working on the PC.

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Lizzie Boots is one of the few we've adopted off the street.  Cara and I were out running errands and we happen to see someone giving away kittens in the parking lot.  We went over to see and immediately saw two that looked like they needed us for parents.  Lizzie was an orange one and the other was a calico.  Both girls had white boots on each of their four feet, thus the last name attachments of Boots to their names.  Unfortunately the calico didn't make it; she died within a few weeks.  But Lizzie stayed and earned the effable nickname of The Napster because of her knack for grabbing a quick nap with me as soon as I laid down.  She now gets quite upset if her position is usurped by any of the other babies.