MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND-2006

We were ready for a warm weekend. We had been going to II and spending the nites there as the days only warmed up to the 60's and the nites dropped to the mid 30's and 40's. That was fine, as the cooler weather allowed us to clear some old brush piles that remained, and a few other cool weather projects that needed done.
But Memorial Day Weekend held promise of warmer weather. We headed to II on Thurs evening after work. Had a quick bite to eat then jumped on the mowers and got that out of the way.
Friday morning, we packed up and headed for III. We got there about 9:30 and the temperature was already in the 70's. I headed for the rider and started my mowing while herself did the usual. Anyway she got back from who knows where around 1:00 PM. And I know the only reason she came back then was because she was hungary. I had finished most of the mowing, having only the trails to finish, so we had a sandwich, a short break, and off to finish the mowing.
It had rained 3/4" a few days before we arrived, but the topsoil was dry. I was covered with dust, dirt, grass and weed clippings, you name it. So my first job after the mowing was to get our outside shower going. I hauled 30 gal of water down to our water reserrve(trash can), then hooked up the propane tank, installed batteries in the pump, lit the heater, and I was ready to go. I went and got my clean clothes, soap, etc and headed for the woods. We had been dreaming of a shower since last year, as it is so much better then just cleaning with a washcloth. IT WAS GREAT!!
The next day (sat) we worked on finishing the screen room, adjusting doors, installing hooks, etc. It is now done except for some flooring of some sort. I thought to myself, this is great, now we can rest and do whatever the rest of the weekend. WRONG!!!!! Herself cannot rest, and when she cannot rest, I feel as though I have to help. Anyway, we now have to build a little storage shelter for all my tools, oils, gas, etc. All her stuff goes into the cabin, my stuff goes outside.
Anyway we build a little roofed storage area, got it finished, and moved all my stuff into it.
The rest of my "free" time I did battle with the carpenter bees. They try to build their nests in the 2X4's under the porch, and I try to kill them. I think I finished off approx 20 to 25 of them, but there is a few left. I will not fail. At one time, on Friday afternoon, we were being swarmed with them. I had a can of spray killer in each hand and got several of them, but had to give up when I ran out of ammo.
The Frey's and Craig's and Johanna all came down. We all had a good time, had fun riding the 4-wheelers, and had some pretty good potato soup. You will have to ask herself about that dietary delacasie(SP).
Herself and I really love it at III. Peace and quiet. At nites we listen to the whip o wills, coyotes, whoot owls, etc.

Continuing education

I hadn’t shot a rifle since the last time Himself gave me some training -- about 30 years ago. After asking for and receiving a general review on how to hold and load a rifle, I was thrilled that my first three left-handed shots all hit the target. I was sure I would miss it completely. After that first flush of success, I shot 6 more rounds and all six hit the target but not as well as the first three. Ah, beginners luck! I really enjoyed the target practice and hope to do it again. Of course, as Himself tells me, I can do whatever I want, when I want, at III (except for when he needs my help – but he didn’t say that!) . . . the other side

Puddle Jumper

We pushed and pulled Tony’s boat into the lake and I took the first lap around the pond. Himself pushed me off and called after, if you see water coming in, check the drain plug! Now I am not comfortable IN WATER so that made my heart pound hard for a bit but as I didn't see any water rushing in, I relaxed and tried my hand at paddling a flat bottom fishing boat. Using two mismatched paddles, I’m sure it was rather comical to watch me paddle and wigwag my way around the small pond. I finally got in a sort of rhythm and paddling as one might a canoe, I managed to manuever here and there. LJ came and jumped in after a bit (literally! and rocked the boat) and between the two of us, each with one paddle, we made our way around again. It will be nice on cool summer mornings to take my coffee out in the boat and drift in the cool morning air.

May Stay

Beautiful May columbine.

We stayed at Too Thursday evening and were up and around in good time. Himself took the breakfast duty. He scrambled eggs, fried up some bacon and we were on our way to III. The sun was out and the dire, cool forecast didn’t materialize here as it got up in the high sunny 60’s -- just right for working outside cutting brush. Himself pulled the easy tour and mowed half the day while still wearing his jacket and down-filled vest on top. Cutting brush, I took my jacket off, later the sweatshirt went and soon I worked in just a knit shirt. I cleared brush and overhead branches in the drive and hauled them down to the cabin clearing with the Mule and trailer. Himself said later when asked that, yes, he could tell I had worked up there. But when we rode up the lane later, I said, “you CANNOT tell that I’ve done a thing!” Too many trees and too many branches to even know I’d been there.

After a lunch of Salami sandwiches and Jalapeno potato chips (my turn to cook!) Himself went to mow the trails and I clear-stained the three screen doors and various wooden molding strips. Himself had been wanting this done and I hadn’t told him my plans so when he stopped back in for a break between trails, he was so glad to see that it was a fait accompli -- and I enjoyed surprising him.

We hadn't stocked up on groceries for III so our supper was make shift, just two brats each, with mustard and bread. We were hungry and, we reminded each other we were roughing it. We gulped them down; they hit the spot and clean up was easy.

We didn’t get such an early start the second morning but, again, after eating breakfast we headed to III about 10:00 a.m. I tarried just long enough to help unpack, review my shopping list and then drove back to town where there were city-wide garage sales. I stopped at four or five of them and spent a grand total of $1.55 while buying a half dozen things! I shopped the local grocery to buy stock for III and two rib eye steaks for supper. Next, came the big investment when I bought gas for mowing and filled the Jeep. Himself was back working on the shade room when I returned.

All weekend, the Phoebe birds scolded us the whole while we were in the shade room and Himself finally took pity (or gave in to their nagging) and moved the nest outside to a ledge under the eave of the screen room. He even went to the pond, the ol' softie, and got some mud to paste the nest down. The parents do that when they build the nest. There were 5 little perfect eggs in the nest. We are hoping the parents find the nest now and claim it.

Isn’t it such a coincidence that we have a nest here and one over the porch light at Too. And aren’t we fortunate to have two beautiful places, Too and III. . . . the other side

The "bottom" trail

Where Himself mowed with the brush as high as his head.

FIRST THREE DAY WEEKEND OF '06

The last time we went to the cabins, it rained the whole weekend. The grass was already tall, but could not mow. So, the weekend of May 13, we took Friday off and headed for Missouri on Thurs afternoon. When we arrived at II we found over 4 inches of rain in the guage, and the grass was tall. So we immediately fired up the mowers and knocked down II.
The next morning, we ate a good breakfast and headed to III. Since we had not mowed at all there this year, everything needed mowing. So I fired up the snapper and took off, while herself went - shopping!!!! I finally finished mowing all we had cleared about 2:00 PM and took off to see if I could clear the trails. The trail down by Sandy creek was overgrown with some kind of tall overgrowth. I had driven the 4-wheeler through where I thought the path used to be, then followed up with the rider. The stuff was so tall, I could see neither left or right, only straight ahead, but managed to plow through. Hopefully I will only have to go through this once a year.

After the mowing was done, we started to work on finishing the screen room. We put up the last section of screening, hooks and handles on the doors, etc.

Sunday was a day of relaxation at last. We spent the day clearing old brush piles, and burning them, blazed a new walking trail around the pond, then we mowed what we could of the dam, cleared brush where we couldn't mow on the dam, and just generally took it easy. Ha!!!