Properly, you may’t say it’s been boring.
First, to get this out of the way in which, as a result of I’ve by no means discovered to be snug with this type of factor: There’s a giant “Every part on Sale!” bonanza occurring at patriciamcconnell.com. I’m posting this sooner than normal as a result of the sale is over at midnight (japanese) on Monday.
I hope that’s useful info.
Issues on the farm are a bit too dramatic. We’ve had biblical rain and wind, time and again. Frogs have but to fall from the sky, however at this level, I wouldn’t be stunned. We had two enormous, lovely oaks come down, one making a pick-up-stick jumble 15 toes within the air:
They don’t name them “widow-makers” for nothing. We had been at a funeral just some weeks in the past for just about the nicest man on this planet who died chain sawing when a higher limb fell on him. Jim has been chain sawing like loopy, and you’ll think about how relieved I used to be when he got here again from the one above and stated “We have to name within the professional’s.” Sweeter phrases have by no means been spoken.
However we had three different simpler timber come down, and now this, a California Freeway 101 mudslide:
For scale, it’s in all probability 15 toes from backside to prime. It’s between the county street and our farm street that results in all of the pastures up the hill. It’s significantly worse than what you see, as a result of it downpoured AGAIN just a few days in the past after I took the picture. We’re looking for somebody to assist restore it, however no luck thus far (the county is mum thus far). It’s simply going to worsen and worse, taking out the fence that retains the sheep protected, and our farm street to the pastures. By no means a boring second.
The mudslide, in fact, is expounded to the insane quantity of rains we’ve gotten, mirrored on this native cornfield.
Final unhappy and considerably grumpy notice: Poor Maggie. I took the canines out to pee on Thursday July 4th, early afternoon, and wouldn’t you already know it, our closest neighbor (possibly 1/4 a mile away?) determined to set off the loudest, most earth-shattering firecracker I’ve ever heard. Thus, this:
Maggie had run to the home. I let her in, rotated to spherical up Skip and located Maggie hiding below a bunch of jackets by the door to the storage. She’s normally been solely mildly involved about thunder and firecrackers, simply dealt with with “Thunder Treats” and jolly discuss. Later within the day, when our nation neighbors went full-bore with their firework “celebration,” Maggie was so frightened she refused treats. (Which is like saying that I refused to be with canines or have a look at flowers.) I stayed up till late within the evening along with her till it quieted and she or he relaxed, however I’m nonetheless spluttering about it like a sparkler with no sparkles. Just a few days earlier than I wrote a Fb put up (I believe July 2nd, scroll down beneath the sale movies!) encouraging folks to write down neighborhood leaders to make solely “low noise fireworks” authorized. Perhaps some day? (I learn just lately that somebody stated banning noisy fireworks made one a communist. For the file: I’m not a communist.)
And, in fact, our world has additionally been filled with pleasure. The day lily backyard is coming into its personal, and the hydrangeas I planted within the background determined they prefer it there.
Final evening we had an ideal night with our veterinarian, John Dally (of the Spring Inexperienced Animal Hospital), and his equally great spouse and accomplice (additionally a vet), Ann Vetter. They just lately adopted three mustangs from the west, and moved heaven and earth to create a protected however wholesome atmosphere for them. That is John and Buttercup, who I’m formally now in love with (the horse, not John, though, he’s the perfect vet on this planet):
The final phrases right this moment are from Maggie, who’s on leash restriction for a bum rear leg or lumbar/sacral troubles: “I like Dr. Sarah Grenslit, however it’s best to know that I’m being tortured–no play, no operating, no working sheep. And Skip will get to go to a clinic tomorrow. Please rescue me from this nightmare. Or, ship rooster. Yeah, that’s it, tons and many rooster.” Right here she is with Dr. Sarah, getting chiropractic remedy.
Whoops, not fairly final phrases! I couldn’t resist letting you already know about an occasion on July 3oth in Madison, WI that I’m taking part in–a fund raiser for one in all my favourite authors, buddy, and all-round actually good man, Nickolas Butler, who’s operating for the WI Meeting, 93rd District. I volunteered (what was I considering?) to be the auctioneer for the night, which I do not know methods to do, so it ought to be, on the very least, actually amusing. (One merchandise is a go to to the farm to get to work Skip, aka, Mr. Fantastic.) There is no such thing as a entry price required, though, in fact, his marketing campaign supervisor could be so blissful to obtain a donation. You’ll be able to RSVP right here if you happen to can come!
Okay, I’m off to do Maggie’s twice-daily massages, give Skip his optimmune for his Pannus, work Skip earlier than it rains once more, and see how little home cleansing I can get away with earlier than buddies come to brunch tomorrow.
Which suggests, I get to work Skippy Dip and choose flowers! So, life is sweet! I hope components of yours are too, inform us about what’s good, and never good, at your home, we’d love to listen to.