The shop project

We went and got the 4X4 poles for the shop addition, so the project is well under way.  Now I can picture how big it will be!  We spent $90 for poles, some metal thingies to attach the new structure to the existing building, and concrete that Cliff put in the holes after the poles were set.

Cliff's latest project

Our son-in-law works for a lumber company.  Recently one of their suppliers double-shipped an order of custom-cut metal the same type and color as Cliff's shop.  The stack of barn tin laid around the lumber yard in the way for a long time, until finally Kevin talked them into letting him get it out of their way.  It would have been over $800, if we'd had to buy it.  But we got it free, thanks to our son-in-law!

Since it matches the shop, Cliff is going to add a wing onto the north side of his shop where he can store the steel he's saved up for projects, and also park a couple of tractors.  This will give us more room in the barn for hay, and free up some space in the shop.

After checking his stores of lumber, Cliff found out there isn't much he'll have to buy, except the poles.  I imagine we'll get those this weekend, since he already has the holes dug for them.

Can you see those little metal rods sticking in the holes?  That's where the poles will go.

Weekend assignment #105 Poetry In Motion

Weekend Assignment #105: Share a favorite poem.

Oh John, how can I choose?  I have so many favorites!  Can't I cheat and share two?  Hey, it's my journal.  Of COURSE I can!

"LEISURE" By Wm. Henry Davies.

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

I like this one so well because I've lived most of my life according to it.  And I still do.

Now, my second choice:

WAITING by John Burroughs
           
Serene, I fold my hands and wait,
    Nor care for wind, nor tide, nor sea;
I rave no more 'gainst Time or Fate,
    For lo! My own shall come to me.

I stay my haste, I make delays,
    For what avails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways
    And what is mine shall know my face.

Asleep, awake, by night or day,
    The friends I seek are seeking me;
No wind can drive my bark astray,
    Nor change the tide of destiny.

What matter if I stand alone?
    I wait with joy the coming years;
My heart shall reap where it hath sown,
    And garner up its fruit of tears.

The waters know their own, and draw
    The brook that springs in yonder heights;
So flows the good with equal law
    Unto the soul of pure delights.

The stars come nightly to the sky;
    The tidal wave comes to the sea;
Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,
    Can keep my own away from me.

Extra Credit: Ever write poetry yourself?

I am writing a poem every day this year.  Mostly mediocre ones, but it's good therapy for me, and also good discipline. 

Taking walks

Cliff and I walk every morning for exercise, and we take Sadie along.  However, she has to stay right at my side, and she isn't allowed to sniff the grass or romp.  We tried turning her loose, but she doesn't come too well when she's excited or busy, and I was afraid I'd lose her.  We like to make our walk as physically demanding as possible and get the most aerobic benefit we can in a half-hour.  I'm sure the discipline is good for Sadie, having to walk beside us like that.  But it can't be too much fun.

So after Cliff goes to work in the afternoon, I end up taking Sadie for a walk that is just for her.  I put the twenty-foot leash on her and allow her to run ahead or lag behind as she pleases.  I stop and wait while she sniffs and digs.  This gives me a chance to look around and see spring coming to the woods.  If Sadie brings me a stick to throw, I throw it.  In the woods and brush, sometimes the leash gets wrapped around a tree or caught on a root, but it isn't too big a problem. 

So, Sadie takes a walk with me in the morning; and I take a walk with Sadie in the afternoon.

Wednesday diet report

We've had more successful weight-loss weeks.  I do feel sorry for Cliff, since he showed a two-pound loss Monday.  But Mondays don't count.  So, he gained one pound, according to the evil scales today.  His blood pressure readings are staying pretty much the same:  132/78.

I have lost one whole pound in two weeks, but now that I'm in all of my size 12 jeans, I don't care how slowly the weight comes off... just so it continues to drop until I'm below 150.

We eat two meals from Subway every Tuesday because of their Tuesday special.  We get one 12-inch meatball sub and split that for lunch; and we buy a 12-inch cold-cut combo and divide that for our supper.  The cost?  $6 feeds both of us two meals!  And the calories are within our diet budget.

Check out the subway website HERE.  One of the few fast-food places that's proud to post their nutrition information on their website.

Monday Morning Question

Its Monday (already). Time for the Monday Morning Question:

In "honor" of April Fool's Day coming up this week, what was the best April Fool's joke played on you or that you played on someone else?

You can either answer in Betty's comment section or in your journal and leave a link in Betty's comment section:  Her journal is Of mini-paws and menopause.   Have Fun!

I'm not much of a jokester, but one thing came to mind.

Sometimes I make a resolution, on New Years Day, to write a poem every day of the coming year.  I was doing this in 2003 and decided to have some fun on April Fool's Day.  Here's the poem I wrote before going to work that morning, and sent to the friends on my "daily poem list".  Needless to say, I had quite a bit of e-mail that evening when I got home from work.

 

                                                                I QUIT
                                    (c) copyright April 1, 2003
                                            Donna Wood

There'll be no more poetry heading your way.
I'm tired of thinking so hard every day.
I won't be constantly making things rhyme:
I've better things I can do with my time.

I have decided no one really cares
To hear my opinions and problems and prayers.
I have found much better things I can do
Than write all this garbage and wish it on you.

Yes, you will miss it at first, I am sure.
Even bad poetry has its allure,
But later I think you will sigh with relief
And thank the good Lord my career has been brief.

Now, with that said, I will drop out of sight
Never again to sweat bullets and write.
My poems are wasted attempts, as a rule:
Now that I've said this...
            

                                    WAKE UP!!!  April fool!!!

Signs of spring

There are lots of springtime things going on here.  Blue is scheduled to be shod Friday, and then my horseback rides through the countryside can commence.

I knew we had kittens in the barn, but until today I had never heard them mewing or been able to find them.  Fudge suddenly got skinny about a week-and-a-half ago, and I could see she was being nursed.  We've never been sure whether Snowbelle was pregnant or not; she's long-haired, and tends to be chubby anyhow.

So when I traced the mewing to the space under the stanchion where I used to milk my cow, of course I assumed all these kittens belonged to Fudge:  Their eyes were open and all.  But every time I'd try to get close enough to take a picture, Snowbelle would squeeze in, acting worried. 

"How sweet," I thought.  "She's helping Fudge take care of her babies."

About the third time I peeked in, I realized we had two sizes of kittens... and that some did not have their eyes open.  Snowbelle must have figured if that spot was good enough for Fudge, it was good enough for her.

There might be problems with this:  It's possible the older kittens might take all the milk from both mothers, to the detriment of the newborns.  But in the country life scheme of things, we let these situations take care of themselves.

Time will tell.