Hot but fairly productive.
I got going at a reasonable time this morning and started working on repairing the driveway. It had gotten all rutted out by the rain, and was impassible. Fortunately most of the gravel didn’t get pushed too far away. So I shoveled it into the wheelbarrow and deposited it into the gully. Then I drove my car over it repeatedly for compaction. My other big accomplishment on the morning was installing the mailbox post. After lunch I went to the supply yard for railroad ties, but they were all out. I drove down to the Co-op in Manchester and they were out too. Then I decided that I would just use pressure treated 2x8s. So I returned to the supply yard and got some. While there I met a guy who said he could haul my tractor up from Columbia this weekend. That will be really nice. I unloaded them then showered and went to the Goat Market for an early dinner. It was nice to talk with Eric for a bit there. I was once again too lazy to go out photographing, so I just chilled around the cottage.
On the road.
It was a day spent mostly in the car, or at least it felt like it. I started the morning by driving down to Winchester, where I bought a few things at Home Depot. They didn’t have everything I needed though. Next I went to the surveyor’s to learn about getting the new property subdivided. He gave me a lot of good information, but unfortunately he is about eight weeks out. He also seemed a bit expensive. I had lunch and was preparing to drive to Alabama, but I saw Randy next door on the way out, so I stopped and talked with him, then Debbie and Charles, which ended up taking about an hour and a half. I took the scenic route to Fort Payne, where I visited a building supply place to see what they had in stock. They had some windows that should be good for me, and also some nice bathroom vanities. I took a different route back to the cottage and enjoyed the drive. It was nice to be done and out of the car though.
Back on track.
I got a fairly early start this morning. After breakfast I went to the house and quickly built a post for the mailbox. Then I began preparing to paint the interior doors. Setting up the sprayer was a real pain, but eventually I was ready to roll. I painted one side of the doors then let them dry. My parents came by to check things out and brought me some water. Then I flipped the doors over and painted the other side. Cleaning up the sprayer was horrible. I went to the cottage for lunch and after I installed the doors and their knobs. It was tiring but felt great to be done. I think they look pretty good. I took a pallet and some trash to the dump before returning to the cottage. I showered then finished reading a Daniel Silva book I started last night. It was pretty good. I feel too lazy to photograph fireflies and will try to sleep early tonight. Now I’m at campus using their internet.
Frustrating day.
I left the farm a little before eight this morning and took the back roads up to the Mountain. I unloaded the trailer (just a few pieces of wood) at the house and then dropped the trailer off at the cottage. After a slight rest I returned to the house and focused on using my new pump to empty the electrical trench. That was difficult initially but once the pump got going it did great. Unfortunately there were some underground springs that basically refilled the trench after I finished pumping. After that I packed up and went by the supply house. There I saw the plumber/electrician’s grandson and told him I was ready for them to return. Hopefully they will come soon. This evening I have just been relaxing and talking to my parents, who are spending a couple of nights here.
Productive in two places.
Yesterday evening’s drive up to the Mountain was uneventful. I drove on the interstate to Highway 64, then came over through Fayetteville. I like that drive a lot. At the cottage I set up a couple of cameras in the back yard to photograph the lightning bugs. Unfortunately the mosquitoes were out too. The pictures turned out okay, although I need to mess with them a bit more.
I was not feeling very motivated this morning but managed to get to the house a few minutes after eight. I installed plates for the security lights, painted trim on the patio doors, foamed under the bathtubs, cleared junk from under the house, sanded paint off the deck, and caulked holes in the cabinet trim. Then I went to the cottage for lunch. My parents arrived and I chatted with them, then I drove to Harbor Freight in Tullahoma where I bought a pump, then I drove home.
At home I weedeated, mowed the back field with the tractor, mowed the back yard with the push mower, unloaded my trailer, reloaded my trailer, and gathered a bunch of tools and put them in my car. It felt good to get so much done.
Biblical rain, lazy day.
It was storming when I woke up this morning and poured until about noon. Later my neighbor Jerry said that his device measured 2.8 inches. So the yard work I was planning on doing didn’t happen. Instead I spent a lot of time on the computer working on various projects that I need to get done. I also tried to plan out a schedule for the week in order to get as much done as possible. The sun came out this afternoon and it wasn’t too hot, but I was comfortable inside. Soon I will drive up to the Mountain, and I will try to do a little photography once I’m there. Hopefully sunset plus lightning bugs.
Long day on the road.
We got up mighty early this morning and spent a while preparing to leave. Then we finally hit the road around seven. The drive was pretty uneventful. Luke loved seeing all of the semi trucks. We made good time and arrived at the meeting point with Liz’s dad and brother before they did. It didn’t take long to transfer everything. We said our goodbyes and I drove back home. That was uneventful as well, although I did stop at Meijer in Bowling Green.
Short time on the Mountain.
This morning after breakfast i drove to Shelbyville, but the cabinet shop was closed. So I continued on to the Manchester Home Depot, got what I needed, then headed up the Mountain. I stopped at the house and chatted with the plumber’s new helper for a few minutes. Him and another guy were digging the electrical line. I went by the new property and took a picture, then got it and several others printed at CVS. By that time the Goat Market was open, so I went there for an early lunch. I started filling out some forms for the bank, then went to the cottage and finished them. My last stop was the bank, where I gave them all of the required information for a loan to construct the next house. They felt like it won’t be a problem for me to get a loan. I drove home after that and played with Luke a bit. Tomorrow I am driving Liz and Luke to Indianapolis, where we will meet her parents and they will go to Michigan for two or three weeks.
Relaxing day.
We went to the park this morning before it became unbearably hot. Then we sat on a table.
Another day in the rear view.
This morning Luke and I went to the nature park for a walk before it got (too) hot. Then he had therapy via the computer. Then we played and read until lunch time. Then we ate the first of two meals I prepared in the slow cooker today. Then he napped while I messed around on the computer. Then we played some more. Then Liz got off work and took him onto the back deck to play in his pool. Then dinner time. Then more computer stuff, mainly emailing potential nannies.