5/26 Anderson

Yes, here we are back again in Anderson after only 1 week away.  We started the long Memorial Week with a nice drive up this morning.  We thought about departing last night but decided we did not want to add to the traffic congestion.  That turned out to be a great move as our trip was very nice, no traffic and the weather was very nice.  We have had a mild week, today is overcast and cool, high today may have gotten up to 75. 

Upon our arrival we come come across "blacky" she was walking down the street looking for some of that fresh green  grass.  I knew it was her - we checked her brand and sure enough we found a run away cow.  We called the owners to advise them of the situation and they arrived in time to drive the cow into the adjacent pasture.  Yes, I said adjacent pasture, turns out that she and two of the other cows drove through the fence to find a wealth of new fresh grass.  As I mentioned in a previous post - the 9 cows and 1 horse have cleaned up the pasture pretty good and now the herd is looking for greener pastures.  Now the rest of the story - turns out that two of the momma cows are nursing and the calves are now on the wrong side of the fence.  You can only imagine how much noise these cows were making to let someone know of the separation.  I really wanted the owners to deal with the issue along with the damaged fence.  If I fix up the fence they will just break through again - even has barbed wire and that does not seem to phase them?  Yes the noise was unbearable so we opened the gate and put the cows back together again - - - only to return to those greener pastures faster than they came.  Stay tuned to this little activity as there will be more to the story to come !!??

OK since I am on the subject of pasture I have to share with you all that this is my opportunities to irrigate, average once or twice a season .  We get water every 2 weeks and we will be here this week for that activity.  I suspect it will be on Monday  just not sure about the time.  I want to get better coverage of the water and have 4 hours to get it done.  I am hopeful that my 4 hour window comes during the daylight - - harder to work at night in the ditches.  The folks that have the animals on the pasture are the ones that normally irrigate for us - - all they really do is pull the gate and the water flows until the time runs out.  Much of the water runs across the front of the pasture and into the adjacent "lush" pasture - I hope to manage that better this time.  Once again - more to follow on this topic, it seems to be a subject that comes up very frequently!!??

Played golf 3 times last week, for some reason the golfers seem to be less lately.  My theory is that it is getting too warm and vacations are coming into play.  At any rate it is very nice to breeze through the course and each day I played 27 holes in 4 hours - Oh, forgot to mention that I average 65 golf balls found each day.  I get lots of exercise, as I mentioned, I played 27 holes and each hole I usually play 3 balls.  Sometimes I scatter the balls which does increase the distance but sure is great for exercise.  This week I talked with some of the regulars - turns out that two of them got new Taylor Made drivers - those with nice white head.  I took a couple of swings with them - don't see a lot of difference but guess they are worth the price - around 300.  On Thursday I was running around town in search of new golf club grips - - none to be found expect at the golf course I play at and they want too much.  I ended up getting me a new "white" headed driver, cheap only $30.00.  It is a knock off brand but sure looks like the R11s.  I used it on Friday - really did not much difference from my regular driver.  It will take me some time to get used to it??!!

Kathy is busy today getting ready for the next show which is next Saturday, she sets up on Friday.  They are holding it at a big barn close to our house - she registered late and will be outside, under her pop-up.  Last time she did that she ended up with heat exhaustion.  She has some jewelry but most of her stuff is of the antique variety - I am sure she will post some pics to give you a perspective on her inventory.  She puts lots of hard work in preparation for these events.  She and another lady are teaming it up - booths are next to each other so they can watch out for each other when they have to be away.  I will be spending the day taking care of the yard - not going to mow this week, will wait for next week.  I usually go for 2 weeks so that will keep my on cycle.

I am sure you are fatigued now with eye strain, so I will let you go and get cleaned up.  Hope you have a great week and and wonderful Memorial Day, one of the things I will be posting next week will be of old glory flying high.  I am very glad we have this day which gives us the opportunity to remember those that have passed especially those that have given their life to preserve our freedom  I have become one of those folks whole supports the notion that we are not the nation that should support the protect the world.   - - - -

More later

Ron, Kathy and Tessie

5/19 - Anderson

5/19 Anderson

Very nice week end again, temperature got up to 91 today and 88 yesterday, summer is more than a month away, better watch out it is going to be a warm one.  We got irrigation water on Tuesday - sure helped the grass but the water coverage is still not that great.   The folks that are irrigating for us do the best they can but don't have the time to devote that is necessary.

As Kathy noted below, we have several new animals added to the herd.  I am a little concerned that the grass will not meet the demand - I poked round at that and the estimates vary a bit but the rule of thumb is 1 animal per acre in these parts.  We are now sitting at 10 animals for 4 acres, good thing we have plenty of drinking water for them.   The grass has no recovery time so it really won't last.

In addition to hand watering the 20 trees down the lane I was out in the pasture pulling up milk weed - nasty thorny stuff, the animals don't like it and I sure don't like working with it but I want to get it all done, I have 3 new burn piles that I will work off in the coming weeks.

Played golf today with our tenant - had a great time and he really enjoyed the outing.  I usually do not keep score but did today and ended up shooting 91, had to use my old clubs here, sure makes me appreciate my other clubs down South.  I also played 2 other times during the week, found lots of golf balls, cleaned up 1200 that were stacking up in the garage.  I had a great week with golf ball sales during the week.    Sold over 600 to 4 different folks plus several inquiries.  That did not put much of a dent in the inventory, need to think of some better ways to move these things? 

Tomorrow there is a annular solar eclipse - (annular means small ring - not full 94% with a ring).  They will be able to see the eclipse tomorrow evening around 6:30.  They have several specials locations set up in Redding for viewing.  The locals have purchased all the viewing goggles and welding lenses are going as well.  I have attached a picture of the eclipse - this one was viewed in Japan in January of this year.   It can be viewed here in Northern California, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado.  If you have never seen one - they are pretty cool.  We had the opportunity to see a total eclipse while on  cruise, off the shore of Aruba, the captain put us at the center of the eclipse and we saw the whole thing - it took about 45 minutes and the emerald light ring was the best part of that one.   We will not be able to see this one but we will be looking for others in the future.!!

Looking forward to some time off during the memorial week, time to recharge the batteries.  For me it is time to catch up on some chores, painting, yard work, etc.  I really would like to get the irrigation system fixed up so it is not time consuming.  Having to open and close gates to keep the water flowing is a pain.

This week end I noticed that the license plate was missing on the jet ski trailer.  Looks like they got that plate when we had the break in in January.  I looked at it carefully, it was held by 2 screws, both of them were reinstalled and loose.  I can understand why someone would steel a plate but don't understand why some one out reinsert the screws?  This person or persons had to be be obsessive compulsive - guess I am that way a little ibt??!!   The other thing that was weird - they took the auto door closer light bulbs out and laid them on the floor next to the wall.  The other thing, they pulled the dome lights out of the pickup and laid them on the seat.  Whoever they were did not not like the idea of having any extra light around.

Better get on with the evening chores - - hope you all have a wonderful week and don't work too hard. 

More later

Ron, Kathy and Tessie - - - see Kathy's pics below~~!!

__________________________

When we arrived on Thursday evening we discovered we had a couple new tenants in the pasture.  Cindy stopped by today to let us know that they put them in our pasture because they kept getting out of the other pasture and eating the neighbor's marijuana.  Apparently the neighbors weren't very happy about this.  No marijuana here, so they should be fine!

I made this tablecloth yesterday.  I will be doing another "barn" show on June 2nd and will be outside.  Decided to make one out of burlap so it's okay if it gets dusty dirty.  Did pinch pleats and made it in about 4 hours.  Much faster than the last one I made.

This is a picture of the 2nd tablecloth I'm working on for the show.  I bought a bunch of vintage doilies and linens today.

This tapestry was in the box of linens.  I love the colors and the tattered look.  It will look great in our house!

These are a couple trunks I purchased recently.  Got the one on the left for $40 and the one on the right for $5.  My plan is to clean them up a bit and use them as a coffee table and an end table in the living room.

5/12 - Tracy

OK - fine, it is time to move on, emails to blog.  Kathy and I have talked about this for some time and now it is time to make it happen.  I copied the Saturday post from last week to see how it looked and to help with the setup.  I think this will be much better overall, lots of advantages.  Kathy can start incorporating some of her interesting stuff, I have always felt that the old posts were a little self centered and self serving and now we both can contribute in sharing the wonderful things that go on in our life.  Other advantages - we won't be filling up your email accounts, all you have to do is click on the URL that you saved as a favorite (or not) and you are connected. 

We jumped from Winter to Summer overnight, 90s all week and the same for the next 7-10 days.  We are running about 10 degrees higher per day than last year.  It does seem much hotter than usual and I am sure we will have a very hot summer this year.  We had a pretty mild summer last year with fewer days in the 100s.  I heard the average temperature in the US last year was 2.8 degrees higher than any other year - I think they started recording the temps back in the 1930s? 

Kathy has a busy day today - first she has to clean her house, I will help of course as she will be teaching our neighbor across the street how to make jewelry.  They have been talking about this for some time and late this afternoon it will happen.  Kathy has selected a piece, put it together as a kit and they will be off and running later today.  I am sure they will both have fun with it - - - watch this space.

This was a week for hair cuts, got Tessie bathed then a hair cut for the summer.  I did the same and we are both ready for the warm summer days.  This is actually the second haircut for her this year and I suspect she will get another in 3-4 months.  My haircut was pretty short this time - Kathy thought I looked totally bald - guess I am not far from that anyway.  It is a little short but sure feels good!!

We are headed to Anderson for Memorial week, we are looking forward to the time off.  Kathy will be preparing for the next show which is early in June.  I hope we have some time to get out the lake - we did not do much of that last year so I and hopeful that we make up for it this year? 

Lots of interesting things on the golf front - I re posted my golf balls gain this week and golf 100 the same day.  The key is to keep the CraigList posting current - for some reason I let the old ad expire, not paying attention?  Played 3 times this week, got a very early start each day and finished up before new and before the heat really picked up.  Next Saturday I have a golf engagement with our tenant in Redding.  I wanted to treat him to a round of golf as he did a great job watching over the new roof job on the wee burn house.  It will be fun to play on that course again, I have not played with him before and that will bed nice as well.  Yesterday, I talked with one of the old golf regulars and mentioned that I would be up in Anderson and we were talking about golf of courses and that lead to playing at the Servillano course in Corning http://www.golfredding.com/overview/sevillano.html
- located about 40 miles South of Anderson.  That is a new John Daly course with a course length of 7500 yards or so.  That is pretty long as Old River is lucky to have 5400 yards.  He and 2 other fellows will be joining me on Tuesday 5/29.  They will drive up in the morning, playgolf  then return home.  That has to be a trip of over 300 miles for them - - is that crazy for what?

Guess I better get with the program - have to get out and do yard work.  I did lots of trimming this week in the court yard now I need to work on the grass.

Kathy's blog contribution: 

Saturday morning started out in the garden...pure bliss!  Please note:  Ron trimmed the hedges this week and it looks fantastic!!!

Spent Saturday afternoon with the neighbor Ana, teaching her some basic wire wrapping techniques.

Sunday I went to a "container" sale in Manteca.  The proprietor had shipped a bunch of antiques from France.  Love to visit these container sales.  Purchased some antique books, published in the 1800's.

 What I'm reading, "The Fire Starter Sessions" by Danelle LaPorte.  Very inspirational...

"It is not revolutions and upheavals that clear the road to . . . better days, but revelations, and lavishness . . . of someone's soul, inspired and ablaze."
                                                                    ~Boris Pasternak, poet
 

Happy Mother's Day MOMS - - -

More later

The Duncan's

Saturday Post 5/5/12

Nice Spring weather in these parts - yesterday we woke up to a good rain shower then it was overcast for most of the day with a high around 65. Today it has been clean, windy and temperature still hanging around 65. I have heard they have lots of wind here and today is the first that I remember in the year that we have been here.

 I did manage to increase the size of my weed - burn pile. We have lots of weeds and I try to keep ahead of them, not a good race, they win hands down. Yesterday, I did the trimming and today I mowed. I changed the deck belt on the mower yesterday, the old belt seem stretched so I went ahead and changed it out, process was pretty simple and straight forward. I was going to change out the blades as well but did not have a 15/16 socket for box end wrench. The old blades are dull so got a new set to cycle back and forth. The old ones seem to cut fine - just like to have them sharp.

 We got irrigation water on Monday of last week, they only had it running for 2 hours, supposed to be 4 and that was not enough time to get it covered. Still have issues with the coverage - really can't do much with it until we are up here full time. When we arrived on Tuesday l was looking around and found my two containers that I used to block the water on the culverts in the bask were laying by the bask fence, next the adjacent pasture. The people down gradient from us must not like the reduction in water flow? I called our irrigater yesterday and asked him about the issue. He said there are two properties down stream from that ditch that get water from the water district. Last year one of these folks came onto the back pasture and installed a sheet metal section adjacent to the canal to keep the water from entering my pasture. The water district came in and removed that - I talked with the fellow and he said he had asked the water district to help with the water flow and they came in and banked up the canal a little to keep it from overflowing. Of course that keeps the water from entering my pasture for irrigation. That is when I installed the containers, I put them in the culverts, and they worked great to slow the flow of water and let it overflow onto the pasture. Watch this space - it will take some time to get this worked out.

 Kathy is busy with decorating and she is also putting re posting her stuff on Etsy - got a sale today. It seems that when she is active and has current listings that things seem to sell pretty good. She has resigned from the board of Redding Handmade - she is still a member but not on the board. She was spending lots of time as the site moderator - not much support or help from the others. She enjoyed the activity but it was more time consuming than beneficial to her.

Played golf twice that week, they plugged and sanded the greens so the putting was a little rocky. The wind did blow both days and the temperature was approaching 80 each day. It was nice to get out - the course was not very busy, things do seem to slow down a little when the temperature start to climb. I got invited to play this week end at a course in Stockton - that would have been fun but did not work with our schedule . I was also trying to get John out for golf this week end here - wanted to treat him for watching over the roof project. They had a tourney at Golf Hill so we will have to put that off for another day.

 Not much else for news - - hope you have a great week.

 More later

Ron, Kathy and Tessie