Over the fence chat for 11/25/01 to 12/01/01

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Beyond the Sidewalks : One Thread

AAAAACKKK!!(I just love Bill the Cat - don't you?!) Anyway, back to aaaaackk!! I just went to check the calendar to see the ending date for this and it's in DECEMBER!! NO, NO - I don't WANT it to be December yet - I have way too much to do yet! Make it go away!! I just went to www.weatherunderground.com (neat site!) to check out our local forcast and it is calling for snow mid to late week. Renee, I don't know if I can throw a snowball that far, but I'm going to try! OH! And I've got some things in an envelope for your kids (it was your kids, wasn't it?) but I can't find any Illinois postcards - would local ones do? I used to have one of our nearby historical 2 story outhouse, circa 1872; but I don't know if I can find it right off. I feel bad because I'm running so far behind on getting the stuff sent out.

I'm running behind on everything lately! I stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home from work last week and bought more socks and underdrawers so I wouldn't have to go in town to do laundry - Now THAT'S lazy!! I had Saturday, Sunday and today off work and I didn't leave the farm all weekend until about 4 o'clock this afternoon - couldn't face the thought of having to drive 12 miles. Be glad when my op is over and done with; maybe I'll get back some energy!

Sissy got off work early Saturday night and came on out to the farm for the night. We got to go through the proofs for her Senior pictures and decided what to order. Then we curled up in the guest room and read trashy novels until I gave up and went to bed. I got up Sunday morning and made her favorite waffles for breakfast - she had chocolate chips in hers, I had pecans, Pop had crumbled bacon and John had his plain; as did the dogs. Then we went down in her room and worked on cleaning her closet until she had to get ready to go to work. She's been awfully tired too, lately. If she doesn't straighten up, I guess I'll have to take her in for a blood count and mono check. Seems like everyone I know has had a cold or the flu in the past month!

Hubby spent the weekend cleaning in the basement - sorting through a bunch of boxes of "stuff" to make room for a treadmill and weight bench that he plans to put down there. He brought me in a wooden shelf that the ex had given me when he tore it out of his new shop; so I moved some books from the other bookshelf over to it; and then started digging through boxes of paperbacks and putting them on the cleared shelves. I had run out of book room a long while back. Today, I wandered over the main floor of the house and ended up with 2 grocery bags full of paperbacks, so I had to go down and scoot the books all down a bit more to make room for them. I still have two more of those shelves out in the shed and I'm going to need them - just wish I knew where I was going to put them! At least this husband is smarter than the last one - he didn't even suggest getting rid of books instead of putting in more shelves!! And yep; I bragged on him for it!

I had read about half.com - I think maybe it was Joy who said she went there? - so I went to take a look. It is SO neat! I ordered 6 books (shhh - don't tell Hubby!) just a little over a week ago and I've already gotten 5 of them in the mail. And read 'em all - darn it!! Now you all know why I didn't go anywhere or do anything this weekend! It's not quite as much fun as picking up a cappuchino at the Gas'n Go and heading over to my friend Diana's used book store for books and gossip; but then again, Diana is plumb unreasonable about keeping her store open at 3am so I can run over and get a book when I can't sleep!

Well, that's what I've been up to - not much going on the rest of the week except work and laundry, darn it! What have you all been doing?

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Answers

I'll think of you as I too do laundry laundry and more laundry. It never freakin' ends! ugh..... So, the ducks keep escapin'. I only have one actually on my property now. 2 are in the neighbors pond and thats annoying the pond owners but as I say "I'm amazin' but I can't walk on water yet so I guess they'll have to stay a bit longer". The other is lurking around my other neighbor's place. She can have it. I will never take on adult ducks again. Oy! So, on happier notes..guess who has had an offer of publication...? I will give you a hint..its me! Www.acountrylife.com has accepted a story of mine. I am going to try a magazine here in Canada too. Its soo exciting! hee hee hee We are supposed to try and get the turkeys into the fridge this weekend. Oh my they are getting sooo messy in the barn. I want them gone. hubby is taking Friday off and the kids go into daycare so he and I can work on the barn roof together. yay..and I meant to leave the caps off.. Its supposed to be my day off!! whine whine whine He leaves Sunday for the whole week and I'll be a single parent while he's eating out and yakking it up with colleagues. This sucks. And trust me..its nopt ALL work when he's away. I hear the stories. I better get good presents is all I can say. So, thats its so far for this week..but it IS only Monday..!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Well, DUH, Sunday came and went and I didn't even notice that no one started this week's thread. So thanks Polly!

I've been to Half.com, but not recently. This computer has gotten me using the LIBRARY [of all things] more, since I can search online to see if they have various books in one of the branches. The libraries that are part of the network are many and cover a LARGE part of Wisconsin. Our system is the South Central, which covers seven counties, plus there is Inter-Library Loan, which means I can also get books from Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Superior, Ashland, etc.

Being on these forums, I get book recommendations all the time, and a lot of them are out of print -- but the library has copies! Whee! I can request them online, and they notify me by email! So much easier than before, when I'd have to go in and fill out a request and wait for a call, etc.

Currently, I am reading a book called "Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America" by Richard Nelson (native of Wisconsin, currently a professor in the Pacific Northwest somewhere). It's very interesting, and he is phenomenally good at description -- almost poetic! A friend has this book, and I spotted at his house, but he already has a list of people waiting to read it, so I checked the library, and two days later, I had it!

Besides reading, I've been picking up, cleaning, organizing, etc. And walking the dog. Sometimes it seems like all I do is walk the dog. The colder it gets, the more it seems that way! It's been cold, damp, and raw lately, often drizzling. We might get snow next week, but it isn't supposed to stick. Which is good, from my point of view, as I am still trying to clear out enough stuff from the garage to get my van into it for the really yucky weather.

I have appointments for the next several days, which really cuts into projects -- you just get going on it and then you have to leave for the appointment. Blap!

I've still got greens in planter boxes on the deck. Swiss chard, beets, carrots, and tatsoi. Probably going to have to harvest all that soon. There hasn't been much growth anyway, but no freezing yet, probably because they're near house walls and the deck is elevated.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001


Okay, let's all read books and walk dogs!!! I'm ALL for that! Still thinking about getting a dog...still reading "River" by Collin Fletcher (his river trip down the Green/Colorado) and "Stealing Jesus; How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity" by Bruce Bawter. I can only read a few pages before I fall asleep at night...either book, or any book for that matter! Getting a dog might be easier than finishing either of these books!

Today, I rushed through bazillions of lines of transcription, skipped lunch (oh-oh!) and scooted out of work about an hour early. I love my job, but I want to come home! Mr. S. had a nice fire going and he had made turkey soup (turkey? hmmm.) I like the folks that I work for/with, but I like being home more. Sure hope Mr. S. gets a good job as soon as he's done with school. I actually work hard at work... I just like working at *home* better!

I found a local radio station that is already playing Christmas songs 24/7! I'm listening to it in bits and pieces...trying to imagine some fun times while I'm stuck in traffic.

My neighbors got back from Hawaii! Now I get an extra 45 minutes back each day...don't have to feed their creatures.

Hey, I would LOVE to read about folks' lives that don't often post here...I NEED to know how other folks live!! It keeps me balanced. Please you folks....write a note or two so I can keep my perspective. If I actually thought everyone had minds like mine, I would probably give up! Celebrate diversity!

Have an excellent week!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001


Well this week ahead is very uncertian so I am not makeing any plans that can not be broken,read my post up top. I did sell my woodstove and the guy is comeing all the way from W.V Saturday to get it.

My oldest turns 6 Dec.4th{boy I am feeling old}so a small party needs to be planned,school work needs to get done and x-mas lights need to be hung.

Money wise we are looking at a very tight winter since most of our clients backed out of there contracts since the market crashed,but hey we need a realality check some times so we will plug along.

The heifer is bred I think{the holstein}and the 2 ewes are also,so spring will be fun.

I still need to make a bunch of gifts and the girls want to make piggy banks{i have a real cute way of doing this if anyone wants to know} so the craft supplies need to be dug out.

Well thats about all here. You guys have a great week.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001


The temperatures here are starting to fall, but no snow yet. It's been rainy and very windy, our power went out a couple of times last night (once while I was trying to chat with Renee). I play a little game each morning as I drive to work and see how far I can get before the sun comes up. Today it was dark for the entire trip.

Speaking of work, I am bored out of my mind. I have not had a single thing to do for over a month. I feel guilty complaining about my job when so many people in other places are being laid off, but I hate just sitting here wasting time. I miss all of my buddies in my old department too. Rumor has it that there is going to be a big reorganization there after the first of the year. There are supposed to be some new positions opening up, and best of all the boss from hell who gave me nightmares is leaving, so I may transfer back there.

When I took this job transfer earlier this year I did get a substantial pay increase. I thought that I had adjusted my income tax withholdings properly but apparently I adjusted too much. I did a rough estimate of my income tax last night and it looks like I'll be getting a huge refund. I'm not too happy about giving Uncle Sam an interest-free loan for the past year. The good news is that if I put the entire refund toward our home equity loan we will no longer be "upside down"! One more year and we'll actually be able to afford to sell the place! (I'm doing the happy pagan dance!)

Keith bought me Diana Gabaldon's latest book, "The Fiery Cross" for my birthday and I finished it this weekend. It isn't the best book in the series but it was OK. It's set in the time period of 1770-1771, and I got the feeling that she was just killing time until the war breaks out in the next book. There's an incredible amount of detail about what life was like on a homestead in the late 18th century. Her books are very well researched, although I did find two mistakes hehe! Reading them always makes me want to go bake some bread and make a huge pot of stew over an open fire. The first book in the series is called "Outlander" and if you haven't read it I do recommend it. It's a time-travelling historical fiction set in early 18th century Scotland. It does get a wee bit "romance novel-ish" in places but overall it's not bad. The main character is a herbalist and healer which is why I love the series.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001



CONGRATS ALI!!! Ain't it neat to get to see your name in print?

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

SNOW. Now there's a four-letter word if ever I heard one.

That's what it did yesterday and last night and is trying to continue to do today, altho it seems to have pooped itself out a bit (like me with the snowshovel). A conservative estimate is 5" (ruler stuck into snow on top of kitchen deck seat), maybe more realistic is the one out where I was shovelling the walk -- 8". But that was under tall mature pine trees even so, so perhaps it was more.

In any event, it's that sticky wet stuff again. By the time I shovel out, I don't have the energy left to make snow goons out of it. Darn.

Always one to play it down to the wire, I just pulled the last of the leeks out of the garden the night before it started in ernest, harvested last of the kale that I thought I could use, and put everything else on the compost pile. (which is still steaming, thanks to the horse's contributions) There was no tracking snow for deer season, and it wants to make up for lost time and get Christmas-y out or something.

I hauled in a lot of plants as the weather got nasty, and now we're starting to experience the die-off, seeing which ones will make it or not through the winter. I cleaned off a couple of plant benches in the conservatory and put in planter boxes of vermiculite and potting soil and planted them with barley seed in an effort to have some fresh greens for the little critters over winter and so far, so good. I cut the first harvest and gave it to the guinea pigs, who unfortunately are now all saying that that was only a TASTE, where's the REST of the dinner? Ooops. They were happy with hay until I cracked that out, I may have miscalculated. I laid in a 50 lb sack of oats for sprouting for them for the winter, so we'll see how it goes.

Meanwhile, I'm working on setting up holding bins for the winter's production of bunny beans, pig litter, and household scraps for the composter next spring, or I may just get into garbage-can composting at this rate.

Hopefully the town plow will be by SOMEtime soon, so I can get out of the driveway, I paid them to do it for the winter and it'd be nice if they actually showed up. All of a sudden, the idea of a tractor is MUCH more attractive somehow. I always try and talk myself into it that a shovel is good enough, excercise is good (she says to herself, trying to lift all that snow that the plow shoved into the end of the walk...after all, got to keep the path clear, the ambulance crew will need it to come and get you after your heart attack...), it's environmentally friendly, it doesn't require gas....blah blah blah. So I'm stuck in the driveway yet.

In any event, the snow IS inspirational...all of a sudden, I start to think about cooking again. There's those leeks that need to have something done with them....how about another kettle of leek and potato soup? Lots of potatoes stored from the garden. And how about a nice long simmered pot roast? Pour on the red wine, lots of garlic -- or maybe something more subtle, got a whole pile of shallots this year, maybe that would be nice. Hm. There are still some pie pumpkins that haven't had anything done with them, now what could I think to do with those?

In recent years (and this year was no exception, except that I felt even more disassociated than usual) I've been out of step with time flying by, and my most favourite holiday, Halloween/Samhain always rushes up on me -- and I'm all unprepared for it. I love fixing the house up for Halloween, and I'm always rushing to think up something neat to do and usually coming up a little lame in my estimation. It's hard to do tho, when kids start coming around in broad day light trick-or-treating, and I need every precious minute to set up props (which won't look any good by daylight really) and so on. I guess what I've always really wanted was to find another bunch of people and work in a dark attraction myself....

And I just got such an invitation! Only trouble being that it is done by a local Lions Club, and is LAME LAME LAME in the extreme, to the third power!! I've got ideas and resources of where to find all kinds of cool stuff to make a go of one, but not if I'm going to have to do all the work myself. I don't care about the idea of profits (if it's going to a good charity, that's fine by me), but I DO care about being made into pack donkey. A bit late into the discussion I discover that I've got more props and Buckys than they do already, and they are quite nebulous on the concept of having a budget to spend on special effects....blah. Crud. If it turned out that they had some people who were handy with power tools and into the whole thing, I'd like to get started immediately after Christmas (sooner!) working on new animatronics and such, since I discovered some guys who has been sharing plans on how to turn common household items like fans and grill rotisseries into animated haunts, and such, as well as a great place for cheap skeletons and pieces-parts....

So, maybe I'll go ahead and order myself a couple of new skeletons, a few skulls, maybe a couple skull & torso combinations, as I have some new ideas of what to do with them (and make my own Buckys, dammit, if they arent cooperative). That is, if i'm not too exhausted from all that snow shovelling! (last year it seemed like I shovelled snow at LEAST every other day, if not daily!!) Make a nice relaxing winter- evening hobby in front of the fireplace, my trusty guinea pig by my side (Ghandi is much better now, and enjoys napping on my pillow! Furry little spud.), building animatronic skeletons...

What, you thought maybe I'd be making christmas tree ornaments?

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001


O.K., I just have to ask. Is this "Over the Fence Chat" for women only? Is this where we come to just talk about anything we want to talk about? Hold it. I asked if this was for women only and then in the next sentenct, I use "we". I didn't mean it like that! If it's not for women only, then is it where "we" come just to talk about anything? What were we doing on the other threads? I, of course, have nothing to talk about and all of you seem to be so busy that I don't know where you get the time to fire up your computers. I must be wasting a lot of my time someplace. Could it be those long naps?

Wildman (waiting)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001


It's for everyone! Please join in! The only reason it's usually women is b/c we are already out hanging up laundry, and the fence is a good place to meet to chat!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

For you, Wildman, we could also call this place the "hanging out at the bowling alley" chat or "working out in the garage" chat. Hen party...rooster party, whatever!! It's just plain ol' FUN!

Per usual, you guys are all soooo busy. I am hanging my head in shame!! Actually, I think I've had the flu for the last 3 or 4 days or so. So haven't had much strength to even recline on my couch with my keyboard and say more than a sentence or two!! Right now it's 2 a.m. and I CAN'T sleep. Go figure!!!

I'm still waiting for this snow that some of you folks have. Hey, I'm in Maine!! We're supposed to have all that snow and cold first! Temps here are in the 50's and raining. And I like snow! I "fire" up the woodstove in the morning to take the chill off, then have to open the windows by 10 a.m. because it's so hot in the house!

Have to start drying off my goats this week :-(. They're all due during the first week of Feb. Hard to believe it's that close to "baby time"!! So for the next couple of days I'm gonna make a few big batches of New England clam chowder...then that's it for awhile! There goes my calcium intake!!!

Must be getting tired here...I think I'm rambling!! Have a wonderful week everyone :-)!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001



Marcia, we have not had snow either but I sure am NOT complaining. Winter has always been a favorite season for me until last year. That winter seemed like forever and I am still remembering it too vividly to be wishing for it's return. Soon enough!!!

I have been trying to get the house cleaned up enough that I could do a little Christmas type decorating and enjoy it. I really enjoy making the house look festive, some years that is. Last couple of years I didn't even put up any decorations.

When my granddaughter was here we picked out some patterns and material and I want to be sewing for her. Lots to do and the older I get the slower I get.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001


Thanks Polly! I am quite happy about it and am trying a local magazine too. Maybe it was just a fluke..we will see. I have read 3 out of Diana Gabaldon's series. The first one was the best..I read it twice. The second was good too but didn't grab onto me the way Outlander did. Voyager again was more in the present day with less of Jamie so I was disappointed. When she created him didn't she do a great job...he is what every woman wants..a man that adores her, is boyish yet all man, sensitive yet strong ..you know..all the cliches!! LOL Book 4 has not gotten to me yet..its always out at the library. Thats when they are in America right? We had rain here too. My SIL and brother are taking my oldest for the weekend and we are invited to a dinner theater show in the city Friday night (its a work related outing) so the sitter will have a quieter time of it with just my Cammie Bear in residence. Maybe we will get the turkeys ready for the freezer this weekend after all! Then hubby leaves Sunday until Friday..sigh. At least he calls us while he's gone. Once he called and I was asleep and didn't hear the phone. He freaked out, was calling the neighbors etc to see if I was ok. LOL He couldn't believe I would be sacked out that early..I told him that I would go away and leave him with the boys for a few days and see how tired he gets!! So now if I have to crash early I am to call him first so he doesn't panic when there is no answer. geez louise.. :o) Maybe the name for this chat would better be Kitchen Party? Then the guys would feel more comfortable. I don't know why they let us intimidate them. Its not as if we are sitting here talkin' feminine hygiene!!LOL Now THAT is a sure fire way to keep the guys away!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Well I will stop by the ol' fence and chat but it's a bit too chilly to be hanging the laundry out. Winter has finally decided to show up in the form of sleet/rain/snow--in other words, a mess. YUCK. And I get to drive to work at 4am, an hour when most snowplow/salt truck drivers are home asleep, I guess, because I never see them out. ANYWAY...

It is good weather to be housecleaning/organizing! I thought I was the only one with the itch and now I see some of the rest of you have been at it too...is it some weird seasonal disorder? Because DISORDER sure describes what is going on around here. Funny how it takes three times as much mess-making just to get organized. I am currently trying to sort fabric...all those big Rubbermaid tubs full of fabric (12 of 'em)...so I don't just stand there going "I know I bought (insert fabric type & color here)..." Then I am going to tackle our master bedroom (eek! horrors!) which has 10 (count 'em) TEN layers of old wallpaper on the walls to be scraped off.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001


Nope, I think the name should stay "Over the fence" That way I can look like Wilson on Home Improvement.

Allison, congratulations! That's got to be a boost to the ego! Opps, sorry, forgot who I was talking to. :~) Ooh, slap, slap, slap. I didn't mean to say that! I've only met two authors in my life time. One was when a Real Estate broker asked me to consult on some problems he was having with a house he had sold. John Steakly was the owner and writer. I had trouble finding his books and the first one I read was terrible. The second was fantastic. Totally different.

The second author was Rita Clay Estrada. I met her in N.J. while working a storm. She was an independent insurance adjuster also. She was working because writing for Harlequin/Temptation just didn't pay enough to live on. Well, it may have been that it wasn't enough for the style she wanted, I don't know. We weren't ol' drinking buds but that's because we just didn't have time to drink. Hopefully her time will come. For more success, I mean. You know I had to come home and find some of her books and read them. Me, reading romance novels! Quite a sight! Sweat popping out on the forehead, heart palpitations and Sandy says I was glowing, whatever that means.

Now I am about to know a third! I'm coming up in the world. Is this something that you're going to make a living at or is it a pastime? Or do you make a living at it? I probably won't understand anything you write though. Remember, anything over three syllables and I have problems with comprehension. I also have a short attention span so I need short sentences.

Everyone on here makes me feel like I'm not doing enough. I have a few projects in the works but I have nothing compared to ya'll. Since I have a short attention span, I have to have several projects working at once. I am in the process of making stained glass doors for the cookbook bookcase I built for my wife. I have a dulcimer that we bought many years ago that was unfinished. I'm finishing that. There's an old hunting knife that I'm in the process of restoring since it had a pitted blade. It's coming along nicely and beginning to shine up. I'm building a cedar birdfeeder that's gonna be kinda cute. I'm building two saddle racks for my brother-in-law. I've got the letters cut out for the sign that we want to put at the end of the driveway, just need a couple of more parts and that'll be finished. I'm in the process of making a woodburning stove for the shop out of a hot water heater. I've got most of the parts cut out and tack welded in place. Hey, yes it's already cold, but who wanted to work on it when the weather was nice?

The list of projects that I have in the works and the ones that everyone wants me to do, grows daily. I think I need to start completing some of these projects so I can move on to something else.

It's been raining all morning and I was heading out to the shop when Sandy said that she thought I was a fool for going out there today. Well, I don't mind people thinking I'm foolish, but a fool! Me no fool! Cold, wet and a wonderful day to sit in front of the T.V. with a book. Read between commercials. Think I'll give myself the day off.

Sandy has the sick cat sitting in her lap and since that's the only time it's not howling, I take care of anything she wants, tea, coke, snack, etc., as long as she's holding the cat. I've THINK I've seen it try to get down a couple of times and she'll pull it back and cover it up again and ask me for something. I think I'm being outsmarted by yet another woman. Again. This is really getting old.

Sandy said that she'd like to have me install windshield wipers on the house windows so she could watch the horses playing in the pasture when it's raining. I don't think so, Tim!

Wildman (just a working)



-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001


Hello everyone! I have been out of touch for awhile and sounds like everyone is busy as always. To update you on a few things, the boxer puppies are 4 weeks now and eating food, chewing on my shoes and they come bouncing when they hear me. A little sad though, thinking that they will be weaned soon and some will be leaving here.

All we seemed to get here at my house was a little freezing rain, but all had turned to rain by 7 am. I was glad about that for the school buses are out and about then.

I got the rest of the plastic put on Rabbit Dept. and chicken house over the weekend. The chicks are all feathered out now and almost as big as their mommy. Of course we have had more litters of pigs and all are well. The kids and I and my nephew Curtis went down south a little ways and traded some rabbits and got some new ones. Justin wanted Chocolate Satins, and Maranda wanted Copper Satins. Both are sure pretty. Hope they do well at the fair next year.

Michael is out setting posts for a new shed to put his gravity flow wagons and stock trailor in. The quanset building just isn't big enough and my dad still has one side full of stuff and it's been 5 years since he moved from here. Oh well he does come by and take a piece or two from now and then.

It's misting rain out now and a bit chilly, the kids have gifted class after school and then we are going to run to a nearby town. Maranda has a girl scout voucher to get used by the 30th and we have limited places where they can be used. The best place is about an hour away from us. So Michael is off tonight and he says we will go get that done. Cass, that little hen is still here and she is still yours whenever we get a chance to get together. Let me know when is a good time for you.

Thanksgiving for me went well, most everyone came and we all had a good time. Hope you all did too. Have a good day. Phyllis

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001



AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

****WE**** had snow today!! Out here in the mild Pacific Northwest...it was a veritable snow rodeo this morning...

We had winds blowing down out of the mountains at ferocious speeds (the chainsaw that was buzzing up the tree that fell across our road could not be heard over the roar of the trees in the wind! Oh THAT...yes, I'll get to that in a minute!)

We were supposed to have our usual rain but with some strong winds (forecast.) What happened is that we got Screaming Winds meeting up with a wet system and, well you know...soggy, freezing, blowing at you sideways crap...blowing in the barn, freezing my fingers while I tried to shut the gates, tossing the flake of hay that I was carrying for the rams up on top of their shelter...(gee thanks! Now I can walk another 100 yards to get another one!)

Our power went off three times. The tarps over the barn doors (of course we haven't finished the doors yet!) were blowing like crazy...I was out there nailing boards to hold them down...otherwise our hay would get oh, a little damp....(freezing hands again...)

The coup de grace was when the *second* 100' (okay, maybe 80') alder came crashing down across the road (actually the first didn't hit the road, but for a while I couldn't tell b/c it was still pitch black out). Mr. S. had already left for school, and I couldn't get out of my driveway onto the road. Fortunately our neighbor was still home (it was his tree anyway) and came over with his wife. They (and I helped) buzzed and bucked up the tree over the road (still clogging our drainage ditch..another story for another day). The tree was the loudest thing I have heard in a long time. We get trees and big limbs down a lot around here, but this was something else. I heard the crack, and frantically looked for a place to "duck" (yeah right, in the house!) Fortunately the tree missed our house by about 15'. It did, however, wipe out a section of my new perennial garden: the old rose and trellis that I had made out of cedar, plus some of my thujas. *sigh* It could have been worse.

By the time I drove through snow (fortunately mostly slush by the time I got out of here) work seemed almost placid.

Gonna be cold again tonight. I think we need to plan on even weirder weather than usual...this winter is starting out early! oooh spooky!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001


Yep Yee Alison! YOu go Girl! I hope that it is the first of many !!! If we go to the site, can we read it there?

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Thanks Tren! When they put it on the site it will be listed under reader's stories. It wasn't there last time I checked.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

sheepish, sounds like you are getting "Michigan" weather and we are getting yours. It is still warm here, rainy but no snow. O.k. by me. Sure sorry to hear about your rose arbor........bummer!!!

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Went out and looked around a bit more today. Seems that it was 2 or 3 trees that came down (one big one knocked down the other two.) Good news is that it looks like all my plants will survive, and we got a little extra firewood (albeit a bit soggy) for not too much work! It does look pretty spectacular across the road...looks like a train ran through the woods!

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Finally got a little bit of snow here yesterday. Just enough to cover the ground! Rained all last nite so it's gone now. Supposed to be sunny and close to 60 tomorrow!! Weird weather!!!!!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2001

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