May 23, 2016 Rain, Finally Mowing & Guests

Douglas tritaria, which is
growing everywhere Up Here.

Friday 2/20.  Living off the grid means having to remember many solutions to situations that do not often arise.  Yesterday the generator would flip off each time we tried to run the well pump, so we decided to just give it a rest and try it again today.  We did, and the same thing happened.  JB went out to check everything out again, only this time he looked at the inverter also.  Occasionally something will cause it to flip a switch so the power from the generator is not flowing to the correct place.  We had both forgotten about this and that is exactly what had happened.  All that needed to be done was to push a button on the inverter and all was as it should be.  Solving such a problem is always a good start to the day.

After that, we finally decided to bite the bullet and put the mower on the tractor.  This is only our third time doing this chore that is done just once a year with directions that were written by an engineer for an engineer.  After a couple mis-starts, we thought we had it all installed.  But it was really too late to be mowing with other things we had to do.

When the tree removal men came, I really hadn't thought about what might happen to my rock wall that is right next to the pine tree.  With such huge, heavy rounds falling down, part of the wall next to the steps got pretty well decimated.  Since I had been working on the branches for so long, I got busy rebuilding it today.  I finished the left side of the steps, but I am going to completely re-do the short right side, expanding it and making a flower bed.

I love looking out our large bathroom window, especially in the Spring when I can see yellow and purple wildflowers.  The window sits right over the sink and I designed it that way so I wouldn't have to look at an old lady all the time.  Trees and flowers - even snow - are a much better sight.

Saturday 5/21. It was 40 this morning, with a short break in the rain that fell all night giving us 3/4".  Between showers I was able to get outside and snip some more branches.  I also took several bag loads of kindling to the woodshed and stacked it.  By the end of the day I was a little more than half done with the branches from the pine tree, and we are getting our front yard back.  My, that feels good.

With all the rain coming and going, JB spent the day inside on his computer and working on sorting and organizing his Magic cards.

Our little female wren is quite pregnant.  She and her mate are nesting under the eaves again this year.

The clouds cleared early in the afternoon and we had a couple hours of sunshine, but our high for the day was only 55.  Dark, threatening clouds moved in before dinner, but we didn't get any more rain.

Sunday 5/22. It was 42 and partly cloudy this morning, with a wind gusting to 14 mph.  A very chilly wind.

Since the wind had dried off the grass, JB was going to get some mowing done this morning but the last part we put in, the drive shaft, was not completely in where it should be.  We both worked on it to no avail, until I read a "hint" in the directions that solved the issue.  So he went mowing on the south ridge and drive, while I hung out the wash and stacked more kindling.

I had emailed Mrs. Gridder a couple days ago to see if Mr. Gridder could come up and give us an idea about what was wrong with Miss Kitty.  He called this morning to say he would be up at about 1:30 pm.  The whole family came up to visit, which was so very nice because we hadn't seen them since last Fall.  After an hour and a half, Gridder and JB came walking up the drive.  Something is definitely wrong with the gears and it will have to go to the shop.  Fortunately, because of the way it happened, our insurance will cover the repair with a $500 deductible.  We had such a great visit, and the Gridders took a load of the green pine needles back with them for their goats who love them.

The sun managed to shine most of the day, but the wind stuck around and became quite icy.  Our high was 60.

Monday 5/23. It is 42 and mostly overcast this morning.  We'll be working on cleaning up the trees all week, again.

Thought for the day: Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy person has no time to form. Andre Maurois