parts is parts...

Prepping parts, growing greens, chewed cables, and sleeping cows...life in the slow lane.  75,89,51,0,B

just snug enough

35 longhorns grazin' at the end of my driveway all day...only a few ventured in and even fewer allowed to stay by the house.

Borrowed a pump from the good neighbor and transferred 300 gallons into my house tank from one of the greenhouse tanks.  I've caught 4,000 gallons off the greenhouse roof so far since we finally got rain out here. 

Finished up the last framing bits on the east door and snugged it into place.  Cut all the pieces for the little bit of roofing needed for the bump out above.

Got my GameCam today and did a quick read on the manual.  Strolled down to what's left of the swamp to set it up.  Found 15 ducks lounging.  That looks like a wildlife habitat to me...  77,92,62,0,C  

back to work

Seem to have recovered from my hike yesterday so I broke out the tools and got started on the east door.  Will need another Alpine run soon for tin to cover it and hinges to hang it.  Not quite sure if I want to endure the labor of making all the pavers so I might just order them from McCoys. 

In case you forgot...Joel Salatin's new book is now available.  Rumor has it the first printing sold out yesterday - the first day of sales.  Buy this book and help get it on the NYT bestseller list to bring more attention to where our food is coming from.  I pre-ordered 2 copies that should arrive early next week.  79,87,63,0,B

the long hike

Not in the mood for construction today so I took a hike instead.  First stop - the swamp...two ducks been spending time there since the dam blowout.  Long trek across the canyon and up and around the big hill east of me.  There is a forest of Ocotillo up there - some doing a late bloom.  Quite a few strange new flowers blooming as well.  Pretty pooped after the long walk when I spotted that Benita finally laid down after a long day of grazing real grass.  Felt her pain so I did a late afternoon water delivery to her so she wouldn't have to walk back to the house.  71,83,55,0,B

Sunday Story

70,83,54,0,B

plant day...

Took a walk around the estate this morning...found a new plant.  Pretty sure I got a positive ID on it thanks to Debi Cates.  http://debicates.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html  Chopped one open hoping for the inside of a mini watermelon.  Ran some errands down south and prepped for the 50% chance of rain late tonight.  The doppler shows most of the front moving off way east of me but 50/50 always gets my attention.

Rounded out plant day by finally starting a batch of creosote essential oil. (thanks for reminding me Ratgirls)  This method involves using almond oil to suck the scent out of the sap.  Next up, an alcohol based extraction method for a tincture.  Might try Everclear first because organic super booze is pretty expensive.  http://organicalcohol.com/  76,96,64,0,B

handsome threshold...

Pulled the forms and back filled - this one came out rather nice.  Someone pulled up this morning with a flat tire and needed a jack.  Had to dig through the trash in the back seat of my truck to find it.  Got inspired to flush out all the trash.  Found 2 year old receipts and my GPS buried in the mess.  Actually used the vacuum once I got all the stuff out. 

Had lunch down south with a Mt. McKennite then did some more bead work this afternoon.  The creosote is blooming again out here and we got a good chance of more rain this weekend.  83,96,63,0,B