Mama and I stopped going to the movies many years ago, but I don’t prohibit my children from going. Last night Victoria and Norman (Trace’s oldest son) went to see How To Train Your Dragon 3. Victoria was all set for a letdown because a coworker had recently been to see the movie and told Victoria “be ready to cry.” It was very apparent after the movie had concluded that it had surpassed Victoria’s expectations. She called Mama talking so excitedly that I was having trouble understanding her. Mama almost always answers the phone using the speaker – so everyone around can share in the conversation. Victoria told Mama some of the plot without giving away any of the particulars but did so in such a way that I am sure Mama and I will see the movie as soon as it comes out in DVD format. She went on and on while Mama and I smiled. Before Victoria came home, she took Norman home (they rent a place near Bowie) but even while she was driving home after dropping Norman off, she called yet again. “I want to go on gushing about the movie” she said rather effusively, “but I don’t know what else to say!!” Yeah, I think she enjoyed it.
I worked a while in the shop yesterday evening, but I did not last long because my back is hurting me badly right now. I overdid it on Saturday. I got a lot done, but I was already sore after toting and throwing around suitcases while we traveled. Sleeping in a strange bed. Standing all day to teach. Cramming myself into a plane seat. Etc. My computer bad weighs about thirty pounds. Carrying it with me at all times is probably the cause of my initial discomfort, but while I was hanging the roll up door, I got my back into a bind a couple times – which did not help. Anyway, I am paying for that now. But I was able to get started on putting up the five sheets of plywood I bought for the roller doors before I decided to use metal instead. (I was concerned that the doors would be too heavy if I used treated plywood on them. The metal saved me about fifty pounds per door.) Tonight, I will work a bit more and see if I can get a sheet or two attached to the walls. Providing my back holds out.
I was running through table and tool arrangements in my head last night as I tried to get to sleep and I think I have come up with a workable arrangement for the table saw, the miter saw, the lathe and the workbenches. I will only know as I attempt the layout. Like most hobbyists, I could use more space. When we were enclosing the carport to make it my shop, Mama remarked at how much room I would have once it was done. I knew I would quickly fill the space and have to come up with ways to maximize the space before I got everything placed in a workable setting. But I am extremely thankful to have the shop. More so every day as it finally takes shape and I have access to all the tools the Lord has given me.
I watered the plants and trees late yesterday evening. Everything is very dry. The winds have sucked out of the ground what little moisture the recent light rains brought us. However, I am not sure if I am doing any good getting the plants started off this early in the year. The temperatures next week are forecast to be in the mid to low twenties overnight. Our peach trees, our apricot tree and our blueberry bushes will be in full bloom by that time. There is little I can do to help the tender blooms to survive the chill so that the tree can set fruit, but Mama and I are going to try. She is setting aside sheets and light blankets to cover the trees as best we can. I will cover the raised bed with a tarp, and we will hope for the best. There is nothing we can do to stop it – so we adapt. It is not like out life depends on a productive garden. We will eat and preserve what produce we do get, but I am not going to exhaust myself to save my tiny plants or my fruit trees from this unpredictable weather.
Mama is also worried our last ewe will deliver during the cold nights. I can guarantee the ewe will not let us help her keep the offspring warn. She is the one Mama and I were told normally has twins. We are certainly hoping for twins. We would just like to help the mommy protect them from the cold. Somehow. Again, there is little we can do, but we will do what little we can.
Part of the joy of raising plants and animals.
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