Life on The Farm

OK, not exactly a farm, but we are surrounded by farms and ranches.  And we do work like farmers keeping the yard and pond beautiful.

Got here the end of June and company started arriving July 13th and the last left on July 29th.  It feels good to be able to share our beautiful spot with others.  Hopefully, I'll have visitors this month also, but I haven't heard yet.  Though this week went fast, it seems like a long time before my sweetie comes back.

We took our new kayak on the river last week.  We really didn't pay much attention to how we positioned ourselves in it.  Within the first 15 minutes we got caught in a whirlpool where the water was over our heads and over we went!  We gathered our wits and belongings, climbed back in and over we went again.  This time the boat was upside down and we were being sucked down into the whirlpool.  Had we been the type of people prone to a panic reaction, we would be gone, as in RIP.  We got around the bend, let some air out of the seats, and positioned the heavier of us in the center of the kayak and all was well for the rest of the trip.

I've been painting .... a lot.  Not the artistic endeavor, but painting walls.  I also made my own wood stain.  Though it did not turn out to be the shade of gray I was hoping for, it did turn out rather well.  Ingredients:  2 steel wool pads (no soap) and vinegar.  Let stand 24-48 hrs.  Brush on.  That's it!  I'm going to try it with some nails and vinegar, maybe I can get the right shade.

The weather has been DRY.  A word my southern friends do not understand.  The past 3 nights there have been some quick moving storms cross the valley.  Lots of wind, but not staying long enough to make a difference in the dryness.