Author: rakeeter

Clean up
by rakeeter

Four loads: That’s how many trips we made to the brush site this week to dispose of downed tree limbs from last month’s snowstorm. It took us about two hours to build a load and another hour to drive to the brush site, unload and drive home. We try to trim the branches so we can get as many as possible on our little pickup so it isn’t a matter of just throwing the branches on. Some of them were big enough where we couldn’t have done that. Those had to be trimmed with the pole saw into smaller and more manageable pieces. The weather was as pleasant all week long as it was unpleasant the previous week so it was nice to be working outdoors. Joyce was a big help and Friday we were feeling so good about what we had accomplished we treated ourselves to caramel frappes. We’ll hit it again next week. There are maybe 2-4 loads left to haul off.

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New Mexico
by rakeeter
  • La Chiripada

It was a cold, moonless night when we left on our trip. Somewhere a dog barked. Oh, wait, it was a sunny day. But it was dark in Carlsbad Cavern. Because of Covid-19 people weren’t able to take the elevator down into the cavern but when I got our tickets I was offered to use the elevator because I look elderly, I guess. I should have taken them up on that offer. The decent was arduous, to say the least. It sort of put a damper on the tour of the cavern but we managed to tough it out. Back at our hotel in Carlsbad we recouped for a couple of hours before having dinner at Lucy’s Mexican Restaurant. We got there early and there was plenty of seating in spite of restrictions. The atmosphere was nothing special but the service and the food were good. Joyce had their fish tacos, which were unique. The fish was fried cod like one gets with fish and chips, and the sauce was tartar sauce along with lettuce and tomatoes.

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Iced
by rakeeter
  • Early October Maximilian sunflowers

Seems like the hummingbirds that quarreled over the feeders all summer decamped about the first of the last week of September. We have only seen a couple at the feeders since then and those were probably just passing through. We will keep the feeders out another week or two in case any travelers need refreshment.

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Symphony
by rakeeter
  • Photo by Rebecca

It’s National Prostate Month in the good ol’ USA. If you have a prostate you are allowed, no, legally bound, to celebrate in the manner of your choosing.

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Dog days
by rakeeter
  • Dung beetle and coyote scat

August is starting slow. The place is still green, sort of, and Abigail has it all mowed nicely. There were a couple sprinkles of less than a tenth of an inch, which dries out quickly when it is hot and windy as it has been lately. Abigail will only be available to help with grounds keeping for a couple more weeks then I will have to mow myself. Of just let it go. If it doesn’t rain there won’t be any need to mow but we will have to start watering which is just about as time-consuming. Maybe we ought to be grateful for the dog days of summer when congress is on vacation and thus less likely to get into mischief. Mark Twain was right, I think, when he said no one’s life, liberty or pursuit of happiness is safe when congress is in session.

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