relaxing is extremely nice
Aug. 19th, 2025 08:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
unicorndukeI had a lovely weekend.
saturday morning, we got the plastic on the tunnel. I had been working on this on and off over the past two weeks. It was half of a high tunnel that we had tried to use to help along the blackberries but it didn't really succeed. We took half of it away (apparently I never posted about this and it is a very funny thing we tried and failed at but it was fun) and left the other half where it was without plastic. The blackberries are not a success. It's a combination of things: wrong varieties, wrong location, lack of attention, disease issues. So I mowed them all down this year and the tunnel is now more storage, especially for wagons because we can pull them through. It was hot and sticky that morning, but we got the plastic on and almost all secured by 10am after starting at 8 and I ran off. Tossed all my stuff in the truck and hit the road.
I took the trip slowly, because I have been driving on my spare (it's a proper tire, just old) and the check engine light had been on for low oil (I added more oil and it turned off). I made my way up to C's place, where I picked up 15 lbs of garlic and left money and cornmeal shortbread cookies. They were away on a camping trip, so I missed seeing them but it was lovely to see the area again and look at some of their farm projects. I got ice cream. Then headed to B's, stopping to pick up arepas on the way. I arrived around 6pm, we nommed food and sat around and chatted, then set up my tent and popped all my stuff in it. Then sleep time. Well. Reading a book, then sleeping
I didn't sleep particularly well, there was some amount of critters poking around and at the tent and a door on B's cabin slammed at 12:30am for some reason, but it was fine. I slept in a bit and wandered out around 8am. We ate breakfast and then wandered back out to the cabin. Did some crafting, chatting which was lovely and relaxing. I read a book for a bit. B worked on painting some outlet covers. When we went in for lunch, A asked if we could run for canned beans, which were needed for refried beans for dinner, so B and I went to the grocery store first, picked up beans, snacks and split an extremely good lunch of guacamole, chips and spicy california rolls (I had been complaining about the lack of guacamole available in the grocery stores by me). Then we stopped by an ice cream place. This was about the time some clouds rolled in, taking the temps from 90F with so much humidity to not blazing hot and just merely uncomfortable.
More crafting, reading and relaxing in the afternoon. knitting for me, painting for B. Just the nicest to be able to do that with a friend. B is a delight and it was so great to see her in person for the first time in six months and just get to hang out either chatting or crafting. I love some chill time with friends. I think it's interesting how the way I spend time with her is very like how I spent time with former roommate J who I still miss living with three years after we parted ways. Lots of quiet relaxing time together, watching things, chatting, occasional outings places. Hmm. I took a 20 min nap, which helped a lot with the sleep deprivation but since I napped in my tent without a fan, I woke up damp with sweat which was gross. But some time hanging out in the cabin in front of the fan fixed that and a fresh tshirt before dinner also helped.
Dinner made by A was absolutely delicious tacos with fixings and the wind picked up around 5:30 and dropped the outside temperature 20 degrees in about an hour. It felt cold, but super nice so we sat outside to eat. Z had friends visiting, so there was chatting with total strangers but it was good fun anyway. they all went for ice cream while B and I headed back to the cabin. she worked on her novel and looked at art and I read a book until sleep time. I slept fantastic that night, it got down to 50F and was so cold and nice. I had a sleeping bag and blanket and woke up much refreshed. We ate breakfast, then I packed up while B started work. She loaded me up with eggs and I refreshed my delicious meats supply.
Then I headed to my old house with a brief pit stop to fill my tire (the spare on). I had left some wood, some misc supplies and a bunch of pieces of fencing there and never managed to make the trip. That morning, I remembered why I had originally planned to bring the big farm truck: most of the wood was 12 feet long and would only hang 2ft off the bed of the big truck. but my truck, it would hang 4.5ft off the back. So I scrapped taking the wood. I offered it to B or if F wanted to offer it to any of her relatives, they could have it. Otherwise, when I come up in November, I'll bring a circular saw and chop the wood to fit in my truck bed and take it with me. It is on the wood rack I build, so I'm not too worried about it being in the way. As far as I can tell, F has not touched a single thing in the shed since I left. I got all the wire fencing rolled up, figuring out an efficent way to do it, then chatted with F about the goings-on. So pleased with myself, I strapped down my load and left, only realizing I left my multitool in the driveway 20 mins into my trip. I turned around and went back for it. I should probably get a second one in case something like this happens again.
But that turnaround cost me the time I had allotted to stopping by the co-op to pick up baking supplies I'd been having trouble sourcing, so I just hit the road. I stopped for gas, snacks and a quick load check and then drove home. I arrived in good time, right around 4:30pm which left me enough time to put away a few things, lay down and read a book before crafting.
I feel so good today that between the fantastic weather (only 77F today!!!) and my time away, I accidently worked from 7am to 8pm and am not particularly tired. I won't continue that, but man, getting away was great and to spend time with a friend was also great. Goals for next year: I get away from the farm once in June or July and once in August
saturday morning, we got the plastic on the tunnel. I had been working on this on and off over the past two weeks. It was half of a high tunnel that we had tried to use to help along the blackberries but it didn't really succeed. We took half of it away (apparently I never posted about this and it is a very funny thing we tried and failed at but it was fun) and left the other half where it was without plastic. The blackberries are not a success. It's a combination of things: wrong varieties, wrong location, lack of attention, disease issues. So I mowed them all down this year and the tunnel is now more storage, especially for wagons because we can pull them through. It was hot and sticky that morning, but we got the plastic on and almost all secured by 10am after starting at 8 and I ran off. Tossed all my stuff in the truck and hit the road.
I took the trip slowly, because I have been driving on my spare (it's a proper tire, just old) and the check engine light had been on for low oil (I added more oil and it turned off). I made my way up to C's place, where I picked up 15 lbs of garlic and left money and cornmeal shortbread cookies. They were away on a camping trip, so I missed seeing them but it was lovely to see the area again and look at some of their farm projects. I got ice cream. Then headed to B's, stopping to pick up arepas on the way. I arrived around 6pm, we nommed food and sat around and chatted, then set up my tent and popped all my stuff in it. Then sleep time. Well. Reading a book, then sleeping
I didn't sleep particularly well, there was some amount of critters poking around and at the tent and a door on B's cabin slammed at 12:30am for some reason, but it was fine. I slept in a bit and wandered out around 8am. We ate breakfast and then wandered back out to the cabin. Did some crafting, chatting which was lovely and relaxing. I read a book for a bit. B worked on painting some outlet covers. When we went in for lunch, A asked if we could run for canned beans, which were needed for refried beans for dinner, so B and I went to the grocery store first, picked up beans, snacks and split an extremely good lunch of guacamole, chips and spicy california rolls (I had been complaining about the lack of guacamole available in the grocery stores by me). Then we stopped by an ice cream place. This was about the time some clouds rolled in, taking the temps from 90F with so much humidity to not blazing hot and just merely uncomfortable.
More crafting, reading and relaxing in the afternoon. knitting for me, painting for B. Just the nicest to be able to do that with a friend. B is a delight and it was so great to see her in person for the first time in six months and just get to hang out either chatting or crafting. I love some chill time with friends. I think it's interesting how the way I spend time with her is very like how I spent time with former roommate J who I still miss living with three years after we parted ways. Lots of quiet relaxing time together, watching things, chatting, occasional outings places. Hmm. I took a 20 min nap, which helped a lot with the sleep deprivation but since I napped in my tent without a fan, I woke up damp with sweat which was gross. But some time hanging out in the cabin in front of the fan fixed that and a fresh tshirt before dinner also helped.
Dinner made by A was absolutely delicious tacos with fixings and the wind picked up around 5:30 and dropped the outside temperature 20 degrees in about an hour. It felt cold, but super nice so we sat outside to eat. Z had friends visiting, so there was chatting with total strangers but it was good fun anyway. they all went for ice cream while B and I headed back to the cabin. she worked on her novel and looked at art and I read a book until sleep time. I slept fantastic that night, it got down to 50F and was so cold and nice. I had a sleeping bag and blanket and woke up much refreshed. We ate breakfast, then I packed up while B started work. She loaded me up with eggs and I refreshed my delicious meats supply.
Then I headed to my old house with a brief pit stop to fill my tire (the spare on). I had left some wood, some misc supplies and a bunch of pieces of fencing there and never managed to make the trip. That morning, I remembered why I had originally planned to bring the big farm truck: most of the wood was 12 feet long and would only hang 2ft off the bed of the big truck. but my truck, it would hang 4.5ft off the back. So I scrapped taking the wood. I offered it to B or if F wanted to offer it to any of her relatives, they could have it. Otherwise, when I come up in November, I'll bring a circular saw and chop the wood to fit in my truck bed and take it with me. It is on the wood rack I build, so I'm not too worried about it being in the way. As far as I can tell, F has not touched a single thing in the shed since I left. I got all the wire fencing rolled up, figuring out an efficent way to do it, then chatted with F about the goings-on. So pleased with myself, I strapped down my load and left, only realizing I left my multitool in the driveway 20 mins into my trip. I turned around and went back for it. I should probably get a second one in case something like this happens again.
But that turnaround cost me the time I had allotted to stopping by the co-op to pick up baking supplies I'd been having trouble sourcing, so I just hit the road. I stopped for gas, snacks and a quick load check and then drove home. I arrived in good time, right around 4:30pm which left me enough time to put away a few things, lay down and read a book before crafting.
I feel so good today that between the fantastic weather (only 77F today!!!) and my time away, I accidently worked from 7am to 8pm and am not particularly tired. I won't continue that, but man, getting away was great and to spend time with a friend was also great. Goals for next year: I get away from the farm once in June or July and once in August
no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 01:44 am (UTC)Glad that all went so well. (Hurrah for the weather co-operating.)
Two multitools is also a good thing when one has been blessed with trying to multitool a nut where the bolt wants to turn.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 01:40 pm (UTC)The wee tiny desktop file cabinet slightly to my left at this time has a drawer labelled "scissors" for not dissimilar reasons. (Right above the drawer labelled "parts")
Real tools are better, for sure. But "right there, and always there" has a lot to recommend it, too.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 02:47 pm (UTC)Sympathy!
That sucks more than the usual range of moving gremlins.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-23 02:37 pm (UTC)