working the plan

if-plan-doesn-t-work-change-plan-quote-not-goal-hand-lettering-motivation-88447583This is week two of the new “working” plan; I think it’s “working.” We hashed out the things we wanted to work on and put them in order of “need to get done” and it’s been turning out pretty well. We’ve had to tweak the plan a couple of times due to weather issues, but overall it’s been a good change. We have lots of goals- so many that it becomes overwhelming if we just look at all that needs to be done. So, for me at least, it’s easier to cope when we have the steps laid out for the short term. Otherwise, I have a tendency todreaming v planning simply shut down. We’ve got the dream and can see some of the projects that we need to finish to get us there, but working on the most time sensitive projects just helps to keep things rolling well. Some people say that a goal without a plan is just a dream, but I say that dreaming is a type of planning too.  If the dream didn’t exist – no goals would be there – no plans would be needed – nothing would happen. So, dreaming is needed to to get all the rest of that going.  This week our dreams did get a little closer to becoming reality. Step by small step – so we can handle it. 🙂 Continue reading

how hot is it?

It was so hot, the chickens were laying hard boiled eggs! Ok, that’s not exactly true; however, the temperatures today were so much higher here than anticipated. We were looking at highs around 100 at last night’s forecast, but it is, right now, 108! So our plans have had to change a bit. It was in the mid 70’s when I left for work around 6:30 this morning, so I know it climbed really quickly. Keep reading for the updated plan. Continue reading

summer fun

lemonadeHere we are, past mid-July, and we are just gettin’ into the summer fun here. It’s difficult to believe that we’re over half way through the year. Ugh. As we were reminded today though, there’s still time to put up your lemonade stand. I never really tried to do that as a kid – we lived too far out in the middle of nowhere – so I don’t really relate to that, but the CPA we saw today kept likening us to two girls selling lemonade. After we left, we weren’t too sure if that was a slight or not.  He gave us some good advice, which is what we were after… it was just a somewhat demeaning simile. Oh well, you gotta start somewhere, and lemonade is as good a place as any! It’s certainly refreshing, right? We do have some other summer fun going on around here, wanna dive in? Continue reading

delayed

FLSA-DelayHi everyone, just a quick note to say that today’s post has been delayed. Suffice it to say, it’s been a very long day. We will catch you up on all the farm doin’s tomorrow. Just wanted to give you a head’s up, so you weren’t wondering.  Have a great night everyone!

down time

DTWe kinda had forced down time today… it wasn’t the plan, but I didn’t have a very good night and was not feeling well at all, Sue was feeling the affects of the orchard work yesterday as well, so we decided to have a down day. I went off to work and Sue was going to go take care of errands she’s been meaning to do. turned out it was a good thing too, but I’ll get to that. Continue reading

heatin’ up

hotdogs1I’m craving hot dogs. I’m not sure why that is. Just had hot dogs over the 4th of July holiday, so what’s the big deal? Who knows. Maybe it’s just the summer weather that has me in the mood for a cookout or something. Last week we were in some of the cooler temps of monsoon season, this week – as we have mostly sunny skies again – it’s been heating up. Because it’s monsoon time, the humidity has been pretty high, though lower today than normal, it is still well over 35% and at 95°, that makes for some mighty sweaty weather about now. Maybe it’s the salt in the hot dogs that I want. Along with the temps, the other things heatin’ up are the projects we’ve got going. Thought I’d give a quick run down. Continue reading

its a ‘no photo’ day

No-image-availableToday was the first day that we’re trying out the new work schedule. I went in to the office around 10:30 this morning and we attempted to work on the goat shed and pen earlier in the morning. We worked on cleaning it out for about 2 1/2 hours and I totally forgot to take any photos. Had my phone in my pocket and everything. Just never took it out. Not that you haven’t seen this process before, but we had a few new things happen that might have been interesting to share. I’ll just have to give you the breakdown. Continue reading

invaders!

space-invaders-clipart-1Sue gave me the idea for today’s post and I’m so grateful because I hadn’t truly thought of a good subject. I know, I know – over thinking again. Here’s how it works. Before I start blogging I ask Sue if she has any photos for me from the day, if so- she sends them over and talks about the happenings of the day. If not, we talk about the happenings of the day and I go take a couple shots of the subject matter. Then I try to come up with an overall “theme”. If you’re a regular reader, you know that sometimes

IMG_3068

man sized gopher invasion

that works and sometimes it just really doesn’t. It’s all an adventure, right?! Today, Sue dug out old holes and dug some new holes for the trees we plotted the other day. So, I went out to take a photo of her hard work (believe me, digging holes in this earth is very difficult – fraught with rocks of all sizes and simply hard packed dirt) and she said, “Looks like a huge gopher invasion.” Ta da! a title is born. Because we have had some invasions lately, of odd things. Not to mention a huge gopher. Continue reading

done or check

to-do-list-whiteboard-8567562

A

Take your pick. Both mean the same in my book. Told Sue, yesterday, that I wanted a white board so i could use it to be my memory. Since I keep thinking – while I’m at work- “when I get home…” or vice versa. Seems like I could remember to e-

todolist1

B

mail myself something and that would work, but I can’t even remember to do that! Luckily, if it’s really important around the farm, we’ll say something to other and generally one of us remembers.  Case in point: Sue just asked me “How many dozen eggs am I supposed to take to choir rehearsal?” I would have totally forgotten. If I did have a white board, there are two possible outcomes. A or B.  Continue reading

normal days

IMG_3041Here we are, back to normal days. At least as far as projects are concerned. It’s been rather an “everyday” kind of Monday.  Just another “day in the life….” Sue has all but completed the newest chicken tractor. Just needs a couple of handles and things that allow us to pick it up and move it around. I like this design that she’s been using recently. Has a smaller opening on top that we can use to get the food and water out of, the nesting box in the back with another hatch for access, and then the door in the front that lets the chickens in and out. There is also a roost across the middle, inside, for when they want to get up off the ground. All around solid little tractor. We should be able to move this one quite easily as it’s a couple feet smaller than the most recent one she built (I mentioned that already, right? – Sometimes I forget these things.) So chalk that up as completed. Continue reading