Lists

 I have many things on my list for September...you know all the things I should have tended to before they made the list!

I crossed a few off my list the other day..I returned some photos to one of my cousins and had a nice visit with her, I also dropped off photos my Mom had for the American Legion Auxiliary Historian.  I got the car washed...and had some of the eye tests that my eye doc wanted...I still have one more test next week.

Far Guy finished carving this years Christmas Ornament, I did the final quality control check and they are all set to paint.  

I am researching ideas for this years Christmas card.  I may have to audition a few of the designs I found. 

My lawn mowing is done for now, we have hot dry weather and the grass is starting to turn brown.   I finished up next door on Monday...it had been two weeks or more since I was there. 

and along the back road...

Far Side

Car appointment

 I left early in the morning for the car appointment for an oil change and a tire rotation.  I crocheted while waiting.   They have two waiting rooms...one with a TV and one without.  The TV room has the coffee pots...the salesmen go in and out filling their cups...one said "Good Morning"  the others were silent.  I was there just about two hours. Cross something off my list!

Like I told Far Guy...waiting room patrons are held hostage until their car is done.  If I were a car salesman I would be talking to people and handing out business cards.  I think a few cars could be sold that way...but what do I know. 

Far Guy told me not to buy a car while I was there...so I didn't.    Oil change/new car they kinda go together.

1958 Ford Retractable

Far Side

Beautiful Weather

We have been enjoying the warm for November weather.  It was 66 F or 19 C yesterday and the sun was out...Far Guy said his solar collector (bald head) was working overtime.  

I finished washing the windows upstairs, I did not get out the ladder and wash the outsides...but the insides are clean...no one ever looks out those windows anyways.   Cross something off my list! 

We had lots of company yesterday...my other baby brother, my baby brother and his bride and Baxter. 

Flowers are only a memory as we enter the "brown" time of year.

Far Side

Leaf me alone

 I am so done with leaves.  The last of nine mulchings was completed on Friday...it was dirty work as it is real dry here.  Yesterday Far Guy washed up the mower and got it ready for winter. 

We washed the windows again...this time using glass wax.  Earlier we used something else and it just wasn't working either that or when it sprinkled a tad bit of rain it had mud in it.  :(

Yesterday we had 63 F or 18 C for a high...although Far Guy reports that out thermometer was showing 70 F for a while in the sunshine. 

I collected all the yard art that I wanted to save from winters wrath.   We still have a few things to do on our list but we are basically ready for winter. 

I sprayed one last time for ants on the outside perimeter of the house.  

Yesterday we got a heap of mail...mostly Medicare stuff...switch here...try this...they are pretty stupid as they included return postage paid envelopes.  So I returned them...empty. 

Lately my email has been getting some scam stuff...can you believe I won an I Phone, a set of Nordic Cookware, a Generator and a Vacuum cleaner and if that don't beat all a Lawn Mower...I just had to give them a credit card to pay for the shipping.   It all sounds so good...I can see why some people are sucked in. 

Photo taken before I got the blower out and blew most of these leaves into the woods...it looks better now. 

Far Side

Second Snow

 At this rate Winter will be here early.  The third snow usually stays:(  

We woke up to the second snow. 

By afternoon it had melted.  

We had a fairly productive week.  Only two more windows to wash and the screen door.  It may or may not happen.  Ranger Blue was cleaned out before the cold weather and windows were washed.  We brought in "stuff" from the garages that would freeze.  Far Guy cleaned up Tilly's garage and did some work in the greenhouse/woodshop.

 Leaves were blown around and mulched.  One more time around the yard might happen.  So far I have mulched our yard seven times this Fall.  I mulched at my other baby brothers...he has lots of leaves yet to fall.   The leaves in our yard are 90% down.  

The last of the ant hills were doused with borax/powdered sugar.  The no trespass signs were put up.  

Are we ready for Winter...not completely but in the next two weeks we should be. 

Our quiet snowy day yesterday was spent mostly inside...Far Guy began painting the Christmas Ornaments. We watched Blue Jays and Juncos out the windows.   I cleaned the bathroom and did some laundry and organized some craft stuff. 

We both are a bit headachy and tired from the high dose flu shot.  Naps were high on our priority list in the afternoon.  Far Guy cooked supper...hamburgers without a bun but with some bacon, waffle fries in the air fryer and peaches.

Far Side

Fairy Lights

 Usually I put up some Fall decorations on the wreath outside the door.  This year I saw some little battery operated lights that I could not resist.  They have a timer and are on for six hours and off for eighteen. 

We can all use a bit of light in the dark evenings! 

Yesterday we got a few more Fall projects crossed off our list.  The No Trespassing signs are up and we took care of a few more ant hills.  We blew some leaves in the yard with the leaf blower and trimmed the grass around the Lilacs that Far Guy planted a long time ago.   They we just little sticks that we got from neighbor Jolynn and a couple of them are really taking off.  

I spent part of the morning with my other baby brother checking on some things for my parents.  

Far Side

Progress

 We are making progress on the Fall work list.  I try to tackle something extra every day. 

Yesterday I took care of spraying some weeds in the sauna path, after I located my leaf blower.   It would have been faster just to sweep the walkway before spraying.  I mixed up powdered sugar and borax in a big pail to take to some large ant hills.  The powdered sugar attracts them and the borax kills them.  That project is just half done and I will finish covering the rest of the ant hills soon.  I prepared some of the no trespassing signs so I can rubber cement them onto boards and get them hung back up.  About half our leaves are down and I have mulched the leaves in our yard five times...it was a very dusty job yesterday. 

Far Guy has finished woodcarving the Christmas ornaments...I have a bunch to fine sand outside and then they become an inside project. 

Our high temperature yesterday was 60 F or 16 C eh! 

Far Side

Sauna

 Yesterday I put everything back in order on the outside of the sauna.   It looks pretty good.

The white trim really needs to be done but it looks so much better!

In other list busting activities, I sprayed some weeds and helped Far Guy replace some boards under the lean to that covers the air conditioning unit and we took down all the no trespassing signs so they can be redone.   Far Guy cleaned out all the bird nesting boxes.  

He found this nest complete with little eggs.  Not sure what kind of bird eggs they are??? Any guesses?

Far Side

Busy as a Beaver

 We finished painting the sauna, the paint held out and the rain held off until I was on the front side where there is a huge overhang. We took turns being on the ladder and no one fell!  

After a late lunch we went for a Ranger Blue ride to the hills.

View from the road to the tower. 

Far Side

Nice Days

 We are enjoying the nice days.  Spending time outside and coming in at night dog tired.   Thank goodness supper was easy...salad and Jambalya.   It was 72 F or 22 C yesterday...perfect Fall weather.

We took down the screened  tent and put it in the garage to dry out.  Far Guy pulled out the tomato plants and  put them in the woods where wildlife will eat them.    I ran several errands in town.   I started painting the sauna and it is going well and looks so much better.    It was a nice day to sit on the ground and paint the bottom of the boards on two sides!   Very quiet outside, I could hear the machinery that was harvesting beans in a field a mile away and the trucks going up and down the highway. 

We are getting some things crossed off our Fall work list. 

Far Side

Before the snow flies

 I had a busy morning, I raked  the leaves from under the back deck, cleaned the leaves out of the two grates out front,  checked out solar lights and replaced a few, vacuumed up those darn old Japanese Beatles out of the sauna again. 

  Far Guy rolled the patio table away.  The important windows have been washed.

 I still have one hose out but not connected....I would like to wash the Ranger but it is off getting its 25 hour service appointment.   I should sweep the garage floor one last time....that is on the bottom of my list.  Of course I could add some brush trimming to the list.

Then we went to the Dentist, I had a fine checkup...Far Guy has to return.  

Far Guy is going crazy trying to work on the Christmas card address label list...Windows to Mac...oh my.   I told him to just start all over again entering them one at a time...that met with resistance. 

I made the appointment for my third shot....Thursday. 

I ordered yarn.  That was great fun.  I needed to order yarn for a new Crochet Along that starts Thursday....it is called Winter Wonderland and will be shades of Ivory and Greens...all shades of greens....and I might put a little light blue in there too.   It has snowflakes, snowmen, reindeer...all things winter...there is no escaping winter so I may as well embrace it. 

Far Side

Leaves and Hunting

I am pretty much done with the leaves in the yard.  The last mulch  (10 1/2 times) was completed yesterday...I could rake a bit out back when I have the energy...maybe.   I raked in front of both garages....one of my pet peeves is the leaves that blow inside the garage when the door is open.  If there are none there they cannot blow inside! 

It was a fine weather day yesterday...it was 56 F or 13 C eh for a high...practically summer like. 

The old lawn mower was put up for sale and it sold within a few minutes.   Yeah! 

The new lawn mower is sitting in the garage...after it gets its mulching blades and kit it will be ready for next spring.  I drove it around the yard a bit just to make sure that it was working.  It steers much easier than the old one. 

I have a few things yet on Fall work list...but it is coming along.  

Deer hunting season started yesterday.  What a beautiful day to be out in the woods! Great Niece Olivia got a deer! 

Baxter is all set! 

Far Side

Rain

 We finally have a few days of badly needed rain.   We have not had a frost yet, possibly this weekend. 

Before the rain we managed to get Wet and Forget on the deck on the North side of the house,  the patio out front, the picnic bench, a wooden seat and the Ferris Wheel Seat. We find that wet and forget works great on moss and lichens that cover everything here in the northwoods.   It has been two years since the last application. 

I killed some thistle and some weeds.  Always a fun job for me.   I have a few more weeds to kill before it snows.   

I mulched again...not that it did much good with the wind and the rain...but 7 1/2 times out of 10 is done.  I raked some leaves away from the buildings and mulched them up.  Still more to do but until it dries up nothing more can be done. 

Thursday grocery day...no lime Outshine bars or mixed frozen vegetables.

We got our High Dose Flu shots yesterday.  Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I can skip the rotten side effects. 

Far Side

More Fall Projects

 The weather was excellent yesterday 68 F and sunny that is 20 C eh! With the nice weather we were able to tackle some more projects!  It is what we used to call an Indian Summer....not sure that is politically correct...but so what!

We had a a tree that came down in the nasty winds last Saturday so Far Guy took care of that....a rotten old Piss Popple (Aspen)...when they fall over the branches just explode into small pieces all over. 

I straightened up some "stuff" in the new old car garage that used to be my garage. Vacuumed up some leaves that were tracked in. 

Then I went to Far Guy's garage to work...I vacuumed out the car we actually drive one last time...then I began the big cleanup...uffda...I spent the afternoon in there...I resorted to putting stuff in a bucket for Far Guy to sort through...he said it was all garbage....so I could have just thrown it all out ...but then there was bound to be a treasure in there.   I found a few treasures myself and screamed three times...I let Far Guy take care of those treasures.   Since we keep bird seed in that garage...little creatures like to visit...nuff said. 

I finished up the Christmas Cards that I had stamped.  I came up with 111 to put in envelopes....awaiting the cheerful Christmas letter that Far Guy will write.  I really need 15-18 more cards...so someday soon I will stamp some more.  Just when you think you are done you are not...certainly I can count...somedays.

100 red envelopes and 11 blue ones

I am burned out on Christmas cards at the moment...I still have time.  I am working on crochet projects in the evenings. 

We have a few more windows we could wash and wild gardens to mow down...and today we are supposed to be getting a new pump installed in our 22 year old well.  It has been acting up a bit...so my other baby brother contacted a "well guy" for us.  My baby brother will come over just in case I need help doing something for those workers.  The well is inside the grain bin that is in our yard.  Holy cats we had to move a bunch of lumber...White Oak and Black Walnut that Far Guy has been hoarding.  He said that some of it will be campfire wood next summer for my brothers. I have not been in the grain bin for several years...I had no idea the stuff that was in there...uffda.

Not sure how the election will turn out...someone will win and someone will lose...the important thing is that we voted. 

Far Side

Second sNOw

 I could say it isn't so...but one look out the window tells a different story. 

The Juncos are still here...they bring the snow ya know?

They flit around under the feeders kicking up snow hoping for a seed to become airborne...silly birds.

There were five inches at the snowstick just before dark last night and it was still snowing.

Far Guy and I got the odd left over Fall jobs done yesterday morning as it began to snow.  Far Guy pounded the snow stick into place for me.  The water hose was found under some crusty snow, the patio table was rolled to the garage even though it was covered in ice.  The lawn mower was moved into the Desoto garage along with the three wheeler.  I doubt that I will need the mower anymore but I would like to clean it up before storing it for the winter.  I rescued the rain gauge and the trail cams will have to go on "winter trees vs summer trees"...because neither of us is climbing through a snowbank to get to them.   Snow shovels made there way to the front door and to the garage.  I got out my winter boots and will have to find my parka very soon. I washed up my red mowing boots and put away my sun hat. 

This morning I will shovel. Because more snow is forecast.  Seems like I barely got the leaves done and now I have snow to keep me occupied and out of trouble.

Far Side

Sparkling

 We washed three windows!  It is a good beginning. 

I put up the sunflower valance that my Mom made me for my birthday.   The window is nice and clean...worthy of a new valance! 

I got a package in the mail the other day from Jen.  The card said "I hope your day sparkles!"

I should be set for decorating cards for a long time!  Stickles are lots of glitter in a small amount of glue and perfect for making sparkling cards. 

We are making good progress on our Fall work list...good thing too as the Junco's have been here three days...and some snoooooo flakes were seen in the air yesterday...if the sun had been out they would have sparkled....but it was overcast and dreary...and cold!

Far Side

Packages and more

 The mailbox has been full of great surprises lately. 

Sara from South Dakota sent a book with all kinds of card ideas!  Thanks Sara...by the way she is a quilter...and does some amazing sewing!  

The next day a package from Sam in Arkansas arrived.  By this time I was feeling real special! 

The knit Miss Marple scarf will keep me warm this winter! The scrubbies will be put to good use too! Thanks Sam! Sam always has all kinds of wonderful projects going on.  I admired this scarf all the while she worked on it! 

Bloggers are just the best kind of friends to have...especially during a Pandemic and Isolation...we all need each other! 

I got the South part of the yard done yesterday and mulched at the neighbors.  My brothers think I am too OCD (CDO) about leaves.  Oak leaves kill the grass and are a heavy mess to clean up in the Spring...been there done that!  I think I have mulched five times now.  

Another mulch or two/three and I will be all done with leaves for the year.  The Salvia 'Victoria Blue' in my flower garden has survived several frosts...the past few days a tiny yellow butterfly was visiting the flowers. The Impatiens are history. 

We had another very nice day yesterday...it spit rain a few times. ( I am not sweet enough to melt!) Far Guy worked on his new old car...valve covers is the latest project.  I got a few more things on my never ending Fall list taken care of. 

We made Green Chili Chicken for supper.  Chicken breasts seasoned with cumin, pepper and chili powder, place them on 1/4 cup of Green Enchilada Sauce in a baking dish...place green chilis on the chicken and top with more enchilada sauce and some cheese...bake 375 degrees covered longer than 30 minutes...depending on the size of your chicken breasts!  Bake uncovered about 10 minutes....serve over white rice.  Far Guy gave it a 10...and said he hoped I didn't like it so he could have all the leftovers...It was okay...I wouldn't eat it every week...but once in awhile it is okay.  Two servings went into the freezer for some night when we don't want to cook. 

I have three crochet projects going at once...too many!  So it is taking forever to finish anything. My shawl with pockets was way to heavy to take along to the cities last week...so I started another lacy shawl.  Then I saw that Cee Cee was wearing socks and her feet looked cold so I am crocheting her some cute little boots...one is done...now to get one to look like the other! 

Far Side

Fall Color Begins

 We have a Burr Oak that is turning color. 

Not sure why it is stressed...

Boy there are very few acorns this year...a few but none can be heard plink plinking off the wood shed.  Some years the acorns are so heavy they roll under your feet ...and then I have to rake them up. 

There are no Hazel Nuts either...the ones that were there were eaten by deer or stolen by squirrels. 

The Hazel Brush is turning orange...the leaves have lots of holes. 

I made the Fall list...if nothing else it will be a reminder of things I have not done. 

Yesterday I sprayed for ants in several places, we recycled and went to the Post Office.  I took care of some Thistle in my other baby brothers lawn at his shop.   I worked on some cards while doing laundry and tackled two jobs that were overdue and didn't make the list.  Cleaning up the kitchen sink and the drain baskets...and the Whirlpool tub needed a good cleaning up...hot water and automatic dish soap and then a cold rinse. I managed to card some dog hair late in the afternoon...one more afternoon and it will all be ready to spin. 

Far Guy worked on his new old car.. he put the back seat together and scrubbed up the mats on the floor boards.  He ordered some special absorbent mats to put under the engine so my garage floor stays clean...so he drove the new old car out of the garage and then back in again.  We took photos for the insurance company.  

We had ribs and green beans for supper...and lemon pudding...like lemon pie without the crust....cause basically I suck at making pie crusts!

Far Side

Making a list

 I started a Fall list in my head...not such a great idea as I have no way to cross it off or scratch it out.

The sauna has not been used all summer...it is  not a summer activity!  I took a broom and swept the walls inside and outside...can you say cobwebs?  Then I gathered all the rugs to wash...and vacuumed up the floor.  I enlisted Far Guy to get the light fixtures down and washed them up.   Today I will return the rugs to the inside and on the bench outside.  Next summer the sauna needs to be painted...but that is a different list...anyways the sauna is ready to use! 

 Far Guy worked on his new old car.

He took the back seat out and was cleaning up the vinyl. 

So far the smoke from the wildfires seems to be staying high in the air...I could not smell smoke at all. 

I took care of some weeds in the rocks and some that were coming up on the patio then I carded dog hair until it was movie time and then I had a nap....I slept right on through some comedy.  

I really must make that Fall list on paper and not just in my head! Half the month is over and it will officially be Fall soon.

Far Side

November Begins

It spit snow and sleet all day.  I had a Dermatology appointment in the afternoon...all is well...she froze a wart on the back of my knee. 

In the morning I cleaned up our vehicle, I put up a No Hunting sign, put the patio table away along with the rakes and other misc stuff that was residing by the front door.  Far Guy cleaned up the lawn mower and put it and the three wheeler away for the winter.  I cleaned up the floor in Far Guys Garage and wandered around the yard putting the last of yard ornaments away...seems like such a sad time of year.  Far Guy took care of the water hoses and the wheelbarrow...  I drove the snow stick into frozen ground.

We have Bird Houses left to clean out...the summer birds are long gone.

Wild Rose Hips

It was very cold yesterday it barely reached 30F  or -1C eh!

Far Side