Dune-no spoilers

 It was till the garden day.  We finally rented a machine to turn the garden.  It is later in the season than it probably should have been, but the rotted clapboards on the house was the top priority.  I only used the machine for a few minutes, the rest was all Zed.  He claimed to enjoy the task. 

So much land to till.

Almost done.

It took most of the day.  I'm happy that he did it.  I moved things around, removed rocks, worked in the sheep manure, and stuff like that.  Other happy things for today:

• Perhaps it was a hawk that flew over?  I'm pretty sure it was a red-tailed hawk.  Whatever, it was fun watching it soar.

• Zed brought home a pick-axe and shovel from the dump today.  For anyone that plays Minecraft, they know that a pick-axe is a very important tool in the game.  For me, a person who plays Minecraft, it is the one basic Minecraft tool that we didn't already have within the household.  The others being the shovel, hoe, and a regular axe.  And so the joke around here is that we are prepared for the zombie apocalypse now.

• With a tiller in the van the back had to remain open transport.  This meant that the back-up camera was aimed at the sky.  I liked the view...

• In the evening, I stepped out of my comfort zone with Keziah and we went to the movies.  We saw the first part of the new Dune movie just released.  I would have been okay waiting to see it at home, except the rest of the family will be seeing it too.  Gideon will not, he will be introduced with a previous version.  This is partially because the current movie is just the first of a two part film series.  There were some gorgeous scenes, and I will leave it at that.

☮

Currently reading: Mount Washington A Guide and Short History, by Peter E. Randall.


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

October Sun

Sitting in the shade on this warm October day it is almost hard to remember that it is autumn. According to the app on my phone it is 75 degrees out. I have puttered in the yard some and have decided that since Aesop has a bone to chew on, I can sit. 

Aesop and his bone.

It was an eleven and a half hour work day for me and my feet hurt. The holidays are coming and my hours will be extended so I am trying to ease myself into working a little late. I might even volunteer for an additional shift someday. Today, I happily rested my feet, sitting in the shade. Other happy things for today:

• I have enjoyed watching how the pinecones on the tree by the garden have been developing. They were small and green and now are brown and larger.

                                                  

• A few days ago I noticed a rose bloom on one of the front bushes. I went to photograph it and found a bud, not quite open, with the fading bloom below.

                                                  

• Before I headed to slumberland, Gideon had to show me the Minecraft YouTube channel and the potential new mobs that people will be able to vote for.  Gideon was very excited to share that with me.  

☮

Currently reading: Mount Washington A Guide and Short History, by Peter E. Randall.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Minecraft

 For most people who work full-time, a forty hour work week is the norm.  My week is usually thirty hours scheduled.  Last week and this week my hours were closer to that forty hour mark and I am really tired.  The team I worked with was complimented and told we did a good job of keeping up and working together.  Other happy things for today:

• I actually got a small nap after work.
• Minecraft.  If you are a regular reader you know that Friday is Minecraft day.  My friend, TF, and I try to play every Friday night.  On rare occasions other family members join in, but it is usually just the two of us.  Recently there was an update which means that we might start a new world soon-that depends on the other players.  Anyhow, we are learning new things in this world, where we know the surroundings better.  Tonight, we were trying to build a 4-way rail intersection such as in this video.  We find ourselves frustrated with the videos and from that frustration comes laughter and how we could do it better.  We probably don't know enough about the game, but we could critique the people that do.  That they make things in ideal surroundings (creative mode with endless supplies) and we don't (monsters and we have to mine for resources) is just one small critique.  Ideas can be fun.

Here is our track in progress.
It is mostly done, but I was falling asleep.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Happy Labor Day!

 Today was a good day to rest.  I was able to sleep in and most of the day I took it easy.  Could there be more than that to be happy about?  Sure!

• Anti-itch medications are something I am happy for.  There is some unseen insect at the event site this weekend that seems to like me.  This has happened a few times at this event site.  Yay medications!
• I saw a monarch butterfly.  No picture unfortunately.

The butterfly had been around these plants.

• TF and I played Minecraft to make up for not playing on our usual Friday night.
• In order to enjoy the nice weather and get some steps in I took a walk a little before the sunset.

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

I Dislike Coming Up With Titles

We had expected company this evening but they had to cancel because of a work thing.  Instead, some other friends and their children came by.  Mexican food was ordered, yum.  From this I get a lovely quote from Gideon's friend, "I think that nachos are one of the best foods in the world!"  Other happy things from today:

• TF and I switched our Minecraft night to tonight.  We have been building a rail system.  
• Work switched me back to the pick to buffer job today and I ended up with 30,000 steps before leaving work!
• Over the weekend we had a yard sale and one of the folks who came brought flowers from their garden.  They are still looking pretty!  

Zinnia!

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Friday!!

On Fridays the craft night that used to happen before Covid is happening again. I don’t tend to go often but I did tonight. Keziah and I left early to get some food from across the street and bring it to friends. After Keziah ordered, I realized I didn’t have my phone so I walked across the street to get it. As I waited for my turn through the cars to go back to the restaurant there was a large bird flying over the street. It was not high, maybe just above the treeline. It was a bald eagle. I was stunned momentarily and then realized my phone was in my hand. By the time the camera was up the eagle was down the street but I took the picture anyway. It is not identifiable from the picture, but I am so thrilled to have seen this giant bird fly over my head.

It is hard to see in this picture so...

I blew it up.
Still hard to identify, but it is a bald eagle!

Other things that I am happy for today:

• I allowed myself to become totally distracted and drawn in by the Google Doodle game. 
• Seeing friends at craft night.
• When taking a walk I noticed there were some flowers being polinated.

Purple Coneflower.

• Tf and I brought a little bit of whimsy into our Minecraft game.                                                           

  

  A face.

  
  

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

    This is the book I started yesterday. 

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

All About the Gideon

 Keziah and Zed are off celebrating their eleventh year anniversary this weekend.  Gideon is having an adventure weekend with different family members.  Today, with me, was adventure prep.  We went to the store and got the last few things he needs, like bug spray, for the weekend.  It was our own little shopping adventure.  Other happy things for today:

• Gideon was a super helper this morning when we worked on sewing up more of the garden fence to the deer netting.  
• Gideon was a super good sport when we tried to set up a Minecraft game by getting the two computers to talk to each other and we failed.  
• Gideon was also awesome and quiet while I slept this afternoon.  I hope I am ready to work nights starting Tuesday!
• In the late afternoon I went out and deadheaded the rose bushes and pulled some weeds.  I also found fresh blossoms.  

Butterfly Bush.

Butterfly Bush, close up.

Yellow daylily.

Orange daylily.

Roses.

A rose.

More roses.  Yes, everything smells like roses.

• Nanni watched me prune the roses through the porch window.

Nanni.

🌹 ☮ 🌹

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Thanks for reading!  Stay safe.