Day One Hundred Four...

I find it rather incredible that I have (so far) completed an entry every day of this year, and we are now on Day 104. Time is flying when you are having fun, and I am obviously enjoying this. Sometimes there are no photos for the day until the last minute (and I expect you are all a little tired of cow photos), but it seems I am never at a loss for words. Words I got!

I need to be in the office somewhat early again this morning, and get statements and payments approved for our owners. I also have two appointments, one to assess a property for a leasing/property management deal and the other to show property for sale. AND I will need to be home before 5 PM this afternoon to assess the work that has been completed for the wind turbine foundations and pay them. On the way home, I want to stop at a place in Georgetown that we are considering for our consignment goods place. The rent there is considerably more expensive (as is the fee they charge per sale, etc.) but they are open seven days a week. I am not sure there is a real benefit to being open seven days a week in this business, but you never know. We will need to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision if we decide to go forward on this endeavor.

Okay, so the construction guys are still here (8:13 PM) and I am not sure if they will get finished tonight or not. But, when I got home this afternoon, the concrete truck was here, and the head-man was complaining that the concrete delivery was 2 1/2 hours late...it seems someone has had a case of instant karma...but I did not say anything about it. I guess they will get it completed eventually, and the longer I stay out of their way, the better (and faster) this will all be completed and we will have a much smaller carbon footprint.

Jody and I went to look at consignment space later this afternoon, and we decided on a 91 square foot space in Georgetown, and if we need more space later, it can probably be arranged. So, I will take a look at the lease tomorrow and we will most likely start being vendors on the first of May. We need another hobby, we don't already have enough stuff to do. So, this will be a fun thing, and hopefully, we can get rid of some of our stuff, and have an adventure while we are doing it. We shall see...

Okay, so I hope you have all been practicing your good-deeds-manship. You should all be pretty good at it! So, you know the drill by now, and so enjoy yourself, and have fun doing it.

Day One Hundred Three...

Well, yesterday was Easter Sunday, and when we headed out for dinner, we decided to go to the Catfish Cabin instead of Chili's. They were closed. Then we decided to go into Georgetown and try the Monument Cafe. They were closed. Then we made a tour of the Square in Georgetown (scoping out other possible shop for our consigned space to sell our stuff) and EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED. Then we decided to try the big shopping center, and go to Sour 'R Salads and they were closed. We ended up at a place at the shopping center (I can't even think of the name) that was open, and the food and the service was nothing more than adequate. So, I guess we won't be going back there any time soon. On the way home, we passed by Chili's, and they WERE OPEN, and doing a big business. Funny, if we had gone there to start with...

My goal is to get into the office early this morning and get what needs to be done finished. I have a lunch meeting at the Board of REALTORS and then I am planning to come home to watch the folks put in the pads for the wind turbines. That is the plan, anyway. I also need to stop at the county tax appraisal office and file some paperwork for our Homestead exemption status. That should not take more than a few minutes. We shall see...

In the 'Why Do I Even Try' department...this is what I was up against on the way into the office this morning...and this is not even the whole truck! I guess only this part of the truck flipped on its' side, and maybe the tractor part stayed upright and drove away, but it was no where in sight. AND how do you push the trailer part of an 18-wheeler off the highway and onto the grassy shoulder of the Interstate? The mind boggles!

Okay, the wind turbine folks got here a little after 5 PM (it is now just about 8:30 PM) and they are just now leaving. They should be back tomorrow morning, and get everything completed around 5 PM tomorrow afternoon. So, so far they have dug two 6' by 6' holes, three feet deep, and dug trenches from where each of the turbines will be to the house. They will set these really big screws into the concrete and that ought to hold up the masts for the turbines. These screw things are about 42" long, and will be set into the concrete so about 6" of thread will be exposed. It is (hopefully) going to be an amazing adventure. Again, we shall see...

So, you should know how this entry is going to end, so just go do something nice for someone, and just tell them I sent you. Have fun!

Day One Hundred Two...

<- The little bull calf, 'Dude' might be more appropriately named 'Wrong Way' since he is always pointing the opposite way of the other cattle at feeding time!

It finally started to rain this morning about 5:30 AM...so I got up, dressed and RAN to the mailbox to pick up the paper assuming it would be raining most of the day, and that the rain would get stronger. I am not much of a runner, and I wonder what that looked like? Anyway, I got the paper, but so far we have only had intermittent showers, no prolonged or really heavy rainfall so far. I will be keeping my fingers crossed. What I would really like is a long steady rain that would last most of the day. That would really do some good around here.

As it ended up, we got about a half-inch of rain, and that was really not worth all the trouble and the dire forecasts by the weather prognosticators. Buy, we will take what we can get. Hopefully there will be more later in the week.

I actually spent about six hours in the home office, and got all of last years receipts filed int heir proper place, and have everything ready to deliver to Claud (via e-mail) tomorrow, so he can process my income tax extension. Unfortunately, I have a bad feeling that I am going to need to pay, but that is a good problem to have. If you are paying income taxes it means you are making money. So be it.

Jody and I went out and fed the cattle and put out another bale of hay. I am now down to three bales of hay, so I guess I will be getting some more hay from somewhere sometime soon. I have probably enough hay to last me two months, but I hate waiting til the last minute. I like to plan ahead, and not be left in a panic mode.

It has started to get windy here again, and that is kind of a surprise. We were not expecting that, but it seems this area is always windy. They are supposed to put in the foundations for the wind energy turbines tomorrow, so that will be kind of exciting. I will not be here to watch it all happen, but maybe I can get home in time to see some of it. I hope to be able to put our initials in the pads, just because that is what you are supposed to do with fresh concrete, isn't it?

I think we are going to Chili's for dinner tonight. We still have a little bit of a credit on a gift certificate that we were given last Christmas, and it is always a nice place to go. Along the way, we are going to stop at the Zion Lutheran Church and get rid of a lot of paper that we would normally take to Austin for recycling, but they have a place there to recycle paper, and I will get rid of that on the way to dinner. So, if I have any intentions of going anywhere tonight (and of watching the local and national news programs before that), I need to get up from here and take my shower, and give myself a beauty treatment. That will take some time in itself!

Have a great evening, and go do something nice for someone else. It will make you both feel very nice, and the happy feeling will last for a good long while. And who knows, pretty soon you might just get used to doing selfless things for other people, with no provocation what so ever! Have fun!

Day One Hundred One...

<- Last Nights Sunset...

Well, all I can say is Good Luck. What I mean is, today is really going to have to work hard to beat yesterday, yesterday was such a great day! I got up this morning and there was a wonderful red glow on the horizon, but it really did not pan out to be a spectacular sunrise...more of a sun-hint really. I went out to get the newspaper, and did not think it had arrived yet, but when I opened the mail box, there was the paper along with the mail for yesterday. When we read in the paper yesterday that the federal office would be closed in observance of Good Friday, we assumed that meant there would be no mail delivery, so we just ignored it. Oh well, that is what we get for trying to interpret the government.

I am hoping to go back to Lowe's this morning and get some more plants for around the pool, and then Jody and I are going to go space hunting in the Bartlett area re-sale stores. I love doing stuff like this, and both Jody and I have had retail extravaganza experiences in the past. I searched CraigsList last night for some store fixtures and mannequins last night, and I think we can find something that will be adequate. I really think this will be fun, and that will give me renewed reasons to go to yard sales again, once we clean out some of the stuff that we have in storage around the farm. If we get the big building cleared out, we can turn that into a one bedroom rental apartment, and get a full time caretaker at the property...JUST KIDDING. But I really don't know what we will do if we actually get the stuff cleared out, we will have lots of vacant storage space. I am sure we will find something to do with it. No worries.

Well, I was absolutely correct about today not being able to compete with yesterday, although we did get lots of stuff done. I headed out early for Lowe's (again) and got more plants for the pool area, and I must say, it is really going to be lovely when everything settles in. When I got back, I got everything planted and/or transplanted and so that is all settled. Jody and I went into Bartlett to check out the consignment place, and I have to tell you, our stuff that we would be putting in there is a lot nicer than most of the stuff in that shop. I think that might be the 'My baby is the prettiest baby in the world' syndrome, but I really think the stuff we would want to try and sell is pretty darn good stuff. So, we are still somewhat un-committed to doing this, but it still may be worth a go. We shall see...

We had lunch at La Tapatia in Bartlett, and it was very good. When we got home, Jody laid down for a nap, and I have just now finished by defensive driving on-line course, so I can get that all squared away one day next week, after I receive the certificate from the company. That is something that I am glad is out of the way.

As I started to say a couple paragraphs ago, today has been mostly grey and cloudy and windy and chilly, and we are supposed to have a pretty good chance of some rain this evening and tomorrow. I am really hoping for the rain (for all the usual reasons) but also because that will give me an excuse to stay in the home office all day and gather up my stuff to get me income tax extension filed. My CPA (Claud) gave me a call yesterday to make sure I was still alive, since I am usually right on top of this stuff. If anyone needs a wonderfully good and competent CPA, just give me a holler, and I will connect you to Claud, he's the BEST!

Okay, so now it is up to you to go and get your good deed for the day done, and you should be getting pretty good at this, you have been practicing for a while, and it should be getting easier and easier. And doesn't it make you feel better when you do a kind and self-less thing for someone else? Thought so... So, pretend like it is your first time, and go do something kind and helpful to someone who does not really expect it of you. It will make your day that much brighter, and it will certainly take the recipient by surprise! Have fun!

Day One Hundred...

Today has been an absolutely brilliant day. A perfect day, a day that will be difficult to surpass in dayness! I slept (okay, I stayed in the bed) until almost 7 AM and got up and made coffee, and generally putzed around until Jody got up. We read the newspaper and I made egg loaf for breakfast, and putzed around the house a little bit more. We were expecting a few visitors to the house late morning/early afternoon, so we decided to go into Hutto and Taylor early. We got into Hutto probably around 10 AM and hit the Lowe's store, where we got some lovely colorful plants for the garden area around the pool...geraniums, zinnia (finally) and some moss roses. Then we went to the feed store in Taylor and got cattle food, and then it was on to Walmart, where I caved in and bought two giant teacup planters that I had been lusting for for months. I did not buy them earlier because I kept expecting them to lower the prices on the, but they did not, so I caved and bought them!

When we got home, I started unloading things from the truck (ten 50-pound bag of cattle feed for starts) and then got stuff pat around the pool. We had a call from the nursery folks who said they were on their way to take another look at all the thistle, and I was pleased to at least hear back from them. Also, our friend Gary was expected around noon, and we were planning to take him to a belated birthday lunch.

Gary got here about Noon-30, and we were all sitting around the pool, and there were the nursery folks. I went and talked with them for a while, and when they left, Gary, Jody and I headed out for Dale's Essenhaus, and I had the fried catfish dinner, Jody had grilled talapia and Gary had a Walburger (named because it is in the town of Walburg). Everything was yummy delicious, and we all had a nice chat over lunch. The place was hoppin', too! I forgot today was Friday (Good Friday) and that could have accounted for a lot of folks being there, and lots of school aged kids on a Holiday.

We then toured Gary through Walburg (for three or four minutes) and then we headed home. Jody piled up for a nap, and Gary and I went out to commiserate with the cattle. Gary and I then headed out on a little field trip and headed out for Salado. I wanted to show him what our wind generator would look like, and then we went into Salado (Gary had never been) and we stopped and had a couple scoops of ice cream (yea Bluebell). We then headed into Holland, and from there we went to Bartlett. On the spur of the moment, we stopped at the Bartlett Antique Mall (it sounds better than it really is) and while we were there, I asked the proprietor if she rented out spaces and she said yes, she had a couple spaces for rent. SO...I am thinking of renting a space there and putting some of the stuff we have all over the house in boxes at the Mall. Probably better than eBay, and it might be a way to get rid of some stuff. Jody and I are going to head over there and take a another look tomorrow. We may even scope out a couple of the other spots, and see if they rent out space, and see which one we like best.

Since we had a really big lunch, we are not having a formal dinner tonight, just kind of munching our way to bed time. I am going to vote for micro-wave popcorn, myself. So, since this is Easter weekend, maybe you can think of something nice to do for someone else. Try to remember how lucky you are, and don't forget to count your blessings. Many people are most likely not as fortunate as you are, and would really appreciate a good and unsolicited deed on your part. Enjoy the feeling you will get after that. Have fun.

Day Ninety Nine...

Thursday are generally good days, and this one is expected to be extra special! We will have the usual staff meeting in the office this morning, and them I will do my meals-on-wheels gig, and then late this afternoon, we will have an office meeting at the IMAX Theatre to see Aliens vs Monsters in 3-D. I hope it is as good as the critic for the Dallas Morning News (whatever) said it is. Anyway, it will be fun to get out of the office and see a movie. It is almost like playing hookie.

Our meeting yesterday was with a web-guy who does more content management than web development, and I think we may go with him. He had lots of good ideas, and once he started talking, we all had ideas that we wanted to do to make our office web-site more productive for the company. I cannot believe how dependent we have become on computers and web-technology, and we are still trying to become as 'paperless' as we can, but it is really difficult not to print out everything that comes across via e-mail or any other way. But, we shall see...

It is always interesting to see the patterns that are made in the fields around the house. The spring plantings are coming up, and the winter (whatever) crops of wheat are beginning to be cut. Summer large scale crops around here include cotton, sorghum, maize and corn. I think this will end up being a field of maize, and it is neat to see the patterns that are so precise. How do they get the rows to conform as they do, and when one row intersects another, why isn't there a little bit of overlap? I am sure there is a really easy explanation, but it is beyond my comprehension at the moment.

It felt like a Friday in the office today, mainly because I was happy that we were all going to the movies AND I am not going into the office tomorrow, kind of making my own little three day Holiday Weekend. The movie was good (not really great) and the 3-D effects were good (not really great) although the effects were really fun at first. The movie is really something you should take your kids to if you have them, but I did laugh and have fun during the film. It was a guilty little pleasure.

So, the cattle have all been fed, and they were delighted to see me, and all the little calves are hanging with their mamas. Live is good and peaceful and serene here in the country, and all of our lives can be as peaceful and serene as we make them. That is easily said here in a relatively peaceful corner of the world. I understand completely that peace and serenity are priceless and unachievable in many areas of the world, and that just reminds me about how lucky I am. So, go see how lucky you can be, and bring a little bit of peace and serenity to someone who might feel a little bit stressed right now. Go on, it will make you feel good.

Day Ninety Eight...

For the last couple of nights, the dark skies have been cloudless and the moon has been HUGE and really bright. So bright, that I have to roll over to keep the moon out of my eyes (which is what happens when you have no window coverings, ON PURPOSE). The full moon is scheduled for Thursday night, but the sight of the moon in all its' glory just reinforces how cloudy it has been lately, and now that the clouds have moved on towards the east, it is back and very bright during the overnight hours. I am always happy to report on the beauty of my surroundings, and I am really happy to be aware of them, not to simply just take it for granted.

The temperatures are expected to be wonderfully spring-like for the rest of this week and into next week, with a pretty good chance of rain over the weekend. I will make myself a nice long-weekend this weekend, and get some chores done on Friday instead of over the weekend, and hopefully I will be able to sit for a while over the weekend. That is always the plan, but I always seem to come up with stuff to do.

IN THE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF DEPARTMENT: Look at the photo in today's posting, and compare it with the photo that I posted two or three days ago. Is there any wonder why people hate driving on I-35. This is NAFTA at its' worst! I-35 is a straight shot from Mexico to Canada (well, pretty close to Canada, anyway) and it is just crazy at some times. Why do people drive down the Interstate Highway system in death traps...not necessarily to themselves, but to those around them...those sharing the road. What do you think the aerodynamics are of this vehicle? How long do you think this camper shell will stay secure to the rest of this vehicle once it maintains a speed of, oh, I don't know, let's say 35 MILES PER HOUR? And what happens to it when it falls onto the roadway at any speed at all? Your guess is as good as mine, but I am glad traffic was travelling at a slow rate this morning, or things would most likely have been much worse!

Okay, enough of that. My day today was (otherwise) relatively calm...a good meeting this morning in the office, a really waste of my time meeting at lunch today, and a mediocre meeting at the house this afternoon. There is still the possibility that the meeting at the house this afternoon can be salvaged, we will just have to wait and see the outcome. Anyhoo...

So, Jody and I went to Chipotle for dinner tonight, and it was yummy good. I had a chicken Burrito, and Jody had the vegetarian Burrito bowl...life is good, and I am reminding myself that I am the luckiest person in the world (even though you might not think I really feel that way when I go off on the topic du jour).

So, go out and do something really nice for yourself this time, since I am absolutely convinced that you deserve it. Sometimes doing something nice for yourself actually means doing something nice for others. You know, in order to grow better corn, you have to share your best seeds with your neighbors. Because the winds pollinate all the corn, yours and theirs, and if your neighbors are growning inferior corn, it will eventually make your corn inferior as well. So share what you have with others, and remember you have to share your best seeds with your neighbors, to make sure you grow the best corn!