Hiya Sweetie,
Had a good night sleep but still felt a bit tired this morning for some reason. The only extra chore I did today was to paint blue circles on the posts nearest the water valves, so I can add a designation so they match the map I made with their location for James. That took me less than an hour, but I had nothing else planned for the day, so I just read and binge-watched the rest of the day away. Rain came in early, around 1:00, and it was pretty steady for the rest of the day anyway, maybe it was the low pressure that made me feel so tired. Usually, it’s just spotty showers, come and go, and it started out that way, but by late afternoon it was a steady rain. Other than that, a very quiet, lazy day! Drawing to a close, shower and bed in my immediate future. Good night, darlin’! Love you!

Hey Babe,
My final push for posts were four of them along a firebreak, which I thought would be easy, and though I got it done, there were a few white knuckle moments involved. It’s amazing how high the water has gotten out here in the last few weeks, and while most of it was fairly easily passable, there were a few moments that had me wondering if I’d made the right decision to try to get these final four posts out! In any event, this is the last time I’m venturing out with my tractor until the end of the rain season, it was just too damn scary! There’s no way to know just how deep the water is until you’re in it, and if it’s too deep, then it’s too late. I had a few near misses, but I managed to escape, but I’m not taking any more chances. I was out of camp around ten, and most of the next two hours was just driving to where I needed to be, as they were a bit further south, and it as slow going. Honestly, I would have probably traveled faster on that old slug Apollo, ut then I wouldn’t have had a post hole digger with me! Anyway, I got the four posts in, though one was in deep water, so who knows how well that will stay. I had planned on coming back he way I went in, but then decided it would be safer, since I was so near the east perimeter, to just take the powerline grade back, but even that had a few moments where I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. Ultimately, my little Yanmar got me home safe and sound, despite the challenges and uncertainty I felt! Knowing that these were my last posts, and I wanted to take off the post hole digger, I dug one more hole near a water valve so I could put a sign above it, then ended up removing the post hole digger in the carport, and hooking the bush hog back on. Since it was only noon when I got back, and shortly thereafter when I got the bush hog hooked up, I took a few minutes to finish mowing in some spots the mower skipped again last weekend. Then I drove into town, dealing with a thunderstorm, to pick up a few things. It was raining so hard that I decided to stop at a hair salon to get a long overdue haircut, though honestly, I wasn’t happy with the finished product, kind of wished I hadn’t bothered. Of course, it will grow out, but once again, I miss you cutting my hair, my love! You always did a better job than these ones I have to pay for! At least the rain stopped, allowing me to get to Tractor Supply for horse feed and some other tractor needs, then a quick stop at the IGA for a couple of grocery items, then back to camp. Topped off the horses’ water, at least they seem to be drinking a little more, then settled down for the rest of the evening. Had my shower when I got back from my job this morning, so now it’s just a matter of going to bed, which is where I’m headed now. Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hey Babe,
It seemed a bit cooler this morning, but only because the humidity was down a bit, so I got out on the trail by 9:00 in order to get some more posts done. I installed eight more, though it took two trips because I can’t carry more than four or five posts at best. There were a couple of water crossings I was a little unsure of, but our workhorse of a Yanmar made them with no problem! I changed the position of one of the numbered posts, just because it made more sense for the system, which means I’ll have to put a little yellow paint on one of them, but otherwise, it was all very straightforward, no problems! It was wetter than I thought it would be on the north end of the yellow trail, so I’m thinking the south end is already too deep to work on, but there’s a few along a firebreak I think I can manage. Maybe on Friday I’ll ride out there on Flash to see what it’s really like. Was back just after noon, did a little computer work, then settled down for some more binge-watching, so the rest of the day was pretty relaxing. Seems to be the way of a tropical Florida summer, get work done in the morning then wait for the afternoon rains to come in, which it did! Ready for bed, so good night, my darlin’! Love you!

Hi Darlin’!
Slept in a little bit this morning, feeling somewhat tired from all the physical labor I’ve been doing the last few days, so I decided to spend the day working on the computer and relaxing a bit. I’m learning in this heat it’s important to pace myself, so I’ll get up early and do some more posts tomorrow. James came by to meet with a plumber to get some estimates to fix a lot of the problems we’re having here in the bathhouses, and we chatted for a bit about when I’ll be getting my materials now that the budget is opening back up a bit. Reconsidered one of the strategies of this marking system, and that required me to make some changes in my planning, which took up a part of the afternoon. Finally settled down, binge-watching Designated Survivor. I know we watched at least the first two seasons, couldn’t remember if we watched the third, but figured it’s been so long I’d have to go back to the beginning to remember anything anyway, so that’s where I started. Had a nice little storm late in the day, we are SO into the typical South Florida summer cycle now, rain every afternoon, though sometimes it’s hit or miss. Absolutely beautiful clouds today, though, wish I had taken some pictures! Anyway, time for shower and bed, want to keep getting to bed earlier. Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hey Sweetie!
Woke up early and raring to go today, spoiled only by another brief encounter with my troublesome camper, who was walking away early this morning and leaving her tent and stuff behind! When I asked her where she was going, she said she was leaving and would be back tomorrow afternoon! I explained that she needed to take her stuff with her, that her just leaving didn’t constitute a break in occupying a campsite when her tent and all of her stuff was still there! What is wrong with people? Anyway, it was brief, thankfully, didn’t need to start my day with that! Anyway, I finished my chores and breakfast and was out on the trail just after 8:00, glad there was a breeze because it was pretty hot and humid already. My plan today was to do the entire green trail except the furthest posts in the south, and I managed to get it done! Would have been done by 1:00, but of course, no day goes by without at least on challenge or two. Today’s first challenge was losing a cotter pin in the bolt that holds the post hole digger to the frame, it came off and it took me a few minutes to get it back on again, then it came loose again, but I managed to find something in my little toolbox under the seat to hold it in place. Then later I lost a shovel and spent 20 minutes looking for it until I finally found it, having bypassed it twice previously! Despite how well I’ve gotten to know this property, I still got turned around, even put a couple of posts in the wrong place that I had to pull and fix. Pretty sure I got them all right now! Still have another 25 or so to put in, not sure I’ll be able to get to them now that the rainy season has started and it’s turning back into a swamp here. Got back to camp around 2:00, ordered copies of my public speaking book to be shipped to Vegas for my trip next week, then settled down for the rest of the day. Ready for shower and bed now! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hiya Babe!
Had a good night sleep, which is always welcome after a busy work day, but woke up refreshed and ready to get some more work done. I finished installing another seven posts, plus I moved an old one to where it would be more useful. I’m absolutely loving having that auger on the tractor, that baby just makes a hole like nobody’s business! It’s a lot longer than the hand one we were using yesterday, so the posts are in a lot deeper, which is my preference, plus it’s so much easier with the weight of the thing being able to really get onto it. I had all that done in no time, and that included coming back to camp and picking up a couple more posts. Then I parked the trailer and loaded up the truck with all of the posts that need to be put out on the green trail and staged them along the way, so tomorrow, all I have to do is run out there with the tractor and plop them in. I’m actually quite pleased with how well I’m adjusting to the weather here, despite the temps and the humidity, I’m really not bothered too much by the heat. Of course, I’m trying to be finished before it gets too later, and I was done with everything by a bit after 1:00, and of course, my truck is air conditioned, so that doesn’t even count. I settled down in the afternoon, did some laundry, but then in the evening, I saw some rain coming in, so I got the little mower out and did my tiny yard outside my trailer. The mowers came yesterday so the rest of the place looks great, needed to tidy my yard to match. Got into a brief argument with a camper, who I generously let come in a day early, but was expecting to leave a day early to stay within her eight day limit, but she didn’t see it that way. In fact, she was trying to tell me she could stay 30 days, but I informed her that’s not the way it worked. Why can’t people just follow the rules? It’s the worst part of the job, people taking advantage of your generosity, then giving you crap about it later. Grrr! Really was hoping this campground would be empty during the summer, but it hasn’t turned out that way. Anyway, had a quiet evening otherwise, ready for shower and bed. Love you, darlin’! Good night!

Hey Darlin’!
I love a productive day! Despite getting a late start (it was after 10:00 by the time the four of us, Ray Williams, Petra Grimm and John K got on the trail), we managed to install 31 posts, almost all of the posts in the western half of the property. The only ones we missed are two by the road and one down the teal trail, which I can do just fine with my tractor, probably tomorrow. Fabulous effort by all! We made a big dent, now I’m going to have to do what I can over the next few days and weeks to finish it, though I suspect there are sections in the southeastern part of the property that are too deep under water. Unfortunately, we missed our window of opportunity during the dry season, but if we need to wait until the fall, that’s what will have to happen! When we came back for lunch and for more gas for the auger (it leaked, and Ray hadn’t brought his fuel tank with him), the mowers had arrived, thankfully. They did a good job mowing everything, I asked them to do all the campsites, which they missed last time, and one paddock that they missed but that had ragweed in it, so I wanted to slow down that seeding process a bit. I had thought I was going to have to bushhog camp tomorrow, but now that they’ve come, I can do posts tomorrow instead. So glad to be making progress! But a long way from finished. Once I get the posts out, I still have to prepare the cross pieces and screw them into each post as well, which will be a long job if I had to do it on my tractor. Hoping Ray will be available with his side by side, that baby really cruises, so we could get it done in a day, I’m sure! What took the time today was the augering and post placement, and he was exhausted because of the physical requirements, but simply chauffeuring me around wouldn’t be any strain on him, and he’s already said how he enjoys driving around, so I think I might be able to persuade him when the time comes. Anyway, a good job today, looking forward to my shower and a good night sleep! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Had another very productive day! Up at 6:30, first job was to organize the posts into sections. I’ve created routes through different segments of the property that I’m hoping to cover tomorrow, so I wanted to get all of the posts in order for each segment. I’ve been doing that on paper, this morning I did it in reality. The exercise revealed an inconsistency or two, which I remedied, plus I moved them all over from the very tall grass that’s been growing in the septic field to a place the mowers don’t do anyway, so it got them out of their way. They were due today, and a lot of my weed-pulling strategy counted on them arriving today, but they never showed! Not good! I can’t mow tomorrow, so now I’ll have to do it Sunday and hope that there aren’t any ragweed ready to pop seeds. I pulled a bunch when I fed the horses in the evening, but probably not enough. Anyway, after breakfast, I decided that to make the day tomorrow more efficient, it would be a good idea to get as many posts out there as I could, and place them where I wanted them as much as possible, so I loaded up all of the western sections on the truck and headed out. I dropped off posts strategically so they were in the right place, and a few that would need to go further into the trails with the proper equipment, which I’m hoping we’ll get tomorrow. At one point, which I couldn’t believe, I got stuck, right on the road. I was trying to turn around, and I kept my back drive wheels well on the gravel grade, but at one point, my front wheels went down a few inches into a ditch, and next thing I knew, my back tires started spinning. Dang it! I tried everything to get out, but it was a no go. I was completely blocking the road, so I had to call old James, and once again, he didn’t answer me back on my text or my voicemail, he just showed up within minutes! He put his winch on my back hitch and managed the pull me, mostly sideways, enough to get me free. He’s my knight in shining armor, and I’m fast becoming his biggest PITA! Well, that what becomes of trying to do this job without the right equipment, I supposed. Anyway, I finished staging the posts, took a quick break, then decided I just had to try out my now working post hole digger and 3-point hitch, so I loaded up a couple of posts for intersections near camp and headed out. I got the tractor in place, put on my PTO and bam! I dug a 4+ foot hole about ten seconds! Incredible! Everything worked perfectly! I dropped the post in, tamped down the sand, and it was done in no time! I managed to put in five posts in practically no time. Just as I was wrapping up it started to rain, and it felt wonderful! I felt like a kid again, playing in the dirt, in the rain, fantastic! Got back to camp before 2:00, took a shower, then relaxed for the rest of the day. Finished off the last season of Supernatural, I’m really going to miss the boys, Sam and Dean Winchester! They’ve kept me entertained for some weeks now. The later seasons were a little slow, but still, fifteen years is a long time to be on the air, and they kept it interesting for the most part. Anyway, started a British law limited series, now I’m ready for another shower (which I need because I had to pull weeds since the mower never showed up today, which means I’ll be bush hogging on Sunday), then off to bed, nice and early, since it will be an early start tomorrow. Good night, my beloved! Love you!