Archives for 2022

Hiya Sweetie,
Got up at my usual time, had breakfast first, packed up everything, then loaded everybody up and headed over to Jeff’s, since he’ll be looking after the critters while I”m gone for a few days. Got to his place and got everyone settled in, then he left for a service call, and I had a little trouble getting my truck started again. It’s my fuel filter, I’m sure, I think I just need a new bleeder screw, but that’s a problem for another day. Got nice and greasy fixing that, but fortunately I was planning on taking a shower anyway, so I got cleaned up, then headed for the airport. Had an uneventful flight to Charlotte, then a long layover where I met a lady who lives in Tequesta celebrating her 83rd birthday, we had a nice chat and exchanged information, she’s been wanting to do Sunday brunch at the Seminole Inn, said I’d love to go with her. Anyway, after a 2.5 hour layover, we finally got on the plane, taxied out, then got stuck for 90 minutes because of thunderstorms that popped up. Was sorry I didn’t take my original flight plan, those planes were right on time. By the time we landed, retrieved luggage and shuttled to the car rental place, it was past 1:00 my time, 10:00 local time. Then I had to wait 20 minutes for a car to get cleaned up, so it was almost 2:30 my time by the time I got to the hotel room. Had to change rooms because the first one smelled like cigarette smoke. Note to self, always get a room on the 4th floor at the Hilton Garden Inn, they’re bigger and cleaner that lower floors. Still took me a long time to get to sleep, finally managed it. Long, exhausting day, and I ate way too much so I felt stuffed! Writing this the day after, too tired last night! Love you, darlin’!

Hey Darlin’,
Had a good night sleep, did my usual chores, then got busy getting ready for my business trip this week. Moved hay from under the gooseneck into the back of my truck, then parked the truck back under the roof and covered it up with a tarp, which was good because later in the day it poured with rain and the wind was blowing it right into the side. Since the horses will likely only be in a small pasture, there won’t be enough grass to graze, so I have to bring some hay with me when I take them over to Jeff’s tomorrow. Also packed up Lola’s stuff, then got my suitcase down from the “attic” and got most of my stuff packed as well. Think I’m just about ready! Settled down late in the afternoon, and for once, the place is empty! I was supposed to have two campers still here, but they both left early for some reason, so for only the second time since I’ve been here, I’ve got the place to myself. Figures, since tomorrow I’m flying out of town! I’m sure there will be more nights like this during the summer, though. Had a quiet evening, now I’m ready for shower and bed. Good night, baby! Love you!

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!