So yesterday was different from beginning to end! I guess it is good to step out of the “comfort zone” sometimes and have a day that doesn’t quite go as planned. I’m such a creature of habit that it’s pathetic.
My walk was the first thing that had to be changed. I walked out the door about twenty minutes later than usual and was confronted by the sight of the new bull and his ladies grazing around the road about halfway down the hill. The bull has been here about a week I guess. He seems friendly enough, and with the fence between them, he has even allowed Gary to rub his head. LOL What actually happened was that he followed Gary from the truck to the fence. Then he followed Gary along the fence. Then he stuck his head out for a rub! J So I wasn’t eager to walk down the road and invite the same behavior. I walked to a safe distance and turned around and made three trips around the yard instead. This morning I will walk early while they are still way down on the west end of the pasture.
It was dry enough yesterday morning for Gary to mow part of the lawn. While he did that I set out the new crape myrtles and salvia and spirea. All are safely tucked into their new spots. Then I walked out to inspect the garden and found that a new dark reddish-brown sunflower has bloomed. Isn’t it gorgeous? Very different! It’s part of a mixed seed packet that I planted.
Long story, but the Mustang was not ready yesterday morning as originally promised and will now be ready Wednesday. Ugh! That meant something very different for me. Since I was already committed to a 6:30 meeting I’d have to take Gary to work in order to have a vehicle. He worked 2-11 yesterday! I started planning an afternoon nap.
I cooked lunch yesterday- again, something different for us. We usually have salad/sandwich lunches, but since Gary was going to be gone for dinner, and I was going to a meeting, I decided to cook a nice lunch- garlic chicken, pilaf, and zucchini. Yummy!
On the way down the driveway at 1:30pm I thankfully noticed that the gas tank was flirting with empty, so we had to make a quick stop at the local station. I never let the gauge drop below ¼ of a tank, but Gary had assumed we would stop for gas during the early morning on our way to pick up the car, and had forgotten to tell me that the tank was so low.
After I dropped Gary off at work I had to go to WalMart to pick up the “yard of the month” photos from the one-hour lab. (BTW- you can NOT order them online unless the store is OPEN. I tried early in the morning and there is no option for “pick them up later when the store is open”. You have to order them during a time when the program can give you a specific pick-up time.) I can’t even tell you the last time I was at WalMart in the middle of the afternoon. Even with the temperature hovering near 95 it was still crowded and crazy. I stayed and looked at school supplies (yes, already), bought a few groceries, and talked with a friend.
Home for a nap! You bet I slept- a whole hour. J
News, dinner, dropped off the yard photos, put one of the photos on the community bulletin board, got the mail, and went to the meeting. The owner of the theater had forgotten to leave us a key, so we waited until everyone got there and then moved down the street to one of the church buildings.
We had good attendance at the meeting and we managed to get most of the details worked out for the upcoming BBQ and silent auction on the 31st.
Went home for a little FB, television, and what I have started calling “yard entertainment”. First the opossum came for a bite to eat. He/she wandered around for about thirty minutes. Then around nine-thirty I heard a noise on the front porch and turned on the light. All of the baby raccoons were running around and jumping off the step! They proceeded to the west side of the yard where they ate the birdseed that had fallen from the birdfeeder. One of the babies swung on the feeder like it was a trapeze! Hysterical! I wish it had been light enough for photos.
They all returned to the backyard feeder where mom was eating dinner. Then they tried to climb the light pole. One stepped over onto the fence and actually “tight rope walked” for a few seconds before falling. One of the calves came around to the back fence and I thought all the raccoons would hide. No! They stood on their hind legs in a sort of “intimidation” pose, then three of them charged the fence! The calf stood her ground and then stomped at them and they backed off. Then two of them tried running up to her again. She wouldn’t play so the raccoons returned to eating.
In between watching them I was anxiously watching the cows, and the bull out front. They were all milling around the pickup. The calves knocked the trash can down and then one of the cows decided to snuggle down next to it for the night. The bull stationed himself in the middle of the driveway. I wasn’t quite sure how I would get out and down the hill. I really do love country living! J
The babies and mom stayed in the yard until 10:30 when it was time for me to leave. I was a little hesitant about going outside, even though they were in the back and I was going to go out the front, so I distracted them by throwing a few slices of bread out the back door. They all ran and hid when the door opened, but quickly returned when they saw the bread.
So, while they were happily munching, I snuck out the front with my cane (for cow protection) and my flashlight. I managed to get into the truck without any trouble, but I had to very, very slowly back out for fear of disturbing the cows resting on either side. Then I had to stop in the middle of the drive while the bull and two cows decided, yes, they would get up and let me pass. Lol
Made it to Lowe’s and home again without incident. Well, except for the part where I was merging onto the highway and realized my side mirror was still folded shut.
Gary stayed up to read for a few minutes and unwind. I think I was asleep in sixty seconds!
Today I think I will stay home and have a very ordinary day…at least that’s what I have planned.
One never knows!
What an adventure you have right outside your door. All my crazy entertainment is done by pseudo primates around here. : )
Loving your pictures. Can't wait to see the sweeping vistas of whole flower beds to better appreciate your little piece of Eden.
Posted by: Megan | July 13, 2010 at 11:57 PM