As always, there are plenty of projects needing done and not much time. I have been, for some time now, working on a wide range of projects. Projects that are started but seem never to get finished. VERY DISCOURAGING!
The goat fence has been officially ongoing for a very long time, and it is not alone. Though a couple of solar panels are now finished, they are not yet installed. The greenhouse is not covered either, though all of the materials are ready. Fruit and nut trees are still in pots, but not planted. The list goes on and on. You may have also noticed that I haven't written much lately. Now, it is time to start thinking of planting some early garden crops such as potatoes and onions.
There are several reasons for this lack of finished projects. Money (and the getting of it) is one factor (lets face it, a job takes a lot of time). Unexpected delays such as family illness, car trouble and such is another. At the end of the day, with all excuses and other factors aside, one big reason is that I have a serious personal issue. I have a terrible tendency to start more projects than there is time and energy to complete. Then, I get bogged down, loose focus and take on more projects.
Money is a necessary evil in our society. We have grown accustomed to such luxuries as driving cars, using electric lights and power tools, wearing good clothes, and the like, all of which cost money. Unfortunately, making money takes time and energy (time and energy that could be spent finishing projects which might make more money in the long run). My current corporate job is low pay and though my hours have been cut back drastically, an erratic schedule doesn't allow much daylight time to work on other projects.
Like the need for money, emergency situations such as family illness or auto repairs take time and resources. Taking a family member to the hospital and subsequent Dr. visits and treatment takes time away from the farm and, sometimes, the corporate job as well (simply because family needs are one of my extremely high priorities). Thankfully, recent vehicle repairs have been relatively minor, only serving as minor delays and major annoyance.
As for project overload and lack of focus, I have come to believe that the solution is more about setting priorities and goals than about available time and resources. More about self discipline than about time vs abundance of projects. Now if I can just put these concepts into play. Yes, I am working on this but it is taking time to change a lifetime of bad habits. Please don't misunderstand, there is slow but continual progress on a number of projects during any given week, and that progress actually gets those projects finished in due course of time. Of course, there are also projects that never really get finished such as cutting hay in summer and firewood in winter (they get finished for the season but are back in full force for the next round). These ongoing chores also take time away from more permanent accomplishments.
Those projects which, through persistence, get finished, serve to encourage. Getting the garden tilled up early in the winter was just such an instance. A few passes with the tiller at a setting, over a period of time and the project was finished. The tilled soil was allowed to freeze and thaw and to take on the winter snow, making it much nicer to work with now for spring planting.
Friday, with some focus and hard work, a good section of fence row (a long term priority and over due project) was cleared and a big pile of firewood cut in the bargain. In the afternoon, four rows of onion sets were planted and two more rows Saturday morning. Yes, there is still some fence row left to be cleared and there are still more onion sets to plant, but noticeable progress was made. noticeable progress is always encouraging to me. Now if I can just stay focused. Wish me luck!
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Showing posts with label firewood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label firewood. Show all posts
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Sunday, October 20, 2013
(DF) OF FIREWOOD AND FENCE ROWS
Fall has arrived and with it, lower temperatures. no frost yet but it won't hold off much longer. Soon it will be time for a nice warm fire in the wood stove (I don't normally build a fire until after the first freeze).My intentions were to finish clearing the fence row for the new goat pasture during the spring. The firewood cut during the clearing process would have been well seasoned by now and more than sufficient for this winter. By now, the goats would also be happily in their new pasture.
With the months of delay caused by my injury, illness and subsequent recovery, these things just did not happen. Finally able to use the chainsaw for a couple of hours at a time (though very slowly), I have begun the process of clearing the fence row and cutting some firewood.
The firewood is green, the clearing is slow and the whole process is frustrating. Though these and many other projects are months behind, there IS a somewhat comforting up side. Being a true tightwad, I believe saving time is as important as saving money, so doing the work of one project and making progress on two projects is like a two for one sale. COOL HUH???
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
(D♥A) WORK TO BE DONE AND US TIME TOO
Tuesday, the intent was for me to be at Anna's place about noon. It didn't happen quite that way, it was one of those days when everything seems to fight for attention and delay any plans that get in the way. I finally got there about sun down (if the sun had been shining).
We spent the damp, chilly evening discussing matters of business and our future together. Meanwhile she cooked a venison roast with potatoes, onions, carrots and turnips. If I didn't love this woman already, the roast would have done the trick. Time flies when you're having fun, as they say, and at some point, we realized that it was already early morning, so we opted for a bit of much needed sleep.
Morning came, overcast and chilly in spite of the forecast of sunny and warm. The late morning was spent taking care of puppies and more talk of making the necessary adjustments for combining our separate lives. As with any change in lifestyle, the transitions will be a challenge, but more than worth it.
By afternoon, it was time to cut some firewood (the practical aspects really MUST be worked in). Turns out that all the large, dead trees at Anna's place are leaning heavily toward the house or the fence, and will have to be pulled the right direction with a rope. A rope we do not have at this point, as a matter of fact, so I cut up some dead tree tops and small dead trees, which needed cleaned up anyway. Needless to say, a long rope is on the immediate purchase list.
I had intended to leave Wednesday evening, but we ended up going over catalogs and picking out fruit trees for our orchard instead. It was hard to leave Thursday morning but I really had to get back and get some work done. Actually made it home before the truck broke down (head gasket, hopefully nothing worse) but that is a tale for a later post. Maybe after the cold spell.
It seems I am rambling a bit, but the point here is that a lot of important work, planning and decision making took place in a relatively short time, as well as some desperately needed together time. Problem is that each time we part, it is harder, giving more incentive for me to get fences and other preparations made as quickly as possible. I can hardly wait.
We spent the damp, chilly evening discussing matters of business and our future together. Meanwhile she cooked a venison roast with potatoes, onions, carrots and turnips. If I didn't love this woman already, the roast would have done the trick. Time flies when you're having fun, as they say, and at some point, we realized that it was already early morning, so we opted for a bit of much needed sleep.
Morning came, overcast and chilly in spite of the forecast of sunny and warm. The late morning was spent taking care of puppies and more talk of making the necessary adjustments for combining our separate lives. As with any change in lifestyle, the transitions will be a challenge, but more than worth it.
By afternoon, it was time to cut some firewood (the practical aspects really MUST be worked in). Turns out that all the large, dead trees at Anna's place are leaning heavily toward the house or the fence, and will have to be pulled the right direction with a rope. A rope we do not have at this point, as a matter of fact, so I cut up some dead tree tops and small dead trees, which needed cleaned up anyway. Needless to say, a long rope is on the immediate purchase list.
I had intended to leave Wednesday evening, but we ended up going over catalogs and picking out fruit trees for our orchard instead. It was hard to leave Thursday morning but I really had to get back and get some work done. Actually made it home before the truck broke down (head gasket, hopefully nothing worse) but that is a tale for a later post. Maybe after the cold spell.
It seems I am rambling a bit, but the point here is that a lot of important work, planning and decision making took place in a relatively short time, as well as some desperately needed together time. Problem is that each time we part, it is harder, giving more incentive for me to get fences and other preparations made as quickly as possible. I can hardly wait.
Friday, November 4, 2011
(DF) FIREWOOD
With temperatures dr
opping below freezing at night, firewood should already be cut and seasoned. Unfortunately, not everyone has had time or resources to do so. This lack of resources and opportunity led to a phone call yesterday morning inquiring about firewood.
It has been several years since I cut firewood for a living, but occasionally in an emergency, I still sell a few ricks. This was just such an occasion, so off to the woods I went to get a small load of wood, (about half a rick),for someone who had used up all they had and was concerned about the coming night.
The selling price for such a small amount was not much, but put a little gas in the tank and some left toward funding other projects around the farm. Every little bit helps.
As
an added bonus, I managed to bring home a small load of firewood to add to the still insufficient stack here at dave's farm.
opping below freezing at night, firewood should already be cut and seasoned. Unfortunately, not everyone has had time or resources to do so. This lack of resources and opportunity led to a phone call yesterday morning inquiring about firewood.It has been several years since I cut firewood for a living, but occasionally in an emergency, I still sell a few ricks. This was just such an occasion, so off to the woods I went to get a small load of wood, (about half a rick),for someone who had used up all they had and was concerned about the coming night.
The selling price for such a small amount was not much, but put a little gas in the tank and some left toward funding other projects around the farm. Every little bit helps.
As
an added bonus, I managed to bring home a small load of firewood to add to the still insufficient stack here at dave's farm.
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