You would think that due to a marsh environment, the ground being saturated - safe place to burn? No? Well I did. Apparently, unlike my first attempt with the sumac pile (which was disastrous and WOULD NOT burn for love nor money) the vine pile flew into action the moment the match arrived, really hot, really fast and burning like a furnace in no time at all. Whilst I ran around the inferno I had created, stamping and batting down all the tall ‘dry’ grasses that decided to join in, just for fun, I started to see streams of flames go off in all directions. Having thoughts of burning down my dear neighbors property, which I did not want at all, I then fell on the thought of it reaching the woods, then Murdock Mountain, which is, totally covered in trees, brash, brambles and thick undergrowth (I am now down to jeans and a sleeveless shirt, jumper, scarf, coat, gloves all off). Panic really setting in. It really was bloody hot and I had to keep stepping back into the stream (didn’t want my wellies to melt). It then stopped as quickly as it had started. Note to self: if you think you have thought of all the precautions and possibilities, you haven’t.
Now having realized that I hadn’t lost my pyromaniac skills after all, I decided to re-build the large pile and try again, to no avail or so I thought, it smoldered away in a very unimpressive way (this pile was NOT on the marsh but on a flat piece of land with a mud ring raked around the outside - I did learn something). Pleased to say that it too, burnt, eventually. By the following morning the great pile had vanished into a flat pile of ash - very satisfying indeed.
Friday October 22nd, our first snow in Argyle, I still act like a four year old when it snows, am sure that will change by the Spring time, but I desperately hope not (yeah, well, no, no comment there February 26th 2011 -still under six feet of snow and an especially good storm yesterday, CAN NOT WAIT FOR SPRING)!!!
Met an amazing woman who runs her own barn with 33 horses, she does everything herself, I do mean everything. The place is amazing and every horse lovers dream set up. Came home with even more ideas of what to do and how to improve what we have. I now have a headache. Did I mention all the horses have amazing feet - she is a barefoot farrier and does them ALL herself too. She is a strong, smart lady who I think is pretty amazing.
I did finally get a job and it started on October 26th. Really interesting people who have travelled a great deal and I look forward to getting to know. Somewhat anxious about how I am going to fit everything in, but winter will soon be upon us (oh wasn’t THAT the truth)! and that will mean less work can be done outside so this should be the perfect time to get it all organized and ready for next Spring, Steven’s ‘half-way’ visit and time to get everything into action once again.
Tom has made an (another) impressive fort on the big flat rock behind the bridge over the stream. He found the old cattle fence, which we are trying to re-erect where it should be. Locust posts are the most amazing wood I have ever seen, hard as rock and seem to last for ever - the posts all stand where they have for goodness knows how long, the wire has long since wondered all over the place, but that is easily remedied. Juniper bushes surround the rock, they work well as a natural deterrent to the dogs, which helps with the ‘fencing in’ of the property.
Amazing horse lady before mentioned arrived today, with a chain saw, a Sawzall and some giant loppers (pruners English translation). While the trees were dropping like flies (c/o amazing lady) I cleared them and broke them into workable sections to move, Tom used the Sawzall with gusto (which yes, saws ‘all’ and just about ‘anything’ you put it too). I think about sixty in all. Then - it took my body a month to recover.
I’m not sure what happened to November, December, January February but apparently they have all gone by. I also forgot to mention the Rogue Wild Turkey (who might actually be a domestic Bronze, a wiser person than I has hinted at this) who has decided to come and live with us, please see pictures below of ’Stuffing’ the turkey stealing Marmite’s (the cat) food… My dear mama named the turkey, so all credit is to go to her and not me!
WHO? Me?!
Smoking cessation has worked on the whole, a couple of relapses but now on the way to doing it completely and for good. I enjoy having a pink tongue again, instead of a yellow one (my God that sounds disgusting, but sadly true). Until next time.
