Monday, September 2

[gottawonder]

Today I am grateful for:

The School of Life videos on YouTube. They are very soothing and reassuring. Nice to listen to before bedtime.

Sunshine, and a day that was warm enough to make sense for this time of year. What a nice change!

I got up just in time to make a very quick lunch for the guys working with us today. I warmed up some naan bread in a pan, and served it with hummus and cheese and some red pepper. I wasn't sure if they would like it, but I guess it's just that it's what I eat, and what I have on hand. I think it turned out well, and I hope it fostered some good will. I do truly appreciate their help, I am just not always good at showing it. I might do that again, as it is fast and simple, if they don't get sick of it!

With the help of big machinery, our friends lifted up big blocks from the old side walk that was in front of the trailer we tore down. There's a lot of good uses on an acreage for big, flat pieces of concrete. We put some in front of the horse water-er (so that you don't get that horrible pool of mud), and we used some more to make a flat surface for feeding the horses their hay, and then we made an entire walkway in the goat/pony pen from the gate to the front of their shed, so that there is a clean surface to feed them on, as well as a path that will keep me out of the seasonal mud pit that takes place every spring. It also gives the goats and ponies a high, dry place to stand when their pen is wet. We took the remaining big, flat pieces to our neighbor who is a farmer, to use around his water-ers, etc. All of this is very good, because then we don't have to haul the old concrete to the landfill, and pay an enormous tipping fee.

For my sweetie, helping me to bring some houseplants into the new house (they had been sitting outside while the weather was nice), and to clean the cat litter. We also trimmed goat hooves, cleaned the bot eggs off the ponies ( bot flies lay eggs on the horses, which can get into their mouths and become parasites. We de-worm anyhow, but it doesn't hurt to get the eggs off), and cleaned their feet (we need to do this more, up until now we've mostly been getting them used to just picking up their feet).

Some friends dropped in, and I got to talk goat with A; she raises goats (for meat, which I feel kinda bad about, but she does have a great affection for her herd). She admired my walk way.

We got our first supper of green beans from the garden, which are awesome.

Made our tiny, itty bitty bedroom (until we build the addition) feel a little better by putting some boxes away and picking up all the clothes all over the place. We even changed the sheets!

Having a shower and feeling all clean.

For all the friends who have been helping us with the project. We could not do this without them. For having the physical endurance to keep going, and at least some of the mindset to do this kind of work, the financial means to do this, and the opportunity with everything lining up.